Afghanistan My Last Tour

Teenie, the scorpion

Last night before going to bed, I overheard some contractors talking about Teenie and Boogie.  The more I listened, the more I became intrigued.  They were talking about the pet names for their scorpions and about the combat matches with camel spiders.  Boogie was the former champion scorpion until he met his fate when he fought 2 camel spiders at once.  Boogie apparently killed one camel spider but was viciously attacked by the other spider.   In the end, all three creatures succumbed due to their wounds. Now Teenie has entered the ring and holds the title.  This afternoon, a death match with a camel spider was scheduled, but I haven’t heard the results.  Earlier I took a picture of Teenie in its secured habitat.  Only one person has suffered a scorpion sting at the camp and was med-evacuated out to a hospital for treatment.  Guess I better shake my boots more often.

Hydie in her box (I call her Precious).

Hydie is the adopted name for the new camp puppy.  As you can see by the pictures, she is being well cared for.  Earlier today she gave everyone a scare when she was stung by a yellow jacket.  She cried for over an hour.  Someone cuddled her and wrapped her in a towel and gave her comfort.  Eventually she fell asleep and when she awoke, she seemed back to normal.  Hydie also enjoyed a big cup of milk and someone managed to find some sticks of Pupparoni to pacify her hunger.  I think she will make a great addition to the camp provided the vector contractor (fancy name for animal catcher who travels throughout the country) doesn’t find her.  She might have to learn to stay outside the camp, despite the French vaccinating her.

Hydie is sleeping

I conducted some additional interviews last night and tonight concerning our school supply project.  According to my wife Liisa, we are receiving boxes of donations.  I also ran into the Army Specialist who runs the Post Office and he told me to visit tomorrow.  Apparently I have a dozen packages waiting to be picked up.   I’m certain they are the school supplies unless my mother sent me a dozen boxes of cookies as a care package.  So I probably need to finalize my plans for distributing these items.  I have my eye on at least one all-girls school and would love to visit there because the Taliban is adamantly opposed to females receiving education here.  But it takes a lot of pre-coordination before we can simply hand the items out.  Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would have to be fully armed and wear protective gear to give a pen to a local Afghan student.  Thus is the reality of living in a combat zone in Afghanistan.

Filed under: Food and living conditions, School supplies project Tagged: | Afghanistan, camp puppies, Deployment, ETT, pets, photography, U.S. Air Force, war