Let it rain let it rain let it rain. . .

Well we almost got snow for christmas, but it was too warm so it just rained and rained. . . Now we got to deal with the mud for days after as the ground doesn't soak anything up.

Is it beginning to look like x-mas. . .

Hope all is well. Had a warm night last night. Possible rain later this week. Dust strom yesterday. Not too busy on the ward. Still havent been able to figure out why my videos wont upload. Planning on doing the Jingle Bell 5K Thursday. It'll be a stress relief. I'm getting real tired of the food here. I now only have 2 evenings a week when i look forward to dinner, Tue (Mongolian) & Thurs (Indian).

Well things have been busy since I've moved to the hospital, so I haven't as much free time to update this. I think I've been here too long. Woke up to mortar fire and was too tired to roll out of bed. It is much cooler now in the 40s over night with day highs of 70s. TG days was ok the did decorate the DFAC (dining facility) for the holiday. As for X-mass, we can decorate as long as there is no religious symbols involved. I'm tired of the DFAC food and it's getting hard to eat the same ole meals. Tue and Thurs dinners is all I have to look forward to now. Tue is Mongolian and Thurs is

Indian. Hope all is well back home. I've shot some video footage but they wont upload on here for some reason.

Ciao

Ian

AEW Hospital

Well folks I've finally made it to the hospital. I guess nobody said they were swift so after firing the 4th Doc they brought me over. Spent last week revising their current processes. However i now work a 4:1 instead of 6:1 twelve hour shifts.
With a limited formulary, it get challenging in post-op care the after d/c follow up's. Temp is cool at night roughly 60's - 50's on occa. Still we climb to the 80's 90s during the day. Enjoy the cool weather for me.
Ciao

Good Morning JBB

Well laying in bed had today off but got up after 5 anyways; trying to decide if to go to the gym before breakfast or try to sleep in when out of the blue we started getting shelled again. I must say this is the first time I've heard the klaxton alarm; usually I just hear the "All clear!" so needless to say hearing the "In coming!" alarm did help me out of bed. and after a few minutes the "All clear" & "All sectors report in for accountability" got dressed. Checked in the clinic and hit the gym. I've been trying to upload a short video file but so far it's not working.

From the Range to Saddam's Tanks

Some More Pics

Mortaritaville Revived

Well, we got shelled again last week and being the seasoned veteran that I am I slept through the whole thing. Well almost the whole thing, I gave it the ole college try but the guy pounding on my door just wouldn't stop, so I had to get up and verify I was alright. You would think some people would take a hint. . . .
Anyways another boring day in paradise. There were some rumors about bringing me to the hospital in November. I'm not holding my breath.
On a side note. I think it tried to rain the other day. There was a moment where a few big drops fell out of the sky. They said that was rain; I think there was a C-130 flying over head.

Guns

Joint Base Balad

The Masses

Well did our first mass casualty exercise today with the new folks. Everyone seems pleased with themselves I'm less impressed. I've been assigned to the minimal team (walking wounded) and didn't have much to do with this. We did get one patient tho. blast injury with an open leg fracture of some sort. I kept trying to redirect him to immediate team but my gun-ho FP doc believed they can manage him here. I promptly when and took a nap so I can wake up from this bad dream. . .
Guns dream on. . . .

I Hope This Works

Maj. Ian Gunyea
332 EAMDS/Clinic
APO AE 09315

332 AEW

Well, not much to add. Much to my dismay I've been reassigned to the clinic from the hospital. My CO has tried to get me back but the hospital CO isn't budging. This will now go down as the must dreadfully boring deployment I've been on. There was another dust storm today. Planning to go the Iraqi Bazaar tomorrow. Haven't taken a dip in Saddam's pool yet but did get to see Hulk in his theater. Internet here is iffy so I don't get on much. Hope all is well back home.
Ciao

Mortaritaville

Doing ok. haven't done much yet, still in-processing. I'm not close to any of the gyms but once I get orientated I'll get that back online. Haven't found a civilian internet service yet and I cant upload pics with the military comps, so sorry. Hope all is well.
Ciao
Ian

LAS Anaconda

Finally made in. just after a horrific sand storm. Everything is covered in dust. Much dryer here. My sense of direction will be challenged more than i thought. Every building is surrounded by a 15ft concrete barrier (sim. to the barriers on the highway but 15-20 tall). Sand/dust is everywhere. and tho I'm across the street from the hospital I'm miles away from the showers (UGH). I'll be practically covered in dust by the time i get back to my room. Well at least they did put port-a-johns near every building. Still no potable water so everything is bottle water (hate to see the new island that landfill will create).

Al Udeie

Dust storm today. Not sure if we will be able to fly out. We'll see. More than ready to get to work but one can get use to the eating working out and sleeping.

Al Udeie

Survived my first day in Al Udeid, Qatar. Lazy day; will find out this evening when I fly out to Balad. Got to 110 degrees today. Went to bed @ 1am, up @ 7am, did the gym thing, bkf, walked around lost 25lbs from sweating, read some. back to the gym then lunch. then crashed (jet lag). Sun finally set so mid 90s. finally i can get on the network.

Leipzig

Well, just made it to Leipzig to refuel and crew change. Great flight. I am stuff like a pig; they kept feeding us all flight. Had a few good movies i'd say. 8hrs down another 8 to go.
Ciao

Norfolk

Got in late. Chk'd in the Bates motel (only smoking rooms avail), so I've got one hell of a HA now. cant sleep (never sure when mother would show up or her son). Fly out 1600 to Germany. 767 great service eat q 2hrs. Slept alot on the flight
Ciao