Editors Comments: I have received word that my email address is not working from outside Afghanistan. That is the correct email address, but you may also send emails to ecknavy9790@hotmail.com if you have trouble with my work email.
Friday, June 30, 2006
This has been a nice end to a very long and emotional week. I departed Kabul with a group of engineers and headed for a city called Masar-e-Sharif. It is in the northern part of Afghanistan and to date is the most beautiful drive I have ever taken part in. Kabul is elevated to 6,000 feet, but we headed into mountains that topped 13,000 feet. They were still snow capped in June. The snow that did melt created gorgeous streams through the mountain passes. On our way home from the trip we stopped by one of the streams and went swimming. The water was about 50 degrees, it was so cold but it felt great compared to some of the hot days we’ve been having.
The main purpose of the trip was to visit some of the construction sites our office is building for the Afghan National Army (ANA) and National Police (ANP). The sites I visited were the 50-bed Regional Hospital and the Wastewater Treatment Facility located on the ANA Brigade Garrison. The hospital was coming right along and was looking very good. Hard to believe a state of the art facility was going to be located right in the middle of the least technologically advanced countries in the world. This hospital is going to have the capability of conducting MRI’s and CT Scans in addition to a compounding section to their pharmacy.
During one of our meetings with Brigadier General Fazli of the ANP, the Intelligence Chief sat down next to me. At the top of his notepad he wrote what looked like the date. However, the date was significantly different from the date I had written at the top of my paper. The date he wrote was 6-4-85. I tried for the entire meeting out how he could be 21 years off. So I asked the interpreter that was with us and he says the Afghans believe the year is 1385 and today was June 4. They reference it from the date that Muhammed returned to Mecca. I found that to be very interesting in that I have never met anyone that had a differing opinion on the date.
While I was contemplating the date during the meeting, the General had one of his aides bring us watermelon to nibble on. We each got our own plate and we all ate well so we would not be rude. During our walkaround of the Police facility, one of the areas that we checked for any necessary structural improvements was the kitchen. Low and behold, there sat the rinds of the watermelon we just consumed, being cut on the floor with guys in barefeet using their hands to scoop out the melon. Needless to say most of us did not feel well for the rest of the day. Luckily no one got sick from that incident.
On the way back turned out to be one of my scariest moments to date in country. All I know is that I woke up in the hospital because we were t-boned by a semi truck and we were forced off an 8-foot bridge to a ravine below. My passenger, Andy, and I were pulled from the wreckage and medevac’d by Blackhawk to Bagram Air Field Hospital. Andy has since been taken to Germany for follow-on tests. I have been cleared and have returned to work. I still have headaches and tremendous bruising but it will heal in time.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
This evening prior to heading home I was able to join Ashley in waking up Aiden for her 4th birthday. It was so much fun to be able to participate in the day. Aiden opened up some presents while I was on the phone before I had to go to work. Ashley took some great pictures throughout the day. It looked like Brady even got in on the celebration during the singing of Happy Birthday.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
I want to wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July. Today we celebrated our nations 230th birthday in style with a large lunch barbeque. They served pork ribs, barbeque chicken, grilled steak, baked potatoes, and various macaroni and potato salads. This is a very awkward Independence celebration considering the people I interact with most at work are the British Army. I wonder if they are going to dress up in their Red Coats so we can reenact the Revolutionary War. Just kidding, but I can tell they are not interested in this celebration.
With football season weeks away, Brady is beginning his training for the 2024 College Football season.
After warming up with big sister Aiden, it's time to break in that old pigskin. Look at how he combines the use of his hands and mouth to get a nice grip on that ball.
Here he goes trying a little shake and bake. I don't think the defender bought it, but it's a good start.
We'll have to work on this one, a fumble on the third picture doesn't bode well. I think he heard footsteps or the flash of the camera.
