2006 Tour of Duty

Sunday, February 26, 2006

WAVING GOODBYE

While at the train station I started waving at these kids like we were leaving and they were waving back.

TRAIN STATION

We stopped at the train station to see how much a ticket would cost to take us home, but the station manager said the train was'nt running that day because it was a holiday. Better luck next time...

TOMAHAWK INN

The newest motel in Taji is the Tomahawk Inn. The beds have a real matteriss complete with a clothing hutch and clean rooms. They serve coffee twenty four hours and fresh cinniamon rolls for the early risers. The bathroom & showers are located outside. Motel 6 look out...

TOMATO SEMINAR

This was taken in southern Iraq during a recent agriculture seminar about growing tomatoes. These are all fresh picked out of the fields. This country has a lot of potential for vegetable crops as they have a longer growing season...

Sunday, February 19, 2006

THE RHINO EXPRESS

Sooner or later a time will come when your flight comes early or you show up too late, in any event the result is the same. I missed my flight. The alternate means of travel is to ride in a heavily armored bus. This bus is dubbed the "Rhino Express"...

READY TO GO

Horses are still used in Iraq to pull little wagons. The wagon is usally loaded with propane bottles and more in the rural areas they use the horse to haul hay. This horse is ready to go to work..

IRAQI WHEAT FARMER

I told the farmer that all our wheat back home did not come up and he interrurpted it to mean the farmers wanted to see how to rasie wheat so he wanted me to send a picture to the Texas wheat farmers to show how to grow wheat in a desert...

HEART GATE

What a coincident to see the heart on a gate during week of Valentine Day. Perhaps Cupid was trying to send a message to all who pass by. Love is in the air...

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY FROM IRAQ

Roses are red and and soldiers are blue. To all the sweethearts out there we miss you.

Saturday, February 11, 2006

GOING TO WORK

This is a group of young men on their way to work. Usually they will be singing and waving their hands as we pass them by.

CORN ON THE COB

This is one example of how the farmers market their corn. They pile it up along side the road or at a local market place and sell it by the ear. I was told that this is for both human and animal consumption. Now that's an ear full...

IRAQI HEDGE HOG

This little creature will fit right in the palm of your hand and when frightened will roll up in a tiny little ball with it's hair and spines projecting outward. The creature is harmless and all the females go" ahhhhh it's adorable"...

Monday, February 06, 2006

HUMMER IN WATER

Here's one HUMMER that no one will be eager to jump in and drive.

MUDDY ROAD

I am enjoying the rainy season and all the water standing every where. Reminds me of back home right after a big rain. I broke my rain boots out so I can tromp around in the mud...

Sunday, February 05, 2006

FLOOD WATERS

This is the rainy season in Iraq. When it rains it pours all the low areas fill up and the water does not soak in as fast as the soil is like clay. The total rainfall is about six inches a year. So far we had had about three inches...