Seeing The Sights

Museum of Islamic Art
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Yesterday, I went downtown with Eddy, James, and Lee. We had a loose agenda, most dictated by Eddy, and it ended up being one of the best trips I've had downtown since I got here.
After lunch and some light shopping at the City Centre, we headed across the Corniche to the Museum of Islamic Art. It was a place I'd driven past several times and always wanted to check out, but usually the people with me weren't interested.

Doha
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

It's a gorgeous building that sits on a man-made island in the bay. It contained galleries with pieces collected as far west as Spain and as far east as China, and dating all the way back to the 7th century, when Islam was founded. There were some gorgeous exhibits, featuring everything from tapestries and jewellery to suits of armour and ancient pages of the Qur'an written with gold.

Lee & Eddy
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

From there, we headed over to the souqs for a little more shopping. The souqs are different than the malls because they're all locally-run shops in a more traditional setting. Plus, you can haggle with the shop-keepers, which is kind of an art form around here. Also, there are tons of outdoor cafes for relaxing and smoking the hookah.

Smokin' the Hookah
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

We ended up sitting at the cafe for two hours, socialising and laughing. This trip was different than my other trips to Doha in that none of the guys I brought with me were people from work. I love the guys on my crew, but it was nice to get away with friends I don't already spend twelve hours a day with.

James & Eddy
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Eddy really wanted to go to this place called the Sky View Bar at the top of the La Cigale Hotel. Unfortunately, he couldn't remember exactly how to get there. So we spent a few minutes driving around in crazy Doha traffic with Eddy on the phone with the broken-Engish-speaking concierge trying to get directions. It was total chaos at the time, but something we couldn't stop laughing about by the time we got there.

Me & Lee
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

We sat outside on the terrace, overlooking the entire city, and it was absolutely breathtaking. We reclined and told stories over cheese, sushi, and cigars. I laughed harder than I've laughed in a long time. Doha is quickly becoming one of my favourite cities.

James, Eddy, Lee, & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

I'm really glad the four of us got to hang out yesterday, especially in a setting that made us forget, if only for a day, that we're deployed. I haven't known these guys for long, but it's good to know we have a brotherhood that extends beyond national borders or social boundaries. And if any of them ever find themselves in Italy, my door will be open wide.

Oh, and if you see Lee, ask him why I can't get this song out of my head.

End In Sight

I just got back from an out-processing briefing, something everyone has to attend within 30 days of departure. It's kind of a milestone of sorts, ensuring us that yes, we will eventually get out of here, and yes, that day is getting close. It's also going to make it even harder for everyone to stay focused on the job and not off in dreamland, fantasising about what they're going to do once they get home.
On top of that, we have a two-day weekend again. This time, it's kind of a safety thing. The Commander knows that once people get toward the end of their rotation, they tend to lose focus at work and not pay attention to what they're doing. Accidents increase and people get injured. This is his way of telling us to take an extra day to rest, giving us the energy to push through the rest of our time here and end on a positive note. I'm not sure it will be effective, but I'd never turn down an extra day off.

Wind Resistance

I had a mock PT test today, and I was expecting to have improved in all areas. I increased my push-ups and sit-ups, and my waist measurement is down by and inch and a half. However, my run was nearly a minute slower than six months ago. I'm guessing it's because I've been running more for distance here than for speed. Once I get back to Italy, I'll start running intervals to improve my time; but until then, I'm still just gonna work on burning calories.

The 19th Mile

Our dig last week was the last major part of this project. Everything else over the next month is interior work, and it shouldn't be too difficult. It feels great to be done with the hard part, but at the same time, I'm going to have trouble keeping my momentum until we leave. And how can I expect my guys to stay motivated when I can barely keep myself going? "Just a little bit more," I keep telling them. "You're doing a great job!" I worry that my encouraging remarks are starting to sound fake, when they're actually quite genuine. The buildings those guys are putting together are coming together wonderfully, and the progress they make each day is so dramatic. I hope everyone that stays after we leave appreciates the effort we've put into it.

Stir Crazy

In The Trench
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Maybe it's the long hours. Maybe it's the 120+ degree heat. Maybe it's the fact we've been here five months and our return home still seems so far away. Whatever it was, this was a rough week. So rough that the other day, as we were all in the trench, sweaty and getting covered in dust, I felt the need to belt out a heartfelt rendition of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." It brought a few smiles and lightened the mood, which was all it was intended to do in the first place.
See, I'm of the belief that all of life's troubles can be cured by a perfect pop song. There are quite a few out there, so next time you're feeling down, do what I did as I was driving home from work tonight. Put on this song:

Sympathy For The Anorexics

I didn't really set out to lose weight on this deployment. In fact, I rarely lose weight in the desert, the exception to that rule being the '04 Iraq trip wherein I lost 15 pounds in three months.
But I downloaded an app for my iPod called "Lose It!" which is basically just a calorie counter. It also tracks nutritional information, which was more important to me than just calories. I wanted to account for what I put into my body--the good, the bad, and the high fructose corn disgustingness. I didn't really care about weight loss.
Everything was going well until about two months ago when I randomly stepped on a scale at the gym and noticed that I'd lost eight pounds. I know weight is really just a number and the whole deal about how muscle weighs more than fat, but I have to be honest that it felt really good to see that number drop. From then on, I started paying even more attention to my diet and workout routine.
Since then, I've lost another eight pounds, which puts me at 153 as of today. I've made a goal of getting below 150 before I leave here, but here's the kicker: I don't really want to lose any more weight.
When I take off my shirt and look in the mirror, I can hear my Mom's voice saying, "Oh, my stars! You're so skinny!" And that voice is right. I'm gaunt and emaciated. I'm the guy in the 60s beach party film that gets sand kicked on him. I'm McLovin.
Still, I'm desperate to see that scale tip at 149. I can't explain it; it's just something I want to prove to myself I can do. Every morning when I put on my pants and I have to cinch my belt tighter and tighter, I feel like a success. I prefer to think of it as an infatuation rather than an obsession, as I still indulge in the occasional soy macchiato or bagel with cream cheese. Still, it's easy to understand how people freak out over that stupid little number on their scale.
I know after I get back to Italy, I'll devour enough pasta and cheesecake to feed Liechtenstein, and I'll eventually get back to my normal weight. I just want to take this opportunity to see if I have the will power to resist shoving junk food down my throat. Let me wallow in my self-absorbed haze of Jarvis Cocker delineation, and things will get back to normal soon enough.

In Good Hands

Cheyenne & Chelsey
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

In my absence, Cheyenne and Chelsey are taking care of the casa and the macchina. Chey and I talk or e-mail once or twice a week, and I always ask if there are any issues with either one. She assures me everything is great, and that she and Chels have developed quite a fondness for yard work. Recently, to put any fears to rest (not that I had any), Chelsey sent this picture of my truck that's totally in one piece, featuring my house that hasn't burned down. Yet.
Thanks, ladies! You're totally getting your choice of cheesecake upon my return.

Thank You, God, for shopping on the Internets!

I just spent the past hour on the phone (Skype, actually) with Delta making reservations for a trip home and to several other destinations over Christmas. I've been looking around online for reservations for the past few months, trying to finagle my itinerary to see as many people as possible without bankrupting myself.
The tickets I wanted were ringing up at around 2400 bucks. (I know, right?!?!) But for some reason, a couple days ago, they suddenly dropped to 1800, so I figured I'd better get while the gettin's good. I made an attempt to purchase online, but because my flight originates from overseas, I had to call. This ended up being a good thing, because at the last minute, I asked about a military discount, which dropped my fare another 200 bucks.
So, between 11 December and 2 January, I'll be going from Venice to DC to Evansville to Denver to SLC and back to Venice. A whirlwind tour, to be sure, but I'm trying to see as many people as possible. It's seven months away, but I'm already excited.

We're Talking Crazy Heat

Summer has kicked into high gear here in Qatar. Just in the past week, the temperature has gone from "Wow, it's pretty warm out here" to "I walked outside and immediately burst into flame." It doesn't help that we're on the part of the project that requires a lot of trenching out in the sun. But even so, we don't have our air conditioning units hooked up yet, so inside is just as warm with no air circulation at all.
One of the buildings we're working on is right next to the clinic, and yesterday, the captain that works in mental health brought some fresh fruit out to us. Today, she brought smoothies. Apparently, she can spot a potential basket case a mile away and is doing her best to keep us cool and sane.

Departure Gate

Steve, Pete, & Steven
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Sonny, Steve, and Steven are leaving tonight, so last night, a group of us went out for our beers. It was a bittersweet evening of laughter and stories, and our team isn't going to be the same after they're gone.

Our Crew
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Steve and Steven are stationed in England, and a few of us Aviano guys are already planning trips up there this summer. And they all know if they're ever in Italy, they totally have a place to stay. Yeah, it's hard saying goodbye to people, but it's great knowing I have friends in every corner of the globe.

Four Fellas

Mike, Sonny, & Kevin
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

I went downtown again yesterday, this time with Sonny, Kevin, and Mike, three guys that work in HVAC. Our agenda wasn't much different than any other time I've been downtown, but for some reason, it was really relaxing and mellow. I think part of it was that there was only four of us, so it was easier to decide what to do and where to go. Also, those three guys are a riot. The banter between them kept me laughing all day long. I took them to some places they hadn't been before, and they were really appreciative.
Sonny is stationed in Aviano, as well, and even though I'd met him before, we never really hung out until we deployed here together. He heads back to Aviano this week, and then he'll be leaving Aviano permanently next month. I hope I get back there before he takes off.

Fast Friends

Brock & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

I know I've mentioned this before, but one of the harder parts about life in the military is always saying goodbye to your friends, whether they're leaving or you are. And something peculiar about desert life is how fast things progress, including developing friendships. Since the turnover rate is also higher here, I end up seeing people off even more often than normal. Tonight, for instance, my friend Brock, whom I haven't known long, heads back to his home station in California. It's a small Air Force, so I'm sure our paths will cross again.
There are a lot of people leaving in the next few weeks, and before long, it will be my turn. And as many people as I've met here, it will still feel great to go back to Italia and see the friends I've been missing since December.

Whiplashed

A couple days ago, I was just about done. Even though I enjoyed my two-day weekend, by the time work was over on Monday, I was exhausted, weak-spirited, doubting my abilities, feeling unloved, and just plain shitty. I started to write a huge tirade about it that night, but before I posted it, I stopped myself. "Perhaps," I thought to myself, "tomorrow will be better." Boy, was I right.
Tuesday started off a little weak, but by the end of the day, I had hashed some things out with people, the project was moving along in the right direction, drama subsided, and I was feeling like my normal optimistic self again.
Today was even better. I felt productive and cheerful. Some project issues I was worried about were resolved. We were all having fun. Plus, I listened to "Heaven Is Whenever," the new album from The Hold Steady. I've been looking forward to this one for a long time, and I recommend you legally purchase your copy as soon as possible. Just try and listen to the chorus of "The Weekenders" without your heart feeling as though it just might burst. Go ahead, I dare you.

Letting Off Some Steam

G, Steve, & Petzold
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

On nights before their days off, most of the guys go out to the Desert Eagle Lounge (DEL) to hang out, relax, and indulge in their three beers. Up until a few weeks ago, I never went. I don't know why, but I usually spent my evenings in my room, quietly rewinding after a long week.
But, for some reason, they all convinced me to go out with them a couple weekends ago, and I had a great time. And since then, I've joined them every Friday night, drinking our beers, and laughing about things that happened the previous week. It's the closest thing we have to a bar, and even though it's not perfect, it's enough to get us through the next two months.
By the way, after not drinking for so long, three beers are surprisingly potent.

Moving Forward

Today basically consisted of cleaning up and taking care of small details. We had no problem meeting our deadline to finish the second set of buildings, and as a reward, we get a true weekend. That's right--two whole days off.
This is both a blessing and a curse. Having a couple days to relax will be great, especially since I'm taking some of the guys downtown tomorrow. However, I now have a roommate--a for-real, permanent one this time. It's really not that bad because he works the exact opposite shift, so we rarely see each other. But whenever I have days off, he'll be in the room sleeping, and vice versa. So it's not without its flaws.
Regardless, we're all glad to have this phase behind us, and come Monday, we'll hit the ground running on the next phase. We're going to have some personnel changes over the next few weeks, and it's going to be rough losing Steve, Pretzel, and G. I just hope their replacements will work as hard as they do and also have the great personalities and senses of humour to which we've grown accustomed.

How Dirty Girls Get Clean

True, Courtney Love is a mess; but that mess is one of the last true rock stars around today. Yesterday, her reformed band, Hole, released "Nobody's Daughter," an album five years in the making. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I doubted it would be on par with their dual 90s masterpieces "Live Through This" and "Celebrity Skin." I think most were expecting something along the lines of Courtney's slightly underrated 2004 solo effort "America's Sweetheart."
Upon first listen, I'd have to say it's somewhere between the two. She's still fascinated by southern California, and she sure loves those mid-tempo partially acoustic rock anthems. The lyrics have slipped a bit, but the hooks are still there. It's nearly impossible not to sing along with "Pacific Coast Highway" even though it's fairly reminiscent of "Sunset Strip" and, to a point, "Malibu." There should probably be a little more "Samantha" and a little less "Letter To God," but I'll take any Courtney I can get for the time being.
No song is perfect. Courtney wails on the harder tracks, and her voice is lacking on the ballads; but it's the ballads that somehow seem the most heartfelt. It doesn't help that Courtney remains the only original member of her band. She's talented, but she needs a solid group of experienced musicians to back her up, not an incidental group of guys from bands she's liked in the past.
I think Courtney and Madonna have a lot more in common than they'd like to admit. Music, especially performance, is cathartic for them--a way to exorcise their demons. Now that Courtney is (supposedly) clean and sober, she's trying to confess her sins and tell her tale of destruction and redemption. "I swear I'm to young to be this old," she sings on "For Once In Your Life." She might be on the right path, but I'm not sure she'll ever reach her destination.

A Clockwork Orange

I'm off today, which is kinda weird. My routine has been so consistent for the past four months, and even the slightest deviation feels like my whole week has been thrown off.
Normally, our whole team is split: half take Saturday off, and the other half take Sunday off. But now, the boss has decided that we'll be more productive if we all just take the same day off. I don't claim to understand why; I just go with the flow. It really doesn't change much, except that now, those I normally chat/Skype with on Sunday, I'll now have to communicate with on Saturday. If you have any questions, consult with my secretary and she'll pencil you in.

Temporary Bunk-Mate

I got an e-mail Monday morning from a lady in lodging informing me I'd be getting a roommate whenever he arrived on base. I kinda figured I'd be getting a roommate sometime soon; I just wasn't sure when. So I e-mailed Stan, who has access to all the arrivals and departures for our squadron, and asked when this guy was supposed to arrive. Stan said this guy actually got here a week ago, and already lived in another room. So basically, that was a freebee, and it doesn't look like I'll be getting a roommate for another month.
Or so I thought.
Rick had a brief moment of airheadedness this week and lost his ID, which is a pretty big deal. As punishment, he had to move out of his room and into a tent for a week. The tents have about fifty bunk beds crammed into them and they're not really pleasant at all. So, I figured since it will be a while before I have a permanent roommate, I'd give Rick a break and let him stay in my room. (Shhhh! Don't tell anyone!)
It's only until Tuesday when Rick can move back into his own room, and it's kinda nice to have someone to talk to. Yeah, it's a little more cramped than normal, but it's worth it.

Stop, Look, Listen

We've been here over four months now. It's obvious the work stress, the heat, and generally being in the desert is kinda getting to everyone. People are starting to bicker about ridiculous things, and you can practically see the animosity in the air.
Back in '02-'03, I was here for nearly eight months, and I remember lashing out myself over things that seemed so important at the time, but after I looked back, I realised how foolish I was being.
I'm trying to take that personal experience into account now as I see the guys on my crew do things to each other just out of spite. I've had to take a few of them aside individually, talk rationally with them, and remind them that we're all under a lot of stress here. I try to reason with them, in that when they get upset, don't take whatever action springs to mind. Take a deep breath, and think about why they feel this way. Is it really that severe or are they just desperate to get back home? Would their actions be any different if we were at home station? Can they get over it long enough to finish this project and go back to being cool with each other?
Even with a few isolated incidents, I'm still really proud of my crew, and I couldn't be happier. And even though it seems like our remaining time here can't go fast enough, I'm sure we'll all look back at this deployment and think, "You know, it wasn't so bad, after all."

Re-Up In Style

Diaz & Capt
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Yesterday, Diaz re-enlisted for another four years in the Air Force. He asked Captain Joo, who came with us from Italy and is one of the coolest people I know, to do the honours. Captain made arrangements to do it out on the B-1 ramp, and the whole shop went out to watch. It was pretty cool.

Steve, Aaron, Me, Paco, Rick, & Steven
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

And of course, given the opportunity, the rest of us had to take advantage of the photo op.

Diaz
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

SMSgt Cundy, the representative from the bomber squadron, gave us a quick tour of the plane and let us sign bombs. I opted out, as it kinda seems like adding insult to injury.

After that, he took us out to the perch to watch a B-1 take off. Unfortunately, it had a maintenance issue, so we just got to see it taxi; however, we got to see another one land, which was pretty amazing.

Seeing another side of the Air Force was really interesting. I think all the guys had a good time, and I was glad we could all go out and support Diaz.