tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25771195928300179762024-03-20T01:34:29.880-07:00Adventures in the Sandbox 2011Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-26815301375629267752011-10-02T15:57:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:57:14.984-07:00How to know it's Saturday<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYfUnTTdPcKxvgEHuYz5acfcNunkhty1Z0IOsZiEamOMyJOgwPqUm4aFAGC_6CWGIxDOOEpwqYnQJzvEiJ6bu1criqRxDuWDaVTAqPwzSu6cyR_KDmaiRs6sTOgCk1mGuDF-CuA_ejiw/s1600/P1020980.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYfUnTTdPcKxvgEHuYz5acfcNunkhty1Z0IOsZiEamOMyJOgwPqUm4aFAGC_6CWGIxDOOEpwqYnQJzvEiJ6bu1criqRxDuWDaVTAqPwzSu6cyR_KDmaiRs6sTOgCk1mGuDF-CuA_ejiw/s400/P1020980.jpg" /></a> </div>One of the reasons Bret enters these races (besides the tee shirt!) is it helps break up the week. The races are generally held on Friday or Sat-or both.<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-1985473048585519412011-10-02T15:48:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:48:54.988-07:00VIP tourguide<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbyVXcLyPkyXoz69WuOZb7XIzMs6JYSMiXccVEv-czECtZfjZSVkW43zrR9Xunf0qeJuffMKGvpLPTz3a8K7Uqa3eoQ_anMBemE7Zd4rNsR2zSVHMxDLAzU-iiu1vFy9TSCVik0CfkWQ/s1600/_DSC1549.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbyVXcLyPkyXoz69WuOZb7XIzMs6JYSMiXccVEv-czECtZfjZSVkW43zrR9Xunf0qeJuffMKGvpLPTz3a8K7Uqa3eoQ_anMBemE7Zd4rNsR2zSVHMxDLAzU-iiu1vFy9TSCVik0CfkWQ/s400/_DSC1549.JPG" /></a> </div><br />
Some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DynCorp</span> people came for some kind of inspection last week and Bret spent the day showing them around.<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-61962644585232781732011-10-02T15:47:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:58:14.456-07:00Companion Helicopter<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt7CmdG4LiVl6v4EkjJm2S_eMVfxgoo7cXF3rBhbxbWe2mrzBcRlnSXBCgiB7tz6amsnCVmCacCGI-ABJPYiefbK62dxlq7hTT-J0QkWoLU3sA5rwNRt4aLdC0JExhnb1CEeT77dkPnU/s1600/P1030372.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt7CmdG4LiVl6v4EkjJm2S_eMVfxgoo7cXF3rBhbxbWe2mrzBcRlnSXBCgiB7tz6amsnCVmCacCGI-ABJPYiefbK62dxlq7hTT-J0QkWoLU3sA5rwNRt4aLdC0JExhnb1CEeT77dkPnU/s400/P1030372.jpg" /></a> </div><br />Although <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">DynCorp</span> employees also fly on military helicopters and planes, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">DynCorp</span> has its own fleet of soviet era helicopters. When one has to fly there is always a companion one that flies with it in case one has 'mechanical problems' and has to land the companion chopper can land and pick up the people.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-59643246510265994712011-10-02T15:41:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:58:14.460-07:00Not Welcoming<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vrW7I8gPr7PuaABy7CIqxQiX_l_N815iOY1JgspZ_v-N7D8pV_hdaCLpdpzcrd9yPVhPrRLOp-gKe4RGoxVFX7R5ecbet5pkniKKE1jRLz_YfBcjl5Cfe7vsiyOu0twVTscrztVzfkk/s1600/P1030530.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vrW7I8gPr7PuaABy7CIqxQiX_l_N815iOY1JgspZ_v-N7D8pV_hdaCLpdpzcrd9yPVhPrRLOp-gKe4RGoxVFX7R5ecbet5pkniKKE1jRLz_YfBcjl5Cfe7vsiyOu0twVTscrztVzfkk/s400/P1030530.jpg" /></a> </div>And let's not forget the miserable heat...<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-8300484924891511552011-10-02T15:39:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:58:14.464-07:00Not the San Andreas fault<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qFKEQkBgTekPCi1D5JSXj1M8gdeVE5Ku1lcO-j6PI-727t7X9UOo8lP27WTDTkxQiOhhCnZoPizCwtgSdop35LJ-f1ZYgobGksCMt2O723ma1v4OA7xDqawaY5wijaJ226JKMGWkMaE/s1600/P1030472.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qFKEQkBgTekPCi1D5JSXj1M8gdeVE5Ku1lcO-j6PI-727t7X9UOo8lP27WTDTkxQiOhhCnZoPizCwtgSdop35LJ-f1ZYgobGksCMt2O723ma1v4OA7xDqawaY5wijaJ226JKMGWkMaE/s400/P1030472.jpg" /></a> </div>It's hard to understand why anyone even lives here...<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-50525946995518892092011-10-02T15:36:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:58:14.468-07:00Not the surface of the moon<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGmRQ2FSbByWegBI5MjWqpBiB89GPCMwNf52pD_VeMAjICh3lfHeYvnNyMGy_Hoagswy76IJhM7iNU5n3zd-1zrZUkYA9apwBzX1iap_3UJyBfQDmbRTmc2zZXyANHeiuRuqQFP1SALw/s1600/P1030405.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeGmRQ2FSbByWegBI5MjWqpBiB89GPCMwNf52pD_VeMAjICh3lfHeYvnNyMGy_Hoagswy76IJhM7iNU5n3zd-1zrZUkYA9apwBzX1iap_3UJyBfQDmbRTmc2zZXyANHeiuRuqQFP1SALw/s400/P1030405.jpg" /></a> </div><br />Another shot of the landscape...<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-36856392824483356892011-10-02T15:35:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:58:14.473-07:00Not the Rockies<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1lEoFNkJ0onlNnBJpcjfxxFiCbiOvMZlHc0Bg_lrsxHgAFuw83rQs7RIOqdgypdzgLucrarVjShuw6Z8WYA0ApTawib3ufFDptce6nPn34ShRjMhZyiqNZY1qt3QqQPNw3CezA84OSA/s1600/P1030394.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ1lEoFNkJ0onlNnBJpcjfxxFiCbiOvMZlHc0Bg_lrsxHgAFuw83rQs7RIOqdgypdzgLucrarVjShuw6Z8WYA0ApTawib3ufFDptce6nPn34ShRjMhZyiqNZY1qt3QqQPNw3CezA84OSA/s400/P1030394.jpg" /></a> </div><br />A view of the local mountains from the helicopter. I would really hate to be a soldier.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-35685170665539061852011-10-02T15:33:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:58:14.478-07:00Camels, People and Horses<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rXQXBB0K6odAuc_j9qxOIfsGBlKbvA2Tn4eamCay1CxEIAKtLMEOFP96VuUOp39IGopXPqg_CJzuwzJLsSLYhQtA4VccZVIXIjCVjBRa-3lEe-TNPmDgCUonRi1SAoOb3IuhwQGH1vA/s1600/P1030548.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rXQXBB0K6odAuc_j9qxOIfsGBlKbvA2Tn4eamCay1CxEIAKtLMEOFP96VuUOp39IGopXPqg_CJzuwzJLsSLYhQtA4VccZVIXIjCVjBRa-3lEe-TNPmDgCUonRi1SAoOb3IuhwQGH1vA/s400/P1030548.JPG" /></a> </div><br />It's hard to see but there are camels and people and horses at this watering hole. (Taken from the helicopter)<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-38842504289222599252011-10-02T15:30:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:58:14.483-07:00Inside the chopper<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRa5inoWMuFP8KM-cGtIc3TbMuKNqlNhH2c_suSw2qwePe9O2Ac-43QqVc9CujOa0kruTpXUlG9nyIZdpsGyf5u2JV_4lwu0cFJzHuXEg4dSgLkqTKkuRBLdO7dGQVrAk0jqqTTQB1lg/s1600/P1030330.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRa5inoWMuFP8KM-cGtIc3TbMuKNqlNhH2c_suSw2qwePe9O2Ac-43QqVc9CujOa0kruTpXUlG9nyIZdpsGyf5u2JV_4lwu0cFJzHuXEg4dSgLkqTKkuRBLdO7dGQVrAk0jqqTTQB1lg/s400/P1030330.JPG" /></a> </div>Inside one of the helicopters that Bret took to get to the other nearby bases. He <em>says</em> he was just about to put on his protective armor...<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-86888552899425995962011-10-02T15:28:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:58:14.486-07:00Whiskey Ramp (FOB)<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67XNUR6wCYpxPRylQCnP7ahBLQ-JNU1kJHs-NJqm-f0CxewVXQWwJAqrk01HLfNkAybiy8y304hxqR0A67Q5X_kLYI6nhg73mzPdnvOKTCaKx21WAAer4lFNL68EtJthp_BGyL-tFmzw/s1600/Standing+at+Whiskey+Ramp+%2528Marine+Airfield%2529.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67XNUR6wCYpxPRylQCnP7ahBLQ-JNU1kJHs-NJqm-f0CxewVXQWwJAqrk01HLfNkAybiy8y304hxqR0A67Q5X_kLYI6nhg73mzPdnvOKTCaKx21WAAer4lFNL68EtJthp_BGyL-tFmzw/s400/Standing+at+Whiskey+Ramp+%2528Marine+Airfield%2529.jpg" /></a> </div>Bret spent a day visiting some nearby FOB's (forward operating bases)<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-31690493015194746102011-10-02T15:25:00.000-07:002011-10-02T15:58:14.489-07:005K + rocket attack<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEeJpBEIx-uWHq2k7fgdqNTKtme90MWuSG_T1cA5_um5mK3XuqOrz0fpY-0Egv6hbgreHO_E3JzmJR2QgwzlPSYaYokNabkJwOK6wQaMdiDCPWttO71U5r0HZigdduzH2zJ4i-l495YE/s1600/P1030579.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEeJpBEIx-uWHq2k7fgdqNTKtme90MWuSG_T1cA5_um5mK3XuqOrz0fpY-0Egv6hbgreHO_E3JzmJR2QgwzlPSYaYokNabkJwOK6wQaMdiDCPWttO71U5r0HZigdduzH2zJ4i-l495YE/s400/P1030579.jpg" /></a> </div><br />Friday, September 30 6:30 AM. 30 seconds before Bret crossed the finish line in a 5K run the rocket siren went off. He took this picture, finished the race (best time ever) and hit the ground.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-46184285046491092282011-09-09T13:05:00.000-07:002011-09-09T13:05:31.481-07:005K September 2, 2011<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-9oDZ0fKl0hSm0oTffO7uJ30aMkC4yF_Yf6-jbjkdJoHY5rHqE41Rsie3v5HMP-pz8ZoVNaWytsfRseq7turpl70BkfI1XDxDEGZu2pFH0e1p3TkbLNaNH-b1_D0pL8K1cL4dQ7Ibtk/s1600/324605_244343778940530_100000947305339_676257_2188799_o.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-9oDZ0fKl0hSm0oTffO7uJ30aMkC4yF_Yf6-jbjkdJoHY5rHqE41Rsie3v5HMP-pz8ZoVNaWytsfRseq7turpl70BkfI1XDxDEGZu2pFH0e1p3TkbLNaNH-b1_D0pL8K1cL4dQ7Ibtk/s400/324605_244343778940530_100000947305339_676257_2188799_o.jpg" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-3713904344086679132011-09-09T13:04:00.000-07:002011-09-09T13:04:08.225-07:00Hades<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoo2aVMRxzQxne3hPaNCBBUQ3PUAaqohOF3rRhsporuahYE4bFanHWSG5V-ePJG6B9rKYdcw8zUn-tl-K9XJjxf5GO-i1Zur5tl73NnZPdNYOBXztl0dj0LwjwuAh-dd3OuOXNJy03VZg/s1600/311069_244352578939650_100000947305339_676273_8367246_n.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoo2aVMRxzQxne3hPaNCBBUQ3PUAaqohOF3rRhsporuahYE4bFanHWSG5V-ePJG6B9rKYdcw8zUn-tl-K9XJjxf5GO-i1Zur5tl73NnZPdNYOBXztl0dj0LwjwuAh-dd3OuOXNJy03VZg/s400/311069_244352578939650_100000947305339_676273_8367246_n.jpg" /></a> </div>On the back of this sign it says 'Hell'.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-30590741702525645942011-09-09T13:02:00.000-07:002011-09-09T13:02:45.983-07:006914 miles from Washington D.C.<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrbVhu3YoK-ZnuP6zHlewXF-qWp1pRhLag8wuOSsIuGiC2Rm79c83jVnGPcwsJtwQXVen4SaqmExmYxW0rveBs8oLVpkGs6COPFknyC6NVmJXgQ8wky8bb1YUDr6eleHLxKhF9siQfNw/s1600/314719_244352448939663_100000947305339_676271_537731_n.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgrbVhu3YoK-ZnuP6zHlewXF-qWp1pRhLag8wuOSsIuGiC2Rm79c83jVnGPcwsJtwQXVen4SaqmExmYxW0rveBs8oLVpkGs6COPFknyC6NVmJXgQ8wky8bb1YUDr6eleHLxKhF9siQfNw/s400/314719_244352448939663_100000947305339_676271_537731_n.jpg" /></a> </div><br />And about 8900 miles from Colorado.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-24945099244983266292011-09-09T12:58:00.000-07:002011-09-09T12:59:01.208-07:00The middle of nowhere<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3kQonnBxwts4BQx-Mxi25DNP8HyU82GS1loZvlRjUxES54d7ndZ5qukO_K5c599Nn66W5F-abjOffl7IxZWo2R1HEaJHbLUyLh-u0B45DduYYEiwNWJsSH0FOTdk5V4rgyhZNKHE6_I/s1600/298795_244352372273004_100000947305339_676270_7289489_n.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3kQonnBxwts4BQx-Mxi25DNP8HyU82GS1loZvlRjUxES54d7ndZ5qukO_K5c599Nn66W5F-abjOffl7IxZWo2R1HEaJHbLUyLh-u0B45DduYYEiwNWJsSH0FOTdk5V4rgyhZNKHE6_I/s400/298795_244352372273004_100000947305339_676270_7289489_n.jpg" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-83418048851929219402011-09-09T12:55:00.000-07:002011-09-09T12:56:00.400-07:005K with the newest class of 80 recruit<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotCMoLhGfYBRO590m4L1vkvxY5He1iMW7ZGXiAdqnF6dF1hxTnE55E7BmCy81JI19KRcuaRNi2NtGKh7rwvv3LnZNoinjA6pwQ_tIzqZL7oQub2XNXBDdW9EQgN2fEnv1wj9dfHO5yFc/s1600/290729_247140051994236_100000947305339_684020_264242714_o.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotCMoLhGfYBRO590m4L1vkvxY5He1iMW7ZGXiAdqnF6dF1hxTnE55E7BmCy81JI19KRcuaRNi2NtGKh7rwvv3LnZNoinjA6pwQ_tIzqZL7oQub2XNXBDdW9EQgN2fEnv1wj9dfHO5yFc/s400/290729_247140051994236_100000947305339_684020_264242714_o.jpg" /></a> </div>The guy in the middle (Rick Polo) is the one who recruited Bret to come to Afghanistan to keep him company. He also told the one on the left (Doug Lobdel) about the great opportunities for fun over there... Bret has since convinced another classmate to come and he will arrive next week. Bret and Doug actually go way back. They wrestled on opposing teams way back in the early 1970's when Bret lived in New York.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-62652855197818069342011-08-22T11:10:00.000-07:002011-08-22T11:10:19.502-07:00<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKIe1q4ZHrxCzQHkcwuRmPyixa8KKRwEWl47SkRDRGDzCq7xbMPCClhIjsiPP7HsEifDuaJ1r7z4HwVoZjifOdtmKR5QfGqvlms0M3zCby299M9G17qDdD_gnmXcX3tYNXn6WhDoGSdQ/s1600/P1030011.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKIe1q4ZHrxCzQHkcwuRmPyixa8KKRwEWl47SkRDRGDzCq7xbMPCClhIjsiPP7HsEifDuaJ1r7z4HwVoZjifOdtmKR5QfGqvlms0M3zCby299M9G17qDdD_gnmXcX3tYNXn6WhDoGSdQ/s400/P1030011.jpg" /></a> </div>
<br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">DynCorp</span> employees after the 5K run standing in front of the Poo Pond. The sign in front of the Poo Pond changes periodically.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-76610970847126830932011-08-22T11:07:00.000-07:002011-08-22T11:07:37.612-07:00<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoKKZExy8TzxzTx5GoY7ANn2q1IMd1KREPRR1gRHQUveNpfcjHUEO49I3HVwoOitU-RUpbKCQoADHiXiFjXu0Y01B0gLJgMPvmDv3xMCY4Jc0dKUXedF_ULHEWXIlSWzUU_EFnGrBTBA/s1600/P1020982.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoKKZExy8TzxzTx5GoY7ANn2q1IMd1KREPRR1gRHQUveNpfcjHUEO49I3HVwoOitU-RUpbKCQoADHiXiFjXu0Y01B0gLJgMPvmDv3xMCY4Jc0dKUXedF_ULHEWXIlSWzUU_EFnGrBTBA/s400/P1020982.jpg" /></a> </div>
<br />I asked Bret to take a picture of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">KAF</span> hospital because there is a TV show that is kind of a modern day M.A.S.H. that is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">supposed</span> to take place at the Kandahar Airfield Medical Hospital. I wanted to see if the TV hospital looked like the real one (it doesn't)<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-86441778781879654012011-08-22T11:03:00.000-07:002011-08-22T11:11:24.728-07:00<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmRiuyemLrsU2gwxIghcgEm8kxecbyRNZTYBwbK8pxqSoJ213OcQGIKzlRFzhN0FO4vWk05s3Ety1ZWZzxtFMqPX838h7MYmIXNMSMQQHQyDGeihX0Ud63R7UyIns5B3pNaFIvik08-Q/s1600/P1020958.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmRiuyemLrsU2gwxIghcgEm8kxecbyRNZTYBwbK8pxqSoJ213OcQGIKzlRFzhN0FO4vWk05s3Ety1ZWZzxtFMqPX838h7MYmIXNMSMQQHQyDGeihX0Ud63R7UyIns5B3pNaFIvik08-Q/s400/P1020958.JPG" /></a> </div>Bret and Rick Polo (Bret's West Point classmate and Ranger buddy in Ranger school back in 1978) just before their 5K run around the base. <br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-37713898404605082352011-08-10T16:59:00.000-07:002011-08-10T16:59:39.637-07:00The Bullpen<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdrwpJ_XfyHKqOiBUSXhBVoI3fv9k9TRwEEEOsGBpje8r4gW5t3_xYYd3_WmRnJZAbPSdUyuXpoP445EIkuD1U71I9S3jgmdO8vvALEXzBpH9wm8_f8BEqdJ68CzR8FXz0niNEb57PO4/s1600/2011-08-09+18.27.53.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdrwpJ_XfyHKqOiBUSXhBVoI3fv9k9TRwEEEOsGBpje8r4gW5t3_xYYd3_WmRnJZAbPSdUyuXpoP445EIkuD1U71I9S3jgmdO8vvALEXzBpH9wm8_f8BEqdJ68CzR8FXz0niNEb57PO4/s400/2011-08-09+18.27.53.jpg" /></a> </div>While this may not look luxurious, it is in a real building with a real telephone and (I think I can see) windows! I'll bet the walls have better insulation than a tent or a metal container so the AC should be better too.
<br /><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-63403301551325498062011-08-01T11:38:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:38:48.511-07:00Another Score! Office chair<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLI5i2fNQCmmky9FxDvy42itU2_VEHicKhyphenhyphenkS4DOW8y7eTvOBAAYTfbhe8aPXzcjucVR5MiXTeTAblfzvBIghxJd9d4mDltbAd4eR-w060jtyNkuEi1Gg0e7deXV2HHAF7Rnw639w-Rc/s1600/P1020824.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLI5i2fNQCmmky9FxDvy42itU2_VEHicKhyphenhyphenkS4DOW8y7eTvOBAAYTfbhe8aPXzcjucVR5MiXTeTAblfzvBIghxJd9d4mDltbAd4eR-w060jtyNkuEi1Gg0e7deXV2HHAF7Rnw639w-Rc/s400/P1020824.JPG" /></a> </div>Bret brought an inflatable exercise ball with him to lay on and stretch his back. Since it would have taken up the only available floor space in his first 'bedroom' he used it in his 'Deep South' office as a chair (it's good for the core). But it looks like his scavenging has paid off and now he has an official grown up chair! I asked if he has been dumpster diving yet. He said no, but he would if he needed to!<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-68143330476259114662011-08-01T11:29:00.001-07:002011-08-01T11:29:55.101-07:00Another shot of the Boardwalk..<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://localhost:2841/d14b62f3ae7fe4a24142734f02c6b7a8/image/73963b36a3bceb56.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://localhost:2841/d14b62f3ae7fe4a24142734f02c6b7a8/image/73963b36a3bceb56.jpg?size=400" /></a> </div>...because it's the most interesting place on base....Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-67135982752702876252011-08-01T11:29:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:29:15.117-07:00Road with blast walls<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighl860IzXhis9DPSfCtgZV34c3xn5SoGNlv2wOGDkim8gvfa5bhwXd7o3wKkXzvZcEkWTzHRIklfR6AtqXi_QT5BKG8kWTgIKi_burzS2Xgpu4I8OHDqnplHkGD86dBfXHA3QNNtArKo/s1600/P1020764.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEighl860IzXhis9DPSfCtgZV34c3xn5SoGNlv2wOGDkim8gvfa5bhwXd7o3wKkXzvZcEkWTzHRIklfR6AtqXi_QT5BKG8kWTgIKi_burzS2Xgpu4I8OHDqnplHkGD86dBfXHA3QNNtArKo/s400/P1020764.JPG" /></a> </div><br />Imagine walking or riding a bike in 120 degree heat and all this dust. No wonder Afghans aren't exactly happy people.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-87831675028293386462011-08-01T11:20:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:20:07.203-07:00Sports Field<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1f_ympfr17LnnLClxGIIdb7M1L-KIT4UzIfxRwoAWmayU1kyRq98MLx6ioeEECaMVNvBT666UqFD5TWjHr2VWnJX90ZZkOV4r4dD61IPonKVFBdOc3Nk51a1ncDfmHVRB0YV_GOm2HQ/s1600/P1020788.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1f_ympfr17LnnLClxGIIdb7M1L-KIT4UzIfxRwoAWmayU1kyRq98MLx6ioeEECaMVNvBT666UqFD5TWjHr2VWnJX90ZZkOV4r4dD61IPonKVFBdOc3Nk51a1ncDfmHVRB0YV_GOm2HQ/s400/P1020788.JPG" /></a> </div><br />This is the sports field/entertainment venue that is in the middle of the Boardwalk. Looks fun.<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577119592830017976.post-58619708796784931462011-08-01T11:16:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:16:11.250-07:00The Office<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8emis4W6p21E-bYtuEBAW2DZ29wiJzy9oH_zLO3MqGiPdJfSVfoaga5ZqTW_765UUINz4z0jvy1mqFu64tuKo8wTmOgfS9VnhvXipN9HFmB3zp-Jm1UFQE4ybl_8UPpFXFR6mVr-Kw1E/s1600/P1020757.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8emis4W6p21E-bYtuEBAW2DZ29wiJzy9oH_zLO3MqGiPdJfSVfoaga5ZqTW_765UUINz4z0jvy1mqFu64tuKo8wTmOgfS9VnhvXipN9HFmB3zp-Jm1UFQE4ybl_8UPpFXFR6mVr-Kw1E/s400/P1020757.JPG" /></a> </div>Though Bret works either in a building or a metal container, this is not atypical for an office. This particular room was where Bret had training the first few days he was at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">KAF</span>. This is also similar to the tents that are lined with bunk beds for soldiers and civilian workers (makes that metal box Bret calls home look pretty nice, doesn't it)?<div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Adventures in the Sandbox 2011http://www.blogger.com/profile/13176833024069941439noreply@blogger.com0