Straight From the Llama's Mouth

Well,

I've been here for a bit back in Iraq and things seem pretty different nowadays. The Iraqi Police and Army are more on their game. Things are over all more peaceful - and we get more smiles. Every kid likes to ask for candy, so kids are the same everywhere.

We are sharing a "Joint Service Station" with the city council/Iraqi Police here. That's a weird experience, walking downstairs and seeing the mayor's son running around - or sitting in an Iraqi cafe that's in the Police station drinking tea and watching news about the Ashura festival. Overall a lot calmer. However, there is still plenty of danger, especially at this time of unit transition. Already elements of the brigade have been tested - but that is the nature of where we are. Someone that I spoke with who was over here recently compared it to being a "white cop in East LA" - and that's what it seems to be.

Well, that's it for now - just a short note - more later.

Today was a very sad day. We found out that one of our two cats, Kahless, had cancer. There was nothing that could be done for him, he wasn't even able to eat, and so he had to be put to sleep. Inna was able to be there with him, but I was down in Mississippi.

My first strong memory of our fluffy grey cat was from around Thanksgiving time 1996. His mother, Boot, had taken ill and her litter was unable to feed from her. We were able to feed all of the kittens with an eyedropper except for Kahless - he wouldn't eat. We were concerned that he wouldn't make it.

Now, we had a tradition that on major holidays our cats would receive a plate of table scraps. So it's Thanksgiving, and the cats are enjoying the remnants of a Turkey drumstick when all of a sudden I hear a high pitched growl. Here is little kitten Kahless - who should still be on his mother's milk in the middle of the group of adult male cats growling and dragging away the turkey leg that is larger than him! From that point, he would eat table food until he came of the age when he would have normally started on solids. At that time, he would only eat cat food. As if he believed that what we ate was "baby food".

Kahless was a good, affectionate cat who had a wonderful, quirky personality. He would always be there if you were feeling down, and enjoyed the comfort of snuggling with any friendly person. I can only hope that he enjoyed his time with us. Kahless has been a good and faithful companion over this decade plus, and he will be sorely missed. Rest well.

Here we go once more. Over 100 weeks since I've last posted to this blog, and I am trying it again. I am re-mobilized and am training to go back to Iraq. We'll see how it goes this time. Hopefully I will keep a handwritten journal to assist in the posting of blogs. We'll see (-:

Wow, What can I say? It certainly has been a bit since my last post. And, a lot has happened since then. I've been to Ireland, got engaged, moved to Delaware (blech!!), and am finally going back to work (praise Jesus, the Lord is mighty!). I'm finally in the mood again to deal with the internet editing wise. I'm thinking of revamping the website, getting a myspace page (I know too many people on it), and posting here every once in a while. Well now...

llama6... Out!

My loyal legion of LJ readers! This will be my last lj post for a bit. The internet (mine, not THE) gets cut off at around noon SDT (Shithole Daylight Time). I shoudl regain a semblance of the internet in Kuwait :-P Until then, I'm ottie like a fat kid in dodgeball!

http://www.sandmonkey.org/2006/05/07/alaa-arrested/#comments

I really hope that the US government slams Egypt on this. Although I don't think that anything official will happen. Egypt is, after all, a good ally. If you're American, I urge you to talk to your congresscritters about it. How can we preach democracy to others if we allow this to happen soley because we like this particular non democratic gov't?

Bullsh*t

Llama6, out!

So, there is a question about putting an Air Force general as new head of the CIA. An Air Force general who is the former head of the NSA and spearheaded the US domestic wiretapping program. hmmm. Traditionally, the head of the CIA has been a civilian and has been viewed as a civilian agency. hmm.

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/307402

Easter '06. Not a bad Easter, as far as they go. I've actually had worse. This was a pretty cool Easter in that Charlie Daniels decided to stop by. He signed autographs and sang three songs accoustic and solo at our base. He then had a full concert (which some of us snuck over to) at the base accross the street later that night. The accoustic performance was real nice. There were only about 100 of us or so, real intimate. www.bradkenny.com/Movs/countryboy.mpg

At the concert, he had two Marines open for him. It was an odd feeling, watching those two guys play. Similar to what I've mentioned in a previous post. Watching these people with their very distinct look playing cover songs. It was like I found myself in an subculture, which I suppose is one of the things that the military is. Pretty cool. Well, anyway, after that a fellow named Dave Price came on to speak (he's a weather man for one of the networks). I'll tell you, he's a pretty funny guy! I was surprised. Charlie was on next, and that was another surprise for me. Seeing this old, pretty large guy move like he moved and play like he did was incredible www.bradkenny.com/Movs/fiddler2.mpg
Then, in the middle of the set, he brought the marine openers back on stage to play with the band and sing lead on Johnny Be Good. The whole place went crazy. Over all, it was a crazy time. And of course, he finished with his trademarked "Devil Went Down to Georgia" www.bradkenny.com/Movs/devil.mpg (large file)

Well, in other news, Fizzy Purple owes me $5, I fixed my broken camera, and I'll be away for 5 days soon.

Llama6, Out!

*Dusts off Live journal*

I’ve been meaning to write about some of these things for a while now, but I’ve struggled with how to do it. What I’ve failed to do with monologue I’ve succeeded to do with dialogue. The music that I was listening to put in the same mood that I usually am in when I want to post an entry, and by talking to someone it was able to stay fresh in my mind. Interesting. Fizzypurple is also an lj user. Screen names have been changed to protect the innocent, but finding out who's innocent is hard work. And, there were a LOT more typos on my part in the original ;-)

Convo:

Llama of Arabia says:
You know, I looked at the sky a couple of nights ago.

Llama of Arabia says:
I haven't done that in a while.

fizzypurple says:
really?

fizzypurple says:
can you see lots of stars?

Llama of Arabia says:
Oh yeah.

Llama of Arabia says:
Tons.

fizzypurple says:
i can't see many stars

Llama of Arabia says:
Much more than what I can see back home.

fizzypurple says:
damn cities

Llama of Arabia says:
heh

Llama of Arabia says:
I know.

fizzypurple says:
but i like looking at the sky at night. you should look at it more

Llama of Arabia says:
I know.

Llama of Arabia says:
I usually do.

Llama of Arabia says:
But for some reason I just haven’t for the past couple of months.

Llama of Arabia says:
And I used to be a person who would remind people to look up every so often at night.

fizzypurple says:
heh

Llama of Arabia says:
Good Lord I can't wait to get out of here.

fizzypurple says:
aww

fizzypurple says:
when do you leave?

fizzypurple says:
do you know?

Llama of Arabia says:
Summer time.

Llama of Arabia says:
Not too long.

Llama of Arabia says:
It's just that the Army isn't good for mental sharpness.

fizzypurple says:
heh

Llama of Arabia says:
I need to update my lj.

fizzypurple says:
yes

Llama of Arabia says:
I get snippets of things to talk about.

Llama of Arabia says:
Awesome things.

Llama of Arabia says:
But finalizing them into words just barely escapes me.

Llama of Arabia says:
It's frustrating.

fizzypurple says:
mhm

Llama of Arabia says:
You know what I mean?

fizzypurple says:
i do!

Llama of Arabia says:
And then sometimes the feeling passes, and it's the feeling of the time that you want to capture to tell people about.

Llama of Arabia says:
Like the other night, before going back to *that city where we were attacked before*, a bunch of guys were in the club and we were listening to one of the guys play his songs on his guitar.

Llama of Arabia says:
It reminded me of a scene from a movie called Glory.

Llama of Arabia says:
Where the night before the large battle, the men are around a camp fire singing spirituals, and praying communally.

Llama of Arabia says:
But then, the next day, when I wanted to write about it, the spirit was gone.

Llama of Arabia says:
Very odd.

fizzypurple says:
hmm

Llama of Arabia says:
I feel like a tortured artist, except that I don't have any art

fizzypurple says:
heh

fizzypurple says:
*something interesting*

Llama of Arabia says:
heh

Llama of Arabia says:
Thanks.

Llama of Arabia says:
Have you ever been in a similar situation?

Llama of Arabia says:
Where you're in a room.

Llama of Arabia says:
And someone is playing.

Llama of Arabia says:
And the room, full of normally insanely boisterous people goes dead quiet.

Llama of Arabia says:
All eyes on the performer. Almost reverential.

Llama of Arabia says:
You could feel the energy. It was crazy.

/Convo

But yeah, you all know what I’m talking about. Not a “hush, this really good group is about to play”, but just watching and listening quietly. One by one everyone just fell silent as he played, and just watched and listened. Just now I’ve thought of another movie that I was reminded of. That scene is Saving Private Ryan, where Tom Hanks and his Senior NCO are talking about Karpazo’s death. That sort of look of melancholic joy (if such a thing is possible) remembering their men’s lives. Like I said, it was crazy, and then, as quickly as it came. *Poof*, it was gone and everything was normal again.

Llama 6, Out!

So, I was probably somewhat on TV the last few days... You might have heard of an Operation Ram going on. A platoon of our guys went out to assist another Task Force in weapons searches. It was interesting. FOund a little bit of stuff. Blew up an empty boat that was most likely used by the insurgents. (-: Indirectly killed two of the insurgents. See, I was the first to suggest destroying the boat. Well, it turned out that there were two guys on a nearby island that were most likely waiting for a pickup. Well, later on they decided to fire on other US troops. Who then called in the Air Force. Two less insurgents. Over all it was good mission, although I walked more than my Basic Training road marches ;-) Some pictures will be going up on the website from that mission soon.



My comrade is now on leave. This is good for her. She'll get to spend Christmas at home. I get to run all of the missions ;-) This is okay, since she ran all of them while I was home. More sad news, we lost another soldier. This time a member of the company. He was in the platoon that is detached up at Ramadi. God speed to his family.

Darn fine movie, that. Haven't seen it in years though. Anyway, since recent stuff has happened, I can now talk about how I might have cheesed off the brigade Colonel.

Last Monday, we lost another soldier. An IED exploded under his HMMWV killing him and severly injuring the other four. Well, this happened while I was taking my superiors from another base up to the Aid station to see their comrades. We knew that something was up when we saw members of the ambulance squad running around with all of their gear on. It was suggested that this might be a bad time to visit. Well, to heck with that! Odds on favor that they'd use us. And if they couldn't, they'd send us away. Sure enough, when we went in, "Kenny", "So and so", "So and so!" "hi!" "You're on these tables!"

They ended up diverting the casualties to the other base due to the critical nature of their wounds, while we're geared up and ready to go. Well, sometime during this, the brigade commander stops by, because he hears that there's casualties. The situation's over, but my adrenaline is still pumping, and I was working it back down (my resting heartrate was 105, where normally it's 60 or so) and the Colonel starts talking, asking questions and so on. Well, I wasn't standing at parade rest (should have been attention anyway), and was called on it by my supervisor from the other base. Eh. I realize that I was in error. But I was at work. You don't dog and pony at work. Follw orders, yes. Dog and pony, no. Anyway, that was that story.

We had the memorial service yesterday. It was nice. He was a fellow described by his friends as full of life and fun. Not a perfect soldier, but the type of soldier who gave memorablness to the Army. Apparently, they had a wild time in New Orleans (-: He was a man who volunteered to come to Iraq so that he wouldn't abandon his buddies. *sigh* A real loss. Rest easy, brother.

Goign to nap now before mission

Llama 6, out

Up for over 24 hours. What do they think this is, a war or something? I didn't even get my milk and cookies today, er yesterday. Oh, and the descision is in. Most Australian men think that Gwen Stefani is attractive.

Right,
So we go accross the street in order to drop of a vehicle to get upgraded with high speed upgrade stuff. Get bounced back and forth as to what was actually going to happen. Eventually, get the word to have it upgraded. "45 minutes!" Says civilian technician Joe (not his real name ;-) ) 4 hours later, we're heading back here. Where I had a meeting, radio watch, and a night time mission to look forward to. Hooah for ephedra free pep pills!

/*Written under the influence of Mountain Dew*/
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa12_murtha/pr051117iraq.html
This is a press release by the Honorable John Murtha who is a Pennsylvania member of the House of Representatives. He is also a decorated Vietnam veteran who has served honorably and with distinction within the Marine Corps both as an enlisted man and as an officer. That being said, he can still be wrong. And he is wrong overall in his press release.

He has noble intentions, and is correct about the strain that this conflict is putting on military members and their family. But I'm betting that most military members are not yet ready to abandon Iraq. Yes, that's right, abandon. Because that's what we would do if we were to leave now. Abandon them. There is progress everyday. The IA benefits from joint operations with us. Townspeople are starting to grow angry at insurgents who are killing Iraqis as well as Americans, and are starting to betray those insurgents. There are people who are starting to express hope. Sad news garners headlines. And remember, there is a lot more to Iraq than Al Anbar (much like the US is much more than Texas ;-) )

Yes, there is sadness. Yes, there is loss. No, everyone doesn't want to be here. But we are here, and we are doing our duty. Working at accomplishing our mission. Yes, it is tough. Yes, we need things. Yes, not everything is perfect. But to say that there is no more that the military can accomplish here is a slap in the face of those warriors who are securing the Syrian border in Operation Steel Curtain, US service members operating everywhere else in Iraq, the IA who sacrifice and die along with us everyday, and the US service members who have sacrificed the ultimate.

Llama 6 Out!


*edit spelling, signature*

I had a dream last night... That elves tried to take over my castle... Fecking elves.

Today was mostly spent 'across the street' at another base. Helping out the supply guys get laundry and what not. So, I grab myself a light machine gun and prepare to be the gunner for the short trip accross the bridge. So, we get over there and do our thing, and suddenly it's time for lunch chow. Well now, this base that we're at has some of the best chow around. So, of course we had to grab chow there. Problem is, I don't have my nametapes or rank on. I didn't put them back on since last night's QRF (I don't like wearing them under the body armor). So I ran around the post in my full battle rattle; light machine gun, body armor, and helmet. So, I step into the chow hall, and the first thing that I get from a Marine's mouth is 'damn, you're ready for war!' *chuckle chuckle chuckle*. Now, since this base has a very nice chow hall... They won't let you lay your weapon on their nice floor. So there I am, about twice the size I am normally due to the armor and weapon, and I'm trying to eat raviolis smothered in tomato sauce... Needless to say, my comrades had fun looking at me.

So, we've got a small colony of cats building up here. Cute little things since they're getting enough food. Then there's also a couple of dogs who pass through every so often. I hope that the dogs don't run into the cats.

Man, looking back at yesterday's post. Why the hell was I so whiney? (-:

Llama 6, Out!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Sit. Sit. Sit. Sit.
Tick Tock Tick Tock
So I'm on QRF for 24 hours. Where all we do is sit. Until something happens that we would be needed for. After 20 hours of nothing, and 3 hours of standing up and standing down you just want something to happen. Anything! You want to move, chase your prey... pacing around doesn't cut it. ...
God damn, listen to me whining like a child! This is th eend of this post.


*edit*

Something else that I can add!

Apparently I was almost shipped off to the Combat Outpost! A place where they burn their poo. If the medic who is assigned there wasn't working out I was going to be the one sent there. God forbid that he stay at the main post. Red headed step childness strikes again! If I DO go to Combat OUtpost, I doubt that I'll be posting for a while (-: