Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It was my first one away from home so that was a bummer - it's usually a family reunion type of holiday for the Brown clan so I missed out on the 2007 fun. That means I get twice the cherry O cream pie next year.

Even though it's a coalition force out here, it's still predominantly American so they did a pretty good job out here of celebrating. Here are a few pictures I took at our dining facility (DFAC).

Here's what you see as you approach the front door:

In the foreground, Phil in the grey t-shirt is clearing his 9mm at the clearing barrel (making sure there aren't any bullets loaded. We have to do that every time we enter a building here. The guards with the M-16s are with a Peruvian contract security company called Triple Canopy. They will check to make sure you have proper ID before you can enter the dining facility. Those guys with the orange feathers are wooden statue guardsmen. Nice touch, huh? Notice the nice artwork on the concrete barriers - that was painted by the previous security contractors who were South Korean.

After washing your hands at the front door, you walk in and see this display:



There were many ice sculptures and carved watermelons (that looked like turkeys) and many other decorations. They (KBR contractors run the support functions out here) really did a good job.

So here were are enjoying our Thanksgiving meal.

Most of the guys that I work with are in this picture although you can't really make much out.



Sorry for the camera flash - it really made those reflective T-shirts stand out. Yes, those are candles...no, it was not romantic.

Now: time to shop?! Here's to a happy and safe holiday season to all of you back home! We love you and miss you.

More to come soon!