Early Starts Cold Mporning & Shopping in Iraq

JUST FINISHED THE FIRST LIVE SHOT OF THE DAY, WHICH GIVEN THE DIFFERENCE OF TIME ZONES IS LAST NIGHT BACK IN THE STATES, VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING AT HOME IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND LUNCHTIME FOR MY GIRLS IN AUSTRALIA.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN AS COLD IN IRAQ AS ON THIS TRIP IT IS WELL DOWN INTO SINGLE DIGITS ON THE THERMOMETER AND IN MT EFFORT TO KEEP WARM IN THE SMALL MILITARY STORE ON BASE HERE YESTERDAY, THINK OF THE STORE AS A SMALL MOM AND POP OPERATION COMPARED TO THE WALMART SIZED STORES SOME BASES HERE HAVE. IN FACT ON ONE BASE THEY ACTUALLY TOOK US ON A TOUR OF THE “PX” PROUDLY PROCLAIMING IT AS THE LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY. I DID NOT HAVE THE HEART OR INCLINATION TO MENTION TO THIS “PAO” (PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER) THAT WHILST I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THEIR WAL MART, THEY ACTUALLY SELL FLAT SCREEN TV’S & VACUUM CLEANERS. IT IALSO GIVES YOU AN IDEA AS TO HOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO ANY COMBATATIVE ARENA. THE SMALL PX ON BASE HERE AT HURRICANE POINT IN RAMADI SELLS HE BASICS TO HELP LIFE HERE , WHICH FOR MOST MARINES INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ESSENTIAL ITEMS
BODY BUILDING SUPPLEMENTS & MAGAZINES
MAGAZINES ABOUT CARS AND TRUCKS
CHEWING TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES
VARIOUS SOFT DRINKS LIKE RED BULL
WACKY MAC – IN MIRCOWAVE SIZE PORTIONS
MICROWAVE POPCORN
TUNA, TUNA AND MORE TUNA IN TINS AND FOILS
HOLSTERS AND POUCHES FOR WEAPONS
CORN CHIPS AND OREOS
AND A FEW CLOTHING ITEMS SUCH AS SOCKS T SHIRTS & WARM FLEECES.
NOW THIS ALL BRINGS ME BACK TO THE ORIGINAL THOUGHTS THIS MORNING ABOUT THE COLD WEATHER HERE, AS I WALKED OVER TO THE PX TO BUY ANOTHER FLEECE TO ADD TO THE ONLY ONE I HAVE HERE. INSTEAD I GRABBED ANOTHER THREE T SHIRTS TO ADD TO THE FOUR I ALREADY HAVE, SO NOW I HAVE 7 BROWN MILITARY T SHIRTS AND 1 FLEECE AND THE PX STORE IS NOT OPEN AGAIN TILL MONDAY.
NO DOUBT THE WAL MART SIZED PX STORE IS OPEN 15 HOURS A DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, FOR THE TROOPS AND CIVILIANS IN THE REAR BUT HERE ON THE FRONTLINE IT IS GOING TO BE A COLD WEEKEND FOR ME.

MAL
RAMADI IRAQ
DEC 8TH 2006 6:00am