a US soldier, on the other hand...

this one's for all the teachers out there...

teaching - one of the lowest paid, under-funded, disrespected and hazardous professions in afghanistan; teachers are the true unsung heroes of this country

out and about - hello friends, family, strangers and enemies.  the weather's finally cooled down.  i thought the summer would never end.  the 115 degree days are done for now and replaced by lovely 80s (as near as i can tell).  as my two weeks' leave creeps closer and closer (january), i become more and more preoccupied with it and find my productivity suffering.  too bad, because my boss is on leave and there's so much to do with the new fiscal year in full swing.  we got an $8,050,000.00 road project funded this week among several others (your tax dollars - you can all take credit for afghanistan's success... or failure) so there's plenty of work to do.  still, i think i'm hitting a low out here.  i just want to go home and see sylvia.  don't get me wrong - i'm seeing, experiencing and doing tons of things which i'll remember and be proud of for the rest of my life, but 5 months into the deployment (and 2 in training) and i just think it's time for a short break...

afghan army.  i like how the dude's got an RPG round stuffed in his vest...
 

night missions
 

uh, russian MIG for sale - couple minor dings, but she runs great - $100 O.B.O
 

anti-poppy campaign poster (thought it was a halloween party invite)

sucks to be on the receiving end of rotor wash
 

Go ahead... Make My Day.

tiny dancer, lead the way!

omg that rock is as big as a hmmwv

camels on parade!
 

uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......... uhm.......

huh, i guess you can get a hmmwv stuck

no, they're not outside to enjoy the weather, that is their classroom

hi!  usually the girls run away when they see a camera, but after a few attempts they got brave and let me take one

you can't keep the boys away, though, jebus

when 30-ton vehicles rolls over

biggest mosque i've seen around these parts

yum, okra

road hog!

back in time before dark...