Observations

I know, I know, it has been way too long between posts.  I am pretty sure I have already lost my sixteen loyal readers.  I have many posts in my head that never quite make it to the computer.  The key is to have shorter, more frequent posts rather than trying to duplicate War and Peace every time I write something.  So, here I sit at 6:45 in the morning watching the first game of the World Series.  I was up at 5:30 and still missed the first three innings.  Between watching the playoffs and catching an NFL game on Sunday nights/Monday mornings my body clock is getting seriously screwed up.

I'm not sure who I am rooting for.  When I have no vested interest in the teams I just go with my gut.  Last year I was rooting for Texas because I have an intense dislike for Tim Lincecum.  Watching this first game my gut is telling me St. Louis...but that could change.

The weather is becoming cooler now...almost perfect.  Before the sun finds it's way over the mountains the air is cool and still.  Once the sun comes up it consistently makes the mid-80s which is nothing after months of temperatures over 100.

With the cooler temperatures comes a threat I was not aware of until just a few days ago...snakes.  Although I have not seen one yet, I have heard of two vipers and a cobra being seen or killed on the base.  Really?  Isn't it bad enough that we have bad guys up in the hills, now we have to watch where we walk because there are snakes running around (slithering around)?  As luck would have it pretty much all snakes in Afghanistan are posionous...sweet.

Having said that, the Afghan Jungle Cats are still around.  Looking at their size, I am not too sure they are built to take on the snakes.  Instead it looks like the cats and the snakes will be competing for the mice that have taken residence on the base.

This has been, perhaps, the most challenging leadership experience I have ever faced.

I have had the honor of meeting some great people...both Afghan and American.

They need more variety in their food.  If the Afghans opened a good Italian restaurant, a Mexican joint or even a Chinese buffet I believe all their "sad brothers" as they refer to the Taliban would come down from their caves and enjoy a new and exciting dining experience.  Before long they would forget what they were fighting about and peace would be at hand.

I have seen the fish that come out of the Kunar River and I have seen what else is in the Kunar River...a sushi place is not an option.

I believe they have already forgotten what the fighting is all about.

Yesterday I came out of a meeting at the Governor's Compound.  There was literally a line waiting to ask me for something.  As I walked out I could see they were nicely spaced about every ten yards or so along the path they knew I had to take to get back to my vehicle.  I would speak to one group/person, walk about ten yards and be stopped by the next request.  Everything from tribal elders asking about a road to the Cricket Association asking about outfitting their teams with new equipment. Who will they wait in line for when we are gone?

St. Louis won Game One.  I am good with that.

More later...