Ptolmea has touched down in the desert
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:46 pm
Wow... I must say I am moved from the support for my "send off". Thank each and every one of you. It meant alot. You can only imagine how much
Finally I Ptolmea made it to what I like to call "the greatest beach on earth"... IE Balad AB/ Anaconda, Iraq. Where its a balmy... 115 degrees Farenheit in the shade. Dusty, sandy, hot... absolutely beautiful... But let me not get ahead of myself here... where to start, what to share.. Ahh.. I know I'll give you lot a tidbit of my travels to this "Mortaritaville" as the locals like to call it.
Ehh, started out from my main base around midnight eight days ago, saying my goodbyes, smooching it up. Laughing and joking. Its humbling for the most part.
Me and my better half:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0052.jpg
Myself and a friend of mine going on the same trip:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0054.jpg
After all was said and done, I boarded my bus to the airport. A grueling 8 hour ride on a cramped school bus.. interesting ride, bumpy but the people I was with made the best of it. Spent most of the time trading stories and talking a bunch of ****. Then I made it to my Airport. Where I sat in the terminal for 12 hours awaiting my flight.
Friends and I goofing and waiting on the plane to fuel up. It was a long wait..
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0078.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0061.jpg
The plane FINALLY arrived after a series of delays, then we loaded up on that badboy.... and commercial badboy at that. Mmm inflight movies and food.. Oooh flight attendents! Not too bad, but sitting on a plane for over 6 hours, without having slept since the day before takes it toll. And when I touched down in Ireland (transfer point) was I tired.
But alas, the plane had engine troubles in ireland... SOOO... I GOT TO STAY IN IRELAND! Hells was I happy, first thing I did was... take in the scenary as I made my way to the hotel I'd be staying at for the duration.
I'm not used to soo much greenery. It was awe inspiring.. or perhaps I was tired and easily impressed.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0063.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0078.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0081.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0091.jpg
The hotel itself was nice, had a bar, plenty to do. But instead I just slept... and slept and slept. No I lie, I wandered around outside a bit.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0071.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0083.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0089.jpg
But my stay was short, I did enjoy some fine irish cuisine and drink though. So no complaints here
. Off I go back to the terminal, me and hordes of other military, packed like sardines and waiting around on a plane.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0093.jpg
Off we go... roughly 2 hours upon returning to the airport. After a tightly packed... 7 hour flight, I made it to the Middle east, and my new home for the duration.
How do I feel you wonder? Excited.
How will I feel in the future? Proud if not a bit tired
How will I feel going back home? Not looking that far ahead! Only makes you stress.
And here are some photos of little ole me in my new home, a fresh Arrival to Iraq.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0100.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0104.jpg
Again, thank all of you for your support, and I will use this thread for further updates. I look foward to any comments you Atysians make for ole Pirate Ptol!
GASP I AM A PIRATE IN REAL LIFE!!
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... e003-1.jpg

Finally I Ptolmea made it to what I like to call "the greatest beach on earth"... IE Balad AB/ Anaconda, Iraq. Where its a balmy... 115 degrees Farenheit in the shade. Dusty, sandy, hot... absolutely beautiful... But let me not get ahead of myself here... where to start, what to share.. Ahh.. I know I'll give you lot a tidbit of my travels to this "Mortaritaville" as the locals like to call it.

Ehh, started out from my main base around midnight eight days ago, saying my goodbyes, smooching it up. Laughing and joking. Its humbling for the most part.
Me and my better half:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0052.jpg
Myself and a friend of mine going on the same trip:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0054.jpg
After all was said and done, I boarded my bus to the airport. A grueling 8 hour ride on a cramped school bus.. interesting ride, bumpy but the people I was with made the best of it. Spent most of the time trading stories and talking a bunch of ****. Then I made it to my Airport. Where I sat in the terminal for 12 hours awaiting my flight.
Friends and I goofing and waiting on the plane to fuel up. It was a long wait..
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0078.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0061.jpg
The plane FINALLY arrived after a series of delays, then we loaded up on that badboy.... and commercial badboy at that. Mmm inflight movies and food.. Oooh flight attendents! Not too bad, but sitting on a plane for over 6 hours, without having slept since the day before takes it toll. And when I touched down in Ireland (transfer point) was I tired.
But alas, the plane had engine troubles in ireland... SOOO... I GOT TO STAY IN IRELAND! Hells was I happy, first thing I did was... take in the scenary as I made my way to the hotel I'd be staying at for the duration.
I'm not used to soo much greenery. It was awe inspiring.. or perhaps I was tired and easily impressed.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0063.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0078.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0081.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0091.jpg
The hotel itself was nice, had a bar, plenty to do. But instead I just slept... and slept and slept. No I lie, I wandered around outside a bit.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0071.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0083.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0089.jpg
But my stay was short, I did enjoy some fine irish cuisine and drink though. So no complaints here

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0093.jpg
Off we go... roughly 2 hours upon returning to the airport. After a tightly packed... 7 hour flight, I made it to the Middle east, and my new home for the duration.
How do I feel you wonder? Excited.
How will I feel in the future? Proud if not a bit tired
How will I feel going back home? Not looking that far ahead! Only makes you stress.
And here are some photos of little ole me in my new home, a fresh Arrival to Iraq.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0100.jpg
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... CI0104.jpg
Again, thank all of you for your support, and I will use this thread for further updates. I look foward to any comments you Atysians make for ole Pirate Ptol!
GASP I AM A PIRATE IN REAL LIFE!!
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o252 ... e003-1.jpg