Predator

This morning the Specialty Clinic went on another "field trip" to visit the Predator Squadron. One of the guys that attends my CrossFit class is a pilot for these unmanned machines. He offered to give us a tour and show us some of the capabilities of this high tech airplane. The first thing that struck me was just how big the Predator was, and the Reaper is even bigger. We learned some of the capabilities and payload these guys can deliver. Of course some of the video was AWESOME...

We were able to see the Predator go through some checks, get loaded up, and then we watched the pilots in there command center take off and begin there mission. It was really interesting to be able to view there interface and fly this aircraft. Nothing new for you gamers out there. The view and clarity of the images they can get from the air was scary.

MRAP Tour

Here are a few photos of my recent on base adventure. The MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle is what is currently keeping our troops safe out on convoys around Iraq and Afghanistan. They are impressive machines and drive surprisingly well. There are a couple different configurations of the MRAP. The one pictured above is one used to transport patients.

New Friends

One of the great things about being deployed is the opportunity to meet new people from all over.  George (my ENT counterpart) and I had the opportunity to help an Iraqi Army LT with a revision surgery, but even more enlightening was just our ability to sit down with him and his US Army counterpart and just talk about the future of Iraq. As you can imagine most topics were very eye opening.

Football season is in full swing, but trying to establish a system to be able to watch the games with the time difference is difficult. The 1200pm game is not hard to catch. The 7pm game is tough since it comes on at 3am. The problem with watching the tape delay is you don't know which one will be played, and it is hard not to catch highlights  or see the score streaming at the bottom of the screen the next day. I might have to catch a nap prior to next weeks Tech v. texas game. I hope to catch the Cowboys today at 8pm for me.

Lately, I have been just been keeping busy in the gym helping teach a CrossFit class at 1030 am, most days if I am not operating. We seem to be averaging 1 case every 3-4 days. On Sept 11 there was a 1/2 Marathon on base. I am not quite ready for marathons I did go out and support several people I knew running, by taking pictures and handing out Gatorade. I also went on a tour of the F-16 Squadron on base. Flat Stanley came with me and got to ride on a Laser Guided BOMB!!! 

Surgeon Steak Party

Here are some pictures from this past weekends "Surgeon Steak Party". There is a constant rotator plane transporting patients back and forth from Iraq to Germany. If we are real nice sometimes the Flight Doctors will buy us some things we can't get here in Balad, like real steaks. We were able to grill some fresh steaks and grabbed some sides from our hospital dinning facility. We were also able to make some guacamole from some avacados that were in the fruit bowl. If you closed your eyes and tried real hard you could almost feel like you were at home at a BBQ. Cutting our steaks with a disposable 10 blade was a nice touch.