tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82268433080902394192024-03-05T14:31:23.666-08:00Blue Island TribeYou Can't Argue With Crazy!!!Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-6224382481375025412011-07-27T21:33:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:08:58.383-07:00The Warehouse SessionsHello?<br /><br />Check..... Is this thing on?<br /><br />Ok.<br /><br />Since we are getting closer to this summer's BIT shows we thought it would be good to fire up the 'ole blog again.<br /><br />BIT members live all over the country so getting together to practice is not always easy. Its been basically a year and a half since any of us have played these songs so we have recently started trying to remember our parts and get ready for the shows. This first blog of 2011 is just a little peak inside the minds of BIT. Below is a recent email from Brando to the rest of the band. In 2008, right before our tour of Japan and Korea we rented a warehouse in Downtown Waterloo to practice, write, and get ready for the upcoming tour. This was probably BIT's most productive period. We could do a whole blog on the warehouse alone (it didn't have a working bathroom, or A/C, but it did have homeless people, frequent visits from the police, and a very close proximity to the river during the floods of 2008). The time we spent there was awesome and we all have very fond memories of it.<br /><br />Here is the email:<br />******************<br />BIT-<br />KP, Garrett and I got together tonight for a little run through. Overall I think it went better than expected. Personally, I remembered all the old songs without any problem. From "5 Hits" forward it got a little more difficult but I think we figured out most of the parts. Afterwards I wondered if I had any old chord sheets laying around. Turns out I found a pad of paper from the Warehouse that was full of chords and stuff. From this pad of paper I found such classic hits as Warehouse Bacon, Warehouse Sickel, Warehouse Clone, Warehouse Cops, Down (Treading Water), Sublime, and Ecstasy.<br /><br />Bacon turned into "Down"<br />Sickel turned into "March On" (this was also titled "The March" at one point")<br />Clone turned into ?????? (I wrote down "sounds similar to endless summer" so who knows)<br />Cops turned into "Drop Out"<br />Down (Treading Water) turned into a long lost BIT hit. (I remember the chorus going "down, down, down.....")<br />Sublime turned into "Jump and Shout"<br />and Ecstasy turned into "Ecstasy". (I didn't find it but I also remember calling this 5 Hits... because of the intro and thus the reason for the title of the album)<br /><br />I scanned them all and have included them on this email. You might have to zoom in a little but I think they are pretty brilliant. I also wrote down "licorice & beer, titties & vag" on one of the pieces of paper for some reason. I don't remember why but I'm sure it was awesome. Oh, to be young and awesome again!<br /><br />Enjoy!<br />BC<br />*******************<br /><br />These pieces of paper are from when we were writing "5 Hits of Ecstasy" and hopefully it gives you a little picture of our minds and the writing process. These songs were in their early stages and we didn't have lyrics for them yet. We had to call them something so we ended up with the above titles. We called "Warehouse Bacon" that, because 1)we were in a warehouse and 2) we thought the song was "tasty"... like bacon. We called "Warehouse Cops" that, because the warehouse thing and we were writing this song and the cops came in. They were very nice, told us to turn down the noise, asked us to play a song so they could listen, and then left. We played them what turned into "Drop Out" and therefor called it "Warehouse Cops". Jump and Shout started out as "Sublime" because the intro to the song is very Sublime-ish. And on and on. Pictures are below...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIrs8-5z2zg-uBbRgYpFXGbAab2lU6v1y40L3TSxqY2qiRaz1-8Ig-OPyrMvuyXCKzBQCPye1o8ltLfhRWMlR99zi2hIbNPcFSZ9A72kGvrnxsd4XuiS8nBscq_xhcgJVsTMbnQtJu_sC/s1600/Warehouse+Bacon.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIrs8-5z2zg-uBbRgYpFXGbAab2lU6v1y40L3TSxqY2qiRaz1-8Ig-OPyrMvuyXCKzBQCPye1o8ltLfhRWMlR99zi2hIbNPcFSZ9A72kGvrnxsd4XuiS8nBscq_xhcgJVsTMbnQtJu_sC/s400/Warehouse+Bacon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634265631408842786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwo1SGowSxUaPZwFnQlYAlglLuPDVKCcfp8NSUK6GlD9P3Gr1qcrbtoWdbtPstLa5ebfwAmh7bs31sxtgDMzQTAH2SFMofqC-qxlbuDadKVl9BiTx80DfX_4zzfGT3RCsxj0PESvvktw-/s1600/Bacon+Bassline+-+The+March.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwo1SGowSxUaPZwFnQlYAlglLuPDVKCcfp8NSUK6GlD9P3Gr1qcrbtoWdbtPstLa5ebfwAmh7bs31sxtgDMzQTAH2SFMofqC-qxlbuDadKVl9BiTx80DfX_4zzfGT3RCsxj0PESvvktw-/s400/Bacon+Bassline+-+The+March.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634266332379772130" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UZwVW1ZWQUJxul2_wJm2Evsl_k-gBHKbh_sUsDlnH-lyLFH6rYT7_DUzq2CnZ0HToN7KhbgYfElYNVmGPncGvlGIkfpSeL9DWcIxD3dQ7D16fzLEK5s0HjrSPUpdnAO0R1tsWGFeVO2_/s1600/Warehouse+Clone+%2526+Cops.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UZwVW1ZWQUJxul2_wJm2Evsl_k-gBHKbh_sUsDlnH-lyLFH6rYT7_DUzq2CnZ0HToN7KhbgYfElYNVmGPncGvlGIkfpSeL9DWcIxD3dQ7D16fzLEK5s0HjrSPUpdnAO0R1tsWGFeVO2_/s400/Warehouse+Clone+%2526+Cops.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634265623525430674" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ76eedwSxxycQ5DsOk7_SQTSvhyR9NF7lO6RaJhxHDfOGy7pSUatzF37KU6cB72mzHNpKxUAsxb1CkcEx8pTHITSVrGJoW1zj0afksAsNYyi6oyAFM7-pZ1NVsk10SbTSA-BlO7Jle2-j/s1600/Warehouse+Sickel+1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ76eedwSxxycQ5DsOk7_SQTSvhyR9NF7lO6RaJhxHDfOGy7pSUatzF37KU6cB72mzHNpKxUAsxb1CkcEx8pTHITSVrGJoW1zj0afksAsNYyi6oyAFM7-pZ1NVsk10SbTSA-BlO7Jle2-j/s400/Warehouse+Sickel+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634265617728398850" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukX-M6yTykoEMMK_TZZ4g8jA3dzl8kgsVwKkj2MXb6C-T1ozS-4ubNHamieXM1Pb7Ct996VB9gpc6FfizgwTsn_GnYe0eZZjEjDtxxDBalgD0c6NklZU5q70S4mtVaaJpBj_d_CCP8xck/s1600/Ecstasy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiukX-M6yTykoEMMK_TZZ4g8jA3dzl8kgsVwKkj2MXb6C-T1ozS-4ubNHamieXM1Pb7Ct996VB9gpc6FfizgwTsn_GnYe0eZZjEjDtxxDBalgD0c6NklZU5q70S4mtVaaJpBj_d_CCP8xck/s400/Ecstasy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634265607495063922" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IQ0J7d4Tdieee5jH8ZPXErMklvO0uiZ6tkZztaa_LI7VEnWjYbH8vSmDT-voUQQp-5kCoPtq3v16UaaYfTq24AaiDCp09FFy6wh-jIk1VhVV316aWWnQ7IS46csikYmkUYE_2_D0cnFN/s1600/Sublime+.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3IQ0J7d4Tdieee5jH8ZPXErMklvO0uiZ6tkZztaa_LI7VEnWjYbH8vSmDT-voUQQp-5kCoPtq3v16UaaYfTq24AaiDCp09FFy6wh-jIk1VhVV316aWWnQ7IS46csikYmkUYE_2_D0cnFN/s400/Sublime+.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634265600742666770" border="0" /></a>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-8424464126924035342010-01-10T09:35:00.000-08:002010-01-10T13:33:50.130-08:00BIT on WHOTVThank You to everyone who came out to the meet and greet yesterday. We had a blast and hope you all did too. We will try to get the tour video that we showed up on the blog asap. For now, here is a news segment that aired last night on WHO 13.<br /><br /><br /> <embed type='application/x-shockwave-flash' salign='l' flashvars='&titleAvailable=true&playerAvailable=true&searchAvailable=false&shareFlag=N&singleURL=http://who.vidcms.trb.com/alfresco/service/edge/content/6538ead7-4387-46eb-8c9f-1791615d27a9&propName=who.com&hostURL=http://www.whotv.com&swfPath=http://who.vid.trb.com/player/&omAccount=triblocaltvglobaldev&omnitureServer=whotv.com' allowscriptaccess='always' allowfullscreen='true' menu='true' name='PaperVideoTest' bgcolor='#ffffff' devicefont='false' wmode='transparent' scale='showall' loop='true' play='true' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer' quality='high' src='http://who.vid.trb.com/player/PaperVideoTest.swf' align='middle' height='450' width='300'></embed>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-35797034013254136112010-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:002010-01-05T06:29:27.958-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 17/18: Kuwait Day Off – Travel Home<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Today is technically our first and only “day off” on this tour. It’s the only day we aren’t playing a show or traveling. Our flight home leaves at 1am so it’s only “technically” a day off. We spent most of the day relaxing, buying “trinkets”, and catching up on sleep. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We left for the airport around 8:30 pm because we were warned and warned about the increased security. Fortunately and unfortunately the security was no problem at all. We were thankful that we didn’t spend hours standing in line and getting searched but at the same time its not surprising somebody could sneak a bomb on the plane when security was so relaxed. At our first checkpoint, the two “screeners” weren’t even paying attention; instead they were on the phone the whole time. As we all “beeped” without having to go back through the metal detector we were thrilled; only later did it dawn on us that if it was that easy for us to get on the plane it would probably be that easy for a terrorist to get on too. Not real comforting.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our first flight was the brutal one. It was a 14-hour flight from Kuwait to Washington D.C. Unfortunately; our seats were in economy, definitely not as comfortable as our previous two first class flights. We arrived to D.C. around 6am on Saturday morning, had to go through customs and another couple of rounds of security and then boarded a 7:30am flight for Chicago. Our flight was late leaving the gate in D.C. so we got to Chicago late and had approx. 20 minutes to meet our connecting flight… Everybody got off the plane and sprinted to our next gate two terminals over… as we approached we saw the “delayed” sign and we all breathed a big sigh of relief. We ended up getting on the final flight about 11am.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So… after 9 countries (including airports), 12 shows, 14 flights, tons of new friends, and a million memories we are home safe. This was definitely a trip of a lifetime that none of us will ever forget. We want to thank AFE, all the “contacts” that escorted us around these foreign places, “you” for coming along with us on the trip, and especially all the Armed Forces stationed all over the world. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We are happy to be home for a bit but at the same time none of us were ready for the tour to end… we just had way too much fun. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our first little dose of “reality” came as we were getting off the plane in Des Moines. Our stewardess got on the microphone and said; “If you have a jacket you might consider putting it on… it is currently -15 degrees outside”….</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> We'd like to think that this is just</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Iowa’s way of saying “Welcome Home”. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">One last picture with our Security, Brad and Dave.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz1rcWfDtyfsJWR1us7ezKwNWz5dwRm8P0XILXUpXqdFwyc8UpyRPaRqXbCmk9toKvtimhVjwGccBuY23cycvcbsNiQIrRrSem1Tf4zkmPf3nIKcUiwxjQ6MXul5iHSY0KxHMii77nh1Y/s1600-h/IMG_8120.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz1rcWfDtyfsJWR1us7ezKwNWz5dwRm8P0XILXUpXqdFwyc8UpyRPaRqXbCmk9toKvtimhVjwGccBuY23cycvcbsNiQIrRrSem1Tf4zkmPf3nIKcUiwxjQ6MXul5iHSY0KxHMii77nh1Y/s400/IMG_8120.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423262150091531346" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">Rip-It!!!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg9HOM1klBNVCI9ELqrGcua-4PeqZ7bv_9Tbrzgjp3TPmVbkGVWDlXx6A6PWsrATG4xIGdGnS52sg_VzHYFR_fs7Ma3momxxPmssUmZ-ln92aVAw7lM-MUKhuInJDu0wMjORN25jM8OSw/s1600-h/IMG_8122.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAg9HOM1klBNVCI9ELqrGcua-4PeqZ7bv_9Tbrzgjp3TPmVbkGVWDlXx6A6PWsrATG4xIGdGnS52sg_VzHYFR_fs7Ma3momxxPmssUmZ-ln92aVAw7lM-MUKhuInJDu0wMjORN25jM8OSw/s400/IMG_8122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423262142838797378" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; ">Chris getting arrested.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmENUwXvBHP2nj08cUcbbOQTwLd65TjjdIB2P08PouTZQDGb5cvZJTXg3GhSqakw8AT3TofSNynW1YuahPMLC5lUNQFx-AJTenLfga_cQR1ok1EoY_ZGUZEk57ySN1qbWul8B-FvOY2ZIX/s1600-h/IMG_8126.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmENUwXvBHP2nj08cUcbbOQTwLd65TjjdIB2P08PouTZQDGb5cvZJTXg3GhSqakw8AT3TofSNynW1YuahPMLC5lUNQFx-AJTenLfga_cQR1ok1EoY_ZGUZEk57ySN1qbWul8B-FvOY2ZIX/s400/IMG_8126.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423262140752339170" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">We have lots more pictures and videos that we will be posting in the next few days so check back soon!!!</p> <!--EndFragment-->Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-90547010673453552052010-01-04T15:40:00.001-08:002010-01-04T15:56:41.894-08:00***********Announcement**********<div>We will be hosting a very informal "meet & greet" this coming Saturday, Jan. 9th at 5pm at AllPlay in Des Moines. It doesn't matter if you know us, don't know us, or even want to know us... we will be there to talk about our experiences on the tour, show off all the "cool stuff" we got, answer any questions you may have, and show more videos and photos than you could ever ask for. We welcome you to come out, say hello, and grab some food and drinks with us this Saturday night.</div><div><br /></div><div>AllPlay is a family friendly restaurant/bar complete with huge arcade, climbing wall, great food, and a fun atmosphere. It is located one block south of Wells Fargo Arena at 615 3rd Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309. For more info visit <a href="http://www.allplaydm.com">www.allplaydm.com</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,17001975601356602205&fb=1&hq=All+Play&hnear=615+3rd+St++Des+Moines,+IA+50309&gl=us&daddr=615+3rd+Street,+Des+Moines,+IA+50309-1712&geocode=18373038363336655340,41.589780,-93.621438&ei=ZbYmS5ebMs2inQfX8JjoCQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=directions-to&resnum=1&ved=0CA8QngIwAA">HERE</a> is a link to the address on googlemaps.com </div><div>and <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=0,0,17001975601356602205&fb=1&hq=All+Play&hnear=615+3rd+St++Des+Moines,+IA+50309&gl=us&daddr=615+3rd+Street,+Des+Moines,+IA+50309-1712&geocode=18373038363336655340,41.589780,-93.621438&ei=ZbYmS5ebMs2inQfX8JjoCQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=directions-to&resnum=1&ved=0CA8QngIwAA">HERE</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Hope to see you there.</div><div>One more time....</div><div><br /></div><div>Who: You and anyone you want to bring.<br /></div><div>What: Blue Island Tribe Meet & Greet </div><div>Why: To answer your questions and show off our "cool stuff".</div><div>Where:</div><div>Allplay</div><div>615 3rd St. </div><div>Des Moines, IA 50309</div><div>When: Saturday, Jan. 9th 5pm</div><div><br /></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-5267501454970981242010-01-04T05:35:00.001-08:002010-01-04T14:45:37.756-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 16: Kuwait – Camp Buehring<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Today is New Years Eve and we are playing a show at Camp Buehring, a base about 15 miles from the Iraqi boarder. This base is a base where everyone going into Iraq comes first. Most of the people here have been or will only be here for a few days at the most before they head north into Iraq.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Once we arrived to the base we had another Commander’s Call. Then we got a quick tour of the base before heading to sound check. We played on a huge outdoor stage in the middle of the base. During the afternoon it was beautiful out but at night in the desert it gets cold. We could definitely see our breath on stage but we are not complaining one bit because we know what the weather is like back home.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The show was one of the best of the whole tour. We worked up a cool “punk” version of Auld Lang Syne about 10 minutes before the show… That is one of the coolest things about being in the Blue Island Tribe; we can decide to play a song, spend 10-15 minutes figuring out everyone’s parts, and then play it during a show later that same night. It’s just those little things that make you feel real good and really enjoy doing what we are doing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We did a countdown during the show and toasted our “near beer” (non-alcoholic beer). Since Kuwait is DRY we were given cases and cases of near beer. It is not good. This is unfortunately our last show of the tour... just when we were getting warmed up the tour ends... anyways all the shows were fun, some were just plain amazing, and we will never forget them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After the show we took lots of pictures and signed lots of CDs. Each branch of the military has their own “call”, for example the Marines is “hoo-rah”. Blue Island Tribe’s has become “Rip-It”. Rip-it is an energy drink similar to RedBull or Monster but it has been given free to us most of the tour. We have all developed a "healthy" addiction to it and are definitely going to go through withdrawl when we return home.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For every picture we take, we take a nice one, and then a “Rip-It” one… early on in the tour the "Rip-It" photos were pretty tame but by this point in the tour we are full out jumping on and tackling each other...</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">When we got back to Camp Arifjan (where we stayed the whole time we were in Kuwait) it was about 11pm so our security, Dave and Brad, took us out on the base to celebrate the new year. We went to a "dance" that felt like a Jr. High dance but instead of the girls and guys being on different sides of the room, each girl had about 20 guys surrounding her. This was a very neat experience and we can't thank Brad and Dave enough for showing us a great time, the whole time we were in Kuwait!</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div>Another Car Ride</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxPlxsOvPjJgeiSg63q7XbPkjF5WPPdSVdjIuagBSb-2zLZwu8P_qsZaQREI6yCr5zjC1irAnw0kzWfDPc0TidmmUDvhENrj8bZBBo35iTHlO5gG4CmNPe6ytBOFltR4E1cIPJIEGmFEI/s1600-h/IMG_8017.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZxPlxsOvPjJgeiSg63q7XbPkjF5WPPdSVdjIuagBSb-2zLZwu8P_qsZaQREI6yCr5zjC1irAnw0kzWfDPc0TidmmUDvhENrj8bZBBo35iTHlO5gG4CmNPe6ytBOFltR4E1cIPJIEGmFEI/s400/IMG_8017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880877316403314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFr8wndWM6agKD4MAdfD4MSjtnkRvmLOaJVQZ3UXJGcvQ16Oh8Q-5SHsjphAbNKEqatJeAKFwlBm4WlKosKW_xsobQUBdYeq5gXX99WJUZ9C6M1JPFol_YJt11BX3cVC_adVxjw4wWjjJ/s1600-h/IMG_8025.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheFr8wndWM6agKD4MAdfD4MSjtnkRvmLOaJVQZ3UXJGcvQ16Oh8Q-5SHsjphAbNKEqatJeAKFwlBm4WlKosKW_xsobQUBdYeq5gXX99WJUZ9C6M1JPFol_YJt11BX3cVC_adVxjw4wWjjJ/s400/IMG_8025.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880873376958162" /></a><div>More Camels<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheL0UY1-MDj2h48W11oe3vSQf6s1ktg-RhzZh8CQ7unCkfgPHouWwXi0UpP1CJIJj_teYG6dhCdsdkbDbH1b_HT110n-iX8Al4wPodS-cjhRREJ47DtLq0zgHEdv8ykZ08FdjrpDNSRCGI/s1600-h/IMG_8033.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheL0UY1-MDj2h48W11oe3vSQf6s1ktg-RhzZh8CQ7unCkfgPHouWwXi0UpP1CJIJj_teYG6dhCdsdkbDbH1b_HT110n-iX8Al4wPodS-cjhRREJ47DtLq0zgHEdv8ykZ08FdjrpDNSRCGI/s400/IMG_8033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880869784977106" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Another Commander's Call<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2HC6u9YoQHS_cwLYKU0E_77_PweikNi54mhiE_eXr54Bd-hnRIiUkLfO4zhxOP1mm9NPb8yzjpZTeM5TnZ7_Fy8triKfcm7QIoYSlAMASlf6SpADt7EwZgQ8xPJlWz1j3dj7WUz08cgo/s1600-h/IMG_8048.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2HC6u9YoQHS_cwLYKU0E_77_PweikNi54mhiE_eXr54Bd-hnRIiUkLfO4zhxOP1mm9NPb8yzjpZTeM5TnZ7_Fy8triKfcm7QIoYSlAMASlf6SpADt7EwZgQ8xPJlWz1j3dj7WUz08cgo/s400/IMG_8048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880864046825682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFg0QSoBYPwI3S8ZleHmYjU0d2vJPDvn6R7rhx9DED0hFlXPXTlO32w3N42QTofnmGpf8Z8XDwhIF3FlQTK4t93g0h7TdnFHDi3OSmuobY0NLQHLz_GdIDG2Y8fjYbwz8Hqj_2b6zrVIIJ/s1600-h/IMG_8051.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFg0QSoBYPwI3S8ZleHmYjU0d2vJPDvn6R7rhx9DED0hFlXPXTlO32w3N42QTofnmGpf8Z8XDwhIF3FlQTK4t93g0h7TdnFHDi3OSmuobY0NLQHLz_GdIDG2Y8fjYbwz8Hqj_2b6zrVIIJ/s400/IMG_8051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880608879461762" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Getting a tour of Camp Buehring<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfhHIfJeLb6sl3zSc0wwtpcFjMYMZSkQC4pQW81JhebsVcwMbl6R9ujZQM5F1-GFBiAL6j4guexcZL-LCN60GBl2g_AD8_X233qFlnPwD052OaDYhl-WI7DcFsMXYxhxza3myjytIdx-L/s1600-h/IMG_8062.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfhHIfJeLb6sl3zSc0wwtpcFjMYMZSkQC4pQW81JhebsVcwMbl6R9ujZQM5F1-GFBiAL6j4guexcZL-LCN60GBl2g_AD8_X233qFlnPwD052OaDYhl-WI7DcFsMXYxhxza3myjytIdx-L/s400/IMG_8062.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880603246899154" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Near Beer!!! (non-alcoholic) Backstage<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmro3myQj5uUKh2ULezQNHhGBCcYPejEGZ0PJY92wtalXxPRJNVNgP4ClZ9oNr04LPnBhvSUzb10RDvprOFLKiP5_KH1bydCZMdFbEf2SPEjGdbnjpgoqEnYPCIRMeIAX0bU0_jd04lT7z/s1600-h/IMG_8068.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmro3myQj5uUKh2ULezQNHhGBCcYPejEGZ0PJY92wtalXxPRJNVNgP4ClZ9oNr04LPnBhvSUzb10RDvprOFLKiP5_KH1bydCZMdFbEf2SPEjGdbnjpgoqEnYPCIRMeIAX0bU0_jd04lT7z/s400/IMG_8068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880594260961266" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sound Check<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33K_Nh8YDS_i6xtricGUsfjqvV1ALcvd4OG2_Ecz_ZlrFYDvicnPLcEctiZFlFk8qvt6do8ghiPpnCyXKhfM_7mNP6lh0IvVJs4dG-Wv4s7rtfIg7KROW3NCTF-jcmF05JsCTV69QMEzB/s1600-h/IMG_8074.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33K_Nh8YDS_i6xtricGUsfjqvV1ALcvd4OG2_Ecz_ZlrFYDvicnPLcEctiZFlFk8qvt6do8ghiPpnCyXKhfM_7mNP6lh0IvVJs4dG-Wv4s7rtfIg7KROW3NCTF-jcmF05JsCTV69QMEzB/s400/IMG_8074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880590629508658" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Getting "briefed" by Security Dave (he was probably telling a joke or giving us false information about something...) Also... notice Mike and Frey's hands.... "Rip-It"!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWGkgNnJB6m3xpcb2T4q0F7Z65FkzYaHpeCRHJJFY90qNmgBmlwQF8KiTHS9Prthyphenhyphen8xhmB28L70WWdGor6ZGOEqNgYYZagLqHDvsdTfBTUEwnryCQ-p1uLQBt-qFRm2Zg5myJg_UFMzl1/s1600-h/IMG_8082.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWGkgNnJB6m3xpcb2T4q0F7Z65FkzYaHpeCRHJJFY90qNmgBmlwQF8KiTHS9Prthyphenhyphen8xhmB28L70WWdGor6ZGOEqNgYYZagLqHDvsdTfBTUEwnryCQ-p1uLQBt-qFRm2Zg5myJg_UFMzl1/s400/IMG_8082.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880585734292690" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Check out the new Blue Island Tribe fatigues... we got patches that say "Blue Island Tribe", our last name, and we got a patch with our "flying leap" logo. They are pretty amazing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_-E3F0ARp3CaSXP58dDvGd_cNmooehC_aTXjaBTp4NF683p6blPraF0nQbS0BFhK6az5Tyh47bVRqtOnpcWWNgNgPMsRgNo54mCycJ_NCRVEgyiwtm3_JUzPjCpYVJRkbkwKdpbuDC5g/s1600-h/IMG_8091.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_-E3F0ARp3CaSXP58dDvGd_cNmooehC_aTXjaBTp4NF683p6blPraF0nQbS0BFhK6az5Tyh47bVRqtOnpcWWNgNgPMsRgNo54mCycJ_NCRVEgyiwtm3_JUzPjCpYVJRkbkwKdpbuDC5g/s400/IMG_8091.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880095795224178" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Show!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bPXGS_A5Er8w3KhigxcVRNWjkcE3-PCpc45foW7LZql1GwK4zQUlxHJFnr3SDl9ChEI6-gf3pYGCXVTw-VHKm6FESrivI34ZwG9lR5EyZ1J6dp9vME6wkyPkkf8DgO1s3sYXOtxPcQeG/s1600-h/DSC_4482.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bPXGS_A5Er8w3KhigxcVRNWjkcE3-PCpc45foW7LZql1GwK4zQUlxHJFnr3SDl9ChEI6-gf3pYGCXVTw-VHKm6FESrivI34ZwG9lR5EyZ1J6dp9vME6wkyPkkf8DgO1s3sYXOtxPcQeG/s400/DSC_4482.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880094432889026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b4Xy8KCBFcKAPPC5A52dNG8id6U5Yb7d0snAOFHX5VIH7plZ9ypHEbnEISXpRzQDARxTUd85YWr46OpIcnCegrNL3afPnU7K83yzRxjbP335FU3zWyVUPcpzwRXb0GKol8oLOHviOjSJ/s1600-h/DSC_4549.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b4Xy8KCBFcKAPPC5A52dNG8id6U5Yb7d0snAOFHX5VIH7plZ9ypHEbnEISXpRzQDARxTUd85YWr46OpIcnCegrNL3afPnU7K83yzRxjbP335FU3zWyVUPcpzwRXb0GKol8oLOHviOjSJ/s400/DSC_4549.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880081309010146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCE0pevBD_YD_fBFScD2A-Om6oN6TxnijZgH6ZrbJlNxPv8x9GO4CXngbUmhyCGypAwzpWsooUokjf8RKakfiU6Y7fueUnvWjW0IIbpiT3Gkwim9eD5WcA4GNJFnourvNpS9rHscEIPz2/s1600-h/DSC_4557.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCE0pevBD_YD_fBFScD2A-Om6oN6TxnijZgH6ZrbJlNxPv8x9GO4CXngbUmhyCGypAwzpWsooUokjf8RKakfiU6Y7fueUnvWjW0IIbpiT3Gkwim9eD5WcA4GNJFnourvNpS9rHscEIPz2/s400/DSC_4557.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880076139034994" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After show meet and greet<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlakVuRq-SmMLkIYUUGuZipwbVg8FlrU-rFb4qDjwgrN_TXxOy1uORy7S17_9PGLZGh_aGvurxHraNgbC62V0Gy3h-TJnt5DMIhXnCD_NxQJR37k0z1zIC89nrRVg4H9SM5jvplICX55p/s1600-h/DSC_4606.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlakVuRq-SmMLkIYUUGuZipwbVg8FlrU-rFb4qDjwgrN_TXxOy1uORy7S17_9PGLZGh_aGvurxHraNgbC62V0Gy3h-TJnt5DMIhXnCD_NxQJR37k0z1zIC89nrRVg4H9SM5jvplICX55p/s400/DSC_4606.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422880071788445634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcxU3rW-5AQmQgsEUohx32JQ5f2jf-lXVjq7sEQuXvteGmmCL07puY0WBpUxbPlC68a6KdWkB5QFNF5V2FTgguZx1OQ1KSMlc5zvu05pgfN_9HsPuNUf9U4PjCknDiv9BTMtuVM1-MEOG/s1600-h/DSC_4610.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcxU3rW-5AQmQgsEUohx32JQ5f2jf-lXVjq7sEQuXvteGmmCL07puY0WBpUxbPlC68a6KdWkB5QFNF5V2FTgguZx1OQ1KSMlc5zvu05pgfN_9HsPuNUf9U4PjCknDiv9BTMtuVM1-MEOG/s400/DSC_4610.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422879642988846530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7ETYNEjc26Y-7ZQCbkwjUKowQnJiv4dQV_J55H_sMVW6o1lKSAVRDISCCljBeKWP1biO1DX1lEMiVYXy1lkLghp8AH_cQEvCtKo_0nivcGaCrtTfUXbWT5jftl_qfikz22QH2ToXOqhD/s1600-h/DSC_4612.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7ETYNEjc26Y-7ZQCbkwjUKowQnJiv4dQV_J55H_sMVW6o1lKSAVRDISCCljBeKWP1biO1DX1lEMiVYXy1lkLghp8AH_cQEvCtKo_0nivcGaCrtTfUXbWT5jftl_qfikz22QH2ToXOqhD/s400/DSC_4612.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422879637673556626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmaOiRMaOnQLpP5RQmJoVwtHS2tofSvk-RDghk3aCMETwbKHtbJHZ0Vziz0707YrV7mZ3olWWCIXzPiqHooBP6Kzarmm9Gni7mWRriahXcZIgz9hrl_zI_0JmMRtRhnIc2v0csqSgzHph/s1600-h/DSC_4619.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmaOiRMaOnQLpP5RQmJoVwtHS2tofSvk-RDghk3aCMETwbKHtbJHZ0Vziz0707YrV7mZ3olWWCIXzPiqHooBP6Kzarmm9Gni7mWRriahXcZIgz9hrl_zI_0JmMRtRhnIc2v0csqSgzHph/s400/DSC_4619.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422879633997636722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8h5wQFCHyAkVAnmcoM_BJB8Hdd74S1h4IgOaC0evxls4AEIoZOB54ZOglLY1ixcvfECpxHDidSRepIWn-ipk2PncfDOkBthwomm_h50xoSECv7fNg_GaD6jsY3eAYeYjxYe31Pe7QgSHQ/s1600-h/DSC_4662.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8h5wQFCHyAkVAnmcoM_BJB8Hdd74S1h4IgOaC0evxls4AEIoZOB54ZOglLY1ixcvfECpxHDidSRepIWn-ipk2PncfDOkBthwomm_h50xoSECv7fNg_GaD6jsY3eAYeYjxYe31Pe7QgSHQ/s400/DSC_4662.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422879628347645538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73GMcu5rHDhGOMqbUqNPvgD_tMHnNRlym17rNqj-jLdt5x9CpTu65ii5DTUegoSp8w-Soqi0AUGAKcq5-bFFouwLHTSOrgD4ytP_0RSnVtDlMLTsMO8spqlzgsoMmEXe6o_7LsNgjEx_K/s1600-h/DSC_4665.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73GMcu5rHDhGOMqbUqNPvgD_tMHnNRlym17rNqj-jLdt5x9CpTu65ii5DTUegoSp8w-Soqi0AUGAKcq5-bFFouwLHTSOrgD4ytP_0RSnVtDlMLTsMO8spqlzgsoMmEXe6o_7LsNgjEx_K/s400/DSC_4665.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422879624423755826" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Rip-iiiiiiit!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4BxlEMulc_Gi-XiXhFxUqiyKAP9jd1BndqcKwjPv9ttekC8BGMl8G0SnuhBPY1Akf7XLmBb6xNwxsNtTSvp4dhPtoA5ej_M-5Ki_GcXeFE6yZJGm6u4hgMw4UJEXQ51PlBpbtIM6pymZ/s1600-h/DSC_4676.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU4BxlEMulc_Gi-XiXhFxUqiyKAP9jd1BndqcKwjPv9ttekC8BGMl8G0SnuhBPY1Akf7XLmBb6xNwxsNtTSvp4dhPtoA5ej_M-5Ki_GcXeFE6yZJGm6u4hgMw4UJEXQ51PlBpbtIM6pymZ/s400/DSC_4676.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422879003163728290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1zcoQFuKWxumGlFgcLcpK6zlZhMSOCoijvEsgdbJFGTMvWsaYoRJanl0_XAFlHkhgFCfeTvfGVab5QP4zqLF_EfHY3o4HtQURpvbqJBABaWmBk3FuWrjhOKNQKx5rgZUOazjhrKiNbS3/s1600-h/DSC_4685.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1zcoQFuKWxumGlFgcLcpK6zlZhMSOCoijvEsgdbJFGTMvWsaYoRJanl0_XAFlHkhgFCfeTvfGVab5QP4zqLF_EfHY3o4HtQURpvbqJBABaWmBk3FuWrjhOKNQKx5rgZUOazjhrKiNbS3/s400/DSC_4685.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422878996772865458" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Group Hug!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yJgsnLbPeiSnOX3AXgAM8xjXbCOSGLVo_PwNfmZQBui8SuhGMR43KfegX1us9UFqbo7DPWdL7Dkvu1UOolGxRrHU1xsPRuefIuw7Gmy-d_rMLLzFo6IP7nP9PV08eLBISL5oyZRAFAJ7/s1600-h/DSC_4691.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yJgsnLbPeiSnOX3AXgAM8xjXbCOSGLVo_PwNfmZQBui8SuhGMR43KfegX1us9UFqbo7DPWdL7Dkvu1UOolGxRrHU1xsPRuefIuw7Gmy-d_rMLLzFo6IP7nP9PV08eLBISL5oyZRAFAJ7/s400/DSC_4691.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422878991025208242" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These guys really were awesome. We can't thank them enough for all the fun we had in Kuwait!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn09MYraKC0Nut_uGpbk-PvRuAGs8eksR-D6ZaDLaqLDdVbpxRK69MB6OGqTSdHQVIX0XMiFPrL2wT2zzK5ymZonuX3vE41WHXhEmu5lE1Gun1DVWx1PmERNQpOPO2oBoKk7LqHFvv7dh/s1600-h/DSC_4699.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn09MYraKC0Nut_uGpbk-PvRuAGs8eksR-D6ZaDLaqLDdVbpxRK69MB6OGqTSdHQVIX0XMiFPrL2wT2zzK5ymZonuX3vE41WHXhEmu5lE1Gun1DVWx1PmERNQpOPO2oBoKk7LqHFvv7dh/s400/DSC_4699.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422878986533713394" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is Coaxial. They were our sound crew for the week.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxGChq6JMykafZsj3TNKgRU_RG9u7t2RhyTS8x1G_8-M8bGj_g8pz_Lt4dUVAIW4rwhd8n78OYj0Z-RVsr4Q334U5IuDiGNkJphmSZ4zV6o8tb9uLt0wKUzLJJKyePdkCT6e3zcMjR4gC/s1600-h/DSC_4750.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxGChq6JMykafZsj3TNKgRU_RG9u7t2RhyTS8x1G_8-M8bGj_g8pz_Lt4dUVAIW4rwhd8n78OYj0Z-RVsr4Q334U5IuDiGNkJphmSZ4zV6o8tb9uLt0wKUzLJJKyePdkCT6e3zcMjR4gC/s400/DSC_4750.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422878980346506130" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is what happens when you go to a non-alcohol party on New Years Eve.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwsDb9RYkmba-1kw7TxYPhE3HgKIBbzIrYGFcmSHvcV-OtBMofgcnSXMEKZs5ez-OIEJND31Xs_nqN9YDj2b23T3BUFEEPPfbGd76M1XDxk8fSzTLWqcPN2xh3HEpOZfYdVj0ASqKFNZG/s1600-h/DSC_2707.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwsDb9RYkmba-1kw7TxYPhE3HgKIBbzIrYGFcmSHvcV-OtBMofgcnSXMEKZs5ez-OIEJND31Xs_nqN9YDj2b23T3BUFEEPPfbGd76M1XDxk8fSzTLWqcPN2xh3HEpOZfYdVj0ASqKFNZG/s400/DSC_2707.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422878439301967650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLhGZWBS5p3uru5IGYZZe5JlcOJrT7dVpnkogQbaEbycVu5c1VHeTFflxUHUZh11pmZXIk-DhdzZ8nzh5fgEaT4wnsBhOUnkcpvmATnfvud0bGrFHtb1xjk926Dfki4kX-NKqLUx_DOO2/s1600-h/DSC_2708.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLhGZWBS5p3uru5IGYZZe5JlcOJrT7dVpnkogQbaEbycVu5c1VHeTFflxUHUZh11pmZXIk-DhdzZ8nzh5fgEaT4wnsBhOUnkcpvmATnfvud0bGrFHtb1xjk926Dfki4kX-NKqLUx_DOO2/s400/DSC_2708.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422878436318637010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2z3TZw3Xejm91xSLgkZmauBfPwt4EtVu-7TwquDJg1bxs5hYpdZ0wYN0KnGfFNovhCSrAgD4c_5QPybu6AjTpnq1t08HcVC11VaO3cRHoOT9dXn-wuopetULr2ll1U0Hmed2kFOS1_eD/s1600-h/DSC_2709.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2z3TZw3Xejm91xSLgkZmauBfPwt4EtVu-7TwquDJg1bxs5hYpdZ0wYN0KnGfFNovhCSrAgD4c_5QPybu6AjTpnq1t08HcVC11VaO3cRHoOT9dXn-wuopetULr2ll1U0Hmed2kFOS1_eD/s400/DSC_2709.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422878425907200210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55c4G3n6wqJmgxtByHf4plRgcc39s545IJihVZOKWGrfevHHhn8zrblvtv94KayzAO9YckJ3a1C39shkvaLcqFx6VEvCfxe_2rXYXcuPBPGLE9lZd78-dtRwEWV-zhl0kyETccpEb0L1t/s1600-h/DSC_2710.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55c4G3n6wqJmgxtByHf4plRgcc39s545IJihVZOKWGrfevHHhn8zrblvtv94KayzAO9YckJ3a1C39shkvaLcqFx6VEvCfxe_2rXYXcuPBPGLE9lZd78-dtRwEWV-zhl0kyETccpEb0L1t/s400/DSC_2710.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422878418177292370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0tPF7EFWAcrc-LQnChV5K4nU60vG13E6DFQGChp9UXmRV6a9af4QnOVe1qxmVf0pmUkjNLLUt3aDgV5pKbi5N05g2VisxpKEPUty6Qil4b12OcH1StBI3fv-9s6yo6Q4kUhG8DcD5xxh/s1600-h/DSC_2713.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0tPF7EFWAcrc-LQnChV5K4nU60vG13E6DFQGChp9UXmRV6a9af4QnOVe1qxmVf0pmUkjNLLUt3aDgV5pKbi5N05g2VisxpKEPUty6Qil4b12OcH1StBI3fv-9s6yo6Q4kUhG8DcD5xxh/s400/DSC_2713.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422878415624212610" /></a><br /></div></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-11026413957519605662010-01-01T07:59:00.001-08:002010-01-03T00:24:05.905-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 15: Kuwait – Camp Virginia<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">We got to sleep in again today before we were picked up at 1pm for a 1 and a half drive to Camp Virginia. These drives are still awesome. We aren’t quite as on “edge” as we were for the first few so now they are just fun.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">We got to the venue at Camp Virginia around 3:30pm and did a quick sound check. Following that we met with the Commanders, took a nice tour of the base, ate with the Troops, and then hung out before the show. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">One amazing thing about this trip is that we’ve been given little “mementos” at pretty much every place we’ve been to. We’re not talking about the plaques and coins but rather people’s personal property like boots, patches, shirts, etc…. but here we might have gotten the coolest gift any of us could have ever received on this tour; we were all given “Army Blouses”. They are super cool and we’ll get pictures of them up in the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:16.0pt;mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria;mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;mso-bidi-font-family:Georgia">The show went great. That has been kind of a theme for the whole tour; all of the shows have just been amazing. Each show gets more fun.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAT0kEY4mDtd6MuZreZUsoyIsFTvSspATO9e1G6x8LLiiD0Q1NanowBfOUhiRv9UXxZyWgCWoCgCNp1RvRTTjBy2tGZQUrKh2-Q1xoOFWuROMTw_LF4G3DrSfGPBupeEcyUBXlatcqh0Z/s1600-h/IMG_8002.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAT0kEY4mDtd6MuZreZUsoyIsFTvSspATO9e1G6x8LLiiD0Q1NanowBfOUhiRv9UXxZyWgCWoCgCNp1RvRTTjBy2tGZQUrKh2-Q1xoOFWuROMTw_LF4G3DrSfGPBupeEcyUBXlatcqh0Z/s400/IMG_8002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421807919603692642" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Little know fact: Kelly played basketball in College.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnWg4v1IDZCDoQbCrOl5_lomqshxNOGbUpvJV29jgt75MKfmwKQv9BfLrO90BidX7oMIGDLZpLHNbnT50br5TO72lHfnAAg_43bXurQwaZxx9A399u6oyQrGmN1mPu376VoqsshfL0dmk/s1600-h/IMG_7997.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 373px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnWg4v1IDZCDoQbCrOl5_lomqshxNOGbUpvJV29jgt75MKfmwKQv9BfLrO90BidX7oMIGDLZpLHNbnT50br5TO72lHfnAAg_43bXurQwaZxx9A399u6oyQrGmN1mPu376VoqsshfL0dmk/s400/IMG_7997.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421807915450008082" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Commander Call. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BJ94k1RvzWzsghuOtmq7Zktamz1jd-6Nac1dJKQ22MfEqFdGW6G-iLXmk37Yt4p7GsQkfP6wyApFxqTV9ws95wEJHuP59YATdWoiPOrMwrQ5jORpdftoKLuA02qdsKkdr71kJVM16Jh_/s1600-h/IMG_7968.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BJ94k1RvzWzsghuOtmq7Zktamz1jd-6Nac1dJKQ22MfEqFdGW6G-iLXmk37Yt4p7GsQkfP6wyApFxqTV9ws95wEJHuP59YATdWoiPOrMwrQ5jORpdftoKLuA02qdsKkdr71kJVM16Jh_/s400/IMG_7968.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421807909842745490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokcgr2TTOFrgySdOTuxAc0Vi_qPuFZvOBdnj4RP5N6P1z6cxbzwretwt8tGftsqFOKrwHgYhca4ftvfONTvr-_I8HnI3y76V-cj0olpdungD_nWO5N4G_8gVrt_eREpTtqdkn6ws5wwGM/s1600-h/IMG_7985.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlFw3PvFXeySTaFy0jd2BomZgkZ3Hoz4uDkjCo5LNuHhu4fBPcbLn_J8DUZKo70cBTjwSgWO28l1FaH91nnjU3GOT9D1A0G8n_y5lxerR7JpP5Zrt0VaKyfMYkJZVb_T9Ph93es4-KiWc/s400/DSC_4387.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421804748607042866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKGu9aQI_FnnH_BrTbHNxF1cfDgrfhHDDpEDzuRMPb5MAKWrWxsEPMLIjqKWEVJ0JrYtDFstZn63rfzIyT-WeliZ4g7ZDWmbH4bIiqvYShtO2bmd_C-RpfIUScbWuHPFZ3FNmtKvqfgV3/s1600-h/DSC_4391.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKGu9aQI_FnnH_BrTbHNxF1cfDgrfhHDDpEDzuRMPb5MAKWrWxsEPMLIjqKWEVJ0JrYtDFstZn63rfzIyT-WeliZ4g7ZDWmbH4bIiqvYShtO2bmd_C-RpfIUScbWuHPFZ3FNmtKvqfgV3/s400/DSC_4391.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421804738583471810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4Bm9hCcImu1-6pjvB47akeO6iiTAB4X-nA4dy4X0bfXvcqySwN-wvhUbHrFqlBrswuLFYoEgh3l1XhC2mbGxjVfsf7_GEYd_Nvd5Tdrp_6Oi11NuotVA52mYqDs349_3BjUDGlrKGqWs/s1600-h/DSC_4401.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4Bm9hCcImu1-6pjvB47akeO6iiTAB4X-nA4dy4X0bfXvcqySwN-wvhUbHrFqlBrswuLFYoEgh3l1XhC2mbGxjVfsf7_GEYd_Nvd5Tdrp_6Oi11NuotVA52mYqDs349_3BjUDGlrKGqWs/s400/DSC_4401.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421804734583021122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFymwRfqjMPJoI1Oq6CZEXMok9Z1-lvAu-CxNgh1O0eJJIxT27gLDO08nSMwS_gLBrSicy5X1T-ULISL_op4_Zo-_567Rg_D80DHGGgYuiv2uziyrVD6IoVYUoPv-rU4Zq08hu0YZLGmJ2/s1600-h/DSC_4410.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFymwRfqjMPJoI1Oq6CZEXMok9Z1-lvAu-CxNgh1O0eJJIxT27gLDO08nSMwS_gLBrSicy5X1T-ULISL_op4_Zo-_567Rg_D80DHGGgYuiv2uziyrVD6IoVYUoPv-rU4Zq08hu0YZLGmJ2/s400/DSC_4410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421804727375199346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcsVObE0_jPMJXxPKulneXoLyHxx2KWKCuwKjzt8BTyjjRhh6wIeV9nA-YNrLU3hTR2NnLqMin7w4GjhvYyhp6z7oowgvXzYnDSzmJ5hzzGJUHBhBABaXKU24f5HC5il5FF5E19GLrUdE/s1600-h/DSC_4415.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcsVObE0_jPMJXxPKulneXoLyHxx2KWKCuwKjzt8BTyjjRhh6wIeV9nA-YNrLU3hTR2NnLqMin7w4GjhvYyhp6z7oowgvXzYnDSzmJ5hzzGJUHBhBABaXKU24f5HC5il5FF5E19GLrUdE/s400/DSC_4415.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421803384721266178" /></a><div><br /></div><div>This is William our MWR/AFE Contact at Camp Virginia.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPvwXF5CheQQAoY8fjA8sX3N8ODskOCAaGPBPaZZo1QxdEIMxPU3mAn8pgu2rcPvfVPY8RaAleHBCPFsKZu309-HadxHgonKWv8byY8amT0C_zhT-3B8NDDpWm4-T6rJHEwY2JfF-eWs3/s1600-h/DSC_4435.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPvwXF5CheQQAoY8fjA8sX3N8ODskOCAaGPBPaZZo1QxdEIMxPU3mAn8pgu2rcPvfVPY8RaAleHBCPFsKZu309-HadxHgonKWv8byY8amT0C_zhT-3B8NDDpWm4-T6rJHEwY2JfF-eWs3/s400/DSC_4435.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421803379682607650" /></a><div><br /></div><div>These are our two security guards, Dave and Brad... more about them soon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE5VP_VLjy21O4TmLovGQdRTJ7WoJaQYTy311cRiBfkDdDOe-0EIbFdTxKUNdF96hyOWPNQYghInKi3zTm1oH0tNInDeLQriW-MTnJ_wCuUXC543lmjQN87eDK-8CYus8Yy6YyUVp16Pt/s1600-h/DSC_4439.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjE5VP_VLjy21O4TmLovGQdRTJ7WoJaQYTy311cRiBfkDdDOe-0EIbFdTxKUNdF96hyOWPNQYghInKi3zTm1oH0tNInDeLQriW-MTnJ_wCuUXC543lmjQN87eDK-8CYus8Yy6YyUVp16Pt/s400/DSC_4439.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421803380707256338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpQBgQqmrAjIzSAilmNBe4VNjUGsrl-KCUrZ_eGsU6jgwLnNwgVUbS8unPbtzE7lyUUpEJ9nGEwus41pqiCV7lq4wnNSb_CTLBbjaBA_CCTMsP5z0CeWL7nptvVJByGJotu_yl9YqQz9k/s1600-h/DSC_4442.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpQBgQqmrAjIzSAilmNBe4VNjUGsrl-KCUrZ_eGsU6jgwLnNwgVUbS8unPbtzE7lyUUpEJ9nGEwus41pqiCV7lq4wnNSb_CTLBbjaBA_CCTMsP5z0CeWL7nptvVJByGJotu_yl9YqQz9k/s400/DSC_4442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421803371083665698" /></a><br /></div></div></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-26014407322679798872010-01-01T07:52:00.001-08:002010-01-03T00:02:46.003-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 14: Kuwait – “The Rock”<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">We tried to sleep in today but our sleep schedule is so messed up most of us were up real early. We had a “commander call” at 1pm where we learned a bunch of very interesting stuff. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Did you know that US taxpayer money is not used for the bases in Kuwait? The Kuwaiti government invited and asked the US Govt. to establish a presence there following the 1991 invasion so they pay all expenses for the Troops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Other interesting facts about Kuwait; gas costs around .38 cents per gallon. Oil is pretty much their only “product”. The entire country is "DRY".... that means no alcohol... none... no where...</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Following that meeting we loaded up in the SUVs and drove approx. 1 hour to “The Rock”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>When we arrived the sound company “Coaxial” was already there with pretty much everything already set up for us. We just had to plug our instruments in and do a sound check. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This venue is a very nice little “theatre”. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Following sound check we went and ate dinner with the Troops before heading back to the venue for the show. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the show, we hung out for a while before loading back up in the SUV’s and heading back to Camp Arifjan to sleep.</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div>US with our plaques following the Commander Call.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rEzC-0-63q5A-fRAvO1NZEQyAQ1uq4T6LfgHCHmYxD6Xiuk0FVqvDL_C8hnQvKhMWgJQWSXwRg51OW3HcTw2aIZj3TwGqDBtROzjNDY2LQhF3RFxjoQFTZabsL3dk-ohMbMyPprErLy4/s1600-h/IMG_7892.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rEzC-0-63q5A-fRAvO1NZEQyAQ1uq4T6LfgHCHmYxD6Xiuk0FVqvDL_C8hnQvKhMWgJQWSXwRg51OW3HcTw2aIZj3TwGqDBtROzjNDY2LQhF3RFxjoQFTZabsL3dk-ohMbMyPprErLy4/s400/IMG_7892.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421800515270239666" /></a><div><br /></div><div>160 Km/h is 100 mph.... this is about how fast we were going on average.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdMuyM8sNrI6z9WsCms1NhSFoB0gq0p3VLposm4uNpioLzkuICEcqdun9-wRkfnJynXkNKdnzB7BIj58ffCZ0L9VblWj9dWmQYYlf1I-_2zO9NiCZ0lzuhRGx0oVOs-xnzUdzZRpLtmyW/s1600-h/IMG_7899.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRdMuyM8sNrI6z9WsCms1NhSFoB0gq0p3VLposm4uNpioLzkuICEcqdun9-wRkfnJynXkNKdnzB7BIj58ffCZ0L9VblWj9dWmQYYlf1I-_2zO9NiCZ0lzuhRGx0oVOs-xnzUdzZRpLtmyW/s400/IMG_7899.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421800506229725522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EMTxKMVRn-fE7HWCL7IUjEHXsBIBsvYJUh51o9Zw5H-C2pgCVGOD8mNc2VmtaSdvuP0-EPqY2vG74Z1WB_ZgH6oSKnsP5i-OtEOmeFWY4qN6ppG2EBUM2VF0IpRp6VrcwTiUqHTFgTYW/s1600-h/IMG_7910.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8EMTxKMVRn-fE7HWCL7IUjEHXsBIBsvYJUh51o9Zw5H-C2pgCVGOD8mNc2VmtaSdvuP0-EPqY2vG74Z1WB_ZgH6oSKnsP5i-OtEOmeFWY4qN6ppG2EBUM2VF0IpRp6VrcwTiUqHTFgTYW/s400/IMG_7910.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421800495637697058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5O8n74aJOQJJzxPtaa2F6Xwhhzer1x_JQ1pQEFBBi7ukxXX7TgT8tcJNEdgJCy4ACKwfYM77O5fIaVjpBR4t0T-fdZxWdU7BDoWPSmJzoZvSnma3uykB2N3hq7nsrYgLiFFBrA6NGwX0y/s1600-h/IMG_7918.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5O8n74aJOQJJzxPtaa2F6Xwhhzer1x_JQ1pQEFBBi7ukxXX7TgT8tcJNEdgJCy4ACKwfYM77O5fIaVjpBR4t0T-fdZxWdU7BDoWPSmJzoZvSnma3uykB2N3hq7nsrYgLiFFBrA6NGwX0y/s400/IMG_7918.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421800490663722162" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnheOJ-6X9EsGROgGqcIIYy6ZqmZqRhnDu00sxfcMfvtifvq4S3-nj7ei0Ves3nFB3GXYqYaeziThyB77_VmdnszTrWwnSDqUYCSb8Ls5ftWkeRS9ymndS2Is2cpBd1gAWaZzbmCQYUsTM/s1600-h/DSC_3654.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnheOJ-6X9EsGROgGqcIIYy6ZqmZqRhnDu00sxfcMfvtifvq4S3-nj7ei0Ves3nFB3GXYqYaeziThyB77_VmdnszTrWwnSDqUYCSb8Ls5ftWkeRS9ymndS2Is2cpBd1gAWaZzbmCQYUsTM/s400/DSC_3654.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421801409522012194" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 184px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXcqxW_cUmaJaGABXfu9k2J8WW4mQ5PMw_nrH-tiDBzEh7cQSUzEvTvNsu7ttcHzpQQgEhy7rI16F_tRkULi5SxtssyUOJ9EOAQmRVKUka6tSBle60xVy4pG0xuwSujPGB4zN45lVrA3P/s1600-h/DSC_3675.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXcqxW_cUmaJaGABXfu9k2J8WW4mQ5PMw_nrH-tiDBzEh7cQSUzEvTvNsu7ttcHzpQQgEhy7rI16F_tRkULi5SxtssyUOJ9EOAQmRVKUka6tSBle60xVy4pG0xuwSujPGB4zN45lVrA3P/s400/DSC_3675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421801403134577538" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 183px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfgnRSQVxhKanOhXN9Ytq-9Jr80Xb63A4CewpzVQHK1lY1miRlQ2HEfvSZsX14oKKpSBgRjDGUnahexZK0IWiqjECRjPleLiS3NTsJeBm7BLl0Ja0KXxdPuworRF6D6TD6DBVp2SVxnm3/s1600-h/DSC_3703.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfgnRSQVxhKanOhXN9Ytq-9Jr80Xb63A4CewpzVQHK1lY1miRlQ2HEfvSZsX14oKKpSBgRjDGUnahexZK0IWiqjECRjPleLiS3NTsJeBm7BLl0Ja0KXxdPuworRF6D6TD6DBVp2SVxnm3/s400/DSC_3703.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421801400350837234" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Meet and greet after the show<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav4ktNFvdj6TkdPs5oqrjwkPVUdeX68kfN9J6dIsTnk5y4mAAH6Mdu_BtpL5mhyphenhyphenTnG7MjVsIVARZp4Nz-E5IsutInywv3E8dNDS6J5h52F2bbAH-EE-Mx4D1yAHsgiDlD0pEjs2L7jXra/s1600-h/DSC_3711.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav4ktNFvdj6TkdPs5oqrjwkPVUdeX68kfN9J6dIsTnk5y4mAAH6Mdu_BtpL5mhyphenhyphenTnG7MjVsIVARZp4Nz-E5IsutInywv3E8dNDS6J5h52F2bbAH-EE-Mx4D1yAHsgiDlD0pEjs2L7jXra/s400/DSC_3711.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421801032332935602" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_UMvzh_e2PQnsKk9LhraNCdHGBmufCpnp2AEZYv190UI7_hdupJONQYWP-G7gizxVIREQPHxktCGt4YnYFDm_Zq2AGL7cdNwzwC7o2NFZi04KAnBJO9db3LMQIqTlmEqZ1cacypV110A/s1600-h/DSC_3719.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_UMvzh_e2PQnsKk9LhraNCdHGBmufCpnp2AEZYv190UI7_hdupJONQYWP-G7gizxVIREQPHxktCGt4YnYFDm_Zq2AGL7cdNwzwC7o2NFZi04KAnBJO9db3LMQIqTlmEqZ1cacypV110A/s400/DSC_3719.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421801028719536114" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpWe9a-ghcQ9j76It0N3UqSfcvY343C5C_SayuOTp2jpdovKoSI0bJCRO8rbgo_v-SObiR1vjrsfnDhaR1HxjUVhOGeQwiL67Unz2EqcB63gvX1y5XcFD0slyvTsJhzNbNmY5denK3T7M/s1600-h/DSC_3728.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpWe9a-ghcQ9j76It0N3UqSfcvY343C5C_SayuOTp2jpdovKoSI0bJCRO8rbgo_v-SObiR1vjrsfnDhaR1HxjUVhOGeQwiL67Unz2EqcB63gvX1y5XcFD0slyvTsJhzNbNmY5denK3T7M/s400/DSC_3728.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421801028481652274" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHgH5j5m-If7nuZsd-O1gr4aPasrvnVTM6As2NEQ2rrLzMNGXgvr8qofZH9FYA4BSx6Nbim11qQHCipQiVqSQ2-Y-i6ft2Qb8hzARktV8clNJmrYqByCotwbF37anlzczddgwZIxLLhbc/s1600-h/DSC_3733.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHgH5j5m-If7nuZsd-O1gr4aPasrvnVTM6As2NEQ2rrLzMNGXgvr8qofZH9FYA4BSx6Nbim11qQHCipQiVqSQ2-Y-i6ft2Qb8hzARktV8clNJmrYqByCotwbF37anlzczddgwZIxLLhbc/s400/DSC_3733.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421801024363341906" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW1idrQWE7sVwx7HB__A1hoPr7waTWg-gpOjKDMOTpy9j1MH271Sul3Y3c6sNHPaDMYONmR31ZZ63_RyjeeSQowgQpzJYI4eofXpoJOoxGFiYd5UtWAB49b4J22EhbOIUF1dNXoERTjxQ/s1600-h/DSC_3749.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbW1idrQWE7sVwx7HB__A1hoPr7waTWg-gpOjKDMOTpy9j1MH271Sul3Y3c6sNHPaDMYONmR31ZZ63_RyjeeSQowgQpzJYI4eofXpoJOoxGFiYd5UtWAB49b4J22EhbOIUF1dNXoERTjxQ/s400/DSC_3749.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421801020984304882" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB1_dJFKeUxSzzl-EmdIUWvXMaIQuITf9bNx4Z4IUk-C2VffOtQ2phQTJQcj65iEeCc6QyprCfhSuX2VgVUyG5qe_h9RUqXeygakEpXPMS4YvP_w494fRL9OSX6eE3q_EwWh6TVemfhQi/s1600-h/IMG_7937.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB1_dJFKeUxSzzl-EmdIUWvXMaIQuITf9bNx4Z4IUk-C2VffOtQ2phQTJQcj65iEeCc6QyprCfhSuX2VgVUyG5qe_h9RUqXeygakEpXPMS4YvP_w494fRL9OSX6eE3q_EwWh6TVemfhQi/s400/IMG_7937.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421800489360547890" /></a><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-2911206613460378862009-12-31T00:10:00.000-08:002009-12-31T15:14:53.898-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 13: Qatar to Kuwait<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Here we go… another day living in luxury. We got dropped off at the airport around 10am for our 1:30pm flight to Kuwait. We have finally discovered the best way to avoid all the hassle of traveling; just fly first class. We checked all our equipment and baggage without a problem (this was definitely the first place that didn’t even seem concerned/overwhelmed that we were there); from there they escorted us to the “first class terminal”. We had our own terminal to hang out in until the plane boarded. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This terminal was unbelievable. Whatever you wanted they had it and it was free. You want to take a nap? No problem, there’s plenty of beds in the “relaxation room”. Hungry? Ok, there’s a full gourmet buffet with beef medallions, sushi, shrimp, etc… Need a massage? That’s no problem either; the spa is over there complete with a hot tub. This whole place was crazy and it was also pretty evident that all of our incomes combined don’t equal the next lowest person’s in there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We had a blast just soaking it all in and talking with all the people helping us out and waiting on us. They probably don’t see too many bands from America so we signed some CDs and took some pictures with them too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We didn’t want to leave but since we were flying first class the plane wasn’t even that much worse. They drove us in a private bus from the terminal to the plane where we again got the royal treatment. Unfortunately, again it was a quick 1-hour flight before we landed in Kuwait. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We were met at the airport by Sam and Travis, our MWR Contacts, and a slew of other people including armed security. We got through customs easily and were off to the base. This was our first experience of driving in Kuwait and it sure was an exciting one. We had a convoy of 4 or 5 GMC SUVs all driving real fast and all being just a few feet away from each other. Anytime we turned or merged into traffic a security vehicle would block traffic and then speed up to catch us again. It was quite surreal. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We have seen lots of bad drivers on this trip. Starting in Bahrain where everyone drove hanging outside of their vehicle, to Djibouti where they just drive wherever the hell they want to, Qatar, where they just drive stupid, and finally in Kuwait, put all those other bad habits together and then increase the speed by about 75 mph. This place the drivers are insane. There are cars all over the side of the road and you can’t go 20 feet without seeing a guardrail that’s been destroyed.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">At one point on the trip a Cadillac Escalade going 100+ mph tried to merge into our motorcade as we were getting onto an off ramp. The drivers didn’t budge and came within inches of a collision at atleast 100 mph. They made it through the turn before security took off after the other car going at least 120/130mph. We don’t think anything happened to them but we’re pretty sure our security scared the hell out of them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is our first experience with armed security, motorcades, and Kuwaiti traffic but so far it is awesome! </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We got to the base around 5pm, took a quick tour, checked into our new “hotel” and had the rest of the day off to relax. Some of us went to a movie, some passed out, some called home, etc… it was nice to have a few hours to do whatever we wanted to. That has been extremely rare on this trip.</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div>Loading up the gear again.....</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTctRXvbXDlvMWCtwiHEQYQ4inxMqnG8vaxP9K2ZH4EVGTR3dHFvYieRlV_umJu6CunXSUYX89oWfCpIYSe0LnEFD9IWwlfrKLOyS1jHZfWlx4mICo_99y_RcQXKa33ML5o0p_zNvi0de/s1600-h/IMG_7774.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTctRXvbXDlvMWCtwiHEQYQ4inxMqnG8vaxP9K2ZH4EVGTR3dHFvYieRlV_umJu6CunXSUYX89oWfCpIYSe0LnEFD9IWwlfrKLOyS1jHZfWlx4mICo_99y_RcQXKa33ML5o0p_zNvi0de/s400/IMG_7774.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421325279200617010" /></a><div>First Class!!!!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UbFtAZ07VBf36Cr1EQZ6WZJRwU6uJP0cGg1NvUGp3clyHtQa7f61eFXxpq4j6Zxdtoi5dz1ELKgQ0e00E0M8o86gCqaPH-Q2Zz8eJ8HX89EqJOADKiFi1Ip26EHuLg51R9RMKdLuA_TY/s1600-h/IMG_7816.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UbFtAZ07VBf36Cr1EQZ6WZJRwU6uJP0cGg1NvUGp3clyHtQa7f61eFXxpq4j6Zxdtoi5dz1ELKgQ0e00E0M8o86gCqaPH-Q2Zz8eJ8HX89EqJOADKiFi1Ip26EHuLg51R9RMKdLuA_TY/s400/IMG_7816.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421314157722548962" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>This is the first class lounge with free everything...</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq1qjLiH-gXH-f-7t-qMvd55cuHhzHFFD2bjwVpVq1q56dwsHhzQ57L-0uQs7LkvnqOTQLTHhM8yTnRHHBvga1IyMvfRjdxQzoorxkuMdCsIayM8hrx95KDtV21foOHe5MyeUg2HHwvWg/s1600-h/IMG_7790.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq1qjLiH-gXH-f-7t-qMvd55cuHhzHFFD2bjwVpVq1q56dwsHhzQ57L-0uQs7LkvnqOTQLTHhM8yTnRHHBvga1IyMvfRjdxQzoorxkuMdCsIayM8hrx95KDtV21foOHe5MyeUg2HHwvWg/s400/IMG_7790.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421316027491922850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>The restaurant.... <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyp9nqj61-AyUxxpEGWyQz2_YISXGL2CD4VNwsqbk-eTVw5U_uQx5Gg7XBMaIjr5-BN2Y6fKJ3dJ48d9UA6FBcwmaQEEtbg_2C6veRibuOaJsRPShl4boW-6doHaT49MaJ3WuNtEEH-4c/s1600-h/IMG_7791.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyp9nqj61-AyUxxpEGWyQz2_YISXGL2CD4VNwsqbk-eTVw5U_uQx5Gg7XBMaIjr5-BN2Y6fKJ3dJ48d9UA6FBcwmaQEEtbg_2C6veRibuOaJsRPShl4boW-6doHaT49MaJ3WuNtEEH-4c/s400/IMG_7791.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421316026333550770" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiUaZKTTWUaCO7US2-YYLR9XbWOORX_0dIQ4iJcE61lnfsPGPvEBEhVupKQ5zEO8mueRn6-ePgTfhN2l7g-jxXNa2kdarbvdRxpKIyEOfsHp7D84elLlKKgMaBlxOvI3mfd_s6f4QguV6/s1600-h/IMG_7777.JPG"></a></div><div>Amazing food</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiUaZKTTWUaCO7US2-YYLR9XbWOORX_0dIQ4iJcE61lnfsPGPvEBEhVupKQ5zEO8mueRn6-ePgTfhN2l7g-jxXNa2kdarbvdRxpKIyEOfsHp7D84elLlKKgMaBlxOvI3mfd_s6f4QguV6/s1600-h/IMG_7777.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibiUaZKTTWUaCO7US2-YYLR9XbWOORX_0dIQ4iJcE61lnfsPGPvEBEhVupKQ5zEO8mueRn6-ePgTfhN2l7g-jxXNa2kdarbvdRxpKIyEOfsHp7D84elLlKKgMaBlxOvI3mfd_s6f4QguV6/s400/IMG_7777.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421325273766073570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEX5CrFAHlFt7n0DTFqUFnuTR4AEaKDw3wB9eBBTYC3Ee1TKlqLHdJKr2Z5Q43jE1Z6CEvCD0DkljneiTzzXsXUVILmek2i6YgnhfXUOrv4XRB4UpToDmDgZtFEtF0xetsn1t6e7NOrFk/s1600-h/IMG_7778.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEX5CrFAHlFt7n0DTFqUFnuTR4AEaKDw3wB9eBBTYC3Ee1TKlqLHdJKr2Z5Q43jE1Z6CEvCD0DkljneiTzzXsXUVILmek2i6YgnhfXUOrv4XRB4UpToDmDgZtFEtF0xetsn1t6e7NOrFk/s400/IMG_7778.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421325266433955874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUeLY84RKSYQvwAUaPiaSwyLGM6WE2nKv3jgvIHqiZyCMU5Q1EtHbvNgpCzHyRMffajubKmRpL75n7zSkmBAH3N6EqqW4w1D96vGpM-MeLkVQsqx-d3rzsC2Gna2MFBlXqeR1raj0GARD/s1600-h/IMG_7784.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUeLY84RKSYQvwAUaPiaSwyLGM6WE2nKv3jgvIHqiZyCMU5Q1EtHbvNgpCzHyRMffajubKmRpL75n7zSkmBAH3N6EqqW4w1D96vGpM-MeLkVQsqx-d3rzsC2Gna2MFBlXqeR1raj0GARD/s400/IMG_7784.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421316031798487906" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7MgnsdIOBo44EGBLb-6h_Cl5efDmXoDiR9A00HONp0tBpsXHjR2tuakOyf8YtQ7R5XDyW4Dh-fEy0JQmdSv5zoT9-pQpBs723F8hRl7ByQ0ayxd27z2pOqL7GL2nBez4Y-kyvKT7uKSu/s1600-h/IMG_7793.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7MgnsdIOBo44EGBLb-6h_Cl5efDmXoDiR9A00HONp0tBpsXHjR2tuakOyf8YtQ7R5XDyW4Dh-fEy0JQmdSv5zoT9-pQpBs723F8hRl7ByQ0ayxd27z2pOqL7GL2nBez4Y-kyvKT7uKSu/s400/IMG_7793.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421316016700995570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYTJZhtrQFJ47XAfTOJ7Cyd_n1cZIrvJwRxHIqw997hByhct3yg6IC-IIRKwFR1qrWc0GDGQNdb9uzFCUjspaACT_aewRuadp52lmr0XviXz3ikwEOqAnrkdq-1LyniP2Bi0HZqaT_lEE/s1600-h/IMG_7802.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYTJZhtrQFJ47XAfTOJ7Cyd_n1cZIrvJwRxHIqw997hByhct3yg6IC-IIRKwFR1qrWc0GDGQNdb9uzFCUjspaACT_aewRuadp52lmr0XviXz3ikwEOqAnrkdq-1LyniP2Bi0HZqaT_lEE/s400/IMG_7802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421314168392961266" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A fruit tray.... we know there was melon, dragon fruit, and strawberries. Other than that your guess is as good as ours.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQAwSEXA9F5DCYeuAmCechc2U6FOeA7aXSH8H7tmToQmrxU5Hxyhw38EXNfM4PFKWBZtd5m6q-2Ylt0wikVH7pIuL31UAdY_ctNo1oe73oVhboKPMDPIDWMgehjfBuxd8b-2ROdBXkclr/s1600-h/IMG_7812.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQAwSEXA9F5DCYeuAmCechc2U6FOeA7aXSH8H7tmToQmrxU5Hxyhw38EXNfM4PFKWBZtd5m6q-2Ylt0wikVH7pIuL31UAdY_ctNo1oe73oVhboKPMDPIDWMgehjfBuxd8b-2ROdBXkclr/s400/IMG_7812.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421314164795766402" /></a></div><div>What kind of airport has a spa/hot tub in it?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnNi95D3J-HDu9UfhD6necZV0TIxwgtiD9ETlB27EscechLUj7T0DYCcB0226-LyiJOGAORqA5LDRP7lLuXbQPVhgHLVW6GqGI7X2Gx0SF1pbksNk5EsGpitOBR-YTWFlWtn_eT08hK0R/s1600-h/IMG_7787.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnNi95D3J-HDu9UfhD6necZV0TIxwgtiD9ETlB27EscechLUj7T0DYCcB0226-LyiJOGAORqA5LDRP7lLuXbQPVhgHLVW6GqGI7X2Gx0SF1pbksNk5EsGpitOBR-YTWFlWtn_eT08hK0R/s400/IMG_7787.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421316028439111474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br />This is one of the many guys that got us anything we asked for. They were very nice and fun to talk to. It seemed like they didn't get too many people in there that looked or acted like us. They thought we were hilarious.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0bGyxR22pT8EQPmLH1M9vt5Xwg8thkAAOSIS5XnD6LOhP_vyQVO0JTvtWNJsrz-qEgQdCB3dJEc9sU8bsyhUmUnyczbCm_6AG4ZYmxRpQP1EeZIn3kx4B5En1lHfy_85hoHvHcshYfiF/s1600-h/IMG_7811.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0bGyxR22pT8EQPmLH1M9vt5Xwg8thkAAOSIS5XnD6LOhP_vyQVO0JTvtWNJsrz-qEgQdCB3dJEc9sU8bsyhUmUnyczbCm_6AG4ZYmxRpQP1EeZIn3kx4B5En1lHfy_85hoHvHcshYfiF/s1600-h/IMG_7811.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0bGyxR22pT8EQPmLH1M9vt5Xwg8thkAAOSIS5XnD6LOhP_vyQVO0JTvtWNJsrz-qEgQdCB3dJEc9sU8bsyhUmUnyczbCm_6AG4ZYmxRpQP1EeZIn3kx4B5En1lHfy_85hoHvHcshYfiF/s400/IMG_7811.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421314153382335842" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Onboard the private bus taking us from the terminal to the plane.<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQBpurOGeMuJx1tVRvuEPx36G_vrachkixQC76P0F75gRkMR9QcesxrlCdiW9I-yGEr9eU8IFkwChEl3oYJDUf3pGkSFEEpfUI22bup34p-RXZSPLnj7WQ1Qy-HbjV6fw0t3NJRSv1Zl0/s1600-h/IMG_7819.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQBpurOGeMuJx1tVRvuEPx36G_vrachkixQC76P0F75gRkMR9QcesxrlCdiW9I-yGEr9eU8IFkwChEl3oYJDUf3pGkSFEEpfUI22bup34p-RXZSPLnj7WQ1Qy-HbjV6fw0t3NJRSv1Zl0/s400/IMG_7819.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421314159034822658" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>We'll get more (better) pictures and videos of the "motorcade" up soon but this is a taste. There is no zoom on this picture and we are going very fast. It really is cool.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGamOgsyrJBN6jMUAOE0j3ezweNjlcoO7DdKzxxeBOTZUD6DUfMYW0Sn0fZgsN1PoAsla_zCVFSJ1jXJ5ivXc6qmMASIhdinJe6f4vfJWMjKoQN3zZOtGv3jYxq_LvZaNiOTo3XN8Bg-Yf/s1600-h/IMG_7861.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGamOgsyrJBN6jMUAOE0j3ezweNjlcoO7DdKzxxeBOTZUD6DUfMYW0Sn0fZgsN1PoAsla_zCVFSJ1jXJ5ivXc6qmMASIhdinJe6f4vfJWMjKoQN3zZOtGv3jYxq_LvZaNiOTo3XN8Bg-Yf/s400/IMG_7861.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421538581586648402" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-26541209446774730512009-12-30T23:36:00.000-08:002010-01-03T00:27:52.213-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 12: Qatar - Camp As Sayliaha<div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:269.0pt"><br />7:30am came awful early this morning. We woke up, ate breakfast, packed up all our luggage and equipment before proceeding back through customs/security to leave the base. Just outside of the base Julie and William from Camp As Sayliaha met us. We transferred all of our gear into a van and truck and proceeded to Camp As Sayliaha, about a 30-minute drive away.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:269.0pt">We arrived around 9:30 or so, checked into our new “hotel” and unloaded all of our gear and equipment. They had a full day planned for us that would be great on a normal day but the jetlag and lack of sleep from the day before was catching up with us. This was probably the peak of the deliria setting in and it was pretty evident. We pushed on through though with a tour of the base and several meet and greets.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:269.0pt">We had another “commander call” at 1pm where we met Colonel Girard. She seemed like an amazing woman that most of us would have loved to just sit down and talk to for a much longer time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At the end of the commander call she ordered us to go get some sleep. Unfortunately, we only had about two hours before we needed to be at sound check so we all went and laid down just long enough to fall asleep before being woken up and hurried off to sound check.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Walking into the venue was quite the experience. From the outside the building looks like any other airplane hangar or big bulky building you would expect to see on a military base but when you open the door it is a completely different story. Immediately inside the door is an Irish pub, keep walking about 20 yards is a sports bar, and after that you’re at a very nice wine bar. All the way down at the end of this huge building is a giant US Flag with a stage right in front of it. It was a very cool setup.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Again the show went great, we signed CDs, took lots of pictures, watched some football (it was Sunday afternoon in the US), and then headed back to the hotel to get some much-needed sleep.</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div><div><br /></div><div>With Whitney and Jeff before we left the first base in Qatar.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pW2FJlPC6BgG-Hj49o0h8dOWqzQCv1dYWvyurHXheeh6VLoRanP451fGmQEm99SxtDsKMh0f7TF8rXa0raxOT1bq9h0lhGNi_bEdur_A4E23QKcuXfmfeLORTlx-fqkEKqyE58LzbLOw/s1600-h/IMG_7716.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pW2FJlPC6BgG-Hj49o0h8dOWqzQCv1dYWvyurHXheeh6VLoRanP451fGmQEm99SxtDsKMh0f7TF8rXa0raxOT1bq9h0lhGNi_bEdur_A4E23QKcuXfmfeLORTlx-fqkEKqyE58LzbLOw/s400/IMG_7716.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421302823558646354" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We've never seen a camel in the back of a truck... have you?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M_TZPektI7OPgPOsvB-3DBxiEX01c6CUshN7OcFZanLl60uP37UjRRNtHFFwgwH-d7Tjy-caVkvEkum48nxYliXedPQM0oGL2RWstRgrh6rPbA9Zru8cX5IRh1Rv0YOPFC6vhWM31Csh/s1600-h/IMG_7721.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M_TZPektI7OPgPOsvB-3DBxiEX01c6CUshN7OcFZanLl60uP37UjRRNtHFFwgwH-d7Tjy-caVkvEkum48nxYliXedPQM0oGL2RWstRgrh6rPbA9Zru8cX5IRh1Rv0YOPFC6vhWM31Csh/s400/IMG_7721.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421302811861818482" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div>With our new "contacts" Julie and Erica<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMIp_bll-aAD3OLV4OJZxvi2hhxtM7IO4fCthIs7a747w54ErQTwW6UFIaxJ2a3aP2sHpi3dy52zuNjAwQY4o8NHAqk92MhuojsIlGgvedRiFZTb_2QnQWVx0rRCA2FGRXxG1C6IQODef/s1600-h/IMG_7768.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMIp_bll-aAD3OLV4OJZxvi2hhxtM7IO4fCthIs7a747w54ErQTwW6UFIaxJ2a3aP2sHpi3dy52zuNjAwQY4o8NHAqk92MhuojsIlGgvedRiFZTb_2QnQWVx0rRCA2FGRXxG1C6IQODef/s400/IMG_7768.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421304030759460002" /></a><br /><br /><div>Another "Commanders Call". We make lots of important decisions at these tables...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsnWd1nnrIv1_7qZsWcExMsA9oCvRHTkWlDufSKvguE89s0bnY8bd1B8VWqCIxi_zHKA7Ix4Hl4Oi02i8tIofLnaAaxeSJ9Bt9scWe3xuQiBhffzzykyMLyOqAgpMD0dH0opbawG101de/s1600-h/IMG_7730.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsnWd1nnrIv1_7qZsWcExMsA9oCvRHTkWlDufSKvguE89s0bnY8bd1B8VWqCIxi_zHKA7Ix4Hl4Oi02i8tIofLnaAaxeSJ9Bt9scWe3xuQiBhffzzykyMLyOqAgpMD0dH0opbawG101de/s400/IMG_7730.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421302827340775218" /></a><div><br /></div><div>With Colonel Girard</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OUuJ9t4ATFdv6RVL-C4kNWFyFLdWx30cjp5K5TlXf8moBWUFLmxLqM9rv2Uk3Ym6Y7Pr2hTZFrWj9irT1Zldz3VJ6AbeWRmSUh4-p7uhQqinvKFr4QtQS2lcsha84lp5DKao4fuaSCUT/s1600-h/091227-A-0595B-014.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OUuJ9t4ATFdv6RVL-C4kNWFyFLdWx30cjp5K5TlXf8moBWUFLmxLqM9rv2Uk3Ym6Y7Pr2hTZFrWj9irT1Zldz3VJ6AbeWRmSUh4-p7uhQqinvKFr4QtQS2lcsha84lp5DKao4fuaSCUT/s400/091227-A-0595B-014.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421304043796417410" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Is that James Brown or Rev. Al Sharpton in the background???<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1T3e8MjVeWTeOMa2jzZmlIDohBPRW1qYjfuK-8akDfu0ynRVY84xlj6OjwhW32MxcJrg7b8BiZb2MIBNFzvJEXgnkyuULXeNA41bHAELh6rIiuDkZR9LEsjk01hSvchm0bGg1dO9FvRb/s1600-h/091227-A-0595B-010.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1T3e8MjVeWTeOMa2jzZmlIDohBPRW1qYjfuK-8akDfu0ynRVY84xlj6OjwhW32MxcJrg7b8BiZb2MIBNFzvJEXgnkyuULXeNA41bHAELh6rIiuDkZR9LEsjk01hSvchm0bGg1dO9FvRb/s400/091227-A-0595B-010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421304031388631650" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div>We were awarded plaques recognizing us for coming to the base. Col. Girard read the first plaque and then called out "Garrett Thielking". </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRcsUkWad2AISqSMoJ80vwsynCZE1mjnstpPiuQ353l5x0h6EbuY1vZYC6xsabOCxzxRTKAI8OW1hKf5ny4KiYSVQTFDPSHa5dkBqbIS3nV7yuoJ23Q65QALDtLV36G9Xt7PBQTUsexLx/s1600-h/091227-A-0595B-017.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRcsUkWad2AISqSMoJ80vwsynCZE1mjnstpPiuQ353l5x0h6EbuY1vZYC6xsabOCxzxRTKAI8OW1hKf5ny4KiYSVQTFDPSHa5dkBqbIS3nV7yuoJ23Q65QALDtLV36G9Xt7PBQTUsexLx/s400/091227-A-0595B-017.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421304046799813762" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /></div><div>Garrett looked around the room for atleast a couple seconds before he realized that his name had been called.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzVF5Vz5RY_7VyaexlaIPekoZqF3BAgyVgTY_ITnxEfbh1itr1Gg80XJZ3zxvBwYecFH7gqecj3SMCr6cGWlkOItlfzjT0rrXG6ym8NN1kVQUjrtot0BqXd3d6hZxvxZTziRW13Z4jzyP/s1600-h/091227-A-0595B-018.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzVF5Vz5RY_7VyaexlaIPekoZqF3BAgyVgTY_ITnxEfbh1itr1Gg80XJZ3zxvBwYecFH7gqecj3SMCr6cGWlkOItlfzjT0rrXG6ym8NN1kVQUjrtot0BqXd3d6hZxvxZTziRW13Z4jzyP/s400/091227-A-0595B-018.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421304051774772114" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /></div><div>This got the whole room laughing and showed everyone how delirious we were. She told our contacts to take us back and put us in bed immediately.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3C6vOgAGoHKPsbOQO1WIoM3AP1KkgmcruKqvx_6sVR26mL2hXbwkr9LYla63vhMnHoT1UcLv4-IgHeM816qftKUa8q89blKdIvC42dyQbLa5uipciHWUFcz7rvq5EX7S3H1buz0jg0Lk/s1600-h/091227-A-0595B-019.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3C6vOgAGoHKPsbOQO1WIoM3AP1KkgmcruKqvx_6sVR26mL2hXbwkr9LYla63vhMnHoT1UcLv4-IgHeM816qftKUa8q89blKdIvC42dyQbLa5uipciHWUFcz7rvq5EX7S3H1buz0jg0Lk/s400/091227-A-0595B-019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421306644805499250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNEXtJgOXVcq9QOoG2v7LzPdfS6awhn84svLhyphenhyphenYbxK4R-y0fCevalEW_M9l7WE0TrnbHRoqedNC-VQRr0JevQtD-tMuxWOZpgzvpzTu8O_5ko3L9XI3HgU6kpA1luC_MYagbqKQsLm9ap/s1600-h/091227-A-0595B-026.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNEXtJgOXVcq9QOoG2v7LzPdfS6awhn84svLhyphenhyphenYbxK4R-y0fCevalEW_M9l7WE0TrnbHRoqedNC-VQRr0JevQtD-tMuxWOZpgzvpzTu8O_5ko3L9XI3HgU6kpA1luC_MYagbqKQsLm9ap/s400/091227-A-0595B-026.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421304550356851970" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWNJkMjI0SRgjERHhIQjbTIwsIidLLWrFilqyKfHhoMn_w6EL-kn3IsCkLoVpDs2M8ErVQ5vz6hjiFu504tGf0gEMddSC2udFeBhnxcisNjlhElsN-_ZSNo7k2mtT-OJesDN0HYXDFGw_/s1600-h/DSC_3599.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWNJkMjI0SRgjERHhIQjbTIwsIidLLWrFilqyKfHhoMn_w6EL-kn3IsCkLoVpDs2M8ErVQ5vz6hjiFu504tGf0gEMddSC2udFeBhnxcisNjlhElsN-_ZSNo7k2mtT-OJesDN0HYXDFGw_/s400/DSC_3599.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421302805743701538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbTEZJj2HNJ3RG-dT8VEQli50ZkcYwSSa9nxOboLx4on1ZOqampadkYrAy3Ioz41J1y_W2I9JgS4Fn7H81Z3kivIUO6mcL0SNKAFWgR-kIKjuSU9J7pCs_V4zzM4A4plilJdchaM-DJ-h/s1600-h/DSC_3537.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 382px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbTEZJj2HNJ3RG-dT8VEQli50ZkcYwSSa9nxOboLx4on1ZOqampadkYrAy3Ioz41J1y_W2I9JgS4Fn7H81Z3kivIUO6mcL0SNKAFWgR-kIKjuSU9J7pCs_V4zzM4A4plilJdchaM-DJ-h/s400/DSC_3537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421301617736840882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47EJBfNi-sfPeZ4AkZcvL_-Cly9V0nRvsA0UDjGqutETWXUl6gjkr10Uac37qvsBon-esfsRKRRuRhj0uoFpI3pck8zTaZW1IQKNenM82QihXNF9xjO3NQ-HI2hgaC2fCbP9_MRRgcYy8/s1600-h/DSC_3344.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47EJBfNi-sfPeZ4AkZcvL_-Cly9V0nRvsA0UDjGqutETWXUl6gjkr10Uac37qvsBon-esfsRKRRuRhj0uoFpI3pck8zTaZW1IQKNenM82QihXNF9xjO3NQ-HI2hgaC2fCbP9_MRRgcYy8/s400/DSC_3344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421301609015664434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EtfdIzlZ6iMqnPz0IjIOoa-rm_JOuGq6aXQMg1TUyG8OWZ7HYx5zg45p766RYlPmnTOSWQxYVApOBH2oSBkMzxi0berhh0ASoUxJ1udcuSKhQwovsaUF5sXUFU0NBCwIjNjVtK4ncVfz/s1600-h/DSC_3407.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EtfdIzlZ6iMqnPz0IjIOoa-rm_JOuGq6aXQMg1TUyG8OWZ7HYx5zg45p766RYlPmnTOSWQxYVApOBH2oSBkMzxi0berhh0ASoUxJ1udcuSKhQwovsaUF5sXUFU0NBCwIjNjVtK4ncVfz/s400/DSC_3407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421301604821862882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmtw1hRxijo3ct0-2W0-MDZfGsS80vbX6MDGhCXniPOePuBlyKMea1fV19CLx6ECDMmTiE_busRYkLE3Dc5d88Aonq5FFcjoQnAOiiXYgvd1mMqMWSCnsNmPdcvROnB-IfFwzquSgUq9H/s1600-h/DSC_3396.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmtw1hRxijo3ct0-2W0-MDZfGsS80vbX6MDGhCXniPOePuBlyKMea1fV19CLx6ECDMmTiE_busRYkLE3Dc5d88Aonq5FFcjoQnAOiiXYgvd1mMqMWSCnsNmPdcvROnB-IfFwzquSgUq9H/s400/DSC_3396.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421301604139255618" /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCy5WF16P6Zs9Ebbb4sQZicIm2oDO8tJbh7mdNVvhA2Bi-usETFvDeIssFqTiGFNqNns_mIgGJyMlPjIYw5LIgf8aLE_1pRGBVVhUHUKw-sVaqBd_Ys2HuZEv7M0_7cdMoQ5Xh-27Q8aY/s1600-h/IMG_7746.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCy5WF16P6Zs9Ebbb4sQZicIm2oDO8tJbh7mdNVvhA2Bi-usETFvDeIssFqTiGFNqNns_mIgGJyMlPjIYw5LIgf8aLE_1pRGBVVhUHUKw-sVaqBd_Ys2HuZEv7M0_7cdMoQ5Xh-27Q8aY/s400/IMG_7746.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421302826498456130" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-10838871428896536762009-12-30T13:53:00.000-08:002009-12-30T23:28:37.289-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 11: Qatar – Al Udeid Airbase<div><p class="MsoNormal">Our contact, Whitney Oliver, picked us up from the airport about 7:30am or so. We cleared customs easily and went to the base. This base was by far the hardest to get onto. We had to go through checkpoint after checkpoint before finally having to take all of our gear out one by one in order for security to inspect it. This is a pain in the ass anytime but imagine doing this at 8am after a night of no sleep. At this point we were delirious enough to think that the whole thing was just hilarious.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We checked into our housing (basically a hotel) and all of us passed out immediately. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Most of us woke up around 3pm in order to get to our 4pm sound check. Overall, the setup was great but they were lacking some of the sound equipment. We had pretty much everything we needed minus a few microphones and microphone clips. We got creative and made it work (see pictures below).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After sound check we met with quickly with the Commander of the Base. He thanked us for coming, offered to buy us a round of drinks, and explained to us that there was a 3 drink “minimum” on the base. We all wondered if we heard what we thought we heard before Whitney stepped in and corrected him. He obviously meant “maximum” but for a minute we thought we had all hit the jackpot.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The show went great. Once again we got to hang out with lots of great people from all over the country before heading back to the “hotel” around 2 or 3am and went to bed for our 7:30 am wake up call.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Meeting with the Commander<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4Bv9LtHgxYh5XohyGeDmKz8y8x4jEqmbCksbvbHefhGO7L6aejNTH7sRmS9c7ySEAJOyw5kcZ966a9U8u6ZM9bgJ-JVymj2Q6cZhUru9sSNaDgMDckaiqk6yCLR6P5j6Xn4kVFWXpb2e/s1600-h/IMG_7640.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4Bv9LtHgxYh5XohyGeDmKz8y8x4jEqmbCksbvbHefhGO7L6aejNTH7sRmS9c7ySEAJOyw5kcZ966a9U8u6ZM9bgJ-JVymj2Q6cZhUru9sSNaDgMDckaiqk6yCLR6P5j6Xn4kVFWXpb2e/s400/IMG_7640.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421153099038516610" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></p><div>the look of deliria<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-4ETpSN8YLI-FUVHII56gOBlZYzMiVtNzwdkOqGrjIVZtk9Rkx8KrsMH3oKs9WUZaCVX8NAHZVUNQyenRILxw8zTJ0WmOrRLmJxw3g3pj68KBfO72H-36jATrVgwi5jlwIajCy7Wz8Iv/s1600-h/IMG_7638.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-4ETpSN8YLI-FUVHII56gOBlZYzMiVtNzwdkOqGrjIVZtk9Rkx8KrsMH3oKs9WUZaCVX8NAHZVUNQyenRILxw8zTJ0WmOrRLmJxw3g3pj68KBfO72H-36jATrVgwi5jlwIajCy7Wz8Iv/s400/IMG_7638.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421153095392476450" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We used alot of tape that night...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanum6nUtp9KNwwdYalSBIt6K-Gmiyo4pMg9JQTvYesq9FiJcijRnev06ims4qTRqHatm3teJ5rHCLeQZ06dAJnAwaSSyig5Q7Em2DWJi-NgrHwM2ruV4ModPibrcY45sUdIZASxAKC-Uj/s1600-h/IMG_7633.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanum6nUtp9KNwwdYalSBIt6K-Gmiyo4pMg9JQTvYesq9FiJcijRnev06ims4qTRqHatm3teJ5rHCLeQZ06dAJnAwaSSyig5Q7Em2DWJi-NgrHwM2ruV4ModPibrcY45sUdIZASxAKC-Uj/s400/IMG_7633.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421153089157612210" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpJ6JBxbAWaLBZanu5lV4ZODCZRKbjmE3EVC-fu2mX0_ikdvMY__SbK3NE5XxGlKzhV6NXbkJPV_ceg46p7MQbo1VS0lurunQfakqosC_jKZRDimnOq08moSlN37X8gs4-IfOjBXUuGkM/s1600-h/DSC_3069.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpJ6JBxbAWaLBZanu5lV4ZODCZRKbjmE3EVC-fu2mX0_ikdvMY__SbK3NE5XxGlKzhV6NXbkJPV_ceg46p7MQbo1VS0lurunQfakqosC_jKZRDimnOq08moSlN37X8gs4-IfOjBXUuGkM/s400/DSC_3069.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421297736027586210" style="cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn2T8kVfJmTxRzeDo-RE0LqT0tQ9tj6Cfipq90wIOGUkzeIqVuk39FOXHjQkibMJTGX1dHFxKy2pXc2WsRp7U8uEt6t6yUdQkpBfasFoZmP-UB0RcBdYARbtu9skqlRHSi23qnBC8F77s/s1600-h/DSC_3257.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCn2T8kVfJmTxRzeDo-RE0LqT0tQ9tj6Cfipq90wIOGUkzeIqVuk39FOXHjQkibMJTGX1dHFxKy2pXc2WsRp7U8uEt6t6yUdQkpBfasFoZmP-UB0RcBdYARbtu9skqlRHSi23qnBC8F77s/s400/DSC_3257.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421297733052112610" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcxCtM2BukDQ6xNVpabBREFUOx79oWCPA7VauyVPyYIhQ_7RjBelhpby15mIExTFWn3_D_J5oZvNVuqSHfMbtt6OfHzAryl4-y3QW5IiFL5gvSf8nCLERv6jVYhL4kbxADPOxqkXjLJeX/s1600-h/DSC_3051.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcxCtM2BukDQ6xNVpabBREFUOx79oWCPA7VauyVPyYIhQ_7RjBelhpby15mIExTFWn3_D_J5oZvNVuqSHfMbtt6OfHzAryl4-y3QW5IiFL5gvSf8nCLERv6jVYhL4kbxADPOxqkXjLJeX/s400/DSC_3051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421297722489826290" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6mEtBeyCHgxLhvV8Ptd14256qy8dg9VK-qY46YMiKrkP50Fz-vzEemVFyuT2cGTo-YymqCGhJ09dwZAQXNchMFI57_T5SWIUQl6ShQ535CWERYwSqV5E2gQII-XrF03pgyYv_60S-7W8/s1600-h/DSC_2926.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6mEtBeyCHgxLhvV8Ptd14256qy8dg9VK-qY46YMiKrkP50Fz-vzEemVFyuT2cGTo-YymqCGhJ09dwZAQXNchMFI57_T5SWIUQl6ShQ535CWERYwSqV5E2gQII-XrF03pgyYv_60S-7W8/s400/DSC_2926.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421297720384609618" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0QEpTvwdk87Pw1Kh4xx6XToOT3FPnMHHfNIu_cto8NF3bPrAfML0npqYeNvpg23tdSG6NS71y1WLzqjEacqGztgrSwoOgglcQ8KfCuaCKRpyk57BYNrM4iuEyaEhFqOg7x__NGhH1Q7h/s1600-h/DSC_2898.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0QEpTvwdk87Pw1Kh4xx6XToOT3FPnMHHfNIu_cto8NF3bPrAfML0npqYeNvpg23tdSG6NS71y1WLzqjEacqGztgrSwoOgglcQ8KfCuaCKRpyk57BYNrM4iuEyaEhFqOg7x__NGhH1Q7h/s400/DSC_2898.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421297716863516114" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 183px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_xhIZJAEKjokY_8Vl36WzvHsWIwD9K9kuoI7ewAEbzMRHCdZtQL6G0uU5iaeeJKTt12-99HbXc1aAvFb47ELM0U_PQf3iPCDnVHPqf8-ql6fana5hsHXXQfvAUHRRbB1xGpu2luTTCbb/s1600-h/IMG_7649.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_xhIZJAEKjokY_8Vl36WzvHsWIwD9K9kuoI7ewAEbzMRHCdZtQL6G0uU5iaeeJKTt12-99HbXc1aAvFb47ELM0U_PQf3iPCDnVHPqf8-ql6fana5hsHXXQfvAUHRRbB1xGpu2luTTCbb/s400/IMG_7649.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421153108367961442" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskffpOsRoUcZywNnKodJOlLAvZ80NUOFb4TnDup-1V40JCXcUjsu0e-VaBYM0MTWJ-C3CyKV9nko97uoQdOMzFe-MbGu0YRpU8GNrvHz7hPtUEu-0h-1UC5pTIWWdiH7VGrybyTTpcuOL/s1600-h/IMG_7647.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskffpOsRoUcZywNnKodJOlLAvZ80NUOFb4TnDup-1V40JCXcUjsu0e-VaBYM0MTWJ-C3CyKV9nko97uoQdOMzFe-MbGu0YRpU8GNrvHz7hPtUEu-0h-1UC5pTIWWdiH7VGrybyTTpcuOL/s400/IMG_7647.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421153101954314562" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div><p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-25375283737874125302009-12-30T12:39:00.000-08:002009-12-30T23:04:22.030-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 10: Christmas Travel<p class="MsoNormal">Merry Christmas! We woke up early again today and hit the pool/beach at the Resort for a few hours. It’s our last day in Djibouti and we are definitely sad to go.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">+++++++++<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> A few things about Djibouti:<br />1) We have all gained about 10 pounds. The food here is amazing and FREE! We are definitely not skipping any meals.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">2) It has been great to play 3 shows at one base because we have gotten to know these guys more so than at other bases where we only play one night. We recognize people night after night and have had the chance to really hang out and talk to a lot of people while we’ve been here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">3) Mr. James Hawkins is by far one of the best MWR/AFE Contacts we have ever had. We have had the time of our lives in Djibouti and most of it can be directly attributed to him. He has done everything we’ve asked of him plus about a million other things. We’ve also got about a million quotes from him that we’ll try to post soon (unfortunately, many of them cannot be posted).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Anyways, we need to give a HUGE thank you to James and we definitely hope our paths cross again soon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">++++++++</p> <p class="MsoNormal">James dropped us off at the airport around 4pm on Christmas Day to catch a 6pm flight out of Djibouti. Just like our troubles getting into the country leaving was way too hard. After about an hour and 45 minutes of customs/baggage checks/etc…. we all reached the gate. We weren’t happy to leave the base and James but we were thrilled to be out of the Djibouti airport. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our first flight landed at Addis Ababa airport in Ethiopia where we had a short layover. Approximately 11pm we got on a 4-hour flight to Dubai. We arrived in Dubai around 3am, had to deal with some baggage issues that the Djibouti airport screwed up, and then tried to get a little sleep before our 5:45am flight to Qatar. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is definitely safe to say that at this point in the tour we all hate airports, airplanes, and just about anything that has to do with flying. These feelings are only intensified by all of our flights being over night.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We did get some good news though; our seats to and from Qatar were going to be in First Class. This was exactly what we needed to prevent us from killing ourselves at this point (maybe being a little dramatic here but not much).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The flight from Dubai to Qatar was the easiest flight any of us have ever been on. Full reclining seats, personal TVs, gourmet breakfast, etc… this was the first flight none of us wanted to get off of. Unfortunately, we were only on the plane for about an hour and a half before we landed in Qatar. This was a great end to a hectic day where we visited 4 airports in 4 different countries.</p><p class="MsoNormal">This is a picture of a gallows right outside the base that is said to still be in use.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB41_4BZnGlZWKr-l5H3koQj43EdtdsNbcRpE0qtzKIPEDcCaGlKBred_-RIm0HmEn_gljmCfzq6rKZPTlN4TvdIZOK6JwWNdcSFIUTEFraFYnMB__d3o83cN9_ubTlxLLYS6Hfyx4Rx7q/s1600-h/IMG_7584.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB41_4BZnGlZWKr-l5H3koQj43EdtdsNbcRpE0qtzKIPEDcCaGlKBred_-RIm0HmEn_gljmCfzq6rKZPTlN4TvdIZOK6JwWNdcSFIUTEFraFYnMB__d3o83cN9_ubTlxLLYS6Hfyx4Rx7q/s400/IMG_7584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421132728153358402" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is the sign you see when leaving the base.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ4wxJ08xNvtOLuCgo5CTIvrdh6S8F5jBOC9n9btlLcP3iRXvr15jiDAno2JmbnM1ul4P7Tpet4HhSC3g1AbRg78rtHUjbYltxTPuW-wHITYZOPwuwbUCr25Snzseuvn7RmnS4vpgj0rB/s1600-h/IMG_7582.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ4wxJ08xNvtOLuCgo5CTIvrdh6S8F5jBOC9n9btlLcP3iRXvr15jiDAno2JmbnM1ul4P7Tpet4HhSC3g1AbRg78rtHUjbYltxTPuW-wHITYZOPwuwbUCr25Snzseuvn7RmnS4vpgj0rB/s400/IMG_7582.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421132722570888690" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Pictures of us eating.... we did this alot.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aEHcFMwb-qL8eCZd3sEKN7ds8dSCh5PT7tiHhfXs7UafPHMgizzyBo7DcuehXBeAY24tRrtElOkK5bdUDQ6kdj-MqhgHrv81F5p6uyaXuVRN2uvITqmPoxqsqz5SSBfypZNLo-DZK4rx/s1600-h/IMG_7221.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aEHcFMwb-qL8eCZd3sEKN7ds8dSCh5PT7tiHhfXs7UafPHMgizzyBo7DcuehXBeAY24tRrtElOkK5bdUDQ6kdj-MqhgHrv81F5p6uyaXuVRN2uvITqmPoxqsqz5SSBfypZNLo-DZK4rx/s400/IMG_7221.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421132721651307666" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxgbwSDvcGZsefdGEBUXAbf6u8Jn82A7NTiLKRteTCMLvqpOxQ1SZ_cOEcNAElU8ziNgDxyx5NgfV6jdv2wUeXhQqeKeRvhx_1bOdfalQvfS5EClurmLxvtoWSR4KqVE4e-t0iiGxd5Wh/s1600-h/IMG_7220.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxgbwSDvcGZsefdGEBUXAbf6u8Jn82A7NTiLKRteTCMLvqpOxQ1SZ_cOEcNAElU8ziNgDxyx5NgfV6jdv2wUeXhQqeKeRvhx_1bOdfalQvfS5EClurmLxvtoWSR4KqVE4e-t0iiGxd5Wh/s400/IMG_7220.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421132713534982002" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGU9NFCRm_KxoTPVKz3_Pt9zHCsgvW2yMgnlnDwhTsHYjPRP49DCcVZX4bi6AtXsm-84Z5qfIMmOmnTRHmWoO1_8qzFaPTvAR6FOIPTp6LrParufmHa5hs6d7bMMxdLchrM0M8o1PV5KS/s1600-h/IMG_7589.JPG"></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">One last photo with James before we left.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGU9NFCRm_KxoTPVKz3_Pt9zHCsgvW2yMgnlnDwhTsHYjPRP49DCcVZX4bi6AtXsm-84Z5qfIMmOmnTRHmWoO1_8qzFaPTvAR6FOIPTp6LrParufmHa5hs6d7bMMxdLchrM0M8o1PV5KS/s1600-h/IMG_7589.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGU9NFCRm_KxoTPVKz3_Pt9zHCsgvW2yMgnlnDwhTsHYjPRP49DCcVZX4bi6AtXsm-84Z5qfIMmOmnTRHmWoO1_8qzFaPTvAR6FOIPTp6LrParufmHa5hs6d7bMMxdLchrM0M8o1PV5KS/s400/IMG_7589.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421132731352300562" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">This must be taking off or landing because otherwise we were laying down flat</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfn1LNw2mikwew_jPbqr8gSnF-jULBIm_1SNql0wszl3TrKUoNWu-6iP_OjQQJ8iaGNSE1ivqSe0dgLzHSUh_bxADw_3l8BO5kRk7IKGxLf1rBaZUM9WLGLjfL9tpwZO5gSXPR7NvImul/s1600-h/IMG_7613.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfn1LNw2mikwew_jPbqr8gSnF-jULBIm_1SNql0wszl3TrKUoNWu-6iP_OjQQJ8iaGNSE1ivqSe0dgLzHSUh_bxADw_3l8BO5kRk7IKGxLf1rBaZUM9WLGLjfL9tpwZO5gSXPR7NvImul/s400/IMG_7613.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421148224920036658" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Breakfast<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSCUx80bThN2nXjhMLc5XNHJxYlNItVEIRMvLwOgDseJ2Gj6HkERkKzk_ze_aH5LEInOdSDWAGqwP2L4zaiPAOyIWGpl-eH5AZqBv9UIAEGytws_Fu92Guj1m82C9i4TuyOXYo7e5awHO/s1600-h/IMG_7607.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSCUx80bThN2nXjhMLc5XNHJxYlNItVEIRMvLwOgDseJ2Gj6HkERkKzk_ze_aH5LEInOdSDWAGqwP2L4zaiPAOyIWGpl-eH5AZqBv9UIAEGytws_Fu92Guj1m82C9i4TuyOXYo7e5awHO/s400/IMG_7607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421148218964769618" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is definitely the way to fly!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsrYJspN4iC92CG3iGI0sW8O6S5U88vsywRKqr2G9t_EhGnlepwf3Jmn2WqI1sIdAKRotMbGsk8t3drffdt7zCy205igcJ-R-I71w7Ko05cMZvROlycDAzGOBT9RV27S-OyOsG6FJA02D/s1600-h/IMG_7598.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsrYJspN4iC92CG3iGI0sW8O6S5U88vsywRKqr2G9t_EhGnlepwf3Jmn2WqI1sIdAKRotMbGsk8t3drffdt7zCy205igcJ-R-I71w7Ko05cMZvROlycDAzGOBT9RV27S-OyOsG6FJA02D/s400/IMG_7598.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421148214768955698" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KfFhgPefnmQrxExgoIkCyJtoPcHKw8Jrn-IK0gyhe9n5Xgu6FtLhaz8u6Da7D_4K7xTeFORArW3IH6KmJfhySc8De8iy1zexo_Q-Z9DIoVQPb1nF2Np4MjT_7t-v2zFH_VT1BZWQXUE3/s1600-h/IMG_7592.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KfFhgPefnmQrxExgoIkCyJtoPcHKw8Jrn-IK0gyhe9n5Xgu6FtLhaz8u6Da7D_4K7xTeFORArW3IH6KmJfhySc8De8iy1zexo_Q-Z9DIoVQPb1nF2Np4MjT_7t-v2zFH_VT1BZWQXUE3/s400/IMG_7592.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421148212313022018" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-27972475031988780532009-12-28T07:36:00.000-08:002009-12-28T11:22:30.306-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 9: Camp Lemonaire Day 3<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Our 3<sup>rd</sup> day at Camp Lemonaire was Christmas Eve. It sure didn’t feel like it because it was about 85 degrees and sunny all day but we aren’t complaining.</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We woke up early and went to the venue to deal with some “sound” issues we were having. When we are playing we don’t hear what the crowd hears, it sounds completely different to us. Each of us wants to hear different things while we play… for example Mike wants to hear the kick drum, bass guitar, lead guitar and vocals. Someone else might only want to hear their instrument or the vocals, etc… This is called the “monitor mix” and is very important to a band. If we can’t hear what we are playing it’s not much fun. Anyways at this base we had struggled with it the first two shows. One minute the monitor mix was great and the next it sounded like we were playing in a tin can several miles away. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Long story short, their was a problem with the generator and once we got a new generator we all rejoiced. Around noon or so we left the base and went to the Kempinski Resort in Djibouti. We ended up spending most of Christmas Eve poolside and beachside just soaking up the sun.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the evening we went back to the base for our 3<sup>rd</sup> and final show. It was by far the best show while we were in Djibouti and probably one of the most fun shows we’ve ever played.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Driving through Djibouti on the way to the hotel. It's kind of hard to tell but people are just hanging out of the vans.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9kzqN62uNJj7-6nByudWDOWjn6v8zQjHU8psLJalnZ_AXbOWXTMQdbsfvC9S63Tkv9do9jvj3V0kI45M15UMujuijnbCRBY8UwM0sMnov9myClZiU3pDIB7FadA1qU5OmPrOSnQfr9B1/s1600-h/CIMG1335.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9kzqN62uNJj7-6nByudWDOWjn6v8zQjHU8psLJalnZ_AXbOWXTMQdbsfvC9S63Tkv9do9jvj3V0kI45M15UMujuijnbCRBY8UwM0sMnov9myClZiU3pDIB7FadA1qU5OmPrOSnQfr9B1/s400/CIMG1335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420312655867750306" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">Djibouti Palace Kempinski</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pZH1IDfnPNb8DxPpyRB0OKIpzBVwf6Iy4QQC-luOmT2NmAQzlRQ7-RW4VBa3MFfDWwKzirEeN9nvJRYsbnYmaJAVptPgqLcuiM9TS3pU-_r0ZdtYan90pcD5eLb3gHxBJ7jqUqZDcgnF/s1600-h/IMG_7575.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pZH1IDfnPNb8DxPpyRB0OKIpzBVwf6Iy4QQC-luOmT2NmAQzlRQ7-RW4VBa3MFfDWwKzirEeN9nvJRYsbnYmaJAVptPgqLcuiM9TS3pU-_r0ZdtYan90pcD5eLb3gHxBJ7jqUqZDcgnF/s400/IMG_7575.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420315414533980594" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Inside</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs9Sj-SXsgAHgoMEyD2UmSBFmca1JG36icWlxVz6jhPybxmUvTQV_d7KC6zYtO07-5mDe2LLAyOfVuYMET3KKvJ0iYn8z6gfEkP7NxH2NnWZn4x8KGf5n-d3KFm8G8qdNdfEgDoX12FzC/s1600-h/DSCN1089.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs9Sj-SXsgAHgoMEyD2UmSBFmca1JG36icWlxVz6jhPybxmUvTQV_d7KC6zYtO07-5mDe2LLAyOfVuYMET3KKvJ0iYn8z6gfEkP7NxH2NnWZn4x8KGf5n-d3KFm8G8qdNdfEgDoX12FzC/s400/DSCN1089.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420313226775166018" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2i8QdziJawPpsKeImjh0W-n3IpF2IHE0ZrkFccnPVyp0JnjO-JpFRhHj2zNk2xNdRC3gbOp0z4UEy8HAGPxljQT1NUKjPvKXzQb0607tYdpwc5LpQxLNHXC-KjUo6Ccx2SgYF-YFj_Su/s1600-h/SDC11588.JPG"></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspbpOgPz7IvpJmDVdjaqk74Rjf-W8V-tam036a7iNoFeXZI8wLJN_-duto8sbvZx20pjjv5Bjlm3n5RzszADxl6cL4NPtw922IKehv7lE8oxmIMlGm2SHzKbVp-2AuqR0v-wEPDreIs3W/s1600-h/CIMG1346.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhspbpOgPz7IvpJmDVdjaqk74Rjf-W8V-tam036a7iNoFeXZI8wLJN_-duto8sbvZx20pjjv5Bjlm3n5RzszADxl6cL4NPtw922IKehv7lE8oxmIMlGm2SHzKbVp-2AuqR0v-wEPDreIs3W/s400/CIMG1346.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420312661425682530" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Brothers Schminke<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2i8QdziJawPpsKeImjh0W-n3IpF2IHE0ZrkFccnPVyp0JnjO-JpFRhHj2zNk2xNdRC3gbOp0z4UEy8HAGPxljQT1NUKjPvKXzQb0607tYdpwc5LpQxLNHXC-KjUo6Ccx2SgYF-YFj_Su/s1600-h/SDC11588.JPG"></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2i8QdziJawPpsKeImjh0W-n3IpF2IHE0ZrkFccnPVyp0JnjO-JpFRhHj2zNk2xNdRC3gbOp0z4UEy8HAGPxljQT1NUKjPvKXzQb0607tYdpwc5LpQxLNHXC-KjUo6Ccx2SgYF-YFj_Su/s1600-h/SDC11588.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2i8QdziJawPpsKeImjh0W-n3IpF2IHE0ZrkFccnPVyp0JnjO-JpFRhHj2zNk2xNdRC3gbOp0z4UEy8HAGPxljQT1NUKjPvKXzQb0607tYdpwc5LpQxLNHXC-KjUo6Ccx2SgYF-YFj_Su/s400/SDC11588.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420315421280240674" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div>KP relaxing</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_53bb8YxxLg-pkuOeD6gJEX3a5HmTv7SkD2HbLQea8KjqxOJVEmskWilAS76-7AlMenYmnBjf9SCPMRTSl3bsRxdyGnE_EoVnNoDx8iL0JPWtdoW1u5sc-rD1OmoTieLWfUquIN7vz_n4/s1600-h/SDC11586.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_53bb8YxxLg-pkuOeD6gJEX3a5HmTv7SkD2HbLQea8KjqxOJVEmskWilAS76-7AlMenYmnBjf9SCPMRTSl3bsRxdyGnE_EoVnNoDx8iL0JPWtdoW1u5sc-rD1OmoTieLWfUquIN7vz_n4/s400/SDC11586.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420315416228356354" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>Not a bad view<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZgNhogiF8AHzgdGPHaK5UKMH_jtsm8HnfnXutvdhVmN1mar3IW9n6gr7GATqB4S8VXK2TfzF8CgsHs19LqFXC_3K_WmZb-ep2SX47VONWWX0UWb8ElNmAlrnb1-_DpgAcE4foFSc6SPa/s1600-h/IMG_7530.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZgNhogiF8AHzgdGPHaK5UKMH_jtsm8HnfnXutvdhVmN1mar3IW9n6gr7GATqB4S8VXK2TfzF8CgsHs19LqFXC_3K_WmZb-ep2SX47VONWWX0UWb8ElNmAlrnb1-_DpgAcE4foFSc6SPa/s400/IMG_7530.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420315411129208514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYle_LIUm5ArHyVUi37G0qoQx7ttOfSu8-o-njTi8U7fjqzSzG7msLaFH0NzqfUo6nvkbbCAsDmsAut1mq_RyH-jIQHkpkSsDoGH7RhanG2BAWrW16LRhww_3vyYqRmmm_ZZPW5HkotPU/s1600-h/IMG_7529.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYle_LIUm5ArHyVUi37G0qoQx7ttOfSu8-o-njTi8U7fjqzSzG7msLaFH0NzqfUo6nvkbbCAsDmsAut1mq_RyH-jIQHkpkSsDoGH7RhanG2BAWrW16LRhww_3vyYqRmmm_ZZPW5HkotPU/s400/IMG_7529.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420314903553613538" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This was the softest bed any of us have ever been on.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBjSLvsbOHw59VTP0M7jx11k522Ijte0drpVBakArZLre8bZjTJFM0OHpZc7Ife9nsfFwIEB9v9s04jJyenHOTxxbmQPGumWv1YLJWVDeesbAShsC0EfPTodpoWz0wgxPS9109sUDBx8Y/s1600-h/IMG_7512.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBjSLvsbOHw59VTP0M7jx11k522Ijte0drpVBakArZLre8bZjTJFM0OHpZc7Ife9nsfFwIEB9v9s04jJyenHOTxxbmQPGumWv1YLJWVDeesbAShsC0EfPTodpoWz0wgxPS9109sUDBx8Y/s400/IMG_7512.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420314898684207890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIXyAlT0qTNY475mLBQJyDziQD5SLMYz4BR8GUvNTCMUxk6kv2DiMBP5j0Y_ha8ZxMYRu6DJgtxJg7mHUQ9lnh0XunnCdGDghu_ZgzCmFHOyBho-Tr3woW5ioI8fGQXCxf3brEELq_jMT/s1600-h/IMG_7508.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIXyAlT0qTNY475mLBQJyDziQD5SLMYz4BR8GUvNTCMUxk6kv2DiMBP5j0Y_ha8ZxMYRu6DJgtxJg7mHUQ9lnh0XunnCdGDghu_ZgzCmFHOyBho-Tr3woW5ioI8fGQXCxf3brEELq_jMT/s400/IMG_7508.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420314893925258018" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the beach<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5RPDD_-l5U16RpfSllRYvuuDv_gzh-_M6AB4_BAgLHXOzuqiY_dNcQEmjLXIYdonPW9Ro4_9K3894O1rtG89O6Q45_9fuAFpSHOXMP_tPkjBKoUagn_zXq_CoEjlnhp8eUmLV1x__km5/s1600-h/IMG_7507.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5RPDD_-l5U16RpfSllRYvuuDv_gzh-_M6AB4_BAgLHXOzuqiY_dNcQEmjLXIYdonPW9Ro4_9K3894O1rtG89O6Q45_9fuAFpSHOXMP_tPkjBKoUagn_zXq_CoEjlnhp8eUmLV1x__km5/s400/IMG_7507.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420314888988230514" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhlkcAZJ0U8x4k2UDw0LivQbZ5meoLDIGRAraLGoR6H_5gNOMlX-VAsZWZZzPLtPW3o5764IXfQAg8vE0YJWjyUvdIAUExNbXpKHFtrhb78N6M9tFgeZ40FBNmtKUOf3rPxGNAeeotuvF/s1600-h/DSCN1095.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhlkcAZJ0U8x4k2UDw0LivQbZ5meoLDIGRAraLGoR6H_5gNOMlX-VAsZWZZzPLtPW3o5764IXfQAg8vE0YJWjyUvdIAUExNbXpKHFtrhb78N6M9tFgeZ40FBNmtKUOf3rPxGNAeeotuvF/s400/DSCN1095.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420313234456822258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLzKpkhlXi2JC2emwVzx1ltlxeXTcPG49dssw90fRZjeoWZ6S19_iNtxFEDOUszs1hTs7xJ4bBe-bB46D1h3ggHNWG40Bs-DYVvU0XkwV0YzrO9J44aFsy6P_RA1kvxdAMBZ40CeTIN5n/s1600-h/DSCN1094.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLzKpkhlXi2JC2emwVzx1ltlxeXTcPG49dssw90fRZjeoWZ6S19_iNtxFEDOUszs1hTs7xJ4bBe-bB46D1h3ggHNWG40Bs-DYVvU0XkwV0YzrO9J44aFsy6P_RA1kvxdAMBZ40CeTIN5n/s400/DSCN1094.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420313233274745954" /></a><br /><br />Mike and John looking for treasure...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTatFx8wNae5_TFbbdIgA2qkkPyvJFsHMmG5-3f_LLmharlg3s4FoVeo1H2hM36MIbXMeH5JMs0XeYazS1WUOl8tYCgxN-tXscCX94D1Lw87G24tWSieY9kFoHZpN_Df_mmmjOqfuABvW2/s1600-h/CIMG1376.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTatFx8wNae5_TFbbdIgA2qkkPyvJFsHMmG5-3f_LLmharlg3s4FoVeo1H2hM36MIbXMeH5JMs0XeYazS1WUOl8tYCgxN-tXscCX94D1Lw87G24tWSieY9kFoHZpN_Df_mmmjOqfuABvW2/s400/CIMG1376.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420312667875293986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8nwO1NHSpKKASvhi-s5VnrSjMmoRaE5q_hR7KQ4SEOMAiPVI0o7wHLWSuPqimdszGmX4usXyArVLfFNkHLXTahJQOmc6BZQQzY-4y2fnF2VZcoaL3HENfsOQTvkflZB62rXDQ-h_ucx8/s1600-h/CIMG1363.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8nwO1NHSpKKASvhi-s5VnrSjMmoRaE5q_hR7KQ4SEOMAiPVI0o7wHLWSuPqimdszGmX4usXyArVLfFNkHLXTahJQOmc6BZQQzY-4y2fnF2VZcoaL3HENfsOQTvkflZB62rXDQ-h_ucx8/s400/CIMG1363.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420312665258833986" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A peaceful sunset Christmas Eve in Djibouti.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzB9sDv_nos69gkivSYTalLwARb9_zRCF1fIZ29WPaYQiDucfKauKmUAx_i7ZGIkKSwICwtkS_xX_WpZPSLVS1E9YvKKbaK-WlOWlIJkCy2pRBpFabgEKlivUAQ29Ii6AFqCnq5HY5L94/s1600-h/DSCN1106.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzB9sDv_nos69gkivSYTalLwARb9_zRCF1fIZ29WPaYQiDucfKauKmUAx_i7ZGIkKSwICwtkS_xX_WpZPSLVS1E9YvKKbaK-WlOWlIJkCy2pRBpFabgEKlivUAQ29Ii6AFqCnq5HY5L94/s400/DSCN1106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420313238694188466" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is more accurate....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82upbEYR_QplZK7rR9F-ZMWDIWq5OqB0Hmup7ZmY7gIw36bZ1-A4ucwoop2muNF0vOQJ2M2h22zUfP0BC0EobCwPJ_hKFCfxKWAGtnAQRYVdnOZ78ohGdkNQbhs59RH_kCIIRBwJVOZma/s1600-h/DSCN1107.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82upbEYR_QplZK7rR9F-ZMWDIWq5OqB0Hmup7ZmY7gIw36bZ1-A4ucwoop2muNF0vOQJ2M2h22zUfP0BC0EobCwPJ_hKFCfxKWAGtnAQRYVdnOZ78ohGdkNQbhs59RH_kCIIRBwJVOZma/s400/DSCN1107.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420313733354477682" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 269px; " /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Christmas Eve show</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41l0AOUvEJXAec4noDUPLJEYN8aoH1svI7or2UXEd2fNXdD5N-cJXN0jtHmEmL1BUpjgwab9ICGkd2LgNg4B3YPYJqimZ67tf9rmp6PYbXS-RxB7nimaeeMZi5bHcFTnsWDbO8wRkM-Fh/s1600-h/DSC_2771.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41l0AOUvEJXAec4noDUPLJEYN8aoH1svI7or2UXEd2fNXdD5N-cJXN0jtHmEmL1BUpjgwab9ICGkd2LgNg4B3YPYJqimZ67tf9rmp6PYbXS-RxB7nimaeeMZi5bHcFTnsWDbO8wRkM-Fh/s400/DSC_2771.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420334536282433634" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNCGc7i7xhgMcnfnoU_YMOzbSyUP1MMM_TJR9kWKjvsKjfdEZ9OO2FaBof1X-5whpHHN5-acyIDekpLF7aqPes3ICOvrJu1C8Gi7oEJ61sR7RW3kXAEHH8DA1HfjMPiSb8P72J6zpx2kr/s1600-h/DSC_2736.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNCGc7i7xhgMcnfnoU_YMOzbSyUP1MMM_TJR9kWKjvsKjfdEZ9OO2FaBof1X-5whpHHN5-acyIDekpLF7aqPes3ICOvrJu1C8Gi7oEJ61sR7RW3kXAEHH8DA1HfjMPiSb8P72J6zpx2kr/s400/DSC_2736.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420333910793246562" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 245px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is Brooks from the Ammo Unit. We got him up on stage to sing "The General" by Dispatch.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k0wudbJv09ny4X2HoQOhsFT2U47AjIjX3WAi469Uc5IUi2j65GH14p4XIh_rt25lseiIWw1WuI7k9Gh2RBKrBi3EJCjyX6NKGC2NNHlstgiQbRf2ZV48fVYjvpJasocx0RYn4oXvgydi/s1600-h/DSC_2565.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k0wudbJv09ny4X2HoQOhsFT2U47AjIjX3WAi469Uc5IUi2j65GH14p4XIh_rt25lseiIWw1WuI7k9Gh2RBKrBi3EJCjyX6NKGC2NNHlstgiQbRf2ZV48fVYjvpJasocx0RYn4oXvgydi/s400/DSC_2565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420333892319828178" style="cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPukrRqN_Adr-R9rlXYAX5hDTI5E8q_H_3BZUXBxNdJHgFBbwZsuHhd5rX8Q9Q-5R67Q7wyIRL-4wzGteMQrbi3grshrMvywK4swZIVLKrzWbOaWF_k4fJbKQY0ehX0JRRzItQ84JftFiG/s1600-h/DSC_2575.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPukrRqN_Adr-R9rlXYAX5hDTI5E8q_H_3BZUXBxNdJHgFBbwZsuHhd5rX8Q9Q-5R67Q7wyIRL-4wzGteMQrbi3grshrMvywK4swZIVLKrzWbOaWF_k4fJbKQY0ehX0JRRzItQ84JftFiG/s400/DSC_2575.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420333896551221170" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 251px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These two guys were the real rock stars of the night. They might be the best two dancers we've ever seen. Ever. Frey called them up on stage and is "presenting" them with CDs because we had to stop playing because we were laughing so hard.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXzWUK7rZ7h3FDnOI7WlBbkBj5TyUEqx1TYe5kLVKDKndfZkVJHHkYFBhBHiOv71hZiWTPnSvA90XuWKWp5Xvd2tnBVOd02DqS8r2HZB0kCXgsS0ZclN4gijcmopYmL6AbgjFjnUlw7X9/s1600-h/DSC_2692.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXzWUK7rZ7h3FDnOI7WlBbkBj5TyUEqx1TYe5kLVKDKndfZkVJHHkYFBhBHiOv71hZiWTPnSvA90XuWKWp5Xvd2tnBVOd02DqS8r2HZB0kCXgsS0ZclN4gijcmopYmL6AbgjFjnUlw7X9/s400/DSC_2692.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420333900504964066" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 273px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This just shows a tiny, tiny glimpse of their energy. The one on the left did "the worm" across the stage frontwards......... and backwards. We all definitely learned some new dance moves.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp4368cTwgespwhOpWwpI_kQvTz-y0RvSxdB5x1BMkoxpBfNIdccpcKRDxpj19IzfzlMr-4o6727TiUqwxLnDqNiIJedahokRpYn789dG3Zbqtb8OKPcqTpZpWogcQr-WNAeD_QtYAjEq/s1600-h/DSC_2702.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp4368cTwgespwhOpWwpI_kQvTz-y0RvSxdB5x1BMkoxpBfNIdccpcKRDxpj19IzfzlMr-4o6727TiUqwxLnDqNiIJedahokRpYn789dG3Zbqtb8OKPcqTpZpWogcQr-WNAeD_QtYAjEq/s400/DSC_2702.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420333902676703074" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 326px; " /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8UgWATC2f6rkvysVf6foeiF0x8Ux5hNOne6ovBno43NLn2_XKbhyhNReWTc9XsgTBJ5kbcXJvjtPCMDKi6HLYMQ-WZzGE1z8MHOiyaq2fryZhhknH7USJvfAQPiQ389hBFXwuylimFgI/s1600-h/DSC_2806.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8UgWATC2f6rkvysVf6foeiF0x8Ux5hNOne6ovBno43NLn2_XKbhyhNReWTc9XsgTBJ5kbcXJvjtPCMDKi6HLYMQ-WZzGE1z8MHOiyaq2fryZhhknH7USJvfAQPiQ389hBFXwuylimFgI/s400/DSC_2806.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420334525885096978" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_VUsM02TvPDlEX5VOCntNRR1hpH6LMXFU1RO6lL4DKUwj1A1zqPGaylKnloTRG5pXHkrYbezZb8X2EzI-A_mpS0uPHWrmrBfRma9ck9wVOwBjpgbzXVl7E9AodNv_zuCWtdMfG7qkv7u/s1600-h/DSC_2831.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_VUsM02TvPDlEX5VOCntNRR1hpH6LMXFU1RO6lL4DKUwj1A1zqPGaylKnloTRG5pXHkrYbezZb8X2EzI-A_mpS0uPHWrmrBfRma9ck9wVOwBjpgbzXVl7E9AodNv_zuCWtdMfG7qkv7u/s400/DSC_2831.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420334520769628850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Group Photo..... Thank You to Everyone that made that night sooooo much fun!!!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizU3-b3o2kQ6TBAfjICCfeiLgoa966pMrAXtmrUKh-p60iikVwdndLt_QlrjmvCmuLdnuKJiVTxk5Esh492YdEf1-H2aDDpLojGo2LMPBcxY9OSGh7bITzDaUtC73Kz3lyIEBCbK5NoY97/s1600-h/DSC_2876.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizU3-b3o2kQ6TBAfjICCfeiLgoa966pMrAXtmrUKh-p60iikVwdndLt_QlrjmvCmuLdnuKJiVTxk5Esh492YdEf1-H2aDDpLojGo2LMPBcxY9OSGh7bITzDaUtC73Kz3lyIEBCbK5NoY97/s400/DSC_2876.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420334517596274114" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 260px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Go Hawks!!!</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK-pq2mUDCP3SX8vKnORDiJdqZC29LcxTrifOm-mXW7ALuNXhsuSl9LIO7Y7p2mRZKnP4AgtVgx5vqsPBlF_Tehb4hwsdMni9ldDGmjRaD1fXBYHTQWhJ4lR4WfLci_Ari0jaCuZaWQel/s1600-h/IMG_7491.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK-pq2mUDCP3SX8vKnORDiJdqZC29LcxTrifOm-mXW7ALuNXhsuSl9LIO7Y7p2mRZKnP4AgtVgx5vqsPBlF_Tehb4hwsdMni9ldDGmjRaD1fXBYHTQWhJ4lR4WfLci_Ari0jaCuZaWQel/s400/IMG_7491.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420314884836256658" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7TmZ8AvI_kCULKUV_gGi0r4k6RJxMv1zSFYJkOjRtgYzdUHO-dwoL6DTUZUXoJnQuFpHakYaREfzRTYIzxTVrEeb7pDdygCLGTUnt8jiU_jSPvMt06cJ1iJiBPk9ao138YX8TBoQjLiZ/s1600-h/IMG_7489.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7TmZ8AvI_kCULKUV_gGi0r4k6RJxMv1zSFYJkOjRtgYzdUHO-dwoL6DTUZUXoJnQuFpHakYaREfzRTYIzxTVrEeb7pDdygCLGTUnt8jiU_jSPvMt06cJ1iJiBPk9ao138YX8TBoQjLiZ/s400/IMG_7489.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420313746305002930" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><br /></div></div></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-58909177623063701272009-12-26T21:49:00.000-08:002009-12-27T07:24:51.469-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 8: Camp Lemonaire Day 2<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Alright, get ready because today was a wild one. Djibouti has been one of the craziest experiences of our lives. We’re going to let the pictures do most of the talking but we’ll try to walk you through as much as we can.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We got to sleep in, woke up around 10am, ate lunch, and then went to the “Ammo Unit” where we got to “play” with all kinds of guns including 9mms, M-16s, other crazy machine guns, 50 caliber guns, and finally a fully automatic grenade launcher. We looked like kids in a candy store. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">We received some “training” on Call of Duty 2 (this is a video game for all of those not familiar with it) and then played with more guns. This was a pretty unbelievable experience for all of us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">From the Ammo Unit we went over to the Airfield where we got the tour of our lifetime. “VQ-2” gave us a couple hour tour of their EP3 plane and explained as much as they could about what they do. They operate a “spy plane” so we could not take many pictures and most of the information cannot be talked about but they basically explained what they do and how they do it. We got to try on their gear and parachutes, sit in the cockpit and much, much more. We need to thank all the guys from VQ-2 for showing around and just being amazing. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">If that isn’t enough for one day, after the airfield visit, we left base for a trip to a “Cheetah Refuge”. We drove through the outskirts of Djibouti that contain the poorest and dirtiest terrain most of us have ever seen. We spent about an hour at the Refuge looking at cheetahs, hyenas, turtles, gazelles, ostriches, and lots of other animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After that we headed back to the base to play our second show.</p> <!--EndFragment--> <div><br /></div><div>We took some amazing photos in the ammo unit but we are unable to post most of them. We were given very strict orders not to post certain things so these are the photos that we were given the OK.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is an automatic grenade launcher. It weighed about 4 million pounds.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A9AMG5q29luNPVGyUq78TrJQCk3l_wZHbflLV5dDL2TvcpLjrY669mjMDr_CcxH7jSLXKpCOPePHQQEMUu2vaEIdb0EAOywj1kCY5Gl1mM9uKanflv-ntnlrzitXoMtLWdA22b2pdjxV/s1600-h/IMG_7270.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_A9AMG5q29luNPVGyUq78TrJQCk3l_wZHbflLV5dDL2TvcpLjrY669mjMDr_CcxH7jSLXKpCOPePHQQEMUu2vaEIdb0EAOywj1kCY5Gl1mM9uKanflv-ntnlrzitXoMtLWdA22b2pdjxV/s400/IMG_7270.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419790848199527890" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br />Brothers in Arms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXijNi_-a2eGjHHfcVPZfT1WkEBgAciqKwyVWHWUCQ0pMUimEn8-MRbaxTHDSQmqt-04sB5B4XxaIPN2RXP6-dqMlEvkfKd-ITju3naWxBQb5dwTClzRZ7lAhKGnsuwU1leuRy2wAOrgw/s1600-h/IMG_7240.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXijNi_-a2eGjHHfcVPZfT1WkEBgAciqKwyVWHWUCQ0pMUimEn8-MRbaxTHDSQmqt-04sB5B4XxaIPN2RXP6-dqMlEvkfKd-ITju3naWxBQb5dwTClzRZ7lAhKGnsuwU1leuRy2wAOrgw/s400/IMG_7240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419790266425477794" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJD19rbehzEvAw6bn869SGjkaYSOzvR2FELIUZDVSJpJaeZT2_tc8J-lhtg-n7FqX0JCoDDjjpoVVVKgeeBp-3wW5YJswNO8udRrrhm9lHrvDThFqkSU0If7yXYz08aRMkuDuZoLMY_Xp/s1600-h/IMG_7236.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxJD19rbehzEvAw6bn869SGjkaYSOzvR2FELIUZDVSJpJaeZT2_tc8J-lhtg-n7FqX0JCoDDjjpoVVVKgeeBp-3wW5YJswNO8udRrrhm9lHrvDThFqkSU0If7yXYz08aRMkuDuZoLMY_Xp/s400/IMG_7236.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419790263049524546" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-x8Q8j7JtDmlJpIz4NQC4BhNp5yR0CzqN50hu54FyjkYQutsYB7t1DoqRysq-6MtM69cP4V_oUE5hhw2lBrLIvzoIP53z2c-aGDgw742A02P7whwUccrn2vzyyC145VaHLcYFUc9EgDS/s1600-h/IMG_7230.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-x8Q8j7JtDmlJpIz4NQC4BhNp5yR0CzqN50hu54FyjkYQutsYB7t1DoqRysq-6MtM69cP4V_oUE5hhw2lBrLIvzoIP53z2c-aGDgw742A02P7whwUccrn2vzyyC145VaHLcYFUc9EgDS/s400/IMG_7230.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789878481241858" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFen1v5AJJJAlRgLrs9DyxM5ixx-yBN3LmZWhC0ai5dfM30QiN_ln5OnPQVt8wwVLDlyckGihRFF5NAqWP8HVC63MF4tiUmu1fSdZk06fDSxrO3NYdypxzyb3fB2BlEYDP85LB-aBen8O/s1600-h/IMG_7229.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFen1v5AJJJAlRgLrs9DyxM5ixx-yBN3LmZWhC0ai5dfM30QiN_ln5OnPQVt8wwVLDlyckGihRFF5NAqWP8HVC63MF4tiUmu1fSdZk06fDSxrO3NYdypxzyb3fB2BlEYDP85LB-aBen8O/s400/IMG_7229.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789874656081330" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div>Waiting to be taken to the airfield.... we do this alot on these tours<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxh6VfhSyIRph9HuHBhOfhrny6hNqFHXLp1txMXIqdkVCZsi8G9DB0ROakavlZDsYLS-D2A0_Nr3O6ROaWFZmZCLL22a4L-uLl4HxQv5Ye8qaWMOpFCIbWSGOFzV4gqLhOQu3K6Z_8Bf3U/s1600-h/IMG_7293.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxh6VfhSyIRph9HuHBhOfhrny6hNqFHXLp1txMXIqdkVCZsi8G9DB0ROakavlZDsYLS-D2A0_Nr3O6ROaWFZmZCLL22a4L-uLl4HxQv5Ye8qaWMOpFCIbWSGOFzV4gqLhOQu3K6Z_8Bf3U/s400/IMG_7293.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419790861474592706" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently Malaria is a "thing" here.......<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fKQgJyEc3a6DninLTIDm-G_P2YrvEa2KLzEWLC68a7hjxPDRlp-to6qHUIISnJ6AcMWQ9A1LKgoNl4KgUHagGhPzNLFAgKU2ZY1s9rkhAxJAXwRGkVofDTlKuVTA56oPes-F3Ll4CbOz/s1600-h/IMG_7289.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fKQgJyEc3a6DninLTIDm-G_P2YrvEa2KLzEWLC68a7hjxPDRlp-to6qHUIISnJ6AcMWQ9A1LKgoNl4KgUHagGhPzNLFAgKU2ZY1s9rkhAxJAXwRGkVofDTlKuVTA56oPes-F3Ll4CbOz/s400/IMG_7289.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419790853049385506" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>We were not allowed to take pictures in the airplane except for in the cockpit. </div><div>Frey decked out with the flight gear and a parachute</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhER2UHMfpFkEOxiGPUtjwlEa3p-I-qbk4n4MWt-ItTY5gVPb1LAW_It-T-yUPF2CFBlAeHlibF-zWXcb92HBadHixZ91W-jSac2NeRw3LqlnamOzkzCTJTxpA3eHRm8nHuniB-1eaxGpsy/s1600-h/IMG_7314.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhER2UHMfpFkEOxiGPUtjwlEa3p-I-qbk4n4MWt-ItTY5gVPb1LAW_It-T-yUPF2CFBlAeHlibF-zWXcb92HBadHixZ91W-jSac2NeRw3LqlnamOzkzCTJTxpA3eHRm8nHuniB-1eaxGpsy/s400/IMG_7314.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791228607249970" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div>Cant we just stop and ask for directions?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgMdLR04UCYJvOslNUzn9hw9ZuyycHBtZg44xHpWH5ziPfDSlOLK4gsGiri4ybPt1uk2AmiNNMdfx8nCwweTC8YM76rrZUQQvrfMBkpp56UAfF74VD5rbQ_3T6M_djlj6OzkpGZX652B2/s1600-h/IMG_7311.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgMdLR04UCYJvOslNUzn9hw9ZuyycHBtZg44xHpWH5ziPfDSlOLK4gsGiri4ybPt1uk2AmiNNMdfx8nCwweTC8YM76rrZUQQvrfMBkpp56UAfF74VD5rbQ_3T6M_djlj6OzkpGZX652B2/s400/IMG_7311.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791223730022002" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JHxNz5iyFhN5Bj5fYHIAKaKp5evonwslnGk3aavsmxaqhcIfEturvTIFMvkraQhR_YcuXOjpot-DweqodfAfSLeAH0luFpPm5iU1M4CnzJNStAo6thoXl5PE_waxu5r7u8beVZkdfHp0/s1600-h/DSCN1009.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JHxNz5iyFhN5Bj5fYHIAKaKp5evonwslnGk3aavsmxaqhcIfEturvTIFMvkraQhR_YcuXOjpot-DweqodfAfSLeAH0luFpPm5iU1M4CnzJNStAo6thoXl5PE_waxu5r7u8beVZkdfHp0/s400/DSCN1009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789469884339410" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgbhlPg9SqbkhrXTiY0XzuBOX5-G-mL5TppxSXa9XHC4HHZ02fs9JMl1GINXh3zlnHzT45uGuMQKkFQtQpashLCwj8FGTeCN6wr3riqq1LCvIBZU_1i5FM8zJCN4dRuy1Nx9SUlo5d2Yg/s1600-h/IMG_7302.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgbhlPg9SqbkhrXTiY0XzuBOX5-G-mL5TppxSXa9XHC4HHZ02fs9JMl1GINXh3zlnHzT45uGuMQKkFQtQpashLCwj8FGTeCN6wr3riqq1LCvIBZU_1i5FM8zJCN4dRuy1Nx9SUlo5d2Yg/s400/IMG_7302.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419790868950116722" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oTGj4sU5F09EIBAjIjaGsHunB90FMrWqgMcfRR6VzgfGFZf9M5fgahhJaKv8tC398TTG7-9E_Jf38H_qB6actlcBhItebLuzDk_pSEmmowgtL2WeEs_sDpoyEoxKJyCrYpO1tnWIP5Jy/s1600-h/IMG_7297.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oTGj4sU5F09EIBAjIjaGsHunB90FMrWqgMcfRR6VzgfGFZf9M5fgahhJaKv8tC398TTG7-9E_Jf38H_qB6actlcBhItebLuzDk_pSEmmowgtL2WeEs_sDpoyEoxKJyCrYpO1tnWIP5Jy/s400/IMG_7297.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419790864519264642" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCb8jBPl7j7d-_S0tgRKIrkYDFMDrcgJPrIknI4G0t_Jhlqjv9uJvw2BrST0VLyUNgq3I7y9SBmb-YdbzGJiX3Df4Ub3yLWrU76IaSi3wlzNA0J6gV7kzjF8Lk08HKpLh7Gkj2bryHtF5/s1600-h/SDC11491.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCb8jBPl7j7d-_S0tgRKIrkYDFMDrcgJPrIknI4G0t_Jhlqjv9uJvw2BrST0VLyUNgq3I7y9SBmb-YdbzGJiX3Df4Ub3yLWrU76IaSi3wlzNA0J6gV7kzjF8Lk08HKpLh7Gkj2bryHtF5/s400/SDC11491.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419904084205820210" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdmSz9e_SfI0K-iSScZL-AcgAq68rsj0juG64XiuSrcDZ7m7BFo9FIFidKTeb67FjVVgG56N8D7sFSqAnQmchl_38ZoVra1Zjzcz5UtLZqP-pxoJZz9fVAYh75J6UtVLEes7I1xAMNayg/s1600-h/IMG_7323.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAdmSz9e_SfI0K-iSScZL-AcgAq68rsj0juG64XiuSrcDZ7m7BFo9FIFidKTeb67FjVVgG56N8D7sFSqAnQmchl_38ZoVra1Zjzcz5UtLZqP-pxoJZz9fVAYh75J6UtVLEes7I1xAMNayg/s400/IMG_7323.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791243596556290" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 304px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to all the guys from VQ-2 and CRC-26. This was an experience none of us will ever forget!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCymVVLzluiyaBGn-IG58lMMn7g8Qwhkz3GKpc6ogcavjF5IScMrFRz3ksNLe-n6NJRzSic0EKpXZjUxKj8nRjSs72BBfc40UOW0wA2MufuClD8_PPv7BC4XV-yRZsgq4xLbaNZeIceYh/s1600-h/IMG_7321.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCymVVLzluiyaBGn-IG58lMMn7g8Qwhkz3GKpc6ogcavjF5IScMrFRz3ksNLe-n6NJRzSic0EKpXZjUxKj8nRjSs72BBfc40UOW0wA2MufuClD8_PPv7BC4XV-yRZsgq4xLbaNZeIceYh/s400/IMG_7321.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791233771173570" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><br /></div><div>After the tour of the airplane we left the base for the Cheetah Refuge. These are pictures of Djibouti. It is definitely a third-world country. We saw lots of camel and trash.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4gNENheTzkUmoYMkSpcxzxkbi2OIozxQkUrfI9oP4LcwvWJKPx8wYTvhxNL5Q5CgzT7rvtLYb-KG-XzpclYEOA1gdreflV596aLss9Ikl8LFCmo1CxZWsFP3vClXr7ylvWiaVSkFUOoU/s1600-h/IMG_7356.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4gNENheTzkUmoYMkSpcxzxkbi2OIozxQkUrfI9oP4LcwvWJKPx8wYTvhxNL5Q5CgzT7rvtLYb-KG-XzpclYEOA1gdreflV596aLss9Ikl8LFCmo1CxZWsFP3vClXr7ylvWiaVSkFUOoU/s400/IMG_7356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791829965688562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo7S4JqY2E_OHqSP86gTMCvmPsU7C2AS58QOvlHFsqpiyYUqKzZqrtrc0830nYgwp8CS_fRqvsreTXJSmMuu1CqEBHKTsjqArgoF4BD7bRzq_M_r2U1paA46odOqio0m83tcdGf694R0i/s1600-h/IMG_7353.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo7S4JqY2E_OHqSP86gTMCvmPsU7C2AS58QOvlHFsqpiyYUqKzZqrtrc0830nYgwp8CS_fRqvsreTXJSmMuu1CqEBHKTsjqArgoF4BD7bRzq_M_r2U1paA46odOqio0m83tcdGf694R0i/s400/IMG_7353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791822150206322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wmMkgzBdYWMCZ_FafrXxOWuELEhqg0LmueMUT80iNsVJ16XZJOn1GARrUPkcSkYUpIyMxBt6PxGTK6Ivfza1tWkhAwbA-4vmaVWJ6BirqC47gqrp0WrK-yt6XUnsKqKy_OuSPhNkWHwF/s1600-h/IMG_7351.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wmMkgzBdYWMCZ_FafrXxOWuELEhqg0LmueMUT80iNsVJ16XZJOn1GARrUPkcSkYUpIyMxBt6PxGTK6Ivfza1tWkhAwbA-4vmaVWJ6BirqC47gqrp0WrK-yt6XUnsKqKy_OuSPhNkWHwF/s400/IMG_7351.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791813568230194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcrShlgXfvm8oJHeg2ukjftV7ozw_udBPAJadx_LkUk5qLFLTPCI0njXhNgG_NYUS4Dz3m9De4oHCUFiDm1_7gPdSj1KQ4trjqn6DNW5pn_mSiQVO1Sh-BSgX7Yp7cMxWrWZ4aelS_aoe/s1600-h/IMG_7348.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPcrShlgXfvm8oJHeg2ukjftV7ozw_udBPAJadx_LkUk5qLFLTPCI0njXhNgG_NYUS4Dz3m9De4oHCUFiDm1_7gPdSj1KQ4trjqn6DNW5pn_mSiQVO1Sh-BSgX7Yp7cMxWrWZ4aelS_aoe/s400/IMG_7348.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791810439961282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlCOtFVF43wVmC7NuzaHu4EoyKXE_amizABLOLzujDqAs-nobE-M9U7KPfeHY-zru50TXkaLp-AyUqCDffisv1Eu-kF-HpbcKaVDFKSzJ2QB6TEci3CZlBY9lxOZx17s6sShZyevWhjGw/s1600-h/IMG_7344.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlCOtFVF43wVmC7NuzaHu4EoyKXE_amizABLOLzujDqAs-nobE-M9U7KPfeHY-zru50TXkaLp-AyUqCDffisv1Eu-kF-HpbcKaVDFKSzJ2QB6TEci3CZlBY9lxOZx17s6sShZyevWhjGw/s400/IMG_7344.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791244907502834" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtBrmOzsMlD1SgEK8czuMAbP1ir-RDk0MEhtKocvjQ9dY8uBgylPEk5AhWObTDMeuuStvywB3pM6ocnIztvkNbvQGlQxv4vvQ0APYJYhfXw8mxXKqSatkNvXwVqEp_jSMBO5bqBg4kqk0/s1600-h/DSCN1041.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtBrmOzsMlD1SgEK8czuMAbP1ir-RDk0MEhtKocvjQ9dY8uBgylPEk5AhWObTDMeuuStvywB3pM6ocnIztvkNbvQGlQxv4vvQ0APYJYhfXw8mxXKqSatkNvXwVqEp_jSMBO5bqBg4kqk0/s400/DSCN1041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789856789833618" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWCWAhI41tuZH0NHwXqnDRHSVz78qnvgZZu5vNyGwx3RFHUTPrZ2gnsfsnOG7ZTa998rq4ba82ET1JqreoZqrX69ZXXmW338bN8Wu-tEJWWbakK50B-qwPUJspXuoGEHOmKioGJ_5MBGP/s1600-h/DSCN1024.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWCWAhI41tuZH0NHwXqnDRHSVz78qnvgZZu5vNyGwx3RFHUTPrZ2gnsfsnOG7ZTa998rq4ba82ET1JqreoZqrX69ZXXmW338bN8Wu-tEJWWbakK50B-qwPUJspXuoGEHOmKioGJ_5MBGP/s400/DSCN1024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789473467088146" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeyiVMoy0IsAWVJ8h6_v2gl5n96GbkKTMF2Hi798gU1WRxfcwyv1Yx95iJ-W0-Q03TMqkbb6Hi2o45aMzMRnTlJ_7_d4IgWKj8NVeCBsgZljPcOSOrhEDw0uM7zs2hZF2pgApYialZe84/s1600-h/DSC01303.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeyiVMoy0IsAWVJ8h6_v2gl5n96GbkKTMF2Hi798gU1WRxfcwyv1Yx95iJ-W0-Q03TMqkbb6Hi2o45aMzMRnTlJ_7_d4IgWKj8NVeCBsgZljPcOSOrhEDw0uM7zs2hZF2pgApYialZe84/s400/DSC01303.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789466381585506" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9IWEIXITMIVTKY50KetDQgTki90G674qNL_993loozMQ_68MllXfsX-BYqi4lAVe2ftdUKPCuLNYMRLV16j1fhfD2QxvECK2aLWosMJTQyeRO_6GrAuQf3Pq6yvbflylTPTMAuQUC9A1/s1600-h/CIMG1279.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9IWEIXITMIVTKY50KetDQgTki90G674qNL_993loozMQ_68MllXfsX-BYqi4lAVe2ftdUKPCuLNYMRLV16j1fhfD2QxvECK2aLWosMJTQyeRO_6GrAuQf3Pq6yvbflylTPTMAuQUC9A1/s400/CIMG1279.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789452701381314" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Welcome to the Cheetah Refuge.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJv2juG_ADToJrqOV8WrLSmZKMYgFI_hK5kcNuYMcDJK31msYyQ4OdrsdU60zHhNBxAeQI2JsRm6ceV5wj62tJOYms3ZmO9voBMtQ8HEoijzZOp2kp68fNgfyI84b4OvxZ9MXjWMkYRBW/s1600-h/IMG_7363.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJv2juG_ADToJrqOV8WrLSmZKMYgFI_hK5kcNuYMcDJK31msYyQ4OdrsdU60zHhNBxAeQI2JsRm6ceV5wj62tJOYms3ZmO9voBMtQ8HEoijzZOp2kp68fNgfyI84b4OvxZ9MXjWMkYRBW/s400/IMG_7363.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419791833752665858" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU7h6ApfBj1hqQo-TsGwEAQ6xEnqbosLFEy499PQ94ct0fGlEXEjLql-_Mz_TPWqrtHys_kKVujViStZTFOLAHDUbh7O5yC97A7O1V0jrOPm_86Zv-napXTzFoNVc6Mz5RE5nG3h6N2wW/s1600-h/DSCN1048.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU7h6ApfBj1hqQo-TsGwEAQ6xEnqbosLFEy499PQ94ct0fGlEXEjLql-_Mz_TPWqrtHys_kKVujViStZTFOLAHDUbh7O5yC97A7O1V0jrOPm_86Zv-napXTzFoNVc6Mz5RE5nG3h6N2wW/s400/DSCN1048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419789858972510626" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is what the branches of the tree above looks like up close.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl0MFiWksKLtjJkgW990_HX0gojC1MzobSGrBAKf3WV37-axBOS1a1VfBrIb6Bx_Ax4ByU7RlluPCtXyzwagzeZUCJeRjHyZH86ISRMX5_dcazUMQ1D7yOD7nsxGbJ_JV4QFK-g5gKhi-/s1600-h/IMG_7423.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpl0MFiWksKLtjJkgW990_HX0gojC1MzobSGrBAKf3WV37-axBOS1a1VfBrIb6Bx_Ax4ByU7RlluPCtXyzwagzeZUCJeRjHyZH86ISRMX5_dcazUMQ1D7yOD7nsxGbJ_JV4QFK-g5gKhi-/s400/IMG_7423.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902497488801506" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslWTBS98-0t4Y0AR3e2tG6T0ESrMC8cWj8l7MGQB6PF73-S2uzdHE2iiJHKmqgAOSaGzO2uBwQVrXvVbuFwPYo2sxaDxsMrXNPvCeuBXoKSU1CRkjoO91_zhPHGPXD-2t36gRL6Ml5Ibk/s1600-h/IMG_7410.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslWTBS98-0t4Y0AR3e2tG6T0ESrMC8cWj8l7MGQB6PF73-S2uzdHE2iiJHKmqgAOSaGzO2uBwQVrXvVbuFwPYo2sxaDxsMrXNPvCeuBXoKSU1CRkjoO91_zhPHGPXD-2t36gRL6Ml5Ibk/s400/IMG_7410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902125286282818" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>BIT with James.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczLdDSBvIRihYd6JB6Jw9tCH0fkpiIafdBBft5vc8fIz_J1IR9yUi8TDADOdjJ3LgU6FNiHhYurnAbHOjwWLdt4xlcOVynfC1GrAey5z3B20ADe4UGKruU03qSDQeQhfNfmKpP9sno44q/s1600-h/IMG_7407.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczLdDSBvIRihYd6JB6Jw9tCH0fkpiIafdBBft5vc8fIz_J1IR9yUi8TDADOdjJ3LgU6FNiHhYurnAbHOjwWLdt4xlcOVynfC1GrAey5z3B20ADe4UGKruU03qSDQeQhfNfmKpP9sno44q/s400/IMG_7407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902120962294178" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFchHSKdmVRiPBdpr0O4hWvt1b5tdV9DMqa0K5gZOkIdgOqZLW9VKcGzClH3fxMn78QpEpaYVn4ATnJNMA_dQi_ic-a9ULh_EkQeGgEWz9tSpb8T5b19rp7mvsvx2Fy_AQdXAPLOG51hFZ/s1600-h/IMG_7397.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFchHSKdmVRiPBdpr0O4hWvt1b5tdV9DMqa0K5gZOkIdgOqZLW9VKcGzClH3fxMn78QpEpaYVn4ATnJNMA_dQi_ic-a9ULh_EkQeGgEWz9tSpb8T5b19rp7mvsvx2Fy_AQdXAPLOG51hFZ/s400/IMG_7397.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419901783749773906" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1OOPefhZO3zQXm9rvZLuJcK9h_K-9_Y4Td-eZ0ZRvlbN1cfVjvewiAacQKYMPnW6FFEo_x5XolBbnb2KIDXUkShrbK2CzjRHSpioB1CpKbbVtpUlhQptkwX46CVQiccnQHUqiHii9wI-/s1600-h/IMG_7420.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1OOPefhZO3zQXm9rvZLuJcK9h_K-9_Y4Td-eZ0ZRvlbN1cfVjvewiAacQKYMPnW6FFEo_x5XolBbnb2KIDXUkShrbK2CzjRHSpioB1CpKbbVtpUlhQptkwX46CVQiccnQHUqiHii9wI-/s400/IMG_7420.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902129028664898" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArR41OZa9DTKr7HPUwfbpbKL4qAWYo6fE-X8QP_rW8vG0D54few6CCXGHmdv6_8ANuRv8soQmiDP5U86YtNOavy77aCfhAxMknWpSozmlaf3JAqn5V7XJL1k3j-E8K8VwlReWK9tGbCtb/s1600-h/IMG_7379.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgArR41OZa9DTKr7HPUwfbpbKL4qAWYo6fE-X8QP_rW8vG0D54few6CCXGHmdv6_8ANuRv8soQmiDP5U86YtNOavy77aCfhAxMknWpSozmlaf3JAqn5V7XJL1k3j-E8K8VwlReWK9tGbCtb/s400/IMG_7379.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419901777070877282" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-Wv23mMfyEOIr-XehHoeEZ8Uwkw6kbwHKAghFalEG9CYVHW7LvYqSiSMoXmcaf4H8qexrGdKnLbzhJV_34RzH-_tQo-6qtxL5aUrMpl0M9Np6t_ZFFYkRHk4v5KbduLTin6BSQ28wgfd/s1600-h/IMG_7399.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-Wv23mMfyEOIr-XehHoeEZ8Uwkw6kbwHKAghFalEG9CYVHW7LvYqSiSMoXmcaf4H8qexrGdKnLbzhJV_34RzH-_tQo-6qtxL5aUrMpl0M9Np6t_ZFFYkRHk4v5KbduLTin6BSQ28wgfd/s400/IMG_7399.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902116468003474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkamIGgRuwh2lWf45x9JSMm7f9V6bMokP4pNm_Uwdg9hRpBFkTOeFSgha6LBJ2sMpCSTVLicUIH-9K6icjkdyEHeHJRuJBSyJMOV16sWtCNaA6xJ38Iam9dz13DGuS76Beitds8R0M3Dsr/s1600-h/IMG_7370.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkamIGgRuwh2lWf45x9JSMm7f9V6bMokP4pNm_Uwdg9hRpBFkTOeFSgha6LBJ2sMpCSTVLicUIH-9K6icjkdyEHeHJRuJBSyJMOV16sWtCNaA6xJ38Iam9dz13DGuS76Beitds8R0M3Dsr/s400/IMG_7370.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419901763295549778" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It only took us traveling half-way across the world to find people more stupid than we are.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-ubDVXtoZYVy7qgzhaAERg7VfOixYNFIonCqIFtThoi_5EYK13UCy0zHqvtE3-DP5Ila8z_QxTiaofWb1KE5t3XfVkMPcBia6NDaSKAx65V7b2Yn9-JpG3Ks6RGFNKi8zraIDk8mn90_/s1600-h/IMG_7461.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-ubDVXtoZYVy7qgzhaAERg7VfOixYNFIonCqIFtThoi_5EYK13UCy0zHqvtE3-DP5Ila8z_QxTiaofWb1KE5t3XfVkMPcBia6NDaSKAx65V7b2Yn9-JpG3Ks6RGFNKi8zraIDk8mn90_/s400/IMG_7461.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902519343275106" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Hyenas<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRraJ-042JG-LhpQPbw3S9RPC2WJERthFFziZ6ErW-6ttQJ8DtgZj81k3evGbdKqr7nRD-WilINyLtIQa94j3u7zlHDpiMBuvbtVohwQv2MWYL8rJKREvYl3IPbo2GQyqoIxXYhaveYLV/s1600-h/IMG_7450.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRraJ-042JG-LhpQPbw3S9RPC2WJERthFFziZ6ErW-6ttQJ8DtgZj81k3evGbdKqr7nRD-WilINyLtIQa94j3u7zlHDpiMBuvbtVohwQv2MWYL8rJKREvYl3IPbo2GQyqoIxXYhaveYLV/s400/IMG_7450.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902510259539714" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Gizzlettes (Baby Gazelles)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu5XofxtAeJ9QCNeY0uF-rkth2muvYriaCUJwSxMsx8PTxJAb9d2VE4hOWBAPuTY_Vw8oYu5P8CYq8WPTBLYk6lK5GtDWjfJGPA0e0qJJs07qMDKHV3ORetGlBzvjNFuMSBw0rSNYXBig/s1600-h/IMG_7425.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWu5XofxtAeJ9QCNeY0uF-rkth2muvYriaCUJwSxMsx8PTxJAb9d2VE4hOWBAPuTY_Vw8oYu5P8CYq8WPTBLYk6lK5GtDWjfJGPA0e0qJJs07qMDKHV3ORetGlBzvjNFuMSBw0rSNYXBig/s400/IMG_7425.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902505177965538" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br />Chrissssssss and James<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjNRZGjl5mcRpBZGOSoUIVrZYYsiMGsUCLpw40B-tpFvw24XxJ6_QAvWQQL3_uLGGctcoI44IE3NPqy7dXgf21M6AgTmTg5P3-JYu1VlTugCTAcO_QIhHoC2sNwQjXGih8ilE5k25xYsB/s1600-h/IMG_7422.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLjNRZGjl5mcRpBZGOSoUIVrZYYsiMGsUCLpw40B-tpFvw24XxJ6_QAvWQQL3_uLGGctcoI44IE3NPqy7dXgf21M6AgTmTg5P3-JYu1VlTugCTAcO_QIhHoC2sNwQjXGih8ilE5k25xYsB/s400/IMG_7422.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902141649142498" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The one, the only, Mr. James Hawkins.<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZb0_5cYXmbMv3R3u-LmKAME3r3ITuztUovWTjbcRIZXgg4O35c3tIkG8E_3pbdp-OORswFkQG9fE86OYpmnthegqyeRVbius-x2e7xUU5UpZJZ_qtEyDkub6ab3BCgTWGI_2lD8UjiH_/s1600-h/SDC11547.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZb0_5cYXmbMv3R3u-LmKAME3r3ITuztUovWTjbcRIZXgg4O35c3tIkG8E_3pbdp-OORswFkQG9fE86OYpmnthegqyeRVbius-x2e7xUU5UpZJZ_qtEyDkub6ab3BCgTWGI_2lD8UjiH_/s400/SDC11547.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419904089611655730" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yAxzU2SSd1G6Q6-CZm8j7ZBoOnoUGfMHuL7XS6LhH4L4is6Skohf9idVQvi0fhTpX9AAHWAka8kK4q9vAi0seoLPaEnr1P0P2g46rKxm9Eutfj6Df2YYqzmPGCAgpt990-DIkUsp8fx9/s1600-h/IMG_7473.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yAxzU2SSd1G6Q6-CZm8j7ZBoOnoUGfMHuL7XS6LhH4L4is6Skohf9idVQvi0fhTpX9AAHWAka8kK4q9vAi0seoLPaEnr1P0P2g46rKxm9Eutfj6Df2YYqzmPGCAgpt990-DIkUsp8fx9/s400/IMG_7473.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419902529845896610" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div></div></div></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-51878966249578004982009-12-26T16:31:00.000-08:002009-12-26T16:44:04.942-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 7: Camp Lemonaire Day 1<div><p class="MsoNormal">Our morning wake up call came around 7:30am and we walked to the Galley to eat breakfast. After breakfast we just walked around the base for a while getting more familiarized with the place. We had a few hours to kill so we did a little shopping, drank some coffee, and took in all the sights and sounds.<br /><br />After lunch we had a meet and greet with the Commanders of the base. They gave us a quick “briefing” of the whole operation, the history, their purpose, etc….. The meeting took place in a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">“war room”, literally. It was very surreal to imagine the heated conversations that have gone on in that room. We had a very informative meeting, took some pictures, and were presented with gold coins recognizing our trip to Camp Lemonaire. These guys are very good to have on your side so it’s nice for us to be able to go in and talk with them when we have a chance.<br /><br />After our meeting, we went back to our CLU to relax for a little bit before heading to the venue for the show.</span></p><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-family:";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Overall, the show went great. We had a great crowd, met lots of amazing people, and got to hang out afterwards for a few hours. We are keeping today’s blog short and sweet because we have some HUGE ones coming</span></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>James showing us around the base</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGy0y-fRYsm11oMsQcBI1K7hJyVqKW3ajYdg1VxOhIx12c44aFScW5wu4rLs4uAOZbHHx5wPrkk_U5eQDtvzpxurtRSYYbq0N8RditchIeIejDCq_6s1ulHZX1CmgdJoU3btrcD7VM8zD/s1600-h/IMG_7202.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGy0y-fRYsm11oMsQcBI1K7hJyVqKW3ajYdg1VxOhIx12c44aFScW5wu4rLs4uAOZbHHx5wPrkk_U5eQDtvzpxurtRSYYbq0N8RditchIeIejDCq_6s1ulHZX1CmgdJoU3btrcD7VM8zD/s400/IMG_7202.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419709028058985346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb0J69xHkj8n7y8pQB0lN747u4VYe0TQ-T2_EwJUausC8afpgPNIM8XMPJB-Ks-EKag71J6RNbwPBkJewJpyS6DYm7__i-sxcKdSVsVFde49k7zOI4Ee0ZU3yvwhGrNFiW95sTIBgk8PG/s1600-h/IMG_7206.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJb0J69xHkj8n7y8pQB0lN747u4VYe0TQ-T2_EwJUausC8afpgPNIM8XMPJB-Ks-EKag71J6RNbwPBkJewJpyS6DYm7__i-sxcKdSVsVFde49k7zOI4Ee0ZU3yvwhGrNFiW95sTIBgk8PG/s400/IMG_7206.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419709023870240930" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Us and the "head honchos" of the base</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7axwYz4tHJerK5nqWF7IxsZoaFu9VhxoI8KLldeK9N7oB9e8-Qni290H4IzHzTJ5l78k_D0bXizwCYO_54m-yaLzmR4cLNqji8wavlJTSuwadYlusbz0mAaXPJcWq1DI4F3Ty3iBkiAIW/s1600-h/IMG_7205.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7axwYz4tHJerK5nqWF7IxsZoaFu9VhxoI8KLldeK9N7oB9e8-Qni290H4IzHzTJ5l78k_D0bXizwCYO_54m-yaLzmR4cLNqji8wavlJTSuwadYlusbz0mAaXPJcWq1DI4F3Ty3iBkiAIW/s400/IMG_7205.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419709021544511762" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Commander Finn and Frey... This is kind of scary isn't it?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeKNPTu_bG1g6gzq1C3I733pWJg7_qkDKHwCKGI90dDhwPF_etnZC36-CGvafoOEpqx8s_Wt1sphamDXS0x5zZUactRScV2OFrfWDuIKKdcaObyCDaTCg6JEdoPTle592oaASWDPS7_tl/s1600-h/SDC11613.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeKNPTu_bG1g6gzq1C3I733pWJg7_qkDKHwCKGI90dDhwPF_etnZC36-CGvafoOEpqx8s_Wt1sphamDXS0x5zZUactRScV2OFrfWDuIKKdcaObyCDaTCg6JEdoPTle592oaASWDPS7_tl/s400/SDC11613.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419709009293847106" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Cambria;"><br /></span></div></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-84505512257904766132009-12-26T16:03:00.000-08:002009-12-26T16:29:18.676-08:00Merry Christmas<div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Yea… we know. Thank you for all the emails reminding us to write more blogs. During the last few days we have just been having too much fun to sit in front of a computer for more than a few minutes at a time. We have to do stuff in order to have something to write about otherwise we would just be blogging about writing a blog, and who wants to read that?</p><p class="MsoNormal">So... we are writing and organizing pictures as fast as we can…. It’s currently 3:30am and we have to be up at 7am but we are still up working so that hopefully we will have 3 or 4 new blogs up in the next 24 hours…… check back soon! </p><p class="MsoNormal">Merry Christmas!!!</p></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hePY-pcx2id5YxoOeK7tdSo6KrpKdCtQCHQbp724M3NxecSpvqgmpJ3ROGDMhI3p0jUf42e1FXMDGGbGJ2t4YP8BwaTQ2wxXBJQetxZEoJKHSkG6w4XyFDBnTEqACgTB-3QSBm147hYu/s1600-h/CIMG1366.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hePY-pcx2id5YxoOeK7tdSo6KrpKdCtQCHQbp724M3NxecSpvqgmpJ3ROGDMhI3p0jUf42e1FXMDGGbGJ2t4YP8BwaTQ2wxXBJQetxZEoJKHSkG6w4XyFDBnTEqACgTB-3QSBm147hYu/s400/CIMG1366.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419706251814956914" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment-->Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-89131397637884143282009-12-22T05:23:00.000-08:002009-12-22T07:04:28.054-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 6: Travel to Djibouti<div><p class="MsoNormal">Some of us went to bed at 3pm, others at 6pm, and some of us didn’t sleep at all last night. Hussain picked us up at the hotel at 1am in order to catch our 4am flight.<span> </span>We got to the airport got all of our equipment through security and then proceeded to the ticket counter. </p><p class="MsoNormal">We think the airlines are reading the blog too because the guy at this ticket counter could smell fresh blood coming. He had a blast telling us all the wrong things and messing with us any way he could. He told us they only took cash…. he told us to go here, here, and here, and then started laughing really hard before he said he was just joking. We have often talked about how easy it would be for someone to just screw with us because we have no idea what we are doing and this guy got us good.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After we got all the bags checked and got our boarding passes we said good-bye to Hussain. We are going to miss him; he really helped us out a lot, and basically became part of the band for a few days. We’ve run into a bunch of good people that take care of us on these trips but he is definitely at the top of the list.</p><p class="MsoNormal">From there we got through security, grabbed some food, and went to our gate. The flight was fine and we got to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) around 8am. We had a few hours to kill so we found our gate and then wandered around for a bit. About 10:45 we decided to head back to our gate for our 11:30 flight. When we got there, the gate was empty and everyone was wondering where we had been. Apparently in Ethiopia when a flight says it leaves at 11:30, they mean it leaves the ground at 11:30, not the gate. We were definitely the last people on that plane but we made it.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After a quick 45-minute flight we landed in Djibouti. We got off the plane to sunshine and 90 degree weather. (We are not missing the terrible weather in Iowa if you were wondering.) We proceeded to customs where we encountered our first “problem” of the trip.</p><p class="MsoNormal">There was only one guy issuing visas to get into Djibouti and once again he was screwing with us only not in such a playful way. On our other stops our paperwork usually tells us what the fees and visas will be. Usually they aren’t very much and it’s not a problem but here our paperwork said nothing about the cost and when we arrived we found out the visa cost everybody $60 each. This was a problem because a lot of our money was still in Dinar and they wouldn’t take it. Collectively we had $435 US on us that in theory would cover the $420 visa cost for 7 people. However, he refused to take our $100 bills because they were not “new enough”. This really is a third world country so they didn’t have an ATM or credit card machine and we thought we were just screwed. After about an hour of going back and forth with this guy, while he laughed at us, he reluctantly took the $100 bills and we got out of there as fast as we could.</p><p class="MsoNormal">We were met by James and Tammy, grabbed our equipment, and took off for the base. We arrived at the base and this base is definitely another one of those “real” bases. It’s a little bit more developed than Sheik Isa but it’s along the same lines. We were issued security badges, grabbed some lunch at the “Bob Hope Galley”, dropped our equipment off at the venue, and then headed to our “rooms” to get situated. We are staying in CLU-ville (Container Living Units). They are old shipping containers that have been converted into living quarters. They are air-conditioned and fairly comfortable.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After unloading our bags we went on a quick tour of the base before heading back to get some rest. Some of us crashed at 5pm for the whole night while others met back up with James and headed to 11 Degrees North (The Venue - The base is located 11 degrees north of the equator, thus the name of the bar). They met some troops, had a few beers (3 drink max here), and then called it a night.</p></div><div>Another trip to the airport......</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4adpVVtTnOjT6LabC6GEif8qj_CsaMmlL7iSZXiDmRC0BztBYUPmwo49R-gt3n9hdIhHBXYBR-lYuFolf7AtrC-dQHVKpI2-oF-U1tEb9P6lubIj3RD73Yosmw2huQP6h5GNJ7HOImT48/s1600-h/IMG_7101.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4adpVVtTnOjT6LabC6GEif8qj_CsaMmlL7iSZXiDmRC0BztBYUPmwo49R-gt3n9hdIhHBXYBR-lYuFolf7AtrC-dQHVKpI2-oF-U1tEb9P6lubIj3RD73Yosmw2huQP6h5GNJ7HOImT48/s400/IMG_7101.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073901346348770" /></a><div><br /></div><div>This is the guy that had some fun at our expense.... at 2am.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCaFtiOixgfObgg8krCalW3SZplhryAPZyMUflW2ldvs4rmbHRyOhT8p_LVBq6k4fd-pjqibO3aUa_ljVCP1i3CiE2fXIggdF8w8XvszHhbXnzIay_MEb4Lg-gzN3UBzXNnAZKqLPHe5V/s1600-h/IMG_7106.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCaFtiOixgfObgg8krCalW3SZplhryAPZyMUflW2ldvs4rmbHRyOhT8p_LVBq6k4fd-pjqibO3aUa_ljVCP1i3CiE2fXIggdF8w8XvszHhbXnzIay_MEb4Lg-gzN3UBzXNnAZKqLPHe5V/s400/IMG_7106.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073890137794498" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One last picture with Hussain.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0KCsNQEoV6Hm5lP6X4vdRr-N7B73UCQAZjABQ2nCE2NogmjnRJ4vTSLVndkIg2uC0hwhQEGHElAdyYbB3SR8T6gScctFf7JUL6KEQWZyEeLq9fwCJV1CO-_pPqr79FGgw-aPLYS7xxmD/s1600-h/IMG_7108.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC0KCsNQEoV6Hm5lP6X4vdRr-N7B73UCQAZjABQ2nCE2NogmjnRJ4vTSLVndkIg2uC0hwhQEGHElAdyYbB3SR8T6gScctFf7JUL6KEQWZyEeLq9fwCJV1CO-_pPqr79FGgw-aPLYS7xxmD/s400/IMG_7108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073887625518322" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Killing time in the airport.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplUtg2hcxKTmORMFzIZfTVSpKjrCQRX2qBBJR7jImigxn-YTo68wPQTWtg9QYFdzgoDwoZpSbsUAiIsWSk-FUWF6Pl9Jzzp1kw0MkEDpfIwf7cwgWMKpROENc5SRMH6vrP-IITINTkp-c/s1600-h/IMG_7124.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplUtg2hcxKTmORMFzIZfTVSpKjrCQRX2qBBJR7jImigxn-YTo68wPQTWtg9QYFdzgoDwoZpSbsUAiIsWSk-FUWF6Pl9Jzzp1kw0MkEDpfIwf7cwgWMKpROENc5SRMH6vrP-IITINTkp-c/s400/IMG_7124.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073884439106738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0-KESuJT402GMJUL4IRg2Ule20yDtOLj3qXQkLn7y8P_Gr99-aaGZoAaXy1yBkMlWuULi3Q8wm5PM774D643Zv2bsnLSU313xyIbR0qhwE1mg6Aia7dApde19RMts2uDFAiQX28GwL6R/s1600-h/IMG_7129.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0-KESuJT402GMJUL4IRg2Ule20yDtOLj3qXQkLn7y8P_Gr99-aaGZoAaXy1yBkMlWuULi3Q8wm5PM774D643Zv2bsnLSU313xyIbR0qhwE1mg6Aia7dApde19RMts2uDFAiQX28GwL6R/s400/IMG_7129.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073357106725970" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The sunrise over Saudi Arabia. It was amazing!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggnEcNFqp-AUlIWV4g8yAFPfnfH1WO-fyxrTPofuZdQ4WFygEPwSSHXVbJXyEFILU1wj2_s4xDrevkvVRHQdPRb4Ki78wJu4D8-I3CfmuVRKDV8DZbHKDyL-GepHGP6R4K0Cj1Ufvc82f/s1600-h/IMG_7137.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggnEcNFqp-AUlIWV4g8yAFPfnfH1WO-fyxrTPofuZdQ4WFygEPwSSHXVbJXyEFILU1wj2_s4xDrevkvVRHQdPRb4Ki78wJu4D8-I3CfmuVRKDV8DZbHKDyL-GepHGP6R4K0Cj1Ufvc82f/s400/IMG_7137.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073348760727442" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This was our "living quarters" in Bahrain.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWzIeJmRMLp9yAuMA3_i8r8NFJ3PcvrV03_SlLofmNs0wIf_qGKcJof9mjPR6p0xS-7ztciNdJmzAdGQfnnjqTtQL77TMAfoqpWXf4Tynz5fdgzydYNAUTTE21ToGL-sSl798kVQfB8-q/s1600-h/IMG_7084.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWzIeJmRMLp9yAuMA3_i8r8NFJ3PcvrV03_SlLofmNs0wIf_qGKcJof9mjPR6p0xS-7ztciNdJmzAdGQfnnjqTtQL77TMAfoqpWXf4Tynz5fdgzydYNAUTTE21ToGL-sSl798kVQfB8-q/s400/IMG_7084.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073343409268658" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is our "living quarters" in Djibouti.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAPhos_laQQQet3PQ5LWPyaYKzFh9m_BJYAgNTJDB2DWbCzLgLPfe8XNBz0JTX0Fb24DEW5FzirLU8qrwwxFGBFPDxUVJ7JrRhApH7XcOMOGjY14HfOBnEGxNR6li4DlteFiDhV2Lp8Kt/s1600-h/IMG_7197.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAPhos_laQQQet3PQ5LWPyaYKzFh9m_BJYAgNTJDB2DWbCzLgLPfe8XNBz0JTX0Fb24DEW5FzirLU8qrwwxFGBFPDxUVJ7JrRhApH7XcOMOGjY14HfOBnEGxNR6li4DlteFiDhV2Lp8Kt/s400/IMG_7197.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073332745981954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd0emsx4gEFq_2hho284uYv4KCfqWdXY3YDWfBkTTraCfp24fuid0let6lGTm_JYSPN4Ce_Ps5OY2LjwnYettT9KvxZSoV2QgSq2NPWC0KBozJnuDDomlWy_tIYB190c9sJF7DBU_mm_8/s1600-h/IMG_7195.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd0emsx4gEFq_2hho284uYv4KCfqWdXY3YDWfBkTTraCfp24fuid0let6lGTm_JYSPN4Ce_Ps5OY2LjwnYettT9KvxZSoV2QgSq2NPWC0KBozJnuDDomlWy_tIYB190c9sJF7DBU_mm_8/s400/IMG_7195.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418073323272017794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXd20_6KvawIqjEjL9IiP7xFMQQWhhcSHU4PLRSYUMOlneBIzlZqFvoDIxPgQsTYtRalIhnPK0f8bxTdwtCIE3eFD8xmRhgR-yc6kHmKsrfWrP50VcvWvs32fiKb5jftl5HQUBPwumaJv/s1600-h/IMG_7194.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXd20_6KvawIqjEjL9IiP7xFMQQWhhcSHU4PLRSYUMOlneBIzlZqFvoDIxPgQsTYtRalIhnPK0f8bxTdwtCIE3eFD8xmRhgR-yc6kHmKsrfWrP50VcvWvs32fiKb5jftl5HQUBPwumaJv/s400/IMG_7194.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418072819314864194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb69EwtkeyuHl_kAgOXFnt_a10t2cLQZiLqlWAgp9YEThFftxUet-_EHZvW9DcIFhVdrj2vufSXLfu_KQqC_dYWf7hAXe6GqRWxH0m4Up3vZfe8ubfrVDuQ182NCBwJDM76HrzfD1mWaa/s1600-h/IMG_7201.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb69EwtkeyuHl_kAgOXFnt_a10t2cLQZiLqlWAgp9YEThFftxUet-_EHZvW9DcIFhVdrj2vufSXLfu_KQqC_dYWf7hAXe6GqRWxH0m4Up3vZfe8ubfrVDuQ182NCBwJDM76HrzfD1mWaa/s400/IMG_7201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418072811658918082" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Getting a tour of the base<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLX4Ia96PYk_45XfJr198p55urJd-jOlu67DP5ivmfnKfFRV3E0eRzVZ8y2S-r_39i6G1wxrvUrS8E3Gh-QmWfH5PUnjtGV_nB4hYU39HVsjKbpS1Izxh0dtF8mbnxMxehuuXIHFXMZcn/s1600-h/IMG_7172.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLX4Ia96PYk_45XfJr198p55urJd-jOlu67DP5ivmfnKfFRV3E0eRzVZ8y2S-r_39i6G1wxrvUrS8E3Gh-QmWfH5PUnjtGV_nB4hYU39HVsjKbpS1Izxh0dtF8mbnxMxehuuXIHFXMZcn/s400/IMG_7172.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418072810518010802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM75h-wsTyu7-tiM7QRK3Bi6Q54BWBkKsKZh9KCPSwPFNotPXmCrp9T5l0Q6il2kqPSpqEtIzykA1h1GXtqSkjbC9QTH8Om_aIY0gTjuED1va33zCTWF4OhBvtgkv9bgK2k24NlNjIp0Jx/s1600-h/IMG_7181.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM75h-wsTyu7-tiM7QRK3Bi6Q54BWBkKsKZh9KCPSwPFNotPXmCrp9T5l0Q6il2kqPSpqEtIzykA1h1GXtqSkjbC9QTH8Om_aIY0gTjuED1va33zCTWF4OhBvtgkv9bgK2k24NlNjIp0Jx/s400/IMG_7181.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418072800750358994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUp-XQDvD8XOLkXkbwovN-tfsC2RFjIsfS1yDt63g7Qk_FKL4RPgjHutGkVa1ZGljUWyNLnhKh3TfTaY6acqPB7D-pjkNqWf0SCMcDmcl6iRKi8FeMeSAgawdFoa2ZRzfpiMxBenJfYsV/s1600-h/IMG_7183.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUp-XQDvD8XOLkXkbwovN-tfsC2RFjIsfS1yDt63g7Qk_FKL4RPgjHutGkVa1ZGljUWyNLnhKh3TfTaY6acqPB7D-pjkNqWf0SCMcDmcl6iRKi8FeMeSAgawdFoa2ZRzfpiMxBenJfYsV/s400/IMG_7183.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418072797473551650" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-9661993738558364822009-12-20T13:07:00.000-08:002009-12-20T16:20:05.354-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 5: Day off in Bahrain<div>Today was a day off so this morning Hussain picked us up from the hotel and took us all over Bahrain. We visited a Mosque. Unfortunately, it was closed due to a holiday but we still had a chance to walk around and get some pictures.<br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">After that we went to a market where we were hounded to buy anything and everything. Fun Fact: There are more watches per capita in Bahrain than anywhere else in the world…… we made that up but every store in Bahrain is a watch store and everyone wants you to buy one. None of us bought a watch but we did buy lots of other things including t-shirts, rugs, jewelry, spices, etc…. and we only got screwed once. Chris spent about 5 minutes negotiating with a shopkeeper and eventually got the shopkeeper to come down from 4 dinar to 2.5. (actually Chris decided he was going to look around a bit but they refused…. They are very aggressive) The shopkeeper really wanted 3 dinar, he hesitantly came down to 2.8 and then finally very reluctantly came down to 2.5. Here is how the transaction went:</p><p class="MsoNormal">Chris handed the shopkeeper 10 dinar.<br />The shopkeeper handed Chris 7 dinar back.<br />Chris: “We agreed on 2.5 dinar.”<br />Shopkeeper: “We agreed on 3”.<br />Chris: “no, 2.5”<br />The shopkeeper then gave Chris .2 more dinar and said “we agreed on 2.8 dinar”.<br />Chris: “no, 2.5”<br />Shopkeeper: “no, 2.8”<br />Chris: “Well, that’s just mean.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">We continued to walk through the market, tried some very delicious deserts, and ended up at the Golden Souq. (Souq means “market”.) We spent an hour or so there before heading back to the hotel. When we arrived at the hotel we got some food, did some last minute “shopping”, and then most of us went to bed around 5 or 6 pm. We have a 4am flight and Hussain is coming to pick us up at 1am. It is sure to be another interesting day navigating airports as we head to Djibouti, Africa.</p><p class="MsoNormal">More Fun Facts: The stop lights have a yellow light before both the red and green lights.</p></div><div>The Mosque.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG1aQd_gKz_wklNWngNq0zD4AJG-IY-QyOPCkPgpQtfzqxyPgnHurszU9716ZSbROpbfAuCAQjz_gOzYLc-OyV3P6pzVTEfgAyv1RDiBgvLqwWtuimfnFP1_Vl2CVMJunpILhPQKthgIw/s1600-h/pan4A.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG1aQd_gKz_wklNWngNq0zD4AJG-IY-QyOPCkPgpQtfzqxyPgnHurszU9716ZSbROpbfAuCAQjz_gOzYLc-OyV3P6pzVTEfgAyv1RDiBgvLqwWtuimfnFP1_Vl2CVMJunpILhPQKthgIw/s400/pan4A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417443457671440530" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQnJqTP87GaV7W2sWRaJQAAojm6B-DM1ZP4Wjz0_r_NZIOUPjhsneuf18AyZgNdVUJOFsADGuJ3yLKfJ8D0MbNFVvM3TT15fFqMgphqvQslZMhUb_rLcNiVfm7fGeaGlvbeAx5k4rL5l4/s1600-h/pan3A.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 138px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQnJqTP87GaV7W2sWRaJQAAojm6B-DM1ZP4Wjz0_r_NZIOUPjhsneuf18AyZgNdVUJOFsADGuJ3yLKfJ8D0MbNFVvM3TT15fFqMgphqvQslZMhUb_rLcNiVfm7fGeaGlvbeAx5k4rL5l4/s400/pan3A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417443452962235794" /></a><div><br /></div><div>Other downtown buildings<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMKz9EguQmz_IABjiRnUWSckWbpmveqzE3esRzM4xbYSqTnVJZCJ8qw0n_v-pgb99dKkWHiCT8aUj5jd4kicpw_16xAetfQi3sF15zjcs8J5LGkyGg-oelNLb6jkE0fxUdEERSmHO9xqU/s1600-h/IMG_7033.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwMKz9EguQmz_IABjiRnUWSckWbpmveqzE3esRzM4xbYSqTnVJZCJ8qw0n_v-pgb99dKkWHiCT8aUj5jd4kicpw_16xAetfQi3sF15zjcs8J5LGkyGg-oelNLb6jkE0fxUdEERSmHO9xqU/s400/IMG_7033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417443456603006242" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>World Trade Center<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMVIpzBRujASEBEYvfOilB9i4vagbgPwhHZlEcW8EMUrvi_UM2A_tisJpUijCoa2sRZ33BqDX-8HhUVaHV1KXu2vzPFcHeDfNnLCjCzjp5IFJ9XixLwjggdMXFEkL7LACFRRJT5YFNXf3/s1600-h/IMG_7036.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMVIpzBRujASEBEYvfOilB9i4vagbgPwhHZlEcW8EMUrvi_UM2A_tisJpUijCoa2sRZ33BqDX-8HhUVaHV1KXu2vzPFcHeDfNnLCjCzjp5IFJ9XixLwjggdMXFEkL7LACFRRJT5YFNXf3/s400/IMG_7036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417443450601145970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4DEhOkxjRgsOO4NBDtpuso-ZwwJYaRrnl42M5JSR4EVVashg0mXRGdnxx31JJ8C1usFOTVG9XPL941sY0-ggEXVmypwqbo4ScS_zldZ0iQHOyhIRUp_E3yWkBxI89ac476BLOAJ16_ch/s1600-h/IMG_7037.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4DEhOkxjRgsOO4NBDtpuso-ZwwJYaRrnl42M5JSR4EVVashg0mXRGdnxx31JJ8C1usFOTVG9XPL941sY0-ggEXVmypwqbo4ScS_zldZ0iQHOyhIRUp_E3yWkBxI89ac476BLOAJ16_ch/s400/IMG_7037.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417442078138181138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYV2prRI_KyRUiqJIHROCxVuOdwMwb4DueF8E-c5qmxW80TNGE8bFaeGyLS01s2YvbK5RsU8lrF7mBRJ9lXtYUymFi9rnyBANKVl9fkOj4khbf_CAPaTGLYSLWWUVa7oYNQqb0TVvcVGy/s1600-h/IMG_7038.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYV2prRI_KyRUiqJIHROCxVuOdwMwb4DueF8E-c5qmxW80TNGE8bFaeGyLS01s2YvbK5RsU8lrF7mBRJ9lXtYUymFi9rnyBANKVl9fkOj4khbf_CAPaTGLYSLWWUVa7oYNQqb0TVvcVGy/s400/IMG_7038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417442073805866930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcK8FOLvQOH2keN0Ka4O5fWXmdjBzB3VwFt_uwcyomypfcxlz0qHccG5dfE0i7IRUYG-zV08x7wn-4Bjt-HnKX5QlN-oRXFEQtsTlP7aAArNc_9ujmv-lefk6PY4uCuqMiD68j9mCizSY/s1600-h/IMG_7040.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcK8FOLvQOH2keN0Ka4O5fWXmdjBzB3VwFt_uwcyomypfcxlz0qHccG5dfE0i7IRUYG-zV08x7wn-4Bjt-HnKX5QlN-oRXFEQtsTlP7aAArNc_9ujmv-lefk6PY4uCuqMiD68j9mCizSY/s400/IMG_7040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417442069533632562" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The market<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3cawB66Lf6wNFYu6__gPPF6BKoUm8db-jQHNi4J_78w1jbhFvUgco_dC_tQ0MCK_Zng75L7YfZqFmvyfyvIyf6NZUM5nb-RMvq4hXyhQfjZaD5vV94uChKxXUA2z0VkDQRrYWGhl81MP/s1600-h/IMG_7041.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3cawB66Lf6wNFYu6__gPPF6BKoUm8db-jQHNi4J_78w1jbhFvUgco_dC_tQ0MCK_Zng75L7YfZqFmvyfyvIyf6NZUM5nb-RMvq4hXyhQfjZaD5vV94uChKxXUA2z0VkDQRrYWGhl81MP/s400/IMG_7041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417442071604213730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2t42Ylnjmd2GhExRPv2HGuLz-fRhGu7lN7kUYFxi_oUIoT5RhRfmAZ5r6GPWsiwY_2iZ4A8VSifTRUPQ0oTgbhlPsxKQTZwA9ALZSGqE5FWU0dR9_EYfv58SnJDMYrd4TcbGoSK0GBY6/s1600-h/IMG_7042.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq2t42Ylnjmd2GhExRPv2HGuLz-fRhGu7lN7kUYFxi_oUIoT5RhRfmAZ5r6GPWsiwY_2iZ4A8VSifTRUPQ0oTgbhlPsxKQTZwA9ALZSGqE5FWU0dR9_EYfv58SnJDMYrd4TcbGoSK0GBY6/s400/IMG_7042.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417442063310327874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMisJdB5ChlD23fVIrXglzFamaBJ0BwQYXvFAxn7bl3S6OtV0qauEFcRUw5Ar45S3agbyEP06ma2othGIyDxdwx0R9caXkhSyZh_P2lyM1-De04rhxwcAw0IIt-YDJLvYIQr_5nCw5Ar1/s1600-h/IMG_7047.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMisJdB5ChlD23fVIrXglzFamaBJ0BwQYXvFAxn7bl3S6OtV0qauEFcRUw5Ar45S3agbyEP06ma2othGIyDxdwx0R9caXkhSyZh_P2lyM1-De04rhxwcAw0IIt-YDJLvYIQr_5nCw5Ar1/s400/IMG_7047.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417441195703521074" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A delicious dessert.... its a sweet warm jelly with nuts.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiut0j4xtXw-IdacWNgNxZfqXuvWIBXqTfsEgzCRiw33zBs88eB-7vQboYsiN9gG3m49crJ1FN1PjXyYesUvRMVV0Z33CQNExadfrOrvrdLOhZEQLRdiS09mAy-seTTCp5PERYlnxCeRtCP/s1600-h/IMG_7043.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiut0j4xtXw-IdacWNgNxZfqXuvWIBXqTfsEgzCRiw33zBs88eB-7vQboYsiN9gG3m49crJ1FN1PjXyYesUvRMVV0Z33CQNExadfrOrvrdLOhZEQLRdiS09mAy-seTTCp5PERYlnxCeRtCP/s400/IMG_7043.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417441190130541538" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kelly experimenting with new food..... this is rare!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLcuB1_txrnuK1CaDQzeXB4bqfmthPuElpHXNdqgAzNH5RnsbeSuxzhIr-oNsJSD35qlpCFr0SRaAACwg6CZogWVGosM0wV84fyiuIVIchM2V_SbaxVRIT9tO1YfY0MUuzwwI1qEb56MI/s1600-h/IMG_7048.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLcuB1_txrnuK1CaDQzeXB4bqfmthPuElpHXNdqgAzNH5RnsbeSuxzhIr-oNsJSD35qlpCFr0SRaAACwg6CZogWVGosM0wV84fyiuIVIchM2V_SbaxVRIT9tO1YfY0MUuzwwI1qEb56MI/s400/IMG_7048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417441184850133442" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>nuts <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEtj4laaKNqeGCMQDaECanJu-IXafAi6hJBOnBGaHZQR5qTD8viNBbgfkIeifc_odiwhYPG6n1DjG1htIz_MBIQALsSIBSyRd2lm5G6gsISER371BxmKCOTGQOgRrauErNjt9J8t1PnxA/s1600-h/IMG_7049.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEtj4laaKNqeGCMQDaECanJu-IXafAi6hJBOnBGaHZQR5qTD8viNBbgfkIeifc_odiwhYPG6n1DjG1htIz_MBIQALsSIBSyRd2lm5G6gsISER371BxmKCOTGQOgRrauErNjt9J8t1PnxA/s400/IMG_7049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417441183673843474" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>spices<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXuYbf1H9gi11tEJGSkuI_dzdoSJc_haWiEIgiu1et8cK3IMX3Svh_vB0YbaAi8a-5gRTDUeqVB1Kpk9xCLPV46RSGtLXa5OU09v6JcskTgDNFgi0HpHXGBgOT_B7LFMsAFczBb3gTRkC/s1600-h/IMG_7050.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXuYbf1H9gi11tEJGSkuI_dzdoSJc_haWiEIgiu1et8cK3IMX3Svh_vB0YbaAi8a-5gRTDUeqVB1Kpk9xCLPV46RSGtLXa5OU09v6JcskTgDNFgi0HpHXGBgOT_B7LFMsAFczBb3gTRkC/s400/IMG_7050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417441176852972386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMJGKySZN7GdwBn6L4C-UyUzFKHBEmlFLUHkNzfW8L8iPe8j-bavQvtIp2QMT50nSGW-ew0wyDqncUypRfnx87wq6pi_G0c5ageeSdfnNQTPDT-l2jriSSDI_hJRRRwdu6oCTRP1hzrg-/s1600-h/IMG_7051.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMJGKySZN7GdwBn6L4C-UyUzFKHBEmlFLUHkNzfW8L8iPe8j-bavQvtIp2QMT50nSGW-ew0wyDqncUypRfnx87wq6pi_G0c5ageeSdfnNQTPDT-l2jriSSDI_hJRRRwdu6oCTRP1hzrg-/s400/IMG_7051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417436024594840450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_nb7bWAbrSxcddaxiyaBpJe6JqDLH2SqSv08D0gjIMBvOG5ymxEPKhzRQP-bGM0iaLBsKpgmwO7E8QWmdkg_jmVGS-jDywK2xOtLbdloFNCddMfcHbn42T4QSmAAtgQvQeL31CD9fcb7/s1600-h/IMG_7052.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_nb7bWAbrSxcddaxiyaBpJe6JqDLH2SqSv08D0gjIMBvOG5ymxEPKhzRQP-bGM0iaLBsKpgmwO7E8QWmdkg_jmVGS-jDywK2xOtLbdloFNCddMfcHbn42T4QSmAAtgQvQeL31CD9fcb7/s400/IMG_7052.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417436015161029042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d8Y0AveGgHtrRd1mUd8L5SU5d0ofKFz5z2y1PQmVtrAl5MdIxP1VcyKO3qhicRahEfkmoyMlooUFZwlo7enK2oBgPXHaKK67c4YD6sDlhykM0o8G8owtPuXCPI0-NnR103wIhjWuCMLO/s1600-h/IMG_7053.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d8Y0AveGgHtrRd1mUd8L5SU5d0ofKFz5z2y1PQmVtrAl5MdIxP1VcyKO3qhicRahEfkmoyMlooUFZwlo7enK2oBgPXHaKK67c4YD6sDlhykM0o8G8owtPuXCPI0-NnR103wIhjWuCMLO/s400/IMG_7053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417436014901428898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QYgJkpL505UXXHB-Z3wChP846tmyXm4Wxa2vMhkQOFyEjigRM_YVc2FylvehqYQBpOrFAwYb2rE3WNCDnLs_ZqkLSSXA8hPz7MAM4IP6U3brmn7uSo3ggwk6S5Q1vtqE6EJ7WM-JCf_F/s1600-h/IMG_7054.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QYgJkpL505UXXHB-Z3wChP846tmyXm4Wxa2vMhkQOFyEjigRM_YVc2FylvehqYQBpOrFAwYb2rE3WNCDnLs_ZqkLSSXA8hPz7MAM4IP6U3brmn7uSo3ggwk6S5Q1vtqE6EJ7WM-JCf_F/s400/IMG_7054.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417436012456998914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf65VOgGwK6GpF7_tvTRU_mvgScm5V239iUckuUfGw5d9oRMyF1O07NZ8oyewbsSRVIalc68P9DDSmkU2HPZWV-215Yb0YWwbL0yrigogjH0EhA-wQO2QYwoonj90iIot8h99qwzF1_XG0/s1600-h/IMG_7055.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf65VOgGwK6GpF7_tvTRU_mvgScm5V239iUckuUfGw5d9oRMyF1O07NZ8oyewbsSRVIalc68P9DDSmkU2HPZWV-215Yb0YWwbL0yrigogjH0EhA-wQO2QYwoonj90iIot8h99qwzF1_XG0/s400/IMG_7055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417436006829833058" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Gold Souq<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz_Da_g78xhcV_BjUxDx0-g3n96hQYcnSlMu9qWxoCjejCmFbXtCcpCaGl_DVFMdsVpXiVUvSZkm3HIu4n6vs1fAiTjuhfHwkZl9GCsEtW6pvjQGYySSOFpA4tyzFpR17z6gzrsotrHol/s1600-h/IMG_7071.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz_Da_g78xhcV_BjUxDx0-g3n96hQYcnSlMu9qWxoCjejCmFbXtCcpCaGl_DVFMdsVpXiVUvSZkm3HIu4n6vs1fAiTjuhfHwkZl9GCsEtW6pvjQGYySSOFpA4tyzFpR17z6gzrsotrHol/s400/IMG_7071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417433954967847090" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In 1923 dollar bills were made much larger.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylW9uY9N1tLLf3pMiSsDtyXAj7OcOYzAc2IIgYNEQ4XMbhpAUbVzATng3uPrTy-F-BiYuFxvVlJ3dFqW-ar6vWb-0tcDQSuJqbA4XRNZNx_U06NwjKbCCGGplsy4wL5ltiUaK5NiQ7qG8/s1600-h/IMG_7069.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylW9uY9N1tLLf3pMiSsDtyXAj7OcOYzAc2IIgYNEQ4XMbhpAUbVzATng3uPrTy-F-BiYuFxvVlJ3dFqW-ar6vWb-0tcDQSuJqbA4XRNZNx_U06NwjKbCCGGplsy4wL5ltiUaK5NiQ7qG8/s400/IMG_7069.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417433949745500722" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the back of a 1914 $10 dollar bill. Andrew Jackson is on the front.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_gyzCRquNbJtic3FrB01GJjQXjOnfeQc7r7C-rhOqksL8VheGDyl_JTWuywRXiCeGGYCvzBRYVWNbcnzMKkTeb5sYJN-5hxuDvOeYRC938bRMbCuMW9gsu1ZeZP6o7Jx78Mjh4mOFSkP/s1600-h/IMG_7065.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_gyzCRquNbJtic3FrB01GJjQXjOnfeQc7r7C-rhOqksL8VheGDyl_JTWuywRXiCeGGYCvzBRYVWNbcnzMKkTeb5sYJN-5hxuDvOeYRC938bRMbCuMW9gsu1ZeZP6o7Jx78Mjh4mOFSkP/s400/IMG_7065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417433945466971826" /></a></div><div>Front<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH0O40T-u8Nox74CNjEkqYbKDs90cbUEByIucLHx_z6SzZUgcHG4VtOpM8JRBbpew-np5WxWAdlVwQCm6IYUtpEtgxCyWUvIFTXACBuiVR68L4lfeK_H34tyaSOkuB0m9eT1PbY_EMnOA/s1600-h/IMG_7063.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH0O40T-u8Nox74CNjEkqYbKDs90cbUEByIucLHx_z6SzZUgcHG4VtOpM8JRBbpew-np5WxWAdlVwQCm6IYUtpEtgxCyWUvIFTXACBuiVR68L4lfeK_H34tyaSOkuB0m9eT1PbY_EMnOA/s400/IMG_7063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417433941015652594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3YZO_fmE7-cwN_ApDVB7K7IAkj3Ic4wxFFcEbqFwFIHEXPp40W4s37tkwXNc8OCMBqx9vGvyefvzk_TKdwhAZN5U0JW92T_cRaVFk0txd5hiLfNVtGDN4it3nyUdhHc-sBJsK2yVJebv/s1600-h/IMG_7056.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3YZO_fmE7-cwN_ApDVB7K7IAkj3Ic4wxFFcEbqFwFIHEXPp40W4s37tkwXNc8OCMBqx9vGvyefvzk_TKdwhAZN5U0JW92T_cRaVFk0txd5hiLfNVtGDN4it3nyUdhHc-sBJsK2yVJebv/s400/IMG_7056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417431987744716578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1r8l9V4_A2mrmzSe6DS1oL_GkBlrJHlA20IsFHQPhM25lKQeYOtURI1Sr44oadFl3R3oxU2gXqbZ49eMGC73xGCVQArDyvmKFdb4Z6iOHc_EC-0XPPe68Xk-lwbtYd6bGCXEU8AOYqdCB/s1600-h/IMG_7057.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1r8l9V4_A2mrmzSe6DS1oL_GkBlrJHlA20IsFHQPhM25lKQeYOtURI1Sr44oadFl3R3oxU2gXqbZ49eMGC73xGCVQArDyvmKFdb4Z6iOHc_EC-0XPPe68Xk-lwbtYd6bGCXEU8AOYqdCB/s400/IMG_7057.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417431987892587778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg5udlGN5tDo8UfXpLqD2iYh1DBszlFQ-gZlALLufjHok5RAKLURjcMAwr2gMHi6QmxRZSOoc6ck1riQVgteNoAyDwCrGrCg8R4lmSypumcRHLzFrHEtCP7p251FthjEpX8YdU28cy663/s1600-h/IMG_7058.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg5udlGN5tDo8UfXpLqD2iYh1DBszlFQ-gZlALLufjHok5RAKLURjcMAwr2gMHi6QmxRZSOoc6ck1riQVgteNoAyDwCrGrCg8R4lmSypumcRHLzFrHEtCP7p251FthjEpX8YdU28cy663/s400/IMG_7058.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417431977054477106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6khtZTqKAWVdrY6NTLPDXMuKSci93MLakPUtFILy9zlFGKH26xvlR0FA1Jam5q64LwmCkD0umbhrnu4qyeecB1RaEC-ZMfQy32wzjh_wXGviXYkc5lYhYDbqUEi2ewJDI6SLbCLtID_tx/s1600-h/IMG_7073.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6khtZTqKAWVdrY6NTLPDXMuKSci93MLakPUtFILy9zlFGKH26xvlR0FA1Jam5q64LwmCkD0umbhrnu4qyeecB1RaEC-ZMfQy32wzjh_wXGviXYkc5lYhYDbqUEi2ewJDI6SLbCLtID_tx/s400/IMG_7073.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417431975551114914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_f4eMsMqm_-mcbOZxqI9Kik5CXoqab7Nte358Dd9KQXDRd_Ml7szdpHttShmtLzYz42_1le2dBY6iBB3R4kCrwvp4duUMeBI58r5DdJzQdmWRSKNNhmtz2k6E_lurcGnr3MajAkFsQjb/s1600-h/IMG_7059.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_f4eMsMqm_-mcbOZxqI9Kik5CXoqab7Nte358Dd9KQXDRd_Ml7szdpHttShmtLzYz42_1le2dBY6iBB3R4kCrwvp4duUMeBI58r5DdJzQdmWRSKNNhmtz2k6E_lurcGnr3MajAkFsQjb/s400/IMG_7059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417431965257295458" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p> <!--EndFragment--></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-28629987886571403332009-12-20T05:42:00.000-08:002009-12-20T06:31:06.742-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 4: Sheik Isa Airbase, Bahrain<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">This morning we woke up, ate breakfast at the hotel, and then walked over to the base. We loaded into two vans and a truck and drove about 45 minutes to Sheik Isa Airbase. This base was an Air Force Base that was opened in 1991 during the initial Gulf War. It had been deserted for some time before the Army started to rebuild it recently. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">When we arrived it immediately felt like a “real” military base, not that the other bases we have visited aren’t, but this one is what we all pictured in our heads before heading to the Middle East. At the gate, there was a huge Hummer with a “manned” machine gun on the roof. The whole base was very primitive and did not have any of the luxuries of most of the bases we have been on have had. Most of the original buildings are completely destroyed from the sun and sandstorms. We were met by SSG James Dooty who took care of us all day and escorted us around the base.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We unloaded all of the gear into what was basically an airplane hangar and then we took off for a tour of the base. We were initially supposed to play outside but the show was moved inside because it looked like rain was coming. We got to see their living quarters, a bunker, and then ended up in the Dining Facility. We had a quick lunch and then went back to the hangar to sound-check. After a pretty lengthy sound-check (trying to make a band sound good in an airplane hanger is not easy…. everything just sounds HUGE) we met lots of troops, played ping-pong, video games, and hung out most of the afternoon. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">This whole base was cool. We met lots of great people from all different backgrounds. They are kind of out there in the middle of nowhere so we could really feel how much they appreciated us coming out there and we had a blast all day.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the show we got to hang out for a while with the Troops before hopping in the vans and heading back to the hotel. Overall, today was an extremely fun and interesting day for us and we hope it was for everyone at Sheik Isa as well.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">General Fun Facts about Bahrain:<br />Speed Limit on the freeway is 100 km/h<br />Gas costs around $0.65 per gallon<br />Bahrain is one of the most liberal Arabic Kingdoms.<br />Alcohol is only sold in bars connected to Hotels.<br />A beer costs around $9 U.S.<br />A pack of cigarettes costs $2 U.S.<br />Most bars serve Sheesha with molasses tobacco.<br />The have every American restaurant ever imagined.<br />KFC is WAY better here than in the U.S.<br />The first oil well in the Persian Gulf is located here.<br />People park wherever they want to.<br />Driving on the roads is merely a suggestion.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Checking the interwebs in the hotel lobby.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLl8BcxQ5X4GzqYLngJdXl2kSLC3Ja9Mqf6sIsZ9GbfEDqB3j9vHyXNjRQqhw8EopPvYCESka88iZUV0YDjqQuAm81sOfmeNFxsZbdc6XA_W0HkCO7OHplpwLotOfiDioJGqlTDf7rXqt/s1600-h/IMG_6909.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLl8BcxQ5X4GzqYLngJdXl2kSLC3Ja9Mqf6sIsZ9GbfEDqB3j9vHyXNjRQqhw8EopPvYCESka88iZUV0YDjqQuAm81sOfmeNFxsZbdc6XA_W0HkCO7OHplpwLotOfiDioJGqlTDf7rXqt/s400/IMG_6909.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417320307734423746" /></a></p><div><br /></div><div>John is not a morning person.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp4wlCOFgiZhczMjyhMehymiCE6lrs10Q6fCBiOLP1jBgZx2Th0VCHVtf2GlKTM2YDtZ68uBXuHDnInqzhIwiT5yvZSP8E-yQKqYXkmOZTkuXwUE26cHWJal2SmJZepSVaF9FhxLCRosM/s1600-h/IMG_6912.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqp4wlCOFgiZhczMjyhMehymiCE6lrs10Q6fCBiOLP1jBgZx2Th0VCHVtf2GlKTM2YDtZ68uBXuHDnInqzhIwiT5yvZSP8E-yQKqYXkmOZTkuXwUE26cHWJal2SmJZepSVaF9FhxLCRosM/s400/IMG_6912.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417320309032954194" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Outside NSA Bahrain with the MWR Staff.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QMEDc3AGSQrLLZoayUIatKFD2IBEmLKzcgSoBOLLSLV6zgbHYNMNX_qomicwPDRQeEp_vE9rwzG_-R7sIZ1jeMzLYsKC23Opl3fnmBoDbZCjtKnC7o906g5y1Nisr7QukK38lsalV3zF/s1600-h/IMG_6918.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QMEDc3AGSQrLLZoayUIatKFD2IBEmLKzcgSoBOLLSLV6zgbHYNMNX_qomicwPDRQeEp_vE9rwzG_-R7sIZ1jeMzLYsKC23Opl3fnmBoDbZCjtKnC7o906g5y1Nisr7QukK38lsalV3zF/s400/IMG_6918.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417320304830033618" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Heading to Sheik Isa<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8CqasfWSM7pWmEYpt9yjtfE0NIboJf6f_xnxNXE6aB2nHK-O-bmGfxIGJ2Sy26yLlPbBWv2fsqucHoMozPeCnhKNlQRWfxc04WIYKrnXlsVnSlxx-6MR-43P4Ry1aBAIBAEpyKxc3ptW/s1600-h/IMG_6920.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8CqasfWSM7pWmEYpt9yjtfE0NIboJf6f_xnxNXE6aB2nHK-O-bmGfxIGJ2Sy26yLlPbBWv2fsqucHoMozPeCnhKNlQRWfxc04WIYKrnXlsVnSlxx-6MR-43P4Ry1aBAIBAEpyKxc3ptW/s400/IMG_6920.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417317846738763202" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaQ9CUD7mPOHnTNCjAq_zmmGZLp0_c_6iXkl5e0p5XJHzSiSf_XfGr4oJnq_ZxWWQBAV9qhLXrz__mDxjAXE1N0a7nSycdc6d4AhyfXmmod-CCn2Zv6X9aoynstSzP7rIUQM81w-n1B5-/s1600-h/IMG_6921.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheaQ9CUD7mPOHnTNCjAq_zmmGZLp0_c_6iXkl5e0p5XJHzSiSf_XfGr4oJnq_ZxWWQBAV9qhLXrz__mDxjAXE1N0a7nSycdc6d4AhyfXmmod-CCn2Zv6X9aoynstSzP7rIUQM81w-n1B5-/s400/IMG_6921.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417317841978257138" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>With SSG James Dooty at Sheik Isa.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3HxgOHydAAo0oc16-Ih11kPd1DE_E7R-Np9kuOj0apgnz-CxPSYJb0Y7_Gs9OIa8ftjk2qqoUUMlhpuKjFtMdyCAcX3HBqNJDPtZFKWwtpeA_jzwGFLAZy1pazA2U7QI-P9H02dmq7rc/s1600-h/IMG_6992.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw3HxgOHydAAo0oc16-Ih11kPd1DE_E7R-Np9kuOj0apgnz-CxPSYJb0Y7_Gs9OIa8ftjk2qqoUUMlhpuKjFtMdyCAcX3HBqNJDPtZFKWwtpeA_jzwGFLAZy1pazA2U7QI-P9H02dmq7rc/s400/IMG_6992.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417320314243114706" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Walking through a bunker<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t9KEHn1BJsslF-dL7LH4zMzh-yuDqEiFWGG0hHBoU2pyTjjK4_rZFdf4Lv7fD1Xjp5K2GKSFRq6mV-iNc0unTR_nnSrLSRpxhNAK4jcji9h79NhHPVnqhos4-y87R1yWKgnROuh9Bkih/s1600-h/IMG_6948.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t9KEHn1BJsslF-dL7LH4zMzh-yuDqEiFWGG0hHBoU2pyTjjK4_rZFdf4Lv7fD1Xjp5K2GKSFRq6mV-iNc0unTR_nnSrLSRpxhNAK4jcji9h79NhHPVnqhos4-y87R1yWKgnROuh9Bkih/s400/IMG_6948.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417317839329915378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahczJoyS3GIDu1ABmS2dcZaojH4S-brUwy_XT9xpRcFJ3_A0359-sIU7RLuSAut7Z2fWI3lytcg4T4RRGKYE3wgUy6S6-o_1FVSaEB7K1L6YWe9-gFRsYkw5qs57pMxwXhFg1L1x_O4vs/s1600-h/IMG_6951.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahczJoyS3GIDu1ABmS2dcZaojH4S-brUwy_XT9xpRcFJ3_A0359-sIU7RLuSAut7Z2fWI3lytcg4T4RRGKYE3wgUy6S6-o_1FVSaEB7K1L6YWe9-gFRsYkw5qs57pMxwXhFg1L1x_O4vs/s400/IMG_6951.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417317835578579314" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the stage we were supposed to play.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zZABJGyQ1oWrfDOp18pH8eNgXfkujTBVTo0ioN3gc-6Tn2F-E8DnRfCcBlT26pRETkUlATtjxFQrOgDmN2grrEN1I7KEA4JNnjMrSxqw2l1kg_XdQHI0XF6-gEY3zUgHEiT7kscBEu5E/s1600-h/pan2A.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 68px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zZABJGyQ1oWrfDOp18pH8eNgXfkujTBVTo0ioN3gc-6Tn2F-E8DnRfCcBlT26pRETkUlATtjxFQrOgDmN2grrEN1I7KEA4JNnjMrSxqw2l1kg_XdQHI0XF6-gEY3zUgHEiT7kscBEu5E/s400/pan2A.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417316950048027634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_jc8LaPcissPFh6TfW_pK3ZUrtMkfzVsR_jdVVwsF-wphBnBN_qztJbiRf66GWpAoKAOdSuOm3drkSnm9t-V8iDK-D1DIoafCAE2DVdWbaOQI6owMSJj9_q1Fa7lxA2pRKTTvGQ7wl4D/s1600-h/IMG_6955.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_jc8LaPcissPFh6TfW_pK3ZUrtMkfzVsR_jdVVwsF-wphBnBN_qztJbiRf66GWpAoKAOdSuOm3drkSnm9t-V8iDK-D1DIoafCAE2DVdWbaOQI6owMSJj9_q1Fa7lxA2pRKTTvGQ7wl4D/s400/IMG_6955.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417316946531883730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhep3O4m9b0B3xenFGVUFEik5Dd0teUpDrGFy8vcqHTzYnZlt6gqJmBgSOyYEbJFAzSKrTEzHOA0aY2pprP9_0ulHvfgRTnVvspJzkB1fdkzMja74J9HeMogCLSnyBZ2tfyvLZhhBITa84t/s1600-h/IMG_6971.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhep3O4m9b0B3xenFGVUFEik5Dd0teUpDrGFy8vcqHTzYnZlt6gqJmBgSOyYEbJFAzSKrTEzHOA0aY2pprP9_0ulHvfgRTnVvspJzkB1fdkzMja74J9HeMogCLSnyBZ2tfyvLZhhBITa84t/s400/IMG_6971.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417316940651166594" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a bath house located next to the stage. Most of the original buildings on the base look similar to these.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5sqcReGy_5-r08JPO3jT-kuQ8STWx3F67tVEFVabtW10M3OYC_jQmkBCs_SJxDU5x2Ne_B1o6ZeATi_itfQZNomakUV32DdtUoCo4DuKN3DylPaiaUSSudVx_iWKmJy7QahaoQNVApy1/s1600-h/IMG_6972.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5sqcReGy_5-r08JPO3jT-kuQ8STWx3F67tVEFVabtW10M3OYC_jQmkBCs_SJxDU5x2Ne_B1o6ZeATi_itfQZNomakUV32DdtUoCo4DuKN3DylPaiaUSSudVx_iWKmJy7QahaoQNVApy1/s400/IMG_6972.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417316935906974754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU5MiNTdQEAoU52yuyP1aOJbCZ5KT6cmwXgQs38rdxQv-_w12KkmpV3lb3-PHPxcW__ALckjHzzBrYEH5lhhEFQlrTq5uCeTmpBdWmlTsTALWpV0HcXOEqAZdEryFLx1havh1C_HVy5Yg/s1600-h/IMG_6975.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFU5MiNTdQEAoU52yuyP1aOJbCZ5KT6cmwXgQs38rdxQv-_w12KkmpV3lb3-PHPxcW__ALckjHzzBrYEH5lhhEFQlrTq5uCeTmpBdWmlTsTALWpV0HcXOEqAZdEryFLx1havh1C_HVy5Yg/s400/IMG_6975.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417316931759382642" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vFcItD_d0en6j89RHbxu3xPt7oMDDqvFNsaJ2bykKsBSvF3cs9VGbtFMfekIxHaZO4eiVO0uz7h-2DJZO_1sDuP8tTX5VvRUz6zMvg5pfdaXb_dQVGVIwsaOUiQor2lYkn5rD0NIVlHM/s1600-h/IMG_6976.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vFcItD_d0en6j89RHbxu3xPt7oMDDqvFNsaJ2bykKsBSvF3cs9VGbtFMfekIxHaZO4eiVO0uz7h-2DJZO_1sDuP8tTX5VvRUz6zMvg5pfdaXb_dQVGVIwsaOUiQor2lYkn5rD0NIVlHM/s400/IMG_6976.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417315832438170818" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These are the living quarters.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGL_GCRDFRB9CcICgmS3GOMjCfKyKebBqkSDsxprJ7GEZ_kkWBHqfhbv8PcMMjXubuT-27WiEjCzCXOo3tvb6L1wi0gTxJ-NjOo9kcYavOgMqwHSNNFJS92kIogqOD5azVfr6b3iTBUk6/s1600-h/panoA.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGL_GCRDFRB9CcICgmS3GOMjCfKyKebBqkSDsxprJ7GEZ_kkWBHqfhbv8PcMMjXubuT-27WiEjCzCXOo3tvb6L1wi0gTxJ-NjOo9kcYavOgMqwHSNNFJS92kIogqOD5azVfr6b3iTBUk6/s400/panoA.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417315828552424962" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Inside<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi6PFJijywI033_NF8f9v4i9sfHrcZkyAqrxZqSxr9IPAM_wgJsIaaRQIAsOeV2-aJmzxkG4mMwnjSjjdMH2RLbgISqOJsEqyi1daokpGQFzXCPTt6OY6rxPlpnH_0tmPAJ12kFWw91xr/s1600-h/IMG_6977.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi6PFJijywI033_NF8f9v4i9sfHrcZkyAqrxZqSxr9IPAM_wgJsIaaRQIAsOeV2-aJmzxkG4mMwnjSjjdMH2RLbgISqOJsEqyi1daokpGQFzXCPTt6OY6rxPlpnH_0tmPAJ12kFWw91xr/s400/IMG_6977.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417315821056569346" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>They still celebrate Christmas in the middle of the desert.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DdyAdVYLhCuhfG9mMDTzgd3pGHgdKBICMIBTkqsbyR7_c2XkvMCl_A_isf2hUNkOFaQtsgTyBKf-luUl9n6BlcXMjjTZsCaErwgZbk2B2yKfGTIi6H5_-shr92uRlSoELGuoODWahfaH/s1600-h/IMG_6987.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DdyAdVYLhCuhfG9mMDTzgd3pGHgdKBICMIBTkqsbyR7_c2XkvMCl_A_isf2hUNkOFaQtsgTyBKf-luUl9n6BlcXMjjTZsCaErwgZbk2B2yKfGTIi6H5_-shr92uRlSoELGuoODWahfaH/s400/IMG_6987.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417315818644873458" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The show<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xEZQ1VJum9Brd93pOD_d3hLix1VBmm4gd1sZgqg7CDUCzzKBFEPR0GKalBuSpIxu0lk-JXZjzEes0hPddG9t_7QF1pUD-mjngHpMkRdrJgYC1XqANVULWnLVUGhlSFeMlgxnQa9Y7f5d/s1600-h/DSC_2435.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xEZQ1VJum9Brd93pOD_d3hLix1VBmm4gd1sZgqg7CDUCzzKBFEPR0GKalBuSpIxu0lk-JXZjzEes0hPddG9t_7QF1pUD-mjngHpMkRdrJgYC1XqANVULWnLVUGhlSFeMlgxnQa9Y7f5d/s400/DSC_2435.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417315814249621282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1H9LpH2-LRlwOp7gIUczO0c9DfmJHcMXdIFPsaEgQn5dUgYLjr2vLZazGq4bboT1KKxGVhgLf55yTlu6sgKeO2rLSL3erYdGfKfKqY4d6Fv8FXxtMq8DnOoPbaASym8DhEQLsYKuOHbC/s1600-h/DSC_2449.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN1H9LpH2-LRlwOp7gIUczO0c9DfmJHcMXdIFPsaEgQn5dUgYLjr2vLZazGq4bboT1KKxGVhgLf55yTlu6sgKeO2rLSL3erYdGfKfKqY4d6Fv8FXxtMq8DnOoPbaASym8DhEQLsYKuOHbC/s400/DSC_2449.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417314943032439810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xeqz403YNYtxnWlNlr60YVJn9dFEqgluo4qSHmQ15NZq1ibk1xQXE_or7XHA9RWn9s9s4uXvTZv32EFI96FxqTupMJOHuW3PObl-R7obzLVdbTsHzPAMZeN8deTXlk48b5uqJiwZAct3/s1600-h/DSC_2469.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xeqz403YNYtxnWlNlr60YVJn9dFEqgluo4qSHmQ15NZq1ibk1xQXE_or7XHA9RWn9s9s4uXvTZv32EFI96FxqTupMJOHuW3PObl-R7obzLVdbTsHzPAMZeN8deTXlk48b5uqJiwZAct3/s400/DSC_2469.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417314939259771314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uZi0kkA8vJs-vTFd97T7OHRRMbR68dY9u7OBXLohy6uXerGfnLyzcQlmM6URWzH8-pS7gVf7Uealz4fILlYoTJ1_9R7nxCV-q-Z6VjQhVroUsbsczzvqlSzRmIZ8b99B5pL5O3x86yxb/s1600-h/DSC_2516.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uZi0kkA8vJs-vTFd97T7OHRRMbR68dY9u7OBXLohy6uXerGfnLyzcQlmM6URWzH8-pS7gVf7Uealz4fILlYoTJ1_9R7nxCV-q-Z6VjQhVroUsbsczzvqlSzRmIZ8b99B5pL5O3x86yxb/s400/DSC_2516.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417314934538085442" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>after the show<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe__Y1xwucOmcSUUOckGQyqJZPvdgAsVDscf-kDqHhY1j2ToxGqXxjj7oBZsc4f6ZBpDMnGg1HffDYySZCYwWq2iW4xuO7e4W04HDOQ2hKE9yKWaHc22xbZwDMG-0aNTFLwoGqC8w5BGrU/s1600-h/IMG_6991.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe__Y1xwucOmcSUUOckGQyqJZPvdgAsVDscf-kDqHhY1j2ToxGqXxjj7oBZsc4f6ZBpDMnGg1HffDYySZCYwWq2iW4xuO7e4W04HDOQ2hKE9yKWaHc22xbZwDMG-0aNTFLwoGqC8w5BGrU/s400/IMG_6991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417314927207385074" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The late night ride home.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPem5RPCFt_pi3UKr5ycd5gXcEA90Rmyy4WtNFjUEHmHbT7LDOG14-cfeMgDkD7TdnR8HMx19tg2n87YLrjYPO3aWMXVBxs7fBdQu1L4UkCclOFu2b6BdzGPzY1f047aBQm3iWpaXNtfq/s1600-h/IMG_6995.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijPem5RPCFt_pi3UKr5ycd5gXcEA90Rmyy4WtNFjUEHmHbT7LDOG14-cfeMgDkD7TdnR8HMx19tg2n87YLrjYPO3aWMXVBxs7fBdQu1L4UkCclOFu2b6BdzGPzY1f047aBQm3iWpaXNtfq/s400/IMG_6995.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417314925570928914" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-2323315610582578002009-12-19T11:59:00.001-08:002009-12-19T12:02:43.571-08:00Blog CommentsWe have gotten several emails asking how to leave a comment on the blog. <div><br /></div><div>So..... at the bottom of each individual blog posting there is a "comment" button. Please click on that and leave all the comments you want.</div><div><br /></div><div>We enjoy hearing back from you too!</div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-43851406338543099532009-12-18T13:49:00.000-08:002009-12-18T13:53:12.621-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 3: Day Off in BahrainFriday in Bahrain is like Sunday in America. Everything is closed and it is their day of "rest". <div><br /></div><div>So... we rested.</div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-88759293062259940082009-12-18T13:21:00.000-08:002009-12-18T13:46:21.269-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 2: NSA Bahrain<p class="MsoNormal">Thursday we woke up, ate some breakfast and then headed over to the base. We were met by Hussain who showed us around a little bit, took us to the MWR (morale, welfare, and recreation) office where we met Mr. Joe Hernandez, the “head honcho”, and then grabbed a bite to eat for lunch.<span> </span>Mr. Hernandez presented us each with some very cool “medallions” for coming and performing at the base. The setup at this base was great. They have a huge courtyard with very large stage in one corner.</p><p class="MsoNormal">When we arrived to the stage, they had pretty much everything set up for us so we just had to plug in and tweak everything a little bit.<span> </span>We sound-checked and then walked around and handed out free CDs to as many people as we could. Some of us headed back to the hotel before the show to put on a long sleeve shirt. The weather is beautiful here. It’s probably around 70-75 degrees during the day and 65 or so at night.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The show started at 7pm and went great! It was incredibly windy out but other than that there were no real obstacles. After the show we signed some autographs, talked with lots of great people and then ended up hanging out on the base with a group of Marines for a few hours. These guys were great and we had a blast hanging out with them. We learned a lot and saw our first ever Marine “slap fight”.</p><p class="MsoNormal">We left the base around 11pm and went back to the hotel. We then decided to walk around “American Alley” which is a street full of restaurants and coffee shops right by the hotel. While walking around we ran into a few members of the Navy, They invited us over to their house where we tried on some armor and had a great time in general just hanging out.</p>Meeting and talking to all these guys is one of the most rewarding parts of the trip. It really is a different world that they live in and it is very interesting for us to be able to ask questions and learn about it. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MJHyskJNAHzs8M_UFHhwaGhdZn7WUnd-LzH8ckGmEJXU-yehYUHrvM2vrkLt2vA9bC8eI42WP6ITOMATa6g5bpfDxLBdURBie_KtmVJqX5wGhSaKHsE6BkQAQNxIO0MVSOHN31Cy2BOd/s1600-h/pan1.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div>A pan photo of the stage and courtyard.<br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MJHyskJNAHzs8M_UFHhwaGhdZn7WUnd-LzH8ckGmEJXU-yehYUHrvM2vrkLt2vA9bC8eI42WP6ITOMATa6g5bpfDxLBdURBie_KtmVJqX5wGhSaKHsE6BkQAQNxIO0MVSOHN31Cy2BOd/s1600-h/pan1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MJHyskJNAHzs8M_UFHhwaGhdZn7WUnd-LzH8ckGmEJXU-yehYUHrvM2vrkLt2vA9bC8eI42WP6ITOMATa6g5bpfDxLBdURBie_KtmVJqX5wGhSaKHsE6BkQAQNxIO0MVSOHN31Cy2BOd/s400/pan1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416693773037890194" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sound Check<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvuaP8E5peSxG51seXAZfNA2fT_QprT2-OdAlu4z_XwkslkR1r0Grkbml9-8k8L9Y45Tp5QSXqadZJauV9xPKiHu9-EK9Xn02fQDHIhO6_-7X8Pad5WVn61hbuI9Gp5dtFNajJ8E9DcEL/s1600-h/16634_1291048842350_1414116866_30811782_4218701_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvuaP8E5peSxG51seXAZfNA2fT_QprT2-OdAlu4z_XwkslkR1r0Grkbml9-8k8L9Y45Tp5QSXqadZJauV9xPKiHu9-EK9Xn02fQDHIhO6_-7X8Pad5WVn61hbuI9Gp5dtFNajJ8E9DcEL/s400/16634_1291048842350_1414116866_30811782_4218701_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416693763052294162" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The Show<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T5tth9ibM2_UqtP7-xuxjM-CImbu8yEfpab-m7iSNl4pX8ffdwsb3xlOBmsRjbdw0T48qHKBE0ATigtixid0z67jptfdxudfwYq_ochOtGl94hfcIZQexCJEIu8pvIeDispLCsOW4UNq/s1600-h/DSC_2187.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T5tth9ibM2_UqtP7-xuxjM-CImbu8yEfpab-m7iSNl4pX8ffdwsb3xlOBmsRjbdw0T48qHKBE0ATigtixid0z67jptfdxudfwYq_ochOtGl94hfcIZQexCJEIu8pvIeDispLCsOW4UNq/s400/DSC_2187.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416693758830701314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiYQI5w7K738AvxsMsGEZERU1Xf63g4bBDL7otrtBjwhxHrY-HNgw20WZ06qA_evV5LgLbNLLd_QsQsch7zWzktNsjGkP5xtFir6jM4vGt_Tone1e10z439hSRxILp_Yhl8xFLRj-w-qt/s1600-h/DSC_2245.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJiYQI5w7K738AvxsMsGEZERU1Xf63g4bBDL7otrtBjwhxHrY-HNgw20WZ06qA_evV5LgLbNLLd_QsQsch7zWzktNsjGkP5xtFir6jM4vGt_Tone1e10z439hSRxILp_Yhl8xFLRj-w-qt/s400/DSC_2245.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416693757175849730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijql703TMLnE6MChJ354ARcAn1M0XSjhWNbXnl8hyphenhyphenonyEJ1zDOnbTQj-6I_8o2PkqkuWhjy9i6f9Rg-5LBTDjQB58sqOZiwln83N_6gyuUEIbwjDoBT99lfj7Q2bTH49M_z9N1SXNX_NZX/s1600-h/DSC_2222.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijql703TMLnE6MChJ354ARcAn1M0XSjhWNbXnl8hyphenhyphenonyEJ1zDOnbTQj-6I_8o2PkqkuWhjy9i6f9Rg-5LBTDjQB58sqOZiwln83N_6gyuUEIbwjDoBT99lfj7Q2bTH49M_z9N1SXNX_NZX/s400/DSC_2222.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416692859694241154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg4SIt-e-MWglh2SdGzMH4p1saRm3GfwSh5kxzQvtajzO_KfjkrNeb9tIiyi1qlnpJfKrIs4E0AZacy02LK-TukU54aB0Kl_irVm_kNKvCrSngU4lnE-cxGMtDh4-QBmrMQ2mNSOpJvgW/s1600-h/DSC_2290.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQg4SIt-e-MWglh2SdGzMH4p1saRm3GfwSh5kxzQvtajzO_KfjkrNeb9tIiyi1qlnpJfKrIs4E0AZacy02LK-TukU54aB0Kl_irVm_kNKvCrSngU4lnE-cxGMtDh4-QBmrMQ2mNSOpJvgW/s400/DSC_2290.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416692854630827010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tPAvi_0_cDbP4mymyOEG2nGLD046wnNfDzNjCT-GJKbwZ5kImIyQjNTfZCDjcvywv1qfzkvlayjyWcVfWRBNbUqxtek-bYortdXROjHBZQKRInAum0iyai7Z8Mmd1s6FRvMUh8Lo-F8b/s1600-h/DSC_2370.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9tPAvi_0_cDbP4mymyOEG2nGLD046wnNfDzNjCT-GJKbwZ5kImIyQjNTfZCDjcvywv1qfzkvlayjyWcVfWRBNbUqxtek-bYortdXROjHBZQKRInAum0iyai7Z8Mmd1s6FRvMUh8Lo-F8b/s400/DSC_2370.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416692847635050770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrjkYd3gUshobFHZvhOj4FNe-ZEeDbFY94v7NWmcYQGrDGNSUcirhTkYNHwATFLDN6B2VHHZTLWElnvdraQb9-oUKDxKoTeX84Hl_SL1_hG-o4QnoQFiNYsoke4phpb840IGwwSNM5pAt/s1600-h/DSC_2365.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrjkYd3gUshobFHZvhOj4FNe-ZEeDbFY94v7NWmcYQGrDGNSUcirhTkYNHwATFLDN6B2VHHZTLWElnvdraQb9-oUKDxKoTeX84Hl_SL1_hG-o4QnoQFiNYsoke4phpb840IGwwSNM5pAt/s400/DSC_2365.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416692844883607218" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The front of the Medallions. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NhbKwYOnojOHk4fITdEHOyJXp3kGVQfYKOf3f7_C-yRFyZKPw2vzVsBqmNsMtsVt6BbSi9xgVD3BFpLkYBSy_hKNhkWPritl6FqFjls0NqxIZcyMbKaDnTEtwVmeQXYHWj6oQsByO9Jn/s1600-h/IMG_6834.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NhbKwYOnojOHk4fITdEHOyJXp3kGVQfYKOf3f7_C-yRFyZKPw2vzVsBqmNsMtsVt6BbSi9xgVD3BFpLkYBSy_hKNhkWPritl6FqFjls0NqxIZcyMbKaDnTEtwVmeQXYHWj6oQsByO9Jn/s400/IMG_6834.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416692834479844642" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Back<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxMUwGTXULUOHp-J3qoajSzIbjzCQekV3A_8B1Vsrx59J9xtgNEkG2IFPoqqhYeM9wdbR7pnJSzX4ih2nFTwPQjvzOR3G_Ou1DCmW6tTxPxbHb1xkgIgMPHSH2er34c87hMwTBc8BXRgl/s1600-h/IMG_6835.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxMUwGTXULUOHp-J3qoajSzIbjzCQekV3A_8B1Vsrx59J9xtgNEkG2IFPoqqhYeM9wdbR7pnJSzX4ih2nFTwPQjvzOR3G_Ou1DCmW6tTxPxbHb1xkgIgMPHSH2er34c87hMwTBc8BXRgl/s400/IMG_6835.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416691507171306658" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Relaxing after the first show.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePzrx_J2e9XtLPKBknJMqmvQ-FrK8wp8gz_S7mT92c5dcM52M6wAvDoP-ibueGMpWn_maj7TJQC8dIqdRf9UUCt29VCogFwLgsIMb3x6svpOCiIO5IG5bUGkVJPlasxtA3AUBBOgywRYB/s1600-h/IMG_6844.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePzrx_J2e9XtLPKBknJMqmvQ-FrK8wp8gz_S7mT92c5dcM52M6wAvDoP-ibueGMpWn_maj7TJQC8dIqdRf9UUCt29VCogFwLgsIMb3x6svpOCiIO5IG5bUGkVJPlasxtA3AUBBOgywRYB/s400/IMG_6844.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416691503035275970" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Marines<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvKegP6CtBNSLUfhAVeCzJohNdhITn32YSwAdB6GtTtiAQKK-ImhyphenhyphenwmFDWC0wCgatpUmjSv9uz4KXOc-lNkALOb7IMySHkfdIY2OBV8E7OXHSOTEuY-Cn_hIw6hsDEfE8wc669VaQT5oP/s1600-h/IMG_6863.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvKegP6CtBNSLUfhAVeCzJohNdhITn32YSwAdB6GtTtiAQKK-ImhyphenhyphenwmFDWC0wCgatpUmjSv9uz4KXOc-lNkALOb7IMySHkfdIY2OBV8E7OXHSOTEuY-Cn_hIw6hsDEfE8wc669VaQT5oP/s400/IMG_6863.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416691502169747010" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe the greatest picture of all time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBpwjtI-1bkCkaBBqVLDTAiRLorA-6Bvmn2xCUTtx6Q9T2lkzItQs8_lKtgQRF7W80Dk2kpGvqGlECsZZ9q3EscdejRR2EWiz4_FeNQ_2A5iL5r82KsubiYaaKmRSXjG1Cm6GhInyCwYk/s1600-h/IMG_6867text.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 344px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBpwjtI-1bkCkaBBqVLDTAiRLorA-6Bvmn2xCUTtx6Q9T2lkzItQs8_lKtgQRF7W80Dk2kpGvqGlECsZZ9q3EscdejRR2EWiz4_FeNQ_2A5iL5r82KsubiYaaKmRSXjG1Cm6GhInyCwYk/s400/IMG_6867text.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416691488796030642" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kevlar vests in Bahrain!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjzKNXL_mo1LqS2NGSG4ioGzDsa3c6hPmW9cQpj7cNBIDy37RZQAFMnHKEI86u2-CzBxIDLo7E2QAX6WXJqo5WULsSUOugErAxFbHAppWqfE4dBkOPpusNbNIyvBlbPzcMBIGplTaBLfc/s1600-h/IMG_6904.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjzKNXL_mo1LqS2NGSG4ioGzDsa3c6hPmW9cQpj7cNBIDy37RZQAFMnHKEI86u2-CzBxIDLo7E2QAX6WXJqo5WULsSUOugErAxFbHAppWqfE4dBkOPpusNbNIyvBlbPzcMBIGplTaBLfc/s400/IMG_6904.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416691484887521698" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-68751426857244382172009-12-17T02:25:00.000-08:002009-12-17T14:51:36.768-08:002009 AFE Tour Blog Day 1: Travel Day<div>Today has been a full 36-hour day consisting of airport security, overpriced airport food, trying to figure out exchange rates, airplane rides, layovers and sleep deprivation. The trip actually started Monday afternoon when we met up for sushi followed by a quick rehearsal, organized all of our equipment, and around midnight cleared all of our gear out of the warehouse.<br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">We’ve had plenty of experience/practice loading in and out of venues and practice spaces in cold weather but last night’s load out was definitely in the top three coldest ever. The actual temperature was somewhere around “bitterly cold”; add a “blistering wind” and a sidewalk covered with ice to that and you’ve got a band that can’t wait to get out of Iowa (luckily for us we are heading to the desert). All in all, we were pretty happy to get everything loaded into the trailer with minimal frostbite and minor bumps and bruises from falling on the ice.</p><p class="MsoNormal">After a few hours of sleep we got to the Des Moines International Airport early Tuesday morning. It is always funny to see the people at the ticket counters freak out as they see seven of us all carrying our bags, guitars, drums, etc… You can actually see them think, “I hope they aren’t flying United”. Initially, most of them seem completely overwhelmed by the ensuing chaos but, as they did in Des Moines, they generally handle it very well.</p><p class="MsoNormal">If you are new to “The Blog”, on our last overseas tour we were bumped up from our normal seats to seats in Business Class for a fourteen-hour flight to Tokyo due to the airline screwing up our tickets. At the time this was probably the greatest thing that had ever happened to us. We were given all the free gourmet food and drinks we could ever consume. We could lay pretty much completely flat while we were wearing our “swanky” free slippers, cleansing our faces with hot towels, stretching out our un-cramped legs, or doing just about anything else we could have dreamed of. In retrospect, this was just an extremely mean practical joke; being spoiled like that for a fourteen-hour plane ride has left us extremely jealous and miserable for all of our other flights. We’ve got a total of fourteen flights this tour so I’m sure we’ll get used to sitting with “the commoners” again but it won’t be easy.</p><p class="MsoNormal">We arrived to Frankfurt, Germany around 5 a.m. and wandered around a completely empty airport before setting up camp where we tried to get a little sleep, played some poker, and waited for our 11 a.m. flight. We found our gate, noticed another “reggae looking” band and started talking to them. Turns out, The “Easy Star All Stars” were on our plane to Bahrain. They are a great reggae band and some very nice guys that we saw play this past March in Austin at SXSW. They are playing a private party in Bahrain so we got to hang out, chat, and eventually share a van to the hotel with these guys. (Check them out when you get a chance)</p><p class="MsoNormal">We were met at the airport by Hussein (our Bahrain guide), cleared customs, and then loaded up the vans for a very “exciting” trip to the hotel. BAHRAIN IS CRAZY!!!<span> </span>Today is their “National Day” which is the equivalent to 4<sup>th</sup> of July so the entire place is one big party. Just imagine a giant tailgate party; subtract the booze, add more flags, more car horns, more people driving while hanging out of their cars and basically you’ve got what we’ve encountered so far in Bahrain (Check out the videos below to get a very small taste). We got to the hotel, checked in, got cleaned up and then walked over to the base to check things out. Our first impression was great. The base is beautiful, the weather is amazing, and everyone was extremely nice. We walked around on base for a while before heading off base to grab some food, relax, and get thoroughly confused with the currency exchange rate (we think we have it figured out now… maybe?).</p><p class="MsoNormal">So all in all, our first travel day has gone fairly smooth. After one misplaced boarding pass, a few “freak out” moments of “Did we remember to pack _________________ (insert just about anything here)”, some leg cramps/sore backs from sitting in a cramped plane for hours and hours at a time, a little “off-roading” in Bahrain, and we have finally made it back to the hotel where we are going to crash HARD. Our first show is tomorrow night and we’ve got another full day of excitement ahead.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWll0_e0Xzy3yL3hViXsgmJuyFiAk0Na9pXbTLwRlfOndDIOyaeNQCd0i6gzFjXIRTI3YbsAmQr6k8x73-u3LeS4Z_-0w6DY56wa6lyhiXGp7UBJ3NOVjrTeAJAEgeglSgwgtb4m2unXX/s1600-h/IMG_6540.JPG"></a><div>In the warehouse putting stickers on the promotional cds for the troops and rehearsal. (and yes we have a salad bar in the warehouse)<br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWll0_e0Xzy3yL3hViXsgmJuyFiAk0Na9pXbTLwRlfOndDIOyaeNQCd0i6gzFjXIRTI3YbsAmQr6k8x73-u3LeS4Z_-0w6DY56wa6lyhiXGp7UBJ3NOVjrTeAJAEgeglSgwgtb4m2unXX/s1600-h/IMG_6540.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWll0_e0Xzy3yL3hViXsgmJuyFiAk0Na9pXbTLwRlfOndDIOyaeNQCd0i6gzFjXIRTI3YbsAmQr6k8x73-u3LeS4Z_-0w6DY56wa6lyhiXGp7UBJ3NOVjrTeAJAEgeglSgwgtb4m2unXX/s400/IMG_6540.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416224638084874226" /></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9c8ERMM5qNJ15N1fFjPbCCZI5zecFVX1ho4-AwgKe9A82HpIswTKZ8RvufcVrGC9IUJwyexr9yQEfHKBP2O7jv-hn_lCwZakm2vv8NmsWbVXpk_xNsv7WGKNhu3mgUeh-c27xtg-fvvy/s1600-h/IMG_6551.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9c8ERMM5qNJ15N1fFjPbCCZI5zecFVX1ho4-AwgKe9A82HpIswTKZ8RvufcVrGC9IUJwyexr9yQEfHKBP2O7jv-hn_lCwZakm2vv8NmsWbVXpk_xNsv7WGKNhu3mgUeh-c27xtg-fvvy/s400/IMG_6551.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416224634596226882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajT85loQ4MdBuSV2V0sWY8DhVXciU8KTFYAuBV5JONxDeUxEIUIt5esLsexRUVyhQ1R4aJ5ce5KUkByGwD1bru37pE93fEHcwphfQjjSSQU9-hVXAxlMwxqCYZ7ysBxuA7gffp38xC-7U/s1600-h/IMG_6554.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajT85loQ4MdBuSV2V0sWY8DhVXciU8KTFYAuBV5JONxDeUxEIUIt5esLsexRUVyhQ1R4aJ5ce5KUkByGwD1bru37pE93fEHcwphfQjjSSQU9-hVXAxlMwxqCYZ7ysBxuA7gffp38xC-7U/s400/IMG_6554.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416224630386049218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC87xt5BvOiHh54MuXpN4iXzAmMr2IHJyTfYmWTK_WUWzFqZYkfxZsg7smiluCNXXXYzYuovVCmlPxyc0caTXqQJwStyCwJdE0XdqExRnYFnomrepCaKHEFwbH6kwEhiSKGaoOS9KrH6LS/s1600-h/IMG_6558.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC87xt5BvOiHh54MuXpN4iXzAmMr2IHJyTfYmWTK_WUWzFqZYkfxZsg7smiluCNXXXYzYuovVCmlPxyc0caTXqQJwStyCwJdE0XdqExRnYFnomrepCaKHEFwbH6kwEhiSKGaoOS9KrH6LS/s400/IMG_6558.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416224624082331458" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One of the worst load-outs ever.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW40I5aWZjqO3XGyzvS_ZeStXphc2vo4Pj1qa9ZuOEwYbj8ICxBUlkZS9Rb5hI3E-tFGaV1wvYMF6myVIkQryiRq5hQHU51PzOcRF5ZHipN98nNK0vJCfFGdyK9euJ1VC5il_QTMsD0ol/s1600-h/IMG_6614.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZW40I5aWZjqO3XGyzvS_ZeStXphc2vo4Pj1qa9ZuOEwYbj8ICxBUlkZS9Rb5hI3E-tFGaV1wvYMF6myVIkQryiRq5hQHU51PzOcRF5ZHipN98nNK0vJCfFGdyK9euJ1VC5il_QTMsD0ol/s400/IMG_6614.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416224626013176258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0TJhhZuiUEx-Ya2wnIoPTS-GcjCEGSAwsFYQSv5VhtDZ_qoeph9PrSoz4gYG61c_OmZgKLx2gB6ONrM54KQqwSaWMvwH3cKbFQx7qO89m7MDyM63T2re_ivkHoJIpVY2NbZ8i3KLK4k8/s1600-h/IMG_6620.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0TJhhZuiUEx-Ya2wnIoPTS-GcjCEGSAwsFYQSv5VhtDZ_qoeph9PrSoz4gYG61c_OmZgKLx2gB6ONrM54KQqwSaWMvwH3cKbFQx7qO89m7MDyM63T2re_ivkHoJIpVY2NbZ8i3KLK4k8/s400/IMG_6620.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223754771179586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vZgdO1BDx_jfqg9rp9Qjp21pi8m0JgJItr16WL7O4ye8uVswBAMoX6eCnLYSdaFMamyhGIDzqg_yGu4NPxKACqsM3AUh7MERFrprtXFwA1VO8KbfWLhlUjII3NgPfXptLXGs1yfqZQ4e/s1600-h/IMG_6623.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0vZgdO1BDx_jfqg9rp9Qjp21pi8m0JgJItr16WL7O4ye8uVswBAMoX6eCnLYSdaFMamyhGIDzqg_yGu4NPxKACqsM3AUh7MERFrprtXFwA1VO8KbfWLhlUjII3NgPfXptLXGs1yfqZQ4e/s400/IMG_6623.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223748388258194" /></a></div><div>Getting the equipment tagged and ready in Des Moines.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aHf-UXr-B4HvG1Odyo3yd4I_oUGtAxx5R58NwubgyTpFc2Id5GrOhLTUON_LmLH_gkS5RAvDt9TkZ5tasfaCKuk8F7og5Hn6CD49vfqCJt9PCVrxnRZTgONLBqbN0XL6tJNJB547EaD_/s1600-h/IMG_6629.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aHf-UXr-B4HvG1Odyo3yd4I_oUGtAxx5R58NwubgyTpFc2Id5GrOhLTUON_LmLH_gkS5RAvDt9TkZ5tasfaCKuk8F7og5Hn6CD49vfqCJt9PCVrxnRZTgONLBqbN0XL6tJNJB547EaD_/s400/IMG_6629.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223745137426258" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Mike "acting" like a reader.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMD_U9tCBCYwuhl1hKpyKJpfhQqrob3791O4YRNgLfB7ugV9CpFPk_qJQ1lZbKgVm_yaSfSTvF9d2Pze4hlffjMFXCZcXiVT2GEtZ_SawXKCtWCbeUMIztsJbRsRUfn2zaflpjTd_4GJcF/s1600-h/IMG_6668.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMD_U9tCBCYwuhl1hKpyKJpfhQqrob3791O4YRNgLfB7ugV9CpFPk_qJQ1lZbKgVm_yaSfSTvF9d2Pze4hlffjMFXCZcXiVT2GEtZ_SawXKCtWCbeUMIztsJbRsRUfn2zaflpjTd_4GJcF/s400/IMG_6668.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223741330103858" /></a></div><div>In-between flights we were on lots of shuttles and buses to get to different terminals.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jrGCa_AodpFGTN5ekpKAjE0HT6LpRItYeD98HLXRwWzq0HFZhzD1hDce2PAnnIiNeJqIPCxeAy6EPd8g2-WlM9NAPkm2m3Oo8LQvnOx4ESg7dSpoeiM0AMD9wuWMqGcgOHqu7QjfMg_w/s1600-h/IMG_6735.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jrGCa_AodpFGTN5ekpKAjE0HT6LpRItYeD98HLXRwWzq0HFZhzD1hDce2PAnnIiNeJqIPCxeAy6EPd8g2-WlM9NAPkm2m3Oo8LQvnOx4ESg7dSpoeiM0AMD9wuWMqGcgOHqu7QjfMg_w/s400/IMG_6735.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223734290922882" /></a></div><div>Trying to sleep.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYe20AsSj4h-u2DbMUOAWnCFXze-T1BdZJrkoCFFM1olTDqHvWckh5KZuF4CgyliQdtn3VZtnS0lk2g_t5ogALs_AxQ8EEIaWBEbbRqm1OcV0VgjKK6szQI5JeYzMzTaEHXyyRQgMfbCaw/s1600-h/IMG_6760.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYe20AsSj4h-u2DbMUOAWnCFXze-T1BdZJrkoCFFM1olTDqHvWckh5KZuF4CgyliQdtn3VZtnS0lk2g_t5ogALs_AxQ8EEIaWBEbbRqm1OcV0VgjKK6szQI5JeYzMzTaEHXyyRQgMfbCaw/s400/IMG_6760.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223058129014754" /></a></div><div>We are real mature.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllHVhxVJFp4cv2BCRkTXWSFO0pgW7iy9Ozl305cC_nJQQUQcxOzksgbcaHcqnq6QZ6v0GvToeh6gToyFF4JJr0YcffUM3AlpujnekLnSPZYkqGVSlp558qXbHbBrv0Q4EsA-ep-FTmckp/s1600-h/SDC11341.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllHVhxVJFp4cv2BCRkTXWSFO0pgW7iy9Ozl305cC_nJQQUQcxOzksgbcaHcqnq6QZ6v0GvToeh6gToyFF4JJr0YcffUM3AlpujnekLnSPZYkqGVSlp558qXbHbBrv0Q4EsA-ep-FTmckp/s400/SDC11341.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223050126826898" /></a></div><div>aww.... perfect little angels.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzV1AMnJSQVTdR1RurvEYYhi7o8LRW3rZazMgHy17ql9RXmVnxssBsbCOkkfnqscL7ctXthfCcczJ_uWRigFlOsEZ9I0ASU_a6fzxkCy6JJIiqJDHVA7l_asijya51x-eABbdWZpo5_Ev/s1600-h/SDC11346.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzV1AMnJSQVTdR1RurvEYYhi7o8LRW3rZazMgHy17ql9RXmVnxssBsbCOkkfnqscL7ctXthfCcczJ_uWRigFlOsEZ9I0ASU_a6fzxkCy6JJIiqJDHVA7l_asijya51x-eABbdWZpo5_Ev/s400/SDC11346.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223048154460818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuGP6gQcvR00nLGOKXy070DY2tMfGFF-qXypgTFnGN8itUwoTuw3fc-_1Rb3B5lzxvoeqJxZxm9AKurclPUzRRvj9C8Bufw5tothbZBXxBaiuO36IJb0s0Mrbj5Qc2WQx8z3tjPhuEi5c/s1600-h/SDC11349.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuGP6gQcvR00nLGOKXy070DY2tMfGFF-qXypgTFnGN8itUwoTuw3fc-_1Rb3B5lzxvoeqJxZxm9AKurclPUzRRvj9C8Bufw5tothbZBXxBaiuO36IJb0s0Mrbj5Qc2WQx8z3tjPhuEi5c/s400/SDC11349.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223041463930978" /></a></div><div>Finally, in Bahrain eating pizza and relaxing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF2JiEuXMAp29AMDEd6X81-c0N51DAnTTl2dRM3qkGylHfDDfhE0gWodSXMxoG2DBti06Tw1ZzzqWCabLhVZr589v6E_Y1exXcQH2SujMUz2YhmNmYazY33QnWPA2kLsBqJXPLbyIvHGG/s1600-h/SDC11354.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDF2JiEuXMAp29AMDEd6X81-c0N51DAnTTl2dRM3qkGylHfDDfhE0gWodSXMxoG2DBti06Tw1ZzzqWCabLhVZr589v6E_Y1exXcQH2SujMUz2YhmNmYazY33QnWPA2kLsBqJXPLbyIvHGG/s400/SDC11354.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416223031102006226" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">VIDEOS:</p><p class="MsoNormal">Frey laying out the itinerary in Des Moines.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/619236782743"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/619236782743" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object></p></div><div>We wish you could all experience this first hand but here is a small clip of the drive from the airport to the hotel. This doesn't even reflect the magnitude of the insane driving in Bahrain. As crazy as the ride was we never felt scared..... this was just how they do it here. </div><div><br /></div><div>Side note: this video was taken after BIT and The Easy Star All Stars helped get this van "un-stuck". Seriously, there is no way to explain the drive, sorry.</div><div><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/619237770763"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/619237770763" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br /><br /></div><div>Here is a small taste of the "National Day" celebrations... again this does not accurately portray the magnitude of their celebrations but hopefully it gives you a good taste. Multiply the video times about 30 and you'll be closer to the real thing. None of us have ever seen anything like it so we apologize for being unable to describe it.</div><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/619238130043"><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/619238130043" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-73475718203020240722009-12-12T14:34:00.000-08:002009-12-12T17:16:42.638-08:00AFE TOUR #2: MIDDLE EAST 2009Ok. Where to begin? First, it has been too long since we updated the blog. We are sorry. (all of us sincerely apologize.) We still have blogs and pictures to post from the end of our summer tour but we are going to skip ahead and try to catch back up with those at a later date. So for now lets fast forward to "present" day. <div><br /></div><div>It is Sat. Dec. 12th.</div><div>We are preparing for our second AFE (Armed Forces Entertainment) tour and we depart Tuesday, Dec. 15th around 11am. (holy sh*t, thats like 3 days away!) We are trading in the foot of snow currently on the ground in Iowa for three weeks in the Middle Eastern desert. We will be entertaining US Troops stationed in Bahrain, Djibouti, Qatar, and Kuwait.</div><div><br /></div><div>We toured all summer and were incredibly busy so we decided to take some time off this fall to re-group and get organized. Last week we moved into a new practice space (warehouse #2) in Des Moines' East Village. We started rehearsing and getting back in the swing of things. We have decided to learn a few new songs and are in the midst of perfecting every Christmas Carol ever written (not true). But we are getting everything ready to go before we ship out Tuesday morning around 1100 hours. (I think? It's time to get a refresher on military time) </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways, we will be taking pictures, writing down stories, and posting as often as we can. We are also going to try to update our other accounts as often as possible. If you aren't our "friend" on Facebook or a "follower" on Twitter the links to those sites are below. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully this blog will allow you to come along on the trip of a lifetime for us and experience it as we do. We will of course edit out all the boring/un-interesting parts like the 14 hour flights, 7 hour layovers, etc... We are honored, excited, and just a little bit nervous for the tour to begin but are very much looking forward to spending the Holiday Season with the Troops defending our Country. </div><div><br /></div><div>We've got about three days to get everything organized, packed, and ready to go so its time to get off the computer and start getting ready. We'll try to update at least one more time before we head out. </div><div><br /></div><div>see ya out there.</div><div><br /></div><div>BIT</div><div><a href="http://www.blueislandtribe.com/">www.blueislandtribe.com</a></div><div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/blueislandtribe">www.twitter.com/blueislandtribe</a></div><div><a href="http://www.myspace.com/blueislandtribe">www.myspace.com/blueislandtribe</a></div><div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Island-Tribe/7941169122">www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Island-Tribe/7941169122</a><br /></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-38322111185568436962009-07-22T08:36:00.000-07:002009-07-22T09:54:55.035-07:00BIT 2009 Summer Tour Blog #3After having a blast in Boulder we headed to Denver. Kate scored us a bunch of free tickets to a Colorado Rockies game so we spent a beautiful summer day at the ballpark enjoying $8 hot dogs, and $9 beers.... <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8w1faG0BgOjdMNYcOGd7rEAj0lWVev77OoSL6g_czr6eBW5Damka4QjxuznxHsC7u0Tt7D1dbhcea0LEH3-xsfehbUDijJV0e13VtU5GGDCGKzeYXL5-Gv_pU6ieYLozVWr_aFiqinKK/s1600-h/rockiesgame1.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8w1faG0BgOjdMNYcOGd7rEAj0lWVev77OoSL6g_czr6eBW5Damka4QjxuznxHsC7u0Tt7D1dbhcea0LEH3-xsfehbUDijJV0e13VtU5GGDCGKzeYXL5-Gv_pU6ieYLozVWr_aFiqinKK/s400/rockiesgame1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361310665635282882" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 138px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0jmj7Udnpbf-Om2QDHaCshZ4aGA6ByZNKCTyfbiHJotRxu-i3eEZFAEGpUIrMPG-ktedAjTCxRiBaJr4dPnX4ISyCvfWx-lctajbNwKtPHzI4qHcs7lhheYpzpFKbdz7fqDjZADURnPS/s1600-h/DSC036181.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0jmj7Udnpbf-Om2QDHaCshZ4aGA6ByZNKCTyfbiHJotRxu-i3eEZFAEGpUIrMPG-ktedAjTCxRiBaJr4dPnX4ISyCvfWx-lctajbNwKtPHzI4qHcs7lhheYpzpFKbdz7fqDjZADURnPS/s400/DSC036181.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361310663540865922" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY22nnfsdT5XJLR7cVl-AWa0sSzJxDH-wYUodRhyx8IQkmp7O6NCJRm5Eit5uFKQJSfiETKA72dRY4B1O-qwxNTwNw2sTNOA1bg97LMNMF0hRnNzz3F8nFmlfJRD4kjviMmmk-6LRsNtKS/s1600-h/IMG_38291.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY22nnfsdT5XJLR7cVl-AWa0sSzJxDH-wYUodRhyx8IQkmp7O6NCJRm5Eit5uFKQJSfiETKA72dRY4B1O-qwxNTwNw2sTNOA1bg97LMNMF0hRnNzz3F8nFmlfJRD4kjviMmmk-6LRsNtKS/s400/IMG_38291.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361310653029973298" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwr41ryi5YW9TB1cfAVOi2mMsu7L-pw6nBL4B5I5GoPsZXvB_2lYHhXbZpYkNcSdOo3pDMFd3TgIMnX9eDNVuViu8fFTPCQnch37Mq5abNvU8NiWuEzHyKfInneaSSLDM5ZS3ql2CsMMj/s1600-h/IMG_38011.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwr41ryi5YW9TB1cfAVOi2mMsu7L-pw6nBL4B5I5GoPsZXvB_2lYHhXbZpYkNcSdOo3pDMFd3TgIMnX9eDNVuViu8fFTPCQnch37Mq5abNvU8NiWuEzHyKfInneaSSLDM5ZS3ql2CsMMj/s400/IMG_38011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361310648647921282" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 193px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After the game we gave hugs and said goodbye to Kate. She took great care of us and we all had a blast. We can't thank you enough......We then met up with another old UNI friend, Heather Peterson. Heather showed us around downtown Denver, and let us crash at her apartment for the night. </div><div><br /></div><div>We spent the next day in Denver hanging out and getting band stuff done. Then we played at a very cool old venue called Quixote's. If you ever go there make sure you check out the live music archive in the basement. Its epic. Most of the band left the venue broke after spending all the nights money on live cds.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3-QpknrTZvdKr-58Sw2MDu1Dsz7r_Sj-0uP5ignuLHkstiH_7WuEi9W4WaJt0ToMQ32ILgMM1BIrO_ssLso_PJ2kGdWDTrUkc1Sq5OUgAQugJd5GUBlKGhhjyRJFC32nvQsTLin7LvI0/s1600-h/DSC_27661.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3-QpknrTZvdKr-58Sw2MDu1Dsz7r_Sj-0uP5ignuLHkstiH_7WuEi9W4WaJt0ToMQ32ILgMM1BIrO_ssLso_PJ2kGdWDTrUkc1Sq5OUgAQugJd5GUBlKGhhjyRJFC32nvQsTLin7LvI0/s400/DSC_27661.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361314536941394578" style="cursor: pointer; width: 285px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzn3rzgsKN5J98UZnqstQAxW8k8iHX_6QcxB342YJERxo05U7atVfVppU0Rdu6z3UGwLGkZHh3Xki-_TzF6sqoSLjZv6ysfk_ND6F-XzN7OCBjz1QlKnvWQPYJCXCeObNvySg7ue7IyFp/s1600-h/DSC_29961.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzn3rzgsKN5J98UZnqstQAxW8k8iHX_6QcxB342YJERxo05U7atVfVppU0Rdu6z3UGwLGkZHh3Xki-_TzF6sqoSLjZv6ysfk_ND6F-XzN7OCBjz1QlKnvWQPYJCXCeObNvySg7ue7IyFp/s400/DSC_29961.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361314532303114082" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75CEPHTn6SsCPXqDHPYaG58AEWTA_-80DZnBrv-xS5mOHkTVL6R0d37vT3yvFnez3QKdSc3Xtwti6hTC1i-NG5WKE1TGqRunBRi1ONewkP8aDtzJj03xWJ3W9izvCWJChOuOOpKncT5Hk/s1600-h/DSC_31251.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75CEPHTn6SsCPXqDHPYaG58AEWTA_-80DZnBrv-xS5mOHkTVL6R0d37vT3yvFnez3QKdSc3Xtwti6hTC1i-NG5WKE1TGqRunBRi1ONewkP8aDtzJj03xWJ3W9izvCWJChOuOOpKncT5Hk/s400/DSC_31251.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361314528641493122" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mB8gHncivzv7EWBodaOvlurX0cwmWTjif2szGr7LqqQD7JyhLQTfFXUuVnFfkZhNB3X3YBoxYFkFURcxj4eBDNQr-YCi50hW2zV35ArCrsaBaJ2FbTxhuqmDavHDEaC8vG0HXDaJ2UQZ/s1600-h/DSC_32001.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5mB8gHncivzv7EWBodaOvlurX0cwmWTjif2szGr7LqqQD7JyhLQTfFXUuVnFfkZhNB3X3YBoxYFkFURcxj4eBDNQr-YCi50hW2zV35ArCrsaBaJ2FbTxhuqmDavHDEaC8vG0HXDaJ2UQZ/s400/DSC_32001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361314520753709474" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 235px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlN8ia5VESdeiYJ1mxkuYR_s0Jj3T1bkD-KDp8YnVe0dhyGf2Cw8EKAQBoS76UMR3nUPLr5jEhDNglAhG0mLMH4KL3nBwfhFQt1TG7a4faITUf-qez4D2p_fIop2mpwNVXPyB_BrHJ-P_/s1600-h/DSC_32301.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlN8ia5VESdeiYJ1mxkuYR_s0Jj3T1bkD-KDp8YnVe0dhyGf2Cw8EKAQBoS76UMR3nUPLr5jEhDNglAhG0mLMH4KL3nBwfhFQt1TG7a4faITUf-qez4D2p_fIop2mpwNVXPyB_BrHJ-P_/s400/DSC_32301.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361314517178930706" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We were pretty excited to get to Arizona so we left immediately after the show in Denver and drove through the night. We went to sleep in the mountains and woke up in the desert. After around 17-18 hours in the RV we made it to Phoenix late Saturday night. We met up with Miss Jenna who had prepared a huge poolside bbq for us. We spent the night hanging out and having a blast with old friends and new ones.</div><div> </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEDDfk9jGibyhdsTQX3P2R0LCsYqUyEEmXbFbwKSfeW8H4d8LiLM8bS4cBsOfNqTJ1cYEAEpBaj6e5h4Sp20_MjtxfMXHc2mKvPgVWHvOV4kz-1MGCzQjFycbIHVwiYtTw3lFZ0tU08bb/s1600-h/IMG_38461.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEDDfk9jGibyhdsTQX3P2R0LCsYqUyEEmXbFbwKSfeW8H4d8LiLM8bS4cBsOfNqTJ1cYEAEpBaj6e5h4Sp20_MjtxfMXHc2mKvPgVWHvOV4kz-1MGCzQjFycbIHVwiYtTw3lFZ0tU08bb/s400/IMG_38461.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361317948719334738" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiSU4wWl9TiCn4u7gz57txZU7VL5sIUQnDsJrRIV0BRqjzZEFBDmockwibPPBwIwxxS18c-yCp8ZI1-ZaQhDcuV7LDn5a0yftxofI4rsZv44wWA3bFlyt8gb5oMdy8Vl2OmqwFBRh-o12/s1600-h/IMG_38321.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiSU4wWl9TiCn4u7gz57txZU7VL5sIUQnDsJrRIV0BRqjzZEFBDmockwibPPBwIwxxS18c-yCp8ZI1-ZaQhDcuV7LDn5a0yftxofI4rsZv44wWA3bFlyt8gb5oMdy8Vl2OmqwFBRh-o12/s400/IMG_38321.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361317944555946962" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 331px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday we loaded into Crush Studios in Scottsdale and started working on all the new material. We need to thank Steve, Alex, and Kevin for putting us up and putting up with us for 10 days. We had a blast and can't wait to do it all again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Trying to finish up some parts to the new songs.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin9cJ-2qHevhuvCFWLQQHZRsucMc_poKH6IU8xVL5VHFLZo0Zp0R9iztV7GoI8lro5cU_UVpFZuUfuhxcACFAlpaTHVhyphenhyphen26mTXr5ebzg9okEPmTkMs0Io3p-s7mwq7Hho17tnv0cY_FYf/s1600-h/IMG_38611.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin9cJ-2qHevhuvCFWLQQHZRsucMc_poKH6IU8xVL5VHFLZo0Zp0R9iztV7GoI8lro5cU_UVpFZuUfuhxcACFAlpaTHVhyphenhyphen26mTXr5ebzg9okEPmTkMs0Io3p-s7mwq7Hho17tnv0cY_FYf/s400/IMG_38611.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361318790847360706" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 279px; " /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPT14BNtJE0zS90z41zthMfE2RU91lE6torzOI8YZ0lNMCwyMoPqBiiDKShmQ0VYkzipyJk1sLE7XMWOz4a-eKpvZQkt83wNxEH0Sz9eSk0ilGEfyhyphenhyphenzlB3RTVsbWCkSOgX3RpO53CJmrm/s1600-h/SDC110921.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPT14BNtJE0zS90z41zthMfE2RU91lE6torzOI8YZ0lNMCwyMoPqBiiDKShmQ0VYkzipyJk1sLE7XMWOz4a-eKpvZQkt83wNxEH0Sz9eSk0ilGEfyhyphenhyphenzlB3RTVsbWCkSOgX3RpO53CJmrm/s400/SDC110921.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361318808259763778" style="cursor: pointer; 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width: 400px; height: 275px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxlxC9beytjn-OUAAuXMOAWkkZdGPOFrXVLlvYYv9ii4EGuvAHHJXcsqyfq3HdIeUsv2CNLArU4ZNkfupOTlp7oinz494W_6r09WxLYEfgKcEkiyFhYz9R7u13jwQOKJ_Lfmk03aXAJdV/s1600-h/DSC_37191.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxlxC9beytjn-OUAAuXMOAWkkZdGPOFrXVLlvYYv9ii4EGuvAHHJXcsqyfq3HdIeUsv2CNLArU4ZNkfupOTlp7oinz494W_6r09WxLYEfgKcEkiyFhYz9R7u13jwQOKJ_Lfmk03aXAJdV/s400/DSC_37191.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361320445706361394" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>listening to the finished product....</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizup11ZfkZBxY2ujjQ5ePJ-CLBk3u_3Oqg6TkROei8ekFIU9B7pNRZ_VCyJVIzPGCTQQ9jOa4qeOhd4Npn5rVmlBZgirdkVSsFuRt3IhhNioGJ38PzHTTABWri-_f3lHAE7yO_JSmPU4RA/s1600-h/DSC_39871.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizup11ZfkZBxY2ujjQ5ePJ-CLBk3u_3Oqg6TkROei8ekFIU9B7pNRZ_VCyJVIzPGCTQQ9jOa4qeOhd4Npn5rVmlBZgirdkVSsFuRt3IhhNioGJ38PzHTTABWri-_f3lHAE7yO_JSmPU4RA/s400/DSC_39871.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361320462763985554" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We recorded three songs; "Take It Easy", "Amazing", and "Take Me"..... we are extremely happy with them, can't wait for everyone to hear them, and will let everyone know when you can hear them. We have begun playing them live so the one way to hear them for sure is coming out and seeing us in person.</div><div><br /></div><div>While we were in the studio we also took a little time off to play a show and have fun with all the AZ fans.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ro35rNoZ8Bfr-fSj7Xt6K840_YvOGbxc9r-m8DN41dYwunzF35Xpnqsz4NZlMCKDlFeJ3fPabnB9vP-n1Q7BYHBdONVHMBiyA0ounHcsY92riOpHl2CbIvEzcF39RYag-FhCJJZI3Nw8/s1600-h/DSC_43041.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ro35rNoZ8Bfr-fSj7Xt6K840_YvOGbxc9r-m8DN41dYwunzF35Xpnqsz4NZlMCKDlFeJ3fPabnB9vP-n1Q7BYHBdONVHMBiyA0ounHcsY92riOpHl2CbIvEzcF39RYag-FhCJJZI3Nw8/s400/DSC_43041.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361322341511015698" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvxcUm7tdiBDYwm1wRTCinqkyrL_fMsPeDv2XgpEZqf-OllnkYTFC_EgkjNxSyUWsoRrzJDqY5N7fQhA0O9vMT3UHMGJWxpmBkYbY19QFwvX54TXA-l_uLTW08IEkVG2GYopieEWka_1E/s1600-h/DSC_43051.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvxcUm7tdiBDYwm1wRTCinqkyrL_fMsPeDv2XgpEZqf-OllnkYTFC_EgkjNxSyUWsoRrzJDqY5N7fQhA0O9vMT3UHMGJWxpmBkYbY19QFwvX54TXA-l_uLTW08IEkVG2GYopieEWka_1E/s400/DSC_43051.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361322335179138418" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 253px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Garrett busted out a new look for Freebird!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrPKhlmwnCCfMcQYntLK8q5RFjesCwGzviTGtio4lkpFxEsSiYvbUJpYO0T8TqFouJFFp1icY1AII5LMlnlLPlj18myOP5_9jocFHso4pfEG_jXI2jgkFf5GoSSOkAG7npoVrXYUo0VdL/s1600-h/DSC_43521.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrPKhlmwnCCfMcQYntLK8q5RFjesCwGzviTGtio4lkpFxEsSiYvbUJpYO0T8TqFouJFFp1icY1AII5LMlnlLPlj18myOP5_9jocFHso4pfEG_jXI2jgkFf5GoSSOkAG7npoVrXYUo0VdL/s400/DSC_43521.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361322330480911682" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After 10 days of recording, 3 kick ass new songs, a great show, and lots of good times with old friends we left Arizona for the long drive back to Iowa.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCycquNUT8tMNxY5tHvBNXE4bAzeGE-FokJA5REyyOFoY7hcpt-7QqelcCjIYW2fmiSsbPVL33VA7yfAbzMlmTc1PoxAoJTzcfOp9YOO_DNF6EEHBmFqkZG569Pm2q7iuEkvpUQ_ixY1f/s1600-h/IMG_39521.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCycquNUT8tMNxY5tHvBNXE4bAzeGE-FokJA5REyyOFoY7hcpt-7QqelcCjIYW2fmiSsbPVL33VA7yfAbzMlmTc1PoxAoJTzcfOp9YOO_DNF6EEHBmFqkZG569Pm2q7iuEkvpUQ_ixY1f/s400/IMG_39521.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361324981351825106" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 359px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>on the long road home.......</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3feBzZYfZGQYr-kwvIBhtW3l1aXAfgXeSrw7G5Bm6zeTnDVA5p2l5RbYxghvIEsTT9Sz2uQf28j0YFOiVYkc309GEZ2Ars5nwkBoISh8lde9cKXj3kOIn_06NomAeRkWUyeSM1M5VzZx/s1600-h/IMG_33041.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3feBzZYfZGQYr-kwvIBhtW3l1aXAfgXeSrw7G5Bm6zeTnDVA5p2l5RbYxghvIEsTT9Sz2uQf28j0YFOiVYkc309GEZ2Ars5nwkBoISh8lde9cKXj3kOIn_06NomAeRkWUyeSM1M5VzZx/s400/IMG_33041.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361324987419064850" style="cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>and we finally made it back to Iowa after 36 hours in the RV.</div><div><br /></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8226843308090239419.post-26693110872241982652009-07-21T14:01:00.000-07:002009-07-22T09:45:57.822-07:00BIT 2009 Summer Tour Blog #2We spent about a week at home before the road came calling. We packed up, got everything organized and prepared to be out on the road for almost a month. Luckily, for us, the first night was in Des Moines and so we piled in the RV for approximately 6 minutes before we arrived at the show. If only all road trips were this long.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64k1-uK985nuZGaAzotcZhZjNgi19zv1JosOkFgisEMERV3NDPkwpTaQNK5Ko-DGQ8z5kDSKhBSZaApsggcgUC0G7DaReaGupl1bMLv2liaP3YVsWXyhxbyzbS7rVN_tX1aOB6MUmxtf8/s1600-h/DSC_11501.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64k1-uK985nuZGaAzotcZhZjNgi19zv1JosOkFgisEMERV3NDPkwpTaQNK5Ko-DGQ8z5kDSKhBSZaApsggcgUC0G7DaReaGupl1bMLv2liaP3YVsWXyhxbyzbS7rVN_tX1aOB6MUmxtf8/s400/DSC_11501.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361023162928885154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UbzF5KNv5rQQZaO-CmXXR_pQiNfx2WqSjv4EKO2gASVNazLBpB9FFOdyAtwVsFppvwaSSRhkWwebo8p_yWDjFzQgIRhe5w9QcmPTem4W1evsq67nWlFHBAqbd288h3ig-4AY-a0TJGKZ/s1600-h/DSC_10921.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UbzF5KNv5rQQZaO-CmXXR_pQiNfx2WqSjv4EKO2gASVNazLBpB9FFOdyAtwVsFppvwaSSRhkWwebo8p_yWDjFzQgIRhe5w9QcmPTem4W1evsq67nWlFHBAqbd288h3ig-4AY-a0TJGKZ/s400/DSC_10921.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361023154158268754" /></a><br /><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOri4HR3RBya-Bj7VflUGVT2B807orvsBnZ6kRcxDoXoAng_1wlD0aiM0EdHg5BqvTxNdsn1IfahAel7mlTx0Y6soVbCM7qACf7UslMCfr6bJqiG63kHYVu6ECRMEMn4dHn6ME133ntqCu/s400/DSC_12181.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361023170639043202" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkBozM6f2CFose4YwPgyQaDN2NS-4401zYsRffzQCO_qh9KzDhukw84-2Q3pcZDi2WGQRHsetsmB410Ek2lhyphenhyphenWJN4LDvUWb6rir8YOh7LfPkDbYFAsbwVwpSXa4qS00qWcVU1Rb2f5ef3/s1600-h/DSC_10141.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkBozM6f2CFose4YwPgyQaDN2NS-4401zYsRffzQCO_qh9KzDhukw84-2Q3pcZDi2WGQRHsetsmB410Ek2lhyphenhyphenWJN4LDvUWb6rir8YOh7LfPkDbYFAsbwVwpSXa4qS00qWcVU1Rb2f5ef3/s400/DSC_10141.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361023146141341330" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Mike clearly won the cool photo contest for the night. From Des Moines we headed west to Lincoln Nebraska. As we approached the border of Iowa and Nebraska we were flagged down by a trucker. Immediately we thought we left the trailer door open or had a flat tire. Luckily it was just an open compartment door with nothing in it. We got to talking with the good samaritan and got a picture with him and his dog "Buddy"<br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpFwUHa3v9qe-tspnKThpYnTugD66DKmE30ZtDbWoh8-h49Rri6ybw7WoMqmqb5mAEhZSL_TufNG6JUoYVLaJH1B9d7yEWl1b89Fvib8bdJN2z-hv4OIe9Pc83R5uQuNVSFR0_SXeEVXa/s1600-h/IMG_33081.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpFwUHa3v9qe-tspnKThpYnTugD66DKmE30ZtDbWoh8-h49Rri6ybw7WoMqmqb5mAEhZSL_TufNG6JUoYVLaJH1B9d7yEWl1b89Fvib8bdJN2z-hv4OIe9Pc83R5uQuNVSFR0_SXeEVXa/s400/IMG_33081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361027111812885250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>After that little adventure we finished up the rest of the drive to Lincoln. We loaded into Knickerbockers, ate lots of $0.25 tacos, killed some time, and played a show. A very good band Conerstone Dub opened the night and Tim their trombonist joined us on stage for a good ole' fashioned jam. Overall a great first time in Lincoln!</div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1VU87dyyR54NamynusWM58PmKtc8V09mFFfkVa13y_k5Y-wpT1DdIZSYakrFH-cN9BRqmTSmC7yUpEekSqCYlxvUJcxZr2S1_DN6Ni-ZFFCJ_ROpVpeA-FXbKW06HKiLv8c9-YTXvyqL/s1600-h/IMG_33111.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1VU87dyyR54NamynusWM58PmKtc8V09mFFfkVa13y_k5Y-wpT1DdIZSYakrFH-cN9BRqmTSmC7yUpEekSqCYlxvUJcxZr2S1_DN6Ni-ZFFCJ_ROpVpeA-FXbKW06HKiLv8c9-YTXvyqL/s400/IMG_33111.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361030768532952946" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px; " /></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfEZekdQAoJFf3K9uuAv1GAIqDUuoEdEe4Bxcr-XcZRiw9WcElNSkuVgX7KwO8peRlw0N5oku_01-lJVhM4NS462nN65C0kNFuS2S3uuBV_zRoRKNst87yfkVlvymNQMgwMk5gXdlUgeQ/s400/IMG_33211.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361030774170979634" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 378px; " /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSg2pIlPqJkZIJ1DZEdu01ikUixqzWtfHLVneMJ7Mmz4B3a6ZK_3WD0yLNz0KepAqCJWaNl8LQiEWnE8seBcAb3Zg35wtRbGC8Qv8KkxymABS7ayBU455HXAt0MLBqBpHbC1sQ9UIe_Vdr/s1600-h/DSC_12951.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSg2pIlPqJkZIJ1DZEdu01ikUixqzWtfHLVneMJ7Mmz4B3a6ZK_3WD0yLNz0KepAqCJWaNl8LQiEWnE8seBcAb3Zg35wtRbGC8Qv8KkxymABS7ayBU455HXAt0MLBqBpHbC1sQ9UIe_Vdr/s400/DSC_12951.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361030761293949426" style="cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TUEQz66UTyAjJLuAPQD2LUKuE58wkXZemy4pX6QUafUYyBvoV0w_Gwachzllp9AfM9zS4xIGg95JZ5nhT-BjuxdymfOikAJ5BELty3tKtaHLjVDH7nPtMSvOLCD9HswOLs-E9paTBI2H/s1600-h/DSC_12671.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TUEQz66UTyAjJLuAPQD2LUKuE58wkXZemy4pX6QUafUYyBvoV0w_Gwachzllp9AfM9zS4xIGg95JZ5nhT-BjuxdymfOikAJ5BELty3tKtaHLjVDH7nPtMSvOLCD9HswOLs-E9paTBI2H/s400/DSC_12671.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361030755564825298" style="cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 400px; " /></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5KkB7TeQS9ws5B8tu7-or4OWOG8INqelTv2rLstIm4wDiCTbzOkXF85F2UwvQUdXLn41oPvBH1dH4rrvqn7KY3-ZWEAA67qxgY3dMI1P8OH4iH3gbMEoQfn5WS9FKUAsdHw3JJDfN9c1/s400/DSC_13751.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361030762503953138" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 230px; " /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Immediately after the show in Lincoln we loaded up and headed to Kearney, Nebraska. We didn't really know what to think of spending two nights in Kearney but they turned out to be two amazing nights. Apparently there isn't a whole lot to do in Kearney so everyone goes to the bar at night and parties. We were glad they did because we had a blast.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg258cJpZWpoO91Ypqe2h0iMy0KlWtnrotm7JR2SIDSHtFPH9cQFbCIEvCNIuc8nExIGiKPX0Rhred8MofFzBcMLor2-sovzMu9M5f8v1_7QaYx23EX2HPVN5LW_WN-t4M1a-KSZD8wH9CH/s1600-h/DSC_21461.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg258cJpZWpoO91Ypqe2h0iMy0KlWtnrotm7JR2SIDSHtFPH9cQFbCIEvCNIuc8nExIGiKPX0Rhred8MofFzBcMLor2-sovzMu9M5f8v1_7QaYx23EX2HPVN5LW_WN-t4M1a-KSZD8wH9CH/s400/DSC_21461.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361038547347431346" style="cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjT5hfdJEGIeB0mR77cuMEHwLo4uJlcqXiQwqzc1n4aAhMRNH_iaNhai5dbaH77dQgbRcp3bliSFprR4F8wGvZ2Z4uc1sL-OAzVO_YHUqtUQfBz3LA1FFoaVSUaphnZDlTiB_AwCLqybP/s1600-h/DSC_19651.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjT5hfdJEGIeB0mR77cuMEHwLo4uJlcqXiQwqzc1n4aAhMRNH_iaNhai5dbaH77dQgbRcp3bliSFprR4F8wGvZ2Z4uc1sL-OAzVO_YHUqtUQfBz3LA1FFoaVSUaphnZDlTiB_AwCLqybP/s400/DSC_19651.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361038541850778290" style="cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdcEYMmD-kCZit71rhRceLE8omfFyr_cL0_Qo4iK29fJ04ad-N67KWmlPeBgqDy77dt0wYcgBXlemLpYq2Ww2jsxiuOl8mhuZXrBCQhvmx9hidaro44M2yTjHBKImkMCaMtcEbC4rEsc4/s1600-h/DSC_18021.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdcEYMmD-kCZit71rhRceLE8omfFyr_cL0_Qo4iK29fJ04ad-N67KWmlPeBgqDy77dt0wYcgBXlemLpYq2Ww2jsxiuOl8mhuZXrBCQhvmx9hidaro44M2yTjHBKImkMCaMtcEbC4rEsc4/s400/DSC_18021.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361038185272304626" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iLWyZZRt-eEqsMTkoXMWLBkKFL0emeVdYKnvKpdas-OqD9FA2oFKvuwvRjdyeUBldUIK6kHzwnOhxYx39sGk5t83rgZxuDOl0Gep54RkYr8F9ZULOYjD_RbxFS_8_ujEAg1TtmNRb4w-/s1600-h/DSC_17701.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iLWyZZRt-eEqsMTkoXMWLBkKFL0emeVdYKnvKpdas-OqD9FA2oFKvuwvRjdyeUBldUIK6kHzwnOhxYx39sGk5t83rgZxuDOl0Gep54RkYr8F9ZULOYjD_RbxFS_8_ujEAg1TtmNRb4w-/s400/DSC_17701.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361038177490428994" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQK2gaSUlOLnYGuG_8nvRfsHZvE8fI-xKK91SpsAem-SnhJULGOoBi0_5HPPURjk5HHMogGY_4fQ6EZmBSazs3VL2h2RRzTwQRXo5B-eyBUvAdov02mbyx9WeRTNFmtOWNB43geKCHpVuH/s1600-h/IMG_34271.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQK2gaSUlOLnYGuG_8nvRfsHZvE8fI-xKK91SpsAem-SnhJULGOoBi0_5HPPURjk5HHMogGY_4fQ6EZmBSazs3VL2h2RRzTwQRXo5B-eyBUvAdov02mbyx9WeRTNFmtOWNB43geKCHpVuH/s400/IMG_34271.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361038171756665378" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1HTNSvGqHU0P0L_bADX92l5oLNC0jusxM31gIBHus2WRo0jCsaf4TEv4Qvkiiof7r_8XiwVE_AEw5i-l3K8Lu5h5GJ22AbyO89wSr_dMbIMhgqA-yaJUSim4F8nlFxH97ZuOTYKvVgZx/s1600-h/IMG_33591.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1HTNSvGqHU0P0L_bADX92l5oLNC0jusxM31gIBHus2WRo0jCsaf4TEv4Qvkiiof7r_8XiwVE_AEw5i-l3K8Lu5h5GJ22AbyO89wSr_dMbIMhgqA-yaJUSim4F8nlFxH97ZuOTYKvVgZx/s400/IMG_33591.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361038165983616754" style="cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aTiq8DLsOFgNLKg4MBP1juV2cakTVtNrZaHW6EDDNdDOt-g6dxalDzNSaOZinI9lC1RYrQJEsWPrXiA7PQF57dE8eJozLWgSqkT7jYlN5LO7C0qofXLx2FT4sYcMbj7PYbbgM0z8oxbB/s1600-h/IMG_33471.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3aTiq8DLsOFgNLKg4MBP1juV2cakTVtNrZaHW6EDDNdDOt-g6dxalDzNSaOZinI9lC1RYrQJEsWPrXiA7PQF57dE8eJozLWgSqkT7jYlN5LO7C0qofXLx2FT4sYcMbj7PYbbgM0z8oxbB/s400/IMG_33471.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361038158891951618" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 363px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>After our three days of fun in Nebraska we headed on to Colorado. Because we had 3 days off we headed to our friend Kate Veeder's farm in Longmont. We spent Sunday through Wednesday with Kate as our tour guide sight seeing, hiking, and of course we had to check out a few of the breweries in the area. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is Kate..... She's awesome.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxm91hg7TmvWo6dYRViFpJyjtPbRSKbov9af6Z4RaQHrehyphenhyphenshC81U6I0tXYVfOiD96GycarkZ9OdzfWTYIwaB70gQcJ3e0y3p5_mx56dxnHFuvr9TpOSotTJSkTnofQT9of3GsZt4hbAll/s1600-h/IMG_36201.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxm91hg7TmvWo6dYRViFpJyjtPbRSKbov9af6Z4RaQHrehyphenhyphenshC81U6I0tXYVfOiD96GycarkZ9OdzfWTYIwaB70gQcJ3e0y3p5_mx56dxnHFuvr9TpOSotTJSkTnofQT9of3GsZt4hbAll/s400/IMG_36201.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361044285891974530" style="cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is Toni Frey with two of Kate's goats.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SHK70Le3KfxbnVf8t7l7K_eLefQZQ8cZeeE_5CJEuqBBOS6joWUUcp0axNUhrsIleOMYN8HSnYim9C4X8iWZF-bIo4aCiXQFBaiic9HzqBTvrdfCJjWxNlrUaMekbOmiBM_01eHUfrCP/s1600-h/IMG_36101.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SHK70Le3KfxbnVf8t7l7K_eLefQZQ8cZeeE_5CJEuqBBOS6joWUUcp0axNUhrsIleOMYN8HSnYim9C4X8iWZF-bIo4aCiXQFBaiic9HzqBTvrdfCJjWxNlrUaMekbOmiBM_01eHUfrCP/s400/IMG_36101.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361044273576534834" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is Toni and some ambitious BIT members trying to milk goats. Definitely a first for any member of this band.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa4KkAgJh3_X9rcPobf2XWYNTgvQ0ta6u6l4ySSEvuEF-DUtOI-3MFtUDul6y-Jt6pgDil_xAybmPz8d-LcGSVNkI3CXZmv5W1xCemNgn0XPH1vKJzoMDEzZKP7Y7XGWbskW7SHDjrgM5/s1600-h/IMG_37601.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaa4KkAgJh3_X9rcPobf2XWYNTgvQ0ta6u6l4ySSEvuEF-DUtOI-3MFtUDul6y-Jt6pgDil_xAybmPz8d-LcGSVNkI3CXZmv5W1xCemNgn0XPH1vKJzoMDEzZKP7Y7XGWbskW7SHDjrgM5/s400/IMG_37601.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361045458912799890" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is John being a mountain man.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMXLW_12VGRgRr4fjqSLeSvlhEVPV0Sj7JZKbOY8EtnxTjd9-DM8RJG0lTBgPW3MhakGWxGkH3-BVua9HKhL-PX3sALWTVU_E7VYv784rkOTsNgdkdtSH-7R89Ct2kOOE2cyDfNWeoG2Z/s1600-h/IMG_35891.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMXLW_12VGRgRr4fjqSLeSvlhEVPV0Sj7JZKbOY8EtnxTjd9-DM8RJG0lTBgPW3MhakGWxGkH3-BVua9HKhL-PX3sALWTVU_E7VYv784rkOTsNgdkdtSH-7R89Ct2kOOE2cyDfNWeoG2Z/s400/IMG_35891.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361043681606437266" style="cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is Mike when the Paparazzi showed up.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2A9gl-KQShDyjJ-3fJ0iMmLQs13wLTogZYlCnkLBmJhTMbYcqnWMFFwKOdUQwWxQiyHnb7pSbSZ2TdMdajrsX8Ydix66NNqXE3OnhZQlM9fZuWx0U45F1xR15xgfwElr3RA5gU8zVcfh/s400/IMG_35921.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361044268498890898" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCGpzYZtcTHIv35cdpCnkEtExSGPi5ImB4CealjuIcac2PQABNGxswiin2M5aSkqhhzr8t6wkbV9qtrp3H-NkhAEqOqNgnMZFVurIloT0jNboNS3jPOYnkIiikb7RGqI11NWoBDumCdJx/s1600-h/IMG_37321.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Brandon thought it would be a good idea to grow a mustache.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU71OO-S8Z-meSZdD3Osv8oAJZwOX3ONCpgdVMj7XJO-WgatEMwtiyZebLnZPSGNAVKGUbUp6eiBf0mkVHpcT6STG0WaVLCv6n971diJGesla016F0fffmq6sfHxpNiox8uvPVhDoj1iM/s1600-h/IMG_35571.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbU71OO-S8Z-meSZdD3Osv8oAJZwOX3ONCpgdVMj7XJO-WgatEMwtiyZebLnZPSGNAVKGUbUp6eiBf0mkVHpcT6STG0WaVLCv6n971diJGesla016F0fffmq6sfHxpNiox8uvPVhDoj1iM/s400/IMG_35571.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361043678164775794" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 367px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The breweries included New Belgium, Fort Collins, and Odell. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is John dreaming about hops and ......... things.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVljEQmSJZLphp1dFV_j60Ne07_9H-lJpBf1umLMnOIL0d6ql3PT_7-wHbWvXKSAxiM3dG0Cj1qGpT3RTuDUhzZdTv1EGWKDQRSNthv_nX8GTD2_4QBdQ_f0BgOEA5u9um184BiXBSkws/s1600-h/IMG_37071.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVljEQmSJZLphp1dFV_j60Ne07_9H-lJpBf1umLMnOIL0d6ql3PT_7-wHbWvXKSAxiM3dG0Cj1qGpT3RTuDUhzZdTv1EGWKDQRSNthv_nX8GTD2_4QBdQ_f0BgOEA5u9um184BiXBSkws/s400/IMG_37071.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361045438335749362" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFW8AO00ldfUNP7k36cIdr3_0BvmaxgA_MmeYfB-mM5ijahQzlH96juYgH0k8lzckRJ34PGSaajHQixHyyIoAGRG8jSmR27HXahxvWXW0wSrsKwPo3z6p2YNF75hr_uDbacYjWh_r9v97/s1600-h/IMG_37111.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFW8AO00ldfUNP7k36cIdr3_0BvmaxgA_MmeYfB-mM5ijahQzlH96juYgH0k8lzckRJ34PGSaajHQixHyyIoAGRG8jSmR27HXahxvWXW0wSrsKwPo3z6p2YNF75hr_uDbacYjWh_r9v97/s400/IMG_37111.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361044857513760034" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 344px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the whole group at Odell.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqAiyp0wA_77K6ePXEQI75Xz5F7sdm_9L44zs2a8VsG5UUO0aCYLrHZNJM56epZvbWG3oXlVMuC4JIiQtOYjUNDFk75lNOktsuNlQSiSfjsYtffqFvuzEGYfdQf5_terqoeLfczjmk8LT/s1600-h/IMG_37001.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPqAiyp0wA_77K6ePXEQI75Xz5F7sdm_9L44zs2a8VsG5UUO0aCYLrHZNJM56epZvbWG3oXlVMuC4JIiQtOYjUNDFk75lNOktsuNlQSiSfjsYtffqFvuzEGYfdQf5_terqoeLfczjmk8LT/s400/IMG_37001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361044851791553938" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Mike thought he got so drunk he couldn't see. We told him he wasn't that drunk, he just had poker chips in front of his eyes. He laughed and finally stopped groping people.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFznC_vFF9QzuBfOgYUOtJlEt0h6FgXtPk56G9LEReobh3_xj33KY3ifEMagqhVN4beFZz6wrqeMb4VGC_mg1bVgTA-9VZvieCF-kV1et6pB5N4cWiFZ1Qs_nPXUxMWb0Aim8UI5M2BW11/s1600-h/IMG_36961.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFznC_vFF9QzuBfOgYUOtJlEt0h6FgXtPk56G9LEReobh3_xj33KY3ifEMagqhVN4beFZz6wrqeMb4VGC_mg1bVgTA-9VZvieCF-kV1et6pB5N4cWiFZ1Qs_nPXUxMWb0Aim8UI5M2BW11/s400/IMG_36961.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361044844894775010" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This shot looks familiar????<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUK47PrAO3AamL9iXjmuoxmTLaqS-etEM2xRur2IQTSNSAsA2KytVz51sNrZVFWQnDTtolyKupruucAe_0ShXIuTWSgnh5msFZgiCyfhWhnDbeA-0YnTUc7F4pDvB13lWL24zbZHdCkXT/s1600-h/IMG_36851.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUK47PrAO3AamL9iXjmuoxmTLaqS-etEM2xRur2IQTSNSAsA2KytVz51sNrZVFWQnDTtolyKupruucAe_0ShXIuTWSgnh5msFZgiCyfhWhnDbeA-0YnTUc7F4pDvB13lWL24zbZHdCkXT/s400/IMG_36851.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361044840035043378" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Keep looking Mikey.... there has to be some in there somewhere.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_gpNgRGEz9nrGO_QKa-6uq2eHbuiEeOVoS9TdbRo6RXp-Ip_cATYEKOSqf8QNo0d69vu9NTaV1YbrvM0Kjm41qw4oRrPYSKyiQxqUiww6_5ZGRxQrmmQIAIg66ZnChfTvtAzpWc29tmz/s1600-h/IMG_36221.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg_gpNgRGEz9nrGO_QKa-6uq2eHbuiEeOVoS9TdbRo6RXp-Ip_cATYEKOSqf8QNo0d69vu9NTaV1YbrvM0Kjm41qw4oRrPYSKyiQxqUiww6_5ZGRxQrmmQIAIg66ZnChfTvtAzpWc29tmz/s400/IMG_36221.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361044290133420018" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxarowP8kktnqgCXYfjmMBapIFRubxMYBUzKjtaN1idWOeLmordiN_q2RpRghKtYw72X30t3QjsGI9kVK201-_0EaBbmbt-rRj0jm-57eSt1boa8xq2ycZfT6qLlTslMJ7t-lwI_E2kZy/s1600-h/IMG_36191.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxarowP8kktnqgCXYfjmMBapIFRubxMYBUzKjtaN1idWOeLmordiN_q2RpRghKtYw72X30t3QjsGI9kVK201-_0EaBbmbt-rRj0jm-57eSt1boa8xq2ycZfT6qLlTslMJ7t-lwI_E2kZy/s400/IMG_36191.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361044280652063442" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And then we went to one of the coolest outdoor venues we've ever seen. We spent an afternoon at Mishawaka and had an impromptu photo session. You'll be seeing more of these pics in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O3b3nVNQgf11Bt0lH6D2mys9fqqr_hNGdL7GML3BbPHHoXpJeO-DE8PNAgDbmOh1AQSSi1rZG5fgJ2u_v597o0ej-AKMg4HwNY31yt57YnU8rxNolLRtzRvhfqsDBJBhVrdt_9W_0Sb8/s1600-h/IMG_37271.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O3b3nVNQgf11Bt0lH6D2mys9fqqr_hNGdL7GML3BbPHHoXpJeO-DE8PNAgDbmOh1AQSSi1rZG5fgJ2u_v597o0ej-AKMg4HwNY31yt57YnU8rxNolLRtzRvhfqsDBJBhVrdt_9W_0Sb8/s400/IMG_37271.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361045443372102402" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCGpzYZtcTHIv35cdpCnkEtExSGPi5ImB4CealjuIcac2PQABNGxswiin2M5aSkqhhzr8t6wkbV9qtrp3H-NkhAEqOqNgnMZFVurIloT0jNboNS3jPOYnkIiikb7RGqI11NWoBDumCdJx/s1600-h/IMG_37321.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCGpzYZtcTHIv35cdpCnkEtExSGPi5ImB4CealjuIcac2PQABNGxswiin2M5aSkqhhzr8t6wkbV9qtrp3H-NkhAEqOqNgnMZFVurIloT0jNboNS3jPOYnkIiikb7RGqI11NWoBDumCdJx/s400/IMG_37321.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361045454411759410" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJR4O6xLUw9xr98zcZnObFo-zukegpkTGm7dpvkEFebcU2fEXPSvYM9xMxBCFHscMnDsLYTVM3JqCo2frkACde89pNzD2sFM17Tsr2bCrKhYPPKyEB8iEEgdS8HQqqoPXKc5P3Sh4g3sn/s1600-h/IMG_37301.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJR4O6xLUw9xr98zcZnObFo-zukegpkTGm7dpvkEFebcU2fEXPSvYM9xMxBCFHscMnDsLYTVM3JqCo2frkACde89pNzD2sFM17Tsr2bCrKhYPPKyEB8iEEgdS8HQqqoPXKc5P3Sh4g3sn/s400/IMG_37301.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361045446924981490" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtfl6U3uHT9neKokuLmBpNpqK1U56aYR_oPs_bnHJlaIVl4Rq7yHFB-FwyvtWHVA5EaRqP-hzKM1K8NK7cY2Ze3xU4VOGXuHFckzG8un8ZSpwJ0biiADfbxIJojvia6jgrFGk1DcTJlSv/s1600-h/DSC_22121.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtfl6U3uHT9neKokuLmBpNpqK1U56aYR_oPs_bnHJlaIVl4Rq7yHFB-FwyvtWHVA5EaRqP-hzKM1K8NK7cY2Ze3xU4VOGXuHFckzG8un8ZSpwJ0biiADfbxIJojvia6jgrFGk1DcTJlSv/s400/DSC_22121.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361042779800765154" style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpY1McNEKC_KKaXNtvrvXJ3V3UW53Z4x8IhyX2aOr6m9Ix3Il-30y09yfxipe3xx7vwMEs56qleL3j3I-HmT5Z2_XqxkudfrfC-EX1CDpxso1oVbtLdGPaVRz3B_B-Q3GMxWXQZR-uDPp/s1600-h/DSC_21841.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpY1McNEKC_KKaXNtvrvXJ3V3UW53Z4x8IhyX2aOr6m9Ix3Il-30y09yfxipe3xx7vwMEs56qleL3j3I-HmT5Z2_XqxkudfrfC-EX1CDpxso1oVbtLdGPaVRz3B_B-Q3GMxWXQZR-uDPp/s400/DSC_21841.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361042776464522466" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px; " /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9mHZcH2YrCfvefoBTEYvmPRZWuQkvFuz3m5SjiDD9qbGj5beDAYMhgyyASXL24fOiwuXiQyIWYTwUw0CIDVwE6e-decQxU7R2_3jFmqgPnSh7_U3nhiULmH8jFFL9HQ5yOnyvy77r2ol/s1600-h/DSC036031.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9mHZcH2YrCfvefoBTEYvmPRZWuQkvFuz3m5SjiDD9qbGj5beDAYMhgyyASXL24fOiwuXiQyIWYTwUw0CIDVwE6e-decQxU7R2_3jFmqgPnSh7_U3nhiULmH8jFFL9HQ5yOnyvy77r2ol/s400/DSC036031.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361043672675388498" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUo-z6R8cm26XwFscmxXMI7woJH9FggEDVgnG1FiDFNudK9TfqTDqbREJn71ZJgyaNW-q8eokCHwXhgcw1MBc5cDPM0BOOAG9K7jlpLxc5bGUQhASlmFDUr2VYn-ilP_SYsUQR-KmfcgZ/s1600-h/DSC036021.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUo-z6R8cm26XwFscmxXMI7woJH9FggEDVgnG1FiDFNudK9TfqTDqbREJn71ZJgyaNW-q8eokCHwXhgcw1MBc5cDPM0BOOAG9K7jlpLxc5bGUQhASlmFDUr2VYn-ilP_SYsUQR-KmfcgZ/s400/DSC036021.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361043665273077026" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI40eGdA84AyYwVCONM8UlwgCU30Ggxj1qVA9nzYDo2LzBAWvzJLapx-WpvYWvLxXbYHl8gGMfp_e7SV4wd1dy39z9eLYlgKGfuL-7q9gYJgOurhTegZzoa-g4sWDDJ5p0gop4TLA7f7gv/s1600-h/DSC035791.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI40eGdA84AyYwVCONM8UlwgCU30Ggxj1qVA9nzYDo2LzBAWvzJLapx-WpvYWvLxXbYHl8gGMfp_e7SV4wd1dy39z9eLYlgKGfuL-7q9gYJgOurhTegZzoa-g4sWDDJ5p0gop4TLA7f7gv/s400/DSC035791.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361043662597783218" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM4EmxglNCq5A2mkUmKtxjNdwONwDHX1FICPyFTcfb_ljcgZeJC2xwj2prTIda7DRSyDCLVB9XvD2oiZEfBXTO3w3IVwDsdnxcdUmbfzEz9CEtzv96b2Dc4P6qiji0gTrJzVfwFXMXJTW/s1600-h/DSC035571.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuM4EmxglNCq5A2mkUmKtxjNdwONwDHX1FICPyFTcfb_ljcgZeJC2xwj2prTIda7DRSyDCLVB9XvD2oiZEfBXTO3w3IVwDsdnxcdUmbfzEz9CEtzv96b2Dc4P6qiji0gTrJzVfwFXMXJTW/s400/DSC035571.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361042797280628434" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBtGWpgksEP6sCbkxcMG3WlJYxJSEmWYc4c9YiAvK4GWUaeLMMq_7GOIcE9kun0_fi5EkfXEANfW-F6Kmhty0399QE3tTJVmcJgL7KdyiLBGjZ33b9xJETvQ-Xliku1jujvZgq1c8mg5_/s1600-h/DSC_26031.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBtGWpgksEP6sCbkxcMG3WlJYxJSEmWYc4c9YiAvK4GWUaeLMMq_7GOIcE9kun0_fi5EkfXEANfW-F6Kmhty0399QE3tTJVmcJgL7KdyiLBGjZ33b9xJETvQ-Xliku1jujvZgq1c8mg5_/s400/DSC_26031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361042792548313250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is Chris.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrWAKxx3XJT1-GYtbCnoR1gPofZTk01WmEy_sVRvu-k-0NRUngew_0YQ7zxowpwSwrk7Yk8WGflY3n50GdVbs85Z8JCXLjdo71XjX-uPc1bIPNpN20UQ844ZYXIWEyVwUp1JRazBUPRR9/s1600-h/DSC_25591.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrWAKxx3XJT1-GYtbCnoR1gPofZTk01WmEy_sVRvu-k-0NRUngew_0YQ7zxowpwSwrk7Yk8WGflY3n50GdVbs85Z8JCXLjdo71XjX-uPc1bIPNpN20UQ844ZYXIWEyVwUp1JRazBUPRR9/s400/DSC_25591.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361042795739976338" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 210px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh yea.... we also played a kick ass show in Boulder for a couple hundred crazy kids too! More to follow!<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Blue Island Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12512165270296019289noreply@blogger.com0