You Mates! Roman's Kabul Blog

[DSM4Life]

Bad. This golfers elbow is killing my workouts big time.

[Times Roman]

Had to give up golf several years ago.... arthritas in my back, so I decided to take lessons one summer, this old pro guy was going to show me the right way... swing improved, changed my grip on my putting, my putting got real good, almost always a two putt once i get outta the rough, but the back ache remained... the stooping over a little all day long while driving was too much, so I quit.

[DSM4Life]

Had to give up golf several years ago.... arthritas in my back, so I decided to take lessons one summer, this old pro guy was going to show me the right way... swing improved, changed my grip on my putting, my putting got real good, almost always a two putt once i get outta the rough, but the back ache remained... the stooping over a little all day long while driving was too much, so I quit.

haha i dont golf, they just call it that.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/golfers-elbow/DS00713

[Shol'va]

That's not all we call it...

[goinglong]

woman wants me back in April.... not sure, that might be too early

not looking forward to the 20 hours of flight time...

next time fuk the cost, I'm going 1st class!

From the other thread -- I didn't want to hijack it.

I hear ya, man. I fly 25-30 hours/wk. Business class today is like the First Class from my younger days. I can handle that especially on international flights. Business on LHT is good enough and it sucks in comparison to the other airlines out there. The front row is preferred by the control freaks, though.

I was looking at work in Qatar. I know it is a whole different world compared to where you are but both are backwards compared to America's left coast.

[Times Roman]

Just got my bug out bag, and i'm slowly filling it.
the bombing yesterday has our security chief rattled a little since it was aimed at expats.

not sure about Qatar, sounds interesting.
What would you be doing out there?

[Times Roman]

haha i dont golf, they just call it that.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/golfers-elbow/DS00713

not only are ya getting slippery on me, you post an "in yer face" link to boot?

[DSM4Life]

not only are ya getting slippery on me, you post an "in yer face" link to boot?

[Times Roman]

btw... one of my staff is going to take me to a pharmacy here pretty quick..... doubtful they will have *.tropin on hand, and I still have a pretty good supply of test. That would be a mind blower if they do have *.tropin.....

[SlimmerMe]

Question: now that you have your tv.....are you watching the local news? like AL J? and is the news coming out of the US slanted more? to appeal to the audience

[DSM4Life]

He gets updates on his new TV

[SlimmerMe]

no rabbit ears?

[DSM4Life]

That is only included in the "sport package"

[Times Roman]

Question: now that you have your tv.....are you watching the local news? like AL J? and is the news coming out of the US slanted more? to appeal to the audience

yes, the news coming out of the US is biased. They report what happened usually correctly, but when they explain "why" something happens, ya better grab your boots. =)

[Times Roman]

hey don't laugh... our first tv was a black and white with only one knob i believe, and yes, rabbit ears so we had the sport model! =)

our remote was voice activated.... pops would yell, hey dummy... turn the channel

[goinglong]

Aviation related stuff. They would put me up in a compound or in a "villa" (as they call it). Good money. I wouldn't do it for long since the family wouldn't move there with me. All their stuff like housing and private schools drivers would be covered by the company. There are some other things I have lined-up over there for some good money just in case work in CA tanks pretty hard. I figure anyone can handle anything for a year... *shrug*

Just got my bug out bag, and i'm slowly filling it.
the bombing yesterday has our security chief rattled a little since it was aimed at expats.

not sure about Qatar, sounds interesting.
What would you be doing out there?

[Times Roman]

I'm doing this because of the money. But more importantly, I'm doing this so that I have an exit strategy from the work force. I thought I had things under control until a few years ago, but now house is upside down, investments are 50%.... this move is a catch up so that I can retire. 49 now. In 5 years, I can probably retire (woman is younger, and will continue to work), I can retire modestly, if I watch it. In ten years, I can retire and have some fun.

It's all about choices mate!

[wmaousley]

Qatar Facts:

Extremely overcrowded, very expensive to live rent, transportation ect. , food is cheap, alcohol is legal for non-muslims to purchase.
You have to have permission from your sponsor to leave the country so its wise to kiss ass if your there. I dont know to many americans that are working in Qatar anymore besides for the US Government. Most have left but alot of UK citizens in Qatar.

Qatar is a very safe country by the way, if you can get your company to pay for your housing, transportation ect Qatar would be a great place for a family.

[wmaousley]

Usually I grab my chest waders because the bullshlt gets real deep. I have personally witnessed many occurances in Iraq, Kuwait ect that Fox News, CNN has reported on and their versions of what happened werent even close to what actually happened.

I try to tell my friends & family stateside to get out of the US for a couple weeks and see it from the outside looking in to get a different perspective, but they are hypnotised by the US media.

[goinglong]

I was researching work there and my wife looked over my shoulder and said, "I'm not going to move THERE." That option would be by myself but if my family needed it, I would do it. I would never expect them to join me but would love it if they did. I used the points that our kids growing up in another country and region of the world, learning more than one language, and having awesome grades would be a lay-up for Ivy League Universities and she just rolled her eyes. Kinda one of those funny marriage situations where you learn so much in 120 seconds and will remember the details for a lifetime. It was classic.

My friends who did not like it over there packed up their stuff on their days off, shipped it back home, and when vacation came around, they headed back home and called to tell the company they weren't going back. Their stories made me laugh.

Another friend comes back every 6 months. I have a standing offer with him earning more than twice I've ever made at my highest-paying job. Government contracts, new equipment, and missions with brand new weapons. I am always thinking about that one. It appears as if the grass is greener but we all know how that goes.

Qatar Facts:

Extremely overcrowded, very expensive to live rent, transportation ect. , food is cheap, alcohol is legal for non-muslims to purchase.
You have to have permission from your sponsor to leave the country so its wise to kiss ass if your there. I dont know to many americans that are working in Qatar anymore besides for the US Government. Most have left but alot of UK citizens in Qatar.

Qatar is a very safe country by the way, if you can get your company to pay for your housing, transportation ect Qatar would be a great place for a family.

[goinglong]

but they are hypnotised by the US media.

That is why we watch Jersey Shore, right? Reality TV is real. Isn't it?

[wmaousley]

I was researching work there and my wife looked over my shoulder and said, "I'm not going to move THERE." That option would be by myself but if my family needed it, I would do it. I would never expect them to join me but would love it if they did. I used the points that our kids growing up in another country and region of the world, learning more than one language, and having awesome grades would be a lay-up for Ivy League Universities and she just rolled her eyes. Kinda one of those funny marriage situations where you learn so much in 120 seconds and will remember the details for a lifetime. It was classic.

My friends who did not like it over there packed up their stuff on their days off, shipped it back home, and when vacation came around, they headed back home and called to tell the company they weren't going back. Their stories made me laugh.

Another friend comes back every 6 months. I have a standing offer with him earning more than twice I've ever made at my highest-paying job. Government contracts, new equipment, and missions with brand new weapons. I am always thinking about that one. It appears as if the grass is greener but we all know how that goes.

Moving your kids to Qatar will be a huge culture shock for them depending on their age. The "American" private schools in the Gulf are great and coincide with US education cirriculum requirements. as far as learning arabic, good luck! I have been in Kuwait for 5 years, married a Kuwaiti, and have a baby that knows arabic and all I know is the basics. Very difficult language to learn for you, but if your kids are young they can probably absorb it much easier you or I.

Giving the stigma of the ME for the past 10 years, its hard to convince people its safe here much less move here. I recommend if you take the job bring your family over on a 2 week vacation and let them learn to like it instead of it being pushed on them and they may just say dad I wanna move here with you. I have seen it happen before.

Hey look if you are offered double your salary, then the grass is greaner even if the place your going to work has to import it lol. 1 year is worth it IMO, mine turned into 5 years.

[wmaousley]

That is why we watch Jersey Shore, right? Reality TV is real. Isn't it?

@Times Roman, do you watch Jersey Shore in Afghanistan lol? I have never seen this show but heard alot of white trash comments about it.

Inside the US Dr. Phil is an ok show, outside the US DR. Phil is an embarrassment to the United States as many shows are. Oprah is a favorite in the ME.

[9za4ck4]

@Times Roman, do you watch Jersey Shore in Afghanistan lol? I have never seen this show but heard alot of white trash comments about it.

Inside the US Dr. Phil is an ok show, outside the US DR. Phil is an embarrassment to the United States as many shows are. Oprah is a favorite in the ME.

hahaha this is funny but without a doubt is probly true

[DSM4Life]

[DSM4Life]

[Times Roman]

@Times Roman, do you watch Jersey Shore in Afghanistan lol? I have never seen this show but heard alot of white trash comments about it.

Inside the US Dr. Phil is an ok show, outside the US DR. Phil is an embarrassment to the United States as many shows are. Oprah is a favorite in the ME.

never watched it... and just got my tv hooked up to cable to ready for the superbowl....

I don't think i'll watch too much tv... right now I'm filling out my enrollment forms for medical, etc......

[Times Roman]

I LOVE this pic... the one above it is funny too! =)

[Times Roman]

I had some blokes come out and professionally hook up my new TV to the satellite on the roof...

here is how they did it...

enjoy! =)


http://s1111.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Jan%202011/

[MACHINE5150]

I had some blokes come out and professionally hook up my new TV to the satellite on the roof...

here is how they did it...

enjoy! =)


http://s1111.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Jan%202011/

Hi tech.. so how many channels you getting now?

[DSM4Life]

I had some blokes come out and professionally hook up my new TV to the satellite on the roof...

here is how they did it...

enjoy! =)


http://s1111.photobucket.com/albums/...%20Jan%202011/

professional,

[Times Roman]

Hi tech.. so how many channels you getting now?

a couple of dozen.... and most are in english and have nothing to do with repeatedly prostating yourself over and over on a mat on the ground.

I'm told we have ESPN, but I haven't seen it yet?

[Times Roman]

I found out what our "quality" internet connection costs us per month from the russians.
Specs:
1mb/sec bandwdth... unblocked

anyone venture a guess how much I (the company) pay?

[SlimmerMe]

hmmmmmm.....have no idea.

just so glad you have it!.....so we can hear your story.....

[Times Roman]

I was absolutely shocked... at home, I get about 10mb/sec for $35/mo
here.... we get (dadadum dadadummmm)

we pay $5k/mo for 1mb/sec

but here's the cool part... we are UPGRADING!!!!

for the low low price of only $3k/mo more, we get...

another 1mb/sec

for a total of $8k/mo for 2mb/sec of bandwidth.......


.................................................. .................................SMOKING!!!!

[Times Roman]

but keep in mind, this is "unblocked" service... which we all know how difficult a service that is ... to not "block something"

but we are all abouut Quality Baby...

your tax dollars at work!!!

[MACHINE5150]

but keep in mind, this is "unblocked" service... which we all know how difficult a service that is ... to not "block something"

but we are all abouut Quality Baby...

your tax dollars at work!!!

I thought you worked for a private company.. is this somehow backed by the U.S. Gov?

[Times Roman]

USAID (tax payer dollars) contracts work to my company - and yes, we are private (publicaly traded corp)

[crg]

TR..where are you? Eggers? NKC? ISAF? I happen to live in this lovely vacation hot spot myself....I'm sure we're right down the street from each other

[crg]

TR..where are you? Eggers? NKC? ISAF? I happen to live in this lovely vacation hot spot myself....I'm sure we're right down the street from each other