"AAFES Conspiracy" and "9/11"

5 Sep 11

So, I have a huge conspiracy theory in the works in regards to the Army and Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) Company.  See, everything from the Burger King to the Chaffa DVD store is a cash cow for AAFES.  In Afghanistan, even the Bazaar was an AAFES money maker.  Today, I purchased meat for our BBQ on Saturday.  On the price tag it had the price of the meat, but then on a separate sticker it had a higher price...guess which amount I paid??  

Something as wrong as pirated DVD movies/TV shows in the States is okay here, because AAFES provides the "top cover."  In the PX/BX.(whatever you want to call it).there are magazines that are borderline "pornographic" material, but it's okay because AAFES sells it.  We have a General Order that prohibits that type of material in the AOR, but if AAFES sells it, well then, it's okay.  I think sometimes they don't allow stuff like that in the AOR, because it then forces out-of-touch, "sexually deprived" soldiers, airmen, marines, etc. to purchase the items at the BX/PX, you should see the crowd that congregates around the magazine racks.

It's Football time!!!

It's September and that means Football is right around the corner.  I am getting ready to be a part of two Fantasy Football leagues, which will be a little difficult, because I can't do any live drafts because of the "awesome" internet that I have.  For our league at work, we have to do a manual draft, so I have to create a list of potential players...we will see how it goes.  Gretchen and I will also play in our league from last year.  I haven't seen anything from the Orions though...I thought Eddie Pineda was going to organize something??  Oh well, having the football season (both college and NFL) really help the weeks go by quick. I continue to see news coverage on the hurricanes and now the fires in Texas.  There is some crazy stuff going on in the world right now.  I pray that everyone is okay and that these events will pass without causing too much damage/injury.

 11 Sep

Today was the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, and thankfully it was uneventful here.  Although it was a Sunday, we were still doing the same old, same old...briefing slides, going to meetings, etc.  With it being Sunday, I did only have to work half the day, which that was nice.  10 years ago I was in the jungles of Guatemala residing in a small town called Tiquisate.  It was mail day and I remember the missionaries that were picking up the mail knocking on our door, saying that the Two Towers had fallen.  At first I thought he was talking about the twin water towers 

"Twin Towers" in Tiquisate, Guat

("Las Torres Gemelas") that were close to our neighborhood, and I thought at the time that surely we would have heard that.  Then it dawned on me...he was talking about the towers in the United States.  Granted, I was not afforded the continuous updates and horrific scenes broadcasted over TV, radio, newspaper, etc, and I felt in the dark as far as knowing the status of family, friends, etc.  It was terrifying in the fact that I did not know what was going on in my country, and I knew in that moment that my service to God would quickly transition to service to my country.

Here we are 10 years later and I am at the heart of one of the largest military operations in history.  I am truly grateful for those that sacrificed their lives 10 years ago, but I don't want to forget those that have taken the fight to the enemy and have made the sacrifices that make our country stronger and more resilient to things like 9/11.  

Part of our 9/11 activities was having our weekly "Ghetto Canal Saturday Night Football Meatapalooza," where we grilled some burgers, steaks, brats, and watched some good 'ol college football.  The main game we were watching was Auburn vs. Mississippi State.  When we started this thing, it was Maj Awtrey and me taking the idea from one that we attended at VBC on Sunday nights.  We had a showing of 20+ people, which is really cool, because we have folks from different shops and it allows us to network and get to know people better.  It makes for a nice milestone amongst all of the Groundhog Days.

The "Finer Things" in the Deployment Life