Country Music in Iraq

Well not much has really gone one here, we got some guys back from a job yesterday and not soon after one was told to go home. We will just call him the Rebel for now. He has been here from the beginning and has been very instrumental in the installation of most of the equipment here. Funny thing is we actually know some of the same people. He too use to work for Ericsson back before the demise of the telecomm world. My old manager, back when I use to work in Cali, use to live in the next town over from where the Rebel lives. They know each other from work as well and Reb knows a few others we both use to work with back in the States. Personally I think it is good to have a common interest with people especially in this work environment. It makes things a lot less tense when you can relate with the people in some way or another. None the less our numbers have gone down yet again and its possible that we will lose another, but only time will tell.

Well while Reb, Paw Paw and myself went to the PX yesterday which is roughly the size of a very small Walmart. While we were there we decided to go to the Haji-mart (small Walmart, but by local design). When we were in the common area, a open area with benches and tables, I saw a tall gentleman that was obviously someone of importance due to the fact he had what appeared to be 6 armed military escorts. They walked in a similar pattern when we had a 2 star general visited a while back. Well I asked Paw Paw and Reb if they knew who that was, because obviously he was important, and Reb answered he didn't know. Well a few seconds after that Paw Paw "said you know who that is right?" Reb said "I don't know who?" and Paw Paw answered "that's Toby Keith." Then it all came together, Toby Keith was here for a concert that he was to perform later that evening. As I walked by him he said hi and seemed to be an ok kinda guy. Definitely down to earth from what I could tell, but my observation of him was brief. Thus bringing to a close this post and the explanation of Country Music in Iraq.

"Love Ya"

K3