To keep the readers happy....some older news.

Here are a couple photos from the Canada Day Run for Fun we had....yes it was hot as hell and no I didnt win. I finished second in the 10km with a time of 49m43sec. For those of you you think that is weak, might I remind you that we are about 1100m above sea level and it is crazy hot...

Enjoy...

Running is a breeze when you are not carrying 80lbs of metal.... After the 10km run we ate and then headed out on patrol only to get back 12 hours later. It was a long day mostly comprised of doing...well...nothing.

No news is good news....

Every once in a while I get to see a good friend (left). It always good to be able and stop and shoot the shit about whats going on in our different neck of the woods. Here my friend was given a nice new headdress to wear as gift from a district leader. Being the opportunistic bastard that I am, I snapped a photo and will be mailing this one home to be framed and hung up in our favourite PUB for future mockery.
Sitting is the new lying down, when in doubt sit your ass down. With temperatures in the 60s some days now whenever we can its best to not move a muscle.

This gorgeous dog is named Sandy. Sandy was adopted by a Warrant Officer from the R22R on Roto 6. The WO later was killed in Afghanistan, Sandy has stayed put and every new rotation takes care of her. She is compltely Canadian, she is friendly and now apparently pregnant. Sandy even goes on patrol with guys day or night she will always be walking infront of the guys to warn them of any danger.

Last but not least, this is the face of not a happy camper. Just knowing that I have t get into a stupidly hot vehicle for a couple of hours is enough to piss anybody off. FML

Dog days of summer..

So, now that summer is in full swing, there seems to be no hidding from the heat, we have just accepted the fact that our lives suck and we should probably drink more water.....photographic evidence below. I think I drank 5 liters of water during this 3 hour patrol...maybe I should drink more. Those familiar with Kandahar City will recognize this landmark. However the top was recently somewhat destroyed by insurgent RPGs......Two polar opposites chill in the shade. I think they are brothers.

Me and "Killer" chilling in the Dan District

Another Sad Day.

Today was another sad day in Kandahar, we proudly attended the ramp ceremony for Cpl Bulger of the P.P.C.L.I. Normally seeing we are not based at the Kandahar Air Field we don't get to go to the ramp ceremonies. Today we happened to be there on other bussiness and we felt it was imperative to attend. The ceremony was short, but perfectly fitting. This young man will never be forgotten and I am glad I got to pay my respects as he made his final journey home.

We will remember..

Here is a small photo exhibit of army grafitti.....some of it is pretty funny stuff. Everyone feels the need to leave their mark in one shape or form.

Sometimes common sense eludes even the brightest infanteer. Somethings need to be explained in laymans terms.

I don't know if your gym membership includes perks like this one, but here you have a greater chance of getting tetanus then getting in shape.

This one I still can't figure out but I think he's on to something.....maybe he's missing a variable.

The 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22 Regiment makes an improvised pool and lounge area....as you can see Chuck Norris is the official mascot of Platoon 33.

Happy Canada Day!

Happy belated Canada Day everyone, this post was supposed to be posted yesterday but like all things in the army, change happens often and unexpectedly. Yesterday we were supposed to have Canada Day Celebrations at the KPRT, its a day to have fun, have a big BBQ and even get 2 more beers. This was supposed to be a welcome vacation for us seeing we have been going at it quite hard of late. But as we expected we did not get our day off, our BBQ or our Beer. Apparently there is a war going on and some of us have to keep doing our thing. Day break just before stepping off.This photo was taken off the screen from the remote weapon system. While scanning his arcs my buddy spotted me and snapped a pic of the screen. I like this photo because it has kinda a western era feel to it.

Has anybody seen an Improvised Explosive Device? I'm sure it's here somewhere!

The view from a tower looking out into barren land. The harsh realites of driving in some parts of this country. The sand and dust can be seriously intense.

Photos

This photo is definetly going to my agent, going to need to beef up my portfolio if I want to land that Fall Catalogue Gig with Canadian Tire!

Sometimes there can be a 10 - 15 degree difference between the shade and the sun. We come prepared. I personally like UNHCR tarps better but apparently they only give those to refugees....Damn.

Past-time while waiting...reading MAXIM Mags that range from early 2001 until present day.
**Notice the copy of SERVIR being intently read by someone in the back.....this person in no way shape or form hidding from this photo.


A beautiful sight, Canadian Birds in the skies above Kandahar Province

Joyeux Saint Jean Baptist de Kandahar

Almost feels like home.....if only they would stop trying to kill us!

Today we had the privilage of a "beer call". This normally means we fire up the BBQs grill some steaks and choke back 2 luke warm beers. Today it was to celebrate Saint Jean Baptist. Why is this a national celebration in Quebec? Is Saint Jean Baptist more then just a 4 day work week (for all of you i'm not so lucky)? Being a adopted Quebec'er I decided to find out. I asked 4 of my good Quebecois freinds why we celebrated Saint Jean Baptist Day and what Saint Jean Baptist did to get such recognition from us once a year.....well none of them could give me an answer so I decided to find one myself.

"Once made a statutory holiday, June 24 officially became a holiday for all Québécois rather than only those of French-Canadian or Catholic origins. Celebrations of the day were gradually secularized, primarily due to actions taken by the MNQ, and June 23 and 24 became as we now know them. While the religious significance of the celebration is gone, the day remains popularly called la St-Jean-Baptiste or simply la St-Jean."


Answer: The English Catholics had St Patricks day (excellent excuse to ruin your liver in the middle of March) so the French Catholics felt that "tabarnak, we need a day to get gased too!" Thus St. Jean Baptist Day was been chosen as the National Holiday of Quebec....why Jean the Baptist was chosen? Who knows but its another hell of a good excuse to ruin a liver!

Here's to John the Baptist!

When in doubt....

Notice the hair, this is only the beginning of what I like to call the "6 Inch Challenge". Oddly I am the only one I know taking this challenge.

Thank You British Royal Navy, we don't mind all that extra sand flying around.

An Afghan Uniform Police & a stray dog seem oblivious to the amount of crap this Sea King has decided to send our way....

Herman the German's Ironic Death...

Today I had the luxsury of shooting a German Luger. Interesting fact; the pistol was fabricated in 1942, approximately the same time as our Browning HP 9mm. We "tested" the Luger against our Brownings and found out that the Luger was actually more acurate. But let's not kid ourselves why would I want this German piece of engineering? I guess I would like to have it just to up my street cred. Wouldn't you?

German Luger VS. Browning HP

Herman fixes bayonette and charges...

Herman is now swish cheese.

Groundhog Day...

Today was another day. A day like every other, the sun rose at just after 04h40 and it was ridiculously hot by 07h00. Would it hurt Mother Nature to cut us a little slack? The temperature over the past couple of days has been hovering around 57 degrees celsius. Yes for those keeping track, that's only 43 degrees away from the temperature at which water boils. Yah I know the Human body is 65% water and that's what's got me worried! . I'm sure this weather would be pleasant if we were all in swim trunks and flip flops with an endless supply of Cold Beer. This however is not the case. ....

Sometimes I might as well be Bill Murray from Groundhog day. Its sometimes frightening to see how easy it is to fall into a routine and get slack. I mean, its always terribly hot, the sun is always scorching and 5 times a day the adhan (call to prayer) is played from Mosques across the country. The only differences lie in where we go and what we do. This is what keeps us fresh and keeps us sharp.
For those of you who wish to send some care package items I have made a list of some of the stuff we could use (some of it may sound stupid):

- A thermometor (ours is broken, we think it got too hot.)

- A medium collapsible cooler ( about the size of a 12 pack of beer, no not for beer but for bottles of frozen water) [This only applies to people with fulltime jobs and can afford it, I will pay you back in scotch on my return]

- Noodles, like the cup a soup stuff but noodles.

- Books ( These for me personally, send your history / current events / non fiction )

- Hot Sauce

And anything else I guess....

Some more...

My agent is going to be pissed when he finds out I did this gig pro bono..

90% of the Army involves this.........waiting, and then waiting some more.

This Day in Canadian Military History News Feed

I have decided that I will officially become your "This Day in Canadian Military History News Feed". With only 1 Veteran of the Great War still living today, I think its paramount that we are reminded of the ultimate sacrifice that Canadians gave in the "War to End All Wars".

Tomorrow ( 13 June) marks the end of the battle of Mount Sorrel. The Battle of Mont Sorrel (Battle of Mount Sorrel, Battle of Hill 62) was a localized conflict of World War I between three divisions of the British Second Army and three divisions of the German Fourth Army in the Ypres Salient, near Ypres, Belgium, from 2 June 1916 to 13 June 1916.In an effort to pull British resources from the observed build-up in the Somme, the XIII (Royal Württemberg) Corps and the 117th Infantry Division attacked an arc of high ground positions defended by the Canadian Corps. The German forces initially captured the heights at Mount Sorrel and Tor Top before entrenching on the far slope of the ridge. Following a number attacks and counterattacks, two divisions of the Canadian Corps, supported by the 20th Light Division and Second Army siege and howitzer battery groups, recaptured the majority of their former positions.

For more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mount_Sorrel

Things have been quiet here on our front. We have been enjoying the downtime we've been given before things start to roll again. Which should be soon....Hopefully tomorrow I can post some more photos...

Broken From Baseball?

Is it possible to develop a case of tendinitis from one game of recreational beer league baseball?? The answer is yes. For those of you who do not believe me, you try playing 4 different positions in the outfield at once. Yes you may be questioning the validity of my self diagnosis, however I talked to several people in the medical field and after their initial reactions (often laughter, disbelief etc) they said it could very well be the case. So why write a post about this now? Your guess is as good as mine. I guess I am just warning all those recreational baseball players out there........watch yourself.

When things around here get busy (AKA CRAZY), we look forward to some downtime. A chance to write emails, make some phone calls and even annoy friends and family with posting useless information on blogs (the latter I am never guilty of). Time off is often like an oasis, you see it just up ahead but you never ever get to it. Well sometimes fortunes change and you do get that down time, what do you do when there's nothing to do. You can only watch the same movies and read so much. I often find myself dare I say it.....bored.

Je me souviens...

For those who are not regular followers of current events ( Erica Booth for one), this week another Canadian Soldier was killed. Pte. Alexandre Péloquin member for the 3rd Battalion of the R22eR was killed while on operation.

We will remember...

People often ask if its scary out here or do I worry. I can honestly say that I am not scared when we are out and about and have zeros worries. Our build up training was progressive, current and second to none, I have full confidence in those I work with on a daily basis. What is probably the scariest thing is when we know there has been a Canadian Soldier killed and we have to wait until the name is released. That time is probably the most stressful simply because (I speak for myself) my greatest fear is that it could very well be one of my friends. Some friends I haven't seen since I left Canada.
Things have begun to get interesting as its been about a week since I have been back in K.C. The weather is still getting hotter and the dust doesn't seem to be going away (see attached photos for examples). When air conditioners are fully functional yet not in the slightest lowering the temperature of a vehicle you know its hot.
As far as other news goes: I have almost finished the book Buying On Time by Antanas Sileika, rarely do I read fiction but I ordered this book from Amazon.ca on the recommendation of my friend Danny (who is currently in Afghanistan with me and it just so happens his father is the Author). So far the book has been great. For those of you who are dying to send me packages and letters.....here is my address:

N29 829 168 / McNair / BA / Cpl
9er Tac
Camp Nathan Smith
PO BOX 5005
Belleville, On
K8N5W6

Feel free to send whatever you wish.

I will sign off for now. Feel free to comment on any of my posts, if you want you can even post questions that I can answer assuming they are within the limitations of what I can say!

This is not snow. Its is the flash reflecting off all the dust in the air........paradise.

Its much cooler at night...actually its a nice temperature!

Least we forget....

Today is a very special day for all Canadians, 65 years ago on the 6th of June at 07h45 the 3rd Canadian Division landed on Juno Beach in Normandy. Juno was the most heavily defended beach of the 5 Allie landing sites. By the end of D-Day the 3rd Canadian Division had penetrated farther into France than any other Allied force, advancing roughly 10 km at the cost of almost 1,000 casualties, including 335 killed.I feel immense pride in knowing what Canadians soldiers accomplished on the more heavily defended beaches. As was with Vimy Ridge just decades earlier the Canadians were called upon for the hardest task. I am very proud to be a Canadian Soldier and on hard days like today it is an honour to wear the same uniform and represent Canada at war as others have before me.

Canada's assault on Juno

When the going gets tough, the tough get going!!

We will remember..