Travel

My first few days here in Qatar have been rather uneventful.  I arrived here Thursday evening (local time), but I haven't been able to start work because I was not able to get a CAC card (basically, a military ID card) while in Tampa last week.  Also, there seems to be a minor issue with my security clearance, and I'm not sure how long until that gets resolved. Read more »

It just ocurred to me that you may not already know this:  I bought a video camera to take with me to Qatar, and I will be uploading my videos to YouTube for you to see.

I've had a YouTube account for a while, actually, but never really got into uploading videos.  But I definately will while I am here, and I've just added a few.  So be sure to check 'em out if you want to follow my trip in Qatar:  http://www.youtube.com/MaffooClock Read more »

Well, it was sure nice to drink some bears with my bro.  He showed up early evening and we promptly went in search of some chow.  After debating a few options, we eneded up at Subway.

After the sammich, we continued our conversation and carried it to the courtyard between the hotel and the Verizon building where we sat a spell.  After awhile, we decided we ought to search for some beer.  We found some Yuengling at a CVS, and promptly retreated to my room to drink it and bullshit some more.  I showed him my video, and he laughed his ass off.  I didn't think it was as funny as his reaction would suggest, but he said he liked it a lot.

Later, we popped into Skype so Jessica could see him, too.  We all had a good time until about midnight when we all decided it was time to turn in, so he headed back to Jacksonville.

Anywho, his visit added a very nice touch to my trip.  I'm glad he was able to make it. Read more »

Today was a rather easy day; not much to speak of.  I had some final paperwork to complete, and then some computer-based training (CBTs) to sit through.

I completed the last little pile of forms early, and then moved straight to the CBTs, but the PC I was sitting at didn't have Flash and could not play the CBTs.  I informed them that I had a laptop in my room that I could go get, but they instead suggested that i go ahead and go to my room.  Relax, take the CBTs, and enjoy my last few days in the states, they said. Read more »

John Denver sang about it.  During the next year, I hope to write at least once per day about my stay in Qatar.  Today, I flew from Lubbock to DFW, and then to Tampa.  Both flights were fine, but I contracted a nasty headache somewhere around the second half of the flight to Tampa and it's just now subsiding.  I had a pretty irritating experience after I left the airport on my way to the hotel, and the headache didn't help. Read more »

Well, folks, I'm going away.  Just for a year, though, to Qatar.  General Dynamics, one of the largest defense contractors in the world, has offered me a Systems Administrator position at the Al Udeid Air Base, and I took it.  If you ask anyone who's in a position to leave home for a year, they'll have their price.  Mine was far exceeded.

This news is a week old.  I was contacted by a guy I worked with while I worked at the Air Intelligence Agency during my enlistment in the Air Force.  His name is Erwin Miranda and I received an e-mail from him via LinkedIn.  I remembered him right away, but I was curious: how did he find me?  It's been about five years since then.