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November 24, 2005
From 39,000 feet
Im on my way back to Kuwait right now. Lufthansa offers Internet WIFI on some of their jets and I am able to be online. Now they just need to add outlets so fast-draining batteries will not cause the price to be too high.
From the slow trains to 225 kph (135 mph) on the Autobahn, Germany was fun. And no, it wasn't me driving.
Photos comming when Im back in Baghdad and can download them from the camera.
Posted by TJ at 04:54 PM | Comments (1)
November 17, 2005
The trains do not run on time...
in Germany. Id like to thank the German train system for giving me the 2nd worst travelling experience Ive had - and that was only due to a massive Christas Eve snowstorm - an act of God rather than an act of incompetence.
First my flight from Nantes to Paris was cancelled, so I had to reroute through Lyons. I only had about 20 minutes there so I figured my bag would be late again but it was there in Frankfurt. Spent the night there and hung out downtown Wednesday. Then the fun began!
The train from Frankfurt to Stuttgart was late and as a result, I missed my train out of Stuttgart. I went to the ticket counter to get another train and there was one - leaving in 4 minutes. I make it and discover that this one will get me to my destination only 6 minutes later than the other, so Lucy would not be waiting for me too long in the cold. I have one more change in a town called Plochingen. Apparently, they changed the platform of my train out of there and only made the announcement in German. I wasnt the only one standing there waiting an extra 20 minutes either - they never changed the sign above my platform which said that that was the platform from which the train I wanted would be leaving. This station is so small that there was noone working any more at the booth so I had to try and figure things out myself. When I finally managed to, I found another train that would get me in about 50 min late, and at the wrong station, about a few miles from where I wanted to be. I took it and managed to find the only person in Germany who actually does not speak a word of German more than "one" and "yes" when I tried to confirm the train went where I was going.
Oh, did I mention it was cold? And I was wearing a fleece over a t-shirt. And I had a bit of an upset stomache because of travelling so frequent trips to the WC were necessary.
Anzwaz - oh yeah, on the keyboards in Germany, the z and y keys are switched, so once again, typing is driving me crazy - I get the bus info I need from Lu and get to the busstop. 4 busses stop there and in Germany, they have electronic signs above every stop that say when the next bus will arrive. There are 3 busses listed, and you guessed it, the one missing is the one I want. A few minutes later it comes up arriving at 2147. I look at my watch: 2122. But Im going to the last stop and I get there... finally.
The trip really was not that long - about 4 hours, but it should have only taken a little under 2. The cold and repeated asininity of the situation made it worse. Even telling myself that "at least Im not in Baghdad" didnt help much.
Oh and if "asininity" isnt a word, my sister the English teacher will let me know below :)
Posted by TJ at 10:11 PM | Comments (2)
November 14, 2005
Spam alert
Looks like I got some spam through the trackback option. Im working on fixing it so take no offense to these losers. Hopefully I will have it under control soon, once Ive had some time to read some documentation.
In other news, Im off to Germany tomorrow.
Posted by TJ at 05:26 PM | Comments (1)
November 09, 2005
France
I arrived yesterday in France... and my bag today! I think it was most likely held up in Frankfurt where I only had a 2 hour layover.
That's it for now - this AZERTY keyboard is driving me nuts.
Posted by TJ at 11:31 AM | Comments (4)
November 07, 2005
PT Test
Forgot to mention Saturday I had to take a diagnostic PT test with about 2 days notice. We are supposed to be able to pass one at any time with no notice, but it always helps to prepare a bit. Anyway, I maxed the pushups for the first time ever (75). Situps dropped alot, but they are always the fastest to improve and the fastest to drop. My 2-mile run dropped about 25 seconds, but considering the air quality and wind, it was pretty good.
So right now im at Starbucks in the mall at Kuwait City International Airport on their WIFI waiting for my flight to Frankfurt. Only 5 more hours to kill...
Posted by TJ at 09:36 PM | Comments (1)
Started Leave
I arrived in Kuwait last night and tonight, I fly out of here to Germany, and then on to France. I stay there a week and then head back to Germany for a week before returning to Iraq just before Thanksgiving.
Just a quick note to let you know where I am. Ill post again when I reach my final destination.
Posted by TJ at 08:49 AM | Comments (1)
November 03, 2005
Hee Hee
Pennsylvania company recalls 94,400 lbs of beef
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Quaker Maid Meats Inc. on Tuesday said it would voluntarily recall 94,400 pounds of frozen ground beef panties that may be contaminated with E.coli
Thanks to Best of the Web
Posted by TJ at 06:18 PM | Comments (0)
November 01, 2005
Wow
The past few months, this site has really taken off. I don't know if its more just people I know checking up on me or what, but here are the number of monthly visitors since early Summer:
| June | 1470 |
| July | 1582 |
| August | 1918 |
| September | 3031 |
| October | 5036 |
So keep comming back!
Posted by TJ at 06:28 PM | Comments (0)