800 Posts

Ben had a song stuck in his head early on in the deployment. I offered to get the song out by playing something else. I played Don't Stop Me Now by Queen.

I joked this was my alarm clock every morning and began acting out the lyrics. It became a stupid dance I would do while waiting around everywhere we went. It later became the theme to everything I was doing. Ben started to film these stupid segment everywhere we went. So in an attempt to learn to use iMovie on my iPad and with plenty of stupid footage I present the video of dumb dancing throughout the deployment.

Thanks for reading everyone!

LOU

Deployment Day 108 The End!

I writing this ahead of time as I will be out of here come tomorrow. The journey home will stretch the entire time I've been gone into 110 days. Nearly twice the length of  my previous deployment. It was really only supposed to be 30 days longer but either way happy to go home.

Also this is another cheap blogging trick to get me to my 800th post.

LOU

Downrange Caching

So in an effort to kill the evenings I took Leo and Biccum out Geocaching. (Surprise!)

It took us a while to find the first one. After signing the log both those guys got the geocaching bug.

We went on a hunt all around the base looking for more. Mostly no luck but Bics couldn't stop looking on his phone for more caches.

Leo and I went out the next night. This time with his "DAGR" just a portable gps unit that he entered
co-ordinates in.

We found a few. A lot of the caches over here were missing from construction or just being lost.
Leo and I climbed the rock pile to see how far one was. A little to far and we would look sketchy walking around out there at night.

I did get a picture from the summit.

LOU

Deployment Day 103-107

Tying up loose ends over the last few days.

The big one was the pallet shipment home. Preston set me up with the funding back home. So Bics and I load up all the stuff and head over to get it out of here.

The TMO guys were happy to help but were short pallets. They tried to call them but no answer. Bics and I take it as a cue to pay them a visit. We go around the base to the terminal which was as close as we could get. So they set it up to get a pallet. Bics and I get a coffee to kill the time until it's there.

We finally dump all the stuff and build what should be documented as the best pallet ever.

 Biccum posing for the award.

I just wanted to ride it home.

LOU 

Deployment Day 99-102

The nothing-ness is consuming me.

I did however end up helping a PA guy setup a broadcast satellite for a base exercise. They actually keep it at the band building. Weird!

I didn't think to take a picture until we were breaking it down.

It took a couple hours to get it just right. The power from the building was falling out of the outlet so the ground wasn't making contact. So if you touched the thing anywhere that was metal and you had contact with the concrete you got a nice little shock. Eventually we located the satellite and we ready to broadcast, should the need arise.

This posts brings us to the present. Almost home. Almost 800 posts. Almost done!

LOU

Deployment Day 97-98

Gigs!

This was our pen-ultimate gig. Again at the Kasbah. Here we see the single ladies dance. And a wide shot of the whole event.

For some reason I missed a picture of the final gig at churchill's. I do have show recordings so they did happen. Now we unload the gear and get ready to get out of here.

LOU

Deployment Day 96

The new band arrived today and with it my good friend Leo Smith.

Bics and I went and got their pallet of gear and we are cleaning up the place for their arrival and rehearsals.
We have a couple gigs left to go. Then we are done. I'll still be hanging around but without much to do.

I'll be lumping some days together just so I land on 800 posts for something I've prepared and laziness (surprise!)


LOU

Deployment Day 93-94-95

Been catching up on blogging and getting some out processing things done.

Now we wait to leave. There are still a couple shows to go but for the most part we are done.


LOU

Deployment Day 92

Travel day.
I really messed up today. I can't see the letter Z anymore.

I was sen the flight time but it was zulu which is marked with a little z after the time. I missed it and got everyone up early to go. Turned out we got there four hours earlier than we needed.

We hitched a ride back and crashed in the tents a while longer. Then hopped a plane back to Al Udeid. No more planes until we leave for home.

Ben's head is not amused.

LOU

Deployment Day 91

This was a day off.

Everyone but Biccum and I went into town to see a beach and shop. I wasn't into so we stayed behind.

I got some things done and had a relaxing day watching movies. I managed to watch the entire Matrix trilogy and the Animatrix in one day. I don't recommend this.

LOU

Deployment Day 90

90?!

We've been gone a long time. Tonight is the show and also today is my sister Sarah's birthday.

During the show I talked the band into playing Happy Birthday for her so I could send her a video.

LOU

Deployment Day 89

Strolling day around the base. Which is very tiny.

First stop the pax terminal. No pictures as I was dealing with our power converter up and dying. No bass amp for this show.

Next the fire station. These guys are always fun.

The mariachi Yonders made a second appearance at the chow hall. Going from table to table while everyone ate.

The crew in the kitchen wanted to hear us but had to work so we came to them. Hairnets and all. These guys were fun. Dancing and yelling and having a great time.

Our last stop the thirsty clam. This is the bar hang out area. Its in a big tent that they open at night. Our big show is here tomorrow night.

Job completed. Hopefully a lot of folks will be here tomorrow night. So more ping pong and some sleep.

LOU

Deployment Day 87 - 88

Two travel days packed into one.

We head back to Al Udeid again in full rock star fashion. We get back to the rooms and find out we are leaving again at 4 something in the morning. No time to even do laundry.

I repacked my bag and get some sleep. Next up Oman the trip that was cancelled early on in the deployment.

LOU

Deployment Day 86

Our gigs were canceled today due to lunar anomaly. Actually a Muslim holiday coincides with a certain lunar phase at it happened this day. So we had a day off.

We took this time to get our pallet together.

The whole group had such a good time here. This was due to Ensign Perrien and MC2 Dietrich who were our sponsors. Alex (Ensign) was a great hang and we talked a lot about music and production and various other things.

So we were packed up and took the chance to get some picture of everyone.

Here's Sherry with those guys.

Ben with the Ensign. (BEnsign?)

A group shot of us at the pallet. The terminal guys netting it up in the background.

I would say this was the highlight trip of our deployment.

LOU

Deployment Day 85

We had nothing today until the show.

Tonight was the French Arts Center. This was a nice little theater. We were playing for the embassy. They had a lot of ambassadors and other folks here.

The show sounded great but was a little awkward due to the language barrier. Our interpreter was there to get the message across but French is a much more colorful language and I think he may have added some things that weren't actually said to help get the point across.

No pictures today. Although a story.

We were traveling with a chaplain for some of these gigs. He was a very odd person. Everyone else had lunch with them while I was taking care of something with the Ensign. They told a story of how the chaplain loved black pepper. So much so that he said he liked to just put it right on his tongue. He then made a motion with the pepper shaker and his mouth that would resemble the ending to a very adult movie. He went one to say he like to grind his own at home to which he made another motion that would belong in the previously mentioned movie.

All of us aren't sure if he was oblivious or trying to make some kind of motion toward some of us. He later was feeling Ben's kilt and asking what material it was made of. We assumed he was eyeing up Ben as he was a young man and the chaplain a catholic priest. But that joke is just to easy.

LOU

Actually found a picture.

Deployment Day 84

We are playing for a relief center in downtown. These poor kids have nowhere to go. They come here to wash their clothes and shower. Maybe get something to eat.

No electricity here either so the Mariachi Yonders was the idea. It worked ok.

We had a show that evening as well. The Djiboutian center for the arts. Not the greatest place and the power was sketchy as hell. Our interpreter was a nice but strange guy. He asked me after the show if a local group could perform. I didn't have a way to play their music as I only brought my ipad. They came with a laptop and did a few songs. It was like french hip-hop from Djibouti. No where else would I have seen this.

LOU

Deployment Day 83

Another show at 11 Degrees North. This time as the actual Yonders and not the family Adams.

A little less enthusiastic crowd but fun none the less. I actually brought my Tusker shirt from Kenya. I think it looks good with the kilt. Also Paul is attempting to be the elephant.

LOU

Deployment Day 82

Halloween.

I didn't get any pictures but others did. I'll post them soon.

The whole band dressed as the Adams Family. I was Thing in a full black suit. Again my deployment costume left little to the imagination so I had to wear something over it.

I had a problem connecting to my router because of all the wifi in the area. I ended up sitting on the stage mixing with my one exposed hand. It worked out great as All you could see was Thing mixing the show.

A fun gig. My PA is a little underpowered for this place but it held up just fine.

LOU

Deployment Day 81

A day off. We were anticipating it taking longer to get to where we were going but plans worked out. We went to the bar here, 11 Degrees North. They have Tusker!

Tusker is a Kenyan beer that Nate, Preston, and I enjoyed the last time we were in Africa.

I sent a picture to Nate to show him what he was missing.

Halloween Gig tomorrow.

LOU

Deployment Day 80

Travel Day to Djibouti Africa.

This was actually fun as we had the full rock star treatment. We had an entire plane to ourselves.

I sat up in the cockpit for take off. I was wearing my not feeling it shirt as I was tired and definitely not feeling it.

Ours is the only pallet on the plane. So much space!

Here's the full view from where I sat. Biccum posing inappropriately as usual.

We arrive in Africa to meet our sponsors. These guys were the best we've had. Just cool people trying to do their jobs.

So sleep the day away to make up for all the sleep lost. Gigs soon.

LOU

Deployment Day 78 -79

Since I've been up to my usual laziness, I'm attempting to get caught up.

These two days were spent at Al Udeid hanging around and doing Laundry getting ready for our African Safari. Not much more to say as the days at Al Udeid are slow and repetitive. Please read on for the other deployments adventures/shenanigans.

Almost forgot we played the American School in Doha. This was more familiar territory. School shows in a decent auditorium.

On the way there Paul was driving the equipment truck. The traffic was crazy. Lane markers are more suggestions than rules. Paul ended up cutting off a guy that was riding the median. He pulled out in front and got out of his car. I was thinking "international incident" however even when he argued it was polite. He was just yelling at Paul,"Didn't you see me? Give me a chance to get in." not, are you blind asshole?

We survived and enjoyed a nice indian dinner. We travel again soon.


LOU

Deployment Day 74

Our second night in the hangar.
The crowd was a little dead but we had some cool folks sit in. Joe was there and played a couple more songs. We also had a guy named (No Joke) Beau Bridges. He was a monster spoon player. I'm glad this wasn't my last deployment as he would have schooled me on spoon playing.

Packing it up tonight as we leave for Al Udeid tomorrow.

Deployment Day 77

A day off in the room. I've been looking forward to it. Updating the blog and getting the rest of the stuff done.

LOU

Deployment Day 75-76

Travel day from HELL!

It started out great. We were waiting around the pax area and Brandon invented Pallet Ball. It's pretty much like ping pong but on a pallet. Very challenging.

 We made it to our first stop. We waited on an airfield for a while. Here's Ben enjoying the view.

 Once back on the plane we got a little goofy from the wait. Here's Bics and his travel beard.

 We were held up by a power washer. They put it on the plane then the paperwork was wrong so they took it off. Then the paperwork was fixed and they put it back on. This took about 3 hours. Here is the power washer that fucked us.

 Our next flight was delayed and then later cancelled. We were told there is another flight at 0100. After waiting around for a few more hours we find out we aren't set to leave until 11 am the next day. So we head out for sleeping arrangements. All the guys were in one tent. It was nice to actually sleep in a bed.

I spotted this sign next to the stairs leading to the terminal.

I love the sense of humor of these places.

We got up the next day and got breakfast (Choc Dons baby!)

We wait around for more hours and get on the plane. Finally back at Al Udeid. It took us a couple more hours to get through customs as the forms we left with were the wrong ones. I'm back at my room and going to sleep. A lot!

This is the catch up. I am now current.

LOU

Deployment Day 73

Another day another gig. I've really come to appreciate my plex library as I am watching so many movies to kill time.

There are actually two today. The first for some army guys way out in the sand. They had just built an mwr tent that is empty so we filled it. It was a good time.

Later we played in the MWR hangar on the base where we are staying. This place is ideal for music. It sounded great! I think it was the rounded padded walls. I really liked mixing the show here. We had a bunch of Jordanian military show up for the gig.

We met a maintainer who also played. His name was Joe. He sat in and played Rocky Top and a couple other songs.

This was the van ride out there.

Here's Joe Singing Rocky Top

LOU

Deployment Day 72

We have but one strolling gig today. It was cool. We played for the maintained of the F-16. I got to see one way up close. You don't realize how small the cockpit is until you are standing over it.

It took a while to get those folks into the music but they came around.

LOU

Deployment Day 71

I'm kind of lost on days but that is nothing new.

We fly out to Jordan next. It was a pretty easy travel day. The base here is very small and limited but it is still pretty nice.

Bics and I are rooming together here. At this point I'm happy to have a bed in a room with someone I know. The showers are cold and the food isn't great but thats to be expected.

Some strolling tomorrow.

LOU

Deployment Day 70

I don't like where we are staying very much. We are in a large bay with bunk beds and cubicles. Not a very comfortable place to hang around. Fortunately we leave tomorrow.

The gig tonight was at some monthly command meeting. It was in a very tiny room so we had to do a stripped down setup. It ended up being great. Everyone there actually enjoyed it. I thought we would be more a background music thing like any other AF function but I was wrong.

I took the photo for Brandon's solo album cover.

Here's the tiny gig that could.

LOU

Deployment Day 69

69 Bro!!!

Sorry.


The gig is in the base theater here as well. We didn't have many folks show up but it was still a good show.

The weird thing here is we have a team of security guys escorting us around. Ben and I left for dinner and had one of them tailing us to make sure we made it. They were nice guys but it was a bizarre experience.

LOU

Deployment Day 68

We have the gig tonight but the sponsor wanted us to get a picture in the morning by the Rock in the middle of the base.

We were waiting around and sought refuge under the firemen's shade tent.

They had this weird little pond with a wooden fireman and his Dalmatian fishing there.

 Another with Ben lounging.

So we get the picture taken and kill off the rest of the day.

The evening show was fun with free pizza and near beer. A better time I can think of. We are leaving for another base in Kuwait tomorrow.

LOU

Deployment Day 67

Tonight we play at the Rock Theater. I didn't get a picture of this one. We ended up changing our stage setup to be a straight line which is a lot nicer than the way we had it. Also the theater was great a huge stage and it sounded really good in there. I ended up going back to hang in the theater as it was quiet and had wifi so I could skype with Mel.

The base commander saw us here and really liked the music. We changed the venue for the next day to an outside pavilion. The commander wanted to make a big deal of it.

Until then.

LOU

Deployment Day 66

We've arrived in Kuwait. The base is called the ROCK and so is everything else on this base. We are playing at the Rock Theater.

We had a lot of delays. I ended up falling asleep on this bus while we waited to get off the plane.

After checking into lodging we have the day to get oriented to the base. Ben and I are rooming together. We both just crashed out as we were very tired from the early flight.

LOU

Deployment Day 65

Caught up. Waiting in the Pax terminal to fly out. 

Hopefully today will hold some kind of interest. Right now Im just sleepy. 

LOU

Deployment Day 64

A day off before we leave. Laundry and other errands. 

Lazy blog post. Check!

LOU

Deployment Day 63

Playing for the firemen today. I ran into a guy from Travis that I knew when he was a first sergeant. Now he is the fire chief and got me connected to a couple gigs for these guys. 

It was small but those guys are a lot of fun. 

Panorama-rama. 

LOU

Deployment Day 62

Another gig day. This one is over on the other base. 

We had to check in before we got on the base. I just enjoy the makeshift nature of everything out here. Including this condensation redirection apparatus. 

The place we are playing is called the Top Off. We got there and setup. The folks that arranged it were really into it. 

Although we played at 7 and most people didnt show up until we were almost done. 

It looked good though. Huge stage and sounded great. 

One more to see the back lighting. 

LOU

Deployment Day 61

Combat Mando. 

We ha to get medically cleared to go on some future trips. Ben and I shared a moment while waiting around. 

We have a gig tonight at the Kasbah. We played here a while ago. This one was kind of lame. I think everyone on base has seen us too many times. 

LOU

Deployment Day 59-60

A couple days off. Not much to do other than lump together blog posts. 

LOU

Deployment Day 58

Finally head back to the Deid. We passed over Dubai. You could see the terra forming they are doing from the plane. 

Upon returning you learn all the things you forgot. For example Bics and his black death banana. 

A couple gigs here then out on the road again. 

LOU

Deployment Day 57

So we got out of Kyrgyzstan. Head back to Qatar. We had to make a stop in Kandahar again on the way back. Fortunately its only for one night. I wouldn't want to stay much longer.

Heres Paul after breakfast outside hotel Kandahar. 

We went to the British chow hall. Soon enough we will be on our way out. 

Sherry and Paul watching some old Looney Tunes while waiting for the flight. 

Out of Afghanistan. This time hopefully for good. 

LOU