The World According To Chris Brewer

Alright, now this is cool. I actually have some time to post, so I will try to throw down some interesting stuff here.

We are especially busy for the first time since I’ve been here. All day I’ve been editing a video to show some Iraqi police chiefs or something like that. I don’t know what it’s really for but I’ve been tasked to do the job so I obey and get it done, right? Right. Also I went to the palace pool (yeah, the palace has this nice pool right out in front of it) to shoot video of people reading their children bedtime stories. It’s a nifty idea…you shoot the video of them reading out of a book, showing the pictures, etc. and then you make it into a DVD they can send home and their kids can see them on a TV whenever they want to. It beats Barney any day.

I got to talk to Aftan for a bit on the phone earlier. Aftan, if you read this, continue to rest assured that the number you called is a Northern Virginia phone number. About all you did was eat into your daytime minutes, and as you said earlier today, yes it was well worth it.

We have been a bit safer over the past couple days. Although today when I went to go film the folks at the palace pool we couldn’t get in the main gate because the guards thought there was a bomb on a vehicle or something like that. So we had to stand outside and wait for awhile. It was a hoax, but it very well could have been something, actually, considering this is Baghdad and they like to blow up cars here more than drive them, it seems. I guess it’s better to err on the side of caution and have us wait forever than to have us pass a dangerous sitch. Thumbs up to the Peruvian gate guards.

Listen to some Axwell tunes…they’re awesome.

I also plan on taking some photos of the place I’m at really soon…the places I can take pictures of, that is. If you want pictures of security gates or other high security areas like the hospital, it’s not gonna happen because we can’t take pictures of that stuff. Besides after about 30 pictures of this place you’d probably be tired of seeing so much concrete. T-walls adorn the International Zone like lights on Christmas trees.

Speaking of Christmas trees, it’s the holiday season. Thanksgiving is coming up here in a couple of days. I have signed up to run a 5K at 6:00 in the morning. I’m crazy, but I need it to help me get in shape and stay thatway. Besides I haven’t run anything similar to a cross country race since I strolled the halls of Rainier High School in my hometown of Rainier, Oregon. Population 1,750. Right between Astoria and Portland on US Highway 30. Beautiful place, but sleepy little town that would die if it didn’t have the bride right there. Sorry. I’m rambling.

A lot of folks don’t know that I am a huge jazz fan. Smooth jazz is my favorite, followed by big band. When names like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Rick Braun, David Sanborn, etc. are mentioned I get very warm on a cold day. Or very cool on a hot day. That being said, I found this site called Portland Jazz Jams and it absolutely…well, jams. Check it out, it’s good stuff. I’ve subscribed to their podcast and they have some pretty cool live shows that I listen to late at night before I sleep.

Anyway, that’s it for me. Love you guys, take care out there. Coming up soon, I will provide my list of things needed for my care package from the Crimson House folks. Because I actually found stuff I need, hahahahaha. Thanks, y’all.

Peace.