Storming in Kabul

I got woke up at 11pm last night to a big bang in town. At first I thought there was a bomb in Kabul but a few seconds later I saw a flash and another boom....It was a huge thunder storm coming in. We haven't had any rain here for months and we made up for it last night. It poured all night and everything in town is flooded now. The power started acting up at that point too and then went out at 1:15am and is still out in all of Kabul now.

On the election front they are supposed to release the results for about 65% of the votes tonight and it should be a good factor in determining who will win or if there will be a run off. I can tell the local government is getting ready for it as check points have cropped up all over town again.

Ill post more later after I hear some of the results....Later....JB

Elections News...or lack of it

After 2 days of counting votes thy have almost 1 Million votes of the about 6 Million counted and Karzai has about 44% and Abdullah about 35%. This is after just 17% of all the votes that were counted. Everyday they release a few more and I hear it could change a lot....but in who's favor no one knows.

Went to bed early last night and slept great but just had a hard time getting up this morning. Wish I could of slept about another 3 hours, But such is life.

Work is going great but I have been so very busy getting ready for the next round of projects. I hope to have the most of it done in the next few weeks but I'm sure a surprise will come up to keep me even busier. I hired a new Engineer today and am hoping he will be here in the middle of September to take some of this load off me.

That's all for now...Later....JB

Another day in paradise

Well we are back to full swing...well some of us. The locals are working short hours this month so they can go home for Ramadan. So at 2pm they head home and we work on. Its kind of nice that they are gone and not coming in every 5 mins. But such is life.

We are still looking for a new office building and it isn't going to good yet. With all the election stuff still going on there is a lack good buildings on the market. So I think we will have to wait until the elections are over to get a good one.

The Karzi appointed Independent Election Commission is supposed to release the first of the voting results tomorrow and it will be fun to see what we get. There are so many accounts of fraud floating around like one voting district that had 200 people go to vote but they found over 1000 ballets in the box. The UN is saying the elections where a success so I'm sure they will find a way to cover it all up and make it one.

I asked on guy yesterday if he voted and if so for who. He said he did and he voted for Karzi. I asked why he thought Karzi was the best choice for him and he replied that Karzi has already gotten rich off Afghanistan in his first term that he thinks he will do something for the country now. And he went on to say if we elect a new President that he will have to make himself rich first. This way we avoid another 5 years of nothing being done for the country....Good reasoning....NOT

Later....JB

Back to work

Although the lock down was lifted on Friday I decided to stay at the house for a little longer. Just watched movies all day Friday and Saturday. Today I came to work at get all my computer equipment from the house back in my office.

Traffic was horrible today and it took me the better part of an hour to get to the office. Yesterday also marked the start of Ramadan. Here is a link for more info on this time here RAMADAN.

So work hours will be reduced so all the local staff can be at there homes before it is time to pray.

I'm so glad to be back to the office and get out of the house. I think we will have a second round of elections coming up in a few weeks so the fun could start all over then.

Anyways since I'm at work I guess I better get some done...Later...JB

No more lock down

The lock down was lifted this morning so we are free to move around town. But after being locked down for 3 days what do I do?

I haven't heard of any early election results yet but not sure it will mater anyway. Just like in the US we never get a choice better the chose the worst evil. Every new leader is as bad as the last one. I hope it will change under Pres. Obama. Anyone is better then Bush.

Well enough of my bitching....But i reserve the right to as some election results come in....lol....Later....JB

More of the same....

Went outside after watching BBC and CNN all morning and the city is still quiet. You can see a car going down the road from time to time, Kids are flying a few kites and that's about it. There is reported cases of violence against reporters and others around the country. Also lots or reports of corruption in the elections from all corners of the country. I hope it all works out but everyone knows it will not be a fare election.

Been working all day on some stuff for the next years projects and keeping an eye on all the sources I can to be informed of what is going on. Went up and played with Rosie for a short while and she is doing good.

Here is a short log of what happened this morning in Kabul. All not near where I live.

0645hrs, PD8, Three IEDs detonated in the Etifaq Mosque/Qalacha area. Two IEDs are believed to have struck the Abdul Habibi High School and the third, the Naswani Fadaye High School. Both schools are used as polling centres. No casualty reports.
0735hrs, PD5, Abrasani Area, two IEDs were reported. The second device was designed to target ANSF. No casualties reported
0800hrs, PD7, Saraki Wasalabad Area, IED against polling centre.
0820hrs, PD10, Sherpur Area, SAF exchange between political factions.
0855hrs, PD10, Qala Fatullah, Zarghoona Girls High School, Three individuals arrested by ANP following a SAF exchange.
0905hrs, PD8, Abdul Qadir Jialani Mosque, IED against polling centre.
1000hrs, PD8, Sayeed Noor Mohammed Shah High School, near ANP station, SAF clash between ANP and unconfirmed AOG.

Here is a good site BBC set up to monitor and get feedback about what is going on today during the elections. Afghans Go To Vote

Ill report more later...JB

Strang night

I went to the roof deck to have a cigar and in a city of over 3 million people that is always full of noise it was dead quiet. the only noise heard was Rosie barking and her echo off the mountains. You would hear and see the lights of a police truck going down a road once in a while. They closed the city down for all traffic at about 8pm and instituted a curfew for all people until the morning. The voting stations open at 7am and I'm sure the city will come back to life then. Lets just prey that it is only the sound of votes we hear in the morning.

Later....JB

Day 1 of the lock down

Today is the first of at least 3 days we are locked down in our houses. Woke up to hearing of rockets hitting the presidential palace and a police building. Later in the afternoon there was a car bomb that went off out on J-bad road out by a lot of the military compounds. Been here working from the house today and trying to keep a ear to what is going in in town

All the campaigning is over for the elections just have to wait and see who wins now. I keep seeing reports of how corrupt the elections will be. BBC says they sent an undercover local national to but voting cards and found it easy to do. If they ca find then you know the guys running for office have got plenty.

I hope everyone understands why I do this but also know every safety precaution available is available to keep me safe. And if all hell was to break out Id be out of here in a flash.

One of my housemates just got home and he said the roads are getting bad so the UN send all non-critical workers home.

Besides that is has been just a lazy day here in Paradise...Ill be safe...Later JB

New law in Afghanistan

This is amazing....Just shows how suppressed the people here are.

Afghanistan has quietly passed a law permitting Shia men to deny their wives food and sustenance if they refuse to obey their husbands' sexual demands.

Read the whole story HERE

Looks like we will be locked down for at least the next 3 days up to the elections and elections day. We are being told that Friday after the elections they will assess the area and determine what to do at that time.

There are 3 major players in the election and most people think there will be a run off between the top 2. You don't win unless you get 50% or more of the vote in the first round. So 2 weeks after the 1ST round of votes are counted it all starts over with the 2 top guys.

I'm thinking that no one will get 50plus% in the first round, and if they do someone will have to make big gains to do so. But what do I know...I'm just and Engineer...Later...JB

Boom and out go the lights

Yesterday was another sad day for Afghanistan. At about 9am a large bomb went off outside the gates to the ISAF and US Embassy gates. All the terrorist say is they are not targeting locals but all they kill is locals. I was in my room at the time and heard this load explosion from about 3-4 miles away. It sounded like someone slammed my door. I got up to see what was going on and open the drapes and say people in the streets pointing all over the place. I asked my chokedor what was the deal and he said there was an explosion. I asked where and he said he couldn't tell where it came from.

After about 5 mins I walked up to the roof and say the plume of smoke and turned on CNN and say where it was. I say the pictures on TV and realized Keith and I were there the day before buying some movies. All I can think about is all the little kids that are always outside of the gates selling jewelry to all the people walking in and out of the compounds. I bought a bracelet from one of them on Friday. I hope he isn't one of the kids killed in this senseless attack.

I sometimes wonder why I do this but also know what I do here is vital to freeing this country.

I hope Ill be more up beat reports tomorrow but just feeling a little down now.

Keep safe and talk to you later...JB

And out go the lights

Today started with a bang....not that kind but the transfer switch at the office went out. So we found some copper buss bar and fixed it all up. It took a while to do so everyone was standing around waiting for the power to go to work. I'm sure they weren't complaining to much. Had the rest of the left over BBQ for lunch. I wasn't able to figure out what the cook made for lunch today and I noticed not even the locals ate it. I wish we had a cook at the office that had a clue how to cook. If we did I think Id eat the office lunch.

I think Ill have to cook when I get home tonight. Only left overs are from when I went out last night and I might want to save them for lunch with the way this joker cooks.

Internationals here have to pay for there meals at the office but the locals get it for free. I refuse to pay for crap so I don't eat here. I think the system we have here is stupid but not mine to change. I would think if we charged the locals they would get on the cooks ass and make him cook good food.

Only got to 100 degrees today so it wasn't to bad. I think I might just go down the street tonight from the house and get a couple buns and make me a few hot dogs for dinner.

Looks like Ill be going to France in either late October or early November. Hoping Kim will come and enjoy it with me.

Ill talk to you later....JB

Just Another Day in Kabul

Its lunch time here I I'm warming up the left over BBQ. Didn't sleep very good last night because I think I was afraid the alarm wouldn't go off again. But at 5:30am it went off and I was already up and running.

Might be going to a going away dinner tonight but not sure as if Ill see if I'm up to it tonight.

Might add more after I eat....The microwave just went DING...and I'm hungry.

Later...JB

Opps....

I over slept this morning and woke up at 6:57am for my 7am ride to work. So I called transportation and said for them to send me a car at 8am. So I chatted with Kim for a few mins to wake up then off to the show and work.

Last night I made BBQ pulled port sandwiches. They came out pretty good considering pork isn't allowed here.

The fun part was finding buns to put them on. Irfan and I went to 5 stores to find them.

I better get back to work...Later...JB

Another Day in.....

Last night I made Red Beans and Rice and Brats. The beans ended up being a little spicy but that's a good thing. I had a little left over so it will be lunch today. I I'm feeling a Little hungry so I sent one of my techs off to go get some water melon for everyone.

I didn't know what they were called in local language so I had to get Irfan to translate for me. I have this one tech who is always eating so we call him the director of snacks so he will be getting the morning snacks for us.

The house is full now with all the house mates back in town. Elections are a few weeks away so we are going to be stocking up on food and water over the next few weeks just in case we get locked down. Heard UN people will be locked down from the 17th until the 24th.

So as you see I again don't have anything exciting to report but stay tuned....Later...JB

BLAH BLAH BLAH.....

I know its been a few days since I shared my oh so exciting times here with you. But haven't really done anything but work for the last week. Finished the maps as far I I'm going to take them until I get my new software in the next few weeks. Working on getting quotes for all the equipment Ill need over the next 14 months. I love spending other peoples money.

I got a new DVD player for my room but don't have any new DVD's. My boots have a hole in them I discovered so Kim is working on getting me a new pair. She is also send me some sweets to snack on and more importantly some more deodorant.

The talk around Kabul now is all about the elections and hoping they go smooth. So far Kabul has been spared from the drama some of the extreme parts of Afghanistan have seen.

Been thinking about where to vacation next. I think Kim and I have some more talking to do but I think the coast of Thailand would rock in late Oct. Weather would be great and its pretty cheap to stay like a king there. Anyway just one pick...Ill see what she says. Getting her on the plane will be the hard part I think.

Like I said nothing going on here but work.....Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight...Later JB