I have moved my blog to contract-tak.tumblr.com

Fohawk Time

13JUL11 0854 hours

Off work and I’m off tonight WOO! 3 and 1’s make it pretty easy over here. You just have to survive three days and then your free!

Uncle Joe just google fohawks and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I’ll be rocking that haircut like a man though it’s going to make you say, “wow, that’s a nice haircut!” And then consider getting one yourself!

I was checking out rice cookers online while I was at work today and it started a nice little stir in the office. A lot of these guys have worked in Japan and quite a few are even married to Japanese women. A lot of them are black and these black dudes know way more Japanese than I ever will let alone what I know right now. The company that we work for is somehow affiliated with some companies in Japan I guess, so that explains that!

Learning a lot more about my job out here so things are starting to get more comfortable. One of my coworkers is Puerto Rican and he’s just like every other Puerto Rican I’ve ever known. He talks non-stop and thinks he’s a G. He’s cool people though. Two of my other buddies that I’m pretty cool with out here are from San Diego. One of them lives right next to AP. We do the socal slap pound n all that good stuff so it’s nice to be on some common ground with some of these kids.

The one thing that’s wack about being a civilian contractor is that we don’t have television and other things like that at work like the military does. So basically I don’t get to watch ESPN or any other sporting events. It was nice to read about the women’s soccer team beating Brazil but would’ve been nicer to watch it!

I’m getting used to having sweat drip down my face and body constantly I just have to remember to wipe off the salt that’s on there when it dries up. I forget and then people ask, “What’s that white stuff on your face?” I tell them, “I donno taste it.”

My friend gives me a ride to and from work everyday. We stop by this grocery store on the way. I always grab a red bull and a mars candy bar, and make sure to eat the candy bar because it will turn to mush once you get outside.

Yo D, please publish these posts in a timely manner. Thanks for being a good friend.

Tik Tak (what everyone’s trying to call me out here)

Wam Bam Thank You Ma’am

12JUL11 0909 hours

I should be asleep already but I spent some time after work skypin it up with Deems n Mari. They should be grateful that I take the time to speak with them while so many other females are competing for my time.

I’m clicking with some of these folks out here but there’s definitely still some loneliness out here. I think its mostly because of work. The cats are cool but a lot of them are a lot older, and others are just bitter after working out here for so long. I’m sure it’ll pass they’re just a tough crowd. It’ll take a bit more time.

I sweat off another ten lbs while working last night. The main guy I work with is getting tired of all my questions. He takes “walks” just to get away from all my questions every once in awhile. It’s messed up because he’s just passing the burden off to our other co-worker, because I keep asking her where he is. Hahaha he looks so drained after training me for the first four hours, and we have eight hours to go after that. He says he doesn’t get paid to train me, but I told him that the sooner and better he trains me, the easier his job is going to be when I’m able to contribute.

I said “wam bam thank u ma’am” to him earlier and he said he never wanted to hear that again. He explained that when he was in high school one of his friends said, “wam bam thank you ma’am.”

He went home to his mom that day and said, “wam bam thank you ma’am”.

His mom gave him a funny look and asked, “Where did you hear that?”

“A friend at school, it was Nakita.”

“hm”

Next day at school… “Hey, what does that mean? Wam bam thank you ma’am?”

“You know…sex!”

“What?! I said that to my mom yesterday!”

Whenever he hears that now, he thinks of his mother.

Gave me a chuckle.

BTW (by the way) feel free to share this blog with whomever it doesn’t matter to me. Mari was asking me earlier if it was all right to forward the link to anyone. So if you wondering the same, GO AHEAD!

Well its 0923, way past my bed time. I should’ve showered after sweating all night, but I checked my pits and they still taste delicious and I’m at that too tired to care point. DON’T HATE

Daddy Tak

leakin

11JUL11 1615 hours

One of my coworkers was just saying last night how happy he was that it wasn’t humid like it was around this time last year. We walked outside at 0530 when our shift ended and it was literally like a sauna outside. It even smelled like a sauna. I had to take care of some quick stuff outside and I was drenched within five minutes. All I was doing was checking things off on a clipboard, but it looked like I had just eaten Korean bbq, boiling crab, and atomic hot wingstop wings.

Some of the guys went to one of these all you can eat breakfasts at one of the hotels. I heard it was pretty good, but I didn’t have tonight off like them, and I’m not trying to spend all that bread either.

We had to help out another work section last night and some of these guys were trying to boss me around and what not while they were being lazy. I said TUH and did my own thang anyway. I’m finding out that they got a lot of folks out here like that. They want to talk and give orders but don’t want to do any work themselves.

I’ve yet to play basketball with any of these guys but they’re already running their mouths and saying, “it just doesn’t look like you have basketball in you.” I’ve heard it before and already know they’re going to be hot when I whoop em.

You can have just about anything delivered to your apartment out here. Cigarettes, groceries, and nearly every restaurant. I wouldn’t usually have all this stuff delivered but it’s a life saver when you don’t want to go outside and get drenched.

Oh and its cool if I get a fohawk and my ears pierced out here. I’ll let my hair grow out a bit and then get it done. I’ll have to figure out where to get my ears re-pierced as well. Gotta take advantage of this freedom while I have it! Alrighty, off to work!

Daddy Tak

Biiig Deaaall

10JUL11 1533 hours

Spent my night off doing a lot of cleaning at the apartment. Need to get some tape for the windows and doors because that dust blows through everything. It gets on everything inside the living room area! I understand why some of the houses out here literally don’t have any windows. It must be creepy living in a house like that.

The cost of living out here is pretty ridiculous. I looked at my wallet after buying some food last night and wondered how I was going to be able to save as much as I planned to before coming out here. We’ll see, champions find a way.

I got into trouble yesterday for throwing around a football with some friends near the important work area.. biiig deaaall those dudes need to chill man.

I drank some of my orange juice from the fridge but had to spit it out and throw it away because it went bad. My roomie was starving and wanted cereal so he was sitting there taking sips of the milk trying to figure out if it was still good. Lightweight funny stuff.

Besides that I haven’t really been going out or doing much so there isn’t much to tell! I didn’t really come out here to spend all my money in Kuwait. Someone send me some logs!

Tak

Oil and Powder

09JUL11 0820 hours

Work was busy last night. I was walking around so much that I started chaffing in those great areas that chafe when you use your legs. My friend suggested baby oil and baby powder. Sounds wack, but you need it out here. At least, that’s what he said. Or she said.

Seriously though my friend said that.

Looks like ill be adding oil and powder to the work bag, WOO! The work made the night fly by though. I have tonight off so that I can finally be on my set schedule. It’ll be 3 and 1s from here on out.

I know I’m in crazy bad shape because I’m exhausted by the time my shift ends. I need to get past it, otherwise it’ll be hard to meet my fitness goals, not to mention dunking a basketball.

BTW Matt and Michele you will no longer be editing my posts because you suck at it. BTW means by the way if you didn’t know.

Daddy Tak

Maid Service

05JUL11 0657 hours

I helped my friend move all her stuff into a different apartment yesterday. Her ex bf helped too. He was talking about how his sheets/comforter were tiger striped and how the “japs” would love it if they seen it. I was like

“Did you just say Japs?”

“Nah I meant like them Filipinos and stuff, uhhh, blah blah blah”

LOL is that kid crazy or what? I’m just going to say Japs around the Japanese kid like its cool because I’ve known him for two whole days.

I’m definitely going to get this maid hired out here. This dust is constantly flowing into the living room and I keep forgetting to buy tape to tape it up. My homie pays 25 kd or a little under $100 a month for her maid to come twice a week anywhere from 1-3 hours each visit. Ill split it with the roomies so itll be pretty affordable.

I bought this guy a pack of cigarettes because he gave me a pack when I ran out at work. But then last night I ran out again and didn’t know if the store was still open so I opened the pack I meant to give to him. Exciting I know.

We got a new cable box so we get the action channels and all that now. Every channel for the most part is in English but it always has those Arabic scribbles on the bottom.

I start my first nightshift tonight so ill probably finish up some laundry and stuff, and then try to fall asleep. I slept all last night though so we’ll see how it goes. Pretty boring post. O wellllll peace out suckas.

Daddy Tak

Bidet

03JUL11 1647 hours

First day off since I started working. I’m going to nightshift so they gave me two days off in a row! WOOOO! New friend Tots took me out to some resort where we met up with one of her old friends. He works for a different company and the spot he’s staying at is NICE! Right on the beach, volleyball nets, gym, pool, and a nice ass kitchen. I’m tryin’ to be where he’s at! I’m still happy with where I’m at though, kinda.

They went jet skiing while I stayed on the beach and swam in the pool trying to get mytan on. Gotta get rid of this bacne and even out my tan lines that I got from working day shift. Taking your shirt off in front of other people motivates u to get in that gym too! I’ll get into the routine soon don’t trip.

I ate some burger king while they ate some pizza… they cook that stuff fresh when you order, or as fresh as BK can get. I took a bite and burnt the hell out of my tongue. Went to the store to get some TP after that, I been using those little hoses (ghetto bidet(had to look up the spelling online)) to wash my pooper instead. It actually gets the job done a lot better. If I ever decide to settle down with a girl im making sure she uses a bidet. Don’t want no crusty booty around me!

On the way to the resort we missed the exit and accidentally went into Saudi Arabia. I was pretty freaked out. They were trying to give us trouble when we tried to reenter Kuwait but we just took off and no one followed us thankfully. Might be the last name I cruise anywhere with that kid.

Last night I went to get some Japanese food with these two kids from work. We paid like $30 for all you can eat. They give you an all you can eat menu that has everything..appetizers, noodles, sashimi, rolls, even dessert. When you walk in this Filipino girl hits the gong, pretty funny. It was decent food but they took forever to bring out whatever you ordered, so that might be the last time I eat there in awhile. Plus it was hella pricey.

We went for coffee next door after that and met these two Arabic cats that actually grew up in the states and are American citizens. They’re older, probably in their 40’s, but pretty fun to kick it with. They gave my boys their contact info and even gave us a ride home so we didn’t have to take a taxi.

I need some dip! Peace out suckas

Daddy Tak

No lockout here

01JUL2011 2020 hours

I’m getting a little closer to the guys out here. It doesn’t really make a difference though because I’m switching to night shift next week. I’ll just have to start all over again.

I need to start hitting the gym and shedding this jiggle, but I have to get some damn money in my account. I guess a lot of the guys out here play basketball after work. There’s a lot of brothers so it looks like it will be some decent competition and not that SASF Tuesday night garbage. I’ll be running all these fools pretty soon though. I mean.. I will be dunking by the end of this tour.

There’s actually a good amount of guys out here with a lot of experience. A few were out here in the desert when the war popped off. I was still in high school when they were out here doing this job.

It’s been windy as hell the past two days. I didn’t think to bring my goggles out here and ive been getting all sorts of crap in my eyes. I need to buy some q-tips as well because there is all sorts of shit in there right now.

I’ve been lightweight homesick the past day or two but I think that’s what always happens when I don’t really know anyone. I think I felt that way when I was back in balad in 08 for the first week or two.

My apartment is pretty messy, the living area at least. Its hard to keep clean with all the dust storms and what not. My friend told me that she hires a maid that comes twice a week for about $100 a month. I might do that and split it with the roomies.

That’s it for today, pretty boring overall but it should get spicier once I start befriending all these freaks. Peace out yo.

Daddy Tak

Uni's

29JUN11 1420 hours

I have the entire day off today to rest and adjust before starting work. I woke up at 0500 to get used to the day shift schedule but there wasn’t anything to do so I ended up taking another nap around 8 or so anyway.

We ordered some pizza from some chain that they also have in the states. My roomie said that the pizza was good, but that must’ve been back in the states because this pizza was crap! I can honestly say it was the worst pizza I’ve ever had.. and we had to pay a lot of money for it too. I know now I guess.

Val Reed, the girl that hooked me up with the job out here was supposed to stop by and say wsup, but didn’t. I got a hold of her via skype later and she claimed that she did. I’ll be whoopin’ that ass next time I see her.

My roomie J took me out to the mall/bazaar area. A bazaar is basically a flea market where you can bargain and what not. We stayed out there for a couple hours and also stopped by the grocery store. I forgot to pick up some fufu spray, just remembered while writing this actually. This place has the musty, sewage kind of smell that you find in some third world countries. I bought groceries but I can’t bring myself to eat anything in here yet. That’s one way to lose weight I guess. The taxi cost about 2 KD each way. I think the exchange is 3.55 USD per 1 KD. IF you can’t figure it out ask Matt Curry.

I’ve seen a lot of Filipinos and Chinese out here. Some of the local women don’t look bad, but you can’t talk to them in public. It’s a shame because a lot of these local girls could be looking pretty cool but that unabrow look is hot out here! They rock that shit off like diamond earrings and Rolex’s.

I’m anxious to start work and get to know some more people. My roomies said that there isn’t a whole lot of comradery out here. I expected this as it’s a civilian job, but we’ll see if I can change any of that.

Also, these cigarettes out here are weak! I may need to request some cartons from back home. I don’t think they even have any chewing tobacco out here! I want to quit both, but damn! Max send me some logs. Sam send me a carton. Thanks!

Daddy Tak

Getting Situated

29JUN2011 0100 hours

The flight over wasn’t too bad. The five hour trip from SF to DC was pretty packed, but from DC to Kuwait was pretty empty. They only served two meals during the 13 hour flight! Thank goodness Sam Tsuruoka gave me some snacks before I left.

The dude in front of me was farting like crazy, at least ten times! Sick.

Walking through the Kuwaiti airport was definitely a new experience. Many of the locals dressed from head to toe in that stuff you only really see on tv, or in the states here and there. To see a majority of the people wearing that stuff was different. I’ve always flown straight onto military bases in the middle easy, so I’ve never been around too many locals. I won’t lie I was a little uneasy being around them initially, likely because I’m used to being on my toes whenever I land in the desert. Traveling alone out here is also a first so that added to my discomfort.

I was met by a manager of the company at a coffee shop in the airport. He took one of my bags and as we walked to the parking lot we were nearly ran over. A female was pulling out slowly while looking to her right, and suddenly accelerated without checking the FRONT of the car. She was to the left of us. I think we would have been ran over if I didn’t stop while my manager kept walking, because she saw me out of the corner of her left eye. Had I kept walking she wouldn’t have seen anything at all. WHEW! On the first day though? That would’ve sucked!

We stopped by the grocery store while enroute to the living area. I dropped a couple things in the basket and circled the store a couple times looking for eggs. I asked my manager where the eggs were. He pointed and said “RIGHT THERE!”

“Oh, I thought they would be refrigerated.”

“Not over here! They don’t refrigerate eggs over here.”

“Ooohh”

I still bought the eggs, but they are being refrigerated now.

I met my roomies and they are both around my age and pretty chill so far. One of them looked hapa so I asked him, “Are you hapa?”

He said, “No, I’m half Korean half white”

That still counts as hapa, right?

We live in a three bedroom apartment with a kitchen and living room area. We each have our own bathroom as well. The wifi is broken right now but we are getting a new router tomorrow.

I walked over to the offices and received all my uniforms, not too shabby. They were having a monthly BBQ as well so I lucked out on getting in today.

I don’t have a camera right now but will post pictures after a couple pay days. This place is SICK! But I haven’t been to work yet so we’ll so how I’m feelin after that.

Daddy Tak

30JUN11 1946 hours FIRST POST FROM KUWAIT

Today was my first day of work. It wasn’t real work, just processing and getting ID’s, badges, etc.

The majority of the people here are pretty down and quiet. There are some lively ones, but nothing like deploying with all my homies in the AF. If I can lift these peoples spirits, I can do anything. I think I can have them happy in about two to three months.

I’ve been told by a lot of folks that my roomies are super messy. I can definitely see that, but I’m not sure if they can outdo Mr. Russell Kato and his crazy ways. Time will tell.

I’m working days right now but will be switched to night shift within a week. It’s better that way because it is HOT during the day. Hitting anywhere from 110-120, or so im told. It definitely feels a lot hotter than it was in Sac.

It doesn’t look like too many people are dedicated to working out over here either. They have a little work out joint near the workplace that isn’t bad. People pay big bucks for these gyms off base though. It will definitely cut into my wallet, but I think I’ll have to get one of those memberships in a month or so. Some of the pricier gyms have memberships that cost up to $500 plus a month. Ridiculous

I’m anxious to start learning my job out here so I can be confident and start running my mouth around here.

OH, about 30 minutes ago and I was starving, so I microwaved some of that nasty pizza. As I started to eat it, my nose started leaking. I kept plugging it with tissue but it just wouldn’t stop! Eventually I said eff it and ate the pizza while blood from my nose leaked into my mouth too. The pizza was pretty bad so if anything it made it taste better. Blood n Booger pizza, try it out sometime.

I’m exhausted right now but I think I’ll get more energy once I start to hit the gym more. I didn’t even want to write this post… but this is it.. if it doesn’t suck, u aint working hard enough! Peace out mofos

Daddy Tak