An Iraq Tale Vol. 3 (It snowed in Baghdad last night!?!)

OK I know that people think I am crazy but last night it snowed here in Baghdad. OK it did rain more than it snowed but the temperatures dropped into the low 30's causing the rain to change to a snow like substance. I couldn't believe it untill I saw it with my own eyes. But in truth it did snow and none of it stuck. I guess from what we saw on the internet this is the first time in decades the Iraqis seen snow in Baghdad. I read somewhere people woke up just to see it. It must be quite a sight to wake up to snow when you have never seen it. And to those of us from places it snows it just seems so natural. Sure there was no proof it left to show it ever snowed but at least I was here and seen a sort of historic weather event here in Baghdad. So while we are on the subject I will talk of the weather.

When we first got here it was hot. I honestly have never felt heat like I have felt here in the Middle East. I have heard thing like "oh it is a dry heat it is not that hot". First off that is bull@!$%#, hot is hot no matter whether it is humid or dry. Add the body armor, kevlar, and the ACU's (uniforms) and we are talking extreme heat. Imagine 120degree temps while wearing some very uncomfortable and heavy equipment that adds at least 20 degrees to your core body heat. Say what you want about the Army, but they sure trained the hell out of recognizing all the symptoms and conditions of heat injuries. As well as treatment and how to give IV's. Couple all that with the wind, (something I like to call the Devil's Breath), and you have a pretty uncomfortable combo. The wind is always hot during summer months, I like to describe it as being like someone using blow dryer from a car wash while throwing rocks and sand at you. Not to mention you find sand and dust covering everything. So as you can Imagine the summer months here suck.

After the summer comes about a month of very nice and comfortable temperature which leads into what they call the rainy season. I guess it must have just started because it has rained a few times but for the most part has stayed pretty dry. But last night it rained for almost 6 hours straight and eventually led to the snow that I talked about. So now we are left with the inevitable "quagmire" left over from the rain/snow mixture of last night. We are now trying to clean mud off of everything. I can tell you this mud is not like Indiana mud. This mud here sticks to you and does not let go. It is quite annoying and makes trying to keep things clean here. Climbing in and out of my gun truck I knew that there would be no possible way other than not going to work that I could ever keep it clean. Our boots are covered with about 4 pounds of mud and our floor is filthy. Not only that it makes the roads treacherous and increases our chances of an accident while outside the "wire". All I can say is boy does winter here sucks.

So when does the weather not suck here like I said there are a few months where it is really quite comfortable and not so unpleasant. And for the most part we are lucky enough to be in either tents or trailers with some type of climate control. And in all truth it is a lot better than the first time I was here. So other than the times we have to go outside and do something it isn't so bad. But in truth I do think I like the hot dry weather better than the cold muddy weather.

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