I just wanted to let you know that Steve Johnson (ibuzzard) is leaving his '59 F250 with Charlie Burns and I to install a new engine so he can have a good reliable ride when He gets back from Iraq in a year.  That's right He is going to the "Hot" place to work for a full year. He will be leaving tomorrow (Feb 1st) and I know He is a little nervous, so let's keep him in our prayers. I know He plans on keeping in touch with us through this site, so I will be posting the progress we make on his truck from time to time.

Steve, Good luck and God Bless!

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Hi,all.I've finally found the internet cafe open again,so a quick note.We work 13 hours per day,from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.All my meals are eaten on the clock,but are usually taken to go and eaten on the run.We try to take extra food for our TCN's(third country nationals) whose wages,conditions,food are far below us.We live in luxury by comparison.For example last night they served,among other things,steak and lobster.This morn,steak and eggs for breakfast.Today,the crew,in honor of my birthday,is letting me buy THEM,pizza from the Pizza Hut.We do have some U.S. vendors,like Taco Bell,Pizza Hut,Green Beans Coffee Shop,Popeye's Fried Chicken ,etc..
Some days,it's crystal clear,with blue skies,other days dust/sand hangs in the air like fog.Some people get ill from it,since it contains strains of bacteria that the non natives aren't immune to.The following are temp averages:Feb-70's:March-80's:May-90's: June-100's :July-110's.Doesn't drop back into the 90's again till November.At least the humidity is low!It will sometimes approach 130 in the hottest part of the year.The Nigerians here,some of whom I am currently sharing a tent ,like to keep the tent heat at 76 degrees since they sleep without sheets or blankets.We Caucasians roast ,so there are constant thermostat wars at night.As an electrician,I know where the circuit breaker to the heater/AC is,so I'll win that battle every time...Well,lunch hour is about up,gotta get back to work..See you all sometime,Steve/Alan

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Stay safe . You are  in our prayers ,along with all the other Brothers ,& Sisters  from around the world doing their duty .

Lon

yblocksdownunder

One of the challenges here is the language(s) barrier.People from many different countries live on a military base,armed forces and civilians alike.A sort of "pigeon English",along with vocabularies of other languages is commonly used to make things work.I've learned a few words

Term Language Meaning


"Jeldy,Jeldy!" Hindi "Faster,Faster!"


"Too much
giddy-giddy" ? "Too much jabbering!"

"Go chop-chop" Hindi "Go eat" or "Let's go eat"


"No Ali Babba!" ? "No Stealing"


"You Ali Babba,
I keel you!" ? self explanatory


"Dilly-dilly! Hindi "Quick,,quick!"


I do work with Indian subcontract workers daily,I supervise them carefully .Many are almost child,with very short attention spans.They can also be very loyal.Frankly,their lives here are not too good.Usually of the lower castes,they work for one contractor from United Arab Emirates,and are treated poorly:No telephone contact with families,no computers,no TV or movies,etc.Their diet is the same at all meals:curry chicken and rice.We have the power to improve their situations,simply by bringing them food.For two meals per day,when I go to the dining facility(DFAC)the first thing I do,before eating myself,is stuff as much food as I can into two styrofoam boxes,for my crew,Some are vegetarian,some not,but they all love sodas,milk,juices,and I load them up.They really appreciate it,and some even want to work for me,because they know I'll take care of them.Officially,this is against rules,but most tradesmen bring their guys something.Although many of the
guys feel they should be happy with whatever their given,I ask them what they like/dislike.
We have to be escorted when working in any CHU, or containerized housing unit.The security here is provided by Ugandan forces,among the best trained in Africa.I know some of them on a more informal basis.A few days ago,I met Felix,27,a dairy farmer with about 60 of his own cows that he keeps on his parents' farm of 200 acres.He has 10 hired hands who hand -milk his cows.The market for his milk is Kampala,Uganda's capitol,but with so much competition,the income pays his workers wages,and only a little more,so he provides for his wife and three children by serving in Iraq,nearly two years now.
One of my guys,known to me by his last name of Patel,becuase I can't pronounce his first name,is 40,a father of two-and was married at age 10.He recently celebrated his 30th wedding anniversary here in Iraq,unable to contact his wife.
Everyone here has a story,many quite interesting,and I love finding out what brought people here.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

It still amazes me what people can indure and how little most of the US population understands of the 3rd world.  Many who have been to Cabo, Cancun, or other resorts around the world think they know what is going on.  It is in the ineterior that the real world exists.  They should go to Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico a manufacturing and steel  producing city of 300,000 just 2.5 hours from the US border.  See how the middle class there lives and the air polution.  I know my exposure to the interior of the Phillippine Islands, Japan, Hong Kong, Kowloon etc was an eye opener and conversations with ship mates who had been to the Eastern Med were much more realistic after visiting those countries.  I have supported oil and gas operations in Ecuador, Gabon and Angola as well as service tasks for mines in Mauratania, India and China.  Discussions with the boots on the ground in those activities further reinforced my understanding of the resiliance of human kind as well as his cruelty. 

People are the same, they want better for their family.  It is capitalism that elevated the West and will be the tool of change for all of the world.  I will get off my soap box now.

Salute!

TC

You gotta have the right tools and know how to use 'em.

TC - Austin, Texas

Steve.....Thanks for the job you're doing.Isn't it strange how much places and people in the world differ from what we are fed by the media.Same deal as S.E.Asia in '65.

Paul,

Boonville,MO