Yeah that was in areas controlled by the Kurds. There were no insurgents or pro-Saddam forces in these areas.
The Kurds dislike the Arabs and Persians. They just want to be independent and left alone.

In fact during the height of the action in Iraq you could eat lunch at a sidewalk cafe, go to the mall and catch a movie in Erbil while suicide bombers were blowing themselves up in Baghdad.

Ahh Camp Victory.

Home Sweet Shithole.
At least you could hit golf balls into the lake, go fishing, and there was a bowling alley for a time.

I too still jump at loud unxpected noises and wonder how long before that reaction fades. Nothing freezes you in your tracks like the sound of a mortar coming out of the tube.

There are plenty of women there. Both contractors and service women. But obviously the ratio of men to women is off the charts.
And due to such a ratio your date could be "high mileage". If she's willing with you, it is very likely that she was willing with others.

As for social life, there isnt much to due outside of work, eat, sleep and hit the gym. There is no booze on base (the Turkish truck drivers can get it for you) so those type of social events are non-existent.

Spot on. I spent two years in the "suck" as contractor (non-IT). There are inherent risks with any job. Understanding and evaluating those risks and basing your decisions on that evaluation is the key. With greater risk comes greater reward. A lot of people came over with the expectations that they would be living in hotels, dorms etc and were shocked when they ended up in a modified shipping container with a bunk bed and a fat smelly roommate.
What I missed was privacy. Being in a small office with 4 other people 12 hours a day 7 days a week and then sharing a hooch doesnt allow for much privacy. I learned a lot about myself in those two years. Sitting in a bunker while mortars fall around you gives you some time for personal reflection. I also saw parts of the world that most people never will. And yes, I did make some cash. Its also a great conversation starter (yes chicks dig it!). People love to talk about it, and I have hours of stories and thousands of pictures to go along with my experience.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would i recommend it? Depends on the person. Not everybody is built to handle it. The stress, the austerity, the separation from family can do crazy things to people.

Pure theft. I steal them from my children.

I must know what Walter the Farting Dog is up to!

Good luck with that.
While it does sound like a great idea it would never happen. No HOA would ever make an exemption. It defeats the whole purpose of the HOA.

Also, you are going to lose your good faith deposit on the property because you didn't close.
Is it really worth throwing away money to try and screw with the HOA? Just find another property that doesn't have an HOA.

Could I trouble you for an invite?

greggersmcgreg (at) the big G
Much appreciated.

Use the LORAN network? Uhh LORAN was shutdown in 2010.
I guess your LORAN clock hasn't been right for about 18 months now.
But look at it on the bright side, the change in power frequency won't have any significant effect on you.

It's what plants crave.

Now excuse me, I'm off to Starbucks for a handjob.

Publix is test marketing the whole "place your order online and pick up at the store" concept right now.
I believe it is only in 2 or 3 test stores in the Tampa market. But it is closer to what you are looking for. I have no idea how successful the test has been.

That gig is long gone. Most of the steel manufacturing is gone, moved overseas. And why is that? Because making steel here in the US is expensive.

And why is it expensive? Because of situations that you just offered. Paying people not to work doesn't do anyone any good. Is it because of actions like this that I dislike unions. The only people who profit from this is the higher-ups in the union. The workers themselves may do alright in the short term, but eventually the jobs move overseas and never comeback.

And you are the fat basement dwelling pussy who enjoys those freedoms.
Don't forget to yell upstairs to mom for more coffee!

Steve from Kansas.

Apparently he really likes curry chicken. Kinda odd fellow.

Guess you don't watch any baseball or have never seen those little round cans behind the register at a convenience store.
Chewing tobacco, where it's actual chew, or dip or snuff, is alive and very prevalent.

Cruel and unusual? This is a military brig, not Camp Cupcake that Martha Stuart vacationed at.
I have actually seen the cells in the Quantico brig. They are about 10ftx10ft with a concrete "bed". You are confined to your cell for 23 hours a day and all meals are served in your cell. Although the bed is concrete you are provided a mattress, pillow, blanket and sheets. These must be rolled up and stored neatly during the day.
You are not permitted to sleep during normal waking hours, you may not lay down. You are only permitted to read the Bible (or your choice of religious texts), the UCMJ or legal material related to your case.

This is the same location and conditions that John Hinkley Jr was held under after his attempted assassination of President Reagan.

Cruel? Hardly. Unusual? Maybe to John Q. Public, but certainly not the military. Excessively harsh? Not a chance. He is a U.S. soldier accused of treason. He is undoubtedly a flight risk considering he is face life in prison and potentially the death penalty.