LONESTAR TRAVELS TO KUWAIT TO ENTERTAIN TROOPS WHO WILL BE RETURNING HOME FROM IRAQ

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10^TH AND FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11^TH – LONESTAR TO KUWAIT:
Left today on one of 6 tours to Kuwait over the next 3 months. My “holidays” will be spent overseas with the troops as usual…just a lot MORE this year.
Since entertainment in Iraq ceased on July 31st because the troops are leaving, Kuwait has decided to hold concerts for them. The troops will leave in “waves” and stay in Kuwait for several weeks at a time to “out-process”. I have Lonestar this week, Aaron Tippin going to Kuwait and Afghanistan over Thanksgiving, Darryl Worley and Filter to Kuwait in mid-December, my New Year’s Eve Comedy Show to Kuwait over New Year’s and the grand finale – Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band performing in Kuwait at the end of January! Busy, busy, busy!!!
I got a call from one of my skycaps at 10:45 am asking “where I was”!Evidently half the Lonestar guys were already at the airport even though we were not supposed to meet until 11:30 am. I had planned to be there at 11 am before anyone else arrived. That plan didn’t work so well…
We couldn’t check in until everyone arrived because we needed to split up the extra pieces. Last guy arrived about 11:40 am and we all got checked in. Flight to DC was on time and packed full! I thought I had the exit row seat by myself but turns out I was on the side where I had to sit beside someone. There was a lot of turbulence off and on and I nearly ripped the arm of the guy sitting next to me off. Then, we had to circle for almost 45 minutes because of “traffic”. It was not a good way to start the trip.
When we landed, I called my friend who is a pilot and flying us on this trip. You KNOW you travel too much when you have all the skycaps and pilots cell phone numbers! He was working on getting our sound tech upgraded from coach to business. Alex is a sweetheart and been with Lonestar for 18 years! He deserves a “perk”. I rushed into the Lounge to download my emails so I could answer during the flight over. Since we landed late, we only had about 45 minutes before we had to board the flight to Kuwait.
We boarded and I met up with my pilot friend. He said the plane was completely full and he couldn’t do anything for Alex. L However, the Captain of the plane said that he had an “idea”. There were seats in business class for the pilots for their “rest time”. So my friend gave up his seat after we were about 2 hours out of DC and moved Alex into it.So nice of him. The Captain is someone who has flown me before and a lot of the flight attendants recognized me from previous tours.
Had a problem with the guitars because the plane is reconfigured and brilliantly laid out so that there is NO overhead space. Even the small closets were full. My friend managed to move some things and get the guitars stowed. Have to say that the majority of the flight attendants (exception with maybe 2 of them) are typical – NOT VERY NICE AT ALL!Can’t wait to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars with them these next 3 months. L
The first hour and a half of the flight was extremely turbulent. And I do NOT like turbulence. I opened my computer to work only to find that the “N” key has popped off and won’t go back on. Have no idea how that happened but very inconvenient. Not sure when I can have it repaired since I am traveling non-stop for weeks but have to do something. My computer is doing the same thing again that it has done the last 3 trips.If I bump it or type too fast, it goes to black screen and I have to do a hard shutdown. I called Panasonic about this and they don’t have a clue what is happening. My computer guru says it must have something to do with pressurization since it only happens when I fly!!! Crazy….
I watched a Tom Hanks/Julia Roberts movie about him getting fired and going to college. It was “okay” but not one of his most brilliant productions.
Slept for about 4 ½ hours and then read for a while. There was a LOT of turbulence throughout the entire flight, so it was hard to relax.
We landed on time and all our bags made it. Yea! Contee was waiting for us but they had the entire “Welcome Hall” blocked off. We had to go outside and take an elevator to a different level just to load our bags.The hotel had all our keys ready for us when we checked in.
Tammy – the MWR Director who has been working the same hours I have these last few weeks – was at the airport to meet us. Met her and her husband Robert for the first time. Lovely, sweet couple. I got everyone checked in and then met them for a “cola”. J We went over things for upcoming tours and just basically got to know each other on a personal level. Felt like I already knew her we have exchanged so many emails these last 3 weeks. The restaurant in the hotel doesn’t open until 7 pm for dinner so at about 5 pm, we walked over to Chili’s in front of the hotel and had dinner. Four of my guys came in to eat while we were there. Nothing like traveling halfway around the world and having to eat at a Chili’s!
I got in my room at around 8 pm and started answering the emails. I did talk to Panasonic and got a guy who knows what he’s doing. I had to email him my “flight” problem and he was bumping it up to senior management for a solution. He also gave me the number of their authorized Panasonic repair shop on Camp Arifjan here in Kuwait so they could repair my “N” key on the keyboard. Most of the troops have Panasonic Toughbooks, so Panasonic has “in house” repair shops on a lot of the bases. Have been working nonstop and it’s now 2 am. Time to shut it down until tomorrow morning, I think.
Jude

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12^TH – CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT:
I slept for 4 ½ hours which is really good for being over here. AND, I jogged outside for the first time in a long time in Kuwait. It’s usually just too hot or we’re too busy. It was perfect running weather. I remember to watch for the crazy drives but had forgotten how closely I have to watch the sidewalk. None of the stones are even or the same height and sewer covers are usually broken and just a big gaping hole in the street. There were concrete poles set in a row on the sidewalk and half of them were pushed over meaning some vehicle hit them at a very high rate of speed. As if that’s not enough to watch for, every so often a metal “hook” will be embedded in the middle of the sidewalk….not sure what the purpose of that might be.
Had a quick breakfast of egg white omelet and really fresh fruit and then showered and dressed for today’s “adventure”. Managed to answer a few emails. We left on time but Dean remembered that he did not have his guitar when were were about 5 minutes away from the hotel.Quick return to the hotel and then a 1 ½ hour drive to Camp Buehring.Buehring is 15 miles from the Iraq border and MAN can you ever tell that there are more troops there now with the troops coming back from Iraq! Long, long lines at the DFAC, BX, and coffee shops.
We were supposed to have a Command office call and briefing but the room where we meet was “in use”. So we went to the video firing range and let the guys play with the guns. They didn’t like that much, right?Boys and toys…they never grow up. J From there we took the techs to the stage and my guys went out to look at the blackhawks. Had a few minutes free and went by the BX to pick up “items left behind in the U.S.”.
Sound check went relatively smoothly with the exception of 4 bad ear packs. Hopefully that will be corrected tomorrow.
The troops at this base who are not from Iraq but actually deployed here for a year are from the Oklahoma National Guard. Then we have a few Louisiana guys as well.
The show was spectacular. Lonestar is “Amazing” (pun!) and put on a hell of a show as usual. The MWR reps were expecting around 1,500 and we had over 2,500. Awesome, awesome evening. Autograph line was long and was moving quickly when we were passing out the 200 pre-signed photos and just taking a personal photo with each person. Then we ran out of photos and they had to sign another 200 for people still in line. We didn’t depart the camp until midnight. At least there was no traffic and we were back at the hotel at 1 am instead of 1:30 am.
The military and MWR staff at Buehring were exceptional….some of the best, most professional, well-organized I have ever worked with.
It’s very strange to know that tomorrow will be a “repeat” of today instead of flying into Iraq at some Godforsaken hour. Easy tour but we’re still getting to the troops.
The camp we go to tomorrow is pretty isolated. I haven’t been there in years and years.
Our lobby call is 12:45 pm tomorrow and I was looking forward to working late and getting caught up on some sleep. Instead I agreed to go to a local computer shop to see if they could repair the key on my keyboard instead of the one on base. Doubt that they can, but I’ll make the “appearance”. So, one out of two – working late but not sleeping late. J
Jude

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13^TH – PERFORMANCE AT CAMP VIRGINIA:
Slept 4 ½ hours instead of 3 ½ hours and skipped exercise this morning. Dressed, had my egg white omelet and met Broadie in the lobby to go into Kuwait City to try and get the key put back on my computer. They told me “horror stories” all the way into town about the Kuwaiti drivers!
The guy at the computer shop was able to fix my “key” but had to go get a part. He said “30 minutes” but I KNOW their 30 minutes. I told him 30 minutes but no longer or I would leave. So, we walked around and looked at the Haji Shops with all the “knock off” bags, sunglasses, watches, etc. Then walked right across the street to a very expensive High End Mall. I was trying to find something for the Z’s but the items were all just like we have in America – Mickey and Minnie, Dora, Thomas the Train, etc. And all in English. Good news is he was able to fix the key so now I don’t have to type on a “nub” J
I walked over to Starbucks for a coffee and chicken salad wrap but there was a communication problem. Even though I pointed to the wrap, she put a “salad” in my bag. Finally got that cleared up and off we went to Camp Virginia. This is a really small camp and I honestly can’t ever remember coming here more than once in my 37 tours and that was YEARS ago. This camp has a few as 100 people in it in normal circumstances but has surged to over 1,000 now…as evidenced by the long lines at Green Beans again. We received a great briefing and certificates for everyone. This is the camp where the troops in Iraq come to “turn in their equipment” meaning vehicles and humvees, etc.So they are usually only here about 10 days to 2 weeks but sometimes due to MilAir flight availability, it can take longer. The Commander kept saying “if there are no more questions, we have some certificates for you” and every time, I had another question. Surprised he didn’t have me “removed”.
Had some free time after the Command visit and went to the BX and some of the little “shops” around the area. They were having “camel rides” right in front of the stage but there was a long line. I really wanted my photo on the camel – definitely NOT the ride – but knew I’d never have time with the line that long. So I had this brilliant idea to give a cd and coin to a “young” soldier in line and ask him to let me sit on the camel with him. Our escort at this Camp helped out with the situation. She held the camel’s head while the camel herder held his tail and I got on. But as I got on, the camel BIT into the lady escort’s hand!She didn’t scream, just said “He won’t let go of my hand”. I had no idea what to do and the herder couldn’t see what was happening. I knew if I hit the camel, it would take off running with me on it and I sure didn’t want that. The camel finally released her hand from his mouth and she said he bit her all the way to the bone. I was ready to get off the beast at that point and did so. My little soldier jumped on and I got back on for the photo opp. In the meantime, our escort had 6 stitches in her hand! I felt so bad!!! Contee assure me that if the camel had taken off running across the camp with me, he’d be holding on to his tail and dragging behind….what a visual that is! J I talked to her about it afterwards and she said she is the one who always feeds “Clyde” apples when he comes by to pick up a new rider. Evidently her hand smelled like apples and he was expecting another one. There was a Vet coming to draw blood from Clyde to make sure there was no rabies. Goodness…never a dull moment.
We walked over to the DFAC for dinner and it was really good food…probably because they had a pasta bar which is my favorite meal of choice in a DFAC.
Show started right on time and think we have a record crowd again…probably 1,000 people and they were predicting 500. It was a great audience and another fantastic show. Biggest audience they have had, too. Even the young kids know all the words to the songs. Keep in mind that 2012 will be Lonestar’s 20^th Anniversary.
I walked over to Green Beans because it was right in front of the stage and I could still see and hear the show. Talked to a young soldier from Washington State who was transiting through en route back to Ft. Hood.He had been at Balad – my favorite base in Iraq.
From the crowd size, I estimated 250 autographs and finish at 10:30 pm. We actually did 230 autographs and ended at 10:22! A young soldier was in line and said “remember me”? I remembered his face and he reminded me that his interpreter wanted his photo taken with me in 2009 in Kirkut when I was there with Chely Wright!
Everyone at Buehring and Virginia have been so “organized” and great to work with. Such an easy, easy tour so far.
Tomorrow will be the Big One…Arifjan! Moved our departure time to 11:30 am instead of 12:30 pm.
Jude