Heinekev

Restored this old website after about a 2 year hiatus. Protip: don't leave unsecured installations of Wordpress in sub-folders on your host, they'll delete your stuff.

More to come!

On the 52nd floor Observation Deck of the Mori Tower in Roppongi, Tokyo, I asked the love of my life to marry me. She said yes.

Words can't do justice. This is the happiest day of my life.

I love you, Constance.

I know this gets highly neglected now that I'm back in the states, but there's something worth posting finally. Shadow, the amazing black long haired cat that behaved more like a person and less like a cat, has passed on. He was 14. He had aggressive cancer of the stomach and spleen, but never showed signs until a week ago. I take comfort knowing that he was a happy and loved cat.

In 1995, Stef found him roaming around the housing area at Eastern Kentucky University. He was a adolescent, probably born in 1994 sometime. Since then, he's been in the family. We all loved him, and it hurts to see him go.

I've never known such a unique animal. He loved to drink from faucets. He could hold a conversation with you, and was always very vocal. If there's one thing Shadow loved more than anything, it was food - his face would be in any unattended drink instantly, and he would sometimes try to eat the food right out of your hands. I'll never forget the mornings waking up with him on my head, nor will I forget the times he cuddled against my chest or at my feet. He was always in the room with people and demanded to be the life of any get together.

Shadow, you were my closest companion. I will never find another cat quite like you. Rest in peace, buddy, I hope the 14 years we gave you were as good as the ones you gave us.

Shadow
1994 - 2008 (July 6th at Midnight)

Long time no update! Coming home soon! Been looking forward to vacation since I landed out here, going to be a great relaxation period. I'll be home from May 9th to May 31st. Happy times!

It was a tough choice to make, but I am going to forgo the Japanese portion of my vacation to get Lasik. Summer is almost in full effect out here and not having proper sunglasses is murder. The sun burns brighter and hotter here than anywhere I've ever been before.

We also had a great cookout. It's amazing how good a t-bone can taste when you haven't had a decent meal for 120 days!

Beef!
Posing with the Chef
BB-Tard

Went down to Lake Habbaniyah and ran my hands through the water that feeds the Euphrates River. There's a lot of history in this place.

On the beach

More storms. Every time the temperature starts climbing to the mid 100s, it storms and cools it down. Must be that bit of Kentucky unpredictability that followed with me

Hailstone or snail? These hurt!
Lake Iraq. Standing in front of the newly coined Lake Iraq
Inch deep
Displaced Tent. It actually moved 3 feet!
A tornado actually passed through. And this door was a victim
Our (drenched) parking spot
Overflow from a portapotty
Dork! What you can't see is the 40 mph wind...
Blurry picture, windy horizon
Commo! Commo-san and Sparky, our radio team
Nerds of TQ
Great view. Spots on lens of camera

A little domesticated cat wandered into camp, hid under a trailer, and meowed for hours on end. Eventually, he came out. Poor thing probably hadn't eaten for a week, so I fed him a tuna kit:

Feeding the cat
Petting him while he eats
Feasting!
Cat cuddling with our medic, Armando

Took some time out of a boring day at the bombers. Lots of pics, these are the most notable:

Turret of a bomber
Down the barrel
The Eye of the Beast
The Beasts Innards
Mortar hole? Heat melted the glass as it passed through...
Holding up the rudder (is that right?)
Relaxing for a bit
Initials in the Concrete

That is it for now. See everyone in 11 days!

Had a breathtaking storm move through yesterday that dropped dime-sized hail and kept the sky bright with lightning. What better time to capture the moment?

The Storm Approaches
The storm was ring-shaped...
Another shot of the outer rim
Getting darker, rain in the distance
Passing over the vehicles
Comm tower or Lightning Rod?
Great view of the Ring-like clouds
Amazing depth and character

Down Pour!
Incoming!
Zoomed in

Light Show
Caught the edge of a strike
Another, more defined strike
Breathtaking!
The sky is angry

• Slighty touched up version

On an unrelated note...
All Seeing Eyes
Don't lick the toad!
I love the focus on this shot

Sayonara!