Life On Mars?

The sand (and, apparently, thunder) storm season is upon us here in Ramadi. The dense clouds of dust kicked up by the winds around here create a very other-worldly atmosphere. During the day, everything is a sombre orange hue. It certainly doesn't feel like I'm "in Kansas anymore," so to speak. The scene is downright eerie, and definitely makes for an interesting break in the boredom that is life in this camp. The limited visibility affects travel, as one might imagine. Even walking around can be quite the chore-you get the unpleasantness of gritty sand in your mouth, sand scratching your eyes, and the sense that taking a breath would be worse than smoking a pack of unfiltered cigarettes. Thankfully, the dust storm was followed by the thunderstorm, knocking all the annoying particles to the ground. Unfortunately, every time it rains in Ramadi, the place turns into mud city. It's like that old commercial, the one where that English gentleman at the teaparty is droning on and on about some safari he was on--"mud everywhere...mud, mud, mud, etc". You know the one I'm talking about, right? Anyway...