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Weather or Not

by ChrisHiggins from FOX 2

Last Post 10 days, 13 hours Ago


Hello hello hello ... from my undicloseable location in the middle of absolutely nowhere in the southwest Asia desert! 

I've been on station here for almost two weeks now and I'm finally settling into my position.  Major league stress due to weather conditions throughout the middle east the past few days.  Small scale features here are huge and any small thunderstorm can stir up more sand and dust than you could possibly imagine.  I have a lung full of the stuff already!  The job is rewarding but very very stressful.  I always have people hanging over my shoulder asking the same question... what's the weather, wind, etc. doing at point X,Y,Z...can we fly here there or wherever?  Actually, now that I think about it... that isn't that much different than what happens in the weather center at Fox 2 during severe weather :)   I'm sure Dave, Glenn and Angela would agree!

Another scorcher here today... 109 right now and by the weekend we are forecasting 114+.  It was weird checking the weather in STL a few days ago and seeing overnight lows in the lower 40s.  Will you guys ever pull into Spring or Summer?

I've also been following the deadly storms down in southwest MO.  I have strong connections to that area as I started my career down there.  Please say a special prayer for the folks down there in Newton County.  They are great folks and they have a lot of tears and hard work ahead of them.

Back here... the "desert diet" has been working well for me.  At the rate I'm going I will need all new suits when I get back later this year.  I still haven't completed the body clock adjustment though.  I get about 2-3 hours of sleep a night... the rest is just resting.  If that doesnt change soon... I'll have to result in some stronger "intervention".

It was nice to see some other folks from back home here on base.  There are quite a few folks from the STL area here.  In fact, I work just a stones throw from LABRAT's boyfriend.  I'm keeping an eye on him LAB... and he seems to be doing well.

The prayers from everyone have been helping me and the family.  My wife is doing welll and to the best of my knowledge... we have no more dead critters in the rafters.

Well, I need to get back to work...I hope to have pictures to post SOON.  Until then, feel free to post nice pictures in here of wet, green and colorful st. louis... I sure could use to see something... anything besides brown and rocks.  This place might as well be the moon...just a lot hotter!

Take care,

Capt H.

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 132
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Kevin_Steincross read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 4:51 AM

hey chris .. we miss ya. be careful!!!

ladytbonesteak read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 6:16 AM

We really miss ya Chris!!!

We are all wet here in the STL....you know rain, rain, rain and oh yeah POWER OUTAGES!

Take care and hurry back to us!

:~)

FOJGinMO read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 6:26 AM

Hi Chris!!!

Cool and raining here right now. I can't get out and plant my perennials at this rate. But Glenn is saying a dry spell is very near. No power issues down here after all that wind, thankfully.

Hope you can get into a better sleep mode soon. LuAnn

Medic06 read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 7:01 AM

Hey Chris! Thanks for the update! Stay safe and will see about getting you some pictures posted up here real soon :)

Peagcu read my blog
May 15, 2008 | 7:14 AM

Well captain we don't look like we're going to break into any big time warmup soon. Today is just a silly day. Rain and high about 60. I had nearly 4 inches (3.6 or so, still need to get a real rain gauge. This old plastic thing I have is about shot. ) here with the last system. The wet just doesn't want to stop.

Keep cool and stay safe.

JH32-4ever read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 8:53 AM

Hey Chris,
I miss seeing you doing weather, it just isn't the same without you. Stay safe and come back home soon!!!

wackymom read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 9:14 AM

I think I would enjoy a couple of days in the desert! We are all so tired of the cold & wet around here! I have to keep in mind that by July 15th we'll all be complaining about the heat & humidity...so I may as well take in stride. After all, this is St. Louis!

In all seriousness, Chris, stay safe. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

JH32-4ever read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 9:24 AM

wackymom,
I agree with you 100% about the all of the cold and wet.

USFemail-retired read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 10:22 AM

Hey Chris, glad to hear from you and to know that you're safe! Can't wait till you come back to Fox! I checked my garden and even tho it's like fall here, I have wax beans coming up in my garden. YAY! I'll get together some pics as soon as I can. Stay safe. :)

ChrisHiggins read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 10:37 AM

I'm the happiest man alive tonight....why you ask? Because I now have internet access at my bunk... what great deal that is.

I guess it is safe to say that the drought is over back there in the midwest. Looks miserably wet there right now in fact based on radar.

I have to laugh, because you guys are cold and wet... and from what I can tell... you haven't had much severe weather in STL locally. But I come all the way over here and I've had dust storms, 57kt wind gusts outside of Baghdad, and another round of the same heading that way late tonight and tomorrow. I've had more severe weather here then you guys have had back there...lol.

I look forward to seeing the pics you guys post of the green and storm clouds. You can't imagine a more lunar looking location than where I am right now.

debbie50 read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 10:50 AM

Chris,
I am so glad you wrote.I have been thinking about you,hoping you are ok.Stay safe and hurry home.I do not live in Stl,but live just across the river in Illinois.I can see the mississippi from rt3 here in town(HARTFORD Illinois)And at least you have sun side ,it is trying to rain again,the id's at school have a garden club today ,that if it is all yucky,but the kid's dont care about getting all yuck.Take care Chris and hurry home .And may God watch over you and your family ,now and for ever.
Debbie Mount

reb333 view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 11:16 AM

My gosh it's good to hear from you Chris.
You are missed in a big way.

rosie read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 11:49 AM

wow, chris, good to hear from ya ..keep them coming. i like it hot chri but sux to b you, 109 a lil much for me, take care...

JillSTL read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 11:50 AM

Here you go Chris!

It's a little green ... and very spring-like!







... I've been practicing those macro shots for the Bahamas this summer!


-- Jill --
The Web Chick

JillSTL read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 11:53 AM

... and here is one more shot Vera got of John Brubaker Wednesday morning ...



Of course John just shrugged when I asked him about it this morning. "What? It was about four miles away."


-- Jill --
The Web Chick

Wildredneck read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 12:16 PM

Dear Chris I miss you big guy i ask dave murray when i call in my temp did you here from chris im sure im driving the guy ABSULOUTLY INSANE!!!! im sure scared that youll be hurt i feel connected to you in some way for a reason you look neat in your army duds GOD BLESS YOU & GOD BLESS AMERICA

mr_wildflower read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 1:18 PM

Hope your having better weather there than we have here......

dschreib
May 15, 2008 | 1:45 PM

First off, good to hear from you Chris. Sorry to hear about the heat, wind, and lack of sleep. If you can get your hands on some cyclobenzaprene, it works wonders. Actually, it's a muscle relaxer (low back injury), but two hours after I take it I can't keep my eyes open. As far as the weather here, I'm enjoying actually having a spring season for a change. With the exception of not being able to practice with my daughter's softball team, it's nice not going straight from running the furnace to the A/C. The rain's getting a little old, but we can't have it all...
Anyway, stay safe and keep us posted.

jana read my blog view my photos
May 15, 2008 | 3:02 PM

Hi Chris!
It's good to hear from you! The rain is non-stop here, and Glenn is doing nothing to help!! LOL Ok he will probably kill me for saying that! But anyway, we need some major sunshine here soon! People are all in bad moods and all of our myspace messages are like "Send Sunshine!" LOL

I can't imagine what it must be like leaving your home and family! I will keep you and your family in my prayers! Is it possible to send you something? Could you email me at myfoxfamily2@yahoo.com and let me know what we can do to help!!

I will be looking forward to hearing from you, and please take care of yourself!

Peace always, Jana<3

scorpiofml
May 15, 2008 | 4:12 PM

Chris,

Glad to hear you are ok over there. Hurry home and god bless you and your family,,,,stay safe. We all miss you on Fox2

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ChrisHiggins

I am the weekend weather guy at Fox 2 and also a weather officer with the US Air Force Reserves. I recently returned back from deployment to the desert of the Middle East where I supported Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.

Member Since: 9/13/2006