Mr Sandman

After a year's worth of sandstorms, you'd think we'd be used to them by now and unimpressed. But they still leave me in awe. Last week we were driving along when we saw this-

It's been a while since we've had a good sandstorm, so I actually mistook this for rain at first. Back in Minnesota, dark skies like this usually mean severe weather is on the way and you should head for the basement. But this was just another day in Iraq, as it moved closer-

At this point inside the truck we have battened down the hatches, in Navy terms. Electronic devices, such as Ipods, go into zip lock bags. Any food you are munching on gets finished up, and an open can of pop disappears quickly. We watched as the truck in front of us reaches the wall-

And then we are inside the storm ourselves.

This one was brief, only about 20 minutes worth and then blue skies on the other side, but incredible nonetheless. I suppose an Iraqi would be awestruck by a blizzard back in Minnesota, which we take as normal. Still, I will be happy to be back in the land of 10,000 lakes, where only water falls from the sky.