George,

For those of you early morning news junkies, you may have awoken this morning to news of a large suicide bomb in Kabul. It was at the NATO/ISAF base which is across the street from my house. Luckily (for me, not for those who were killed) the base is large and the blast was about 3 or 4 blocks from me. I was outside the house waiting to get in a car when it went off. In addition to being extremely loud, I could feel the air compression in my ears. But I am fine, as are all at my place. Others are not so lucky. We lost about nine windows in our house and office next door. But thanks to blast film, no one got hit with flying glass. Attached is a picture of the gym in the lower floor of my house with the window buckled over the treadmill (now I have a reason for not working out!) The fun begins.....

Jim Heilman (Electronic mail, August 15, 2009)

Note: Jim is in Kabul assisting with the national election to be held August 20.