My office

Since I can't really talk about what I do specifically, I'll just show you where I work. We're not really allowed to take phones/cameras into the work place, but there's nothing classified going on in my office when I took these, so all is safe.

My tent...

My name plate with my office mates.

My desk!

Things that don't suck ;-)

So, I tend to be negative. This post is my attempt at being positive!

Even though it feeks like  it some days, I don't work 24/7. Hell, some days it's just like a regular job, I put in my 8 hours and get out!

I've filled most of my off time with sleep and homework as I work towards my MBA. If I'm not at work or doing homework, I'm probably here at Crossfit Arifjan.

This weekend has been a lot of fun. I took advantage of some afternoons off since I didn't get any time off last week, and honestly, last week sucked balls, so I needed a break.

On Friday afternoon, I got my nails done. She also conned me into a facial, which will NEVER happen again. Basically,  I paid for her to dig painfully into my face for an hour. No thanks.

Anyway,  on Saturday, I went with friends to see Transformers 3! A little long, but fun to get out and do normal things.

Today I went to the Starbucks for coffee and chatting. Then off to the pool! Loads of fun. If it's going to be hot, at least we can enjoy it!

Then I came back and wrote the paper I've been dragging my feet on. Next week is the last week of this class thank goodness!  Although I'm not sure I'm ready for accounting...

Ode to indoor plumbing...

Indoor plumbing, how I have missed you. Let me count the ways:

One: This is the shower/latrine trailer. On the positive side,  they are cleaned by lovely third country nationals who are usually quite friendly ladies. Although sometimes it's males, so then the latrine is closed. Always when I have to go!!! LOL.  There is AC too.

The shower curtains are an abomination.  We have even made up a funny little interpretive dance for when it touches your bare skin and you freak.out.  I would love some cold water and to be able to shower by myself.  The water is held in a tank outside, so when the ambient air temperature never drops below 90 degrees,  there will be no cold water. There is a bit of overcrowding going on here right now, so there's always someone wanting that shower.

Two: This gloriousness is affectionately called a hot box. Ummm, because it's hot. And no AC. And a tiny little box that is a glorified portapotty.  They do have a sink. Also, I don't have to clean those either, lol.

Three: The portapotties.  These do have a regular toilet in them, so that is nice. They are also hot as balls. They also generally have some amusing artwork. I find there are some trends with portapotty graffiti. The drawings are nearly always in the male accessed latrines. The ones designated as female only never have drawings.  They are also almost always dick pics.  Very accurate and detailed. When they attempt to draw female body parts, they fail miserably. This leads me to believe those that draw graffiti on bathroom walls are young, shall we say, inexperienced males.

There are a few places with indoor plumbing. That is an exciting experience! However, even the indoor bathrooms require that you not flush anything other than bodily functions, so, um. Gross.

I can't wait to be able to stumble directly from my bed to the bathroom in just 5-10 steps in whatever clothes I want...or don't want, lol, instead of waking up at 3 am and trying to negotiate with my bladder!

Who loves coffee?!? This girl!

LOL.  Starbucks is open 24/7. We have 2 on post. Green Bean is on post too!

Dunkin donuts is at Camp Patriot. I found a Caribou Coffee in Faalaha too! 

#yummy  # spoiled

It's Saturday Night

And I ain't got nobody...

OK, it's not Saturday night anymore. I just finally figured out how to get my phone to translate from Arabic,  lol.

Anyway, not long ago, Rachel was at a sleepover and Mike was over at a friend's house. I'm doing the same old thing...get ready to go to a meeting , and getting ready to go to bed, so that I can do it all again tomorrow.  Yay.

I feel deserted. Disconnected. It's hard to know that life goes on without you. I know it's also hard to be the one left at home...the ones left struggling to find a new normal.

This is where problems happen. "My alone is more alone than yours". Where hurt and anger build up - disappointment and resentment.

A downfall to being "strong" is that no one thinks it affects me so deeply. Hell, sometimes I can even fool myself. But, the truth is, I'm so fucking lonely. So sad and yet irritated that I'm surrounded by people constantly.

How can you be lonely surrounded by people? It's simple. I didn't pick these people. I don't even like most of these people.  Yes, I have friends here,  some are even good friends, but they aren't my people.

I'm jealous that my people at home still have each other. They still have their favorite places, their favorite things, their freedom to do what they want.

And yet I know what they want is me. They want me back home. It's still hard to deal with an empty spot, especially for Mike and Rach.

So - I work at being happy that they are having fun and continuing life...what choice do they have? I work at keeping my big mouth shut when I want to be snarky and say something stupid.  I remember that while my hubby is out having fun with his friends, he'd rather be at dinner with me, and while Rachel is having a blast with her friends, she wishes I was snuggling her to sleep instead. I don't want people to not tell me when they're having fun.

I just hope they understand why my voice sounds a little sad when I say, "that sounds so fun", or that they have some patience if my snarky comments sneak out, or I Debby Downer their FB post. I hope we can all learn from past mistakes. At least this time I know it happens, that it's normal and that we can work through it with some patience,  understanding, and love. Night all!

Leaving on a jet plane...

Don't know when I'll be back again!

We're waiting to get ready to wait. Sitting here for 3 hours to get to the airport.

That's one set of our bags...

Silliness at linen turn-in.

Resiliency day...

New Army term for day off. Although this day off means hang out on post all day.

Luckily, I asked the Chiefs if MSG Ballowe and I could escape with them. We went to main post. Dena got her hair dyed and trimmed. I just wanted my nails done. No one on post does nails. Boo!

So I bought some polish and did it myself tonight. While watching Bridesmaids. And drinking Diet Tonic Water. I wanted Seltzer water, but that's as close as I could get.

A nice night overall, but made me miss my sisters and girlfriends.  :-(

Random barracks pics...

Our time here is coming to a close, thank goodness. Maybe Saturday.  I'm not really looking forward to a 20 hour flight, but it will be good to get out of here and get started on the mission.

This is from our balcony during the "snow storm".

Sunrise.

Still representing C3, even if I can't wear it outside of the barracks, lol.

Inside. This is one of four sides with the showers/toilets in the middle. At least the bathroom is inside!

Kitty. ..kitty...kitty!

Aren't they adorable?!?!  Exercise is over...known in Army land as ENDEX. Whohoo! Although now the boredom!

Ice Pocolypse 2014

So crazy. It's 30 degrees and ice everywhere.  The entire post shut down.

 Which worked out for me because I'm sick, sick, sick.

I'm fucking exhausted and surrounded by germs so my immune system sucks. Major cold that is making me super duper whiney. I slept most of today, and I'm going to take a bunch of cold medicine and hopefully sleep more!

I'm a crazy light sleeper, which is a pain in the ass in general, but when sleeping with 60 other people,  it's wretched.

The main noise I can't phase out is snoring. So of course there's a woman sleeping next to me who snores like a freight train. She keeps it steady all night long from the second her head hits the pillow ti the moment she wakes up.

Add in locker slamming, everyone's music,  movies, and now the endless fucking twerking videos/dance attempts...it's unreal.

Occasionally,  some grown ass women decide to play jackass games and that just pisses me right off. Quit yelling, quit running, quit acting like assholes.

I understand that people in general are selfish creatures, but honestly. I do not understand how these people, especially the younger Soldiers can disregard others so blatently...the lack of respect for superiors and even ach other is crazy.

Yet another way I know I'm done...

BCGs...

Ah, Army issue glasses. AKA BCGs, birth control glasses. Thwy ate quite a bit more stylish than when I was in basic training, but still not quite what I'm looking for.

I'm trying to decide if I want to buy a pair of Oakleys. I'll probably splurge on the sunglasses, but maybe not the regular glasses.  No contacts allowed.  It certainly makes sense...sand can be a real problem in the eye.

On a more serious note, I guess the seperation is really kicking in for my baby girl. She sent a pretty sad text,  so I skypws her for a while ...we haven't been doinf rhat. It eeally eats up data, so I'm trying ro wait until we're on a wireless nerwork to skype or video chat too much.

My poor baby was crying so much. :-( She's a trooper, but was really struggling last night. My sister had warned me that she was having a hard time and very attached to her lovies...the bear, blanket piece and the blanket from my girlfriends. She's sad because she can't have them at school.

I knew it would be hard after 2-3 weeks.  That's the amount of time she's uaed to me being gone. She almost seemed more upset about being upset so early! I told her her feelings are valid no matter how long it's been.

Poor sugar - I just wish I could snuggle her and make it all better. :-(

The Return of the D-bags...

Got your attention?  LOL. I've been neglectful...again. However am I going to make millions blogging if I don't post?!?  Ha!

Anyway, I'm back. I'm packing my d-bag. Are you snickering? I do every time someone says it...and it's been a big topic of conversation around here. It's really just the fourth bag of vrap I am bringing with me to Kuwait. Four out of five if you count my carry on.

Yes, my sheets are pink...Rach insisted. And you can see my little pink bear peeking his head out from under my pillow. My mom gave him to me and Rach gave him lots of loves, so he stays. Stop judging!

 

I'm going to use the blog as a way to keep track of my life for the next 10 months, and to let people know how I'm doing.

Some things that don't violate OPSEC...

I am headed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. I work in the Brigade S-4 as the maintenance NCOIC (noncommissioned officer in charge).  We make sure people have their stuff...food, water, supplies, equipment (and that they run - that's my part).

So, "see you"!