The worst sandstorm ever in Iraq

Satelite image of Iraq, surrounding area including Kuwait and the Persian Gulf:

The worst sand storm ever seen by residents of Iraq blew through the second week in July. We saw the effects of the storm here in Kuwait the next week. It was pretty amazing how my knowledge of storms and seasons still applied here in this climate. Before the storm the weather was really calm and the temperatures dropped. After the storm, the winds were strong and the air actually had a slightly fresh quality to it. I was amazed by that since the air has been so polluted and dusty since I got here. Maybe the air will improve with the winter months...

The first 2 pictures I received from someone else. The last 3 pictures are pictures of the water in the Persian Gulf taken from my apartment window. You can see the wind really pushing the waves. That is a Kuwaiti Navy vessel parked outside my window 24/7. It's hanging down wind from it's anchor.

I was lucky in that I was working in the office and only had to go outside for brief periods. The temperatures are also only going into the 110' range. I don't think we have gone over 120' too many times. So again, I am very lucky!

from the news:

Hundreds of Iraqis have turned to hospitals in seek of medical help due to the ongoing sandstorm in the country. The storm has been continuing for over a week, and citizens are suffering from breathing problems and clogged eyes. Those who have asthma are especially vulnerable. The storm has caused multiple flight cancellations and delays as well as changes in the Middle East visiting program of Joe Biden, the US vice-president. In addition, supply of electricity has been disrupted in Baghdad, since all plants had to be closed for a clean-up. Many stores are also closed. As a member of the Iraqi health ministry says, it is “the worst sandstorm we have ever had in Iraq”. Among the reasons for such strong storms are the shortage of water in the rivers and prolonged droughts.

oh my pants

the super glue has left a drip mark that looks wet. Since I love these pants and planned on having them for a long time, I know anticipate the forever conversation - "You dripped something on your pants." "oh, thanks, but it's super glue from 10 years ago"
ack.... and it did pull some skin off my knee that hurts more than it should for the size of the mark it left.

The Domino effect of super glue

So the water filter in the kitchen has been leaking. The door handle on the front door has been coming off. My bathroom door is loose. The shower head has all the little plastic pieces that squeeze the water into a jet broke off(well, I did that trying to fix it.. oops).

So I bought a new shower head and put that on. Easy.

Called the buidling haras to fix the water leak. He came, looked, and then went for his tool box. Dumb. I called for a plumber.

So I decided to work on the door while he was here. The face plate was loose on the outside and one of the screw holes was stripped. I put super glue on both screws and screwed them back in with my pocket multi-tool. Easy. The handle comes off leaving the shaft sticking out. It matches up square shaft inside square handle hole. So I put some super glue on the shaft and put the handle back on. Leave it sit.

I go back and check on the dude in the kitchen. He put in a new filter! How nice. He says all good. I thank him. So I ask him to look at the door that won't shut right. We like to shut the kitchen door so we can't hear the washing machine. It hits in the bottom corner. He gets out a screw driver and chips away at the corner of the frame. I'm impressed. I didn't think of that. I was going to sand it down. Then he tries to bend the door. I'm no longer impressed.

I go back to check on the front door and let him be stupid by himself. I grab the handle and now the handle comes off with the shaft attached! Crap. Not what I wanted to happen! So I go get the super glue. I put glue on the other end of the shaft and hope I am not permanently fixing the door handle in one position. As I am putting the glue on all four sides and thinking ahead, instead of focusing, I drip super glue down the front knee of my $70 sun pants that I love. Shit! I shove the handle back in and hope for the best and run for the bathroom. The label doesn't say anything other than flush with water. I know better than to believe that but I try anyways. I change into some shorts. The glue went through to my knee. Don't care about my knee. I rinse the pants in hot water. The drain plug doesn't work. I put a plastic bag in the sink with the pants in it. I turn the water on.

I go to check on the dude. He's done all good. He leaves. I start to clean up the water on the floor. I hear it.... Crap. I run back to the bathroom and the floor is covered in water. But as always, there is the silver lining. The entire apartment is tile and there is raised door jam on the floor to the bathroom. There is also a drain in the middle of the floor. So I get the squeegy and presto, the floor is almost dry. I drain the sink and put my pants in the wash.

And best of all, the front door handle is fixed and works like a charm.

Let's hope the pants come out ok....

anxious

I woke up anxious about going to work. I don't like that feeling. I feel contracted and in a hurry. I called my boss yesterday and reminded him to walk my resume over to his boss at the big admin office. I am anxious if I will get another job before next week when I have to start working outside. Normally I am of the belief that will work and I only worry a little bit. I think the screwy sleep schedule of being on the night shift and then having random sleep on the weekends as left me vulnerable to my negative thoughts.
I believe things will work out, and may even work in a way that I didn't anticipate and it may even be better than I thought. I always find the silver lining.
This is my current tool to help me get back on track:

http://www.intuitionzone.com/morning/

Hmm, I seem to have trouble with java on this page.

good morning sunshine

I am sitting in my room eating breakfast. Nescafe Gold instant coffee. Too lazy to make real coffee. Too lazy to buy tea from the store when I can procure it from the dining facility but seemed to have failed to remember that yesterday. And eating the Ethiopian grain dish that my roommate made. It's spicy too. Really going to wake up my day! She added potato and carrot this time. There was a small chunky brown thing in it too but I avoided that. She's at work so I couldn't ask what it was. We share food a little so it's nice. Like if I buy a box of plums or something, she eats some. When she cooks she always offers. If it wasn't for her use of sardines, I would eat more of her cooking.

So here I sit, coffee, mushy yummy food, clear view of the water, and I just called my big boss to remind him per his request. He is hand walking my request for interview and resume over to his boss at the main admin building. I am hoping to work at the ID office. I think I would get a security clearance which would be a huge bonus! I could get almost any job after that. I would wear the same pants to work but a polo shirt, hair down, and regular shoes. That's a pretty nice uniform! I like wearing the uniform pants because that saves me from having to buy pants for work that aren't too sexy. Which is a challenge for hot little me.

I realized a few days ago that I am in for a whole-nother wave of attention. When I switch to day shift, there will be thousands of contractors on base each day that haven't seen me yet. And if I get a job where I can wear my hair down... It's going to be a feeding frenzy.

whoo, hold on. I need some acid reducer pills. Coffee has been giving me heart burn lately and I just added that spicy food on top of it. wowzers.

Ok. Today I am doing laundry, working on some resumes, paying bills, and maybe going up to Kuwait City or some touristy thing. My friend has the car today from his shift so we go have some fun. We both need to run some errands like the grocery store and the tailor.

have a great day.
Smile.

the plumber just left

It's 11:15 am and I have been up since 2 PM yesterday. When I got home this morning from work, the maids arrived as usual to clean. They use the "rinse" hose in the bathroom to clean the floor. I scrubed an extra spot around the drain and decided to rinse it. The hose wouldn't turn off. I have been waiting for the last hour for the plumber to come and turn off the water and replace the handle. He tried to tell me his name and how to call him if I needed anything but all I wanted to say was thank you and good bye. I am so tired I can barely see. I just work 5 - 14 hour days. I am going to sleep for a measely 6 hours and go to dinner. cheerio.....

everything changes every day, no, make that 2 days

I could have post a new status of my job almost every day this week. One day I'm going to be in the office. Two days later I'm back outside doing security work.

What I am talking about is what is going to happen to me in a week. I am night shift now and we are switching to days. The admin office is full during the day. Supposably one of them was going to nights with their shift. But the Admin supervisor said the office was full and I couldn't work there even though my supervisors wants me there. Hmmm, I think I might dilute the office a little... is the problem. I need to work on my tan.

But my big boss said he is going to hand walk my resume and job posting over to the big-big boss on Sunday for another admin department. He even asked me to call him Sunday morning to remind him so I think he really intends to do it. I got to work with the big-big boss this week and his staff on a little project and made a good impression. So keep your fingers crossed. I might be out of my security uniform by next week!

Editors note: Friday and Saturday are the weekend here. Sunday is our Monday.

Romaine Lettuce

My kingdom for Romaine Lettuce.

Romaine lettuce is so healthy for you where as iceburg lettuce is just water and fiber. There are several dining facilities available to me. The midnight meal for the soldiers has romaine lettuce and facility closest to where I work has iceburg lettuce. Soldiers always have the better food! So I spend a fair amount of energy trying to get a ride or borrow a car to get to the other facility. Last night I successfully borrowed the training vehicle and I think I will be able to repeat that most nights.
For a snack later on, we fill paper cups with food and put the plastic lid on it. Most people take grapes or donuts. I take carrot & celery sticks. Last night I ate a bowl of lettuce and then filled a cup to go. People must be getting used to me because no one even blinked that I was eating lettuce on the bus on the ride home!

Admin Diva in the making

the big boss just told me that I'll probably be in the office when we switch to days... I am relieved but not counting my chickens yet. He's a little too slick for me. I owe my man for this saving grace (working inside out of the heat and sun). He told me exactly what to do. It's a tragedy that our relationship ended but yet he was always there for me. He will be happy for me.

Death and Life

Death is a half inch and one second away at any given point. Life is right here and now on top of you. People spend too much time worrying about death out there and not enough time living in the here and now.
The same could be said of fear, insecurities, anxiety, and any other negative emotion.

I have been loved before, been hurt before, left with broken heart, but I am still here, still ok, better for it. I will love again. I will have a broken heart again. I don’t put any energy into avoiding the inevitable. Focusing on the broken part brings it about sooner and more often. I choose to focus on the love. Therefore I have more love in my life.


One of my favorite quotes:

If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears.

by Glenn Clark

Intuition

My intuition is getting stronger... I saw it coming. I broke up with my man. He didn't learn anything that I can tell. I learned that I like who I am even if it means getting hurt once in a while. Have an open and patient heart. Know what is good for you, listen to your inner voice, and you can never go wrong for too long.

Primanti Brother's sandwich in the Middle East

I thought maybe I had found something from Kuwait that I liked, but it turns out Falafel is from Eqypt originally. It is now commonly found through out the Middle East.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falafel

First, Falahel is a vegetable meatball. Sometimes made with mashed fava beans, it is more commonly made with chickpea and mixed with tahini (sesame seed paste),rolled into balls, and then fried. The falahel I had today was green though. The guy said it had leaves from the plants of some herbs. He said it was all vegetable and very good for your health. "Eat everyday... no problems...good for you" It was really good and I will definitley have it again.

So here's the sandwich part. I said I would have some falahel and all of sudden it turned into a sandwich. Pita bread would more traditional but these guys grabbed a hot dog bun. I stopped asking why a long time ago and just smile. So they grab this hot dog bun, start putting 2 or 3 falahel balls in it, some french fries, some cucumber/tomato dressing (I pulled off the tomatoes), some eggplant which I stopped immediately, and some other liquid dressing. At this point it went on the heater thing that I guess could be described as a giant panini sandwich toaster. So I'm eating this most interesting sandwich that tasted very good but the french fries were the kicker. Falahel balls are traditional. When did they decide to start putting french fries on it? I guess everything is better with french fries!

This is a fast food joint. Sometimes they are called shwarma stands. It's a little room with a counter and the cooking area right behind the register. There are usually tables and chairs outside but not inside. The falahel sandwich is wrapped in wax paper and served on a tin plater. If you eat it at the stand, you always get a little plastic bag with some vinegared vegetable slices. One or two pieces of carrot, one piece that is some kind of cucumber, and one piece of a white root vegetable. Again, I don't ask why or what. Just eat it and say thank you. A box of facial tissues was placed at my table for napkins. This seems to be common too. I would think napkins would be cheaper but a box has a better chance of staying put in the wind than a pile of napkins. A box is also easier to move from table to table and take back inside or behind the counter after the customer leaves.

busy week

the lack of new posts is due to a busy week. I got home late from work every day this week. It made me feel constantly behind. I used the yahoo IM a couple of days on the bus so I didn't have time to post then. So far this weekend I spent most of my time with my man and today running errands. So everything is ok; It was just one of those weeks!

You know it's hot when...

... I am keeping the air conditioner on level 3 cold at 7 PM at night instead of turning it down to level 1 when I arrive at the office.
... when you start sweating from your apartment door to getting on the bus
...

I will keep update this as August grinds on.

filter on the washing machine

I didn't really pay attention to the brown thing hanging on the wall until my clothes starting coming out of the wash dingy and gray. I checked it out and it's a filter that hasn't been changed in a long time! So I took a picture of it and went to the hardware store. Although there was little English spoken, a picture can say a thousand words. So later that day I come home with a completely white filter and I don't really believe it's the right one but I'm trusting the guy. My man helped me take it apart and behold, it is the right filter. The new filter has been in for 2 weeks now and it's already a light brown. gross. So this is why my clothes are a mess. I see other people wearing white shirts that are still looking nice and I have been watching the people in my buidling too. I thought maybe there was some rust or debris in the water tanks on the roof. But other people are getting clean clothes. What's wrong in my apartment? I might have to bother the harras next weekend about it.

New favorite radio station

I was listening to B94 from Pittsburhg but the music got redundant; imagine that. I found all 80’s music on Boston 80’s channel. That was too limited for my preference as well. I just found 96.5 Wayback channel out of Hartford CT. It's under the 70's/80's pop category. Oh my gosh, I actually want to call off of work to stay home and listen to music. I didn’t want to go to sleep last night. All my favorites. These are all on CBS radio player internet streaming radio.

moving right along

When you are gone from your apartment for 15 hours a day, time flies. I can’t believe another week has gone by. I haven’t had much to say for several reasons. Kuwait sucks and I don’t like to constantly be negative.
To tell the Kuwait story would require me to be looking for things to tell or setting up situations to have a story to tell. I would rather turn a blind eye to what I don’t want to see, be positive and make the best of it.
It seem like if I want to get pinched, I have to put on my traditional Friday night mall clothes from back home and go to the mall alone. This is only moderately risky. I got better things to do than cruise the mall.
I can’t write about work on this blog for security and anonymity reasons. I might start a semi-fictional story with work as the basis because there is some seriously funny material there.
Or might just spend more time with My Man. Yeah, I like the sound of that better. We are back together. Long story short, all you need to know is that we talked and we are working things out. I can always learn something new. Maybe he will too. Understanding, compassion, and communication won the day. As I said before, I probably won’t be writing too much about us out of respect for his privacy. But I am very happy. He writes too. We are reading each other’s stuff.
So I have thinking about the title and purpose of this blog for about a week. My thesis fell flat on its face. I didn’t get pinched, didn’t get to confront anybody. All anybody wants to know is if I am married, children, and/or boyfriend. I haven’t’ had too many intelligent conversations. Even my cab drivers are driving me nuts. The dude from Afghanistan wants me to take him to America or get him a job on post. Bj wants, well, I’m not sure; he just keeps asking me to keep in touch. He calls once a week. You do the math.
So that eliminates 3 of my main topics: culture, work, and men. What’s left? Ha-Ha So I will update my friends and families on activities, and day to day funny stuff. Probably vent a little bit. And share my happiness journey. That is a deeply internal ongoing search for the mental power to determine my attitude and my own happiness.
I want to focus on things that expand me, not contract me. These stories will flow naturally out of me. More so than the negative focus. It’s just not in my nature.
Superficially speaking, the search for a title, well it’s like searching or deciding on a tattoo. How do you decide what represents you and what you believe? What can you put out there in front of the whole world to see? I would prefer the title to be funny. I don’t want to just be a journal of an American living in Kuwait. That’s been done and you know I like to be an original. Oh, I got it. High Maintenance in the Middle East. Hmm, some variation of that. I plan on indulging all my senses and desires during my time in Kuwait. I plan on leaving this shithole looking as young as I do now and that is going to take some serious work. But if I get a job in Iraq or Afghanistan, that will change. How will High Maintenance live in the barracks? I can be hard core, if I have to! Let me think on this perspective for a while. What do you guys want to hear about? I’m always thinking commercialization too. Can you see it on the travel channel? High Maintenance Survival Guide: How to keep a sand storm from ruining your complexion.

I'm in trouble now...

between the Hilton resort and the organic cafe I just found, I'm going to be broke! J/K but it'll be hard to control my spending. For 5KD or $17 I got organic spinach, vegetable, lentil soup that should last several days. And I got some organic spelt spiral noodles. If I am reading the label correctly there is lots of protein in them. I also got a can of spice ginger soda. It's tasty!
oh, the cute little Phillipino man at the store walked me out, and out of hearing range of the Kuwaiti woman sitting inside, to tell me he will give me a 15% discount the next time I come. He hopes we can be friends. "Do you have family?" "no" "oh, still single!"..
"yeah, see ya next week"

Bling Bling & Bang-Bang

I have watched Anthony Bourdain travel to several Middle Eastern countries and enjoyed the hospitality afforded to an American male. Many of the males here have been invited to the country clubs, the homes of Kuwaiti males for tea, for tennis, for boat parties. I didn’t anticipate any of these courtesies being extended to me and I was right. The only thing any TCN, Kuwaiti, or for that matter American male wants to know, is if I have a family. Meaning am I married with a husband and kids. I did ask around about the hand gesture with the two index fingers coming together parallel. It means married or boyfriend. The Kuwaiti and/or Muslims don’t believe in pre-marital sex so they rush to get married. As a result the divorce rate is very high in Kuwait.
As I am writing this on paper for later transfer to the computer I have discovered that it is either too hot or too dusty outside for my papermate pen to work. My page is covered in scribbles and angry slashes trying to get it to work.
Back to Kuwait. Some of the guys that were working here before say things are already changing. A few years ago the women were walking behind the men at the mall. Now you can see them walking side by side and talking to each other. I even saw a little finger touching and for a brief moment a couple intertwined their fingers in public. I don’t know if they were married; probably not, there were happy. Ha-ha just kidding. I also saw a pregnant woman and her husband walking in the mall, her holding his pinky finger. I saw another couple walking arm in arm.
The other thing happening to Kuwait is hip-hop. IT IS SO FUNNY. Pimp my ride has nothing on some of these vehicles. Lights all over, D&C upholstery, rims, the works. Hip-Hop, gangster rap, and money to blow is a dangerous combination that will lure the youth of Kuwait away from the traditional ways. In my high school, the biggest druggies and trouble makers were the wealthy kids. They were the ones who could afford expensive habits like clothes, cars, drugs, women, etc. The really crazy part is that the Kuwaitis are so wealthy that everything is disposable to them, even a $50k or $70k car. It’s nothing to them. They can buy a new one when they wreck this one. Nothing like a little “keeping up with the Jones” to change a culture.
There is a hierarchy on the roads too. The bigger or more expensive your vehicle, then that vehicle has the right away. They don’t wear seat belts; they drive with children on their lap (men & women) and talk on their cell phone which is illegal. So they’re driving all crazy, cutting people off and expecting all concerned to yield to them because they are Kuwaiti. They also drive at night without their lights on because it’s not cool to do so. The young Kuwaiti males like to talk like a rapper or dress like the people in the music videos on the multiple MTV channels that run over here. They like the bling bling and have the money to buy it.
The women are said to be promiscuous. They may be wearing an abaya or some version of covering but they will talk to a man without looking at him. Then they will pass their number to him and move on. There is enough physical abuse against women that they will chance trouble to meet an American. The American risks getting his ass beat too for seeing a Kuwaiti woman. A highly repressed person will behave in a counter effort to the repression seeking the withheld need. I can’t verify that this happens but it makes sense. Nobody wants to be alone, or beat, or put down. They are going to seek companionship, love, and freedom. Like I said, unfortunately most of what I will tell you will be second hand information since I am missing out on a lot.
I have even heard something that is extreme but still possible. The Romans were like this too: Men are for pleasure and women are for babies. They are extremely anti-gay in Muslim religion but something is amiss. Men walk hand in hand. They act in a suggestive way to each other. I have seen these two things. I can see a culture from another perspective, not just filtered with my own eyes, and I tell you – they are intimate with each other. They might not call it gay but they are together. I think something is being lost in translation. I am sure something is going on that outsiders are not told about. I am sure I will be writing about this again….

ok, so maybe they play Whitesnake all the time

ok, so maybe Boston's 80's channel, http://player.play.it/player/player.html?v=4.1.25&id=2105&onestat=wbzw-fm , plays Whitesnake all the time. Well, Whitesnake wrote the songs to my life and I love it.
I found a place at the mall where I can get a spinach wrap for about $3. I spent some time talking to a Phillipino at Caribou Coffee. We discussed taxes, coffee vs Turkish coffee vs cappucino and Canadian imigration. He was very effiminate (affeminate,...) he behaved in a feminine way. I think he was freaking out his Indian co-worker a little. It was funny. They were nice. I'll stop back next weekend for a chat.
I talked to my cab driver, BJ too. He's from Yemen, lived in America for a while, and came over for a business deal with his friend. As it seems to happen a lot here, his friend screwed him over and he's driving a cab now. He dresses, speaks, and mostly acts Western. Which if you don't know, we - Americans, are westerns. Asian, Indians, Phillipinos, etc are easterns. I don't like all these categories but they make a difference over here. Anyways, BJ speaks excellent english including slang, inuendo, and humor. He has been a great resource. He's always telling me to be a good. Ha Ha. He's muslim and wants me to be behave. Cab drivers know all your business. They are the ones taking you places in the middle of the night that you shouldn't be going to! LOL. He is tolerant and willing to educate and discuss issues with Americans. I think I've mentioned him before. He's going to help me buy a new phone this coming weekend. You see as a Westerner, and as a female, they will charge me the most. I go into the store and pick out what I want. Then leave. BJ will go in after me, ask for the same thing and get a better price. I come back in and finish the deal. I want the Nokia N97. big bucks and cool stuff. But I'll have it forever and it will work in the states too when I get back. I will be able to blog from my phone at any time too. I will also be able to chat on IM. I'm excited.

It's been a chicken or beef morning

I felt like shit this morning. I slept from 9:30 am to 7 pm and laid in bed dreaming for an hour or so before I got up. I was a little dehydrated from not drinking water for so long. I ordered delivery for dinner, ate, and did a little computer work. It's hard being quiet but awake and lively when there are 2 people sleeping in the apartment. By 1:30 am I was tired again and went back to sleep. I had the worst headached when I woke up this morning at 6 am. I ate cereal and dranks some tea and water. I felt better for a few minutes and continued to drink water. But then I started feeling like I was going to throw up. And the 2 aceteminiphin.... weren't working either. My mood wasn't helping either. My brain hurt. Everything sucked. I'm so dehydrated from sleeping too much. I need sleep. I need water. This whole place sucks. My bad crazy roommate is home today for some reason. Again, her very existance puts me into tense state. She's cooking and it stinks. She doesn't use the exhaust fan. My maids were here yesterday and the place was spotless. Now there are crumbs everywhere. She's grating on my nerves. I drank a glass of water with apple cider vinegar fast and took a hot shower. The headache began to ease up. Afterwards I rubbed jojoba oil all over my body. My skin is starting to look better, the red dots are gone, the trench foot is clearing up, and my nails are starting to grow again. Thank goodness I am in the office. Now I'm feeling better. So I am eating dessert - Egyptian Kilo which is another version of baklahva - walnuts, honey, crunchy pastry. delicious.
I almost booked another massage today at the Hilton Spa. I've decided to wait until next weekend (payday) and sign up for a 3 month membership - $500. I get 5 massages, unlimited access to the aqua medic pool, sauna, steam, ice room, and Turkish bath. I also get 4 free passes for a friend. So I can get a massage every 2 or 3 weeks and use the Turkish bath and sauna on the other weekends. Then enjoy the private beach, have lunch in one of the 5 restaurants, and then finally come home. If I get a boyfriend he can use the free passes and we can enjoy the day at the beach and fine dining.
I'm waiting because I am enjoying having money in my account for a change! lol. And I need to work on 2 resumes today, go to the grocery store, and finish my laundry. i also like having enough money to pay for a plane ride home. Just in case something happens here and I need to get out fast. If something happens and I loose my job, I have to pay for a plane ride home. If I should break a Kuwaiti law of even the simpliest type, if there is potential jail time, I need to get the next flight out before they put a travel ban on my passport. Unfortunately my passport is still being at processing waiting for my residency card. They say you can get it back in 24 hours if something happens. This might sound like I am being paranoid but when you live in a foreign country and are subject to their laws, not all of which you know, then you have to be ready. And people do leave in the middle of night. I have already seen it happen. Chicken or beef? referring to the meal selection on the plane. Hit a camel - chicken or beef? Offend His Royal Highness the Amir - chicken or beef? Get in a car accident with a Kuwaiti citizen - chicken or beef?
If you hit a camel, you have to pay for that camel and 3 generations of camels. it's something like $90,000. If you get into a car accident with a Kuwaiti, you are at fault. Pay for it all. It costs $100 just to get a police report. You need the police report to get your car fixed. They won't touch it without the report. It's so bad that the major rental companies won't rent to people who work for my company because too many of us have gone chicken or beef on them and left the rental company with a wrecked car.
ok, the sugar is kicking in. I need to get ready to go to the store before it gets too late in the day. For me, this morning, it was almost chicken or beef or vegetarian... but I think I can hang in here...

sex nazi's

Boston Legal is not as much fun to watch when they cut the sex scenes out. All the TV shows and movies are edited for content. The movie theatre looks nice but none of us are really willing to pay to see an edited movie. There are bootleg copies available for about $3 a piece but some are really bad. Somebody will video tape their TV from their couch and sell that! To make it worse, somebody will get up off the couch in the middle of the movie and walk across the front of the TV!! Some others go to the theatre and video tape the movie from their seat. Of course the audio sucks on all these copies. There are better copies that were made somehow electronically. I have seen one that was missing the left and right sides of the screen or off center. The audio is better but maybe off by a second or two. They are at least tolerable to watch. damn, here comes the end of Boston Legal,... a bedroom scene, and it will leave me hanging mid breathe...

It's the weekend!

In a few hours I will be done with work for this week. I spent the whole week in the office and it looks like I will be back in the office next week too. I don't ask any questions. I show up and do what I am told. I think they like. No trouble here. I am starting to get a little self assurant that I know how things work around here. People are talking already about me being in admin so fast. Most females mess up and make mistakes at their job site. They put them in admin to keep them from fucking up worse. logical, right? Like if a female gets caught sleeping with a pillow and blanket at her job site a few times,... she might end up in admin. But you know I have been pulling my weight around here and doing a good job so it's confusing people. So that previously mentioned female is now somebody's secretary and I haven't been able to determine if her position is permanent or not. I am doing her old job right now. So for now my position is still a special detail or temporary assignment.
Well, socially things are up and down. In the course of my work I had interactions with a guy that works on base. He got my name off of my uniform, asked his friend to pass me his phone number. I sent him a text message saying hello. He was on base to go see a movie. I had him swing around my area to say hello. I did not meet him at my office. Don't want him to know any more about me then necessary. We chatted for a bit and I remembered who he was. But I'm not interested in going out so I told him I was seeing somebody. I don't know if it's true since I haven't heard from my man. But I am not interested in this particular guy, I'm not interested in started something right now. So that was exciting for about 10 minutes.
Somebody asked how it is making friends with all these guys over here. It's tenuous. You don't know if they are capable of being just friends. Or are hoping for more. When they fade away after a few weeks, I know they were hoping for more and can't be friends anymore, or got bored and moved on. I don't spend any time with the guys I started with at the beginning. I might talk to them once in a while but it's so casual and redundant it's almost not worth the effort. And if you don't have the same days off, you will never see each other.
It's also hard because this place is full of rejects or people running away from stuff at home. You could talk to somebody for months and not know that they owe child support, have 3 ex-wives, and drink too much when they are in the states. If they don't talk about it, you never know. Almost everybody is here for the money. People who do things just for the money, well, you need to be cautious. I am here for the money. I got bills to pay. I also wanted the experience of traveling and living in another country. NOBODY picks Kuwait or any other Muslim country as their first destination for travel and experience. I would like to teach English in Japan but it's not enough money. So there you go. Don't trust me either. I'm here to get in and get out.
Having 2 days off a week and money to spend and being surrounded by guys makes it hard not to want some version of a real life. I would rather work 6 days a week, live on base, never leave base, and make more money faster - get out of here faster. Get on with my life.
I will continue to write about Kuwait and the culture but I have already concluded that this place is a garbage dump, literally and figuratively. It's a shit hole and there's nothing here to learn that is positive. You can learn what not to do, or what might be a bad way of living and be motivated by that to change, but change to what? That's what I seek. I want to live and learn from a positive example.
I hope to find a boyfriend to spend my time with and enjoy myself. Maybe there is a gem hidden amongst the beasts. My heart is always open but I am leading with my mind right now. I am focused on paying off my bills, saving, and getting to law school.