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.