Bear in mind

Bear is mind...
This morning I came into work only to find my desk ornaments -- 2 beanie bears and 1 masked monkey -- in disarray. One bear had his head shut in a laptop and the other looked as though he had been captured and claimed a detainee (white bag over his head and hands tied behind his back). The monkey was tied to a computer cord and was hanging by his tail over the side of the desk. Of course the monkey was just monkeying around, but he must have see the whole thing and didn't/couldn't stop it?!?!? The bears barely made it out alive. This just goes to show Iraq is not safe place for anything. We now have a wanted poster for a Mr. Sock Monkey who seems to be armed with explosive devices and is dangerous. We are currently planning investigations and deciding on an appropriate curfew for the bears to comply with. [After the photos become unclassified I will post them.]

Mosul from a Distance

This is my view of Mosul. The large tower you see is one of the mosque. Not in the picture, but farther to the left is the Tigris river. The sun sets here around 9:00pm and this is what it looks like. It is still well above 100 degrees at this hour. If I could upload a smell you could get the full effects of this place...we'll just have to wait till a later date on a scratch and sniff blog. Enjoy!

The Taliban Song

This is my new favorite song!!! I sang it to William last night. He laughed...so did I! I laugh every time I hear it or sing it! heeheeehe ahah ahaaaa haahahahah

I'm just a middle-aged middle-eastern camel-herdin' man
I got a little two-bedroom cave here in North Afghanistan
Things used to be real nice and they got out of hand
Since they moved in
They call themselves the Taliban
Oooh, oooh the Taliban, baby

Now I ain't seen my wife's face since they came here
They make her wear a scarf over her head
That covers her from ear to ear
She loves the desert and the hot white sand
But man she's just like me
No she can't stand the Taliban
Oooh, oooh the Taliban, baby

But you know someday soon we're both gonna sadle up
And it'll be ride camel ride
My old lady she'll be here with me
Just smilin' right by my side
We should do just fine out around Palestine
Or maybe Turkmenistan
We'll bid a fair adieu and flip the finger to
The Taliban

I know where your coming from brother.
This is a patriotic love song, so ya'll feel free to salute if you want to, I'll give you permission!

Now they attacked New York City
'Cause they thought they could win
Said they would stand and fight until the very bloody end
Mr. Bush got on the phone with Iraq and Iran and said
Now you sons-of-bitches you better not be doing any business
with that Taliban

So we prayed to Allah with all of our might
Until those big U.S. jets came flying in one night
And they dropped little bombs all over their holy land
Man you should have seen them run like rabbits they ran
The Taliban

But you know someday soon we're both gonna saddle up
And it'll be ride camel ride
My old lady she'll be here with me
Just smilin' right by my side
We should do just fine out around Palestine
Or maybe Turkmenistan
We'll bid a fair adieu and flip a couple fingers to
The Taliban

And we'll bid a fair adieu and give a big boner to
The Taliban
Taliban

Note*if you have it listen to it once for me **if you want it, let me know and i will email it to you***

Knowledge is Power

desert (n) dry land
dessert (n) sweet food

I deserve a dessert for being in the desert.

I always get these two mixed up so this is my little entry for the day. And a good reminder of how to use English correctly.
:)

I'VE GOT MAIL!!!

I have gotten a ton of mail from the family and the hubby and the in-laws!!! I am so happy when I get mail! :) I got birthday cards from my aunt Karen & the kids, the grannies, the mother-in-law, and the long lost college housemate, McCharen. My granny(s), Jasmine (my cousin), and the hubby send me letters most days :) And they have all sent at least one box! I have gotten the snacking necessities like Cheez-its, chips, dips, ceareal, sweets (take 5, are my current fav!), and a few packages of tuna and chicken. I was also sent, much to my delight, a pasta alfredo bowl that I put a package of chicken in and had a pasta alfredo with chicken for the first time in about 2 months. I have gotten some decorative garland for the room -- magnolias and baby's breath -- that makes me feel like I'm in the south again. I have some cute sheets for the bed with a butterfly pattern on them...to go under my bug net, of course. And the hubby sent me the coolest swatch watch that has a green silicone band that I really love! He told the lady at the store our story and she gave him a few novelty swatch pens with hearts on the top that light up when you write :) He also sent a paperweight that has a photo and a beautiful inscription in it! Everyone, you are doing a great job :) Keep up the good work and keep your soldier's moral up one care package at a time.

Popsicles

Dear Uncle Sam,

It is really really really really really hot here in Iraq. Could you please send several thousand popsicles when you get a chance.

Thanks so much,
:)

iCards are so cool! Check out this site and send one to a friend!

Gemini

Being the Gemini that I am, this is my horoscope for today:

Use gadgets and electric devices to make your life easier today. Why take the time to chop things by hand when all you need to do is toss them in the food processor? Realize that there is most likely an easier way of tackling any task at hand. If something seems too hard or painstaking, ask for advice on how the job can be done more quickly and efficiently. Information exchange will play a big role in your day.

Same place new scene

Well, I am no longer in the same building I was once in. I am now working on similar projects in a different place, with a few new projects at hand. As to be not-so-high-maintanence, I told them I had to have my own desk, computer, fan and no more than 2 supervisors. Let's just say it gets tricky when 3+ people are telling you they are in charge of you and they need your assistance NOW! Okay, enough of that...the pool is open today! And guess who's going to be swimming in it!?!?! Your's truely of course. It is a blazing 118 degrees today and it looks like the sun is not giving up any time soon. I am passing away time for the lifeguard to get her lunch hour over with so me and the other patient followers can take a dip. Oh! I did get a new something yesterday. There is this store that sells jewelry (silver, gold, and whatever?) and I got a silver ring that has 7 tiny rings together. 4 rings are larger with all different pattern designs, and 3 very tiny rings of all the same pattern design seperate the other rings. It is cute and very bling. I'll try to take a picture of it soon. Also, I was in the mood for a french pedi last night and just happened to find the nail polish I had packed to do it! I now have fantasticly manincured toes, and the roomie was in the right place at the right time so she also has a french manicure. After I had finished she insisted on tipping me for such a good job :) As far as I know, there is no one to do nails on this base so it's a good thing I stocked up on a few Sally Hensen nail products on my way out of the country. And I am trying to sus out a bike situation. We do not have personal cars, so I am a foot soldier 24/7 unless we are lucky enough to catch a ride. And in this heat -- it stinks! If I can't get a bike from the market, I am going to ask the family to ship me one from back home.
Hope all is well with you -- your health is good and your nails look pretty!

Online Classes

I want to take classes online! If you don't already know, I have a B.S. in Computer Science from lovely Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama. I want a Masters in Business or Management or ... I really need more options, but that is what I'm leaning toward at the moment. If you have taken online classes or military classes (like eLearning) let me know which site you went though and some of the pros and cons of it. I have plenty of work to do here every day, but I would really like to have a little me time and I would like to further my education in it! I just took a quickie class from HP Learning on "How to give a presentation". It was somewhat helpful, but really I feel as if I know most of the basics to that. It was more putting into words what my last brief had done for the audience -- awed and amazed in a very thorough, convincing, professional manner! :) Okay, now that the secret is out that I have a high opinion of my skills, I degress...let me know what you think of the online courses.

Mah-Arif

Mah-Arif means, "I don't understand"...but I do understand some of what the people are saying. Last night we had Iraqi food: kabob with tomatoes and cucumber, pita type bread, dhomah* (this is their specialty), and chaii tea afterwards. It was all very lovely. The meal might have reminded of you how you approach a fajita. You can eat one food or put several pieces of food in the pita bread and eat it that way. The dhomah is vegatables (bell pepper, onion, pickle, tomatoe, and grape leaf) stuffed with a seasoned rice. It is not spicy, just full of flavor. The mixed group that ate together were some soldiers, some translators, and some friends of the translators (who spoke very little english). The translators know at this stage that they are to at least give the guests a brief overview of what you are talking about if not spoken in english. Table talk may have been about how delicious the food was and what we thought of this place. I give the food a 9 out of 10, and this place at best receives mixed reviews. It is hotter than hell right now and is just getting hotter as July turns into August. It was 117 degrees today with 20% humidity. And sad to report that our pool is not in working order until later this week. The chemicals need to be adjusted. So in an effort to keep cool I am bumming rides if I have to go anywhere in the peak sun hours of the day or simply staying put in my office. Hope all is well with you and you too are keeping cool!

Hurrican Dennis

We interupt your usual blog update in Iraq due to Hurricane Dennis. It is heading right for the Alabamam coast where the in-laws live! Eeeek! Take a look online at the weather update to see where this hurricane is headed. If it hits at full fource there will be catastrophic damage. Keep them in your prayers this week as they are seeking shelter from the storm.

Tailor Made

I am thinking about having a dress tailor made for my leave in September.

PROs
It will help the Turkish people who are working here, it will give me a perfectly fitted dress to wear when I see William, and it gives me something to spend a hundred or so dollars on. Should I get a dress made?
CONs
It is a little expensive. I could buy one online. I could get one in Germany when I go to see him there. The store sizes usually fit me just perfect anyway. Should I wait and get a dress later?

*Input needed*

Shookoo Mah-Koo

Shookoo Mah-Koo "What's up?" in Arabic.
Well, I had time of my own to play online a bit tonight. I got to looking at everyone's blog and several of them had the Life Expectacy Quiz. So I took it and it is decided that if I keep up my good sleeping habits, exercise regimene, and wear my seat belt (when SOP allows) I will live to be 90.2 years old. I'd say that's not too shaby. I don't mind living to be 120 if I am still in my right mind and can take care of myself (or my husband is there to take care of me (and I'm not too much of a burden on him)). I am suprised to see that being married hasn't made a positive impact on living longer, but in another study it was noted that married people are happier or less stressed or something to that effect -- you have someone to help take care of things and ease your duties as a productive human being so therefore life should be easier, if you will. Makes sense to me.

I am also in the process of learning to be Catholic. I am Methodist already, but my hubby is not. I would like to be the same religion to go to church together, to have similar values of faith, and for our children's sake (when we have them). *Parents and In-Laws don't hold your breath on that one; it should be a while still, but I have decided that I like the name Elizabeth Augustine. Funny thing is that her initials would be EAT!?!? What the $^*%? As long as she didn't insist on three letter monogram towels we'd be okay. Anyway, back to Catholicism...I have been going to Mass for two Sundays now and have spoken to the priest about my wishes to convert. I told him the story and he seemed very supportive. As I am not a Catholic, yet, I have been mumbling through a few prayers which I have just found online. So now I will at least know all the words. If you are Catholic tell me what you like most about the religion. If you are not Catholic, and you also like your religion you can tell me why. If you are not religious or simply would rather not discuss that topic you should take the Health Quiz and let me know how long your are expected to live!

What Do You Really Do?

OPSEC (Operation Security)
I know most of you are probably interested in know what I really do most of the day...well due to operation security I can only list bits and pieces. Operation security is not telling the location, codes, details, or re-occurances of something before CNN does. If you see something on CNN, then there is a good chance I can
tell you more details about it. If not, I probably will not be able to do so until my mission here is complete. I can say that I am more on the administrative side, versus the tactical side. The US Army has goals for both. They both have individual missions that support a larger mission and when the larger mission is complete we will all go home.* In the mean time, I review information, attend meetings, give briefings, and try to encourage progress and confidence with those I encounter (names cannont be disclosed). It is all very interesting and there are a lot of politics involved, especially since I am very near the palace. I would guess that my job here is actually very good training and hands-on work to give me experience for the civilian side. I see a lot of how a business is run and where the problems are, sometimes the solution and sometimes just one more attempt to solve it that doesn't work. So not to tell you the details, but a general overview --there it is. What do you really do?