A Girl Named Jo

I moved, or my blog moved at least...

2009-11-09T09:40:00.001-08:00

Joe and I post here now:

http://www.gymnasticals.com

Hawaii

2007-07-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

First Stop, ER. Not for the kids, for Mom, who took some stairs head first. Off to snorkel, sail with dolphins and ride the ocean swells

and Dad tolerates, uh, us

Accomplishments:

solidified our gang sign

Found Comp USA, it's a super store

Jill named Ski-ball master

gained 10 pounds...

My Home Dog

2007-04-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

Last Day

2007-04-13T02:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of the most crazy days I've been through. In the middle of it we took Command Group Photos. This is all the aides and XOs to the Generals. We found this appropriate since we are all on our phones constantly.
I'll be home in just a few days now. Hello America!!

LAST CALL

2007-03-31T11:18:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to finally say this...

Do not send me anymore mail! Although this green wig I got in one of the last boxes has been very useful, good thing it made it here just in time.
If it is not in the mail right now, I don't think I'll get it before I GO HOME!!!

Buzkashi

2007-03-23T01:21:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt Buzkashi is the strangest “sport” I have ever seen. I was just told it is a sport that is left over from the mongols. That explains the chaotic nature of this.

I didn't fully understand what was going on. This game can be played as 2 teams or each man for himself, I have no idea which one I was watching, I’m guessing each man for himself…?

The day or week before the match a small calf and/or a goat is killed. They take the head off and sew up the hole and soak the body in cold water or brine, to toughen the hide. The carcass is like the ball they use to score with.

Then a bunch of men on completely wild horses run around, scoop up the carcass by hanging off the side of their horse and try to drop it in a white circle. Like in half court basket ball, when the other team attempts they have to drag the goat all the way around the arena around a post to come try to drop it in the circle.

Above is a man, reaching down to grab the goat on the ground. You can see how the horses are yanked around.

There are no rules, as far as I saw. The horses are basically in a massive pushing, kicking and whipping match, they are jumping up on top of each other, everyone is using their whips on other horses and often they also beat the person who has the goat. It is just this wild fight over the carcass. Sometimes two people will get hold of the carcass and they just have a tug of war over it. I felt bad for the horses.

Above picture the man has the goat, he is circling around to the white ring he has to drop it into, you can see it under the other horses who are blocking him.

I don’t know how the game ends, we left early, but I have heard the game can go for days. That has to be one of the strangest things I have seen.

Sri Lanka

2007-03-15T03:31:00.000-07:00

I've been slaking on keeping this up. Here are some quick highlights from our 24 hour visit to Sri Lanka...

It started off in the Dubai Airport, where it takes a maze and a long bus ride to get from the 3rd world country airplanes to the 1st... Once you get to the 1st world section, things get very pretty.

While there, we found very little muffins and very large crossants, but we just had coffee.
Sri Lanka is a little like Mexico in how dirty it seems, mixed with what I only imagine India is like in traffic, and architecture. We saw a Hindu temple with a tuktuk (not sure how to spell that) outside. We later rode around in a tuktuk, it was an adventure.
We had a really good tour of a Buddist temple where I fed their elephant and we were "blessed" by a monk I forgot this picture of a Buddha, we were told not to turn our back to it, but they were everywhere, this one was the biggest.

I will have to tell you more when I see you all because we are coming home in a little over 3 weeks!!!!

I want to wear cute shoes.

2007-02-25T12:15:00.000-08:00

I spy...

2007-02-22T10:04:00.000-08:00

First the good news, we are not supposed to be extended. We are under 50 days, not that I'm counting.

Welcome to the coffee corner, where I keep my treasures... What do you spy?
I spy "Nuns having fun, 2007 Calendar"

2007-02-10T03:01:00.000-08:00

I didn't move but I have a new address so email me if you need it.

My Bad

2007-02-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

Chandler pointed out that I forgot to invite you all to my 4th birday party. It was awesome.

I did a jig in my favorite outfit.

In the real life of Jo, things have been a little crazy. Lots of transitions and lots of things popping up. After much practice, my boss can now work 23 of 24 hours a day. Not, me I still need nap time.

Check me out, using headbands as a massive necklace set... I was born with fashion sense. (then I lost it, but that's why I'm friends with people like Emily and Diana.)

2007-01-27T09:18:00.000-08:00

i don't even know what to write.

The root of my good looks

2007-01-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

... or ears at least. Thanks Grandpa Merril.

Jamal AKA Rambo

2007-01-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

Here's a human interest story for ya....

Read this, it is an article about an Afghan man who just loves the troops and loves Americans. I have only just learned his real name because he calls himself Rambo. He'll do anything to help and everyone knows him. I've heard stories about this guy since the first week I was here and we even went to visit him the other day. He's so nice, but he'll beat up your car if you get in the way.

I have never gone through that gate without seeing him and he always makes me smile. On the Army cammo uniform they gave him, in addition to the "RAMBO" name tape, the soldiers had a custom rank piece made, which is a red and white bar that looks like the stick he holds and beats cars off with.

happiness in 0s and 1s

2007-01-18T08:25:00.000-08:00

WAHOOOOOOO! EIIIIIIIEIIIIIII! EYE? BWAZAMO! WOP DILLY BE BOP, A WOP WOOO HOOOOO!!!!! YIP YIKE KABOOOOOOMMMMMMM! YEEEEEEHAAAAWWWWWW! DUSH! SCHMEEE BOP A DOP POP!

I'm pretty sure if I could make my computer to make excited noises when I was happy, it be something like that. more to come....

I’m a mega slacker

2007-01-10T02:39:00.000-08:00

Since my Spain vacation we have seen a peak in work load. So I’m just now able to catch up on what has been happening here other than the frigid cold.

Pre Christmas:
Christmas eve and the day before turned into pretty eventful days. We flew out to a forward base where a small group of soldiers work, training Afghan Police and Army forces. We wished them merry Christmas and got to experience the bumpiest of roads. We drove by a string of donkeys each with a 6 foot stack of branches on their back for firewood, which was the only thing in sight in the 30 minute ride from the “airport” to the forward operating base. We flew on a C-130, and when I wasn’t asleep in the back, I was sitting in the cockpit with the most incredible view of the Afghan mountains. The airport we went to was a tattered old runway with a control tower that was really a strange concrete building with uneven stairs and doorframes. I’d be surprised if any type of measurement, leveling or blue print was used. Despite lacking any right angles, that was one sturdy building. This was one of my most favorite forward trips.

The next next day I got something I had been waiting 2 years for… a promotion. Woot woot! I am now a 1st Lt, which means little more than people now expect me to know what I’m doing. Oh…. And a pay raise! High five. My boss put on such a nice ceremony for me and I think the coolest thing about it is 1. I promoted deployed and 2. I promoted in a “joint” environment, meaning all the services were there; Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers. Very nice.

Christmas… as you may have guessed, given our Styrofoam Thanksgiving, was complete with a Styrofoam North pole, reindeers and sleigh! No joke, the contractors and Afghan locals are getting quite good with these sculptures! You could even crawl into the sleigh. These guys are dedicated to their Styrofoam creations, working through a heavy snow storm to complete the project. There work made it all the way to a stateside news station (or so I’m told).

The chow hall workers all dressed as elves and on Christmas day, the Generals and their senior staff put on some santa hats and served us our food. It’s a little weird saying to a General, “mash potatoes please.”

I was sent so many care packages that I didn’t open the last box until this week because I had no room for what was inside! My candy and food collection supplied 2 holiday parties and there is still a bunch left over. I should highlight a couple of gems my sisters and parents sent me. I am the proud owner of a “Grow a head” (basically a funnier looking Chia-Pet), a Garden Gnome, the official How to Kazoo manual, a calendar of people doing “extreme Ironing”, and a daily calendar of “stuff on my cat”. Incredible.

Also for Christmas I got my VERY OWN 12 Days of Christmas, which will be another post because you have to hear what my girlfriends came up with. (Ann, I almost peed my pants from laughing so hard cause we were in the middle of nowhere.)
New Years was fun, we pulled a bunch of people together to play cards and try to eat all my candy. We all had these lofty plans of staying up till midnight, but everyone went back to work or to sleep by 1030! I think the sugar high dropped us too hard.

A lot has happened and free time has been spent trying to get a quick run in, or falling asleep in my chair. More to come on the 12 days of Christmas and I’ll add pictures soon but blogger isn't letting me right now.

I feel January around the corner

2006-12-28T00:57:00.000-08:00

Last night was a stiffening 7 degrees. I was cold just standing outside, after a few minutes of standing in the winds of a helo, I stopped feeling it. I almost forgot the cold until I tried to get into my bag, which had impossibly small zipper tabs for my bumbeling frozen fingers. It is cold here.

A super fun time!

2006-12-23T05:57:00.000-08:00

A couple pictures

2006-12-22T08:56:00.000-08:00

Spainvasion

2006-12-19T20:25:00.000-08:00

Di speaks a little French, I speak less Spanish, most people we came across spoke a little English. It worked out.

My leave was incredable. It was the perfect blend of adventure and time with wonderful women. I have really missed good friends here so having the time to sit and talk and be confused and plan for our futures and giggle and be weird... it has rejuvinated me and I'm ready to push through these last 4 months.

I got to Madrid a few days before Diana landed so I flew up to Paris to meet up with Tim, who is doing wonderful and has a great girlfriend... very fun. When I flew back to Madrid I waited at the AP for Diana and we went off to Krissy's. Krissy was in her finals week so Di and I took off for the South.

Lesson #1. When the train stops jump off or you will miss getting to see Cordoba.
Lesson #2. Missing your stop is no big deal because Sevilla is so sweet having an extra day there is marvelous. Di and I saw a Flameco dance. I will forever associate it with getting really sweaty as the dancer did 2 costume changes and definetly was drenched by the end of it all.
Lesson #3. Guapa means pretty. Diana's blond hair and blue eyes are "perfecto!"

We took the train to Granada where we met an incredable pair who cut us up in line, after 4 hours of waiting so that we could see the Alhambra. That was probably my favorite thing we saw the whole trip. I've never seen anything like this fortress on top of the hill with 2 palaces inside, both amazing. The gardens alone with fountains everywhere would have been worth the hike up the hill. Amazingly beutiful.

After our southern travel we went back up to Madrid to cheer Krissy on to finish her finals where we went to a few meuseums and dd some shopping. Then the three of us took off to Barcelona which was my favorite city. In Barcelona we saw the Picaso museum, the very impressive Sagrada Familia, Parc Gual and learned that if you go down a deserted alley crawl under the closed gate and knock on the door there will be a sweet after hours bar who will unlock the door and let you in for drinks until the sun rises. The capitol of shoe stores, Barcelona also has the world most amazing chocolate jelado, which was too much for me to handle.
Lesson #4. Stay away from hippies traveling around Europe staying in cheap hostels. They think loading oil in your hair will get rid of lice because they will slip out.
Segrada Familia was my second favorite thing we saw, I really hope one day I will get to see it in more of a complete form. There is nothing like it.

The trip was filled with long conversations over wine on every topic possible. There was sleeping in, great food, sillyness, hilarious pictures, scary stairs, gross lice infested hippies, breathtaking sights and most importantly great friends. I was so sad to have to leave, which wasn't a reality until the last couple days I was there. I am so thankful I got to spend time with Krissy and Diana it could not have been more fun.

Funny T-Shirt Jen sent me

2006-12-19T20:16:00.000-08:00

My Bad ~ Eve

update

2006-12-04T03:01:00.000-08:00

I am currently on my 2 week pass away from work. I am spending it in Eurpoe visiting friends and exploring Spain. I spent the first three days in Paris and got to see Tim, and some of his friends. Di and I are going to go all over the south of Spain for the next week and a half then we will meet Krissy in Barcelona before coming back to Madrid. Imore to come... in about 2 weeks.

Thanksgiving Checklist

2006-11-23T21:59:00.000-08:00

Giant styrofoam Mayflower, check.
Styrofoam English village, check.
Food service dressed as pilgrams, check.
Angry vicious Indians, check.

cranberry sauce, check.
Food for everyone to eat trip their normal amount, check.

Having a friend to take silly pictures and eat far too much with, check.
Straw on the patio, check.

Going home to bed early, cheeeccckkkk!

Sorry Sir'

2006-11-17T03:45:00.000-08:00

My Mom called me. There is a program where your family can call you in Afghanistan, I signed my Mom up for it and she did it the first time this morning. It's been raining three days straight and I never have enough sleep so I went into the conversation a little sleepy. I think it was her soothing Mom voice that pushed me over the edge because I fell asleep on the phone with her while sitting at my desk. I woke up to her calling to me through the phone. As I jolted awake I said, "Oh, sorry Sir'." Which just made us both start laughing.

I'm not sure if its bad I fall asleep in the middle of conversations or if it's worse that the first thing I say is "sorry" and apparently to my boss.

Oh, and I'm going to be in Spain in 2 weeks! Woot Woot!

Fashion

2006-11-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

Recently I've been going through fashion magazines, the Vogues, In Styles... and I realize I spend about 90% of my time looking at the amazingly obscure advertisements. Most of these have nothing to do with the product they are marketing, in fact my favorites are the ones where the product isn't anywhere in or hinted to in the picture, I don't know why but I love them.

So, in my red sunglasses this is my ad for....
...uh, potato peelers I think, or socks.

It's Amazing

2006-11-02T10:02:00.000-08:00

Ligers actually do exits but they are different than tigons, I just learned this today. Most impressive thing, Ligers are bigger than horses, imagine coming across one of those babies. I started thinking about terrible cominations and believe a Great White Shark mixed with a whale would be awful.

"The Man" Canceled my leave so I had to reschedule two weeks later. This has been one of the most disappointing things I've faced, but things work out, they always do.

Also, I'm going to start tutoring math, which nerdily excites me. The only thing I'm looking forward to more is taking leave! Math is cool.

Real life GI-Joe Action set

2006-10-24T04:59:00.000-07:00

Look closely, GI-Joe and pal are walking away from their awesomly camoflauged action plane!
Life-size planes now come with matchey life-size hangers!!

Whats the difference between a Lt...

2006-10-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

with 1 month in the AF and....one with almost 2 years?
It would probably be more accurate to say deployed and not deployed.

FYI I'm a guy

2006-10-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hey Jill, I called a man "Ma'am" in an email today and got this response, "FYI, I'm a guy".

A buddy then later tells me "Guys" is gender neutral in his dictionary. Take that genderless-Jamie!

I don't know why this is so funny to me, or why I wrote it to Jill. It's just fun to say.

Scariest Night Ever

2006-10-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

I’m not sure when I dropped the book to the bed beside my face but I woke up long enough to turn off the flashlight I was reading by. Right on the verge of sleep, I hear a low moan coming from outside. I turn over, but the TV is not playing the Bollywood musical-romance, which I suspect is creating this eerie noise. The clock says an even 2am and the moan begins to sound like a sob. Having seen many strange things my mind starts to match scenarios to this noise and I’m scaring myself more and more.

I listen closely and realize that is not the sound of a woman crying while being slowly tortured, it is a baby… Yes that’s what it has to be, an abandoned baby outside having just been left as a lure from some bad man. So I pick up my cell phone and call the Marine who lives directly across from me in another connex. I feel a little safer knowing he is one of the most intimidating looking and huge Marines I’ve ever met. Once we had both verified that we both hear a tortured soul right outside our rooms I ensure that we coordinate the opening of the doors. This is mostly so that I am not alone with the Taliban lurking outside ready to get me.

We slowly open our doors and peek out towards each other and the crying get very quiet and turns into a growl. Looking between us we see the source of my fear, it is a ratty male stray cat whose mating session we have interrupted. I burst into giggles as my fear turned to embarrassment. As I start apologizing to my Marine friend I notice he is holding a gun at his side to which I immediately say “How cute, you brought your gun. You’re my hero!” I learned 3 things that night. The sound of feline love, that I am a wuss and that Marines with guns aren’t “cute”.

I lied they are cute.

Send More Personal Underwear

2006-10-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

There aren't a lot of things you can send me I can use, so I suggested to my sister and mom "fun underwear". If you send me a package you have to mark on the outside what is enclosed. This is to protect us and the mail carriers I think. My mom uses it to make me laugh, even if she doesn't mean to.

I recently got a box, from my Mom, marked on the outside "Personal Underwear" not to be confused with "public underwear". I found out that "personal underwear" is normal underwear, but they are pinned shut and stuffed with candy. Yes, candy filled panties = "personal underwear".

I probably wouldn't have noticed the label except the guy who handed it to me asked me what "personal underwear" is.

Knee High

2006-10-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

Charron Girls

2006-10-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

Now come with blonde or purple hair.

2006-09-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Jill what did you get for birthday? I had a cookie to celebrate. It was delicious. Then I ate skittles, also delicious.

Lets Get Busy!

2006-09-21T09:24:00.000-07:00

One mission that the US military has here is to mentor; helping productivity, teaching trades and advising leadership. I have previously mentioned them- Provincial Reconstruction Team, or PRT. The one we visited today works in Kabul at an OLD factory/compound built with the common mud bricks and 3 foot walls. The walls are 3 feet because the thickness buys time the building will last before crumbeling.
The above machine pounds down like a hammer for this forger.

Here, very skilled workers refurbish equipment for the Afghan National Army in this Soviet era workshop, they use the original equipment (at least 40 years old). I was told 90% of it works, although many are so old the machines function is of no use to them. Afghans are not educated people but they are fantastic tradesmen. They don't measure but create accurate pieces for machines and weapons.

Since many of these men held their first jobs during a communist regime, they work on a different type of clock. They don't think on their own, just follow what they are told to do. They speak when spoken to and I'm told the only thing done on time is lunch. This has been credited to the soviet era where little motivated people and this non-proactive communication was enforced as the way things went. Much time is now spent motivating, the only english I heard the Afghan General say, and without an accent, was an enthusiastic, "Lets get busy!"

Of course no Afghan immersion experience is complete until I pose for individual pictures with some of the more bold men... who told me that the way my name is prounounced in Dari means "Sweet". sweet.

We have made the news a lot lately

2006-09-11T08:14:00.000-07:00

A governor we met while visiting his community.

Many Afghans feel less secure.

Married on a Mountain?

2006-08-27T04:01:00.000-07:00

Allow me to introduce the man who sang me a song, did a dance and appeared to marry me on top of Gahr. We didn't expect to run into a group of shepherds with loads of goats. I have no idea what he was doing while singing and motioning around my head, but we can only guess he was attempting to trade me for about 10 of his goats upon meeting us on top of this mountain. We decided to celebrate our union with a very serious picture as he wanted me to stop laughing after pulling my hat off my head. This was about the only thing I understood, beside his fascination with my unveiled head. This is the last part of the trail to the top, slightly dangerous. As you can see, the marines went for a serious work out and wore ALL their gear, adding about 50-60 pounds. This was the bet part of the hike... as some of you know, I'm not really a fan of climbing mountains, and would have likely turned back but continued on in hopes of losing my 'husband' who was following us up...
I'm not sure what a shelter is doing so far up there. Maybe for the shepherds, a strategic military type position, super sweet fort? I don't know.

It was an awesome break from working, and tiring. 97 degrees in all these clothes gets intense. Jill will be happy to hear, I did not quit though.

heart forever, Mrs. Abdul.

ihelp

2006-08-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

Can someoen tell me how to load a video onto my video ipod? It'd be nice to put a movie or show on there. And I'm stumped. Hopefully I don't have to be connected to the internet...

2006-08-16T03:37:00.000-07:00

This morning we went to a grand opening of a generator. It was a fancy ceremony, they put big rugs out on the dirt and hung a tapestry as a mock wall to shield everything from the street. The generator is for an advanced learning school. They had to get a generator because now that this old bombed out university was fixed to be used as a school again, and they recieved 30 computers, they realized they had no power! The crazy thing is, connecting to the city's power will not be enough to support this.

(Picture of Afghan National Army Soldiers)

I went wandering around all the other buildings on the compound, they are all shells of buildings. Bullet scars cover the outside, "inside" they are burned out or bombed out. These buildings are down to the bricks, not even window frames or the paint on the walls are left. It's hard to imagine the school being in the same state as the other buildings on the property, but just a couple years ago it was.

I couldn't help but feel a little mad at the Taliban who did this, who ruined this country. And thankful for the people like the Major who are so dedicated to progress, even in the form of such baby steps. This Major is truely fantastic, and projects like this need people like her.

More pictures of my visit

2006-08-09T12:18:00.000-07:00

BLOW!

I wanted to take them all home with me.

Things That Impress Me

2006-08-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

That one persons absence can have such a major impact on everyone around. Like how when TSgt Faz, our NCO left, his absence left a huge hole, we all expect him still to be there.

That the organization that has been ranked as #1 more than any business, company or franchise in the last 80 years is a sports team, the NY Yankees. And they still aren't my favorite team ~ sorry boss.

That my boss has and still uses a hair comb that is older than me.

That these little ladies are so loving and fun, even though they have nothing and play on a field surrounded by landmines. That they are enamored by bubbles and think jump rope is the coolest thing they've ever done. That they have to pet my hair because the blond is so foreign to them and they will talk your ear off then look at you very disappointed realizing you have no idea what they are saying. So they say it a little louder and slower, realizing this doesn't help they go back to hand holding and jumping rope.

I got to play with these little girls when delivering toys and school supplies to their community.

Why I was in Budapest

2006-07-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

I was in search of a husband. Just kidding, kinda, the people there are beautiful, all of them. I've never seen anything like it. I am considering swinging through to pick up a husband on my way home.

NATO is now the lead on something we call Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). A country will supply and send a team into a province of Afghanistan and they build things that help the community. They stick to quick projects like building schools, bridges, digging wells... And these small things significantly improve life for the Afghans. They are set up all over the country and many countries sponsor a PRT.

Over 30 countries met in Budapest to talk about what works, how to make things better, what struggles are faced and what the future looks like. There were a few countries there that are going to start their own PRT, which is fantastic. I learned a lot on this trip and it was encouraging to see the international community to come together to help Afghanistan.

Tim-why and where are you going to in Europe? email me where you are going, I might have an idea.

Budapest

2006-07-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

The Castle on the hill

Do I work for the General, or does he work for me?

2006-07-25T23:31:00.000-07:00

I got sick one night with a fever I think and the next morning I had the hardest time staying alert. After lunch my boss sent me home to get rest for a few hours. He took my cell phone, which gets all the calls on it and proceeded to answer the incoming calls "Lt Charron's office, General C speaking". Some people laughed and some told me they didn't even know what to say because, Generals don't answer Lt's phones. so funny.

Later the same day I had a gate entrance code on a post-it that someone dropped off for me. I had to share it with one of the marines and handed him the post-it note to look at. Before I copied it, he took one look at it, crumpled it up and ate it. I wasn't really sure how to react so I asked what it tasted like. He said the sticky part makes it chewy.

Then I got attacked by someone blowing bubbles at me. I didn't mind so much since they smell like blueberries.

Is this really an old saying?

2006-07-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

Mom~ Don't give it up easily Joanna, you know the old saying.

Me~ No, what's the old saying?

Mom~ Don't give it up easily.

I think the real question is what does my Mom think I'm giving up?? haha. I love my Mom.

OK here is a picture of a little Donkey and big Man. I'm convinced he stops it by dragging his feet.

When Worlds Collide

2006-07-13T06:16:00.000-07:00

Look at all those stars... and my little baby bar.

Whyz it's got to be so flippin' hard Yo?

2006-07-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

Secretary Rumsfeld was here the other day and I heard one of the soldiers go off on how much he dislikes him. I think a lot of opposition that comes up has more to do with party identification than from being knowledgeable on issues and the complexity of problems being addressed.

I am in the middle of a book called the Tipping Point. Most of you have probably read or at least heard of it, it discusses why things tip to become the trend. It has me thinking about the trends here and what real problems we have to address. They are complex to the point I believe very few people understand, I hardly do myself. I am going to very briefly throw out a few instigators to the problems we face.

War war war:
The Power of Context is an idea that children/people are shaped by their external environment. I see evidence of that being true here. There are two generations of people missing due to the war this country has seen, almost all people living have lived through war or under Taliban regime. The latter being a state of terror where public executions during the halftime of soccer games were common. Therefore an entire society has to learn to live in a functioning democracy and teach their children to do the same.

Say what?
There are many ethnic groups who have a history of animosity toward each other. 2.5 mill people are nomadic and the literacy rate for the whole country is under 35%, and that is being generous, VERY generous. Over 30 minor languages are spoken in Afghanistan, the largest city Kabul, uses the "national" language of Dari. Less than half of all the population speaks Dari.

Yer Moms so... uh, nevermind
Socially, Afghans are loyal to their family's and small clans. There is a lack of national unity. In effort to protect and feed their family, out of necessity, they will support terrorist cells so as not to be harassed or killed by them.

The Virgin Suicide
People are susceptible to fall for fundamental/militant versions of the Koran. There are many reasons for this, one being hopelessness and a desire to belong and stand for something. Hopelessness leads to anger which leads to wanting to find someone to blame... us. There is no freedom of religion and this is one option. For some the only thing to look forward to, are the virgins they are promised after blowing themselves up.

Afghani is money, an Afghan is a person
The average Afghan makes $2 a day. For some farmers, poppy fields enable them to live. Poppy fields support the drug trade that support terrorist cells. There are limited to no options to offer poppy farmers, therefore they support Taliban cells. We can give them wheat, but there are no roads to take things to market... There is no power grid or running water, so complex modernization could not be used. We start basic but the schools and roads we build are the hottest targets these days.

Glamour shots, bang bang
What's a young adult male have to look forward to in Afghanistan? For some, they think they will get "heroism and glory". Uneducated, poor and with out a hope for what we consider "the American Dream" there is little to aim for and less to look forward to. Terrorism is appealing like street cred.

The Hills are Alive
The mountainous terrain between Afghanistan and Pakistan is so harsh and uncontrolled we will never have the manpower to constantly patrol. Nor will we be able to have the regional expertise of navigation the natives have.

A One Man Show
The democracy people are trying to thrive under is new, the president and his ministers are learning how to operate together but there are so few qualified potential leaders that the president now is THE man for the job. Corruption is hard to combat because there is not enough qualified people to replace the corrupt.

I could keep going with more point as well as expand on all the above, but I'll spare you. If you made it this far, I owe you a beer. *Offer expires April 11, 2007.

2 very rare pictures... I am in them

2006-07-06T03:59:00.000-07:00

This is why I rarely post my pictures online, I'm normally doing this.

In a rare shot, I'm actually in the picture. I'm the one on the left. I know, I have beautiful long legs. It's easy to look past the bulky knees when they are this long.

Happy Birthday America!

2006-07-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

How many people can say..

2006-06-29T00:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon we went to Duchanbe, Tajikistan. I have not seen many cities as beautiful. It's no Switzerland, but one day people are going to discover this place and it will become a major vacation spot. There are rivers throughout the city that run a blue gray color. It is tropical green and the city has statues and fountains all over the place. The buildings are all old and have a classic romantic feel.... Mariam will laugh at that because most of them are from the days of the soviet occupation.

I took this picture out the window on our flight in.

Diana told me that Duchanbe is the sister city of Boulder CO. It did look a lot like it, but with more deciduous trees.

We went to the opening of a new US Embassy building and got to greet the President of Tajikistan who was taller than I expected. He's been the president there for over 10 years now. That didn't actually seem so exciting because right before we left our office in the Kabul Embassy my boss was in a meeting with Secretary Rice. Seeing her was really cool.

I like this job.

Have you ever

2006-06-24T23:12:00.000-07:00

Spent so much time with your boss you accidnetly refer to him as Dad?

Had someone ask you where your husband was, when they meant to ask where your boss was?

Fallen asleep sitting up with your hands still on the keyboard awaiting you to continue the email you are in the middle of?

Forgot to brush your teeth so you have to chew gum the rest of the day?

I caught a break for about 2 seconds

2006-06-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

I got to spend a couple of days in DC with my hilarious parents and sister. But before I got there, I nearly offered myself in marriage along with 2 donkeys and three chickens to use someones cell phone. See, we were stranded in Doha, Qatar. Most of you probably don't know where that is, and guess what that means, no one knew where we were. It worked out. So did surviving a broken down bus in the taxi way in Manchester and missing a flight in Boston. I had to play the "We've been traveling 37 hours already from Afghanistan, PLEASE help us get home" card... and that worked out too. It always does.

Picking on Pilots

2006-06-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't been into any mischief here at all so I guess I had a sneaky streak coming.

I drafted this email for a pilot who needs my boss to write him a letter the other day. His wasn't exactly what my boss would have written so I redid the whole thing.

He works in a section we call the JOC (said jock, for Joint Operations Command I think, not sure) and I added in two things to see if he'd notice. This was an email written by me for him to send to my boss, the General 1. The opening line said, "please put away all shiny things to aid in concentration." and 2. Instead of JOC I wrote, "We are facing potential manning problems in the Jock."

I found this to be very funny and was very relieved that he sent it to me, for me to send to my boss because they laughed at, and noticed my shiny things line, but left Jock in their message! TOO funny, Oh pilots. They make it so easy.

more things they say

2006-06-09T20:44:00.000-07:00

"Isn’t it funny how we are at war and the two most delicious things are cookies and juice boxes? It’s like we’re 5 years old."

jo's inner monologue~ "yes, it sure is."

Not 10 seconds later another soldier came in and accused the kid just speaking of stealing his cookie. But then he found his and peace was restored.

Oh Marine

2006-06-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

I was asking what boot camp was like to one of our Marines who just turned 21 a couple of days ago. He told me, “Take a port-o-john and put about 5 guys in it. That’s what it’s like.” Then he looked at his arm which he was flexing. So I guess it wasn’t much fun.

This guy will jump at any opportunity that might lead to him shooting his guns. He told me the trainers curse and drill the ‘you are a killing machine’ message into them. So I asked him if he used to be well mannered, calm and had a clean mouth. He told me he used to be really shy. The second marine pipes in and adds “yeah, he used to be the type of guy who didn’t kiss on the first date (pause) unless the girl was really cute.” Then the previously shy Marine makes an inappropriate comment about what he does now on a first dates. Insert more flexing.

The marines are my favorite, they are like kids who try soooo hard to be good but just are destined to do naughty things. Like a puppy who pooped on the rug, it feels really bad, but just couldn’t help it. You can’t be mad cause they are so cute. It’s hilarious. Oh yeah, and there is flexing.

An Article that doesn't make me nod my head

2006-06-05T22:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/06/05/btsc.sadler.afghanistan/index.html

I don't hate you, I'm tired

2006-06-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

If I haven't read or returned your email it's because we are working longer hours. Things picked up more this week and until it settles down, or my body gets used to these longer hours it will be hard for me to email. I am pooped. But I'm laughing all the time. I think I'm more witty when I'm sleepy.

A conversation I just overheard from two of our soldiers "Cake is a waste of bread or something, unless it's like icecream cake, then you eat the icecream. The only part of cake you should eat is the icing." The response from soldier #2, "Dude, you're destined to be fat"

Senators and Curse words

2006-06-02T04:48:00.000-07:00

Congressional parties come through our camps to see our forward deployed military bases. They are kind of annoying because as neat as it is to meet your congressmen, half of them just make me want to do something a little crazy just so they remember me. I will leave all names out but if you know who I'm talking about then you are probably from DC.

I follow around the boss who was the military host. I held the door for them as they left meetings or entered dining halls... in the 3 hours they were on our camp the same congressman handed me his card 3 times. The third time I started giggling at him, and barely made out a "thank you".

Then another person who makes the news often, was talking to me and all I could think was "what are you doing here?" and "I can't believe you hit that guard!" This filled my head so much I felt like I was saying it out loud. The people who had to spend a lot of time with her said she wasn't very nice, I'm not surprised.

Some of them are really genuine though and they ask the right questions. So it's neat to meet those guys. Another party came through and left hours early because they wanted to go home.

One of the Marines next door to me has the dirtiest mouth. We were all playing with possible scenarios of what will happen when he met his congressman. We were all banking on him answering the "How are you today?" question with a "F#!*ing fine Sir", we were all glad it didn't actually happen.

A Memorial Day to Remember

2006-05-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

I was exhausted to begin with, we had been working late nights and early mornings for the past few days. The boss was putting together the speech for our ceremony and I was looking forward to a low ops tempo day. I was up to the usual things, running at the last minute to get the boss and snapping pictures. The ceremony we had was really nice. My boss gave a great speech and maybe it is because we are here but this was the best ceremony for memorial day I have been to. We honored those who have paid the ultimate price in this past year in Afghanistan by having their names read, it was humbling.

Soon after, we received report on a car accident that happened down town. I will not write the detail, unfortunetly you will have to look them up. By the time we had heard, the people had all rallied together and we were on lock down on Camp. After the accident, I believe there were no Americans involved. Apart from having things thrown at convoys/cars, we were able to get all our people in safely without further incident.

I was not afraid or worried for my safety, just so tired from running on empty on such a hectic day. I don't know if it was the authorities or the croud but people were popping off rounds and setting things on fire and looting, regular riot behavior.

This was the first time my boss was left here as the senior lead. The General who runs this place was gone and so was the second General who is the counterpart to my boss. So this was quite the introduction to being the lead on a deployed base. He handled everything awesomely, it was comforting to know he was in charge.

I am not going to put any link to news reporting on this because if they all did as bad a job as CNN on covering the riot I will become angry (punch punch). The twisting and wrong reporting on this incident will and has caused additional danger to our own troops. If you know what happened, you'd see that CNN covered the story and reported 2 times within the story the same events, on 2 events. They even tried to link this riot to an offensive against a taliban camp down in the south, which makes it sound like the military took offensive forceful action during this riot while in actuality, the only people involved were the Afghan police and Afghan National Army... twisted reporting. The offensive with the Taliban wasn't even in the same region, not even close.

I am frustrated that we show the same clip of how people hate us, but the US press will never show the incredible reconstruction happening for this and other countries.

I think the initial point of this was to tell you everyone is safe with a PS of don't believe everything reported.

Today I got a much needed gift.

2006-05-28T01:14:00.000-07:00

I walked into church and saw a bunch of people, my age, in civilian clothing, looking a lot like the kinds of people I spend time with. They were a praise band out of Louisville KY. They led the most amazing worship service this morning, I felt like I was back at NCC except in a tent.

The whole time I wanted to hang out with them and talk with them and say things I would tell my friends if they were here. So as my boss left I chased him out to fill him in on his next events and then asked him if I could talk to them, so I went back. They were cleaning up but I went right up to a girl who was probably in her mid-twenties and just started talking. It was so odd, I never just talk but I guess I needed to.

She asked me what is one of the hardest things for me (and many of you have gotten email from me about this). I told her how in the odd circumstance of me being a woman, an officer and a very junior officer at that, that I am almost without friends. I briefly explained how I can not develop close friendships with older officers or with enlisted members, there are actually rules against it. Of the very few who are left, I'm either stuck getting hit on or have to listen to the trashy things guys talk about. Then I told her about how it is teaching me to rely on God for friendship, something I haven't had to do before.

She pulled another girl over and they prayed God would send me a friend or just for the comfort of Gods friendship, and a prayer of thanks for providing me with that so far. (Exactly what some of you have been praying for me)

Then she hugged me. And I've told more than a few of you about the absence of touch. It is like having stiff muscles that get a massage. And that was what I've been praying for, actually a hug. After she hugged me she said, "I bet you don't get many of those." and I told her, "That was my first one" so she said, "You need another then." and hugged me again. I was moved and started tearing up so I said goodbye and left.

Today God sent me a pretty girl from Tennessee to give me a hug.

it's delicious

2006-05-26T22:26:00.001-07:00

I used to read all the time, it is something I currently crave. I did it every night, on the metro, at lunch, after church, in the park on a sunny day... I like it. I like losing myself in a good book. I think that right now, (other than being with family and friends) this is what I miss most about my life back home. I have no time to read, and if I do find the time, I fall asleep before reading a full page. I am looking at 2 books right now that I am hungry for. It is weird but I just want to stick my nose in a book.

Did anyone see DaVinci Code? I read awful reviews but then saw it was successful anyway.

This post is dedicated to Jill, who hung out with me when I was 7.

2006-05-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

Guess What!

I almost saved a birdie, I almost saved a birdie, I almost saved a birdie, hey hey hey heeey.
He went tweet tweet, the cat went crunch crunch. Oh well. I almost saved a birdie.

Sometimes we joke around, some times we don't joke around.

We are the weirdest things they've ever seen

2006-05-18T04:29:00.000-07:00

We went to a meeting in the city at the building of transportation. This place isn't visited by Americans often, so when we showed up we stuck out. Typically it is the boss with myself and his security guard and anyone we may be meeting with. This day there was only 1 other person, a female Major.

I have a feeling this is what it would be like if I was famouse. People were stopping their friends to get them to join in staring at us. I watched more than a couple people point as we walked by. The main staircase loops around in a way that you can see, from any floor, anyone else on it. When we were on the bottom floor, I looked up to see at least 10 people hanging over the railing staring at us. It was awkward enough that I couldn't stop laughing to myself.

The weird thing for me was I suddenly became very conscious of my hair being blond, that I was wearing pants and that I am a woman. These are 3 things I'd never have thought I'd be self conscious about.

I got Anthrax.

2006-05-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

Now I have lumps in both arms and I feel really funny. not haha funny, more like unsure of my footing funny. I had the same lady give me this shot as did the one two weeks ago and she looked at me and said, "you're the one that faints aren't you?" then I laid down.

Today I also decided to drink less coffee. I think this will last until 2 hours from now.

My boss took a picture today of my favorite donkey, I hope to post a picture of him soon. He is possibly the most bored looking animal I have ever seen. I love him.

Also I met someone with the same name as my sisters guinne pig and I couldn't explain why his name being Gary was funny to me.

2006-05-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Mom!

So I was thinking....

2006-05-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

Two Apache Helicopters taxi around in front of me and I’m squinting my eyes hoping I don’t catch a rock. This runways is filled with debris, and with the day I’m having, something’s going to blind me and I won’t make it to the bird. I like how we call it a bird. Why haven’t I ever bought a normal pair of glasses I could just wear in my uniform!?! I’ll do that next week.

The noise of the wind and the blades is so loud it’s hard to keep my eyes open and as I jump in behind my boss I juggle my papers, hat and bag with this complicated 4 strap seatbelt. These headphones keep getting looped around my boot yanking my head down. We are late, the bird was late, we are going to be late getting there. I have to call 4 more people. Finally my boss shows me where each strap connects and I’m treating all my things like a thigh master. My knees get weak, Suzanne Summers would be disappointed as my planner dumps out pens notes and a phone. I give up and just step on it all to hold it down. I can’t reach for it anymore, I’ve finally strapped myself in.

Nice, I can’t believe I managed to keep my camera in hand. As I realize the noise is muted I look around to see my boss, and two of his security guys peering out the window, so I look.

We are swinging up, very lightly we rock a little, tilt and as if with the breeze we are floating up the valley sweeping over farms and hills. Nervous excitement. I am in a helicopter, I can’t believe how smooth this is. The rhythmic beating of the blades slice the light slight enough not to notice but I see it. We are in our own daytime adventure with heilo-strobe light included.

And I am looking out, to a different time. Robed men are chasing their sheep. The town ahead of me I’ve seen before, it is in my memory with a family vacation to Indian Dwellings. This is Mesa Verde transposed, but then I see that the people are still there. Which homes could they live in? This one may have all it’s walls, no roof. There is one. And the green lush farmlands surrounded by low mud walls and irrigation ditched make tessellation type patterns across the landscape, how did they do that? I wonder how they get the water. Did they dig for wells in a line and giveup on all of them?

The pocks are craters worthy of a lunar picture. And I’m back in the reality that this country has seen war for most of it’s modern existence. These are not attempt at wells, these are scars from bombs? Planes dropping, shooting rockets as it fly’s over? What was here? There is nothing around. They are called “lines” my boss tells me. Some of these lines are too near homes. Did they miss or was something next door? They are old scares.

And we are above an area of tent communities. That pot is too close to their “home”, where are they getting water?

Then the construction comes into view and I know I am nearing the city and airfield. This 15 minute flight would have been 90 minutes on the dirt road. I have been taking pictures and concentrating on holding down my loose things with enough force not to break the phone. It will take almost 2 more hours and the return trip to realize what I’ve seen is many peoples reality.

2006-05-05T03:45:00.000-07:00

A bit dramatic but good cover of an Afghan issue.

And you never thought you needed to know...

2006-04-30T11:44:00.000-07:00

I locked myself out of my room tonight and ended up tearing the screen off and climbing half way in the window to reach the lock. The window was too small to climb all the way in so I had to balance on my fulcrum to reach the handle.

I'm really glad I found my fulcrum before I came here.

The mail guyz be hatein' yo!

2006-04-28T12:34:00.000-07:00

We haven't had mail in three days. I guess that rain snow and shine doesn't include bunker drills and Afghan holidays.

I been waiting on deoderant for weeks.

ANZAC Day

2006-04-25T23:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to ANZAC day. It's a memorial day for New Zealand and Australia to honor those who gave their lives and to take a time to be introspective of what they are doing and how they can be better. It is a really cool celebration. http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/anzac/anzac_tradition.htm#today

They have a ceremony which represents all their allies and it is held at sunrise. Traditionally, the night before, they have an all night party which goes right into the sunrise ceremony and end with a breakfast. They changed it slightly here by having a reception in the afternoon to follow the morning ceremony. It was held in the Australian Embassy which I can say was the most beautiful house I've ever seen. A marble staircase with an ornate, gold colored railing led up to the rooftop where the party was. There was a great view of the city. I'll attach a picture of a mosque you could see on a ridge in the distance.

Out here “general order #1” is no drinking at all. For this celebration, they somehow got a waver to that rule, which is a total miracle. The coffee at the breakfast was spiked one with tequila and one with rum, I didn’t have the courage to try either.

All the Aussies and kiwis living in Afghanistan came in, so there was a good crowd. I got asked out on a date by an Australian, and had to tell him I work till 11 at night, every night... it just isn't even an option.

I'm hungry.

2006-04-24T00:16:00.000-07:00

I have to wait 15 minutes before we go to lunch. In 15 minutes I might lose all energy required to walk there.

I'm going to write Chipotles and tell them it would be a cool idea to put a store in Kabul. People here like rice, beans, vegtables, tortilla looking things. I think it would be a hit. I'm also writing starbucks, because my business alone would sustain them.

Driving through Kabul

2006-04-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

Very few buildings are in tact completly, most look like the one above. The most nice buildings you see are either new governmnt ones, OR they are the quality of the worst buildings you would see in the US.
There are men and children everywhere, not many women. The women I do see all cover their heads, about half wear burcas. Men talk while holding hands so you see lots of men holding hangs and embracing. Also homosexuality is common because women are not supposed to enjoy sex, so men go to men. I keep hearing about "Gay Thursdays" where that is the big day for this. Friday is their holy day, so I guess it's like our Saturdy night hook-up culture. Honestly, I don't really understand it yet.

These are blurry because we were driving down the road.

Action in the PM

2006-04-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

Not that kind of action!

I'm not surprised to hear that CNN and FOX news had covered this.

I'd lie if I said I wasn't scared. It was my first one. I was settled in about 10 minutes, mostly because my boss (who lives 2 doors down from me) was so calm. I'm not that worried about them for the future, it is just a reality in living here.

I asked one of the Sgts what he thought they were aiming at, cause basically they just shoot and hope, and he said, "You Ma'am." It was the perfect answer that got us all laughing.

PS: Jean, don't get a tattoo, unless it says "Tattoo"

LHOTP

2006-04-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about Little House on The Prarie today, mostly because Jill never updates her blog and I realized, I think Mary was an unconvincing blind girl. I am not convinced at all. You never saw her run into things or people play good tricks on her AND she squinted in the sunlight. Why would you squint if you can't see?

But, the biggest reason she was an awful blind person, no sunglasses.

AF Call

2006-04-17T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'll start out by saying most of you won't understand the significance of some of these things, but I'm going to tell you about it anyway.

Yesterday was an AF call, meaning all Airmen had to come meet so that my boss could give a speech. He started by encouraging them and reminding them why they are here and what a valuable role they play here. Then at the end he fielded questions and concurs and this is what he was told.

There is an overall feeling that the AF is hated. People feel like they are supposed to apologize to the Army for being AF. The tension between the services is thick. So, he encouraged them again, telling them all to "kill them with competence". I left there thinking, I haven't seen that animosity yet...

That evening I went head to head with an Army Col (one step down from a general) to defend an opinion on priority. He nearly had me cave, but I knew I was right and in a kind but confident way told him why I was right. I couldn't believe it but he flipped and suddenly within 10 minutes was on my side. Just then, a Marine Captain who was listening in asked me about the AF call, they were all very interested to know what the Airmen had told the boss. She called all the AF fat, insulted the uniform and in the next breath asked me, in front of 3 Majors and the Army Col, if I had heard about a negative feeling coming from the AF! I almost laughed, all I could say was, "From which side ma'am?"

Sometimes I wonder if they realize we are on the same team. There is a lot to overcome purely from the joint perspective, but I think placing my boss here was part of Gods strategic plan. We are going to kill the attitude with competence.

Today is Easter. Hoorah!

2006-04-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

Camp Eggers held a standing room only Easter Service today that I attended with the boss. I am so blessed that he is a believer because I think our faith will be a major factor in keeping our morale up. There are about 52 weeks in a year and our first Sunday was Easter Sunday. I think a nice way to start is with the message that Christ has defeated death.

I was told that there were a lot more people than normal but it was nice to see so many people there. Our chaplan is a Navy Protestant woman minister. She gave a really good enthusiastic message, which I wasn't expecting from a protestant. The most unique part of the service was the response to her opening line, "Today is Easter!" followed by a congregation in unison, "Hoorah!"

We saw her later at lunch with her staff, who I talked to. I was told that this was the team who spoke to a General in charge of Judicial affairs and religious matters in Afghanisan, when Abdul Rahman was on trial for converting to Christianity. He was fascinated that the US military can function with the freedom of religion. It was two days after their meeting that they released Rahman.

Just 1 Reason why I believe in why I'm here...

2006-04-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

Col Thompson is currently here and sent us this link about what is being done for Afghanistan.

Here we go..

2006-04-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

It took me almost a week to get half way around the world. We took a 2 day pit stop in Al Udeid, where there is nothing but dirt and hot. Hot is a noun, I’m serious, if you don’t believe me go anywhere near Saudi Arabia.

I’ve been in Kabul two days now. I carry a 9mil on my leg everywhere unless I'm in my office. It is strange, I have no inclination to use it but it is there.

Today I went with the security team for the boss, "PSD" personnel security detail, to another part of Kabul where there is another base. Afghans drive insane, they have only had cars here about 5 years. There are no street lights, road signs for direction or naming purpose, and no government control to make sure people are following the rules because, there are no rules. I've been to Naples and that was orderly and calm compared to here. Men, who I assume are military officials stand around with M-16s on the streets and just stare at everyone. They sometimes point cars in directions but they aren’t listened to. While going through Kabul, we got hit by a little car going about 30. It got crunched up but hit our back wheel, and we had no damage at all. We don't stop in those situations without support because that would be too dangerous. We were safe in our car because it is armored.

This place looks just like I would imagine a poverty stricken country to look. We see a lot of donkeys pulling carriages of fruit, kids with sticks full of "goods", condemned looking buildings that are the stores, but I see absolutely nothing of values out here at all. I think the only people who have money out here are the Taliban and the drug lords.

Less than half the women I see are in burcas. But all women walk behind the men they are with, if they are outside at all. 90% of the people I see here are men and children. We are near a school so there are loads of children. Every time I see the kids I get a little happy about it.

This is already a lot more hard than I thought it was going to be. I’m low right now missing home, missing anything familiar. Everything bad I feel right now will get better with time. I am excited about being here though, I know this is going to be a great adventure. I have already done many things I never have, like ride in the cockpit of a C-17 for an entire flight. (We flew over a herd of camels, it was surreal.)

I’m going to stop now, because this is too long. I have more things to say and I don’t know how to say them.

dou and heif days (that's 2.5)

2006-04-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

Things are beginning to wind down. My list of things to do is smaller than it has ever been although it is the most significant it has ever been. I'm actually getting nervous and just have this awful feeling something wrong is going to happen like, we don't actually get a seat on the over booked flight out of the country. YIKES!

Someone thieved some of my deployment things. They grabbed a CD case that had every single DVD I own! They also took my desert boots, my rank, and lots of new shirts I needed for Afghanistan. I'm not sure what else I lost. There is no way it is just out of sight, if you've seen the apt I live in you'd understand. I have a feeling I know just how it happened. Worst part isn't that it will cost me lots of $ to replace these things but that they stole my home videos.

My life at home is hectic, I have a million things to buy and do before leaving.

I decided to get the anthrax shots, although I wasn't going to until today. Those crazy doctors will talk you into anything. Lets hope I don't fall down during this one. I've seen the guy who does it, and he looks SCARY! He gave the General a shot today and just sauntered across the room holding the needle like a cigarette, he even gestured while talking with it!

I hate needles, and have forgotten my original point.

Afghanistan in the News

2006-03-28T04:57:00.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/03/28/christian.convert/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/03/29/christian.convert/index.html

The Rose Garden

2006-03-26T21:15:00.000-08:00

And it beings

2006-03-24T16:23:00.000-08:00

I just got back from FL where we crammed more meetings, briefings and visits into my bosses schedule than I thought was possible. When it came down to his 1 hour open block in his schedule, we had 3 people we tried to jam in at once.

The good news for me is I have a better picture for how I will be able to support him in his job. Basically, I will need to learn and manage a little of everything from traveling and scheduling to protocol. I have almost no expierence in doing this, basically only what I've done for the boss so far, but I will have my bosses bosses staff to hopefully learn from.

I am so excited for this job. The hours will be long, the work will be new to me and that is the part I am nervous about. I have already made mistakes, and I'm afraid of making more because my mistakes are evident as inconvienencesto my boss.

So, I'm about 80% in the job, the second we leave I'm in all the way.

I'm also realizing more and more how much I am going to miss my life here.

Jill said if I forget to bring something to Afghanistan,

2006-03-21T15:59:00.000-08:00

I can just go to the store, theres probably a Walmart right nearby.

Woohooo Roller Coaster!!!!!

2006-03-16T19:53:00.001-08:00

Friends, I am sorry I have taken some of you on this exhausting ride. We are back on for Afghanistan. While I am so excited for all the same reasons and am looking forward to the expierence, I am now a litle sad too. I had about 4 days to think I wasn't going, and in those days I quickly slipped back into my life here, thinking about this summer, trips I'd go on, new friends I have, VOC girls I'd see, weddings I'd ambiguously crash, and a sister to run through the ghetto with. But I got a call this morning, actually 2, and this time it's "official", I guess at least more official than last time. The right people met and agreed so I think it's for real this time.

I believe the goal is to have us on a plane to get out of conus within two weeks. We are subject to flights and one day of meetings in FL, but we're overdue there so I don't think there will be much more delay.

Folks, don't forget my pretty sister living in DC, she will have lots more time on her hands... She is happy to share her monsters with you.

New developments

2006-03-14T20:38:00.000-08:00

I am back at my old job now that Rumsfeld has called off my mountain adventure. (I'm not going to Afghanistan)

Jen's dog Jimmy has tried to swallow my ipod. He failed but left me with a crusty ipod protective cover.

I got in touch with my Dad's inner biker

I now have proof why I named my very pretty cat 'Dirt'.

Update

2006-03-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

The SecDef met with my boss to discuss the deployment to Afghanistan. He decided he has not decided to send him or not. So we are still up in the air on if we are going or not. They will meet for a meeting on 15 march to discuss further.

This keeps happening, it goes back and forth all the time, but I won't get the next back or forth word until the 15th at the earliest.

moulder of dreams

2006-03-04T05:38:00.000-08:00

This thing clips papers together and it was found floting inside jello. My boss did this to me.

Hampsta on the lam

2006-03-02T18:13:00.000-08:00

We had an unexpected visitor the other night. We found him in a box of Total.

He is safe at home now, one floor up where he belongs.

So, I finally know I will definetly be out of the country by the end of the month.

not everything needs a sign

2006-02-25T00:48:00.000-08:00

Jill sent me an email about making Godly decisions. We have even been talking about making decisions in the bible study I attend. Jill heard a sermon and it stuck with me and the discussion we had at our bible study made me feel like I have a little different view on things than some. I may be wrong, and you can tell me that, but I don't think there is a right answer for everything. I believe that God will bless you in your decisions, provided you are living for Him.

Jill told me her pastor said we will not always get signs. God is not always obvious, and sometimes we need to ignore the signs and just take acion and have faith. The early church had sign after sign to quit. Job lived a pitiful life and all signs pointed to his faith being unreal. It sucks not knowing what will happen and it's hard when you aren't getting the confirmation you want so badly. Life is hard, it's supposed to be. I think sometimes God just wants us to jump in the mud and wade through it. And I don't think signs are required for decisions. I'm currently in action just trusting God will provide energy, hope, and resources I need.

He also calls us to be thankful for everything, even the hard stuff. If you've ever read Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place, they gave thanks for the fleas that infested their beds and bit them all night.

It is a conscious effort for me to motivate myself everyday and to remain positive with the decisions I've made. That is why this is in my head. Every day my deployment seems it may fall through, I have nothing solid right now. To be honest, it is hard for me to be positive but I am. It'd be nice to have a "sign" but I think I've decided I'm okay walking through the mud right now.

2006-02-21T17:13:00.000-08:00

And we laughed and we laughed...

The weird things I want...

2006-02-18T20:45:00.000-08:00

I look at the bandage on my arm and all I can think is I hope there is a pussy pock under there. Then I go to change it and I see my shoulder is clear of wonds and it bumms me out. This is why, if it doesn't pock, I will have to get a small pox vaccine again! I don't dig needles.

Next week I pick up uniforms for the dessert and shoot guns and get briefings... At night I close accounts, pack my apt, think about what I'm going to do with my things and spend a lot of time on the phone with my family. So I apologize if I haven't returned your call or answered your email, I will do it, give me time.

Currently my 3 sisters and best friend are in town visiting me!!! soooo much giggeling and silly funness. I'm happy they are here and they are happy to, as you can see on Jill and Jens faces.

Sometimes God makes things obvious

2006-02-11T09:54:00.000-08:00

From a very young age I had a developed work ethic that opened opportunity after opportunity. For me to go to college, it was necessary that I went on a full ride. I got most scholarships I applied for but all left a little to pay in the end and I had nothing to pay it with. When I received word on the AFROTC scholarship I received the highest level they offer. A non-capped 4 year scholarship to any school I want. St Louis University wrote me and offered to pay for all my room and board. Without ever having seen the school or ever having heard about it, I decided to go there.

All my college friends can tell you, I hated ROTC in college, I hated the idea of being in the military, wearing a uniform and having no control over where I got to live. All I wanted to do, and even still want to do is be a teacher. Being content with how I was blessed was a major struggle in my life. One year I tried to change my major knowing it would cause me to lose my scholarship and have to get out of ROTC and even pay them back for the 3 years they invested into me. God took care of that one too. I was the only person in that year to be allowed to keep my scholarship and change majors. Even still, my poor friends had to talk me into believing it was a great opportunity until they graduated. Right before my last semester of college, one of my closest friends left the ROTC program and I was disheartened. I felt again that I didn’t want to do this AF thing.

When I graduated I filled out a “dream list” of jobs and locations I wanted. Many people get locations they don’t choose, and even I got a job I never asked for. I was given the job Research Analyst in the Scientist career field. As you all know, I was then placed at the Pentagon, where Lt’s are rare and out of place.

God put me under command of my boss Dave, who taught me with patients and encouragement. I was given high level projects I saw testified to congress, as new AF policy. My analysis determined programs written about often in the AF Times. I love my job. I love being an AF officer. After my first year of being in the AF, I received a huge award as Officer of the Year in the category that included officers with 0 to as many as 10 years of service. The auditorium literally gasped when we heard I, a Second Lieutenant had won.

Then in my personal life: My sister, who was supposed to move to live with me in DC, had a job fall through. I was very sad about this. Then as my current lease was about to end, I found I had a new lease in a cockroach infested apartment. Once I was able to get out of that, I faced looking at the end of Feb with no where to go. The following Monday, I was told there was a deployment opportunity available. The Thursday after, I found out that I finally did have a place to go at the end of the month.

I am being deployed to work a job that will open a lot of opportunities for me in my future. I was requested by name.

FACT:

2006-02-04T20:28:00.000-08:00

My Mom is more neat than your mom.

I'm serious.

She rides my vespa like a true biker babe.

Top Secret Messages

2006-02-02T21:50:00.000-08:00

Check out this tree I saw at Arlington. We should go there.

sista sista, remember when you wanted your name to be Bobby? Or putting on pink dreses and riding the horses like that. We were pretty P's.

Patricia, I'm addicted to the little dity, best work yet.

kids, I'm sorry I let everyone down by not going to jazz, I'm sure your Thursday was missing so much, but I had to go cry at a boys house.

no school like old school

2006-01-27T21:07:00.000-08:00

Growing up in the age of rapidly developing video games, I'm a little suprised that my gaming growth was stunted shortly after the glory days of Super Team Games. This was a classic in the charron home.

Intense competition was born on power pad and the race always seemed to come down to two events. The Crab Walk and the Belly bump. My favorite was the Belly bump. Sprinting in place my man would run into a ball bigger than him and lunge his belly into it with a perfectly arched back. The reward of the good hit was worth the 2.2 calories I burned to move it. Arnold once said, "If it werent not for the belly bump, these abs would be not flat."

Joxter, Dexto

2006-01-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

Some crazy person thought it would be a good idea to give me an intern. His name is Dexter and I will meet him on Monday. I don't know anything about him so I am going to make some guesses.

1. I bet he likes animals with people names.
2. I bet he like harmony.

If I am right, then I am in super luck. Here are my families pets, hanging out in the normal position. The cat, Dirt, always is sitting on Gary, the guinea pigs cage. And Emily the dog has convinced herself that she gave birth to both.

My boss cc'd me on the email he wrote D-$ in which I am referred to as a "very special person".

2006-01-18T14:13:00.000-08:00

Today was my first sick day of my professional life.
After talking to my boss this morning, I slept until 5:10pm.

i'm the first loser

2006-01-15T21:37:00.000-08:00

I'm not good at ms packman and was unfairly pitted against the mexican and cowbow. i may need to buy that game and other neat stuff for some pre-season practice.

I have such funny, talented and creative friends, I feel lucky to get get to call them that.

Get Well Soon

2006-01-12T06:25:00.000-08:00

(photo by Thomas Hawk)

Last week my office sent a get-well card around for one of the ladies I knew to be in the hospital. There was even a checklist to ensure all staff would sign it. When I first saw her back I thought she looked really good but wouldn’t tell her that for fear the change was a sickness induced weight loss or something. Surely no one can think it is a compliment to look better sick than healthy. I didn’t ask why she was ill, I think those things are private so I just told her I was glad to see her back. A few minutes later I heard her talk about her “staples” I turned to look and saw they are in fact in her face, more specifically, in her scalp. My first thought was that this poor woman had her face ripped off by a vicious dog or large bird! So in a genuinely concerned voice I asked if she was ok now. She replied by telling me about the pain she still feels in her ear and how her face is swollen still after a week. It could have been the confused look on my face but she realized I didn’t know how this had happened to her so she finally told me. She had a face-lift.

Is self-induced pain worthy of a get-well card? If I went to get my boobs done, do you think they’d buy me flowers?

They didn't call me joLo for nothin'

2006-01-10T11:53:00.000-08:00

Just checking.