Random Desert Ramblings

 I know... I know... It's been almost 2 weeks since my last post and I promised I would get better about updating this more frequently.  In my defense I have been quite busy and without full internet access for a few days.

 Anywho, here's my random desert ramblings for today.  Enjoy!

The past few weeks have been full of all kind of Army fun.  I had to travel to another camp for some meetings and other stuff which is always interesting since you pretty much have to arrange for your own ride here.  I will never take the ability to hop in my car, drive to where ever I want, at any time I want, for whatever I want... for granted ever again.  You just keep your fingers crossed that someone else is heading where you need to be and start asking around for rides.


I had to go to a different camp from where Josh works that is several hours from here.  Lucky enough there were a few others heading there, so I was able to tag along.  But, the idea of spending a total of 4-5hrs in a car for a 2hr meeting wasn't all that much fun.... So, I was able to catch a sweet ride there courtesy of the US Army.  Any day that I get to fly in a Blackhawk is a good day :)

Flying in a helicopter never gets old... I still sometimes wish my eyes had been good enough (before laser surgery) to branch aviation, but then I probably wouldn't have gone to medical school and would likely be flying a desk right now.  Never the less, flying is a ton of fun.  The Blackhawks flew with the windows open... so you could feel the breeze and see everything on the ground.

Sweet ride :)

There are tons of camels everywhere and herds of them wandering through the desert.  Apparently there are small plants that grow in the sand, but I've never seen anything growing except dead animals.

Camels!!!

There are also a bunch of small cities that seem to be out in the middle of nowhere.  It's amazing to think that people are living in some of the more inhospitable environments.  Everything has to be brought in- food, water, etc.

Random desert city with absolutely nothing else around it

Pretty sky with some small housing settlements

I caught a ride back in a vehicle as it would have been quite a wait for the helicopter to fly again and went back to work the next day.  I then had to head back to the same place over the weekend for a few more days for some more meetings.  This time around it wasn't so easy to find a ride and it took me about 3 different false starts over the course of about a week to finally sort it out the night before I was supposed to leave.

Brigade HQ

I hung out there going to meetings and seeing some friends I hadn't seen for a while for a few days and then took an night flight back.  Kuwait City is pretty from the sky and everything is lit up like the 4th of July.  It's a little different as there really aren't sky scrapers here, but you could see the lights reflected in the sea.

A little blurry, but Kuwait City at night

Other than that, I've pretty much been doing more of the same.  Our days have been pretty busy which helps the time go by quicker.  The flights left from Josh's camp, so I was able to spend some time with him.  We really are lucky and blessed to be here together.  Life would be pretty sad without him here.

Visiting Josh at work

Lots of fun stuff planned for the next few weeks including Halloween, so I will actually have some more stuff to write about.  And yes, this is a picture of a recent sandstorm we had here.,,  I really enjoy the sandblasted sensation on my skin.  A friend here described it as free abmicroderm abrasion...

No filter...  Those are supposed to be trees in the background

Oh well, time to finish this out and head to bed!

I miss you all :)

PS- It actually rained here for about 15 minutes and it was exciting.  I haven't seen rain in over 4 months and may have stood outside like a little kid :)

 

Photographic evidence of raindrops on the ground to prove that I wasn't crazy

Date Night in Kuwait

Hello hello!!

So this whole trying to write more often thing only works when I'm not too busy and forget that it's been a while since my last update.  Oops... I guess this will be a personal goal to work on while I'm here.

Thanks for sticking with me and reading this blog.  I'm sure I will have more interesting things to talk about now that the MWR trips into Kuwait City have restarted and the weather is starting to cool off.  And by cool off... I mean it was only a balmy 110 the other afternoon, but early (very early) that morning the thermomemter said 75!!!  Now, I'm not too sure if I believe it... but it was a very good morale booster.

Today I've decided to talk about the really exciting topic of date night here in Kuwait.  Just a quick reminder why I'm lucky enough to have date night here.  Josh and I both here in Kuwait, although at different camps.  We get to see each other about once a week as I travel to Josh's camp to provide sick call for our soldiers at his camp.  It definitely makes the time go by faster when I get to count down til the next time we get together.

First time we were able to see eachother in Kuwait after 4 long weeks!

Even though we are only about 30 minutes from each other it is a little more complicated to get to together.  We have a shuttle van that runs between our camps on most days, but recently had to turn it in for maintenance.  That made life a little harder to get back and forth, but luckily enough I know a few people here so I was able to jump on rides back and forth.  It was a long week or so without the van as we also have soldiers that need to go to the other camp as well and arranging rides can be somewhat difficult.

Date nights in Kuwait can be very exciting... and by that I mean we pretty much wander around and find stuff to do.  We are a little more limited on options as we can't really leave, but we still try to have fun.  Dinner with friends, MWR events, and movies are usually on the list.  There are 2 movie theatres that show newer movies and you can get popcorn from the MWR.  There is stadium seating in one theatre, but there are 2 rows to each level... so if you're short like me, you have to make sure you sit in the front one.

Aren't we cute?!?!

We saw the movie "One Hundred Steps" and it was good, but pure torture as they were cooking amazing looking food and we then had to go eat at the DFAC.  Sad day!





We also have spent a good bit of time at the pool as well.  Yes, you read that correctly.... POOL!  Josh's camp has a really nice pool with refridgerated water, so it's always cool.  We usually swim some laps for a work out first and then hang out.  I'm enjoying rocking my Army approved Speedo, but apparently bikinis are allowed as long as they are "tasteful."  Hahaha.... I came prepared with a one piece, so I just wear that.  Plus, it makes laps easier when I don't have to worry about my swim suit.

Pool Party

Well, exciting times in Kuwait await me as I finish this entry.

I promise to do better and update more often!