I'm Back

Arrived back in Kuwait on Friday afternoon (29 August). The airline flight was long and boring and cramped. We (because of budgetary constraints) always get booked in steerage, oops I mean coach. Makes you feel so important way back there knowing that all the first class passengers will die first in a crash. What a comfort!

Photo's from Kim's fathers funeral can be seen on her blog, so go there and check them out. We had a very pleasant trip to northern Va. and also visited my sister Carolyn's home in Frederick MD. That is a very nice area. Very scenic and full of historic places. I will definitely have to visit there again. After leaving Maryland, we proceeded to D.C. to sight see there. Could not find a parking space anywhere near the areas we wanted to visit. so we went to the hotel to park. Then we walked to the White House, and around that area ending up at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where Kim looked up her cousin who was awarded the Medal Of Honor. I also found the name of a friend of mine who was killed there also.

We made it back to the hotel after a few hours of walking and turned on the TV to see a news report about a bear cub that was caught in Carolyn's neighborhood and was released in the very
area where we were sightseeing that morning. How about that!

Krista sold my pickup truck to a friend of a friend. I really hated to see the old truck go, but it has a new home now and maybe someone to work on it. I just did not have the time, and letting it sit for another few years would not have been good.

Tomorrow (1 September) marks the start of Ramadan here in Kuwait.


Ma'assalama


TTYL




Mike

Almost Time... to go

Assalamu alaikum..

Two more days, It feels as if Christmas is coming. Got word today I should have my Exit letter tomorrow. Thats good as I leave the day after. I only dread the long flight. Hopefully I can get some sleep on the plane and arrive somewhat rested on Friday. Its only a 7 hour time difference from here to there, but I seem to burn out fast when my body says it is time to sleep. So I will try to stay awake on the flight for the first 5 hours and then sleep until the last hour or so.

I may not be making posts to the blog while not in Kuwait, but you never know. So Stay tuned.



Ma'assalama

TTYL

Going Home for a visit...

Assalamu alaikum..

In six days I will be getting on a flight to the US for a short visit and the unpleasant task of attending the funeral of Kim's Dad. Jim passed away recently and his funeral service will be in Arlington National Cemetery on 26 August 2008. I was able to get emergency leave and will be attending.

I will also be very busy as I have some medical appointments to take care of while home and then the drive to DC. I plan to visit my sister for a day in Maryland, Plan to do some sightseeing in DC while there and then return to home and then back to Kuwait.

Not too much has happened here in Kuwait. It is still too hot outside during the day for activities and I have observed the Kuwaiti's do most everything during the late evening when it is a bit cooler. At least then the sun is down and it is not scorching, but it is still "HOT".

Ramadan starts in a few weeks and that will be an experience for me. The Muslims take the observance of Ramadan very seriously, please click the link to learn more about this religious time.

Life is precious and everyone only has a fixed number of days. So..
Love your friends and family like tomorrow will be "YOUR" last day.
Never forget to tell those you do love that you "LOVE" them.
It will make you feel better.

Ma'assalama

TTYL

They Have Gone...

I am so alone.

Kim and Ashleigh got on the big jet and flew back to the states last night. I got back to the flat and noticed how quiet it was. About the only noises I did hear was the downstairs neighbors dog barking, and the traffic on the street outside. The place seems so much bigger now, and lonelier. It's a good thing I was pretty tired because I may have had a hard time getting to sleep otherwise. Dropping them off at the airport was different. I was not allowed in the passenger check in area so we had to say goodbye outside, however I forgot to give Kim some KD for the baggage porter tip so I broke the rules and went inside anyway, gave her a few KD for the tip, said goodbye again to them both. and then watched as they processed through the line from outside the glass barrier.

I stayed until I felt like they were processed through and then left to head back to the apartment. I am really going to miss them being here, but I know this can be a boring place for them while I am working, They had very little to do until I got home. Right now I am at work checking the flight status on occasion and I see they have landed in DC and are waiting for the DC to Norfolk flight to get underway. Will give them a call later tonight.