I have been home for 2 weeks now and have another week to go before I head back to Q8. The weather here has been good for the most part, we had some snow flurries while I was visiting mom and I saw a few here at the beach but nothing really to brag about. I have had a bit of erratic operation on the motorcycle, seems like a fuel delivery problem, like maybe a fuel strainer is clogged, I am not sure and it has been too darn cold to investigate. I would have to remove the tank and remove the fuel shutoff valve, and I just have not had time to do that. I am still riding the bike although it quit running while stopped at a light and I had to push it to the side of the highway until I got it running again. Took a few minutes, but it started back up and ran really good for the remainder of the ride. I thought maybe it was some old gas, but filling it up did not improve the performance, so I will stick to the fuel strainer theory for now.
Went up to visit my mom and took her to dinner for her birthday. Cathy and Lee, Barbara and Charles joined us and we all had a good meal and visit. It was nice to see everyone and chat and take pictures. The next day Mom prepared a meatloaf for dinner then we said goodbye and headed back down the mountain to the beach.
This last week here I am planning to just relax and maybe do some yard work if its not too awfully cold, then pack up my stuff and head on back.
I will keep you posted on anything else that happens.
TTYL
Mike
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Home again for a few weeks..
I left Kuwait early Friday morning (12:40 am Kuwait time ) and arrived in D.C. at approximately 6 am eastern time. The flight was long and boring and uncomfortable. I believe they make the seats as hard as possible hoping that you will upgrade your seats to something else, I am not sure about that , but I would not doubt it at all. Customs went smoothly, and I was soon on my way to the connecting flight to Norfolk. Arrived in a bit early, 9:34 am and was met by ALL my girls and Kimberly. Hugs and kisses were exchanged but Lyssa seemed a bit shy at first.
The weather is somewhat warm for November but that's what I wanted so I can get some riding in while home. I took everyone to lunch at Kelly's Tavern and we all had a good time and I enjoyed a large cold beer, saw some other friends, then headed home. The rest of the day was a washout as I was pretty tired, but Kim had some appointments and I needed to call a plumber because of a problem with a sink drain. Getting all that squared away, I then went to the mall and got Carla to cut my hair, since I had not had a decent haircut in months. Finally got back home and watched a few shows on TV but was falling asleep, so I went to bed early.
The weather is somewhat warm for November but that's what I wanted so I can get some riding in while home. I took everyone to lunch at Kelly's Tavern and we all had a good time and I enjoyed a large cold beer, saw some other friends, then headed home. The rest of the day was a washout as I was pretty tired, but Kim had some appointments and I needed to call a plumber because of a problem with a sink drain. Getting all that squared away, I then went to the mall and got Carla to cut my hair, since I had not had a decent haircut in months. Finally got back home and watched a few shows on TV but was falling asleep, so I went to bed early.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
R&R Time
Assalamu Aliakum,
Well I am just sitting here in my flat waiting for the time to go to Kuwait International and head home for a 3 week R&R. I am pretty much packed and ready to go , BUT... I can't decide if I need or want to bring my laptop with me. Not so much that I don't want to , but it's the hassle of airport security that I would rather avoid. I used to love flying, but now it's just a pain, with the long lines, the redundant and sometimes absurd security checks, but I know that it is all necessary.
The flight is about 14 hours long from KWI to Dulles, Washington, DC. Then another flight from DC to Norfolk for a scheduled total trip time of nearly 18 hours. So, I hope I am able to get a nap on the plane. I also hope the movies have changed since last flight.
Well I hope to see all when I get back home. I plan to visit my mom and help her celebrate her birthday and take her to dinner. Then I have a few home projects that need to be done.
I really hope the weather is nice as I want to get some riding in on my motorcycle while home.
TTYL
Mike
Well I am just sitting here in my flat waiting for the time to go to Kuwait International and head home for a 3 week R&R. I am pretty much packed and ready to go , BUT... I can't decide if I need or want to bring my laptop with me. Not so much that I don't want to , but it's the hassle of airport security that I would rather avoid. I used to love flying, but now it's just a pain, with the long lines, the redundant and sometimes absurd security checks, but I know that it is all necessary.
The flight is about 14 hours long from KWI to Dulles, Washington, DC. Then another flight from DC to Norfolk for a scheduled total trip time of nearly 18 hours. So, I hope I am able to get a nap on the plane. I also hope the movies have changed since last flight.
Well I hope to see all when I get back home. I plan to visit my mom and help her celebrate her birthday and take her to dinner. Then I have a few home projects that need to be done.
I really hope the weather is nice as I want to get some riding in on my motorcycle while home.
TTYL
Mike
Monday, November 3, 2008
Burrr!!
Assalamu Aliakum!
Still raining and its even chilly outside. Temp is currently 59 F. and a drizzle coming down. I tried to check out my space heaters but the main circuit breaker in the house kept "popping". My best guess is that the circuit breaker is not adequate enough for the load. It looks to me that it is only a 40 ampere breaker, and if that is the case then it will have to be replaced with one with a larger rating. Trying to translate this to the "Harris" (houseboy) will be fun, he will then have to convince the owner that a perfectly good circuit breaker needs to be replaced. Oh well, I am thinking about searching for a different place to live after the new year. I have heard of some apartments going up for around 300 KD and that would save me a bundle monthly. I like my place now but it has several things about it that I am just getting tired of, such as the windows leaking which allows dust to get in, and now the electrical problems. My apartment is an extension of the family villa downstairs that has a temporary wall to separate the up from downstairs. It does the job but I still feel like I have no privacy as I can hear the downstairs people talking, hear the dog barking, the cat meowing and when they cook I get the aroma's of their kitchen in my flat. Honestly for the amount of money I pay for rent I would expect better, but I think this is a problem all over, so before I make any rash decisions about moving, I better check out the other side of the fence first.
But the main problem to tackle now is the electrical and the heat. Did I ever mention that Kuwaiti homes do not have heaters built in as a rule. Most people have space heaters.
Oh well!
Ma'assalama ya'll
Be home in 4 days......Can't wait!!
Mike
Still raining and its even chilly outside. Temp is currently 59 F. and a drizzle coming down. I tried to check out my space heaters but the main circuit breaker in the house kept "popping". My best guess is that the circuit breaker is not adequate enough for the load. It looks to me that it is only a 40 ampere breaker, and if that is the case then it will have to be replaced with one with a larger rating. Trying to translate this to the "Harris" (houseboy) will be fun, he will then have to convince the owner that a perfectly good circuit breaker needs to be replaced. Oh well, I am thinking about searching for a different place to live after the new year. I have heard of some apartments going up for around 300 KD and that would save me a bundle monthly. I like my place now but it has several things about it that I am just getting tired of, such as the windows leaking which allows dust to get in, and now the electrical problems. My apartment is an extension of the family villa downstairs that has a temporary wall to separate the up from downstairs. It does the job but I still feel like I have no privacy as I can hear the downstairs people talking, hear the dog barking, the cat meowing and when they cook I get the aroma's of their kitchen in my flat. Honestly for the amount of money I pay for rent I would expect better, but I think this is a problem all over, so before I make any rash decisions about moving, I better check out the other side of the fence first.
But the main problem to tackle now is the electrical and the heat. Did I ever mention that Kuwaiti homes do not have heaters built in as a rule. Most people have space heaters.
Oh well!
Ma'assalama ya'll
Be home in 4 days......Can't wait!!
Mike
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