My head is spinning in 100 different directions. I'm not sure if that's physically possible, but whatevs. What's new in my crazy world:
- I spent countless hours prepping for a HUGE VIP visit (like the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)...it was cancelled the day of.
- I spent a little less hours prepping for a not so huge but still BIG VIP visit (Double Gubernatorial)...cancelled minutes prior. I think they realized that bad things happen to good people, and traveling to my FOB to shake hands with six constituents wasn't worth the risk.
- My "Protocol" office that I don't actually sit in, but all of our supplies are stored there is being moved to what I'm sure is a mole infested, used to be a kitchen, storage area so that a wave of civilians can have it for office space. Whatever, the plasma tv goes with me.
- Further confirmation that I'll never be a senior officer: foreign accents still make me laugh each time I get a phone call. I always think the Brits and Aussies are my friends playing jokes until I remember I don't have any friends here.
- My thoughts to separate next year are deterred by the reality of the civilian job market. So no one is really gonna offer me a six-figure salary plus an impressive benefits package to work as little as I'd like and take 3 hour lunch breaks? Oh the Air Force has spoiled me (jokes on me because they're making up for all the free time I had).
- I'm at a serious cross road and am trying to convince myself that I can work a job only making $40K/year. I mean, what's a nearly $50K pay cut??? Ok, back to reality--the Air Force OWNS ME until I get through my quarter life crisis.
- The Bloods vs Crips, Civilian GS-15/SES vs Military war continues. They may have taken my hideout aka non-office office to use for their employees, but they won't take my pride!
- Guam Liberation Day was pretty cool. For the record I (heart) the Guam guys and gals. They always have the best snacks, their island music is cool and calming, and I'm in complete confidence of their "tactical driving" when we hit the mean streets of Kabul.
- I'm currently babysitting an O-5...no fun, will discuss once he's actually shipped home.
- I signed up for an A+ (computer techy certification) course...the evaluation test is in an hour. *biting nails*--not really because that's gross. I'm thinking I should just quit while I'm ahead and focus on SOS (still to cautious to leave camp to go to another FOB to take the tests) and my Master's. I do start Dari lessons in a few weeks so maybe I shouldn't spread my [awesome] self too thin.
- I haven't been to the gym in I think 4 days. I've stopped counting because I'll beat myself up over it even more. In my mind if I think about defined abs they will appear.
That's all the time I have for now, duty calls aka someone is here to get on my nerves.
Au Revoir.
WAIT I almsot forgot the random sayings that made me chuckle these past few days.
-Civilian to me about a conversation she had with a Chief:
No, I'm sure she's a Captain. She's wise as a Captain with at least one week time in grade.
-Civilian ot me in the DFAC:
Your natural hair looks so healthy...especially to be in Afghanistan.
Male Sergeant Major replies:
Yea, it works for you. Some women should just STOP! Man, your stuff does look pretty thick though.
-An out of office reply for the Director of Staff:
I have begun redeployment operations; however,
as I transition responsibilities please contact (ME) for all Legislative Affairs, Safety or HR related issues.
So apparantly she has no replacement and guess who's absorbing her duties???
Yea, this kid *whomp whomp*
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Sissy Girl
Like a habitual cheating mate, I won't apologize for my failure to update you and promise to never do it again.
The past nine days were filled with your typical highs and lows. The high: seeing my fellow CASTmate and catching up on shenanigans. The low: purchasing software to hide my VPN in an attempt to use movie streaming services that only work in the U.S. (i.e. Netflix, Amazon Prime)...it didn't work. The wireless network detected my use of the "unauthorized software". It doesn't really matter, the wifi only works 16% of the time anyway.
I took a trip to KAIA (Kabul International Airport--I think) last week to attend training. While there I had lunch with Sarah,one of the Camp Girls from CAST. Camp Girls was the name given to my roomies and I by my 7-year old son. Anyway, the best part about being deployed to Afghanistan, is knowing people that are equally awesome as you to share the experience with. Sarah is on a mish' to use a Razor scooter to travel around the base. More to come on that.
Random thought:
The ice cream server at the DFAC generally gives me way too much, yet I still eat it all even when I feel nauseous...hmm.
My weightlifting update:
I'm up to 180 on the leg press...that's 180 lbs of added weight, I dunno if the plates weigh anything. I was also able to do three dead lifts at 165 lbs. Baby steps, but hey it's progress nonetheless. My only goal is to leave Afghanistan in better physical shape then I came in. We'll see how that goes and if a body transformation actually takes place. The Colonel I work for saw pics from the gym that the Major I workout with took. He noticed I was wearing gloves to lift and called me a sissy girl. I told him my husband will appreciate if I come home with palms that are still feminine.
I've signed up for Dari lessons. They begin in a month so I'll be sure to impress you with my newly acquired language skills.
What happens to people when they leave/retire from Active Duty and re-enter the civilian workforce as GS-15s? Or those that have always been civilians and have made it through the ranks and are now GS-15s/SES? I don't recall a crown being given to anyone regardless of what position they work in, but some folks think they're royalty. An Army Captain said something that made a lot of sense today, "Everybody here ain't fighting a war." So true. Some people are more consumed with trying to be placed in billeting without a roommate, creating fake Red Cross notifications, ordering executive Mahogany wood desks, and the lack of product selection at the PX. All things which the bad guys don't not care about, therefore should be no concern of ours.
People are starting to frustrate me, think I'll hit up the gym.
Adios!
The past nine days were filled with your typical highs and lows. The high: seeing my fellow CASTmate and catching up on shenanigans. The low: purchasing software to hide my VPN in an attempt to use movie streaming services that only work in the U.S. (i.e. Netflix, Amazon Prime)...it didn't work. The wireless network detected my use of the "unauthorized software". It doesn't really matter, the wifi only works 16% of the time anyway.
I took a trip to KAIA (Kabul International Airport--I think) last week to attend training. While there I had lunch with Sarah,one of the Camp Girls from CAST. Camp Girls was the name given to my roomies and I by my 7-year old son. Anyway, the best part about being deployed to Afghanistan, is knowing people that are equally awesome as you to share the experience with. Sarah is on a mish' to use a Razor scooter to travel around the base. More to come on that.
Random thought:
The ice cream server at the DFAC generally gives me way too much, yet I still eat it all even when I feel nauseous...hmm.
My weightlifting update:
I'm up to 180 on the leg press...that's 180 lbs of added weight, I dunno if the plates weigh anything. I was also able to do three dead lifts at 165 lbs. Baby steps, but hey it's progress nonetheless. My only goal is to leave Afghanistan in better physical shape then I came in. We'll see how that goes and if a body transformation actually takes place. The Colonel I work for saw pics from the gym that the Major I workout with took. He noticed I was wearing gloves to lift and called me a sissy girl. I told him my husband will appreciate if I come home with palms that are still feminine.
I've signed up for Dari lessons. They begin in a month so I'll be sure to impress you with my newly acquired language skills.
What happens to people when they leave/retire from Active Duty and re-enter the civilian workforce as GS-15s? Or those that have always been civilians and have made it through the ranks and are now GS-15s/SES? I don't recall a crown being given to anyone regardless of what position they work in, but some folks think they're royalty. An Army Captain said something that made a lot of sense today, "Everybody here ain't fighting a war." So true. Some people are more consumed with trying to be placed in billeting without a roommate, creating fake Red Cross notifications, ordering executive Mahogany wood desks, and the lack of product selection at the PX. All things which the bad guys don't not care about, therefore should be no concern of ours.
People are starting to frustrate me, think I'll hit up the gym.
Adios!
Sunday, July 7, 2013
My Apologies
Fortunately for you, I'm able to give apologies where due...so I owe you one for taking 7+ days to post an entry. For that, I'm sorry.
Ok, now that that's out of the way on to life in the 'Stan.
Do all Brits REALLY sound like Austin Powers? Or is it just the ones I've encountered?
I've had some really groovy conversations within the past few days, but I have no clue what was said to me. I chuckled a little, said random phrases, and made confused yet amused facial expressions. I suppose I did ok.
I forget that Canadaians don't speak some random African clicking language, and when our maple syrup friends speak to me (without a weird accent even) I find that I am amused. I said it before, and it still holds true; I'm definitely easily amused
Umm speaka inglais por favor
As usual, random people come into our office saying random things. The weirdest for the week was some civilian vomitting the name of a printer that he was looking for. Like the long technical, //, 50+ character mapping for a printer. I looked at him like "umm really", then I finally said "you're in the wrong area". It got him to leave so that was enough to satisfy me.
Happy Bday 'Merica
So in the spirit of all things 'Merican, we had a pretty cool 4th of July celebration filled with activities all day. Not that I had the opporotunity to partake in any of them, I was still glad to see a lot of the troops who work just as tirelessly as me have some downtime. We thought about telling our wonderful British counterparts "Cheers to you! Your imperialism couldn't hold us back."...but we just let it go.
For the past four days or so, I've been feeling nauseaus and suffering with headaches. After about 30 minutes it goes away, and it only happens once per day. Today I finally realized that I was making myself sick. I hadn't been taking my milaria meds as instructed, but once I read that it's the same medicine prescribed for acne I figured I had nothing to lose...except blackheads, whiteheads, and everything in between. I was so convinced that this miracle drug would work that I doubled the dose. Then as my symptoms attacked me today, I Googled the side effects of my meds. Oh what's that you say? Common side effects include naseau, diarhea, yada yada yada. Ain't nobody got time for that! I'll cut back to one per day and maybe I'll actually eat something before taking them.
Well I'm sure there are ridiculous videos on YouTube or ratchet reality TV waiting for me. Until next time my friends.
Ok, now that that's out of the way on to life in the 'Stan.
Do all Brits REALLY sound like Austin Powers? Or is it just the ones I've encountered?
I've had some really groovy conversations within the past few days, but I have no clue what was said to me. I chuckled a little, said random phrases, and made confused yet amused facial expressions. I suppose I did ok.
I forget that Canadaians don't speak some random African clicking language, and when our maple syrup friends speak to me (without a weird accent even) I find that I am amused. I said it before, and it still holds true; I'm definitely easily amused
Umm speaka inglais por favor
As usual, random people come into our office saying random things. The weirdest for the week was some civilian vomitting the name of a printer that he was looking for. Like the long technical, //, 50+ character mapping for a printer. I looked at him like "umm really", then I finally said "you're in the wrong area". It got him to leave so that was enough to satisfy me.
Happy Bday 'Merica
So in the spirit of all things 'Merican, we had a pretty cool 4th of July celebration filled with activities all day. Not that I had the opporotunity to partake in any of them, I was still glad to see a lot of the troops who work just as tirelessly as me have some downtime. We thought about telling our wonderful British counterparts "Cheers to you! Your imperialism couldn't hold us back."...but we just let it go.
For the past four days or so, I've been feeling nauseaus and suffering with headaches. After about 30 minutes it goes away, and it only happens once per day. Today I finally realized that I was making myself sick. I hadn't been taking my milaria meds as instructed, but once I read that it's the same medicine prescribed for acne I figured I had nothing to lose...except blackheads, whiteheads, and everything in between. I was so convinced that this miracle drug would work that I doubled the dose. Then as my symptoms attacked me today, I Googled the side effects of my meds. Oh what's that you say? Common side effects include naseau, diarhea, yada yada yada. Ain't nobody got time for that! I'll cut back to one per day and maybe I'll actually eat something before taking them.
Well I'm sure there are ridiculous videos on YouTube or ratchet reality TV waiting for me. Until next time my friends.
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