Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
E-mail from Eric
Here's a recent e-mail I got from Eric. It gives you an impression of what life is like in Kandahar for him right now:
"...Some crazy stuff happened yesterday. One of our civilian contractors
told me that a Marine unit stole their $23,000 pressure washer. He
called the Military Police and in 4 hours they had found the pressure
washer at another base, 200 miles away! When they stole it, they loaded
it onto an airplane and flew it out the same night. We got it back this
morning and they had already painted "property of the US Marines" on it.
Some Marines are in big trouble. Then when we got back to the tent
area, we saw a huge fire in the distance. Apparently there was a big
fire at the bulk fuel facility, but there weren't any injuries, just
lots of smoke and some wasted gas, so no big deal.
The area I live is a huge group of tents, like 40 rows by 5 columns.
Each tent holds around 50 people. It's funny, when I get "home" in the
evening it's like a big campsite. People are hanging out playing cards,
jamming on guitars, playing with radio-controlled cars, and the folks
next to us have a "cornhole" set and a big group plays every
night. Sometimes you'll see "couples" sneaking around looking for
privacy. Inside our tent, most people watch movies on their laptops or
read, but one of the NCOs brought a big flatscreen tv and Xbox, so I
watch movies and play video games with them sometimes.
Pretty lazy day today, no big meetings or deadlines. I'm gonna clean
out my e-mail and then I have to start some designs on new buildings
that we'll be constructing after the new year. I've started listening
to my iPod while at my computer, helps the time go by...."
"...Some crazy stuff happened yesterday. One of our civilian contractors
told me that a Marine unit stole their $23,000 pressure washer. He
called the Military Police and in 4 hours they had found the pressure
washer at another base, 200 miles away! When they stole it, they loaded
it onto an airplane and flew it out the same night. We got it back this
morning and they had already painted "property of the US Marines" on it.
Some Marines are in big trouble. Then when we got back to the tent
area, we saw a huge fire in the distance. Apparently there was a big
fire at the bulk fuel facility, but there weren't any injuries, just
lots of smoke and some wasted gas, so no big deal.
The area I live is a huge group of tents, like 40 rows by 5 columns.
Each tent holds around 50 people. It's funny, when I get "home" in the
evening it's like a big campsite. People are hanging out playing cards,
jamming on guitars, playing with radio-controlled cars, and the folks
next to us have a "cornhole" set and a big group plays every
night. Sometimes you'll see "couples" sneaking around looking for
privacy. Inside our tent, most people watch movies on their laptops or
read, but one of the NCOs brought a big flatscreen tv and Xbox, so I
watch movies and play video games with them sometimes.
Pretty lazy day today, no big meetings or deadlines. I'm gonna clean
out my e-mail and then I have to start some designs on new buildings
that we'll be constructing after the new year. I've started listening
to my iPod while at my computer, helps the time go by...."
Monday, September 21, 2009
Korean food night!
Saturday was Korean food night! Young Joo showed me how to prepare some of her favorite and easy Korean dishes. The good and convenient thing for me was that a few days ago she showed me what and where to buy all the goodies so I could do it myself! We made soup with mandoo (little pouches filled with yummyness) and rice cakes (little sticky/chewy rice noodle thingies) and kim (sea weed) pa (rice) .... don't know how to spell it though! It was aaaaawesoooome!!!! We were both sooooo full afterwards! I can't wait to make it with Eric!!!! He's going to love it!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Skype with Afghanistan!
Tuesday evening Eric and I skyped! Here's the proof that it works:
Here it's around 6 am for him and he's sitting outside under a parachute. While we were talking airplanes and jets took off very close to Eric so we were interrupted all the time by horrible noise. But I really love seeing him- it makes things a little easier although I cry a little every time (don't tell him that!) afterwards- that helps too though. Sometimes the skype connection is not the best- the sound keeps breaking up and the video is slow. So we alter between talking on the phone and skyping.
Last week Friday I sent two packages to Afghanistan. One arrived today (Thursday) and I hope he'll get the other one by tomorrow. Eric sent a letter to me on Sep 8th and I got it today. So mail is not too bad- better than Germany sometimes where it could take months for something to arrive!
Here it's around 6 am for him and he's sitting outside under a parachute. While we were talking airplanes and jets took off very close to Eric so we were interrupted all the time by horrible noise. But I really love seeing him- it makes things a little easier although I cry a little every time (don't tell him that!) afterwards- that helps too though. Sometimes the skype connection is not the best- the sound keeps breaking up and the video is slow. So we alter between talking on the phone and skyping.
Last week Friday I sent two packages to Afghanistan. One arrived today (Thursday) and I hope he'll get the other one by tomorrow. Eric sent a letter to me on Sep 8th and I got it today. So mail is not too bad- better than Germany sometimes where it could take months for something to arrive!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The "cut-out-cookie-virgin"
A couple of days ago I found out that my dear friend Young Joo from Korea has never really baked before. I couldn't believe it!!! I still had some cake mix and pumkin in the pantry so we could make the famous and yummy "Pat&Don muffins"!
The next day we made the, also famous, Jankowski sugar cookies! Young Joo never made cut out cookies before but after showing her one or two she did the whole thing by herself! She loooved it and I looooved it- she is as clean as I am when I'm baking... maybe a little more patient too! I'm a very nerdy weirdo when it comes to baking and cooking- everything has to be super-clean and put away right then. We were a great team! Our Halloween cookies look awesome and are ready to be sent to Afghanistan to our loved ones!!!
The next day we made the, also famous, Jankowski sugar cookies! Young Joo never made cut out cookies before but after showing her one or two she did the whole thing by herself! She loooved it and I looooved it- she is as clean as I am when I'm baking... maybe a little more patient too! I'm a very nerdy weirdo when it comes to baking and cooking- everything has to be super-clean and put away right then. We were a great team! Our Halloween cookies look awesome and are ready to be sent to Afghanistan to our loved ones!!!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Update on Eric and my belly
Eric calls almost every other day for about 10-15 minutes. I am always very excited and literally sit on my phone so I won't miss his call (because it happened once!). He's doing fine so far. I already sent 4 boxes with stuff he wanted from home (like extension cords, sheets etc.) and always a little something extra - like a mini build-it-yourself-airplane or a magazine. Mail seems to be really quick. Last time it took the packages only about 4 days to get to Kahdahar. Last time I talked to Eric he told me that he and some friends were installing a satelite dish for a faster internet connection! I really hope it works soon- can't wait to SEE him on Skype!!!!!
Everything is fine here in Texas so far. I've been very busy with (helping out) friends, Nelson and the FRG. Yesterday it started raining really hard here. A lot of areas got a flood warning. That makes it hard to walk Nelson. I so hate to disappoint him in the mornings when it's time for our walk.
My next appointment is on 24 Sep. I really hope they will tell me more about the baby then. So far I only know that everything is ok - nothing else- I'm kinda disappointed with the Army docs here but I don't want to complain. My weight is very frustrating to me- I hate to be not a real size! Nothing fits anymore. Even my "fatty pants". My butt got huge! WEIRD!!! I am hungry (and bloated) all the time! In the mornings I look like I am 3 months pregnant (small pouch) and by the evening I am huge- my belly gets bigger during the day! I guess it's what I eat (fruit bloats!!!) and the weight of the belly that makes it look/get bigger. My preggo book says that the little person should be the size of a pickle you get at the deli counter! WOW! Monday I will be 19 weeks - according to what the docs said last time. I am currently also working on a list for what we need/want for the little monster- that gives me a headache. I never thought preparations would be that hard.
Here's a belly shot when I was 17 weeks- it's hard to take a picture when you're unhappy with what you see....it's not much fun. This I took in the morning so it doesn't look so huge! Believe me - in the evenings I look like I swallowed a basketball!
Everything is fine here in Texas so far. I've been very busy with (helping out) friends, Nelson and the FRG. Yesterday it started raining really hard here. A lot of areas got a flood warning. That makes it hard to walk Nelson. I so hate to disappoint him in the mornings when it's time for our walk.
My next appointment is on 24 Sep. I really hope they will tell me more about the baby then. So far I only know that everything is ok - nothing else- I'm kinda disappointed with the Army docs here but I don't want to complain. My weight is very frustrating to me- I hate to be not a real size! Nothing fits anymore. Even my "fatty pants". My butt got huge! WEIRD!!! I am hungry (and bloated) all the time! In the mornings I look like I am 3 months pregnant (small pouch) and by the evening I am huge- my belly gets bigger during the day! I guess it's what I eat (fruit bloats!!!) and the weight of the belly that makes it look/get bigger. My preggo book says that the little person should be the size of a pickle you get at the deli counter! WOW! Monday I will be 19 weeks - according to what the docs said last time. I am currently also working on a list for what we need/want for the little monster- that gives me a headache. I never thought preparations would be that hard.
Here's a belly shot when I was 17 weeks- it's hard to take a picture when you're unhappy with what you see....it's not much fun. This I took in the morning so it doesn't look so huge! Believe me - in the evenings I look like I swallowed a basketball!
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