So lets see where did I leave off last...its HOT in here...the air is
out in the Building and WILL be for several days...so its feels like 200
Degrees in here.

I haven't been sleeping well because of the heat. And the heat is also
messing up the internet in my room. So I have been without a connection
for a few days. But a few shots of Nyquil always does the trick. :)

So this morning ... About 0900, I hear ALL KINDS OF RACKET!!! LOTS OF
IT....so I sat up in bed to find that I am receiving ANOTHER ROOMMATE!!
She is on the other side of the room...but STILL....now there are 3
people (possible 4) going to be sharing a tiny ass room...Its going to
be like Jr High Summer Camp..."Bunk Beds for Everyone!!"

A few days ago it was 130...today feels the same! The AC is out and WILL
be out for 4-5 days....OMG we are going to boil to death in here!

I have eaten at 3 other chow halls besides the usual one we go to. Not
exactly the most impressive places. BUT the Air Force on does have real,
hard silverware, plates and cups! Talk about Dining in STYLE!!

On my walk home last night I encountered an animal...at first I thought
it was a Fox, but I think it was a coyote. We both scared each other at
the crossing of 2 paths near the tailors. It made me think of the
cartoons when Whilly Coyote sees the end of the cliff and his eyes bug
out...that was what both of us did...but the "fox" back peddled and went
behind the tailors ONLY to come out the other side and scare me AGAIN!
So that made me WIDE AWAKE for my gym workout...

So yesterday the high was OVER 120 (that was what my thermometer that my
dad sent said) so when I went home at 0200 this morning it was 90
Degrees and MAX humidity!! OMG it was hard to breath! Today...same
thing. The high is supposed to be OVER 122....gross. I am sweating
through my clothes before I even get to work...THANK GOD for Deodorant!!
Although there are SOME PEOPLE here who have NOT discovered that concept
yet...

My Horoscope for today July 27, 2007:

"Before you commit yourself to any decision, you like to figure out the
exact cost. It's not just the dollar amount that matters, but the amount
of LIFE you must exchange for the thing in question."

I think this fits me really well. This was a HUGE factor in my coming
out here...how much LIFE will I have to exchange for the time I will be
here...

I'm going to melt! I left my trailer today and it was OVER 120 outside.
The thermometer STOPS at 120...so who knows how hot it is....and to add
to that FUN...they switched one of the generators in the building and
the AC didn't come back on...so it is a G-R-E-A-T day in Iraq
today...(grrrrr)

Today was the first time since I have been here that I have seen PUFFY
CLOUDS in the shy. It was almost odd that they were there, although they
didn't provide any shade...they were still in the air.

I received my first care package yesterday from my Dad and Sue! (MANY
THANKS to you two, again!!) In side was a thermometer which I put
outside my room...when I left at 1345 this afternoon it was 118 out side
an 18% Humidity!! GROSS!

Sock Monster

ALERT - ALERT - ALERT

There have been spottings of the infamous Sock Monster in Baghdad. He is armed and extremely dangerous. He has not only consumed ONE sock of at least one pair of socks in EACH laundry run, but in most instances REPLACED the missing sock with a completely different and odd sock that does not match. If you see the Sock Monster please report him to your nearest Laundry Depot!! Do not approach him, for he may try to take the socks you are wearing.

A friend of mine from high school just joined the Army this past
January. He is now stationed in DC at Arlington Cemetery. He is on the
team of soldiers that handle the caskets for the funerals. Eventually he
will be the solider that presents the folded flag to the mother, father,
wife or husband of the fallen solider.

The day before I left to come here, I was in DC getting my passport and
I walked through Arlington cemetery. I counted the number to burial site
that were preparing for funerals that day and lost count after 10. It
was very serene; humbling. It was a reminder of why I am here. I may not
be doing a job in Iraq that is on the frontlines, but I am here to help
where I can in support of the war fighter. It is my little contribution
to the situation we are in, as a country.

I think back on that day, nearly everyday, and think about the fallen
who have lost their life for each of us. I see convoys preparing for
their rounds and wonder if they will return at the end of the day.

This is where I work...

These are photos of the palace I work at. I FOUND these on the Internet. They were taken BEFORE any military was working in the building... Outside of the Perfume Palace View from where MY desk is This was a pool. It is now covered with a floor. (cool)

So I was in the chow hall getting a drink and WHO walks up to me and
gets a drink RIGHT NEXT TO ME....The GENERAL....

he Said "how are you adjusting"

I said, "Fine sir" (Smile)

he said, "Have you been working on the briefs?"

"Yes Sir"

"...because I have notice a significant change...and I like it..."

"thanks you Sir." giggle giggle giggle

~~~

A minute a go when I was writing this, he walked by my desk and said,
"HEY there's my Graphic Artist!"

I'm making waves....good waves... :)

Last night was Steak and Shrimp night....AGAIN....how often do you have
Steak and Shrimp ONCE A WEEK....(there were lobster tails last night
too)

I saw an Air Force guy today whose last name was Semann....Good thing he
didn't join the Navy...

Today was the first day I DROVE a car in 2 weeks! I got up early with a
few of my new friends and we headed to the BIG px at 0900 this morning.
So I got up early...to SHOP in IRAQ....(Typical woman I know). I got a
CinnaBon coffee and 2 gifts for my babies...(stuffed camels for Milo and
Gordo...LOL). Since I checked the truck out I GOT to drive us all
around. Didn't get out of 3rd gear once....hardly got out of 2nd.
Everything is a stick shift here too...all Toyota 4 door trucks or Ford
Explorers with the exception of a few CLEAN Beamers. (weird I know).

After the PX we went to the Hodgie Shops (where you get the bootleg
videos). So I picked up a copy of Transformers! A few other movies
(girly ones) that just came out too. One with Robin Williams "License to
Wed" or something like that. I also got a movie called "Uncle Saddam". I
was told it was a good resource on the background of Saddam and all the
palaces on the bases with all the history and 'reasoning' behind it all.
So I will let you know how it "really" is once I see it. All the movies
were $3 each. They had "Cuban cigars" there but I wouldn't trust
them....no idea what they put in that stuff. You can get ANY software
you want too. Some of the guys (GI's and Contractors) had LISTS of
software they wanted and were checking off what they were getting and/or
what they had. One of the guys who was with my group bought a copy of
Adobe Creative Suite 3 for $5....(good luck with that working!). Just
take a wild guess who G-R-E-A-T is smelt in there too!! Yeah...brought
TEARS to your eyes...limited AC in the building with just fans and a LOT
of people in 117 heat...not a good thing...

Care Package Ideas....

A few people have been asking for some care package ideas...these are ONLY Suggestions, not requirements (as of yet!!)

Care Package Ideas:

Lotion for extra dry skin: travel size is fine

Plastic bags (the ones from the grocery store are fine, they are free too. I brought some out here from Target that are pre-packaged. In the travel section there are 10 for $1., but the free ones or pre-used ones are fine too)

Magazines...(gossip, shopping, anything) these DO NOT have to be current or new...the library has free ones-FYI

Chap Stick

Foot Powder

No-More-Tangles (generic is great)

Shampoo and Conditioner (with moisturizer) - Travel size are fine

Oil-of-Olay Face Lotion (not picky, any will do)

Crystal Light On-The-Go any/all flavors........

Home Made Music CDs

I will add more to the list when I think of things....

I saw my first Iraqi SunRISE last night. I was here until nearly 0430
working on some slides for someone (I would use choice words.....but I'm
not sure who is reading this) and when I got here this morning (an hour
early) to help them FINISH them with the final touch's....I was told the
were NOT EVEN GOING TO USE THE SLIDES I SLAVED OVER......grrrrrrr......
so needless to say I am working on NOT MUCH SLEEP only to find out that
all my hard work over the stupid slide wasn't even worth
is.....again...stupid pills...

My friend AB told me before I left that I should be prepared to deal
with STUPID PEOPLE when I get the Middle East.....MAN was he on the ball
with that comment. I think people have been leaving their brains at
customs an taking a few too many stupid pills....

this is me in Iraq last Suday...

When I was little Apryl and I used to watch Sesame Street and one of our
favorite episodes was when Bert and Ernie went fishing. They would sit
in the boat without fishing poles and yell for the fish..."Here fishy
fishy fiishy" and after a while they would jump in the boat...well today
on my walk into work I saw a fish jump STRAIGHT Out of the water. It
made me laugh out loud because it made me think of that Sesame Street
episode....

I have experienced my first sand storm....its weird because it just
looks like it is a brown fog....so far.

INFO about the MAIL....I was told today that there is NO USE in anyone
sending packages by Express ANYTHING. When mails comes over here there
is no such thing as 'EXPRESS' or 'Next Day' Since I have an APO address.
All the mail for ANYONE here goes to one central place and then it is
distributed from there. That one place can be the hold up. So if you are
sending anything. Send it REGULAR MAIL....DON'T PAY TO SEND ANYTHING BY
EXPRESS!! JUST SAVE YOUR MONEY! The time of delivery will also vary...if
could be 3 days or 3 weeks. So don't send anything that will melt.
Thanks!!

Today has been the slowest day yet...not sure why. But the day has been
dragging...I think it is because it is my FIRST weekend that it really
feels like a weekend...I have been working for the past 8 days
straight...and no break...but that is NOTHING compared to what the rest
of this 'tour' will be like. Tomorrow I will be going to the BA'ath
House on a tour with some other people here. It is ON BASE...don't
worry. It is in the middle of one of the lakes here. It was bombed out
but they give tours of it. That will be tomorrow before work. I will
post photos tomorrow night....

Tonight on the way to midnight chow a group of us were walking on the
sidewalk next to one of the canals, shining our flashlight across the
path and low and be hold the sidewalk was FULL of Iraqi
Cockroaches......they were everywhere.....

Well I have been in country one week as of today. The time has gone fast
so far. I just hope it keeps going this fast. The fact that I don't get
a weekend off hasn't hit me yet. It's just the same day in and day out.
We get the news on the big screen TVs here at work but there is no sound
so I feel like I'm really out of touch with the outside world. Friday is
Steak and Seafood night at chow...the Steak was dry, crab legs were dry
but the NO FAIL Fried Shrimp (JUMBO might I add) were G-R-E-A-T!! So
yes...food has been the highlight of my day today...

My work schedule has been changed again. I am now working 2pm-2am. So
its even CLOSER to home hours. The base has man-made lakes and ponds all
over the place. One of the sidewalks we walk on to work and chow is
along side one of the canals. Well today there were some guys sitting
and smoking and FEEDING these half ell half cat fish THINGS.....they
were about a foot long, slimy, black and swarming around the food that
they guys were dropping in the water. It was SO GROSS...there were about
30 of them...There are also coyotes on base too! I haven't see any yet,
but I was told they are afraid of us, so not to worry.

For those of you who don't know I cut my left index finger the day
before I left. Bad enough to have to get stitches. So Today was
"take-out-day". I just got back from Sick Call where they took them out
and I am not the proud owner of one Edward Scissor Hands scar!!

Gray Water VS. Black Water:

Apparently there is a difference here between Gray Water and Black
Water. First you are NOT allowed to drink any water that isn't from a
plastic bottle. Second, there are these big tanks around that either
have stenciled on the side "GRAY WATER" or "BLACK WATER". So yesterday I
asked the question...same one you are asking right now...what is the
difference...Gray Water is the RECYCLED shower water...once you shower,
the water goes into these tanks and they spray it on the sand to keep
the dust down....Black Water is toilet water...NOT recycled (THANK GOD!)

Well I tried to view my blog this morning and it is a blocked website
now at work. Weird because yesterday I made all kinds of changes to it
and now nothing. Grrrrr. Last night after work I went to the gym (as
schedule), showered and then got online with NO ISSUES!! At 0200 I was
able to conduct a conference call with Andy and Apryl and upload my
Nike+ miles, plus look at my email and change my blog around...so
apparently the wireless internet is good at 0200 in the morning. The
problem is that I'm mega tired now and I think I pissed off my roommate
since I was talking until 0300 this morning and she gets up at 0600. BUT
this is a two sided coin...sure she gets up at 0600 but she also leaves
her FLORESCENT light on WHILE she leaves and goes to the shower....plus
she slams the door. This is a daily thing, not just last night...Oh
yeah...keep in mind that I have a desk lamp near my bed that I use and I
don't have it on all the time when I am on the computer (why? The screen
gives off enough light). Plus unless I am talking QUIETLY (Apryl can
contest to that since she couldn't hear me because I was talking to
low). And keep in mind its not like our bed are RIGHT next to each
other. There is a WALL that separates us. So it's a big room cut in half
by a wall. SO when you walk in the door you either go left or right. But
when you are standing in the doorway you can see both sides. So when my
lights on she only sees it at the end of her room. That is the light
that is bouncing into her area. Its NOT directly on/in her room!

So I slept last night from 0330-0615. Then from 0700 (when she went to
work) to 1100. Not too bad. I am tired and I didn't go to chow yet. So
that is my plan here in a few minutes. Besides the cranky roommate, I
slept decently last night.

I went to the BX today...that is the base story for those non-military
people...and they had a plethora of fast food joints: Burger King, Taco
Bell, Cinnabun, Subway, Popeye's, even a Coffee place from Seattle. So I
got a Whopper meal from BK....it doesn't taste the same....must be
mystery meat...either way I will still have to run an extra mile or two
for the next week just to burn this off now! :)

This is the view from my trailer...yuo can see the palace at the end with the dome on top of it.

I am slowly getting into a routine...yesterday after work I had dinner,
went running (2.5 miles outside...felt SO GOOD), called my mom (my
sister was there too so I was able to talk to her then too), was on the
phone too long and got kicked off by the Phone Police, showered, went to
get online on the computer in my room...no good...and then went to bed
about 11pm. I slept so good. But I am afraid I was grinding my teeth
last night because my left temple is killing me today. (I brought my
retainers but forgot to put them in last night.) I woke up about 930.
Took my time getting up. Went to the gym and used the elliptical
trainer, showered, had lunch and went to work....now if ONLY I can
continue to keep this kind of schedule...

Work - Gym - Sleep - Gym - Work - Gym - Sleep...... With eating in
between...

Sleep was slim last night. A few hours here a few there. I get cold then
hot. I sleep with a hooded sweatshirt on and that still isn't good
sometimes. I'm going to pick up another blanket today, just because. I
woke up at 4am and played solitaire for an hour until my eyes hurt. I
couldn't get on the internet otherwise I would have emailed or
called...but until I get an internet line in my room, I am limited on
access. So with some grapefruit pieces for breakfast and some dry Apple
Jacks I am set, now for some coffee.....

The HEAT:

 

Its been about 125 since I have been here. Now that is not all day, but at the peak times. But its a different heat then what it is in the States. For instance, it feels like the heat that comes from an AC unit. When you walk behind it and its blowing the hot air.

 

Or

 

The heat from an exhaust on a car.

 

There is ZERO humidity here...which is good for the hair sake. BUT its bad since it is dry as all hell! The dust has started to bother me. Its not as bad where I am, but it just hangs in the air.

---

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I now have the crud. Not ever 3 days here yet and I am feeling like
crap. I slept 13 hours last night and I freak'n feel like I need a nap.
I went to lunch and that didn't even help. Now its only 214 in the
afternoon and I have 4 hours until the next time to eat. AND I get to
stay here late tonight to meet some more people. I hope NyQuil will help
it. I bought some at the local 7-11 (for those non-military types that
is the ON BASE convenient store). Plus this morning when I was eating
breakfast I took a Tylenol Extra Strength. Maybe that is the issue...its
wearing of. Well on that note I think I will go see if I can get a nap
in ... JUST KIDDING!!

Well I AM HERE!!!

Here is my address:

 

Sarah Hostetler

MNF-I DCSINT C2SYS

Perfume Palace PC2

Camp Slayer IRAQ

APO AE 09342-1400

 

Internet is slim to none...and phone service is the same. But its safe here. and HOT!!! I will write more later when I have a few minutes....send mail soon! :)
 

---

Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect. Join Yahoo!'s user panel and lay it on us.

2 days and a wake up

I'm getting nervous and excited...I have 2 days and a wake-up till I leave. I'm at an Army base right now waiting to get my military ID so I can get on base when I get there...it's averaging 2 hours wait time to get an ID...phew I have been here for 1.5. Good thing they have a library!!

Promise yourself...

Promise yourself... To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every perosn you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something special in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheeful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smille. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Something to think about...

Someone will always be smarter. Their house will be bigger. They will drive a better car. Their children will do better in school. And their partners will fix more things around the house. So let it go and love you and your circumstances. Think about it... The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart. And the most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children. The richest woman you know- she's got the car, the house, the clothes - might be heartbreakingly lonely. So, love you. Love who you are right now. Tell yourself, "I am too blessed to be stressed." "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you just might be the world."

New replacement Cheese

Here it is...for those of you who know about the 'cheese' I got a replacement one for when I leave. No use in bringing the real thing....