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...