Total Lunar Eclipse

We had a total lunar eclipse last night.  Rumor has it, in the last 100 years, there are only 3 that have rivaled it in length.  It lasted approximately 100 minutes.  For all of you in the States, you never even had a chance to see it.  Don't feel bad, I slept right through it.  I didn't even know it happened until this morning. Luckily, I have some pictures.  You will see why it is sometimes called a "blood moon."

Lots of Love, M

Overdramatic? Who Me?

I like to travel.  I LOVE to go new places and see new things.  I am finally starting to figure out that the actual getting there part, is not my favorite.  This is particularly true of when I have been living abroad and am on my way back to the states.  I can remember overreacting to something minor every single time I have returned home after living in another country.  I will say, this one takes the cake.

I left Kuwait around 2a.m.  I had not been to sleep so I was already a little tired.  Before takeoff, I sat on the plane thinking about how cute the little boy was in front of me and how good it was to finally be headed home.  The plane took off and what seemed to be about 3 minutes later, before the seatbelt sign was off, that cute little boy was jumping up and down in his seat-yelling.  Oh geeze.  It only got worse from there.  Children I had not even noticed before were jumping around and making more noise than I thought possible.  I really did try my hardest to block them out with my ipod, it just didn't work.  A couple of hours in, the same little boy was using the armrests to swing back and forth on.  He woke me up.  I was not a happy camper.  I sat up, put my face as close to his without being super creepy and slowly shook my head no-a gesture that is universal.  As I leaned back and closed my eyes, I smiled on the inside about how funny my mom would have found that-I am pretty sure I learned it from her.

Not much changed on the remainder of the flight.  It was pretty chaotic.  I know that the flight attendants on that flight deserved a raise.  I don't know that I could have had the patience they had.  I arrived in Istanbul around 6 in the morning.  I was super tired at this point and had 11 hours and 50 minutes until my next flight.  I really wanted to change my ticket.  I waited in the Passport Control line...for twenty minutes.  No joke, every single time we moved forward, the person behind me ran into me.  Every. Single. Time.  Really, pretty much the last thing I need after very little sleep, screaming, disobedient children, is some jerk repeatedly running into my backpack because they can't figure out how much space I take up.  I was so mad-and tired.  I turned around a few times to give them the "Run into me again and I will cause you so much bodily harm, they will need at least 3 ambulances to get you out of here" look.  It didn't work.  It didn't even work a little bit.  The family was too wrapped up in themselves to notice me.  Finally, I reached the front of the line.  The agent asks me how long I will stay in Turkey.  I reply, "There is not a flight out of here early enough."  The guy thumbs through my passport, looks up and says, "Visa?"  WHAT?  I don't have a visa.  I just want to change my ticket.  I don't want to be here for a single second longer.  He says that I have to have a visa and points to another line.  "Nice one Matia.  Way to drop the ball."  I think.  I had no idea that it was about to get much worse.

I get to the visa line and they want to charge me 20 dollars for a visa.  "20 DOLLARS?  I just want to check about changing my ticket so I can get out of here.  I don't want to stay here.  I just want to go home.  I need to go home."  I say.  This guy points to a third line.  A desk with people who are supposed to help people like me with transfers.  I go wait in this one.  I get to the counter and they listen to my story for about 8 seconds before turning away and listening to someone else who has just come up to the counter.  Really? REALLY?  I just couldn't get a break.  One guy tells me to go to the end of the counter.  I do.  I start over with my, "I just want to get out of here" story.  This one assures me that there is absolutely nothing they can do to help me-really.  I turn around and someone promptly runs into me.  I have had enough.  More than enough.  It was my breaking point.  I didn't yell or scream or get mad.  I was just really tired and really wanted to go home.  I cried.  Big time.



Now, I needed a hotel room.  I had been confident that getting out early would not be a problem so I didn't make a reservation anywhere.  Wouldn't you know that the airport there is FULL of people who would love to take you to a hotel somewhere.  It all seemed just a little shady to me.  I am sure that it isn't really, but I was past seeing the good in the situation-way past.  I eventually decided that the only thing to do was go outside, wait for a hotel shuttle bus, and go get a room.  I certainly wasn't going to get anything else accomplished inside the airport.  The first two buses didn't pan out.  No room in the inn.  The driver of the third kindly called the hotel and let me talk to them.  Yes, they had one room left and for a small fortune, it could be all mine.  At that point, I really couldn't take anymore.  I had reached the end of my rope.  I didn't care.

The Courtyard Marriott of Istanbul Ataturk Airport is the best place I have ever stayed in my life.  The woman who checked me in, is the nicest person I have ever had to deal with in my life.  The elevator was the nicest elevator I have ever ridden in in my life.  I think you get the picture.  I was so glad to be done traveling-for the next 9 hours.  But really, it was amazing.  I had a room on the 17th floor.  It was beautiful.  I didn't have to wear shoes in the shower.  I went swimming in the pool in the basement.  I had an amazing breakfast.  Slept like it was my job, and went back to the airport at 3a.m. not hating Turkey as much.  That hotel saved lives that day.

There you have it.  The story of my meltdown.  It makes me laugh when I think about how ridiculous that day was.  I am sure it would be funnier in person, but this will have to do.  I was a mess, but I survived.  Love, M.

View from the top-well, one floor down anyway

Greatest hotel room EVER.

A beautiful bathroom

Hip Hip Hooray

I know I promised more stories of vacation.  I will get to them, I promise.  But, this is great news.  I talked to Kyle this morning before I went to work.  He informed me that the Coast Guard approved his application and that he has his Captain's License.  He worked really hard and is looking forward to taking people fishing on the river.  I know that I am really excited for him and thought that you guys might be too.  So, if you know Kyle, tell him Congrats.  It is a great accomplishment.

Warming Trend

It is getting to be pretty warm here.  I think it is hot, but I have been assured by MANY people that this is nothing.  I don't doubt them for a minute, I just prefer not to think about August.  Just now, as I was leaving the D-Fac, I ran into a man whom I met on the way to Kuwait. We recognized each other from around the neighborhood.  We also arrived back around the same time and exchanged stories of great vacations.  So, I ran into him on my way out of dinner tonight.  We talked about the weather and he mentioned that he has a thermometer on the outside of his CHU.  He said that today it was 114F but I should wait until August.  Apparently, once last year, he read 144F.  I think he must have had sweat in his eyes-the lines were blurred.  144?  I am pretty sure I would melt...or at least my shoes will.

Getting Home

Getting ready for takeoff

The first big turn-when I almost lost my bag

Golf on top of a building in Baghdad

On top of the building

Time with my sweet nieces

Saying goodbye to the Madster after a quick visit

I left here on May 1st early in the morning.  I arrived in Kansas City on May 6th, in the evening.  It took a LONG time to get home.  A very long time.  The trip was a roller coaster.  There were some things that happened that were so unbelievably cool, I couldn't believe I was a participant.  There were also some lows-one in particular you will probably enjoy.  I will explain.

When we flew out on Sunday morning, I was in great spirits.  Absolute good as Madison would say.  I realized that whoever was first would be able to sit next to the door on the helicopter, so I jumped in front of Derek.  I sat right next to the door, strapped in, the guy told me to watch my bag, didn't close the door, and we took off.  We started our ascent.  The helo in front turned to the right.  We did too.  It was my side.  I had my bag, but it still almost fell out of the door.  Once the helo righted itself, I quickly tightened my straps even more and had a death grip on my backpack.  We only flew with the door open for the first leg of the trip, but let me tell you, it was unbelievable.  We flew over the perimeter of Camp Taji and I quickly noticed that there is a ton of grass and so many palm trees all around.  That was a huge surprise-considering all the dust and dirt we have on base. It was so much more beautiful than I expected.  Everything I had seen up to this point was on the other side of a wall.  This was the first chance I had to actually see (even if it was from the air) the country.  We had several stops before ours.  We got to fly all over the place.  I will never forget flying with the door open.  It was incredible.

We went to the office, checked in, dropped off our luggage, and went to hang out.  We went shopping-sort of (didn't really buy anything), climbed to the top of the huge building that is there, played some golf...on the roof, had lunch at the best D-Fac in Baghdad (maybe not, but it felt like it), and had a fun day.  Later, we had to take the Rhino to another base.  Lady luck threw another amazing opportunity my way.  The driver, on the way up to his seat asked Derek if he wanted to ride shotgun.  This was less than a minute after I had just told Derek that I would like to ride in the front so I could see.  So, Derek let me ride in the front.  Holy Moly.  If I thought I got to see a lot of Iraq on the helicopter earlier that day, I was really seeing it on the drive.  It was a great experience.  I don't think I stopped smiling the entire way.  I went to bed on top of the world.  I had a very cool day, and was on my way home.

There really isn't much to say about being stuck in Kuwait.  It is not very fun.  There is not a lot to do there.  It is hot.  People are constantly arriving and leaving so the lights stay on in the tents ALL the time.  This also discourages the mice.  A lady in my tent said the mice thing is important because, "the cobras that eat the mice here in Kuwait are poisonous."  I wanted to say, "As opposed to cobras elsewhere?" But I didn't.  I just smiled and agreed.  I did get to see a comedy show while I was there.  It just so happened that there were 3 comedians touring.  2 of them were from the show "Last Comic Standing."  They were all very funny.  I laughed a lot.  After 3 days in Ali, it was time for me to go-I could not have been more ready.

I got to Istanbul and had a major meltdown-which I will tell you all about later, so this post doesn't get too long.  I left there the next morning and finally made it to KC.  It was nice to be home.

Back in the Sandbox

For those of you keeping track, I am back in Kuwait.  I arrived early this morning.  I had several long flights and was ready for a shower.  I came through customs, waited for the bus that would bring us back to the base, lined up when it was time, and walked through the doors outside.  I got smacked in the face by a hot, dusty wind.  We were right in the middle of a good one-sandstorm that is.  A lady I had been talking to said "Welcome back."  Welcome back indeed.  It felt like someone threw sand in my eyes.  It seems the sand has messed with a lot of travel plans so I might have to stay here longer than I wanted.  Oh well.  I have several things to write about but I am going to wait until I get back to Taji and am using my computer.  Until then, lots of love-M.

Defining Moments

I have a friend who had a habit of saying things were "defining moments" whether it was a moment in a basketball game, or a moment in something bigger.  Sunday was a defining moment for the world. 

I walked in to the D-Fac under a clear blue sky after a sleepless night in the coldest tent in Iraq on the most uncomfortable cot in the world.  I was groggy and wanted to go back to sleep-in a real bed.  I went through the motions of scanning my card, getting a tray, plate, and plasticware and went to stand in line.  I glanced up at the TV quickly reading the headline, "Osama bin Laden is Dead" before glancing away.  My head snapped back up.  What?  Really?  After all of this time, is it true?  I picked up some breakfast and sat so I could watch the news.  I watched many people do the same thing I had done.  It was so surprising.  As Derek and I ate, I said, "It just doesn't feel real.  I feel like I have been waiting to hear that news for so long."  It was surreal.  We watched President Obama give his speech about it and saw people celebrating on the news.

Less than an hour later we were on a bus to another airport and the driver had the news on.  It was nice because it was a repeat of the President's speech-which I had a hard time hearing the first time.  I looked around outside the bus and wondered how much of our being there was a result of bin Laden's actions.  How would our lives had been different if he had been captured sooner?  A guy got on the bus, takes a seat, the driver cranks the volume of the news again and we take off.  A few seconds later, the guy asks, "Is that real news?"  "Yes sir.  It is."  "We'll I'll be doggone.  They finally got him."  (Words spoken with a smile on his face and a hint of a chuckle).

I read in the newspaper this morning that it was 66 years ago TO THE DAY that the fall of Hitler was announced.  I find that to be a very interesting piece of information.  The very same day.

I don't think anyone has any idea what this means for the world.  It is too soon to tell, but there will be some changes.  In the very least, people will perhaps be able to get some more closure to the events of Sep. 11th.  I can't believe that it has been almost 10 years.  For now, it means that I am going to take extra percautions in my travels over the next few days.  Only time will tell what other changes there will be.  Lots of Love, M.