Love Is Patient

Patience is not something that comes to me easy.  I have to work at it everyday of my life and only after falling down several times and getting back up do I finally learn a lesson.  As you all know or if you don't, my boyfriend Lincoln and I have been together about 6 months.  We are going really slow and living each day for what it is.  We have both been set on fire burned in the past so we have a lot of walls to break down before we eventually get to each other's enter core, but there's no rush.  I love getting to know another piece of him each day and I am sure that even after your married for 40 years you still learn about each other.  This weekend was a major learning experience for us.  Without getting into the details there was anger and tears and hugs and kisses and long talks and we both learned about each other.  I know that these things come in each relationship and you just talk about it and then you know for the next time.  I mean we aren't all mind readers right, what fun would that be?  Anyways I had an emotional weekend and Lincoln and I are that much closer.  I found this quote on Pintrest the other night and I thought it went well.  Not EVERY verse fits but it explains relationships pretty well and reminded me of patience.  When its worth it and your happy its important to have as many as you can scrounge up.  LOL  After our weekend this fit us and made me realize that we will never be perfect but as long as we keep communicating and breaking through some of our walls one day or one experience at a time it's going to keep on going and in the end be AMAZING!!!

Something that I can't believe that I haven't blogged about is my latest ink addition.  It isn't so new anymore seeing that I got my latest and LAST (mother) tattoo in March but seeing what this post is about it fit to finally put it out there.  I had been wanting a tattoo on my wrist for some time but never went and done it.  In March I made the executive decision and headed out to Longview.  It took about 10 minutes and I also got one on my foot redone into something new and way better.  I love my heart on my foot and it fits way better than what I had previously.  Anyways I got my wrist tattoo in a light pink.  It says Love is Patient in Arabic.  Yes, I know ironic that I got part of a Christian Bible verse in a Arabic but it means so much to me....Let me explain.  I thought when I left Iraq I would never look back and totally block out that period in my life but to be honest that was one of the greatest times in my life.  I learned and went through so much it transformed me into the woman I am today.  I am totally independent and happy in myself.  Before I depended on the ideals of America and what I thought was going to make me happy now I know that I MAKE ME happy and ever since I realized that I have been the happiest I have ever been.  This also has carried over into my relationship with Lincoln, this is the first relationship where I have actually gone into it without holding on to the train while it was still going sort of thing.  I was totally happy with myself and now I have the happiest relationship I have ever had in my life.  I guess all those things my Mom has been telling me for years really are true ;)!! GO FIGURE!!  Anyways, Iraq was a great time in my life and it opened my eyes to so many paths but mostly to love and that you can't rush it.  It is kind, it isn't boastful, or arrogant, LOVE IS PATENT!  Now every time I see that scribble of a language on my wrist it is a constant reminder of the greatness that came from the Middle East and how I always need to remember what it says. 

Leaving Iraq...Arriving in Egypt

Last time leavig BIAP

In the air leaving Iraq, flying over the base

Bright and early on January 10th, I left Baghdad for the last time in my life.  We arrived in Dubai and of course its late January but still it is hot.  A friend that I worked with was on his way home also so we decided to eat Indian before we left to go our separate ways.  We only had a short time and I had a few things I needed to get done before heading back to the airport. I had gotten a great suggestion for an Indian restaurant before I left Iraq so Wayne and I set out on foot to go eat Indian for the first time ever.  We found Akbar’s very easy and since it was a late lunch Wayne and I were the only ones in the restaurant.  I had a great experience with the food and I will be eating Indian again. 

Wayne studying the menu, acting goofy

Excited to check out the menu and try Indian for the first time.

This is what they bring to the table before your meal.  Very good!

Chicken dish that was so good and packed full of flavor.  I'm sorry but I can't remember the name.

Some spinach dish that had chicken in it, very creamy (can't remember the official name)

On our way back to the hotel to get our gear and head to the airport I had to stop and buy a new suit case at the market because I was terrified mine was going to bust open due to being extremely full. I knew I would want to buy a few souvenirs along the way and that bag wasn’t even going to hold another sock. LOL

After saying our goodbyes I went to the airport and left for Kuwait then on to Cairo.  Of course all the flights were delayed.  I should have known that when my flight out of BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) was delayed it would set the tune for every flight. And just a handy tip NEVER, I repeat NEVER think if visiting or flying through Kuwait....It is TERRIBLE.  After much agony I arrived in Cairo around midnight.  After wondering around looking for my tour guide for what seemed like forever I found him and headed for hotel.  A high note was when I got off the plane I actually had someone holding one of those little boards with my name on it...LOL I felt so fancy. 

My first stay in Cairo was about an hour away from the airport at the Oasis Hotel.  After taking long, hot, very needed bath I hopped into bed and slept for a about 5 hours before getting up to get ready for the day.  Looking back, this first day of travel pretty much set my tone for the whole trip.  It was a wonderful time and I am so glad I did it but it was very fast pace and not a lot of down time.

More of my Egyptian travels to come!!!

Hasta La Vista...Iraq

I am sitting at the travel center waiting on my bus to the airport on my last few hours in Iraq. 

Yesterday I finished up my work and said goodbye to all my friends.  I guess it really hasn't sunk in yet that I am leaving Iraq FOREVER!  It feels like I am just going out on RR and it's no big thing.  Maybe I would feel different if I was going directly home but instead I am headed for a great vacation in Egypt. 

I will let you know how I feel when I am sitting in Dubai after returning from Egypt waiting on my flight home.  I look back 2 1/2 years ago and look at the little girl who came to this country and then I look at myself now and see a woman getting on that plane.  I have grown so much and like I said in my farwell speech thingy on Saturday during the weekly staff meeting...I have really enjoyed my time here and I have learned so much not only professionaly but also personally.  I will close this chapter in my life truly changed forever and definitely for the better. 

I am off to walk like an Egyptian!

3 Strikes and....Oh Wait

that's baseball and I need to be talking about bowling!!!

I have mentioned maybe once before that in the past year we have gotten a bowling alley.  Yes, in Iraq!!!  I have only been twice and that was in the past month or so and it's a great way to just have a little fun for a night with friends.  The first time I went I didn't bring my camera but this past Sunday when I went I made sure I had it and a full battery.  I knew that since I am leaving in what is now 4 days that I wouldn't be back out there and for sure wanted to capture some great memories.

                   Me               Vilera           Emma           Chris

                                   
                                 Emma                          Vilera            

I am not the best bowler and I don't foresee myself getting any better, bowling isn't really a hot activity in East Texas. HaHa  I would get lucky every once in a while and get a strike and that made it fun.  Of course everyone hates bowling shoes and to give mine that added touch of awesomeness I rolled my pants up and rocked the 1950's look.

 All in all it was a great night and I had a lot of fun with Darick, Chris, Vilera, and Emma.

Going Out or Coming In with a BANG.....However You Want To Look At It

I really have no idea how this, being my hair cut, ended up going down but it did and I am pretty pleased with it.   Last night there were several MWR events but all of them were cancelled due to high threats of being hit.  So Sharon, Shkurte, and I stayed in and just had a girls night.  We went and got pizza from Northend, which sadly I will miss when I leave Iraq, set up the movies in Shkurte's rooma and just relaxed.  You know we did the regular girl things.  I painted Skurte's toe nails and while I was doing that we talked about hair and how my face is round so I always feel like it looks fat when I take pictures.  I can't even remember how bangs came into the picture but soon Sharon was telling me how I would look with bangs.  I was agreeing with her and then Shkurte had the scissors.  I am very pleased with my new addition and I will like them even better as soon as I get use to having hair touch my face all the time and I train my bangs not to part down the middle. LOL 

We laughed at Superbad and stuffed ourselves with pizza and breadsticks just in time to yell together HAPPY NEW YEAR and take a few 2011 pictures.  Soon after I took me and my bangs to bed because I have stayed up way past my regular bedtime for the past couple nights and I was wiped out. 

Shkurte, Me, and Sharon ringing in 2011

It was a great way to start the new year and I enjoyed spending some QT with my girls in Iraq before I leave in ONLY 8 DAYS!!! WHOOP

One of my co-workers sent an email to Sharon with the below pictures saying that my new hair cut looks like Michelle Phiefer's hair in Scarface! LOL

 

What does everything think?  Does it look good, bad, what......



Movies & Metaphors

A few days ago I went to grab some movies I had been dying to see and I got the ones I wanted except for The Tourist, it was all sold out. I also grabbed a huge amount of candy and planned on popping around to Vin’s room for a visit and maybe a funny movie. After work I grabbed all my goodies and headed out.

Just look at all that sugary goodness.

A funny story….the other night I was talking to Vin on instant messenger and after we were done talking I told him I was off to bed and I would talk to him another day. He was like yeah ok I’m going to put up some Christmas lights in my room. I thought ok that’s cool. So while we were talking the other night before our movie he said oh let me turn on my Christmas lights. When he plugged them in and I saw the finished product I was a tad surprised. He bought a strand that was really long but only had about 20 bulbs on it. It’s just a little strip of lights that ended up stretching just across the wall maybe a foot. LOL It was hysterical and he was very disappointed. He was very excited to buy them at the PX and thought he was going to string them up all throughout his room and sit in the dark with only the glow of the lights. NOT what happened but they were still pretty.

After a visit we watched the latest Jackass 3D movie and it was hilarious. I headed on home afterwards because I was tired but once I got there I was wide awake and had to watch Black Swan. I had been waiting and waiting for the Hadgi shop to get it and I am so glad they had it. It was a bit on the dark side but it was so good and now I’m dying to go to the ballet and see a performance.

Another great movie that I bought and watched yesterday during work is Life as We Know It.

OMG! It was awesome!

First off I love Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel is HOT. Then they are so funny throughout the movie. Last it is so sweet and just amazing. I almost cried at my desk. It’s a great story and a great movie. If you haven’t seen it then I HIGHLY recommend that when it comes out you rent it.

On a different topic, I have heard a few hilarious metaphors lately and I have to share.

The other day I was leaving a conference meeting and a co-worker and I were having a conversation when he said that whatever we were talking about was like a (ready for it because after you read this there are going to be no more words….YES it’s that AWESOME) fart in a paper sack! LOL Is that not hilarious?!!!

Another one was said during one of me and Vin’s crazy conversations…. He said that someone was thick as two short planks! I died laughing I had never heard that before and I think now I’m going to start using the word thick (as in not so smart) just so I can use that phrase.

Anyways just thought I would share a few comical phrases and some great movie recommendations. Since the next week or so is going to mean a lot of relaxation for the most of you.

Not me unfortunately but what is very fortunate is that

I ONLY HAVE 14 DAYS LEFT

before I go to Egypt. I received all my hotel information for the places I will be visiting in Egypt and I have to say I am very pleased and I can’t wait to see them in person especially since my first hotel is in walking distance of the pyramids.

 I can’t wait to walk like an Egyptian.

My 24th Birthday Celebration Iraqi Style

Last Thursday, the 16th was my 24th birthday and I had a great time celebrating with friends. This was my 3rd birthday in Iraq and this one was BY FAR the best. I had so much fun hanging out with my co-workers and closest friends away from the office. It was a really relaxing night and there was a lot of laughter shared among friends.

Initially I wanted to go bowling but about a week before I changed my mind because I would have rather relaxed and visited with everyone rather than be involved in some activity. Plus bowling is a tad expensive. I decided that I wanted to go out to the Turkish restaurant and sit outside around the fires they build every night. This was a great hit with everyone else and they have different restaurants out there so everyone could get something they liked. We left out around 7:45 and once we found an empty fire and got everyone situated we ordered our food. Vin, Chris, and I all had Chinese and of course it was D-lish, Dustee and Jas got pizza from the Mediterranean restaurant and others got food from the Turkish restaurant. Shenelle got a cake from the PX and we topped all that with some hookah smoking. All in all it was a GREAT night! Dustee and Jas left early because she had to pack since she was leaving the next day but the rest of us stayed until after 10. I got some really sweet cards and Wayne gave me a rubik’s slide. I have been so busy with work so I haven’t got to play with it yet but I am sure it’s going to be very entertaining. I am so thankful that I can have a great time and enjoy myself around great people while I am away from home and my family during such a special season. Thanks for everyone who contributed to making my birthday so special. I will remember it forever.

I even had a birthday headband that Chris gave me a couple weeks ago. I thought it looked so cute and gave me a special factor LOL.

Good times with great friends that I will stay in touch with for the rest of my life. I love these guys!

It's going to be a bit of a picture overload but I had so many good ones and I wanted to share so bear with me.

Birthday wishes from the gang.

Vin had to take a picture of my lovely birthday chariot. LOL

Happy Birthday to me it was a great day!