Happy New Year!

It is 2013 in Kuwait, I think the US is caught up now.  The Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders are here today, I guess they aren’t needed by the team anymore (not that I really care about whether or not the Cowboys made it to the playoffs.  I am moderately happy for the Redskins and think the Seattle-Washington matchup is going to be an excellent game.  Too bad it happens at midnight my time.)  It was a light day for the most part, some things are moving around but most of the sailors have most of the day off.

It was actually a day to sleep in as I didn’t have to be in the office until late.  Unfortunately the Army maintained their routine of playing reveille over their Giant Voice system, essentially a series of huge speakers set throughout Camp Arifjan.  At 6am every morning they play the bugle call, followed by something that is beginning to drive me crazy – the theme to the movie Patton.  They play it because the Third Army runs AJ and the Third Army is known as “Patton’s Own” as he commanded it during WW II.  Now I love the movie, in fact Tracy still tells a story of how she woke up from a nap (she wasn’t feeling very well at the time) to a war going on in the living room of her apartment, only to find it was just me watching the movie.  However, I don’t want to hear the theme every..single…morning.  Here it is:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdEy4GneZfw    I defy you to listen to it and not have it stick in your head.  I also don’t understand why they don’t switch it up a little bit, they have already set the precedent of playing something non-military, I think they are missing a real opportunity.  They could have had Christmas tunes during December, Auld Lang Syne today, Anchors Aweigh after Navy beat Army, things like that.  Google Doodles can do it, why can’t the Army?

I was out at the Kuwaiti Naval Base early Sunday morning; it was my first try at driving out on the highways myself.  We can’t go out alone, there are always two or more in any car and we have to have a cell phone with us as well as a memo signed by a senior officer that allows us out and about.  That said, it wasn’t any more risky than driving in DC.  Several cars blew by me, something that never, ever happens back home, but I have to be aware of setting a good example and not exceeding the speed limit.  The command was hit with over $6,000 in fines recently from some tickets received during the April – June timeframe, so there is an increased emphasis on good driving.  I plan to get out more and more often as I get comfortable with the routes between locations.  I understand some folks would like to see some pictures of Kuwait and I will get those, this trip happened to occur at night.  In the meantime you will have to be content with the cheerleaders picture.

The school break has been great for communications back home, and the kids each got an iPod Touch for Christmas so now I can FaceTime any of them or Tracy.  I got to see just about everyone at some point while Tracy and the kids were at the Wilkinson’s or while Kathy and Joe hosted a get-together for Tracy, the kids, Pauline, and Glen and Ed’s families.  I was able to see the kids actually open the iPods, which was very cool.  I got to see a jello pie and some snow, although I understand the snow caused some major headaches for Glen and Ed on their trips back to MA.  I got to see my dad and Ellen on their way back from Florida.   That’s the big thing that I missed being here, February won’t be a big deal (I certainly won’t miss the bitter cold!) but the holidays with all the family connections are always great fun.  I did manage to have some ice cream during our Christmas dinner, though.

Here’s hoping everyone has a happy and healthy new year!  I am not one to make resolutions, as I think it is silly to wait for one specific day if you want to make a change (and it is tough to improve upon perfection…) but I think I would like to spend the holidays at home next year.  Or you can go Melanie’s route, and I quote:  “I resolve to not have violent physical contact”.  So don’t we all.