A Bit Sad....

Sad news -

One of the most amazing people I've ever met in my life passed away this past Monday. I am so heartbroken and sad. I can't mourn with the rest of my friends who's lives she's touched and loved. Oh the heartache of being alone.

"Oh, What a Beauuuuuuutiful Morning..."

Well my friends - it's another beautiful day in Hawai'i nei!

I am loving my time away from everybody and everyone! (No offense)

Last week was my week to chill out with my brother Keoki and help him with school.

Last night Foeata and I went and got a pedicure done. (Don't judge.) It was actually really nice. But it was soooo weird when the lady was working on my feet - I couldn't help but laugh a lot because it tickled!

This coming week, I am off on my own to do various fun and adventurous things. For example: go to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, go to Hickam and get some goodies, make my presence known at the Post Office, get my passport done, buy a bunch of books, etc.... AND, most importantly - GO TO THE BEACH!!!

Funny story - the other day, Foeata told me, "Wow, Pili, you're really white!" (Have to love the people who don't sugar coat things.) Yet, it was true, I am very fair skinned. I was putting my clothes on the other day, getting ready to go to school with Keoki, and I gasped... I am REALLLLY white! I knew I was fair, but the way the sun hit my skin - oh yeah... I'm white to the MAX. Needless-to-say, I'll be hitting the beach this week! And, hopefully getting a massage, too. Oh the joys of being in Hawai'i! :)

Alright my dear friends and family. I might update this post later with the more DETAILED version of my Pedicure Adventure and, perhaps, may even share a few pictures.

One love from the islands~

Happy Love-Love Month

Well friends, I was attempting to find a stark black background that had some kind of "Death to Valentine's Day" on it... but decided against it. Mainly for the reason that it doesn't exist. :)

Some of you may know that Valentine's is not my favorite "holiday". None-the-less, just like the sun rises, Valentine's Day and the month of February will always "come to pass". Ha! Yet, another overrated and commercialized holiday to "boost" the economy. (Don't get me started on that.)

This year, I'm going to try and do something a little different. I am actually making a bunch of

Valentine's for our living area. Let me clarify... not just my chu, but our entire "pod" living area. That is... approximately 165 Valentine's. Phew! That's a lot! Man alive, I'm not sure how I'll be able to make each one unique. But, I'm hoping that this will get me in touch with my inner child when making Valentine cards and giving treats to others were fun and given with unselfishness.

Unselfishness - you know... I guess that could, in essence, be the "spirit" of Valentine's Day. Letting other people know that they are thought of, appreciated, and loved. (Even though I don't dare say that I particularly "care" of some of them. At least in a small way, I can say that I love everyone... but I would just "love" to see some of them stuffed. Oh... I said another mean thing, huh? Blah)

Anyway, I'm grooving to my "Colbie Caillat" station on Pandora and hope to finish at least 20 more Valentine stuff today. (I'll be putting them on the doors, and will make some letters that spell out "HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY" and hang them from some of the cargo net hanging on the walkways of some of the chus.) Hopefully I'll be able to take pictures and them post them on here after the damage is done. :)

Okay - I'm going back to letting the creative juices flow! (Oh! No I'm not... going to the gym instead.)

One love!

Oh, and if anyone is serving here with me reading this blog.... PLEASE DON'T BLOW MY COVER! Thanks!!!!

P~

A Little More Thoughts and Adventures

I apologize for this blog entry. It will be a compilation of e-mails and journal entries from this last little while. I will apologize, also, in advance if my excerpts of my entries don't flow or make sense. I don't have much time to update this, but I've had requests to do it, since I haven't done so in over a month. So, without further adieu - happy reading.

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"Being here in Iraq has been one of the greatest times of my life. In all honesty, I love it here. I like the work that I am doing, and feel very blessed to be here working. I do, however, wish that more people would just leave me alone – let me be, and not think that just because I am nice, means that I am interested in anyone. I am not weak for being nice... I am finding my balance in being nice, not trusting, and keeping my heart locked. Trust me, there's NO ONE here that I care about in the "romantic" sort." - Let me explain. I got asked to move to another country by someone who told me that "even though we're far apart, a lover's heart never grows old." Gag me with a spoon.... PLEASE! (I know... that was rude of me.)

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"- I got to go out on a mission this past Monday, the 10th. I got to go with... a... PSD team to ...a settlement. We took two UN PSO to an IDP settlement. There were 950 families living in that settlement area. It sort of reminded me of the Philipines. Run down, dirty, poor living conditions.

The children were really cute and it was nice to be able to get a picture taken with them. SGT Abrams took my camera and took some snapshots of me with the babies. They were sooo cute. I'm thankful Abrams did that. He said that I am always behind the camera, so it would be nice for me to be in the front this time. So true.

The school that most of the smaller children attend is a two room school, two bathrooms, a itty bitty play ground with no electricity. (We used our flashlights to view the inside of the rooms.) On the walls were drawings that the students did. I even recognized a pokeymon character on the wall. J Not to mention, the awesome paintings of Popeye, Bert, a Smurf ... I wish I could have done more.

The pictures I was able to take that day are being put on a CD and given back to the two UN PSO's that we took out with us. (Hence, a RECON.) There were sheep there that were eating the trash – riffling through the rubbish piles. Live chickens running around, pecking at the moistened ground looking for food. The random dog, wagging its tail as we walked by. The horses that pulled a flatbed and person in the rear. The simplicities of life that many don't realize or understand, however, I was blessed to view a bit of it."

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"Nothing exciting, however, at work, I wrote 16 letters and typed 3 brief e-mails within 3 ½ hours. It took me a while because my hand was cramping. I wrote so many cards because I was responding to the many letters and packages that I received during the holiday season. I wanted to write and express my thanks for the letters/cards/packages. Although I should have written sooner, I was hoping to get my little newsletter done and be able to print that out, and perhaps some pictures as well, to send to people. Obviously that didn't pan out. So! Hence, the hand cramps and letter writing."

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"Karaoke: We got there at 2245. It usually closes at 2300, but we ended up staying for longer that than. The first song that I ended up singing after a while was: "I Can't Make You Love Me", by Bonnie Raitt. Man, what an EMOTIONAL song! I didn't expect my emotions to hit me at the end of it. Carter was there, and he said "P! You killed it! Freakin' nailed it. So much emotion."

Honestly, I only picked that song because I knew the words and the tune to it, not because of what the message was. SSG Fink ended up welling up with tears and told me I almost made him cry. That it was one of the most emotionally songs he's heard sung. I guess Suell also got teary eyed. Seriously, I got teary eyed and started to let it out a little when I was done. It was such a relief and a sad moment at the same time."

Here are a few fun pictures

A Day of Great Mix Ups

Well, today has been a great day!

My morning started at 0500 when I woke up and got ready to head back outside the wire. I had to report to my duty office by 0600. At 0715, or so, we headed out to our area of operation and I basically played until 1130 or so. Today was Human Rights day and I had the privilege of working with the women and disabled today. It was such a treat. I also got to meet some of the other Fijians who are here and learned to say "How are you" in their language. Granted, I royally butchered their beautiful language, but it was fun attempting to learn it!

While we were there, the CDR & 1SG came out to visit and actually put our "combat" patch on us. It was pretty special. A sweet experience indeed. Sorry - no photos, because we were in a no photo area.

I also got to go to Union III to the "mall", as they call it. I just about broke out in hives when they said "mall". Ugh! But it was pretty much a bunch of really small shops cramped in an overcrowded building along with other vendors outside the small building. Man alive, they had some VERY beautiful handmade things there. There was a rug weaver out there and they were making handmade rugs right there! Insane! That is such a great gift! (Honestly, I don't think we "Americans" are domesticated enough... back to the basics people.... handmade gifts/crafts are always better!)

Meanwhile, back at the FOB... ha ha ha - that sounded like a comic book line! LOL! Okay, back to business... when I got back, I ate lunch, and went over to see if I could secure my gear that I left in my transport vehicle. While I was waiting, I ended up sewing some "loops" on a decorated rug for one of our LTs... but the most exciting??? I got asked to be a battle buddy with one of the SGTs to go on a tour of the IZ. (International Zone) Soooo... I went along with them. Needless-to-say, it was pretty fun. Here are a few pictures that we took at the "Cross Sabers". Oh! And the other picture is of some of the guys in our unit posing with their combat patch. Ha ha!

Let's see - OH! Tonight, I had it off since I worked this morning, I ended up going Salsa Dancing for an hour! I LOVED IT!!!! Seriously! Man alive, I walked in, it was only me - I saw the "DJ" who I also met yesterday at lunch, he thought I was Latina and started talking with me... anyway! Sammy was there and he already had music going, so we started dancing, and then Hernandez came and I started dancing on and off with both of them. It was soooo much fun! They were asking if I was going to start coming every Friday night, and I told them that it all depended if I had Friday nights off. (It was random that I had tonight off. Oh, and if I start typing random stuff, it's because I had a long day, and my brain is going faster than my fingers!)

Wait! One more thing... as I was walking home from watching some of my friends sing Karaoke, I smelled rain in the air! It was a beautiful smell!!!! Bring on the rain, baby!

Alright, have to go. One love~

Outside the Wire

Today was one of those days I wish I had a recording device hooked up to my brain and was recording my thoughts and "narration" as I went "outside the wire" today. To be honest, it was quite animated. Now, if only I were able to remember what half of those thoughts were - you'd be highly entertained yourself! :)

Work has been good. I've been able to get quite a bit of reading done since last Friday! I'm on page 184 - 33.63% of the way done! (I haven't even started reading yet tonight, so I'll increase that percentage for sure!) Oh, I began reading "New Moon"... yes, it's a girlie book... part of the "Twilight Saga". But hey... my old roomie: Keaton, got me liking the movies, and since this book was never opened... and FREE, I snapped it up and have been reading away! Tomorrow I have some time off in the morning, and may indulge in more of my girlie book after working out and breakfast. Ugh.

Today, as I was being cross-trained, I was standing in the sun quite a bit, and now have a half white/brown tan on my face. I look like a total freak!... I LOVE IT! (Not really. I hope you sensed the sarcasm in that.) But, I worked with two great soldiers and we had TONS of fun. OH! I got to meet people from Japan, Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, Britain, Italy, Germany, Canada "Eh" (ha ha ha- oh the good 'ole days), Korea.... I had a blast. When the next shift came on, I got to bond and be a dork with the next crew, too. I think they were more in shock to see me surfing and downhill skiing the security gate than anything. (I'll let you use your imagination on that.) Need-less-to-say, my play time came to an end when I had to come back to post. But I'm glad I made it a great day!

Oh, and not to mention.... my sleep schedule is alllll thrown off right now. I usually work from 4 - midnight every night, but had to report at 8 this morning, work from 3PM - 1AM tomorrow, 4 - midnight on Thursday, then Friday morning work 6AM - 4PM. I'm trying to stay up a little longer tonight so I can get my body readjusted to working late... or maybe I'll just take a nap tomorrow. :) Oh yeah.... naps are great! :)

What's new? Well, nothing much. I do pretty much the same thing every day, but I like to mix it up as to not get stuck in an obvious pattern of doing things. My day usually consists of some variation of working out, breakfast, shower, lunch, sleep, work, dinner, work, sleep. And then the random use of internet. There have been 2 days when I was sick that my schedule was pretty much: breakfast, sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeep, work, dinner, work, sleep. Gosh I love my job!

Okay friends. Sorry it couldn't be more entertaining. I do have to get off the computer though.

Love from the sandbox!

Phone Usage

Well people, just to let you know, there is no USO here on post. AND no DSN to where most of my family live. Thus, if you don't get a phone call this next year - don't be heartbroken about it. Calling cards don't work here, either. So! We're back to snail mail, and the occasional e-mail. Thus, here's my address again:

PFC Baclayon
B BTRY 1-148 FA BN
FOB Prosperity
APO, AE 09348

Big hopes, eh?!?

Duty Station Overseas

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!

Here's a little funny: Today, I woke up and it was still early evening on the West Coast. Tonight, at dinner, I was watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV! Cracked me up!!!

Just letting you know that I made it to my final duty station in Iraq. My FOB is quite small, but there are a lot of things that I can get involved in, and am looking forward to it. For example, I went to the gym tonight to take a gander, and inquired about the different classes that are being taught, and they only have an aerobic class available Monday, Wednesdays & Fridays. I guess they used to have a YOGA class, but the instructor left and the class died. Sooooo, I was talking with the Zumba instructor in Kuwait, and she said that I should teach it here. Luckily, or maybe NOT so luckily, they don't have a Zumba class or instructor here. SOOOOO, since I have "become a certified Zumba instructor" on my life list of goals, Denise (from the gym) said that if I wanted to start a Zumba class, I would just need to have the music, and I could use the old yoga studio! HOW cool would that be! Sweet!

Anyway, I'm a bit tired. I've been up since 0230 and it's 1911. We've been traveling all day. My hands are red, bruised, and tired from loading, unloading, and moving bags around everywhere!!!! Sucks to be a good battle buddy sometimes!

OH, and in the smack-dab in the middle of our 2 mile round FOB, is a palace. It was one of the first structures that was bombed here. It's GORGEOUS! The reliefs and architecture, and painting is sooo exquisite! I'll have to take pictures of it one day and send it over. Or, maybe I'll just post it on my little blog. (Speaking of which, I'm going to put a little ditty on there right now. Actually, probably just a cut and pace from this e-mail.)

I won't be able to get on the computer very often for the next little bit. Not sure when I start working my shifts, however, I think tomorrow I start meeting the people we are taking over for. It'll be an adventure for sure. Will blog again when I can.

Pili girl~

In a New Land

Boy- there is nothing but sand here. Miles and miles of sand.... desert. I wish I could post photographs of where we are, however, there is a "No Photographs" rule. Oh well, such is life.

The time here is 10:45 am. I've been awake for many hours. I think I figured it was something like 8 - 10 hours of sleep I've had in 3 days or so. I totally forgot about the day change as well, and thought today was still Wednesday! We are here at our transition area for about a week. We have to walk EVERYWHERE! I love it! But the time difference is definitely a killer! I'm trying to stay awake as much as possible, so I can get on a regular sleeping schedule with this new time zone.

Not-to-mention, when I'm walking, standing, sitting... I still feel like I'm on an airplane, and am still moving. Such a weird feeling.

But, I made it safe.

Okay, have to go. Time is up on the computer. (My typing has slowed, since I don't use the computer often any more.) :(

One love to all!!!