Who don't do that? Friday 12/23/11

Just when I thought I had enough...I woke to 17 below zero today and we don't have heat in our tent. I want to sing that ol' song..." Who needs heat when we have each other".  Have you heard of that ditty?  NO!?  Because I just made it up.  I'm freezing!  So what, I'm from Michigan and I should be used to it.  Who by golly gets use to the freezing cold?  And there's no one here to snuggle up to anyway.  I'm in a mood today.  I thought to go to the DFAC (chow hall) and cozy up to someone, but it was warm in there and I got hungry and ate, then I was comfortable and had a delicious chocolate chip cookie all warm and gooey, and then I got sleepy.  So, I wandered back, forgetting I was going back to the North Pole - (well, turn left and stop halfway to the equator.)  Now I'm back in the arctic tent with icicles hanging from my face...Ha!  You thought I would say from my nose - girls don't do that.  Girls also don't fart or leave an odor in the bathroom especially when they're there an extended length of time... (hint- light a match.) Girls don't burp or make underarm noise.  Go ask your wife or significant other...I can wait.  I'm in a mood.  I'm in Afghanistan.  I have nothing but time to wait and freeze to death.  Here I thought the Taliban would get me...oh no.  I'm screwed down in the cold.  This poor little Michigan girl is going to be done in by the Afghan winter.  I can hear the laughter now....no one does it better than Maria!

 Now that I've had time to feel sorry for myself and vent, I am going to commit to being thankful for what I do have.  For one, that I brought a coat, scarf, mittens and long johns (I am from Michigan after all and our motto is, Be prepared for the cold!)  I stood outside, (smoking of course), and watching as the locals came on base with their blankets wrapped around them.  No coats or any kind of warm clothing.  HR was good enough to donate hats to them.  I went to buy mittens or something warm for them, but there's nothing to be had. Everything flew off the shelf the minute the temperature dropped and with no supplies flying in due to weather...

For two, that I have my family, friends and readers to be thankful for. Thank you for supporting me through my travels in Afghanistan. I hope that I make the reading interesting and worthwhile. Merry Christmas to all of you!

Speaking of worthwhile...I started a hand washing campaign.  It's in response to some nasty infections in tiny wounds that we've been getting in the clinic.  It's amazing how fast gangrene can sink in. No one comes to the clinic until something is ready to fall off.  They think they will be sent home.  Well, guess what? Not only will you get sent home for being stupid and letting the infection set it, but you will be leaving without parts too. Try and pick your nose now! (girls don't do that either).

So in the spirit of Christmas, I have included my campaign pictures...Nobody does it better! Include these as your Happy New Years Eve party favors and ...

 Wash your hands!  (Girls do this...they also dance and karaoke!)

Merry Christmas!

Feel free to comment or write to me at angeltwins1@hotmail.com