Get your meds!

I have been so busy! It's been difficult finding time to blog. We've had dignitaries/corporate people to entertain...fun, fun! In between that, I'm on a mission to make sure that everyone has anti-mosquito medication. It's a little difficult convincing some people that it's good for you when there's nothing flying about and the weather right now is only good if you're a penguin. I have to get proof that everyone has it or I'm to give them a new bottle and almost every time the Americans give me a hard time. That's got me wondering... We all know that too much antibiotics is not a good thing. It won't work if you abuse it, so the Americans or anyone that can google- who we call cyberchondiacs (thanks Bill for the term), don't want it or they think they'll get an infection "down under." YUK! Who wants that, but compared to death...come on people. As I've said before, everything here is out to kill you and that includes mosquitoes. Meanwhile the poorest of poor, ie; Indians and Kenyans, want as much as they can lay their hands on. I actually heard one person tell another...take it and send it home. I guess that way they don't have to buy antibiotics when they need them. I understand that it's hard to get care in the poorest of countries. (Like when they thank us for their immunizations) The only gauge I have is Cambodia and I never saw a hospital there. I also heard that I didn't want to either. So in those countries they make it easy to buy medication. (ala Mexico for those back home). One young fellow brought me his prescription from his homeland as proof that he already had some anti- malaria medication and it was exactly what I was handing out...'course I had to tell him that it might not be the same thing...strength and additives and such. But I told him it was FREE to take from the company and in fact it was required. So as a good employee he took it and signed on the dotted line. Another gave the excuse of an allergy. When I offered the suggested medication for allergy prone individuals, they took the original but was not a happy little camper. Another enterprising fellow asked how much it would sell for on Ebay. Good grief...see how it goes when the care is free. Then again...no one wants to be told that they have to do anything... even when it's good for them.

Who's your Daddy! (2/1/12)

Today our safety topic was Sexual Harassment. Our Site Manger and all around good guy, gives us these briefs every morning at 6 am with different safety topics each morning to keep us on our toes and keep us diligent and safe. I've been at this little FOB (base) since the 8th (3 weeks) and I can not believe that all required personnel show up for these meetings. Even I do and I don't even have to be there. I go because it's good customer service and the community has a chance to interact with me. This in turn builds trust and use of me as their care provider. So it was that this topic in mind that my buddy and I would entertain ourselves for the best part of today and take a turn in harassing the guys. Usually they're good sports and they think it's funny when we try to whistle anyways. And then it snowed and equipment blew again and the pipes froze and the heat went out and all that were not busy on emergencies were busy shoveling- me included. It is a team effort on these small bases. So now we're all too tired for games and it's Mother Natures turn to tease and say, "who's your daddy!." The sun came out for a brief reprieve and then it chickened out too.

The locals claim that they haven't gotten weather like this in 20 years. My halo/TelePrompter balloon that sits over my head sends a news flash to me- the weather is following me from home. I must keep this little secret or my contemporaries or the the talitubbies would really come after me. They attempted a sneak attack on the BIG Boys. I'd love to say silly mad men or even be rude enough to say dumb balls. But the truth of these missions is they give the farmers and such some money to care for their families, train them for 10 minutes and convince them to attack the BAD Americans. What's one more innocent, dumb Afghani life when they get blown to kingdom come. It done to keep us on our toes and gives them leverage for negotiations when we supposedly sit down in Qatar. In the meantime the Pakistani's, (who switched sides), are calling for our help after getting their butts handed it them by their buddies. I watch CNN too. All I can say is Who's your Daddy now!

Wintertime, Funtime! (1/26/12)

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it...enough already! This is day 3 of snow and so what I should be used to it because I'm from Michigan! Ok- I am a little. I do have a winter coat and snow boots that are water proof for the rainy season. Also, I was the only one out there pushing it off my walks. The others on this base thought I was nuts. We're in the middle of a desert. It will melt soon. And it did! It melted enough to make icy little paths all over the place today...except for in front of my little clinic- Ha! I still can't get over how beautiful snow is when it's falling, (and I get to see it again tonight- oh boy!) but the going out in it and walking in it is a drag. At least it now has a reason to be so cold in the desert. No flights out because of weather. It was a bit windy today, Four people are trying to get out to go on R&R and this is a painful reminder of how close I scheduled my own trip home. I did not use any days to get stuck here. I instead used my "stuck days" for when I'm home. We get 3 of these days and I chose to use them wisely being home and not for getting stuck anywhere. Pray that it works in my favor.

So the snow... It supposedly is a fluke to snow this far south and this much. I believe it! It was great fun watching it through others who have never seen it before. There were Kenyans and Nationals, out without their coats, sliding in it and taking so many pictures to send back home. I just wish we could've found something to sled on- no EMS sleds (backboards) here. Then the soldiers came out and started a snowball fight. I brought out my camera and got pummeled! There were a few falls but no one broke bones... so all's well.

Speaking of breaking something...I will be joining my family on a fun run when I get home. Plan on being there or be square. It's on March 11th at Corktown. www.runmichigan.com for further info. I understand our group name is "Shots in the D", so join in- it'll be fun! For me it means getting off my butt and giving up lazing around to train, but they're worth it. Thanks for motivating me! It also means breaking my smoking habit, as we all know I can't (or won't) run and smoke. Today was a huge success because I only smoked 6 cigarettes, because I'm in training and I did a mile in 20 minutes without too much huffing and puffing. I barely broke a sweat. I have just over a month to get ready- yikes! So I am training here in my bare feet (well- socks) on a treadmill because I left my running stuff at the last base, which was really stupid and a mistake I will not make again.

I'm trying hard to just take the essentials on these little hops. I have to carry all my own stuff and it's a lot of work! Let's start with the 2 lap tops that I have to carry and then my sleeping bag, pillow and blanket, sheets. Then my vest and helmet, (which weighs a ton). Then clothes and toiletries. I know exactly why some people smell! I broke down and bought an rolling army duffle and a better backpack. I'll see if it makes any difference. The bags I have all have wheels , but the rocks and gravel and sand are extremely hard on everything here. I could not even imagine dragging it through snow. We also have a weight limit of 50 lbs. It makes me laugh the stuff that I can hoard in my pockets!

So one more week on this cute little base and BIG tears when I leave. These people have been great and the best and friendliest military that I've ever met.