The learning curve

Good grief time fly's. I can't believe it's been so many days since I've blogged. It's been pretty busy at Tiny FOB, plus I'm trying to enroll in school. I fiqured since I'm studying daily, I should get some credits out of this.

This week alone I've studied the snakes, rats, bugs from around this area. More specific about their diseases that they spread or their stings and bites and how to treat them. I was asked if I was teaching about snakes and rats...hey? Did I hear an undertone in that question? Sometimes I wish I could be a snake and sneak up behind my enemies spewing my venomous poison, but everything is written on my face...that is unless my mouth is going. I've also been called a hoe...I'm still praying that it was a typo, but you never know here in the sandbox.

I was able to demonstrated bleeding control to a group of my peers because...well, we are in a warzone and I thought that might be a handy trick to know for the non- medically inclined- especially if we are attacked. People just really want to help. All those crane neckers and gawkers would be rescuers if they only knew how. It's all about watch your buddy. So we made some homemade tourniques (teach them how to use what's readily available), and the military was 100% behind my efforts and donated some of theirs. I later saw some of the trainees wearing them as belts. What inguinity! I don't care where I see them, so long as they have them on their person at all times.

Watch out! I just got a new Sports medicine book. All those aches and pain had better be breaks and sprains...I'm raring to go. It comes complete with symptoms, tests, treatments....all the stuff a girl would want to know- YES!!

This has been my dream job in terms of learning and experience...only 4 months left- Yahoo! R&R is coming up soon!

Love & hate

The hating game is as prevalent here as anywhere. I'm at a FOB that I always thought of as all for one, One for all. The cutest tiny FOB in the land. But things change and backs get stabbed and feelings get hurt. It just reminds me that Words said can never be taken back. Now a whole group will suffer for a few and that is a shame.

Pain and sorrow, difficult assignments will always be around us, but isn't that what makes us human? Our ability to cope and do the best we can with what we have. Life gives us lemonade, it's up to us to sweeten it for the good of all. I've been cautioned against talking to enemy V, (for you medical persons or not, we would give the psychiatric people something to calm them and our favorite term was Vitamin V)...enemy V- get it. This person is supposively poison, but if you're reading me, you know that I think everyone is functioning to the best of their ablility. I'm nice to all. Still, I know it's bad when the whole camp talks. Somebody needs a friend. Say a prayer...

My buddy is getting transferred- oh no! I cried a lot. He is one of the most outstanding, upright, kind, thinks of everyone but himself good fellow that I have ever met. He's younger than my son, but when I grow up I want to be just like him. He was not popular among a very few due to his commanding presence, but he was genuine and extremely caring. No one knows yet how much he'll be missed, but I do. I feel sorry for everyone and I fear they will be sorry they chased him off.

Then, the ever present terrorists. I saw on the news how the US foiled a bomb plot on a major airline headed for the States. Will this never end? Day after day threats, fear. How about, if you don't like me please stay on your own side of the street and I'll stay on mine. Case closed.

Speaking of, I'm here far away and my neighbor has her claws outstretched. My next R&R is planned around my next court hearing from her mad attack on my car. She still taunts and harrasses although I'm not there. So OK, court it is. I never pressed changes, but my insurers did, so off I go. This is ridiculous! I will be very happy to see my family and friends, so it's a win for me!

So practice love. We're only on this planet for a short time. I think I'll go and spread some now!

Our daily walks

It's officially hot and I'm cutting my walks down, which I'm proud to say that we do 1 1/2 miles a day. Not that it's far, but we make the time to do it is the point. I may be using the gym where it's cool any day. I hate to exercise until I'm doing it. I hate the time it takes to get ready to go to the gym.... change your clothes & shoes, get water, wait for your buddy or wait for a treadmill. It's much better to grab some water and go walking.

The other day, at about 100 degrees, I'm walking and I noticed that I had downed a bottle and was only a 3rd of the way. My skin is changing colors daily and have a new appreciation for the blond hair that I acquired when I was home. I believe that it is reflecting the sun keeping me cooler like the stylist, (who talked me into it), said. I had it touched up once by the hair shop on the FOB and the girl that did my hair completely dyed the blond highlights out and turned it a really nasty shade of brown. As cheap as I am, all I kept thinking of was how much it had cost for the dye job and she wrecked it. I went and got a box of dye from the PX and immediately dyed it back to blond. So I have roots, do I really care about it here...No!

I have always loved walking because it's the "me" time. It's peace and reflection and a chance to view your surroundings. It's a huge stress reliever for me. My new partner is extremely motivating and prompts me daily to make the time, which I would skip many times just because we have been so busy. We can be reached at all times, but I'm a worry wart. It concerns me about how we'll to get to our patients if they call. You can't de-stress in that fashion, so my buddy is so laid back he manages to ease my mind in seconds by making me laugh. Plus he's a lot faster than me, so he can run ahead if we must...God bless his young soul.

It's toasty warm out and sometimes we can see the countryside which looks incredibly peaceful with the Shepard's out with their little sheep and goat. Who can tell the difference? Not me...born and city bred! So, I bought binoculars to view distances and spotted a lone man watching us. We're not going that way anymore. You never know. This is a war zone after all.

Rules

SO about the sex thing here...I understand a girl came in for an etopic pregnancy. She was rushed for surgery and returned in time for the PID shuffle. (in layman terms, that's code for a nasty vaginal infection). Next, I heard of a sex toy injury...wth? And STD's are on the merry go round and round...I don't understand when no means "OK" until you're caught in the act, then out you go, it's back home baby. It happens...

We are here in support of the military. "No sex" must be worse for them because they are so young with their hormones raging.I won't even go into the private moment noises at night that keep the other guy up all night. The stories around the campfire are hilarious and sometimes disgusting. We know where most of the campers sleeps, so we know who you are! It's like an anywhere neighborhood here. I hate the paper thin walls, but am greatful that most have wall or at least curtains. And never you mind about the stolen moments in the open bay tents. I actually had to tell some girls to get a room...actually, my phrase was, "shut the f_ _ _ up! Never disturb my slumber!

I'm sure the troops have the same problem. I don't know. We only hear of stuff when a contractor is involved. Plus, it's a military rule. They are pretty hard core inforcers. Caught, you are discharged! SO, I don't understand how you can seek an abortion one minute then return to work 6 weeks later as if nothing happened. How did she get pregnant in the first place...immaculant conception? It looks like proof to me that some hanky panky was going about. If rules can be broken, why fire a local worker that was found sneaking food out to his family? OR, fire someone for making a tasteless remark? Or for that matter, fire the guy who habitually wakes up late for work. See what I'm getting at, it would cause mass chaos to break the rules. In a war zone, we need order to get the job done and keep us safe.

I found that I like the rules- the real ones. Not the ones that are made up to give a superior power and belittle the peons. But, real rules that everyone must abide by. And yes, it still ticks me off that I can't sleep late, steal goodies for my room (attracts mice- Ok, I could do without the snacks), or snuggle sometimes. I know what's expected at my FOB and I follow the rules. But, I'm still working on the general in country rules, as they change daily.

It's a Bug's Life

It's warm in the Sandbox, let the bug munchie's commence.

We are getting some not so fun bites out here. I got a very interesting Blistered Beetle rash patient. Cool for me because I was assigned the reading a week or more ago and never got around to it. SO, I took a hour out to just kick back and do some reading and I came upon the assigned topic of these beetles. It was fascinating how they are a soft little tiny bug. In fact 10 or more of them can fit on a penny. They don't bite, but as the victim feels them crawling around, the natural reaction is to swat the buggers. Dead is when they do the damage because their juices are highly toxic to humans and cause a very intense burning deep down in the flesh. The rash resembles scratches with redness surrounding them. Plus if you get the stuff on your hands, everywhere you touch breaks out too. (Use your imagination). A day later the blisters come and more pain. My lucky patient came in the day after the read and soon after he got out of bed...(where we suspect the little beetle was). He came into the clinic in extreme pain carrying his arm. (He was bit in the shoulder and maybe a little dramatic), so I was able to treat him appropriately and the rash was gone in 2 days. The patient was so greatful he followed me around for 3 more. Wish I could have swatted him.

Next, a scorpion bite. Don't know which brand, but it was not the Death Biter. That's the one who is the 4th deadliest critter in the world and we co-habitate with them- yes indeed! It's a colorful guy with a Mountain Dew colored coat, so we keep a look out for that one and it's said to be highly aggressive. The one that bit the patient was bad enough. It bit the victim on the knee cap, so now he has a double cap due to the swelling. He would like Morphine, Demerol or anything to make him sleep. There's no shortage of drug seekers here. He instead received an antihistamine and a little numbing agent. He almost got a swat on the butt for being a pain, but he was begging for one- so no.

And then...I actually took my new partner and a visitor on a FOB walkabout to look for one of my least favorite pest of all time. (What am I saying? I hate them all!) We sought the dreaded Camel Spider. Actually, they aren't too bad right now due to the fact that they're still bitty babies. But, I did have a teenager stalk me yesterday and I kicked it into tomorrow. Disgusting! So if this writing didn't get you itching enough, I also am including pictures!

I once had a Kitty. She was a long haired cat that just hung out and was my buddy. One day the kids called me at work to tell me Kitty was sick. I got dropped off at my house and as I made the long walk up the driveway, I could see her crawling slowly and with her last breaths of air seeking me. I picked my girl up, and she died in my arms.That's the memory that I have of my pet...Beautiful, loved, soft and kind. There's never again been a cat like Kitty. She was one of a kind. I never cared much for cats after that and now I'm highly allergic to them. So that's that.. The cats that they have here in Afghanistan are a wild bunch. We're warned not to pet them because the risk of rabies is so high..#1 in the world. So I'm sitting outdoors watching as this huge mangy ball of fur walking in authority through the base. My cat hating buddy throws a rock at it and it scampers away. Not even 5 minutes later it walks proudly in the middle of the compound carrying a big rat...to be stored under the entertainment tent. 10 minutes later, again I see it walk regally by with another rat. And then a third time this happens...who needs Vector. Did I mention that the forbidden rat catcher had a rhinestone collar on? I really hate rodents so maybe this pet is OK, but I still won't be touching it.Ok, so no petting or killing Garfield. But I went to movie night at the entertainment tent and it had a smell in there. Plus, I'm trying the Atkins Diet and all that meat and the memories of fresh kill is making me gag. Back to Noodle Roni for me in the sandbox.

Happy times

I was thinking again...so that means it's time to write! Being over in Afghanistan has dampened my political rantings. Obama hasn't heard from me for at least 5 months. There's too many other things to say about being here in Afghanistan. For instance, funtime, happy times! I like to try to make everyday fun. Waking in the morning is the biggest blessing of the day, so we not expand on that with cheerfulness spreading!

For one, How can you not be cheery here. The sun is warm and bright, not a cloud in the sky and where I am it's breezy too. A perfect day...and just ignore the occasional missiles and gunfire. It is very easy to acclimate and become complacent here because the grass is growing and the poppies are in bloom and beauty surrounds you.

I greet everybody I meet with a big "Hi!" I met someone a long time ago and I walked up and said, "Hi" with a big smile and of course. We became good friends and hung out constantly. It was a year or more before I found out that my secret friend was going to commit suicide on that day. Of course I can talk anyne's ear off and maybe I did that so thoroughly that they forgot their intention- who knows. The secret is safe, though the story is out. You never know what is going on in someone's life and a smile could make all the difference in someone's today.

Another benefit is that people like to spend time with happy people, so you make new friends everywhere especially when you troll around like I do. For example, when was the last time you were stuck in a grocery line with beat'um up Betty who complained about the lines and how slow the cashier works- loud enough to make her move slower...I REALLY appreciate that. It makes my feet want to kick someone's big arse when the make life hell for the rest of us...or rather to wait longer in line. Much more efficent to crack a smile and strike up a productive chat.

Which makes me think about the patients that I see here. It's amazing how many come back for follow ups on their illnesses and injuries and just to shoot the breeze. My coffee pot is almost always going and it's a long way from home. I do understand and not only is it a job, I perform a public service with caring and compassion... and get to yak-a-way at the same time! Happy times...