Oh good grief! I wanted to write about all the things that I love here and I just got another survey to complete about the company. I feel a venting mood coming on! It's hard at times to appreciate all you have when todays are here and tomorrows never seem to happen. So let's talk about the difference between being here and at home. Hands down, I'd rather be home.
But here, it's a totally different island. You learn to make due with what's available. It's amazing how fast you can get use to porta potties or 50 square feet, (usually less) of living sapce. And that's with a bed made of boards and a beat up mattress to lay on. If you plan on coming here- Do Not forget a twin sheet. There's sitting at dinner and immediately eating when you're hungry. I don't know if I'll ever be able to cook again. Like Pavlov's dogs, when I went home it was extremely difficult to wait at a restaurant for my food to be served. My mouth watered as I viewed the empty space before me. My temper rose to be contained only with a Margarita or 3. Alcohol...I don't even drink and I missed it. "Course it only takes a sip or 2 to remind me why I take a pass on that. I hate waking up hung over in the morning. Combat boots, my ankles are dependant on them and it is hard to walk in my home shoe Nikes. Speaking of fashion...whats that? I am sick of desert color tans and greens of varying shades.
You learn to live with everyones's idiosyncrasy's out of neccessity. I happened to overhear an argument that took place right outside my window. It's almost a given that it's a new person unable to deal with the change here. You may know so much back home, but it counts for naught here.The newbie Know it alls. You just have to laugh. I've yet to see anyone correct them. We just sit back and watch as they fall on their faces and explain that at the former_ _ _ company, they did it this way. Adapt and assimilate!
It's the same people, the same view, food, clothes, work, etc... and you get use to it and adapt or go home. The only change is when the job changes and expectations are unrealistically high that you know the job to do and all without training or complaining. It sure does ruffles feathers but as comrade's sympathy surrounds you. Everyone is family here. You think of the ones back home all of the time. But in the here and now, you care for and are considerate of the ones that make up your day.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Work- boring and otherwise
Today, another treat day on the Excel spreadsheet, only this time I had all of the fun. I found out that I was being moved to another base to cover for my buddy. They only send the highest trustworthy people to cover this base, because he is well loved by his people. And the last time he was gone " SOMEONE" went in and destroyed his hand made, lovingly sanded and highly varnished furniture. Plus, "whoever" was not favored by the people. And since I know a lot of the people there...and it is my buddy, I get to go- Yippee!
So, back to paperwork...or rather learning a new trick for me. I hate spreadsheets! Whoever invented this had to be someone who did not like anyone. It was tedious at best and super boring. I see people sitting quietly at their desks working a miracle, but I had no idea. Did you know that you can't talk while you work this monstrosity? No really...or I can't because I lose my place and screw it all up. Someone once said that to keep me quiet all you have to do was tie down my hands. Nope! Put me on a spreadsheet...and then I think I may think of another creative place to put a tie. I hate them! Thankfully we have patients that need attending every so often to give me a break.
It's all about the patients, except for after dark. We're having a sale on Stomach Flu right now. I was lucky enough to be one of the first in line. Then some in the kitchen and their friends and my friends and so on. I don't mind having to drag my butt out of bed for someone puking their gut up. I'm here to help. I do mind the straggler that comes at 2AM for a cut on their finger that I can't even identify. When did it happen (I say sweetly) if may ask? When I hear the reply that it was last night and it's an emergency because they work the nightshift, my head starts to spin. My pleasantness goes right out the window and in my head I'm saying, cut that baby off and then come see me. My smile, (planted on at all times), says, You wound looks ok for right now our clinic hours are from so and so.
Clinic hours...We do have set times. But, how do I turn away people that are really sick. I sleep in the clinic, so they know where to find me. I had an odd thought when "I'm hurt" showed up on my doorstep with 2 of his friends in the wee hours of the morning. They were all laughing having a good time and tried to get into the clinic, but since no one looked to be in distress they were told to come back during morning sick call. I always worried about my young partner when she was occupying the clinic alone. I never thought about myself. They call me Mom, Doc and Sir.
I will never forget a time when I was on EMS and we were called for "an assault"... That's all they called it. Highland Park has lots of those and they're usually partners fighting, but we were nearby the street of vacant lots, overgrown weeds and chucked garbage. As we spotted the scout, who waved us over...I will never forget the feeling of disgust and horror that I experienced as I first focused on an orthopedic shoe...then looked 50 feet ahead at a frail grandmother who had ran for her life... lying face down with her polyester pants pulled down to her knees and her diaper ripped from behind exposing her. She had been raped and choked to death. What kind of an animal does that? She should have lived out all those years on a porch with her loving family surrounding her and died peacefully in her bed.
I will never forget her. Experience- I took it and ran to the only guy that works at night near me and we now have a secret code so that he can keep an eye on things and on me when I have to open my door in the dead of night.
So, back to paperwork...or rather learning a new trick for me. I hate spreadsheets! Whoever invented this had to be someone who did not like anyone. It was tedious at best and super boring. I see people sitting quietly at their desks working a miracle, but I had no idea. Did you know that you can't talk while you work this monstrosity? No really...or I can't because I lose my place and screw it all up. Someone once said that to keep me quiet all you have to do was tie down my hands. Nope! Put me on a spreadsheet...and then I think I may think of another creative place to put a tie. I hate them! Thankfully we have patients that need attending every so often to give me a break.
It's all about the patients, except for after dark. We're having a sale on Stomach Flu right now. I was lucky enough to be one of the first in line. Then some in the kitchen and their friends and my friends and so on. I don't mind having to drag my butt out of bed for someone puking their gut up. I'm here to help. I do mind the straggler that comes at 2AM for a cut on their finger that I can't even identify. When did it happen (I say sweetly) if may ask? When I hear the reply that it was last night and it's an emergency because they work the nightshift, my head starts to spin. My pleasantness goes right out the window and in my head I'm saying, cut that baby off and then come see me. My smile, (planted on at all times), says, You wound looks ok for right now our clinic hours are from so and so.
Clinic hours...We do have set times. But, how do I turn away people that are really sick. I sleep in the clinic, so they know where to find me. I had an odd thought when "I'm hurt" showed up on my doorstep with 2 of his friends in the wee hours of the morning. They were all laughing having a good time and tried to get into the clinic, but since no one looked to be in distress they were told to come back during morning sick call. I always worried about my young partner when she was occupying the clinic alone. I never thought about myself. They call me Mom, Doc and Sir.
I will never forget a time when I was on EMS and we were called for "an assault"... That's all they called it. Highland Park has lots of those and they're usually partners fighting, but we were nearby the street of vacant lots, overgrown weeds and chucked garbage. As we spotted the scout, who waved us over...I will never forget the feeling of disgust and horror that I experienced as I first focused on an orthopedic shoe...then looked 50 feet ahead at a frail grandmother who had ran for her life... lying face down with her polyester pants pulled down to her knees and her diaper ripped from behind exposing her. She had been raped and choked to death. What kind of an animal does that? She should have lived out all those years on a porch with her loving family surrounding her and died peacefully in her bed.
I will never forget her. Experience- I took it and ran to the only guy that works at night near me and we now have a secret code so that he can keep an eye on things and on me when I have to open my door in the dead of night.
Stuff, stuff and more stuff
Today I got a box from home. It was filled with wonderful things. Some things I had asked for like the prescription sunglasses that I had forgotten on R&R or my scrub tops that are so much cooler in the hot Afgani desert. Not that I'm ungrateful for the poly blend t-shirts that we are assigned. They never wrinkle and are color coordinated with our hoodies, but they are hot. However, I'm thankful you really can't see the sweat in those baby's! I also got some very thoughtful chocolate creme filled wafers. You know the kind that are wrapped like sticks and come in a reuseable can. YUM!! And pistachios!! And my all purpose tool that was a very thoughtful gift and was on my list to buy when I was home. I couldn't take it on the airplane for they feared I would pull my 1" screwdriver... and do what?
We love packages from home and I'm luckier than most, because I also get them from a buddy in the military. It's stuff that they don't want and I know the guys over here need due to the PX shortage. This time we got underwear, t-shirts, jean shorts and toiletries and hats. It's great stuff and I'm extra greatful for the soap. Girls stock up and need different fragrances, so we're always well prepared. Guys...well, lets say it's getting pretty ripe here.
I'm waiting on an Amazon package that I can only pray will come very soon as I am moving on out again. That's right, my 11th move! I'm either well liked and they have confidence that I can do a good job wherever or... let's leave it as that. I want my job title to be "Official FOB Hopper." That suits me- don't you think? But, I love Amazon because things come super fast in 5 days or less- usually. I'm hoping...My Clean & Clear face wash was stolen the other day. Since most can't afford it- obviously, they just took it. I'm now showering with my head out of the stall watching my "leave in conditioner" that I don't take in with me. I just prays my order comes before I have to leave.
So I will hop along now, but soon I will be telling of another cute base in another part of Afghanistan. Have yourself a great day!
We love packages from home and I'm luckier than most, because I also get them from a buddy in the military. It's stuff that they don't want and I know the guys over here need due to the PX shortage. This time we got underwear, t-shirts, jean shorts and toiletries and hats. It's great stuff and I'm extra greatful for the soap. Girls stock up and need different fragrances, so we're always well prepared. Guys...well, lets say it's getting pretty ripe here.
I'm waiting on an Amazon package that I can only pray will come very soon as I am moving on out again. That's right, my 11th move! I'm either well liked and they have confidence that I can do a good job wherever or... let's leave it as that. I want my job title to be "Official FOB Hopper." That suits me- don't you think? But, I love Amazon because things come super fast in 5 days or less- usually. I'm hoping...My Clean & Clear face wash was stolen the other day. Since most can't afford it- obviously, they just took it. I'm now showering with my head out of the stall watching my "leave in conditioner" that I don't take in with me. I just prays my order comes before I have to leave.
So I will hop along now, but soon I will be telling of another cute base in another part of Afghanistan. Have yourself a great day!
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Old or smart?
I believe my age is a problem here. There's no room for promotion if you're an old crow like me. They only picked the ones that raise their hands, talk a good game and can still jump up and down. It's funny that the powers that be know enough to consider which ones to get rid of, but not know them enough to promote. If I owned my own company, I know I would want the best employees, not the youngest and loudest and most agile. The ones with a level head, maturity and some experience that would earn money for me and not cause others to run in horror! That's what I would do. But, I just want to meet my needs. I'm not really into money, so no company, no say... blah, blah.
Not that level heads are a problem here. You should see the number of people with the Military required hair dos, men and women alike. Or the ones that spend most every working hour hanging with GI Jane or Joe. I have nothing but respect for the military. I do take issue with the employees that think they're something when their buddies are enlisted, when in actuality they are skirting there jobs. I say join the military or work your job. Am I being unfair?
And speaking of unfair, what is the deal with so many companies allowing their people to work without the necessary site care? I don't see it as ok for anyone to get injured or suffer a life- threatening illness and assume that a private medical company or the military will just jump in and their lives. No one comes to hell with the expectation of death...silly people- this a war zone. To those companies- I think some arrangements need to be made to care for those you hire or stop hiring unfit people. The cracks are a mighty wide void.
Which brings me back the old part. I'm too old to join the military, but I'm young enough to join in their classes- hurray! I'm too old to be considered to move up in the company- or am I too smart to apply? I like my job away from the flap, but the jury is out. That's one thing about old people...we know how to keep our pants on and weight the options before making decisions!
Not that level heads are a problem here. You should see the number of people with the Military required hair dos, men and women alike. Or the ones that spend most every working hour hanging with GI Jane or Joe. I have nothing but respect for the military. I do take issue with the employees that think they're something when their buddies are enlisted, when in actuality they are skirting there jobs. I say join the military or work your job. Am I being unfair?
And speaking of unfair, what is the deal with so many companies allowing their people to work without the necessary site care? I don't see it as ok for anyone to get injured or suffer a life- threatening illness and assume that a private medical company or the military will just jump in and their lives. No one comes to hell with the expectation of death...silly people- this a war zone. To those companies- I think some arrangements need to be made to care for those you hire or stop hiring unfit people. The cracks are a mighty wide void.
Which brings me back the old part. I'm too old to join the military, but I'm young enough to join in their classes- hurray! I'm too old to be considered to move up in the company- or am I too smart to apply? I like my job away from the flap, but the jury is out. That's one thing about old people...we know how to keep our pants on and weight the options before making decisions!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Why can't we get a preview of our life before we live it. That's the question I will be asking God as soon as I cross the pearly gates. If I had known that I would love research and learning new things and be begging to go to class, I would've taken advantage and not screwed around so much. Then again, if I had known how much more fun being a Christian was compared to partying and carousing, I would've done that much sooner too. How is it that non- Christians live each day without having faith or knowing what tomorrow brings? Oh- that's right. They think that nothing will happen to them.
There is a story about a bad guy who, by his own home made weapon that blasted him instead of his intended victims. (Yay!). 2 hours later the good guys recovered him to find this poor sucker laying and bleeding. So they scooped him up and ran to their hospital to provide the needed care. They worked exceptionally hard giving him first aid enroute. At the hospital, he died within 20 minutes. The man had been left in the elements for far too long. Nice buddy's..they had left him behind. Sound familar? Bet he never thought his life would end this way.
So today's lesson was massive bleeding and chest wounds. It was a fascinating lecture with hands on "how to do this and that" for all. My partner and I go to the continuing education classes every day for an hour and I actually asked to please be allowed to attend. I have since found out that we have more experience that the whole class combined, but it's still a great source of new information on the old stuff we knew. A mind is a terrible thing to waste...and I done plenty of wasting in my time.
But the time is now to live life to the fullest. It's funny how the soldiers think about their survival. Some don't come back from their missions and they realize that it could be them at every turn. We think about the people back home and believe that their little dramas are piddlely next to what is experienced here and we can't wait to get back to that. So as I preview the life before me, I find that even in a war zone I can learn and grow and experience life to the fullest! I will enjoy each day that the good Lord gave me! Can I get an Amen!
There is a story about a bad guy who, by his own home made weapon that blasted him instead of his intended victims. (Yay!). 2 hours later the good guys recovered him to find this poor sucker laying and bleeding. So they scooped him up and ran to their hospital to provide the needed care. They worked exceptionally hard giving him first aid enroute. At the hospital, he died within 20 minutes. The man had been left in the elements for far too long. Nice buddy's..they had left him behind. Sound familar? Bet he never thought his life would end this way.
So today's lesson was massive bleeding and chest wounds. It was a fascinating lecture with hands on "how to do this and that" for all. My partner and I go to the continuing education classes every day for an hour and I actually asked to please be allowed to attend. I have since found out that we have more experience that the whole class combined, but it's still a great source of new information on the old stuff we knew. A mind is a terrible thing to waste...and I done plenty of wasting in my time.
But the time is now to live life to the fullest. It's funny how the soldiers think about their survival. Some don't come back from their missions and they realize that it could be them at every turn. We think about the people back home and believe that their little dramas are piddlely next to what is experienced here and we can't wait to get back to that. So as I preview the life before me, I find that even in a war zone I can learn and grow and experience life to the fullest! I will enjoy each day that the good Lord gave me! Can I get an Amen!
Spreadsheets or slow torture for the chatterbox
Today, another treat day on the Excel spreadsheet, only this time I had all of the fun. I found out that I was being moved to another base to cover for my buddy. They only send the highest of trustworthy people to cover this base, because the regular medic is well loved by his people. And the last time he was gone, "SOMEONE" went in and destroyed his hand made, lovingly sanded and highly varnished furniture. Plus, "whoever" was not favored by the people. Since I know a lot of the people there...and it is my buddy, I get to go- Yippee! So, back to paperwork...or rather learning a new trick for me.
I hate spreadsheets! Whoever invented this had to be someone who did not like anyone. It's a truely boring task and there is no way you can talk to anyone or even listen to music because any distraction screws the whole thing up. I learned this first hand as I was inputing data, (I get to talk like a nerd while I'm doing stupid people tricks that I was not made to do). I thought that since all the dates fell in line that I could go up and down and make the next column in a month's date or 6 months, filling the whole row. Short cuts! That's what I'm talking about! Well, my partner and trainer extraordinairre checked my work. All of a sudden he says stop! (Like I have chocolate on my face and hands). He says slowly and exact (like I am holding a grenade with the pin out), to save the spreadsheet and step away. I said, "what????" (a little whiny). He says all the people have their numbers all mixed up and the rows are mixed up...I don't know. It should have worked. So, what he is talking about...I don't know. He fixed the problem and is going to try me again at this- OK? The man is a saint...
I hate spreadsheets! Whoever invented this had to be someone who did not like anyone. It's a truely boring task and there is no way you can talk to anyone or even listen to music because any distraction screws the whole thing up. I learned this first hand as I was inputing data, (I get to talk like a nerd while I'm doing stupid people tricks that I was not made to do). I thought that since all the dates fell in line that I could go up and down and make the next column in a month's date or 6 months, filling the whole row. Short cuts! That's what I'm talking about! Well, my partner and trainer extraordinairre checked my work. All of a sudden he says stop! (Like I have chocolate on my face and hands). He says slowly and exact (like I am holding a grenade with the pin out), to save the spreadsheet and step away. I said, "what????" (a little whiny). He says all the people have their numbers all mixed up and the rows are mixed up...I don't know. It should have worked. So, what he is talking about...I don't know. He fixed the problem and is going to try me again at this- OK? The man is a saint...
Monday, April 2, 2012
Talk, talk, talk
The rumor mill is up and running here in Afghanistan. Since we are on a need to know basis, it's very difficult to know what to believe. You know for certain once you are participating in an action and sometimes even then it's recalled. So I hear we are being moved elsewhere, or a base is being moved here. It depends on who you talk to or what official paper you read. This hill was taken or that town had a demonstration. There's a hit on a Captain, Major, Governor, you name it. This one is getting fired, promoted, moved...oops, that happened. And people actually change their behaviors based on these little tidbits. Maybe we should be our best, do our jobs and stay safe and let tomorrow worry about itself. But that's not as fun!
Someone actually told me, (ME-the medical person), about malaria, food poisoning, and bed bugs that's going around. I think I would be the first to know. Just in case, I literally ran tripping and screaming to the nearest Vector Control buddy to ask. That is the one thing that might make me pack up and run home. The answer was no! No bedbugs. Whew, that was close!
Computer bugs is another thing. Internet is spotty in the best of times. Guesses are thieves inside, spies outside, security all around. Did anyone consider that this really is a war zone and sometimes we have limitations? I just thank my lucky stars for a communication medium that reaches to my family and friends. It really does make living through each and every ground hog day possible. So we live in a contained setting. Few people get outside in the danger zone. You know it's bad when we are the ones that envy that. So people talk about the war and the things the we deal with daily... Dirt, Food, Sleep. It amazes me that no one talks about work here. It might be that it's the only truth...work is all we do. Boo Hoo... contracts end. I can't wait to tell stories about my time here when I'm back home. And that's the truth!
Someone actually told me, (ME-the medical person), about malaria, food poisoning, and bed bugs that's going around. I think I would be the first to know. Just in case, I literally ran tripping and screaming to the nearest Vector Control buddy to ask. That is the one thing that might make me pack up and run home. The answer was no! No bedbugs. Whew, that was close!
Computer bugs is another thing. Internet is spotty in the best of times. Guesses are thieves inside, spies outside, security all around. Did anyone consider that this really is a war zone and sometimes we have limitations? I just thank my lucky stars for a communication medium that reaches to my family and friends. It really does make living through each and every ground hog day possible. So we live in a contained setting. Few people get outside in the danger zone. You know it's bad when we are the ones that envy that. So people talk about the war and the things the we deal with daily... Dirt, Food, Sleep. It amazes me that no one talks about work here. It might be that it's the only truth...work is all we do. Boo Hoo... contracts end. I can't wait to tell stories about my time here when I'm back home. And that's the truth!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)