Work Christmas party...

I don't know why people think mixing alcohol and work people make a good holiday combo. Or why, when people know you have a low tolerance, people think it's funny to buy you drinks when you've already started to pace yourself (although I do like free drinks). Good party though.

Dental fun

Today was a good day, since I got my stitches out from last week's dental work. The good part...removing stitches doesn't hurt nearly as much as putting them there! Bad part...no drugs :(

Christmas is coming

Christmas is just around the corner, and I find myself a lot excited than I would have been a couple of years ago. Last year's holidays, though probably the least commercial and traditional of all my Christmases, was pretty darn close to perfect. Hopefully I'm able to appreciate all the small things in the same way again. It was definately the small things that made last year special.

I had a minor epiphany this week when I realized my life wasn't turning out like I want it to. I realized it wasn't happening because instead of just living the life I want, when things don't go my way or I get bored, I actively sabatoge myself. And so I have decided to make some changes this month...clean my apartment (really really clean it), no drinking, no boys, and go out with the girls after soccer so I meet non-military friends. We'll see how it goes.

On a side note...my soccer team won its first game today! And I have four cleat marks bruised/cut into my right knee. Yay!

Soccer

I had my first soccer game in ten years today. It went pretty much as expected...I need to work on my endurance, consistency and speed...but it was fun. It was great to get out there and play as part of a team. Definately the best decision I've made since moving here.

Afghanistan again...

* Taken from a 27 Aug 08 email *

So, should I start with the easy stuff or hard stuff first...hm...guess I'll start with the hard stuff.

Since the last email I've been through 3 ramp ceremonies for 5 fallen soldiers. The ramp ceremonies are much harder than I expected physically. I actually had to be led away from the first when I almost fainted during the ceremony. On the upside, I got to meet some awesome people in the ambulance. I super hydrated and ate lots before the last two ceremonies. It's really difficult because we have to go back to work right afterwards, and it's hard to be cheerful and welcoming to customers when you've just attended a funeral. I've also weathered a couple of rocket attacks. The experience is a little unreal, but not nearly as upsetting as I had imagined.

I spent my first two weeks here working in the front of Tim Hortons pouring coffee, smiling and handing out donuts. Then I got selected (woot woot) to work in the bakery for four days. In the bakery I discovered that donuts lose a lot of their magic when you see how they're made, and that baking in a flak vest and helmet is even less fun than regular baking (though it does provide an awesome ab workout). After the bakery I got to work in the icecream shop for a week. Where the airconditioning was turned so high that although it was 57C outside I had to wear a sweater inside. This week I'm working in a retail store, selling phone cards and handing out pool cues. I went to the market a couple of weeks ago. It was a little overwhelming, with the venders trying to get your attention in every direction to buy their goods. Hopefully I'll be able to go again soon, and I'll be taking pictures this time, since it's such a unique experience.

I've managed to see a few big names since being here. Working in Tim's one day my boss noticed that Adrienne Clarkson was in line for some coffee. After telling her how to find the nearest port-a-pottie we all got to have our picture taken with her. I also spied a glimpse of Peter Mac (Defense Minister) and Jim F (Finance Minister). Didn't get a chance to talk to them though. Mosts importantly, I also got to see my dad for a few minutes a couple of weeks ago. I'm sure it was a little surreal for him seeing me here in a warzone, dressed to the nines, but it was a nice visit. I had originally planned to go home during my 3 week vacation, although after talking with a friend here, I've decided to take the opportunity to see the world. I'm still in the planning stages, but I'm getting really excited for my vacation.

It's funny the things that make days stand out here. Last Sunday we had peaches in the DFac (cafeteria). The week before I'd gone to a BBQ with BBQd chicken breast. A few days ago I had some awesome girl talk with a couple of friends, giggling late into the night. I also got a parcel last week - where the people in my building couldn't stop talking about how awesome my mom is for sending the stuff she did. The night before last I slept on the floor in the hall, since I'd dreamt there was a spider on my pillow - and no way in heck was I going to sleep in my bed after that.

I think that's about it. I'm sorry I'm not better at responding at emails - but sometimes I feel so far removed from 'real life' here, that I honestly don't know what to say. Some days it's also hard to find the energy to respond, altough I greedily check my email inboxes and the incoming mail.

Quitty McQuitster

I hate moving to a new city. I hate having to set up everything I want to do in a city. I'm really one of the world's shyest and least confident people going, and I find it really hard to just show up somewhere on my own to join a group. I totally bailed on trying out for soccer tonight. I got to the pitch early, and watched the group before mine try out. But as the time got closer for me to actually get out of my car and try out, I couldn't help but notice all the really young, super fit, cutesy girls get out of their cars in groups of two and three, and couldn't help but be intimidated. So I did what any 27 yr old loser does, I drove off. I'm now left with a couple of options to join some sort of athletic club - find something I don't like on base, join the rugby team a co-workers been bugging me to join, or try to work out on my own and hope to get into good enough shape that the soccer girls don't scare the pants off me next year.

my body knows...

I think my body knows way more than I do about myself. I'm not currently happy with some of the decisions I'm making about how to live my life right now, and my body is definately letting me know it's time to smarten up. I get it. Body, if I promise to work out, quit drinking and clean my apartment occasionally, will you promise to get rid of the two zits you've put right on my chin?

Camp Mirage

Reworked from an email I sent out 28 July 2008, after landing at Camp Mirage...

Just thought I'd send you all a quick note letting you know that I'm safe and sound. I'm still on route to the big sandbox, though I'll be here (not that I'll tell you where here is) for a few days. It's been a crazy last couple of days and I'm having a hard time figuring out when now is after all that travel and time change.
After all the running around I did to get ready to come over it's kind of nice that I have no real schedule for today. Activities for today...snooze, eat some awesome yogurt, got to the gym, catch up with some friends from training and participate in tonight's olympic games.
When my plane landed yesterday it was about 37C...after midnight. This morning was a little toasty when I woke up too. And it is certainly a dry heat here in the host nation. It's certainly not as bad as I had expected though...but maybe I should withhold final judgement until later in the afternoon.
I promise my upcoming emails will be written a little better...for now I blame the jetlag.

Soccer

I used to love playing soccer in highschool. I can barely remember why I even started playing (something to do with being Varsity my first year, I think), but I can definately remember all of the good times I had. I just remember the feeling of joy I used to get playing soccer, at running up and down the field (sometimes with the ball, sometimes after it), of running to and from soccer practice and racing Ryan back to the school. I miss all the drills and the sense of accomplishement that came with mastering a new skill. I miss the feeling of awesomeness that came when I got the ball of an opponent, or managed to sneak past without giving up the ball myself. And I definately miss the road trips, inside jokes, crazy songs we'd make up, and feeling of being part of a team - of something bigger than me. Oh, and I really liked it when we won games.
But then I stopped playing during the last practice of my senior year. I don't need to go into the nitty gritty (and largely unimportant) reasons that I stopped playing, other than that I stopped playing because it wasn't worth the drama that often follows large groups of teenage girls. But really, what did this accomplish? Nothing, except that I stopped playing a game that I loved, gave me joy, and allowed me to physically take out whatever frustrations I might be feeling in the rest of my life.
We played soccer today at work. A big soccer game with 20+ people that lasted over an hour. And I loved it. I'm a little rusty (come on, it has been 10 years), but it felt right. So now I'm on the lookout for an adults league in Victoria that will let me rediscover my love the game. But first - tomorrow I'm off to buy cleats.