Finally, My Own Apartment

Got a lot done this week. I closed the deal on a new apartment and got the electricity and water activated. I chose and bought some new furniture. Talked to some people I found on the net selling 2nd hand beds and a table but I chose a new bed from Ikea. I liked the design and it had free delivery. The other items I found required me to take care of the transportation myself. It would have been a bigger hassle and more time spent.





I also bought appliances and got everything delivered and installed by today. Most of my stuff has already been moved over so i'm basically just waiting for the internet, cable, and phone line to be installed. Mainly the Internet. I won't move to anyplace that has no Internet. Internet is lifeline to home and family :-)





I can't wait to be in my own place. Finally, after more than a year and four months I have privacy again. And it's much bigger than where I am now. I'll actually be able to stand and walk around. The place I'm living in right now is alright, but it's just too small and lacks privacy. It's mainly just a temporary spot to park my tired beaten butt after a field assignment and the people are great. But nothing beats having your own flat.

Project 365 - Day Ten

My New Apartment Sans Furniture

The View Outside

Project 365 - Day Nine

Another Sad Tale of Unrequited Love

"A mighty pain to love it is,
And 'tis a pain that pain to miss;
But of all pains, the greatest pain
It is to love, but love in vain." "A mighty pain to love it is,
And 'tis a pain that pain to miss;
But of all pains, the greatest pain
It is to love, but love in vain."

The 1st century BC Roman poet Catullus wrote about his unrequited love for Lesbia (Clodia)

- From Wikipedia

Can you guys fathom the reason for Lesbia's apparent indifference towards Catullus?

Project 365 - Day Eight

Just felt like shooting

Project 365 - Day Seven

World in Black and White

Project 365 - Day Six

Chopper at the Abu Dhabi Big Boys Toys exhibit.

Project 365 - Day Five

Mosque in Muscat

Procect 365 - Day Four

I'm not an Arsenal fan but I like this shot.

Project 365 - Day Three

Wine

Project 365 - Day Two

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to put down in this caption. Can't think of anything good. Oh well.. ho hum. Hi everybody.

Project 365 - Day One

Our little spot in the middle of nowhere. Doesn't look that bad does it? Note, we have green grass and that's a good thing. No dust.

A Special Day?

Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday to Me
Happy Birthday Happy Birthday .... Happy Birthday to Me

------------------------------------------------------------

And here I sit.. All alone in my room in some obscure little camp in the middle of Kabul .. going over my life.. I think to myself.. as I turn 30.. what have I accomplished so far?

The answer is ... not that much...BUT there are two things, and they are most important things. Persons, in fact. The 1st - a shopaholic (window shopper hehe) little girl back home who's also hooked on taking pictures of herself with her rinky dinky little point and shoot :-p The 2nd - two little boys who sleep next to her at night hehe

Missing you all on my Birthday. I love you

Muah

Art

Kabul

Well, here I am in Kabul. First experience, cell phone disappears right after I get through passport control. Great, first time in a new country... and a war zone.. and my only means of communication is gone. Hmmm what to do.. panic. Yes.. I ran around the airport screaming bloody murder. And I jumped the security guard to give me his cell phone instead.

Ok ok.. that's not what I did. I ran to the airport authority and reported it. It was lost in the baggage claim area so they managed to do something, somehow and actually got my phone back in about 10 minutes. Not bad at all.

Anyway, that was done. If it wasn't for the cell phone incident, my arrival would have been completely hassle free and pleasant. Hmmm well, there was also the matter of the Immigration Police Officer winking at me about 5 times a minute trying to hit on me. I said, "Sorry, I don't find people with beards that appealing." hehe Ok, I didn't do that either. I just ignored him and ran away. That's probably where I dropped my phone, in my hurry to escape that weird situation, maybe I dropped it.

Ok.. anyway.. now I'm out of the airport, no Immigration Officer for a date and with my cell phone back in my pocket, I promptly meet my detail. They are pleasant enough. They welcome me and give me my briefing and off we go. The ride through Kabul was interesting enough. I was looking out and observing daily life. It's pretty messy. Kinda like you see in the movies. Traffic is worse than Manila.. in terms of discipline. Only the lack of vehicles make it slightly bearable.

The trip to the camp was short and uneventful and we arrived safetly soon after. It's nice here. It's actually not a bad set up for a camp in lock down. I've got a bedroom, a little living room / sala, a bathroom with a bathtub.. all nicely laid out. The weather is nice and cool. Very pleasant, the air is clear and crisp and you can see the snow capped mountains off in the distance.

My Bed

Well, I've just arrived here and just finished off my first complete day so I will sign back in when / if I have more to write about.

Sofa and My Bags

Cheers all