Riding Gators

Occasionally the night is cool and calm, and we take advantage by sitting outside and chatting away the time.  On one such night not too long ago I and several of the ladies did just that.  It was almost midnight when one of them asked me if I want to take the gator for a ride..."uh, what is a gator?"  She said it's lots of fun, you wanna drive it?  Apparently she had been driving this little gem around, instead of a real vehicle.

Here is picture of what a brand new one looks like.  But ours was anything but "new."  This one was covered in dirt, ripped seats...and does NOT have working headlights.  This is important because our compound does not have lights either.

It was only after we were off on our midnight adventure that I realized she was quite tipsy, which only added to the giggle factor.  Our compound is also very much under construction and every single day new trenches are opened up, so as we went at a top speed of 12 miles an hour through the dark she would occasionally yell, "is that a trench!?!" to which I would answer "Nah! that's just a ditch!"  Which we would promptly drive right through.

It doesn't take long to hit a wall (a barrier between us and the "outside" world) so we had to change directions several times.  Only after I was sure she was securely holding on, did I swing the wheel and slide us sideways in the loose gravel to make a 180...yes, we caused quite a stir on the compound so late at night, giggling, laughing and flying by men with guns....who wondered who in the *&#@ was making all the racket (we did wave as we went by, and some of them waved back!).

It was over too soon, but an enjoyable little jaunt all the same.  The next day they put in generator powered street lights...seems someone fell into a trench and got hurt, lol.  Wasn't us!

Killing a Little Time

Well, the move is complete and we are trying to settle into our new surroundings.  Pretty much everything is different, not better or worse, just different.  Making the adjustment to how everything functions differently in trying to do your job can be frustrating.  I know I have been utterly frustrated and at times overwhelmed at the massive amount of learning I must do to simply accomplish the simplest tasks...but I see that as a pattern in my job.

I have gotten quite comfortable in my CHU with a nice large rug, several of my things from home and reminders of friends and loved ones.  Today has been a day of refusing to go to the office, and simply puttering around, doing laundry and watching TV.

It can be very monotonous when you live and work with the same dozen people...you find your conversation options are kind of narrow.  I've found myself making up stuff when someone asks me what I have done or will do.  I tell them I mowed the yard today, took the dog for a walk and went to the ice cream store; or that I'm off to shop at Target or Walgreen's.  We've all talked about naming things and streets here in this barren construction zone.  I have called our street Pineview Terrace, because there aren't any pines, not much of a view and certainly no terraces, LOL.

You might think I'd be bored, but I'm not.  You'd be surprised how much time a woman can kill pampering her feet and hands, moisturizing hair and skin.  I'm just thankful for having a few hours when it doesn't feel like the world is going to come to an end if you don't do this one more thing.  Hurray for killing time!