A Love/Hate Relationship With Bananas

So, I have never liked bananananananananas. Don't like the texture or the flavor of them. But since I have gotten here, I have been craving them. And then I get one bite in, and I don't like it. But about 4 bites in, I like it. And then I don't like it again, and by the end I like it. Everytime I see one (which is daily), I want to eat it. I have never noticed a banananananana like I have noticed each and every one that has crossed my path in this country. What gives?

Just a FYI for anyone who plans to mail anything over here, do not put the words Qatar, Al Udeid, or Doha anywhere on the package. Only put the address I provided and your stateside mailing address. Otherwise it will be routed through the Qatari post office and will probably never get here.

It rained all day yesterday - I mean, it poured until it flooded. And this morning, let me tell you, it is HOT! And BRIGHT. This is one of those days that my friends warned me about, that if you go outside without your sunglasses, you could damage your corneas. Yeah, it is the first true Qatari weather day of my tour here and apparently this is a mild one. So far, I haven't had to roll up my sleeves on my uniform, and really haven't been uncomfortable at all. Today, I took one step outside, and had to mentally restrain myself from stripping to my nudies and prancing around the base, blinding the other prisoners further with my whiteness. "Don't look directly at it", they would say. You would see people standing around with cardboard boxes, looking at me through a tiny hole they cut in the bottom, like when an eclipse happened in high school. Anyway, it's hot.

I am here by myself this morning - it is Jason's day off and Kehinde doesn't come in until 1200, so it's been super busy. We have a lot of Army folks coming in, they have been here for 15 months and are on their way out tomorrow. I can't imagine being here for 15 months. Some of them have had two birthdays here. Insane.

We are overloaded with Girl Scout cookies! Boxes and boxes and boxes of them everywhere! I thought maybe the Girl Scouts were cleaning out their warehouses and sending last year's rejects here, but Tracy said that on every order form they ask people to buy boxes and donate them to the military. So that explains the cookiness that flows forth. Pretty cool, if you think about it.

I started missing the pups hardcore yesterday, but I know they are having such a good time with Mollie (and Maris this weekend) that it makes me feel better. Man, could I use a sweet snuggle and kiss from both of them right now, though. They are such sweeties!!!!

I really appreciate everything that friends and family did to help me get here - it was a lot of work but I am SO THANKFUL for each and every one of you.

xoxoxo
Love