Enter 2010!!

Yet another holiday experienced here in the desert. Happy New Year all!

I cannot remember the last time I wasn’t awake for such an occasion. No Champagne. No party hats. No kazoos. No 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, kiss this year. I was sound asleep when 2010 rolled in. Being nine and a half hours ahead does have its advantages. I enjoyed talking to many of you that night, even though it was already New Years day here. At 0930 my time I stopped for a second and just imagined what everyone was doing back home as 2010 finally reached the east coast. Hopefully it was a good time for all!

Nothing much happened here except for a special lunch and dinner consisting of the normal new years grub: ham, black eyed peas, cabbage, etc. I didn’t go, but heard it was delicious. I’ve adopted a new diet. Not even by choice, I kind of just fell into it. (Special note to Jen, if you’re reading; no, this isn’t a case of manorexia as you’ve accused me of in the past!)

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day right? That’s what everyone was told as a child. I normally don’t eat breakfast and never understood all the hype – until now. An eggwhite omelet with peppers, onions, mushrooms, ham and cheese has turned me into a true believer! Throw in some multigrain toast, OJ, V8, or cranberry juice and a cup of joe to go and I’m off to a great start.

Before making this next statement, let me go ahead and assure you that I am OKAY; don’t freak out or start an intervention! I no longer even bother with lunch or dinner. Instead, I’m keeping companies like Cliff Bar, Nutri-Grain, and Kellogg’s in business. A few snacks in the afternoon are perfect. They hold me over until I hit the gym. Afterwards, all I want is a shower, some water, a book, and sleep. Feels great to be back in my routine!

After hours of research, compliments of Google and TripAdvisor, I booked a two bedroom apartment (http://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentalReview-g187791-d1521919-San_Francesco-Rome_Lazio.html) in the Trastevere district of Rome, the first destination on my R&R adventure thru Italy. According to Wikipedia, “The district's name derives from the Latin words ‘Trans Tiberem’: Beyond the Tiber River. Today Trastevere is the heart of the Roman night life, rich in pubs, restaurants, and clubs. The area is highly populated by expatriates and American college students as there are two American universities in the area.” The other major selling points include several great restaurants, shops, and historic sites within walking distance. Have I mentioned that Italian food is my favorite!

The apartment was cheaper than a hotel and offers much more space. I’ll be there four nights, then off to Florence, Venice, and Pisa before returning to Rome. I want to research the other cities before my arrival, but will most likely just wing it. No telling when and where something will be going on. The last thing I want is to be a slave to some itinerary. Having the first place booked is crucial. After leaving Afghanistan, traveling thru three airports, jet lag, and the excitement of a new country, it’ll be a huge relief not having to worry about finding a place.

Someone is popping popcorn…smells amazing! Random, I know.

I made the treacherous journey to the post office today. It is inconveniently located right in-between two shuttle bus stops on the main side of the base. Luckily, the items I shipped weren’t too heavy or awkward to carry. I felt bad for some of the people I saw who were lugging around multiple footlockers ever so clumsily. I still need to pick up a few things that have been requested (Abbi and Jenny) next time I go to the Bizarre. Anyone else that wants something from this lovely place let me know. I’ll have to find out from Staci how well the package holds up after the 8,000 mile trip.

I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to write about tonight. After skimming thru what I just wrote, that’s clearly not an issue. I hope everyone is enjoying the updates. I’ll look back at past posts every once in a while and be reminded of things I’ve already forgotten. I think it’ll make a great story to look back at down the road. Just don’t want it to be a painful endeavor for all of you in the process.

I’m going to take advantage of my night off from the gym and watch a movie. 30 days and a wake up left. I’m absolutely ecstatic. Curious as to how I can get any more excited. I’ll let you know about that as the days continue to fade away! Thankfully, the past 67 days have been extremely smooth. Word of advice, take an assignment like this while you’re single. Hands down, the biggest difference amongst the people here I’ve talked to and observed. Here’s to being single!