Things are going well.

Heather should be here on Sunday. May not get a chance to see her for a day or two as she gets picked up by the company and taken to Arifjan, the US military post. I do not have a pass for that base yet.

Still looking at apartments but the ones I am interested in for Heather and I are very swank. 3 bedroom 3 bath over looking the Persian gulf and across the street from the beach or restaurants depending at where on the Gulf Drive here. And fully furnished.

Right now the mosques have sermons/prayers going over the loud speakers and I am listing to them as I type. Every mosque plays them and there is not an inch of ground in town or in your apartment you can not here them. I don't mind and adds to the unique-ness and ambiance of the region.

Every little thing is unique here even down to the Doritos here. I have two bags. One is goat cheese and sesame seed the other is pepper and tomato. Very good too.

Cars are crazy here. Every thing from old 60's mustangs to Ferraris to cheap Japanese cars. I found a mint Ferrai 348 Spider for $15,000 US. Not going to get it but damn tempting. I guess car repair is so painless here. They will even come pick it up. Insurance is flat rate roguhly across the board and covers everything. All you need is a police report. And if you go to the car and find a ding then drive to the police and get a report. The driving is listed as the worst in the world. Everyone drives like it's NASCAR here. Cutting each other off at 80 mph+.

Flights outta here seem cheap. Can go to Dubai for the weekend for aroun $75 US and that is roundtrip flight and two nights hotel.

Not everything is cheap. Apartments if you have to pay and company does not cover are very expensive. Luckily we have an allowance for this.

Generally I am very happy and there is so much to do and keep me busy. Of course once Heather and I are settled I will be even more happy. Should be able to take several vacations a year so keep us informed if you are going to be in the region and we can meet any of you. Also welcome to come and visit here!!!!

Can't wait to move back home to Kwaj at some point though. I feel it is home. Wish I could have taken all of you with me when I left as you are my family. We will never lose touch. Or at least we had better not. Worst case in 20 years we should have a boat shack reunion somewhere and all meet back up. I would be up for that more than a High School reunion.

TOM

Well here I am in Kuwait. Got to love a place that charges more for bottled water than for a tank of gas. Gas costs are about 76 cents a gallon. Work schedule is great during Ramadan. I work 4.5 hours a day. Also looks like I have a week long holiday the end of the month and with weekends at each end that means 9 days off. I love being salaried now. Well drop me a line at rangerat@gmail.com and let me know how you all are doing. More picts to follow. This was just a kwickie out the window of the temp apartment they have me in for the time being. You can see the Persian Gulf in the back ground. Many of the places I have been scouting for Heathen and I are across the street from the water and have a Starbucks close by.

Nice Dinner

Well my folks and I went out for dinner with a friend of the family whom we affectionately call grandma. She was very close to my grandfather before his passing.

Dinner was pretty good. Grouper, scallops, shrimp and what not. The place was called Johnny Leverocks. It was located next to two marinas and right on the water.

Only a few more days and I will be off on a long as heck trip across the sea to Heather's and my new home for a while.

Remember to keep in touch and make sure to send some picts once in a while. Attached to the blog is a picture of my folks and I here in Florida.

TOM/EOD

Well all the paperwork seems to be done and I am just buying the last few things that I feel I may need for the next few months in Kuwait. I should be flying out of here on the 28th and should be in country on the 29th. I really have no real clue what to expect but when I get there I will fill you all in.

The folks are doing fine. Had the opportunity to see some family and take them to dinner which was very nice. Tomorrow I think I will be off to see a movie, most likely the Talladega Nights movie with Will Ferrell.

Last night around the corner someones car got absolutely totaled and they had to land a helicopter to pick up the wounded. The car got slammed into on the side and spun 360 degrees. Damn I miss my bike.........hahahahahaha.

Trying to stay away from the fast food but did go out to Ruth's Chris the other night.

Well I gues thats it for now. Take care and keep in touch. RangeRat1@gmail.com

Well I will be off to close my account with IT here in a few short hours and then will head to the plane to fly off island until such time as Heather and I decide to come back home to Kwajalein. It has been a helluva run over the past 6 years. Alot has happened while here.

1. I met my one true love and took her as my life partner, wife.
2. I have had the opportunity to dive some of the best reef and wrecks available in the world. I have met some of the best people and friends that I have ever had the pleasure to say will always be a part of my family.
3. I got the opportunity to spend more time with my brother and help him to find employment out on the island as well.
4. I have fished with out fishing pole using nothing but parachute cord and lures.
5. I have partied and drank like a rock star.
6. I have played for quite possibly the world's greatest Softball team on the face of the earth. You don't have to retire my number Steve.
7. I have had the opportunity to coach some fo the best gals around in soccer and softball.

I could continue to list but that would take me forever. Let me just leave you all with I will miss you all and hope that we all continue to keep in touch and to meet up when we can as we all make our ways throughout the globe. Kwajalein Atoll is shaped like a boomarang and my gut says we will be back at some point in time.

TOM