neurotic Iraqi wife
March 26, 2009
The Best All Around Soldier...
Wow, its been ages hasn’t it!!! I do apologize to all my loyal readers, never thought I’d find so many comments, cant even catch up. Did not think I would be missed, its nice to know, thank you! Don’t worry I havent died yet, lol.
Well I did get my eye back, and managed to squirm away from an operation that the Dr wanted to carry out on me. There was no way in hell I would allow a scalpel near my eye. I know Im crazy, but umm not THAT crazy. So here I am disobeying doctor’s orders and wearing my lenses again. I think the infection or whatever I had subsided and I no longer have the valkyrie eye, yaaaaaaaaaaay.
So what happened in the last 2 months. Lets see, nothing too interesting. People mentioned the octo mum, and actually I was enthralled with that story. Not sure how I feel about it but I was shocked to see how she was attacked by the public. Cmon, if someone wants a big family then let it be. Whats the big deal? I have read so much about IVF, and the chances of all embryos implanted turning into babies is really slim, she took the chance, and she was lucky enough to have what she wanted. So don’t give her slack.
I don’t remember anyone giving our forefathers slack when they had 10 or 11 kids. Almost all the old families in Iraq had over 10 or 11 children, never once did I hear my mom tell me that authorities got involved with them, or people were angered, so why this? Is it because much of the money will come from tax payers money? Hell, its better to pay for new lives, than paying for all the darn wars and the millions of children that got killed in them, don’t you agree? That’s just my 2 pence on this.
As for my own personal life, going to Doctors has become the norm. Having blood tests done and check ups became part of my daily life, isn’t it fun? Ofcourse everytime I go in to have my blood drawn, I have my cliché words ready “Hi, Im scared from needles, can you please be gentle and use the butterfly needle” One guy, just didn’t seem to understand these words, he simply threw the needle like a dart right in my vein. OH MY GOD. I was soooooooo going to kill him. I still remember his name, marlow. Thank god HUBBY was with me, or else I would have stuck that needle in his eye! I felt my eyes welling up, the a******. Ughhhh
Apart from my medical issues which aren’t really life threatening, Im doing fine. Needed to take a break from many things including blogging. I felt I was sounding like an old broken record with all my ailments taking place, infact I sounded like an old hag and Im only 34!!! As for Iraqi news, I stopped watching it and reading about it. Ever since I saw the result of the elections which were so predictable, I gave up. I dislike the govt, and will never change my mind. But a new phenomena is taking place due to the improved security.
Many Iraqis from all over the world, who havent been to Iraq yet, have started this strange exodus back. I don’t mean moving back there, but just going and visiting. A few relatives of mine have gone back and thought Baghdad was just amazing. They loved every minute of their 2 week stay. A woman who lived in California for almost all her life visited Najaf and called it the Paris of the Middle east. Umm, not sure how can Najaf one of the holiest cities in the world be compared to Paris, but those were her own words. How can women in abbayas be compared to women in mini joup? Maybe too much excitement just disillusioned her.
Many of those who are going back have been suffering from the horrid economical crisis and are there to sell off whatever they have there. You can still get millions of dollars for land and properties, so it’s a good savior if you are in desperate need. My own father refuses to sell anything. He says he wants to keep his ties in his country. Umm, what ties dad? We barely have anyone left there. But I guess for my dad it’s a different story. His land was inherited from his own father, and I think by selling he feels he is betraying that trust.
The economic crisis has finally hit AD. Ofcourse no media is allowed to mention it, and the govt keeps calming people down by telling them everything is ok. Everything is NOT ok. In Dubai they already have let go of so many expats, and from what my friend tells me, the streets aren’t as busy as they used to be. The malls are empty and real estate prices have gone so low, people who have cash to play with are taking the opportunity, while those who were caught up with the buying fever last year, are stuck with no means of repaying back and have no choice but to sell real low or just wait it out. Others have left long ago, leaving behind their newly purchased cars that they cant payback at the airport parking. Its so so sad.
As for AD, its catching up. Many are being let go and are waiting for the schools to end so they can leave. Property prices are still high in AD, and everyone is waiting for the summer, rumour has it rents will also go down drastically so everyone is waiting for that moment. I thank god that I still have my job. My boss did me an amazing favour, and I am ever so grateful.
I did get an email from one of my bosses in Baghdad asking me to go over there for a few weeks, but I refused. Maybe if this was back in Dec or Jan I would have gone, but now things have changed, and with all my medical mishaps Id rather be in a place where they can tend to me, there is no way Im taking that chance. What a pity though, would have loved to go back and see my friends and coworkers for I still do miss a few of them. But major changes are also taking place over there.
The buildings we are in which are based in the GZ are now going back to the Iraqi Govt. Everyone needs to be evacuated and gone to some base by the next coming months. I got an email saying that many will be forced to stay in trailers shared with 2 others, plus there isn’t going to be the luxury of having ones bathroom, instead its going to be a communal one. YUCK. Thank god I left when I did. First off, there is no way Id share a room with anyone, secondly, there is no way in hell Id use a bathroom that’s been used by 30 or 50 others. NO WAY! Yeah call me spoilt, but that’s just me.
On a final note, do you guys remember the “vibrator” girl I once wrote about? (Sorry have to find the link of that post) Well, she has been in the States for over a year now after getting her special immigration visa. I got an email from a frined of mine that said : Hey guys...remember L??? She has joined the Army and will be going back to Iraq as an interpreter. I heard she graduated from Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Jackson, SC and was awarded as "The Best All Around Soldier."
Wow, isn’t that great news? She used to be one of those lost souls who just couldn’t feel free in her own country. Was harassed by her countrymen and threatened by the militia. Her family boycotted her because she was working in the GZ, yet harassed her with phonecalls to pay them money. Ughhh. Im so happy for her. Here’s to L, L, The Best All Around Soldier!
Well I did get my eye back, and managed to squirm away from an operation that the Dr wanted to carry out on me. There was no way in hell I would allow a scalpel near my eye. I know Im crazy, but umm not THAT crazy. So here I am disobeying doctor’s orders and wearing my lenses again. I think the infection or whatever I had subsided and I no longer have the valkyrie eye, yaaaaaaaaaaay.
So what happened in the last 2 months. Lets see, nothing too interesting. People mentioned the octo mum, and actually I was enthralled with that story. Not sure how I feel about it but I was shocked to see how she was attacked by the public. Cmon, if someone wants a big family then let it be. Whats the big deal? I have read so much about IVF, and the chances of all embryos implanted turning into babies is really slim, she took the chance, and she was lucky enough to have what she wanted. So don’t give her slack.
I don’t remember anyone giving our forefathers slack when they had 10 or 11 kids. Almost all the old families in Iraq had over 10 or 11 children, never once did I hear my mom tell me that authorities got involved with them, or people were angered, so why this? Is it because much of the money will come from tax payers money? Hell, its better to pay for new lives, than paying for all the darn wars and the millions of children that got killed in them, don’t you agree? That’s just my 2 pence on this.
As for my own personal life, going to Doctors has become the norm. Having blood tests done and check ups became part of my daily life, isn’t it fun? Ofcourse everytime I go in to have my blood drawn, I have my cliché words ready “Hi, Im scared from needles, can you please be gentle and use the butterfly needle” One guy, just didn’t seem to understand these words, he simply threw the needle like a dart right in my vein. OH MY GOD. I was soooooooo going to kill him. I still remember his name, marlow. Thank god HUBBY was with me, or else I would have stuck that needle in his eye! I felt my eyes welling up, the a******. Ughhhh
Apart from my medical issues which aren’t really life threatening, Im doing fine. Needed to take a break from many things including blogging. I felt I was sounding like an old broken record with all my ailments taking place, infact I sounded like an old hag and Im only 34!!! As for Iraqi news, I stopped watching it and reading about it. Ever since I saw the result of the elections which were so predictable, I gave up. I dislike the govt, and will never change my mind. But a new phenomena is taking place due to the improved security.
Many Iraqis from all over the world, who havent been to Iraq yet, have started this strange exodus back. I don’t mean moving back there, but just going and visiting. A few relatives of mine have gone back and thought Baghdad was just amazing. They loved every minute of their 2 week stay. A woman who lived in California for almost all her life visited Najaf and called it the Paris of the Middle east. Umm, not sure how can Najaf one of the holiest cities in the world be compared to Paris, but those were her own words. How can women in abbayas be compared to women in mini joup? Maybe too much excitement just disillusioned her.
Many of those who are going back have been suffering from the horrid economical crisis and are there to sell off whatever they have there. You can still get millions of dollars for land and properties, so it’s a good savior if you are in desperate need. My own father refuses to sell anything. He says he wants to keep his ties in his country. Umm, what ties dad? We barely have anyone left there. But I guess for my dad it’s a different story. His land was inherited from his own father, and I think by selling he feels he is betraying that trust.
The economic crisis has finally hit AD. Ofcourse no media is allowed to mention it, and the govt keeps calming people down by telling them everything is ok. Everything is NOT ok. In Dubai they already have let go of so many expats, and from what my friend tells me, the streets aren’t as busy as they used to be. The malls are empty and real estate prices have gone so low, people who have cash to play with are taking the opportunity, while those who were caught up with the buying fever last year, are stuck with no means of repaying back and have no choice but to sell real low or just wait it out. Others have left long ago, leaving behind their newly purchased cars that they cant payback at the airport parking. Its so so sad.
As for AD, its catching up. Many are being let go and are waiting for the schools to end so they can leave. Property prices are still high in AD, and everyone is waiting for the summer, rumour has it rents will also go down drastically so everyone is waiting for that moment. I thank god that I still have my job. My boss did me an amazing favour, and I am ever so grateful.
I did get an email from one of my bosses in Baghdad asking me to go over there for a few weeks, but I refused. Maybe if this was back in Dec or Jan I would have gone, but now things have changed, and with all my medical mishaps Id rather be in a place where they can tend to me, there is no way Im taking that chance. What a pity though, would have loved to go back and see my friends and coworkers for I still do miss a few of them. But major changes are also taking place over there.
The buildings we are in which are based in the GZ are now going back to the Iraqi Govt. Everyone needs to be evacuated and gone to some base by the next coming months. I got an email saying that many will be forced to stay in trailers shared with 2 others, plus there isn’t going to be the luxury of having ones bathroom, instead its going to be a communal one. YUCK. Thank god I left when I did. First off, there is no way Id share a room with anyone, secondly, there is no way in hell Id use a bathroom that’s been used by 30 or 50 others. NO WAY! Yeah call me spoilt, but that’s just me.
On a final note, do you guys remember the “vibrator” girl I once wrote about? (Sorry have to find the link of that post) Well, she has been in the States for over a year now after getting her special immigration visa. I got an email from a frined of mine that said : Hey guys...remember L??? She has joined the Army and will be going back to Iraq as an interpreter. I heard she graduated from Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Jackson, SC and was awarded as "The Best All Around Soldier."
Wow, isn’t that great news? She used to be one of those lost souls who just couldn’t feel free in her own country. Was harassed by her countrymen and threatened by the militia. Her family boycotted her because she was working in the GZ, yet harassed her with phonecalls to pay them money. Ughhh. Im so happy for her. Here’s to L, L, The Best All Around Soldier!
61 Comments:
Welcome back......yeah, you were missed!
http://theconservativegardener.blogspot.com/
You came back just in time.....I think Edit_Mommies was starting to seek counseling.lol.
I must be getting old, and to that end. NIW you should follow the Doc's advice, till you get a Doc's degree :p.
Your only 34 and seeing the Doc daily, I have socks that old, relax, my gosh are you neurotic?
Yes, Edit_Mommies I'm sure will be posting soon, but we all need a measuring stick which to measure sanity by.
Hats off to LL and great to have you back. You were missed...
Welcome back :) ... read you soon
So glad to hear an update. A little blurb now and then is all I need. Just to know you are okay. Wishing you the best.
There you are, thought you might of fell off the planet.
There you are!! Thank goodness. I was getting worried. It was getting so sad out here without you. Edit_Mommies even missed you and ran out of things to say. Then the conservative gardner and I ran out of things to argue about...It was all going down hill fast. So glad you are back! Every one of my hidden personalities have missed you. I was gonna start a BLOG on tulips, but NAW....
Welcome back! It's nice to see a new post up.
You asked comments on 'octumom." I'm hardly symopathetic. This woman already had 6 children under age 7, including a set of twins. If she'd died trying to gestate a litter of 8 babies, there would be 6 orphans there with no parent.
Apparently she gave no thought to the 6 she already had. This issue overrides any consideration of who's going to pay all the bills.
You're living a charmed life right now. Don't screw it up by taking chances on your health, eyesight or general well-being.
mimi
Hi there,
This is a great blog of yours, Your site is veyr informative. I'm a wife living abroad. I have just started my own blog: TheShanghaiExpat. Please feel free to visit and let me know what you think for a link exchange.
Cheers,
Nikou
Some Doctors think everyone is a bloody specimen? I thought you were dead. Proving I'm desensitized? Yeah, I'm ashamed. I didn't think it was possible to boycott human beings? Everyone you trust shitty cadet doctor with excusable violence on some poor blokes arm no doubt. Like a school of piranha. You'd say "figures" or "predictable". Some people love stupid shit? Like holding a bloody arm telling yourself you were a good patient. Some other person might have a needle chock full of cures and butterfly techniques. You just have to get stabbed 65 times, contract a disease from predatory piranha then get the wonderful butterfly cure from the someone you exhaustively trust. Piranha do not have human babies. Lesson learned, no Iraqi hospitals??? Wonder if I should ship indigenous species of American Piranha mites to your Dad's estate? We have wild dogs still near Mexico? We could couple the dogs with the mites and then you would only have skilled surgeons around every corner. Ouwey, ouwey arm hippos...
In your culture marriage and large families are a given. Tons of relatives reinforce and assist the family. Octomom has no siblings or relatives except her divorced parents who were her childrens' caretakers, financial lenders and home purchaser. Now the parents went bankrupt and the home they bought octomon is in foreclosure. She and her mother are always fighting and her mom is very against her having all those children wanting to know how she can care and pay for them. The grandmother says she wants nothing to do with the octuplets - just the earlier 6 kids. Octomon says her childhood was disfunctional and her mother not loving. How can you expect your mother to be your chief supporter if you criticize her? Where is the respect? By the way did you know the grandfather's job is as a translator in Iraq but he has had no job for almost a year because he is helping his daughter out! Everyone who has been close to octomon says she is crazy and listens to no one. Three of her publicists have quit already. She is very smart however.
Anyway glad you are back. Missed your posts. Sally
Welcome back! And Gratz to L, wherever she is! Joining the military is really starting a whole new life, and it sounds like that is exactly what she needed :)
Edit_Mommies- Wow, you're really smart.
See.......everythings back in order.
http://theconservativegardener.blogspot.com/
NIW!
Guess what! I passed my nursing license exam! I am a real nurse now! Still sounds strange to say, considering I won't really feel like a nurse until I have about 15 or 20 years of experience under my belt :)
Missed you. Florida is beautiful ;)
Always,
Melanie
This comment has been removed by the author.
Being "Powerful" while you work? I agree Nurses need Patients. Patients are the answers you need. Nurses and Patients should "flow" with one another. You made a very good point. You don't need a Job you need Patients. Patients are the best Secret Service. Patients are also like the worst peer group you can have around. They are always trying to get you involved in something profound. You become a kinda Weather Balloon for atmospheric suffering. Then again you don't need to go to the Hospital for that kind of thing. The Secret Service is awkwardly everywhere.
Neurotica I AM SO HAPPY YOU ARE OK!
I have been reading for ages and logged on everyday looking for an update! I was so scared and sad something may have happened to you..I am thrilled you are well.....
Dear Neurotica,
I love, love, love your blog. I just started reading it, and I started from the very beginning of the story! I cant totally relate to you. Ok, i'm not married, and I'm not neurotic yet (maybe that comes after the marriage!?) but I'm also an Iraqi, 30 years old, living and have always lived in the West. I haven't seen Iraq in like 20 years. But I've been thinking about actually going there soon. 1-I can't wait to see all my family that's in Baghdad. 2- I really want to give them my services. But I'm scared *#%$less! I think it will totally be a culture shock. How do you feel as an ex pat...sorry, it seems that you've been living outside of Iraq for a while now. Are there job opportunities in international organizations? Are the Iraqi welcoming to the ex pats? Do they have this attitude that...well, what the hell do you know about my suffering? You escaped this jahannam and I survived it...and you wanna help me?!!
I'm sure I would miss many things that my Western Utopia offers, but I'm always an Iraqi! Any advice? I look forward to hearing from you! Keep on writing!
does anyone want to read my college paper on South American aid relief?
does anyone want to read my college paper on South American aid relief?
I want to read your paper
Money, God and Futbol in South America.
I liked this project because I learned so much. Taking the time to think about other parts of the world builds my interest. Most of the questions I have are worth knowing. First I wonder how American's are treated and understood in Spanish speaking countries. No country is without fault. We can rely on fairly normal structure for interpreting our surroundings.
South America is not outer-space. Very regular people live there. I said oh look they like the same kind of stuff like that conclusion takes any brain science. They really like soccer. Then I start reading and I understand how important Soccer or Futbol as they call it is to these people. More importantly South American futbol as I am planning a safe trip there someday in Colombia. Then I have to come to grips with the murder rate being so high. Then I have to contend with the prominence of the International drug cartels. I say to myself, well where do they play soccer? They play soccer everywhere.
The country is wild with futbol fever. The fever is a great way to meet new people. Interacting with members of the drug cartel is fruitless. Soccer we find a people impassioned. The need for every member of the community to connect probably inspires the drug cartels to be reasonable. For everyone there has to be a few years before puberty when soccer was important enough to actually grow with. Most people find life much easier when there companion can be a soccer ball. For some puberty might not have been an easy choice to make. I would guess you would call those people soccer professionals.
You really have to love a craft. I think to myself who makes stuff and where do they do the making. They make stuff everywhere in Colombia. A reasonable distance from the ball field can be sane and safe enough. I try to imagine a people with similar interests. The Christian religion cooperates with the people and establishes trustworthy business relationships. These aren't soccer professionals although they couldn't be much different then the ones on the ball field. Christians, I went to Catholic school I must be like one of the employees off the soccer field. Maybe when I am in Colombia they will have a Hospital available if I have an accident? For instance the Soccer match lets out late and the losing team throws rocks at me. I could go to the American Red Cross and receive bandages. Then I would put both my thumbs in the air and say Christians are pretty good! I imagine some of America's tired, huddled masses are also worn out from throwing rocks at me. It is much the same in Colombia as it is here in modern America. All the people waiting in line for medical attention. If we lived near a church maybe we could wait there on Sunday because we would know when the home team would win and not give each other concussions.
I like a country that can promise some growth every year for its community members. The results of staying alive gives us direction. The sense of pride these people share allows normal Americans relief when they are faced with sadness and chaos. Even if we never leave America God knows there are plenty of South Americans here in the United States who are just as frustrated and willing to work together as we are. Accepting similar goals and being fair is not a bad past time for celebration. When people are allowed to play soccer everything starts to make sense. We have better places of business. Better neighborhoods, eventually and Hospitals that will find a way fix you no matter what happens at church. It's good, a lot of the people love the Game and it builds with love.
I am visiting a very real country with the attitude that I am making a difference. That is the only way I can approach the taxing configuration a new place presents. Enthusiasm should pick up as I procrastinate through any anticipation. When I construct my insightful attack plan I should be really overwhelmed. There really is no way of getting around that. I think I'll be like a soccer player and take it one step at a time. As a matter fact I may base every interaction I have in Colombia on the game of soccer. I understand soccer is all about avoiding your opponents. I hope I don't find any opponents and reach my goal whatever it may be.
I think neurotic got a life, sporadic posting from here on in
I think neurotic got a life, sporadic posting from here on inCould be! Or she just doesn't have a burning desire to vent about things, any more. Either way, hopefully it is a good sign :)
Thank you everyone, for your kind words. And no I have soooooooo many things to vent about, but from my latest post you will know why I have been MIA.
My feelings and thoughts are so confused, so jammed up and whenever I wanna write, I just cant. WOrds are stuck. But I will try, maybe my old self will come back...
Great post, NIW.
At first, I defended Octomom's choice to have such a large family. Although I don't criticize her nowadays, I have lost interest in that story. I WILL say that her father looks SHOCKED, like a deer caught in a car's headlights or something.
A tip about colloquialisms: When you want to say that some one is coming under intense or unfair criticism, you say that person is taking or catching a lot of flack. When you want people to ease up and give that poor person a break, you say 'give him/her some slack' or 'cut them some slack.'
放鬆心情自由自在的來一趟花蓮旅遊，可以感受花蓮民宿各種不同的風味，所以來花蓮一定要住花蓮民宿哦！因為可從花蓮民宿主人那裡分享到不一樣的花蓮旅遊的經驗以及品嚐花蓮美食道地的花蓮小吃，所以來花蓮旅遊不一定就要享受花蓮高級餐廳的花蓮美食也可以多試試道地古早味的花蓮美味哦！來花蓮民宿可以放鬆整個心情，來花蓮電腦住宿也可以放空自已，來花蓮也可以了解在地的文化哦！住民宿其實是很輕鬆的，住花蓮民宿其實是很容易，還有就是現在是高油價的時代，還自行開車來花蓮嗎？來花蓮租車會比較輕鬆哦！來花蓮房屋租車會比較省錢哦！或是可以請花蓮計程車帶您包車旅遊喔!!歡迎來住住美麗的花蓮民宿囉!!一定要讓您來花蓮旅遊並且讓您愛上花蓮民宿，還有團購美食好吃的蜂蜜蛋糕、養顏美容的蜂王乳以及花蓮美食喔!!
Hi,
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. Great post,concise and easy to understand. I like this post..
Thnx
It is great to see you back. I missed you. Welcome back!!
This is Joshua from Israeli Uncensored News
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I am honored to wander your blog.
I am honored to wander your blog.
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Are pleased to come to your blog to read your article! Thank you for sharing!
Are pleased to come to your blog to read your article! Thank you for sharing!
Are pleased to come to your blog to read your article! Thank you for sharing!
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Are pleased to come to your blog to read your article! Thank you for sharing!
Are pleased to come to your blog to read your article! Thank you for sharing!
hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!
hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!
hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!
hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!
hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!
Thank you, that was extremely valuable.
hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!
hooray, your writings on theater and writing much missed!
Keep the faith, my Internet friend. You are a first-class writer and deserve to be heard.
Keep the faith, my Internet friend. You are a first-class writer and deserve to be heard.
Keep the faith, my Internet friend. You are a first-class writer and deserve to be heard.
Keep the faith, my Internet friend. You are a first-class writer and deserve to be heard.
Keep the faith, my Internet friend.
Keep the faith, my Internet friend. You are a first-class writer and deserve to be heard.
you should always to consult 2 doctors when you have serious operation. and follow the instruction if there is a serious matter.
have faith and God will do the rest.
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