Good weekend

I had a very nice weekend:  both fun and relaxing.

Went to the US Embassy's 4th of July event sponsored by the Association of the US Army.  Anytime you can get free ice cream (shout out to KDD - LOVE YOU!!!), it is a good deal.  Combine ice cream and refreshments and it is super good.

Went from there to Kabd to see my friends.  These are the guys who had my Secret Weekend Hideout in Julai'ai that the municipality tore down.  They took my advice and went to look for a farm in Kabd instead of looking for an apartment.  OMG - did they get a GREAT deal!  It is a ba-gorgeous "farm" (you can't really call it that, but technically, everything in Kabd is supposed to be).  It has 2 villas and a grass quad.  One of the villas has a huge indoor swimming pool.  The rent?  500kd/mo. (MASHALLAH MASHALLAH MASHALLAH)  I will be there every weekend following Ramadan (only because I won't be here for the entire month).

If you don't mind living in the middle of the desert, Kabd has great property prices.

The next day, I went to see an ooooold friend.  I've known him for 30 years.  Hard to believe, but true.  He invited me to go on a trip with his group at Al Boom Dive Center.  I've done it before and had a nice time.  Unfortunately, I'm too chickenshit to dive, but I get to splash around in the water and be on a boat all day.  Normal people (the public) can do the same for 10KD a trip.  It is a great deal.  They take you out from 10am to 4pm from the marina at Khiran (30 or 40 south for about 45 minutes to an hour - depending on how fast you drive).  Going to Failaka Island is easy in Kuwait.  There are several boats to take you out there.  Getting to see Kuwait's southern islands (Um Al Moradem, Qaroh, Kubbar) isn't as easy.  Not as many services taking people out there.  Al Boom's numbers are 2483-0474 or 6620-3000. They offer courses too (check out my Facebook page for their flyer).

Saturday morning, I woke up and had what looked like a clear blister on my eyeball.  Second weekend in a row I was forced to go to a hospital.  I freaked out.  Didn't have anybody to call/drive me, so I went alone.  Had a hissy fit in the reception room; got in to see the doctor who told me that it was just an allergic reaction to something and to stop freaking.  So I did.  He gave me eye drops.  It disappeared after about 2 hours.

I didn't want any reminders of Mr. Clean in my house, so I packed up his clothes (the only man I have ever allocated closet space to) and returned them to his dad's house last night (after 3 days of notifying him that he should pick them up - and he didn't).  Instead of making me feel better, it made me feel worse.  Closure.  He just sent me (after 10 days) a 1-liner saying, "Ok... thanks."  Sigh.

I am going to miss his family so much.  Well, truth be told, I miss him like crazy.  Of course, you don't immediately remember all the bad stuff about someone, just the good.  In hindsight, things start to take shape later.  His family made me feel like part of them.  I cry every time I think of his dad.  Maybe because I lost mine and having another father figure around has been very good for the soul.  His father is such a kind and decent man.  Maybe he'll talk some sense into his son.  Dunno.  We're not in communication so I can't tell.

I get on the plane again back to the States this coming weekend.  I need some positive reinforcement from my own peeps.  I can't wait to be there with them.

Hope you all have a happy Ramadan.