She got whatever it is....

On February 1st I left home and flew over 7,000 miles away from my family to start a new career.  My family stood behind me knowing that some difficult times were ahead as they would have to prepare a very large move without me to assist.  During the 3 months Janet had to deal with things that I always took care of... getting a large lawn mowed, having a sliding glass window break and getting someone to come and fix it, having the underground dog fence wire alarm go off and try to figure out how to fix it without the dogs running off and more.....

This past few weeks were also spent on completing all the necessities of getting the proper paperwork done for Janet, Ambyre and Drew to move to Kuwait City.  This involved background checks at the police department, drivers license records, marriage certificates, birth certificates, copies of my paper work, vast medical test with proof of all lab results, a doctors letter saying they are in good health, then a notary on all of those items and then a trip to Nashville for authentication at the US State Dept.

Over the past two weeks Janet & her mother pulled off a very large yard sale to try and get some things out of the way and then packed the entire remains of a 4,000 square foot home full of goods.  The last two days Janet, her mother, her sister Lori and Ambyre spent ensuring that all of these items were loaded onto a very large truck.  A friend was suppose to show up to assist in taking down the wiring for the home entertainment system; Charter TV was to come and take all of there equipment; neither the friend or Charter showed or called so Janet had to deal with something again she had no idea to do.

Our son in law Bruce and Leslie have been great during the last few weeks by helping with Drew so that Janet could work on the house in preparation for the move.  They also provided many a good dinner for Janet, her mom, Ambyre and Drew!

Finally, this morning Janet pulled out of the driveway in a huge Penske Truck pulling a trailer behind it and it is loaded to the top.  Ambyre and Drew are following behind in Ambyre's loaded vehicle and they are driving all the way to Florida to have everything put into storage on her mothers property.  I have no idea how they will get everything un-packed and out of that truck.

Tonight I was having coffee in downtown Kuwait at one of my favorite coffee shops.  In the background the music suddenly changed.  For those of you that know me and watched my Facebook Messages for International Travel; every time I left on a trip from home I always played the same song on my iPhone and listened to it on the plane as it took off "Whatever it is" by the Zac Brown band.  Yes, tonight as my wife told me she loved me and was in the truck pulling out of the driveway the song was playing in the coffee shop and I had to wipe tears away........

She got eyes that cut you like a knife

and lips that taste like sweet red wine

And pretty legs go to heaven every time

She got a gentle way that puts me at ease

When she walks in the room I can hardly breathe

Got a devastating smile knock a grown man to his knees

She got whatever it is

It blows me away

She's everything I want to say to a womanbut couldn't find the words to say

She got whatever it is

I don't know what to do

Cause every time I try and tell her how I feelit comes out "I love you"

You got whatever it is

You know I've never been the type that would ever want to stay

Bring 'em home at night and they're gone the next day

But that all changed when she walked into my life

And people askin why it isTell them I don't know

Just something about the woman makes my heart go haywire

And she's gonna be my wife

She got whatever it is

It blows me away

She's everything I want to say to a womanbut couldn't find the words to say

She got whatever it is

I don't know what to do

Cause every time I try and tell her how I feelit comes out "I love you"

You got whatever it is

Cause when she loves me

Girl that's how I feel

Cause when she loves me I'm on top of the world

Cause when she loves me I can live forever

And she loves me I am untouchable

She got whatever it is

It blows me away

She everything I wanted to say to a womanbut couldn't find the words to say

She got whatever it is

I don't know what to do

Cause every time I try and tell her how I feelit comes out "I love you"

"i do"

You got whatever it is

Oh you got whatever it is

On May 11th I will be back in her arms!  Please be safe on your journey to Florida!

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Life and the innocent

Life and the innocent...

We all have our own pressure and stress living one day at a time.  We think it is so hard, so difficult.  What is your stress?  Which car, which apartment, which job?  Financial stress as the economy is so difficult.  Would you move across the world to do what you have to do to survive?  Selling a house, renting a house, what to do with cars, what if you lost your job, what if you lost your business, divorce, etc.....

Then, reality hits again.  A great nephew is diagnosed with in-operable brain tumor.  A child, a life of the innocent.  Quite frankly all the above items do not mean anything.  The money, the house, the car, the job.... the innocent child and the family for what they cannot control for if you could, you would give up anything else to make it right for the child.

My heart and prayers go out to the Tanner family and there son Gage.

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It's going to be a good day....

Today I started out by having to catch a ride to go get my finger prints taken.  I get in the car on a very busy street corner and we leave.  Upon arriving at our destination in 20 minutes I realize that when I put my sunglasses on and took off my prescription regular glasses that I lost my regular glasses and most probably in the street where I got in the car.  A bad feeling comes over me.  I call someone who happens to be near my apartment and he stops by.  He and the building manager search the road and yes, they found my glasses in the road.... un harmed!  They laid for over 30 minutes in high traffic and survived.  I said to the person who took me for the ride it is going to be a good day....

Next I head off to get my glasses and then to an important meeting.  A call came and my meeting was canceled.  Never the less I went to one of my restaurants to follow up on some business.  While there a gentlemen was having a meeting with the same person who found my glasses and they asked me to sit in.  Turns out I have a personal conversation with the gentleman and find out he is an expat and been in Kuwait for over 14 years.  We hit it off and formed a new friendship.  The neat part is I look forward to our wives meeting and having a few dinners together.  Again I thought, this is going to be a good day....

Next I have a meeting inside of an embassy where I am helping develop another brand.  The team I am assisting is absolutely amazing.  People from many different parts of the world, different experiences and different ages; but they all had the same goal of serving others.  I finished out the newly created menu with them and everyone was happy.  The young man next to me started a conversation by saying he really liked my selections as it reminded him of the Mid West where he grew up.  I said really, what area did you grow up in?  His reply was "Wisconsin".  I smiled and said that was great, what area in Wisconsin did you grow up in as I know several people from there?  His reply was "Richland Center, Wisconsin"....  He told the group we would not know the place as it was so small and nobody knows it... only about 5,000 people in the entire town.  I smiled and said actually I know some about that town... I had heard that on one side of town was a place called Boaz and on the other side of town was a place called Sextonville...  Yes, two people from the same birth place in Richland Center, Wisconsin had ended up in a secure facility 6,800 miles away in Kuwait City, Kuwait!  Many of my FB friends from RC will want know who it was: Tyler Partridge.  I look forward to getting to know him well.  

Before leaving I was given a certificate signed by the Commanding General for Appreciation of Excellence in our work over the last month here in Kuwait.  The big part is I cannot wait to thank my team members for the hard work and dedication.  Over the years I have learned a valuable lesson: "You are only as good as the people that you surround yourself with".    Did I mention "it is a good day!

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