She should have never said that.....

My family has made the trip to Kuwait City!  Lots of great stories to come from them later.  To start with this week while I worked late the other night I missed a family dinner with friends just down the street.  Janet, Ambyre, Drew & Bailey still did get to meet and go have dinner with them however and had a great time.  I really did miss not being there during this first meeting.

Later that same night Janet was all excited and telling me about what a great time that they all had together!  She was telling me different stories about the evening, enjoying the company, enjoying the food, enjoying the dogs and just getting out of the new apartment!  (by the way; dinner plate was brought home for me and it was soooo good!)  It brings a new perspective to Janet and Ambyre to be able to talk to another woman rather than just hearing everything from me.  During this conversation Janet said she was glad to hear that we probably are over all the sand storms for this year.  I said "what?".  I said I'm not so sure of that and you better wait to see.

Well, the very next morning I get up and ready myself for work.  I get ready to leave and walk outside and guess what?....  Yes indeed, the sandstorm had approached again!  High winds were picking up and blowing basically from the Iran area directly across the Persian Gulf right at Kuwait.  The waves were high on the water and the sand or dust as they like to call it here was in the air!  When I got to my office I shot a couple pictures.  Then today I went back to the same place and shot them again just to give you a perspective of what it is really like.....

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it took me 94 days.....

On January 31st I landed in Kuwait City to start a venture and see where it goes....  I had traveled the world many times around and had met many people while doing so.  I have to tell you something... moving somewhere and visiting somewhere are two different things altogether :)

Typical for me was to fly in to an area and spend anywhere from 3 days to 7 days while working the entire time.  You try to take time to meet people and to learn more of the area.  What have I learned now that I have been in Kuwait for 94 days?  Well let me tell you!

*  Traveling somewhere on business around the world and only spending a few days is just plain and simply explained as "smoke and mirrors".  You only see, hear, feel, taste, meet and do what someone wants to experience......  

*  I went 94 days without a tv to listen to.  In the states I had my flat screen Panasonic Plasma that I became addicted to.  Watch my weather, news, sports and a few shows like NCIS, CSI, American Idol, etc.....  Here I read the paper daily and really just work and talk a lot to people for a pure perspective.  I have learned to develop relationships more, spend time at coffee shops and really talk to people and go for walks rather than watching tv.  Janet, Ambyre and Drew will be here soon so yesterday I bought my same flat screen and a dvd player.  Strange thing was I did not turn on the tv yet tonight and now I'm home....

*  People.... look back at some of my other stories on my blog.... people are just not what you expect.  Most of what we know from the US is programmed in your head by the media or by people whom think they know but really do not because most of those people have not lived there.....  People are better here in the most part.  What is better?  Well, for the most part the people that I meet are genuine.  They are real, they like to connect and get to know you.  I'm still somewhat guarded in whom I get to know but for the most part I have came to meet some great new friends.

*  Food....  for 94 days I did not have any resemblance of a home cooked meal from the US.  Tonight that was put to rest!  Great new friends that only live down the street (whom I can't wait for my family to meet) invited me over tonight for dinner.  The dinner was great!  After I cleaned my plate the first time I was asked if I would like to have some more... Yes please!  Dinner was followed by a great peach cobbler... Can't wait to have Janet, Ambyre and Drew here and we invite them down to our place to return the favor!  Thank You Paul & Jennifer!

I absolutely cannot wait to get my family here with me.  The culture, the people, the food.... many things to watch and see how my family reacts.  I hope they enjoy it as much as me!

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One-77....... not what I am use to.....

When I grew up in Richland Center with about 4,000 other people we occasionally saw some fast cars and sometimes road in a few.  What were they back then?  Camaro, Trans Am, Buick Skylark, Chevelle, Corvette, the occasional Road Runner, Dodge Charger, etc...  Most people could not afford anything to much different and many were 'motor heads or gear heads' who did a lot of the engine work themselves.  I also remember going to Madison once with Keith Ruetten and we toured a bunch of specialty cars with Brian "Moose" Ferguson at his specialty shop he worked at.  Kind of like a dream land for speed.

Fast forward into Kuwait in 2012 and it is a different story.  A few post back in my blog you will find pictures of me down by the beach at a mall looking at two McClaren's.  They are just a bit faster and maybe just a little more expensive than that Buick Skylark I use to drive!  I have saw just about every make and model go by me while riding around in Kuwait.  Tonight I enjoyed a little time after a long day sitting on a terrace outside with a few friends.  We talked about many things and it grew late and was time for me to go home.  One person asked if I needed a ride and said he would drop me off as it was on his way so I said yes and away we went.  Upon arriving at his car, I did not even know what kind it was.  I soon found out and took my first ride in a specialty car.  It was quite the experience, impressive in looks, impressive in sound and I loved the power and the ride.

Here it is; the Aston Martin One-77.  Look it up.... just a bit different than that Buick...  I told him my daughter would never want to get out of it once she got in it... he said "just ask for the keys and you can take it cruising"....  I would be scared to death of a scratch!  Ha!  Insanely worth 1.4 (million)......

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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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New Friends.....

This past week I met some new friends at the US Embassy.  They are so nice.  Both from the states; she is a Jersey Girl and former NSO entertainer.  She met her husband while traveling with the NSO around the world as a singer, dancer (Bob Hope style) for the US Military.  They invited me to a party with friends at there home so myself and my 'right hand' from work went and attended.  Very cool neighborhood and a true Kuwait Home which is very large (3 stories) and beautiful.  They had both lived in Jordan at one time so most of the furniture was all handmade in Jordan and then brought to Kuwait.  We met there daughter who was 8 and so precious!  In the living/entertaining area were a variety of fresh vegetables, dips, scratch made smoked habanero salsa, chips, nuts, spring rolls & cheeses.  The beverage selection was incredible with juices from around the world; my son in law would have been in heaven with me!

About 10 guest arrived.  Two of them were teachers at The English School and were very interesting to talk to as they lived here for 4 years now.  I spent most of my time with the husband talking about his past experiences, travel and life in the Middle East.  He gave me so many ideas for adjusting my work habits with culture and also a few great vacation ideas!  The best was a contact for a small yacht cruise for 8 couples in the Mediterranean Sea for 7 days that included the boat, captain and a mate for doing the cooking and cleaning for about $550 couple for the week....  We also discussed things to do in Kuwait and places to eat!

I am thankful I have made contacts at the US Embassy since I arrived as every week I seem to make more and more contacts from them for both business and friendship!

I forgot to add one thing... they are from New York / New Jersey area.... they requested all to attend in casual clothing but no jeans.  I wore my Green Bay Packer Jersey under my oxford shirt with dress slacks.  During the evening I found out they both were NY Giants fans so just before we left I stood up and said "man, it is warm in your house; hope you don't mind if I take my shirt off"..... They thought I was crazy as I started undressing and when they saw my jersey they could not believe it!  Ha!  That stoked them up big time!  They called me a smart *ss but loved every minute of it!  Such a good time!

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