Thanksgiving

What a treat to be home for Thanksgiving this year. We had a small crowd, just immediate family and one guest. Spent the day before baking all the favorites; banana cream pie, chocolate cream pie and apple pie. Then made deviled eggs, which are much harder then one would expect.

Throughout the day I couldn't help but remember what last year was like. The four days before Thanksgiving we didn't have power, which meant no heat and no hot water. I was so miserable on Thanksgiving morning. All's I wanted was a shower before we headed over to the base. We had been very lucky to score an invite to dinner at the military base, and I would have given anything to wash my hair. Little did I know that this was only the beginning of what winters were like in Kabul.

Dinner with the troops was a blast. As an extra perk, the UCONN game was on TV while we ate. And boy did we eat. This was the first time since I arrived in Afghanistan that I had American food. We even had real ice-cream.

Since I've been home, I feel much more patriotic towards the men and women in the armed services. I've always supported the troops but its different now. I feel we can't do enough for them. My heart truly goes out to them, their families and the sacrifices they make to for me, us.

When we got home after Thanksgiving dinner, we had power. I was able to take a warm shower and then headed out to have a second Thanksgiving dinner with some friends at "J" compound. Both dinners were nice, but nothing beats being with your family.

I am so thankful to be home.

Voting Day

America, the land of the free!! Remember to celebrate our freedom, liberties and go vote.

Last year I wasn't in the States when it was election season. The perk is you are away from the phone calls and spam that arrives daily in your mail box. In Kabul, they plaster walls with pictures of the candidates. Banners are hung throughout town and like here, the conversation around the water cooler is political.

Unfortunately today, I wasn't able to vote. There was some paperwork error that occurred. Before I left for Kabul, I sold my house and moved in with my parents for 2 weeks. I completed all the necessary paperwork to change my address and my voting registration. Today I showed up at the polls and there was no record of me living at this address. I did notice that I wasn't getting any political pamphlets but it didn't register that maybe I wasn't registered.

After I few phone calls made by the official voter dude, he told me that yes my voter registration was canceled in my previous town of residence but they have no record of it being transferred to any town in Connecticut. He did give me the paperwork and allowed me to fill out a new voter registration form but I wasn't allowed to vote today.

I'm pretty angry with myself. The right to vote is such a privilege and I blew it. I believe that one vote does make a difference. I believe that we need to take this right seriously and vote in each election as an informed voter. And I think its extra important for women to get out and vote. There are still too many countries where women struggle for this right, we shouldn't take it for granted.

Keep Smiling!