The end of the year 2010 here on Kwaj is more of the usual... things winding down in preparation for the holidays, etc. etc. and so forth. A palm tree at the north end of 'Beautiful Downtown Kwajalein' gets decorated with lights and serves as our Christmas tree. Due to 'aircraft mechanical difficulties and other mission requirements' there was no fresh produce loaded on the ATI DC-8 on Tuesday. That got all the families all pissed off, especially if they were planning to cook up a Christmas dinner.
The construction of the bar extension at Vets' Hall is pretty much complete except for some drywall finishing and paint. We're taking a couple of weeks off to enjoy the holidays before starting up construction of the chair room in the back of the hall. When that gets finished, it'll be put to use for private parties and poker games. (And it could be made up into a Masonic lodge room in a pinch!)
Since Christmas, New Year and my birthday are within days of each other, I treated myself with some retail therapy. Bought an iPod and a Kindle ebook reader. Considering that BQ rooms don't have much storage space, many have chosen to keep their music, video and book libraries in electronic format. A healthy underground trade of portable hard drives filled with movies and music keeps our entertainment pretty close to being up to date. Now if I can find some motivation to clean up my BQ room...
Christmas dinner at the PDR is pretty much the same as the Thanksgiving dinner - but I betcha there ain't gonna be too many fresh fruits or vegetables! One thing I hate is how the PDR describes their special meals in overused terminology usually seen in an overpriced restaurant. 'Tantalizing entrees' my ass! We still get a chuckle or two reading the menu selections, such is Kwaj humor. At least being a BQ rat my meals are 'part of the total compensation package' so I don't hafta pay to eat. We actually have better food at Saturday night's 'supper for the drunk and wasted' at Vets' Hall than the chow at the PDR!
OK, enough venting of the spleen for now... Helping out with the annual 'Stray Dog' Christmas party at the ARC Saturday, where I'll be grilling my (in)famous teriyaki shrimp skewers. Gonna start thawing and marinating the shrimp Friday and skewering it early Saturday. I need to check what time to start grilling.
And for all of you who regularly read this blog (sounds of crickets chirping)... I wish all of you a Meddi Kirijmoj (Merry Christmas in Marshallese), Mele Kalikimaka (the same in Hawaiian) and Hau'oli makahiki hou (Happy New Year in Hawaiian)!
