I’m beginning to feel like sleep has become a waste. “Why bother,” I think, “I just have to get up in 4 hours anyway!”

Okay, I NEED sleep. In fact, on weekends I could be compared to a cat. I could sleep all day, but lately the idea of sleep jut ticks me off. That sounds so weird, but that was the very first thing I thought as I heard the alarm this morning. I seriously thought, “It’s like it [sleep] didn’t even matter.”

Will started his new schedule this week and it is excruciating. He works 4 14 hour days, PLUS lunch and a 3 hour drive (total time), so it works out to being at work 18 hours. Plus, he’s in the middle of no where. The “desert gem” camp (HAHA), where there is nothing but hot wind, lots of blowing sand, and big tents (I haven’t been there, I think there may be a few buildings set up, but mostly not). I think that adds to the misery and makes the days drag even longer.

He got home late last night, looking like he had been punched in both eyes. They were all black and droopy. After he said hello he said, “I have to do this all over again in 6 hours.” He took a quick shower and fell into bed fast asleep.That boggles my mind. He seriously did have to get up and do the same thing 6 hours later. I know tons of people do this everyday, but I am not used to it yet. There is no time for anything.

Sleep is just not long enough. I get up at 3:20 every morning. I had to tinkle at midnight last night (the old woman bladder thing), and usually I would think, “Ahhh, 6 and a half more hours of sleep.” Instead I got a sinking feeling in my stomach knowing I only had 3 hours and I grumbled the whole way to the bathroom and back, and then irritatingly went back to my “nap.” That’s sort of what it feels like (a nap). I know we are working towards a goal. I have to meditate on that each day and ask God to carry us through, but I have had such a shock getting used to the loooong days.

Sleep is just enough to make me mad now! I’m sure a lot of you all can relate.

The lady I’m riding with works 12 hours (that includes lunch), so I have to sit and wait for her another hour after I get off before we go home, which gets me there at 7. It has been frustrating. All I want to do is eat dinner, take a shower, and go to bed! I’m hoping when we move I’ll be able to find someone that goes in at 6 and leaves at 5. PLEASE!!

Anyway, that’s enough about sleep.  It’s just going to take time getting adjusted to the long days and the hot sun. My body tells my it is time to go home and see Will around 4:30, but I still have 3 hours to go (that includes a drive home). My body tells me it’s lunchtime at 9:00 since I ate breakfast at 4:15. (that may just be me though. I can eat at anytime, which is a problem!)

I’m all out of wack. I am going to have to adjust myself to this new schedule, especially Will’s long days (I think that’s the 3rd time I said that!). That will take some getting used to. I felt bad last night because I missed him so much that when he walked in the door, seriously exausted, I attacked him with excitement and love and lots and lots of chatter and questions. I know I probably bombarded him, but as I said earlier this is a new schedule for both of us and I’m used to having a few awake hours with him at night, but now I just have the sleeping hours! 

Thank God for my mom. She has picked me up everyday this week. If she didn’t I would get home an hour later. It has been nice because I am so close to their apartment, but when I move, I won’t have anyone to take me home on time, which will be very depressing. that means if my ride stays an hour of over time, I have to too. Kind of sucks. She picked me up again tonight because in the middle of the afternoon my ride told me, “by the way, you need to find a different way home.”

Great.

It’s not that easy because I really don’t know anyone here yet, so finding rides has been a huge pain. My boss is supposed to coordinate all that, but from what I’ve seen you’re on your own a lot. Sigh…

I know Will won’t be here until late, but I can get everything ready for tomorrow so when he finally does come home and is awake for 15 minutes, I will cherish it.
**********
As for other things… Today I saved Kuwait. Okay, so that is a HUGE exaggeration, but let me say it anyway. I went to the bathroom this morning and as I turned the knob on the facet to wash my hands, the whole handle broke off in my hand. The water was on full blast and splashing up on me as I tried to think what I should do.

This place is a ghost town in the morning. I was on my own. I was thinking, “I could just walk out and leave the water- an important thing in the desert- keep flowing none the wiser to what had just happened.” I’m sure most people that truly know me would agree I’m good at being oblivious. “Or, I could figure out how to fix the faucet, being the skilled plumber I am.” I tried to screw the handle on, only for it to fall off. The water is continuing to splash all over me, but I was in plumbing mode. Nothing was going to stop me from fixing that freakin’ faucet handle. I try just pushing it on, only for it not to fit. Then I start my goofy worrying, “What if I can’t fix it!?” I would feel so bad if it ran for an hour or two until someone finally came to fix it. What if Kuwait ran out of water and then they were on a hunt to find the person that drained the reserves!? They would find me, tucked behind my desk contently looking at a book, having no clue I was about to be taken in for questioning. Okay, obviously I was overreacting big time, but I did sort of amuse myself with the above thoughts as I struggled to force the stupid handle on the attachment thingy (such great plumbing jargon). 

After a couple of minutes it almost became fun, like a frustrating puzzle that would feel so great to finally solve. I did some more twisting and placing and whatever else and it finally snapped into the right screw or whatever and shut the water off. What a good feeling. I looked at myself in the mirror and gave an approving nod, as if I was doing it to someone other than myself or something (what a dork). I dried my pants off and made sure I had no plumber’s crack (okay, stupid, I know. I’m just kidding), and went out the door. I thought about checking to see if it worked, but I was sure it would only hold up another time or two. Oh well, at least I tried and the water won’t run out.

I felt pretty proud of the minor “nothing” I had done this morning, so please just let me bask in the moment. I have had few highlights to my days since I’ve started working, so I have to look for the little things.

I went back to the bathroom this afternoon and the stupid facet was back in the sink. So much for my amatuer plumbing. Oh well.

Anyway, I’m about to take the day off and get totally ready for bed so when Will comes we can have a little while to talk.

Have a good afternoon! <3