Not much has been said by Kindahl lately. Here’s her email from Christmas Eve, and another that I got today.

24 December 2005
Dear all,
Merry Christmas! I hope that you are all drunk on eggnog and fat with food!

Just to let you know how monotonous my life is: On Christmas Eve Day, today, I got up and 5:45 am to go workout, then I went to work like usual. We have a Christmas party later tonight with salsa dancing. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a bad couple of days for me. I’m blue from spending Christmas away from my family and miss them so much! In addition I haven’t had a day off in more than two weeks. The stress level in the office is high because there are a lot of people on post and our Corneal and LT have coronaries every time there is a line. Lines are inescapable here at the finance office! In order to save their precious lives, but more because he does not want to see any lines, we the slaves of this outfit are busting our brains trying to figure out how to move the soldiers through as fast as possible. This puts a cramp in my customer service chats because I have to move soldiers through so fast. I still am able to get little conversations going. People are reporting good things. I have had many officers that are working with the Iraqi army say that things are moving along, though slowly, really well.

I have been moved in to a cashiering cage but I’m not a cashier. We have separated taking checks and casual pays in our rush to get customers through faster. We have changed a few policies that the contractors are up in arms. I never thought that customer service was going to be a stressful job but some of the people just don’t crack a smile! Though when I get to see kids’ pictures and listen to stories about them it makes my day.

So I hear MN is covered in snow! That’s it! I quit living there! The year that I leave it snows, but when I’m there, it doesn’t. This is a conspiracy!

I’m sorry I don’t have much to write about. We have been swamped at work and the weather is getting colder. I mean it’s no Minnesota, but I actually had to wear gloves and a hat yesterday.

Thank you to those who have sent me packages. I received one from the First Presbyterian Church in Fargo. It had a chess and checkers game in it which I hope to get some use out of here. I also received the letters from my cousin Hannah’s class, pictures from my grandma Roe’s first grade class, letters from my niece Lily’s Kindergarten class, a package from Grandma Roe. Thank you to everyone. I have received many letters, emails, and Christmas cards also. Thank you! These letters really mean a lot to me and help me stay connected back at home.

Love always and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Kindahl

21 January
Subject: Another Week Down!