ZIGGURAT Tour…..The House of Prophet Abraham

ZIGGURAT
Originally uploaded by beckydanaher.
Being this is the oldest place on earth people have lived, we decided to broaded our horizons. Last week we were able to visit the House of the Prophet Abraham and the Ziggurat. We took a tour and learned a lot. There are many sites very close to each other that we walked around to.

First off, this picture is of the Ziggurat. This was a place of worship; it allowed for the people to become closer to the moon. There is nothing inside only stairs to take to get to the top. We climbed, we saw, we conquired.

After this we saw the oldest arch on earth….ever found. It’s been reinforced, but very cool to see. Near there are the tombs of kings. We were able to even walk into one. It was very dark and dusty. It creeped me out thinking people have died in there. In those times they buried the kings servant in with him….alive. We also saw hieroglypics on the stones by the tombs. I have uploaded pictures of all of this.

Lastly came the best part of all, the house of the Prophet Abraham. It’s actually on the original floor, but the walls had to be rebuild. It’s quite large. You will see pictures of the doorways, shelves and views from on top. You can take the stairs to walk on top of the walls, hence the maze-like views in some of the pictures.

It was an amazing experience. It was unreal to think I was walking on the same ground that Abraham and his wife Sara did. And be assured, we did sing “Father Abraham, had many sons….”

Growth in the Desert – and an Escape out the Window

Growth….in the Desert
Originally uploaded by beckydanaher.

This is my plant. It’s the only green living thing here. So, it makes me so happy. Thanks to the Axners, I have a little green life in my trailer. It’s wonderful. Plus, I have something to nurture and tend to.

A quick story for you: Well, you see….Beachem (my roommate) and I each have a key to our trailer. They look the same. We also have 2 hooks that we hang said keys on by our door. It has happened on occasion that we take each other’s key. Luckily, we have left a key for the other…just not in eyes sight. We eventually find the other’s key – it’s sort of like a treasure hunt.
Well, early this morning my dear roommate visited me at work. She had to get up early to run an errand. She woke up and found herself without key. And, oh, we lock the door at night, so naturally I locked the door behind me when I left last night. I LOCKED MY ROOOMMATE IN OUR TRAILER. How horrible of me. I feel terrible. Thank goodness she was able to get out…..through the window. She took off the screen and climbed out the window…and it’s not really close to the ground. Needless to say I feel awful.
She it so cool and doesn’t seem angry or anything. I guess we need to label our keys or something. My key was in the trailer, just conveniently hidden in my PT pants pocket, probably the only spot she didn’t look.
I am so lucky to have such an understanding cool roommate!

The Gator that Died

Being that this base is pretty small, the means of communication are limited to: your own sturdy legs, shuttle bus (which takes longer than walking), HMMWV, or Gator. The gator is a 2 person small get-around type vehicle, similar to a golf-cart. Being that I work nights, I don’t end up driving this around too often – or at all. So, the other morning I needed to wake another soldier up quickly, requiring me to take the gator to our living area. Slightly nervous, I ask if there is ANYTHING I should know about driving this. I know it’s a pretty simple task, but felt knowing myself well enough something would happen. So, I was told, no problem, get in, turn the key and drive. Sounds pretty simple to me. So, I put my kevlar on, grab my weapon, key and off I go. I turn out of the parking lot, get onto the main drag, am right in front of the chow hall (busiest place at this morning breakfast hour) and it stalls. First, makes this horrible grinding noise and stalls. Eyes all on SSG Gerboth and her stalled gator as she tries to get it off to the side of the road since buses are going to come up behind her. Sweet I think….but, it starts again, yahoo! We’re off again. How very odd I think. Drive, drive, drive, I get about 1 block further and it stalls again. What is going on? I then proceed to get out and push the gator to the side of the road. People are walking to work on the sidewalk next to me……not imbarrasing at all. I get it to start one more time and finally make it to my living area, stalls again, get out and notice……I am running this gator on fumes. There is no gas……at all! The gauge is bone dry when I pull it out. So, I wake up who I needed to, then went on a hike around, trying to find the fuel point or someone with gas for this gator, which is more difficult than is sounds since most things run on disel here. Needless to say, I walk back to work. My roommate saves the day by driving me to get fuel, then back to my gator (in her gator). We fill it up using a water bottle (cut off) as a funnel….getting a bit on my boot….then, all is good. Whew. What a morning. The whole adventure that should have lasted 20 min was a 3 hour ordeal.Leasons learned:
1. Always check any vehicle for fuel before driving
2. Always know where the nearest fuel point is
3. Never trust anyone who says “it’s simple, just get in and go”

Have a great 4th of July!