10 days...

...and counting.

In 10 days' time, Chris and I finally fly out for a little R&R, or as we have come to realize, our honeymoon. Yes indeed, 17 July 2007 marks our eight wedded orbit around the sun together, but let's just say, as usual, things worked out a little differently. I guess that's what happens when you get married so young and then unite two families from opposite corners of the world, and instead of eloping (as my father even suggested) we did the whole shebang in Pretoria, followed by a grand family vacation to see the "animals".

What followed was the tale of two broke barely in their twenties-somethings who could only scrape enough dough together for my tuition, trail mix and a 2-man tent. We spent the next four years camping our way through the Northwest - never quite making it to that idyllic island getaway. And then life just kind of happened and we moved from west to east, then to the Middle East, then to South East...and so, 2,915 days after we wedded on a warm winter's day in Pretoria, we will depart dusty Kabul for the magnificent Maldives!

As usual we hope to not be completely inactive, and plan on diving, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, bicycling, and of course - sampling the 30-cabin eco-friendly resort's 35-page wine list. We'll tell you how that goes (anyone want to spring for the $480 Opus One Napa Cab?)

3-8 Feb: Park City, Utah

Park City is fun. The snow is a little scarce, but the weather is great. We have a nice apartment. I shopped at Wild Oats with tears in my eyes as I ogled over the abundance of wonderfully fresh produce I missed so dearly in Baghdad. In an attempt to maximize our “experience on the mountain” we signed up for a few lessons with what has to be Australia’s own “carrot top”. Great guy, and we got to jump the lift line. We pretend to have an interest in timeshare and get free lift tickets from one of the newly constructed über-resorts. At night we cook, drink wine, catch up, talk about Baghdad and what the future hold. We also debate the Vietnam and Iraq wars with three grey beards in the hot tub who bring us plastic cups for our wine.

[Main Street. Pricey, but nice]