Finally - Reconnected to the Outside World!

Feels like we've just come up for air after being held under water for a long time.  Our internet is back!  Our phone works!  HOORAY!!  

This is not only a good and relieving thing in general, it means that we suddenly have much better information and access here on the compound.  For example, you can't buy a car without a residency permit, called an Iqama (hope I spelled that right).  You can't get an Iqama until you have had a blood test to make sure you aren't bringing in various diseases to the country, like malaria.  You can't get a blood test until you make an appointment at the lab.  The only way to make an appointment at the lab is to request one online.  So we've been stuck, waiting for nearly everything to get rolling until we got our internet up and going.  (What's more, the only way to get the Aramco DSL is to request it ONLINE.  (Hello?!)  This goes along with the equally crazy requirement that the only way to get local phone service is to CALL for it.  Aramco is maddening this way.)  We do have some very generous friends who have let us come over to their house and use their internet, so we got the DSL request made, and thus we are now good to go.  Many thanks!

So now maybe all the pieces will begin to fall into place, and we can begin to get set up.  Now if only the E-box would hurry up and get here!  We really need that bed rail for Lawrence that we packed...and I could use a couple of pairs of the flip flops in there.  All in good time.   I've been told Aramco teaches patience.  I believe it.