More Tyre trouble

Had to make a quick post.

Well, I was driving to a friend's flat with my munchkins and her munchkin, and my vehicle of choice got another flat tyre! And, it was a different tyre!

I'm so thankful that I made it to her place ok. Once the munchkins were settled inside at her place, I tackled changing it myself. The husband is currently out of the country on business! Figures!

With a bit of mobile phone coaching from the husband, and a bit of lifting help from the security guard (my tyres are huge and heavy), I got the thing done! And, the comical part is, I was in a brand new shirt, my favorite pants, and flip flops! Again, figures!

And, again, many thanks to the kind security guard in her building! The offer of help upon hearing me groan trying to lift the spare onto the bolts/wheel was much appreciated. Folks living in the region - be kind and respectful to the men and women who work in these buildings. They deserve respect and kindness!!!!!

Peace and here's hoping you don't have a flat tyre!

Really should be cleaning house

Well, here I am still in my night clothes listening to the munchkins slowly turn into guacamole in front of cartoons. We did manage to get backpacks ready for school. I think we are all just enjoyed down time before the craziness of school begins.

I had to pull another snap from our summer holiday. I really need to get out in the water soon with my camera for some more 'region specific' shots. Clearly, today's snap is not from the region where I sit typing at the moment!

I spent a bit of time this morning reading the news (as usual). I came across an article that I felt did a readable job of 'summing' up some global happenings:

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2009/August/middleeast_August724.xml&section=middleeast No commentary from me. Just found it very readable and easy to follow.

Now, a bit on the mundane side....

I'm sitting at my dining table as I work on this. The husband set up a lovely wi-fi network for us thus freeing us from our desks. The rest of the table is covered with jigsaw puzzle, junk mail, and well, just junk. I can look up and see out the windows which have several layers of dust on the outside. My patio plants have survived the summer; they add a touch of green to my dusty little outside sitting area. The high rise buildings beyond look to be in a bit of fog which is actually a dusty haze hanging over the area. But, the sun is shining, and it's only 98F out currently (according to my little thermometer). And, I am watching my sea stars slowly progress up the side of the aquarium in search of sustenance.

Ok. Now I really need to go clean house. Just felt like rambling on a bit about nothing.

Peace.

And summer winds down to the end

Ah summer. Time for playing, friends, ice cream, and kicking back and enjoying life.

Now, it's time to begin the sweat over school uniforms. Uniforms should be a 'cheap' option, but I spent about $300 U.S. just to replace a few out grown bits. And, that doesn't even include the specific color shoes (which have been a NIGHTMARE to find even with shopping back in the home country). But, will administration listen or care even though all of us parents pay THEIR salaries? Frustrating.......

I found an article about a school dress code in the United States. The students who suffer the most through this kind of thing are the kids who would dress appropriately, but now have to shift their closets around:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=8417872&page=1

My heart goes out to the teachers who are having to spend time focusing on clothes rather than teaching.

Peace.

Fixing a Tyre

Today's snap is from our summer holiday. Can anyone guess where this snap was taken?

Well, I had a bit of an adventure today. I noticed that the driver's side tyre on my vehicle of choice had a slow leak. So, with the husband busy at work, I needed to get it quickly fixed on my own.

I stopped at a garage near the munchkins' school. They said they only do oil changes and car washes. Across the road, in a very dusty grungy industrial area, I noticed a place that said they do 'tyre changes.' Ok. I'll try that.

After a death defying jump across 5 lanes of traffic to make the u-turn to get into the place, we cross over some nasty dusty driving/parking area and proceed down a little alleyway.

I pull up next to the 'garage' (more like door in the alley) where they immediately wave me in upon seeing my deflating tyre. After the men discussed the tyre in a language I could not (truly) identify, one of them looked at me with, "No problem. We fix." Ok....?

I don't think they were used to women stopping by with children in tow to have a flat fixed (all the men there were trying very hard not to stare at me). But....they did a brilliant job (it's holding so far), and only charged me the equivalent of $12 U.S.

Just goes to show that it pays to dress conservatively even if you're just popping out to pick up a few groceries!

Peace.

Brownies, coffee, and friends

Some of our good friends are back in the country after Summer Holiday. So, we are a having a little get together for swimming, coffee, and brownies. And of course, the boys will dive head first into the now expanded pile of Legos. Munchkin #2's room still looks like a bomb went off, so I'm not sure where the girls are going to play.

Since coming back, I've been digging through the suitcases unpacking, dusting, watering plants, running errands, and just settling back in, in general.

The little video today is from a restaurant on the coast we visited on summer holiday. The restaurant is literally located on a pier. Those of you who have dined with me during my university years probably remember the place. The views are amazing. Not to mention, I love the food there. The fish (ones I call 'mullet') were so used to people throwing/spilling food, they were schooling like sharks in a feeding frenzy.

To change the subject....

While I was still back in the home country, the husband was busy adding inhabitants to our aquarium. We are up to around 4 gobies, 4 sea anemones, several 'stone' crabs, many sea squirts, loads of brittle stars, and a mantis shrimp among other creatures. It's a happy tank.

Well, I need to check on the brownies.

Peace.

Random thoughts on school

Woke up feeling a bit strange today. Today's the first morning since I've been back where I actually woke up at a 'normal' hour.

I've been reading a lot this morning from friends who have been dealing with 'first day back at school' stuff. Friends who are happy to have freedom from kids, friends who've cried about babies growing up, folks angry about transportation troubles, and those proud pictures of kids wearing their 'first day of school' clothes.

I don't know if I'm looking forward to my kids going back to school. By nature/genetics/nuture (whatever), I am a worrier. I hate having to put my kids in the car each morning and feel like I'm facing death in the face to get them to school through morning traffic. There are a few friends the kids have from school whom we have not heard from - are they coming back to the region or did the economy force them to head back to their home countries? But most of all, I simply enjoy having my munchkins around. It feels so peaceful sitting here typing on the computer, listening to the whirr of the dishwasher and washing machine mixed with the happy sounds of my munchkins playing together. If it were not for my friends here, I would feel great loneliness when the munchkins are in school. And, that loneliness deepens if the husband has to travel for work.

I try to stay busy. I help out where and when I can. Comparing being a stay home parent and being a working parent is interesting stuff. I love being involved in the world outside the home (ie working full time), but then I would have days that I truly just wanted to be home and not so busy. As a stay home mum, I have days that I wish I was working full time and making more use of my education. I am just so greatful that I have a choice.

Thinking on the first day back at school, I've been reading about difficulties friends and neighbors are having back in the home country with school transportation for their children. They are really upset that the schools are no longer providing free transport. I probably would have been upset too, but living in another country (feels like another world some days) has really changed my attitude about such things. Paying someone else to drive your kids to school here is very costly (in my not so humble opinion). So, I drive my munchkins myself. After fighting through crazed traffic (think high speeds, lanes seen as a 'suggestion' at times, lots of honking), it takes me about an hour and half to get the munchkins to school and return home. In no/light traffic, the drive would only be about 15 minutes each way.

The munchkins here have school uniforms which I find is good and bad. Growing up without uniforms, for me was a mixed experience. There was the constant fear/worry over about whether or not you were dressed ok for school. But, you got to pick your own stuff. It was a good lesson in how to dress well without blowing your bank account (or at least your parents' bank account). Not to mention, it was a good lesson in that there will always be someone with more/better materials things/clothes than you, but you are still a good and worthwhile person!

Here, we worry about shoes having a blue Nike swoosh on them when the rule is that they have to be all black or all white (you get the picture). So much uniformity makes my stomach squirm. Yes, uniforms are probably cheaper, and yes kids worry about whether or not they need to have the latest and greatest high end clothes to fit in if there are no uniforms. But....no uniforms bring some valuable life lessons. I just hope uniforms also bring valuable life lessons, because I have many days that I really hate those uniforms.

Change of subject...today's snap is of the munchkins picking vegetables in Great Grandma's garden. Ah, simple joys.

Peace.

Back in the sandbox

I snapped this picture while on holiday this summer. This little bear was so cute and FAST! He ran across the road to get to his very large mother (I saw a piece of her backside) hiding in the brush. It was a glorious moment for me - the first bear I've ever seen up close in the wild.

As the munchkins prepare for heading back to school, I've been thinking about how teachers are treated. There's always the mad scramble amongst the mums to figure out if 'their' teachers for the year are "any good". As a parent, it is always my hope the my munchkins will have teachers that are kind and understanding. This does not mean 'easy' or being 'pushovers'. What this does mean is that I hope their teachers understand how difficult it can be to be a student/kid. A teacher who rewards with praise rather than punishing with negativity is infinitely better for the students and produces higher achieving kids.

I ran across this discussion in the New York Times:
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/what-teachers-have-learned/

In my not so humble opinion, I think in many cases the parents know and the students themselves know if a teacher is effective or not. If a student begins a new academic year and is totally unprepared, was the previous year's teacher effective? If a student dreads going to school each day because of the classroom management style of the teacher, is that teacher doing a good job? But, rarely have I seen school administration ask for students and parents to help evaluate teachers.

Here's hoping everyone has a great school year!

Later in the day......

I was just reading an online newspaper, and simply HAD to post links to two stories.
http://www.gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/10342266.html Pink goat meat seems totally bizarre to me. Never have I seen anything like it.

Next, http://www.gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/10342529.html was totally fascinating to me. The title of the article, "Divorcees likely to exact revenge on ex-husbands" screams volumes, wouldn't you say? Email me if you'd like to discuss either of these articles. Some things just scream to be discussed.

Peace.

Morning news making me sad

Some morning thoughts/opinions/roamings of the mind.....

I love working outside at my family's farm. I love the feel of the cool breeze on my face while hard at work with a chain saw or hatchet in my hand. I love the smell of the woods, the feel of walking through the forest over a carpet of soft moss. I am so greatful for the wonderful relationship I have with my father. I so enjoy working side by side with him in the woods. Having the freedom to work where and when I choose is a freedom I do not take for granted.

Reading the news this morning, I came across this article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/14/afghanistan-womens-rights-rape

I have met women who take their basic rights for granted. Women in so many countries just have no comprehension of what their 'sisters' in other countries must deal with. I can not imagine what it would be like to be a woman living somewhere that the laws seem to protect the men and seem to disregard the women.

I have a wonderful relationship with my father and my husband; they are both very good men. I can not imagine what life would be like with a father who didn't love or care about me, and husband who didn't love or care about me. And, I am from a place where women have the same legal rights as men.


Peace.

Still in the home country but thinking about 'home'

This snap was taken at our family's farm. The trails we maintain are wonderful places to pick berries and hunt for moths and butterflies. Such simple summer pleasures!

Yup, I'm back online from the home country. I was reading newspapers from the region of my home (the one where I spend the most time these past few years). And, I noticed that Ramadan will most likely begin about the same time I arrive back. I've been thinking about my husband and how he's going to have to work AND stock up on groceries. I so appreciate ALL the work he does!

Over the summer, it came to light that my aunt/uncle/cousins have access to a vacation flat very near where I live in the middle east. I sometimes have a difficult time explaining how to dress when visiting the region. Yes, in some places certain clothing is not illegal while it is disrespectful. Reading a newspaper online this morning, I came across an article on women's dress. I believe I've posted a link to this article before, but I still feel it is helpful and relevant.

http://archive.gulfnews.com/indepth/ramadan/more_stories/10157597.html

Now, off to clean the family home in the home country and figure out how I'm going to pack EVERYTHING in 6 suitcases. A mother's work is never done!

Posting from the home country

Greetings! I'm back at the computer, at least for a few minutes. I was reading news from my other region of the world, and came across this story:

http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Environment/10340335.html

This is an interesting piece to see published. I love to roam the fish markets (fish souqs). But, I have always wondered what the fishing laws are. I can't begin to identify some of what I see in the those markets. Sometimes I've seen HUGE hammerhead sharks. Sometimes, I've seen massive piles of what I'd call mantis shrimp. I've seen stacks of grouper. At any rate, if you're interested in marine biology, the fish souqs are interesting places to hang out.

Today's snap is from one of my happy places here in the home country. It's an amazingly beautiful place.

Peace.