So close to the home country.....

I need a holiday. I can't believe how badly we all need to get on that plane. I'm at the point where I'm ready to just leave the laundry, the dishes, and grab a suitcase of presents, my laptop and jump on the plane.

I'm so full of emotion that I'm finding it hard to write. I'm watching friends go through horrible rough times. I've chatted with mums who are going to have to change their country, again. The glaring differences between the richest people on the planet and the poorest are in front of me every time I step outside my dwelling.

It is time to celebrate life. It is time to enjoy the festivities of the season. It is time to hug and hang on tight to those whom we love and who are so dear to us. Not to mention, it is time to enjoy food in the home country!

May peace be upon you.

The Gap between the two

No, I'm not talking about that clothing store (I will admit that I like their clothes, however!). But, the gap between East and West and between men and women.

Something happened recently to a friend of mine and she gave me permission to write about it. My friend and her husband are expecting their first child, and she is noticeably expecting at this point.

My friend was traveling by taxi to a meeting with two other women. My friend began to feel queasy (a number of taxi drivers here are very fond of gunning on the gas pedal and suddenly letting up on the gas pedal causing a slight and constant lurching feeling for the passengers). She and the other passengers asked the cab driver to stop the cab. He refused. My friend, at this point, had to roll down the window to 'relieve her stomach.' No mess was made in the taxi. When they finally reached their destination, the cab driver demanded that my friend wipe up the outside of his taxi (it really was not that bad) and told her that she should be more mindful of her 'condition' and should be at home because of her 'condition'. Never mind the fact that he refused to stop the taxi (it would have been safe to do so), my friend was not traveling alone (not that it should matter), and my friend and the other women with her were clearly heading for a meeting and not dressed to go for an evening out or something (again, not that it should matter). Do I feel sad and frustrated that my friend was treated this way? Yes, I do.

But that's just the thing. Some would agree with what the taxi driver told my friend. And that's the gap. What is appropriate at the end of the day in one country and culture is not necessarily appropriate in another country and culture. What becomes difficult is when we have to bridge these gaps. We have to all live and work together. Yes, this planet is a pretty big place, but we ALL have to share it. Yes, this was just one incidence that really is not that big of a deal (at the end of the day). But, it does highlight how we all have to work together to bridge the gap. As our planet grows smaller thanks to modern travel methods and technology, how do we work through such great differences between cultures?

And a special note to my friend: If you're not happy with my writing, let me know and I'll pull this post. Thanks for sharing. (And no offense is meant to anyone in our host country. I simply find this to be an interesting and relevant conversation.)

Peace.

E-readers and pollution? (hydraulic fracturing)

Today's snap is of myself and Munchkin #2 enjoying our new family toy. This photo has NOTHING to do with what I wanted to write about today.

First, a bit of a word on e-readers. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/business/06novel.html?em Ok, these devices look cool. I've looked a buying some kind of e-reader so I don't have to haul so many books around the world. But, I'd buy 'e-books' for fun/pleasure reading. You know, novels and stuff. But, would I really want one of these for an afternoon on the beach - getting all full of sand and salt? Further, I still have some of my university text books (basic biology texts, certain lab manuals, basic chemistry books). I have found these books very helpful to have around when I'm asked to help students prep for exams, explain things to my own children etc.... Yes, I could pull it all off the internet, but sometimes it's faster, easier and just more fun to pull out an old book. So, with these new e-readers that could replace textbooks, what do you do when the device doesn't work anymore? What do you do when the technology goes speeding ahead and all your books are on a now defunct device? What will historians' jobs look like many years from now as they dig for old documents? How do we keep and maintain our written words? Our written words are one of the things that really sets humans apart from the rest of the world's critters. Oh my - how quickly our world is changing.

Now, on to my next set of thoughts.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08fracking.html?pagewanted=2&em

Ok, hydraulic fracturing? "What's this?" you are probably asking. Here's a bit I found through the EPA's website (Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. - I have only scanned it since it's rather long): http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/uic/pdfs/cbmstudy_attach_uic_ch06_water_qual_incidents.pdf

Next, give this bit a read. I'm not sure how old it is, but it is interesting never the less: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/oil-gas/publications/eordrawings/Color/colhf.pdf This is from the National Energy Technology Laboratory in the U.S.

Ok, now, if you've read or at least skimmed all of this you may be saying, "Yeah, so what?" Well, I realize I don't understand the technology. What I do understand is that there is always a level of error in the cards when humans do something. Period. I just can not comprehend how humans think (ie we think) we can fully control pumping a chemical mix into the ground and not have it affect the environment. Until recently, folks thought of plate tectonics as a theory. Do we really think we know enough about the rock beneath our feet to control this kind of technology (ie hydraulic fracturing)? Do we need clean energy? Yes, absolutely. Do I want to see the oil and gas industry take a massive financial hit? No, of course not because it would mean massive job losses and more economic woes. But, I do think we all need to think about how we're using the technology available to us.

Not a great pic but....

This is the view from the loft in the new farm house in the home country. I'm too excited for words. I still can't believe that this is happening. I can't wait to paint and buy furniture and stuff. Oh yeah....

Otherwise, not much in my brain tonight other than homemade peanut butter cookies.

Peace.

Healthcare reform and international politics

I really need to go curl up on the beach in the sun with a good book. But, I'm really in a mood to sit inside and sew. I really want to curl up with a blanket and a cup of coffee and do some needlework. I think my mind is just blown that it's December and yet it's beautiful and sunny out, and I CAN go an lay out on a beach. Seeing today's snap of my family's new place going up and knowing that snow is expected there, well, I guess I'm a bit homesick.

Ok. On to other topics.....

I totally do not get the American health care reform. There's loads of bits of junk from 'pundits,' but I can't find anything that states in simple language, "Here is what's in the bills on the table." Why is that so hard? I just don't get it.

Another bit about the healthcare reform....there's a bunch of talk about preventative mammography. That's all well and good, but what about AFTER the cancer is found? Will insurance have to pay for the reconstruction procedure of the woman's choice? Will insurance have to pay whom the woman chooses? Will insurance pay for the life time's worth of prosthetics she will need if she chooses not to have reconstruction? Not to mention, the special undergarments required to hold the prosthetics are VERY expensive for the average woman.

I don't think pundits (or little blogs like mine) should be answering these questions. Again, I just don't get it.....

On to international politics.....

http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/1609682.html Found this article citing a poll that Americans are showing more isolationist tendencies, essentially. Read the article and see what you think. The reality is that America will become weaker in the eyes of the world if Americans don't get out there and get involved (and I DON'T mean with guns and shows of force). The article also discusses views on China and the U.S. It's a very interesting read. Ok, here is my pure opinion - not fact - pure opinion. Chinese goods are cheap. They are cheap for a reason. If the world only goes for cheap goods, then the folks that make the 'luxury' goods are gonna go under. But, why are the luxury goods so expensive? Are you paying for the name? Sometimes. But, many times (think big here like cars, large appliances, airplanes, factory equipment, oil rigs etc....I'm not talking handbags and shoes here but in some cases the situtation is the same) you are paying for well made, safe, gonna last you a long time kind of stuff. So which is better? Cheap throw it out in a year or so and buy another? Or more expensive, keep it for years and be confident knowing that what you have purchased is safe and has a reputable company backing it? For me, that's not a hard one to answer.

Folks, you gotta dream. If you don't, you might as well stop the ride and jump off. But as we dream, we need to hang on to our values and what's really important to us. I'm so grateful to have known all the dreamers that I have known. They help make this world tolerable.

Peace.

Ah...the good and the bad

The good: The new house in the home country is really coming along nicely. It is so gonna rock!

The bad: The husband gets to dine at this place http://www.visitoslo.com/en/engebret-cafe.49110.181332r341.tlp.html without me....sigh....

The good: The munchkins and I snarfed a bunch of homemade peanut butter cookies tonight.

The bad: The cookies are now all gone.

The good: The plane trip to the home country is getting nearer. And man, am I ready.

Peace. And may you be blessed with cookies.

Currency madness and political spin

Ok. These two topics have NOTHING to do with each other. I've been laying out on the beach, my brain is thus baked, and I need to do a brain dump.

The husband just left for a business trip to Norway - lucky guy. I LOVE Norway; it's such a beautiful place. At any rate, before he got on the plane, I checked to see if we had any kroner (Norwegian money). We only had a few coins. We did however have a mix of Omani riyal, Saudi Riyal, Kuwaiti dinar (I think that's what it's called), dirrhams (or AED/money from the United Arab Emirates), Canadian dollars, U.S. dollars and of course British pounds. I also know we have some Indian rupees still lying around somewhere. Wow! That's a lot of currency. Yet, unless you are in that country, you can't use it! IF you want to use it, you have to pay money to have it converted. Sigh...money, money, money. I wonder what the world would be like with just ONE SINGLE currency for the entire planet?

Now, my other train of thought....

I've been reading speeches from different leaders - some recent and some historical. Then, it's interesting to read the 'feeding frenzy' the press churns out over said speeches. I think it's hard to find news sources these days that attempt to be unbiased. It's like I have to read 4 or 5 different papers from different countries to get all the sides of a story. The historical stuff I've been reading is the book John Adams that was turned into an HBO mini-series. It's been a fascinating read. There was political spin even back then at the time of the Americans' revolution. Do you think some of the ancient cave paintings could be political spin? Hmmm.....it would have been interesting....

Now, to change topics again....

I loved this snap. When I took this picture, it felt so peaceful. The beautiful bouquet of flowers, Munchkin #2 sitting working on paper snowflakes, and sunlight streaming in through the windows.

Peace.