Calling THE Bunny - Candy, Please!!!!!!!

OH BUNNY!!!!! OH BUNNY!!!!!! OH BUNNY!!!!!!! We are in dire need of things like chocolate bunnies, and chocolate eggs. But, we are traveling. So....can you please manage a special trip? There are Munchkins here who have been very good. We thought you'd have an easier time finding us a bit early and at home rather than at a hotel. Thanks Bunny! And to all my readers, my family will still remember the real days on our calendar this time of year.

By the way, today's snap was taken from Camel Rock in the United Arab Emirates.

And, another random bit....

I found this old New York Times story: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/22/international/middleeast/22doll.html

I must admit, Munchkin #2 owns two Sara dolls, and one Fulla doll. Even though the women in my family do not wear the hijab, I felt that it was important for my daughter to have playthings that reflected the culture in which we are living. I occasionally will throw on a head scarf when we are out roaming around out of respect for the culture I am in, respect for the women around me and to blend in a bit better. I also own and occasionally wear my abayas. I have also given several Sara dolls as presents to people back in the home country.

The munchkins have various Spring parties this week at school. I promised I'd bake loads of cookies for Munchkin #2's class, so of course I'm going to bake now for Munchkin #1's class as well.

So......I better hop to it.

Peace.


(Last minute edit) - I just read this in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/opinion/28rich.html?em&exprod=myyahoo This is certainly interesting reading.

Tourists and Sheikhs

I am having a rather strange week. First, my vehicle of choice is in the shop getting the all important A/C fixed. Second, it's crazy being without a vehicle.

And, now for the rest of the story......

I had to make a trip into Dubai the other day. It's a long story, but Munchkin #1 was with me. He had school work to do, so at one point we plopped down at a Starbucks's for a snack for him and a coffee for me. Well, a family visiting from across the Gulf (they would call it Persian) wanted to take a family picture with us in it. Hunh? I'm an ex-pat! My son is an ex-pat! We dress like ex-pats (that day was 'business casual'). Again, hunh? An obviously Emirati gentleman watched the whole thing. I think he was bothered that these people were wanting to take our picture (it's VERY rude to photograph Emiraties without their permission). He truly seemed ready to leap up to help, and he looked at that family with a rather angry expression. I think it was harmless and the whole thing was very strange. The whole thing was so fast I couldn't have done anything about it. I only hope and pray that no mischief was meant. I have never taken a picture of someone I didn't know unless it was from afar and there was no way of identifying who was actually in the photo. It just feels so invasive. So does this mean that we now look so 'at home' in this part of the world that we have become part of the 'local' color? Interesting thought....hmm....

Not a few hours later, we were driving through Dubai when we saw a white Mercedes SUV with antennas on top. You'll never guess what the license plate number was - yup - Dubai 1. As far as we know, the only person in Dubai to ever drive with that license plate number is HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai (my truly sincere apologies if I have typed that out incorrectly). It was a total hoot watching the cars on the road watch that white Mercedes. Everyone was slowing down trying to get a look at who was driving.

Hope your day is interesting.

Peace.

Laundry and random stuff

I loved this camel. As I was taking this picture, she was constantly being petted by children. She kept making this funny 'growling/grunting' sound. I have no idea what those sounds meant, but I think she was wishing for a bit more peace!



Today has been a serious laundry day in our house. After coming back from an overnight desert safari, we are still washing out sand. The munchkins are having a brief respite from school. I'm watching Munchkin #2's asthma closely, so I'm happy to have her home. In the meantime, the munchkins have the music blaring and are working on their bedrooms. We recently purchased wooden shelf sets for their bedrooms, and the munchkins are happily filling the new space.



I can't wait until Cousin JA comes to visit us. We have so many places to take her! Maybe she'll even get to meet this camel!



Peace.

What a beautiful world we live in

I'm physically exhausted after spending the night in the desert with a massive group of kids ages 10-12 (my Munchkin #1 among them), but I'm feeling spiritually refreshed. It does me good to get out of the city from time to time. I so loved to watch the camels wandering loose everywhere. They make funny noises, but they are so very tranquil to watch plodding along. Truly magical stuff.

Upon coming back to the 'real world', I learned that the United States has passed the health care bill. How will this effect the American people? Only time will tell. What blew my mind as I was watching American news on the television this morning was the level of ugliness being displayed. I saw on one program African American politicians enduring racial slurs as they walked into a government building. I also saw another politician (I believe the story said he 'prefers men' - sorry don't wish to use the proper words for fear of being censored by computer) being spit upon by someone. Are other politicians dealing with these types of hateful things? Or are racist ideologies rising to the forefront?

Upon watching a second American news program (I believe it was PBS's NewsHour?), a lady commentator said that those Americans currently paying for health coverage may end up paying more for that same coverage. Ok. Well, that's the problem then. One, it sounds like nobody really knows what this law is going to do - no matter how much they think they know. And two, people are scared. They are scared that they will no longer be able to afford their current insurance which is a very valid concern. But, because of fear, we are seeing ugliness rise.

I have seen, especially living in the region in which I currently find myself, if people are busy fighting and being ugly, then the real work can't be done. When I'm in my vehicle of choice taking munchkins to school in the morning, I see people really pushing and shoving to jump the que in the lines of traffic. This lane jumping only serves to slow traffic down even more. If everyone would just be calm and patient, they would realize that we're all in it together and we're all gonna get where we need to go if we'd be patient.

I truly believe that America has some of the best healthcare available on the planet. But, it is so amazing, so tops, that many Americans simply can not afford it. It's a serious problem. But, racism, spitting and name calling are not the answers.

Peace.

Sunset in the desert

I just spent my first night out camping in the desert. Totally awesome experience. I'm WAY too tired to type more, but I had to get this picture posted.

Peace.

Tunic tops anyone?

Had a great day today! I needed/wanted to go downtown to have a Pakistani top 'reproduced'. The top is a fave of mine. It was made for me by my good buddy B.H. when she went to Pakistan a few years back. It's nice looking, very comfortable, very washable and appropriately modest for this region. I rang up a lady I had met briefly from my favourite place of prayer, and she went with me on the search for a tailors. We had a fun time exploring around together.

The tailors I chose is one where a friend of mine had been before to have a tablecloth made. It is a tiny little place down a side path (almost feels like an alley in a Harry Potter book). The downstairs room is smaller then my current bathroom. The men who sew are upstairs and you can hear the 'foot powered' machines working above. The place was packed with women from all over the world wanting to have garments made. Is the place a 'sweat shop'? I do not know. It is certainly an interesting question. But, it is air conditioned and it does not have a bad odor. Some of the men who sew sit around the door and do hand stitching while watching and chatting with the ladies as they come through. It all feels rather jovial. I can only hope that the men who work there are paid a fair wage.

Today's snap is an anemone I came across snorkeling last weekend. If you brush against them too roughly, they pull themselves down into their holes.

Peace.

Waking Up

One of our favorite ways to wake up Munchkin #1 on the days we go to our favorite place of prayer, is to grab one of his guinea pigs (JP is featured today!) and stick it in Munchkin #1's bed. Sometimes, Munchkin #1 doesn't wake-up, and we find JP curled up asleep under the covers next to the munchkin! (Mum - notice the large stuffed toy wolf next to Munchkin #1? He LOVES that toy!)

Most mornings, the only reason I'm able to roll out of bed is because I have something that requires my immediate attention (packing lunch boxes, driving kids to school, going to favorite place of prayer etc...). When I have a day off from the regular routine, I find myself still snoozing happily at 10:30 in the morning! It seems like as soon as I have a break, my body goes into sloth mode.

I think this can happen in other aspects of our lives as well. For me, I've been asleep, spiritually speaking, for a few years now. When we moved away from our home country, I found myself shifting certain aspects of my life to the back burner on the cook top. Now, those same aspects are being thrust to the forefront again. It feels like I'm waking up from a long sleep. As I open my eyes again and have a good look at what's around me, I'm just not sure what this morning is going to bring. But, I know it certainly will not be boring!

I better go grab another coffee just in case.

Peace.

Recess and Fever

I loved this snap. There's just something so pleasant to me about that oldish looking 'brick' building on the water front. It really was an interesting place to take a walk. Mum, when you come see me again, I'll take you there.

Munchkin #1 is home today from school with a fever and sore throat, poor kid. I was supposed to go with Munchkin #2 on her class's field trip today. I'm glad they had plenty of parents. I felt so bad I had to back out at the last minute.

I read an article just now in the New York Times this morning that bothered me:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/education/15recess.html?pagewanted=1&exprod=myyahoo

Basically, it's about providing structured recesses for elementary students and making the structured activities mandatory. What bothered me is the 'how' the money is being spent. IF these schools have, basically, only limited paved space for play, then I can see how structure is helpful. But, what I think this story really shows some of the problems in working in some schools. According to the article, it costs $23,500 U.S. per year for one of these programs on one campus. That would buy some nice playground equipment. But, say you even had room for that equipment; would the students take care of it? Where my kids attend school, they have a variety of places to play outside - one of the best school playgrounds I've ever seen. Do they get hurt sometimes? Yes. But, they have the space to play as they choose. However, it only remains a nice playground because the kids, for the most part, take care of the equipment, and there is money to fix it should something need to be replaced or repaired.

I'm glad the kids in this news article get to play, but it makes me so sad to see kids who may not have any access to open play spaces. It also makes me wonder if open safe places for kids to play are linked to socioeconomic situation. I mean if you are 'working poor' then do your kids have the play spaces that say 'upper middle class' kids have? There are parks where we live, but the really nice ones (ie they are the cleanest) are in the compounds and/or are totally private - ie residents only kind of spaces.

Munchkin #2's field trip today includes a picnic at the beach. My family is truly blessed.

Peace.

Souq anyone?

I've recently had the opportunity to explore some older shopping areas in the region. I LOVE old souqs. They are such tremendously good fun! If you're not afraid to negotiate prices, you can get good deals. I can't wait to go back and buy a few new kurtas (tunic style tops).

Today's snap is of an old restored windtower. Windtowers work like natural air conditioning. Cool air is funneled down inside the building forcing the warmer air out. They work REALLY well, and a room cooled with one of these is absolutely delicious to sit in.

I'm excited. It's looking like I might get to spend some more time in Muscat, Oman some time in the next few weeks. If I get to go into Muscat, I will certainly be posting pictures.

This morning I had a lovely breakfast with a lady I know (and whom my parents know) and her sister from the home country. Mum and Dad: Please tell her again how much I appreciated the sandal wood! I most certainly will be enjoying it for quite some time to come! I think I'm going to make little 'sachets' out of it to scent my closet and linen cupboard and then I'll use it like incense when it gets a bit dusty. Many many thanks. This lady and her sister seem to be having a wonderful time exploring this area. I'm so very happy they are having a great time. Mum, you gotta come visit me again!!!!!! I have so many new places to take you!!!!!! If only we could get Dad on the plane! Mum, you gotta come back with me after our Winter visit this coming year!

Peace.

Dust, depression and pastries

I'm heading for the home country in April - just me, no husband, no munchkins. We are selling our 'primary home' in the home country. As part of selling, I must get rid of VOLUMES of stuff. Not to mention, we have amazing friends near our 'primary home.' It's time to sell, but I'm still totally depressed about the whole thing.

It was cool and very foggy here this morning. Now, the weather forecast is 'wide spread dust'. Yuck. I can barely see buildings just a short distance from mine. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

But....I had to go to the grocery store. They had very fresh almond croissants at the bakery counter - my absolute fave! I'm snarfing one now along with a nice steaming cup of coffee.

Maybe I can upgrade to business class for the trip back to the home country in April - 'always look on the bright side of life'.

Peace.

A Peaceful Day

(Today's snap I took on a weekend trip a while back.)

At least where I am, today was a peaceful day. Munchkin #1 is about to begin his afternoon session of his sport of choice. Munchkin #2 is at a playdate over at a friend's house. The friend's family trains falcons for 'sport'.

This morning, I worked out, cleaned my kitchen, vacuumed the flat and mopped. A dear friend, I'll call her B, came over with her 3 week old son. Her mini-munchkin was sound asleep, so we took him with us for a walk and coffee. He slept the whole time B and I were out and about. We finished the afternoon with a quiet chat at my flat.

Upon picking my munchkins up from school, I sat at the school and chatted with another good friend while munchkins did homework - a very pleasant way to spend 45 minutes!

And now, I'm sitting in a cafe wasting a bit of time on my computer....

It's not an exciting life some days, but I'm very thankful for my peaceful existence. Being an ex-pat can be very lonely at times. We live isolated and far away from family and life-long friends. We deal with things in our day to day lives that would stress out many people. It's a huge blessing to have a peaceful day that is quiet, productive and filled with laughter and love. But, that would be a blessing anywhere.

Peace.

Fishy and foreign fun

Check this out:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124361294&ft=1&f=1001 That is like one way cool fish!

I went to the gym this morning for a bit of a workout. While I bicycle/treadmill or whatever, I wear headphones that allow me to hear the different televisions that are up in the gym. In addition to my usual diet of CNN and BBC news, I watched Chinese music videos, a unique to Western viewers commercial, and a Russian game show. Very interesting stuff.

The music videos from China all contained a Chinese woman with hair dyed brown/blond as the main 'lady' in them. Why the big deal with light colored hair? The women in the videos were naturally pretty, why did they have to so dramatically change their hair color? What kind of a message does that send out to Chinese girls?

The unique commercial was for a face lightening cream for women. Yes, a face cream to make a woman's face skin lighter. A lady of Arab descent (I think anyway) sits down to have her portrait painted by a cute guy of Arab descent (I think anyway). Over the course of the portrait being painted, the lady is using the face cream and the guy keeps having to change to color of her face in the portrait. By the end of the commercial, the portrait's skin (and kinda the lady's) are a totally different color (ie very Caucasian looking), and the cute guy offers the girl a HUGE diamond engagement ring. Again, what kind of a message does this send to women and young girls? And, just think about this, women in the West get skin cancer from baking themselves in the sun to DARKEN their skin. Can't we just be happy in the skin we're in?

And, last but not least, we come to the Russian game show. The audience was very close to the stage. The contestants sat at a huge table that was a giant wheel. The wheel/table was piled high with yummy looking real food. Occasionally, the people at the table would solve some kind of word puzzle with a pretty lady flipping the letters over up on a big board. The gave somebody in the audience a red microwave (just handed it to them - no box or anything - just a microwave). There was a song and dance number up on the stage. Sometimes, the contestants would sing. There was a cute little girl who stood at the table for a while. She was given a large very pretty very fancy doll. Occasionally the host would dance and enjoy the song routines and drink a cup of tea. I so didn't get this show.

Peace.

A day in the life of.....

Ok. Here's a typical weekend day. Are you ready? Do you think you can handle the massive heart pounding excitement? If so, read on....

Slept in this morning - pure bliss. The husband made a bit of fried meaty hot breakfast (pre-flavoured with maple syrup - oh yeah...). We all got dressed in nice clothes and headed for our place of prayer. This morning I wore a very comfortable but colorful kurta (navy blue and hot pink with embroidery and beadwork), blue jeans, and pink blingy sandals that matched my kurta. There was a jumble sale going on to raise money for government approved charities. Munchkin #1 scored about 4 Lego sets (2 were Star Wars), and Munchkin #2 scored a Polly Pocket set and 3 new Polly dolls. Needless to say, my purse had a touch less money in it when we left!

After leaving our place of prayer, we headed for a local shopping mall. I had seen an AWESOME bookcase for a really great price yesterday. I wanted the husband to see it before I laid down the cash. He loved it. It'll be delivered tomorrow morning (enshallah). It's going in the reading corner of our family room.

Next in this thrilling day, we needed food. We headed for the mall's food court. Munchkin #2 had Italian (she's getting some wheat now), Munchkin #1 had a nice big Subway, the Husband had some disgusting American hamburger (truly, totally gross. Dripping with grease...yuck). I had Lebanese - shish taook (grilled chicken kabab), hommous, and flat bread. Yum, yum, yum.

Once we all had full tummies, it was time to brave the grocery store. The produce area is the most interesting on a weekend. People do not really wait in an orderly fashion to have their veg weighed and priced. They jostle and push and shove. Today, I had one guy shove in front of me and then try to take my cucumbers! I said, "Hey those are mine!" His reply, "No they are mine." The lady behind me, British, proclaimed to the man, "You jumped the queue and now you're trying to take her vegetables!" He left in a hurry. Really, just a typical weekend grocery store outing. Never thought I'd holler at a strange man for trying to take veg from me in a grocery store. Yes, this is an interesting place.

Now, we are comfortably home. I've had a cup of coffee and am currently fighting with my printer to print my son's photos he took for his science project. The husband is taking a nap, Munchkin #2 is playing in her room with a movie running on the kids' laptop, and Munchkin #1 is busy playing with Lego.

Maybe I should just go for a walk on the beach?