Greetings!
I'm showing a new buddy how to blog so you all get to read this test page I put together for her!
Peace.
It’s here!! E-book Hospice Whispers: Stories of Life
11 years ago
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Waiting, waiting, waiting......
It's been an awesome and busy weekend. I'm totally in need of sleep, but I just had to share a quit bit.
Munchkin #2 went to a birthday party today. So...since we had to be out in all the weekend craziness, we thought we'd get some errands done.
We needed to get Munchkin #1 some new sports shoes (and yes, they are up to Grandpa's shoe size), I needed some undergarments, and we needed to pay our telecommunications bill. Because of how billing works (it's a very long story), it needs to be paid in person and preferrably with cash.
So....the husband bravely offers to go take care of the bill freeing Munchkin #1 and I to go do the shopping. Munchkin #1 and I go through numerous shops finally finding the shoes and my necessary item. We phoned the husband; he was still waiting. So....we decided to go wait with him.
Since it was now way past lunch time, Munchkin #1 and I stopped at a local market, grabbed a hot pie (chicken and mushroom, yummy), some chocolate milk and some juice. We then proceed to the husband. The husband is very thankful for the food. The place where we needed to pay the bill was very shiny and pretty. But, the people standing around waiting (at least 20) didn't look so shiny and pretty. They looked frustrated and tired - not exactly happy customers. Sigh...
And....drum roll please.....after the husband paitently waited for just over 2 hours, he got to pay the bill and take care of a bit of other business there. The upside was the lady at the counter was very helpful and friendly. As we left (my husband had enjoyed some friendly chat with a few of the folks also waiting), we proclaimed with big smiles to those still waiting, "There is hope!"
Never a dull moment!
Peace.
Munchkin #2 went to a birthday party today. So...since we had to be out in all the weekend craziness, we thought we'd get some errands done.
We needed to get Munchkin #1 some new sports shoes (and yes, they are up to Grandpa's shoe size), I needed some undergarments, and we needed to pay our telecommunications bill. Because of how billing works (it's a very long story), it needs to be paid in person and preferrably with cash.
So....the husband bravely offers to go take care of the bill freeing Munchkin #1 and I to go do the shopping. Munchkin #1 and I go through numerous shops finally finding the shoes and my necessary item. We phoned the husband; he was still waiting. So....we decided to go wait with him.
Since it was now way past lunch time, Munchkin #1 and I stopped at a local market, grabbed a hot pie (chicken and mushroom, yummy), some chocolate milk and some juice. We then proceed to the husband. The husband is very thankful for the food. The place where we needed to pay the bill was very shiny and pretty. But, the people standing around waiting (at least 20) didn't look so shiny and pretty. They looked frustrated and tired - not exactly happy customers. Sigh...
And....drum roll please.....after the husband paitently waited for just over 2 hours, he got to pay the bill and take care of a bit of other business there. The upside was the lady at the counter was very helpful and friendly. As we left (my husband had enjoyed some friendly chat with a few of the folks also waiting), we proclaimed with big smiles to those still waiting, "There is hope!"
Never a dull moment!
Peace.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Bullying
This post has almost nothing to do with life in the Middle East. But, I really wanted to write something on this topic.
There's a lot of press coming out of the States right now about bullying in schools. I think there's always been bullying in schools. But, with all the various ways humans have of communicating now, we all are quickly aware of bad things that happen half a world away.
When I was still a student (year 7 or 8?), we had tremendous freedom to roam about at lunch. What made it 'free' was that there never were any teachers around. It was prime time for bullies.
As a student, I was a 'nerd' - no surprises there. I learned to be proud of my nerd status. I made awesome grades in the hardest classes. I knew deep down inside that I was really going to do something with my life. I got to a point where I really didn't give a $%&# what the 'popular kids' thought. The biggest bullies were the kids with the most money and the best looks. They were 'popular'. On the bus headed home from school (year 8), there was a big group of them who gathered at the back of the bus. One boy was kind of the leader of the pack. He looked at me one day and said, "You're such a snob. You never talk to anybody." My response? Well.....my response was, "No, I do talk to people. I just don't talk to you because you are so mean." After that, he left me alone until our year 11 English class. We had to read a poem we wrote ourselves with music playing in the background. He laughed and started making jokes about the music I chose. Many people in the class joined him then in laughing and making fun of me. The ironic part was that I made an A on my presentation; I think he made a B on his. Later, after beginning my first year at university, I was invited to return to my old school to speak with a few classes about university life. Guess who was also there? Yup, that same guy. I spoke first. I talked about how you have to work hard and really focus. He talked about how even though you try to focus and work hard, everyone ends up going to drinking parties. I heard he's a lawyer now - and a good one at that. You know what? I don't know if he ever saw himself as a bully.
Growing up, there were two types of bullies. There were the 'social' bullies and there were the 'criminal type' bullies. The social bullies said nasty things, made fun of people and excluded folks. The 'criminal type' were the really frightening ones.
As a student, I saw bullying that was horrifying. What makes it still so awful is that there were so many of us who felt so very powerless to stop it. We were afraid. When one of my friends was attacked in the boys' bathroom (the bullies ripped his shirt into shreds with a knife while he was wearing it), I was terrified. He was a big guy!
Again, around years 7 and 8, I remember a huge group of guys who would grab a helpless boy and lift him up off the ground (this happened during the lunch period). They would spread his legs and threaten to ram him up against the hard metal poles that held up the shade over the school walkways. I will never forget the screams of terror. Looking back, I so wish I had known what to do at the time. I was terrified into paralysis. After a few days, teachers/head master etc found out and put a stop to it. But, I think it finally stopped only when they heard the screams and commotion. I don't think a single student (out of a few hundred) told an adult what was happening. If there were students who told an adult, I applaud them for their courage.
Living where we live, I've actually had folks who work with kids tell me that bullying can be a cultural thing. That a kid who is raised by parents from 'such and such' culture are raised to be pushy and fight. I'm sorry. That's just not so. I don't think bullying is 'cultural'. I think it's universal. It's a not a cultural issue; it's a humanity issue.
Bad bullies have always been around. I've even seen nasty girl bullies. But if folks make a choice as a society that we are not going to put up with this kind of behaviour, then think about how different a lot of childhoods are going to be. And then, dare to dream. Think about how different the world would be.
Peace.
There's a lot of press coming out of the States right now about bullying in schools. I think there's always been bullying in schools. But, with all the various ways humans have of communicating now, we all are quickly aware of bad things that happen half a world away.
When I was still a student (year 7 or 8?), we had tremendous freedom to roam about at lunch. What made it 'free' was that there never were any teachers around. It was prime time for bullies.
As a student, I was a 'nerd' - no surprises there. I learned to be proud of my nerd status. I made awesome grades in the hardest classes. I knew deep down inside that I was really going to do something with my life. I got to a point where I really didn't give a $%&# what the 'popular kids' thought. The biggest bullies were the kids with the most money and the best looks. They were 'popular'. On the bus headed home from school (year 8), there was a big group of them who gathered at the back of the bus. One boy was kind of the leader of the pack. He looked at me one day and said, "You're such a snob. You never talk to anybody." My response? Well.....my response was, "No, I do talk to people. I just don't talk to you because you are so mean." After that, he left me alone until our year 11 English class. We had to read a poem we wrote ourselves with music playing in the background. He laughed and started making jokes about the music I chose. Many people in the class joined him then in laughing and making fun of me. The ironic part was that I made an A on my presentation; I think he made a B on his. Later, after beginning my first year at university, I was invited to return to my old school to speak with a few classes about university life. Guess who was also there? Yup, that same guy. I spoke first. I talked about how you have to work hard and really focus. He talked about how even though you try to focus and work hard, everyone ends up going to drinking parties. I heard he's a lawyer now - and a good one at that. You know what? I don't know if he ever saw himself as a bully.
Growing up, there were two types of bullies. There were the 'social' bullies and there were the 'criminal type' bullies. The social bullies said nasty things, made fun of people and excluded folks. The 'criminal type' were the really frightening ones.
As a student, I saw bullying that was horrifying. What makes it still so awful is that there were so many of us who felt so very powerless to stop it. We were afraid. When one of my friends was attacked in the boys' bathroom (the bullies ripped his shirt into shreds with a knife while he was wearing it), I was terrified. He was a big guy!
Again, around years 7 and 8, I remember a huge group of guys who would grab a helpless boy and lift him up off the ground (this happened during the lunch period). They would spread his legs and threaten to ram him up against the hard metal poles that held up the shade over the school walkways. I will never forget the screams of terror. Looking back, I so wish I had known what to do at the time. I was terrified into paralysis. After a few days, teachers/head master etc found out and put a stop to it. But, I think it finally stopped only when they heard the screams and commotion. I don't think a single student (out of a few hundred) told an adult what was happening. If there were students who told an adult, I applaud them for their courage.
Living where we live, I've actually had folks who work with kids tell me that bullying can be a cultural thing. That a kid who is raised by parents from 'such and such' culture are raised to be pushy and fight. I'm sorry. That's just not so. I don't think bullying is 'cultural'. I think it's universal. It's a not a cultural issue; it's a humanity issue.
Bad bullies have always been around. I've even seen nasty girl bullies. But if folks make a choice as a society that we are not going to put up with this kind of behaviour, then think about how different a lot of childhoods are going to be. And then, dare to dream. Think about how different the world would be.
Peace.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I want a dog!!!!!!!!!!
Ok. I'm feeling totally selfish. I really really want a dog. But, we can't have a dog where we live. It just wouldn't work, and it wouldn't be fair to the dog. But, I keep dreaming about a dog. For now, I'll need to be happy with the hamster and the guinea pigs.
At least I get to spend quality time with beautiful fish from time to time.
Peace.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Waiting.......
I dearly love this type of fish. The seem to almost glow underwater. You can just get a hint of the seemingly iridescent yellow along their dorsal and caudal fins. It is an Arabian Butterfly fish. There are only a few places on the planet that have them; I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to swim with them. The wrasse behind it was also spectacular. We had an awesome weekend. But...when we got home, Munchkin #2 had a tummy bug for about 24 hours. I think I am now fighting that same tummy bug, but at least I only have half the symptoms. I hate sitting around waiting for the tummy bug to finish its course.
I hate waiting, the vast majority of the time. Sometimes, waiting is relaxing. For instance, when I am waiting on munchkins and I can sit quietly and read the paper, maybe even enjoy a coffee. But, the rest of the time, I really dislike it.
It is so hard to plan, to go on about life, when one is waiting on others' decisions. Decisions that will affect everyone/everything around you. I try to keep going. I serve/volunteer. I do stuff for my family. I keep moving. I have days, like this past weekend, that I really enjoy being an expat. And then, I have days where I really just want to see the trees, smell the rain and be home.
I just have to keep reminding myself that, ultimately, I am not in charge. I may want to be in charge, but I'm not. So....I just keep moving.
Peace.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Green Sea Turtle Video
Totally awesome little weekend getaway. Getting to swim again with a green sea turtle was such a rush!
Peace.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Bad IP....Rippers....Mexico
Mexico, Distrito Federal, MexicoAxtel, S.a. De C.v. (189.210.4.82)
In other words, the IP address 198.210.4.82 has accessed this blog using Rippers.
If you are stealing content, then what you are doing is illegal. If you use Rippers to access my blog, then I publish your data in such a way so as to maximize the number of hits my blog gets in a google search. That way, the whole world will know what you are doing.
Knowledge is power.
In other words, the IP address 198.210.4.82 has accessed this blog using Rippers.
If you are stealing content, then what you are doing is illegal. If you use Rippers to access my blog, then I publish your data in such a way so as to maximize the number of hits my blog gets in a google search. That way, the whole world will know what you are doing.
Knowledge is power.
Monday, October 4, 2010
What do you do with the information?
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/us-issues-travel-alert-europe-threat-terror-attacks/story?id=11787546&page=2
Ok. So....what am I supposed to do with this information? Is this only for Americans? Or should others sit up and take note? Do I worry about people I know living in Paris? Do I think about canceling plans to visit the home country? Do I beg the husband to not travel on business? NO, of course not. You can't live in fear. If you're fearful, you're not going to truly live. So, I ask the question....what is a traveler supposed to do with this information?
I live outside my home country. For an ex-pat, international travel is just a normal part of life. My passport actually ran out of space for 'stamps'. I read/hear that I should 'stay vigilant'. I just heard on CNN that travelers should stay 'extra vigilant'. Hunh? What? When I stroll through the souqs, I'm vigilant. I keep my handbag strapped across my body; I don't wear flashy jewelry. I make sure I'm never followed. I do these things just because I can and they are easy things to do; I'm using common sense. I don't necessarily feel like I'm ever in any real danger. Now, if someone told me that something bad was going to happen in one of favorite shopping areas, yes, I would avoid that area. With shopping, we all have choices. But, for many of us - we have no choice with international travel. We want to go home. But then, we have to travel back for work, school....life.
When we travel, we work very hard to not look like tourists. We try to avoid flashy clothes, we stick to the same transportation locals use. I've never been on a 'tour bus'. But, we always do this. We don't want to be singled out by pick-pockets, petty thieves etc.... This is just common sense.
Frankly, I'm more likely to be in a bad car wreck (especially where I live!) than in some kind of vile attack.
Yup, going to keep on living.
Peace.
Ok. So....what am I supposed to do with this information? Is this only for Americans? Or should others sit up and take note? Do I worry about people I know living in Paris? Do I think about canceling plans to visit the home country? Do I beg the husband to not travel on business? NO, of course not. You can't live in fear. If you're fearful, you're not going to truly live. So, I ask the question....what is a traveler supposed to do with this information?
I live outside my home country. For an ex-pat, international travel is just a normal part of life. My passport actually ran out of space for 'stamps'. I read/hear that I should 'stay vigilant'. I just heard on CNN that travelers should stay 'extra vigilant'. Hunh? What? When I stroll through the souqs, I'm vigilant. I keep my handbag strapped across my body; I don't wear flashy jewelry. I make sure I'm never followed. I do these things just because I can and they are easy things to do; I'm using common sense. I don't necessarily feel like I'm ever in any real danger. Now, if someone told me that something bad was going to happen in one of favorite shopping areas, yes, I would avoid that area. With shopping, we all have choices. But, for many of us - we have no choice with international travel. We want to go home. But then, we have to travel back for work, school....life.
When we travel, we work very hard to not look like tourists. We try to avoid flashy clothes, we stick to the same transportation locals use. I've never been on a 'tour bus'. But, we always do this. We don't want to be singled out by pick-pockets, petty thieves etc.... This is just common sense.
Frankly, I'm more likely to be in a bad car wreck (especially where I live!) than in some kind of vile attack.
Yup, going to keep on living.
Peace.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Blah blah blah
I have so many days I just get so sick of all the 'blah blah blah' in the news. The news just never seems to change. So today, I'm not going to add to all that 'blah'. We went snorkeling this weekend. Not a 'massive' weekend trip or anything, but it certainly felt good to spend some time under the water. Today's photo is from this weekend. Note the cute little fish on the right-hand side of the photo.
Have a great week!
Peace.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
The Sun is out and the Dust is gone
Whew.....it's been a busy weekend.
The husband and I went to our favourite garden shop and bought two new plants. One is a spiky desert type thing for our patio, the other was labeled 'ficus hawaii', but I think it's a baby banyan tree. We cleaned about 8 months of accumulated dust off our patio, reshuffled stuff on the patio, and did a tidy-up job on all our plants. In our flat, we are up to 12 plants (most are rather large) and 4 on our patio. Being in the desert, it is so very helpful to the mental well-being to come in to a home loaded with fresh greenery that's real. And, we've made further progress on the doll house the family has been building for Munchkin #2. But, I've seen a few Star Wars action figures conducting maneuvers in and around it!
I've been super busy this week with my volunteer stuff. And, it's going to be another busy week this week. I can't believe all the meetings I'm having to go to! And, sadly, some of them feel so pointless. Sigh....at least I'm trying to do some good in this world.
Well, time to go wake the husband from his nap, grab the munchkins and head for the beach.
Peace.
The husband and I went to our favourite garden shop and bought two new plants. One is a spiky desert type thing for our patio, the other was labeled 'ficus hawaii', but I think it's a baby banyan tree. We cleaned about 8 months of accumulated dust off our patio, reshuffled stuff on the patio, and did a tidy-up job on all our plants. In our flat, we are up to 12 plants (most are rather large) and 4 on our patio. Being in the desert, it is so very helpful to the mental well-being to come in to a home loaded with fresh greenery that's real. And, we've made further progress on the doll house the family has been building for Munchkin #2. But, I've seen a few Star Wars action figures conducting maneuvers in and around it!
I've been super busy this week with my volunteer stuff. And, it's going to be another busy week this week. I can't believe all the meetings I'm having to go to! And, sadly, some of them feel so pointless. Sigh....at least I'm trying to do some good in this world.
Well, time to go wake the husband from his nap, grab the munchkins and head for the beach.
Peace.
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