Vehicles and being a 'high maintenance' woman

Well, I am officially a high maintenance woman. No, I don't get my nails done. I think my last trip to the salon to get my hair done was some time last August. Makeup? I wonder if I still own any that isn't dried up and funny smelling? But.....I now own two vehicles (the husband drives a company car). We bought the second 4X4 last night. {Doing the little happy dance}

That's right....I am a mum with two vehicles. In a land of high maintenance women who would make any 'junior leaguer' question whether or not if she really is as cool as she thinks she is.....the no make-up wearing, scruffy hair, un-manicured mum has two vehicles. Both have excellent 4 wheel drive. A good girl friend of mine here told me, "You will be the only woman in the country driving that type of vehicle." Yup, I am high maintance of a very unusual variety. I am already dreaming of cramming the back end of the new vehicle with kayaking and snorkel gear. Oh yeah...... My toys are expensive...... And we won't even talk about the tree farming hobby.....

Attention women who think they are high maintenance! I am your worst nightmare. I have a nice looking husband, great munchkins, a massive villa, money in the bank, I am educated, I speak my mind, I refuse to hire a housekeeper (filth rules!), I know how to use a chain saw and I've probably sat next to you at a formal dress fundraising event. That table you sat at during the big fancy dinner for your husband's work? Yes, that was me next to you. I am the girl you made fun of in school for being a 'nerd'. To quote MC Hammer, "Can't touch this!"

Peace :)

Full of hope

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqjHMYKNQnM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfJl7u9zABk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EhEh1hRtdY

A good friend sent me these links. Please watch them in order. This is an extended interview with an Anglican clergyman, Canon Andrew White. I have had the distinct honor and pleasure of meeting with this gentleman on more than one occasion (Mum - the pink scarf I gave you? It was made by ladies in his church. I purchased (ie gave a donation) it from Canon White at a meeting.)

I dearly love living in the Middle East. Some days, I forget that. My cell phone is broken, my daughter is struggling with living with rheumatoid arthritis, my husband is 'forcing' me to buy a bigger car that I don't really look forward to driving. Wow, I sound like such a whiner.

The deep reality is I love the 'work' I am doing here. It is very small in the over-all spectrum of things. But, I loved this interview I linked to in this post because Canon White speaks about 'love'. You've got to love people. You've got to show people love.

Let's look at my 'whines' - My cell phone is either going to be fixed or I'll buy another one. Grace is being given freely to Munchkin #2 - she is strong and courageous. I am amazed at her 'toughness'. Meds and doctors have been made easily available to her. My husband loves me and the munchkins so very much that he wants us to drive in a safer bigger vehicle.

As various opportunities arise for interacting with others from so many different backgrounds and cultures, I must always remember love and to show that love. I need to remember why I do what I do here - I am shown so much love that I must turn around and share that with others. Period. Full stop.

Continuing with 'full of hope' - Munchkin #1 has been invited to participate in a special event this weekend in his sport of choice. We're making a weekend of it and staying at a hotel. I'm so very much looking forward to a Friday evening meal of some seriously yummy kebabs and mutter paneer! I am very proud of my Munchkin #1 - he's kind, intelligent and fiercly loyal to those he loves.

Well, I am now off to a lunch meeting.

Peace.

PS I just read this post - had to share it. Courageous writing in my opinion.
http://susanalshahri.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-take-on-polygamy.html

Lots of stuff to do and no time - as usual.....

First, I'd like to begin by asking you to read this:
http://susanalshari.blogspot.com/2012/01/things-we-dont-talk-about.html

The above is a lovely little blog that I enjoy reading from time to time. I will add that I too am not wishing to insult any government or anything, but only to bring to light something that I see many expatriates participating in.

I hear many ex-pat women speaking about 'their maids' like they are speaking about breeds of dogs. "Oh, it so much better to have an Ethiopian. I had a Sri Lankan once....blah blah blah....." You get the picture. And, I know it's not just me. A lady I am acquainted with just moved here from the home country only a few weeks ago. She told me, "I couldn't believe how our relocation agent {a fellow ex-pat} was speaking about her housekeeper. She acted like she was speaking about a dog."

My husband asked me the other day if I wanted to hire a cleaning service to help with floors and bathrooms here at our home. What? Really? It would be so very very nice to hire someone to help out around this place, but how can we? Even if we hire a cleaning service, how do I know for sure that those ladies are being paid a fair wage, that no one has taken their passports away from them, that they are treated well by the company they work for? Many times, the women who work for the cleaning companies speak very little English. So, we will continue to live with slightly dusty floors and a few dirty dishes in the sink. {Yeah, yeah....get off the computer....but blogging is very therapeutic for me}

On to other subjects....

The husband has returned from his most recent business trip. Thus, it is time to discuss the whole new vehicle thing. I saw a horrific accident on my way home from the morning school run today. I couldn't see how many smashed cars (I didn't want to rubber neck), but there were 3 ambulances and more police cars than I could count quickly. Yes, it is probably time for a bigger/safer vehicle especially since we are likely here for the long haul. But, if you read my most recent post before this one, you'll know that the buying of the vehicle is up to the husband. I'm done. Either that, or I need to invest in a punching bag.

And yet another subject.....

Munchkin #2 went back to her sport of choice last night. She seemed to do ok thanks to the current arthritis meds she is taking. We're all holding our breath hoping she can stay in the sport she loves.

Peace.

Buying a vehicle

The husband wants me in a bigger vehicle. So, I have started looking at new vehicles.

I called the local dealer. "I want to buy this vehicle on your website. What do you have in stock?" Dealer replies,"None in stock until May. Can only be registered to a 'local' or to a company. Madam, it only has 5 speed manual transmission so would not be good for you." What the$&@?! This is why the husband gets to buy the car. I spend 10 minutes talking to the dealer and I am ready to punch a wall. So, I say to the dealer, "So typical here. Money to spend right now, and nothing to buy. And I have driven many of these types of vehicles before. And I currently drive a 6 speed manual. I guess we can't do any business." (Insert wanted wall punch). Blogging also helps.

You don't know how badly I wanted to tell the guy, "I bet you don't even know how to back the thing up to trailer a large boat. I used to get paid to do that. What do you drive? I bet it is an old Yugo from like 1992.

I have a bit of a temper. Can you tell?

Peace.