'Local' News

I've been so busy this morning and yesterday evening, that I hadn't read the recent press.  Here's the latest that caught my attention:
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/29/world/meast/qatar-fire/index.html 

I used to live in an apartment block where the fire alarm went off all the time.  The munchkins were well trained on how to get out.  However, it went off so much (ie false alarms) that our practice was jump to leave but contact building security down the hall before running out in our pj's. 

The other day, I was about to enter a 'whatever' kind of building where I frequent one of their ground floor shops.  The fire alarm was going off.  Nobody did anything.  The restaurant was still packed with people, folks were walking in and out of the building.  Nothing unusual except for the very loud alarm going off.  The alarm quit.  We waited.  I didn't see smoke, I didn't smell smoke.  We waited some more.  Then, went inside.  False alarm.

Most houses I've been in here have no smoke detectors.

This horrid tragedy needs to be a wake-up call to all of us who reside in the region about fire safety.  My volunteering puts me in touch several times a year now with residents of Doha. Praying for all.

And if I ever hear anyone from 'the West' ever complain about having to comply with building codes/standards? Well....I'll be giving them a piece of my mind. 

Peace.

Summer Time

Well, summer is here.  And I love to gripe about the weather.  The current temperature is around 102F/39C.  It's hot outside.

The air conditioning maintenance guys were here a few days ago.  But....pigs are flying...they did a great job.  The munchkins' rooms are now like refrigerators - very cold. 

Our poor desert dog/saluki mix, Jesse, wants to spend more time outside in the heat.  She loves to lay on the hot bricks out in the sun.  This ice cold A/C is not her thing.  That would be kind of crazy - put a sweater on the dog so she's comfortable in the house.

As we reach the end of the school year and prepare to get on that plane to go 'home' for a few months, I always feel a bit odd.  I'm happy living here in the desert, I love this region, and we have many great friends here. But, there's just something about going 'home'. 

This year, we're all feeling a bit burned out.  I don't think it's where we're living.  It's just been a really crazy year.  But, we're here for the long haul, so I think it's seriously time for vacation.

Peace.

Feeling deeply frustrated about rheumatoid

I'm writing about all this for two reasons:
#1 It feels good to vent
#2 Maybe something somewhere in my/our story will help someone else.

So very frustrated.  Munchkin #2 had her worst headache yet this morning.  We made it out the front door and to school but never made it into the school.  She's now crashed out on the living room sofa snuggled up with a homemade heat pack and two fleece blankets.  The A/C is really cold when it's over 100F outside. 

She's taking 10mg of Methotrexate each week, up to 750mg of Naproxen each day as needed, and Cyproheptadine (I can't remember the dosage at the moment). 

It's frustrating because I have to fight with her to take the Cyproheptadine (which is for the headaches).  The neuro guy we saw here (who came across with a less than 0 bedside manner) thinks they are migraines.  The rheumy here thinks they are caused by the methotrexate.  I think they are totally 100% arthritis related because these headaches started about the same time her joint pains did 3 years ago.  And I've been saying that all along to all the docs!  But, never mind me, I'm just the mum.  I'm just the one taking care of  this child day in and day out.  What could I possibly know? 

So now, poor kid, is crashed out on the sofa and the worst bit is that she's missing two periods of Art class at school today.  Art is totally her fave subject next to math and she's missed art off and on for weeks because of doc appointment times.  But, I don't have the heart to wake her up.  She never ever sleeps during the day, so I know something is really not right. 

I called a good friend of mine here this morning.  She has Lupus which is in the same kind of disease family as rheumatoid.  I also should add that she has a successful career, a husband and two great kids - Lupus did not stand in her way.  I can always count on her to be 'real' with me.  She reminded me that we're almost ready to head to the home country for the summer where there is super support for diseases like this.  She also picked up on the fact that I have been totally alone in dealing with this for my kid.  There is basically zero support here for families of kids with rheumatological issues.  There is totally zero support for the kids.  My friend who has Lupus has lived here for two years yet has never been to a local doc; she does it all in the home country. 

I have seriously felt like moving back to the home country because of this.  There would be good to that because we'd have easy access to pediatric rheumatologists.  It would be bad because we'd lose our lovely private school.  Public schools back home can be totally utterly brutal to kids with any kind of medical anything.  The public schools are brutal about sticking labels on kids.  My friend tells me not to project; don't worry about possible future.  Just get through today.  Get through the week.  Get on that airplane.  Things always feel and look better after time in the home country.

Peace.

PS I have enabled comments for the first time.  But, I have to approve them before they will be published.

Rippers Again

This may just be an average reader, but the fact that they are using a VPN AND Rippers?  Not that there is anything wrong with using a VPN but....I don't know....looks potentially dodgy so here's the data:

Number of Entries:1


Entry Page Time:26 May 2012 11:17:41

Browser:Rippers

OS:Unknown

Resolution:Unknown Total Visits:1

Location:Absecon, New Jersey, United States

IP Address:Linode (173.255.228.68) [Label IP Address]

Referring URL:(No referring link)

Visit Page:

Rippers Browser

I was checking my stats for this blog when I came across the following info:

Number of Entries:2 (1 this visit)


Entry Page Time:24 May 2012 12:06:52

Browser:Rippers

OS:Unknown

Resolution:Unknown Total Visits:2

Location:Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

IP Address:The Procter And Gamble Company (137.183.232.24) [Label IP Address]

Referring URL:(No referring link)

Visit Page:
 
It is written at the top of this blog that if I think you are 'ripping' this site I will publish everything I can about your IP.  If you visit this site using a 'ripping' browser, I will publish it.  Period.  And, I get loads and loads of hits from people seaching about this stuff in Google. 
 
If you use a ripping type browser, read elsewhere.

CORRECTION TO ORIGINAL POST:
It seems that this software, Rippers, is frequently used by large companies to track and to cache what their employees are doing on the web.  So, my apologies if you (IP 137.183.232.24) are just a nice average reader.  But, if I think/suspect someone could be 'ripping' my blog, I will post about it.

Walking the Line

I feel living here that I am always balancing on a painted line.  If I stray from the line, I might find adventure or I might find trouble.  It can be hard to tell how to go.  Thank goodness for 'higher' guidance.

First, yes a bit on rheumatoid arthritis.  Yesterday, Munchkin #2 achieved a massive sports victory.  She was competing with other girls from this country and one of our neighboring countries.  It was a big competition.  She came home with three medals.  The last part of the competition, she had to wear wrist braces to physically hold her wrists up to what they needed  to do.  I know it hurt.  But, she did it anyway.  I'm not proud of her for the medals, but I am proud of her for sticking with something she loves when others have told her she'd probably have to give it up some day.  Well, it isn't some day yet.  You go, Girlfriend!

I found this news item that speaks to this:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/californian-jeffrey-gottfurcht-person-rheumatoid-arthritis-conquer-everest/story?id=13948597  Great story.  I also liked the videos along the left side on RA.  Very few people in this region know and understand this disease - especially in kids. 

Part of walking the line here is trying to figure out how to dress - especially if you are a woman.  Now, coming from 'the West' I do have times I am frustrated by this.  There is this idea that if a woman doesn't cover up than a man might think or do something bad and/or do something bad to that woman and thus it's the woman's fault. A very foreign concept to me. 

So, when we moved out here I was very worried about how I dressed.  What was appropriate?  How much should I cover? (Obviously, I don't live in Saudi).  I must admit, I still travel with a scarf in my car when I leave my usual city.  Not as a religious statement, but I have that scarf handy to cover my hair just so I don't look so unlike everyone else in case I have car trouble or something.

I found this article on CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/24/world/meast/uae-dress-code/index.html?hpt=hp_mid

I think this issue of women's dress is particularly acute in the UAE.  How does a modern country balance the influx of  expat workers (particularly the plane-loads of suddenly unemployed women/spouses with loads of money to spend in fancy shops), and European tourists with a conservative culture?  It must be intensely tricky.  Having spent time in Dubai, I'd also like to throw in that pic #6 was taken at Dubai Mall. 

As just an extra bit, I loved the following post.  The pictures are amazing.  No other commentary other than a great little read:
http://susiesbigadventure.blogspot.com/2012/05/old-church-in-jeddah.html 

Living in any country that is not 'your own' is always going to be an adventure in how to behave, how not to behave and knowing how to just walk the line.

Peace.

Gearing up

I am so ready to go home for the summer.  I went to the market today for bread, milk, kitty litter and hay for the guinea pigs (you know, the necessities) when my car thermometer read 112F.  When it's really really hot out it feels like it's hard to breathe.  It's a little like standing in front of a hot open oven or when you open a still running dishwasher - bam in your face hot air.  Yucko.....

We've been cleaning house and doing homework all day.  I think I've done 6 loads of laundry.  We have a beautiful forced air/hot air/vented dryer which is a hard core unusual luxury item here.  LOVE IT!!!!!  Otherwise, I could only do about two loads of laundry at time before the drying racks filled up.  The 'condensation' dryers they have here I really don't like.  Nothing like fluffy towels with a Bounce sheet.  Excellent......

The whole house is moving in the direction of summer.  Cleaning rooms, shoveling out closets, and making plans with family - all very important.  We still have a few more plane tickets to buy for summer travel, but we're almost totally done.  I keep thinking we're done, but more work looms before the summer party can begin.

The first morning we are home we're going to be up at the crack of dawn and head to our favourite all you can eat joint and snarf bacon, sausages, pancakes, biscuits, eggs, hash browns and still hot bottomless bowls of donuts.  Bring it on. 

We're gearing up.

Peace.

Homecountry Weather

Well.....

I'm very excited.  We changed around the husband's plane tickets home and now....we all get to spend a few  hours together in Paris en route to the home country. He's been there before and used the mass transit, so all in my little world will be well.

Just the other day, the temp here using my car's thermometer was 113F (that's 45C).  That's insanely hot.  You can't imagine how hot that feels.  Current temp at 'home'? High of 82F with a low of 57F and rain in about two days.  Can I go now? Please?

While I struggle to get Munchkin #1's Arabic language teacher at school to respond to my emails, it's cooking hot outside, and I have day dreams of moving back to the home country simply to have no more traffic to deal with, my parents are heading for their 'summer home' which happens to be my 'home home'.  Lucky buggers.

Peace.

Really? Really?

Yes, folks.  That's right.  I'm getting very political.  So, hang on to your socks or stop reading.  'Cause here it comes.

I am very concerned for the United States and what I see as its government gridlock.  I see so much coming out in the conservative press blaming President Obama for problems in the country? Really?  Seriously?  I don't think so.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/us/politics/tea-party-focus-turns-to-senate-and-shake-up.html

To quote from this recent article in the New York Times:
"But Mr. McConnell’s room to maneuver is shrinking with the rising calls against compromise and the diminishing ranks of Republican deal makers."  Yes folks.  That's right.  The Republicans - the more conservative Tea Party people - are causing grid lock.  The country can't function if the parties don't play nice with each other. 


Clearly, I've been reading the New York Times.  Here's the other bit:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/us/politics/romney-woos-evangelicals-treading-lightly-on-gay-marriage.html/

I find it very troubling to see a potential leader of a major democracy pander to a specific religious group - especially in the United States.  Enough said.

Peace.

RA drugs and other things

First, I'd like to begin with this sofa. It's color is called 'Blueberry'; the fabric is satin. It is a twin size sleeper (folds down kinda like a futon) AND once it is flat, you can fold up the head a little like a chaise lounge chair.  This is for Munchkin #2's room.  We paid around the equivalent of $230 US for it.  When I asked Munchkin #1 if he wanted one for his room, he looked at me like I was crazy.  He likes lots of extra space to set up his Lego sets to film his stop-motion animation movies.  He's even got a microphone stand to attach his camera to in order to turn it into a working boom cam.  And, joyous happiness....school is requiring him to have a kickin' awesome new laptop next year.  Which means better software, better graphics card, better movies.  (Sorry.....hopping down a bunny trail....la la la la!)

Ok.  There's way too much knocking around in my head for me to even begin writing about it, but I'm gonna try.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/health/panel-supports-arthritis-pill.html?_r=1&smid=fb-share

A very interesting article on a possible new arthritis drug. Really shows the risks of some of these medications.  At this point, the milder stuff is working for Munchkin #2, but she's now had to double her dosage back to where we started, 10mg Methotrexate.  The rheumatologist tried for a while to put her on 5mg, but it just didn't work.  Because of what the 10mg does to her bloodwork, she's supposed to take Folic Acid once a week.  But, even one little 4mg of Folic Acid is enough to counteract the 10mg Methotrexate and she has joint pain if she takes it.

On to other things.......

The temperature here is starting to do its march upwards.  When I left the villa this morning for the drive into school, the temp was a beautiful 81F.  After only 45 minutes, the temp was up to 96F at around 7:30am. Not a clue what the temp is currently, but I know that when I go outside to walk Jesse, the wind is hot.  A cool breeze would be delicious, but this breeze feels something like standing in front of a forced-air dryer vent that is desert scented instead of dryer sheet scented.

Next brain dump.....

It is utterly fascinating to me from a 'historian' point of view to read how people are talking about American politics on various on-line social media.  What I find particularly fascinating, is how some folks believe that current political happenings in the States point towards the Book of Revelation in the Bible.  Throughout the history of the Church, there have always been people who pointed to current events and thought, "This is what Revelation is talking about!"  Really really fascinating stuff. 

Well, I better get to doing laundry and other mummy type chores.  We've got a busy weekend coming.  We're hoping for a movie out and a run to a water park.  Oh yeah.....

Peace.

Oh yeah....one more thing....interesting piece if you've got the guts to read liberal media type stuff:
http://www.southernstudies.org/2012/05/what-happened-in-nc-lessons-from-the-amendment-battle.html

What to think? (Seriously offending stuff coming at ya)

IF YOU ARE A KID OR ARE EASILY OFFENDED, STOP READING THIS!

The munchkins and I listen to the radio every morning on the way into school.  Today, the forecast was actually for 'stifeling'. At 7am, the temperature was already at 95F. I'm just thankful that 'blowing dust' wasn't also a part of the forecast.

Now....I'd like to talk a bit about news I am seeing coming out of the United States. This is about the UNITED STATES not the Middle East. 

I am definitely a person of faith. If you regularly read this blog, then you know that. And, you can probably easily figure out what that particular faith is. 

Here's the news story:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/09/north-carolina-passes-amendment-1

What is mind-blowing to me is that this particular state already had a law that said gay people couldn't get married.  I just don't get why they would go to all this trouble and money spending on a constitutional amendment.  And....this constitutional amendment could end up hurting a lot of victims of domestic violence. Where is the compassion and love of all in that?  It's like there are people out there who think they can legislate someone's sexuality away.  At the end of the day, behind closed doors, people are going to be themselves no matter how much legislation gets written. For instance, even though there are many laws in one form or another that prohibit sex in automobiles, I wonder how many Americans have still had sex in an automobile?

Now, I'm really going to show my liberal stripes....get ready....here comes.....

It feels to me like this constitutional amendment thing is really about religion and how certain Christians feel about this issue.  Because evangelical Christian 'big names' were vocal and involved with this says that what this is really about is further blurring of the line the separates 'church and state'.  I really wonder how long it would take these 'big names' to scream, "Hey, separation of church and state!" if it were folks of a different religion forcing their values and ideas on them? For instance, "We need a constitutional amendment that women will be under male guardianship." (Oh but wait, they are already heading down that trail with changes in the credit law and the concept of 'Biblical' marriage.)  Or how about, "We need a constitutional amendment that eating beef and other animals is unethical." (No more Sunday afternoon fried chicken!  You'd have to go into a 'back room' to buy your pork!)  You get the idea? 

If the States is going to be true to it's core values of  "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,"  then folks need to realize that part of that is protecting EVERYBODY not just the folks you like or agree with. 

At the end of the day, this is an amendment that says loud and clear, "We don't love you.  We don't like you."  Well, you 'big named' and 'big name' followers, you don't speak for me.

Peace.

Feeling hot hot hot!

Yes, it's starting to cook outside.  After a visit to a hotel we totally love, Munchkin #1 had bedbug bites, and I killed one of the critters as it crawled away from his bed engorged with blood.  Gross.  Well....there had been a stuffed animal toy or two on the bed.  I bagged them and stuffed them in the freezer for four weeks.  Now that weather is nice and hot, we put the toys in a black plastic bag and laid them out in the sun to cook hopefully frying the last of any possible buggy eggs.  Cheers to the hot weather! (?)

I needed to make a run today to my favorite grocery store. It's kinda pricey, but they have the best bread in town along with harder to find items.  Besides the bakery section, the best part is the parking garage.  It's relatively cool, and when I go first thing in the morning, I can park right next to the mall entrance.  I bought about 4kg of sausages for the freezer, a beautiful beef roast, a lot of bread, and a jar of already made Carbonnora sauce with real bacon in it to do a pasta bake.  Yummy! My total bill was over $100 U.S.  That is why I can't go there very often, but my house is now stocked with supplies for 3 full dinners that everyone will happily eat. 

We're hoping to squeeze in one more snorkel trip before the summer holiday.  Here's hoping for lots of happy fishies, and the time to go!

Peace.

Meetings, heat and stuff

Well......

Where do I begin?  First, I am so totally proud of my munchkins.  They never cease to amaze me. Munchkin #2 did amazing in her last sports competition despite having had an arthritis flare that week, Munchkin #1 is becoming more mature in his attitudes towards life by the minute and they both just so totally ROCK!

The husband has been traveling on business.  I am so ready to have him home. So are the kids! 

In the meantime, things are starting to cook here. The temp the other day hit 110F.  At the moment, it is sitting at around 106F.  Feel the heat! 

I'll be escaping the heat for a few days to attend volunteer type meetings in Cyprus - so looking forward to going.  I have never been to meetings like the ones I'll be attending.  I have no clue what is in store.  I just hope that I'll be able to do some good for the world by being there. 

It is kind of a long story, but we bought a small sleeper sofa/futon kind of thing for Munchkin #2's room.  She currently has a loft type bed, but really doesn't like using it some nights. Rather than have her continue to sleep on the floor at those times, we thought a cool futon type thing was the answer since she didn't want to give up her loft.  Well......furniture shopping here is a serious experience for the unintitiated.  Many furniture stores will put the purple velvet with silver trim sofas front and center! It tends to be a long search for something that is both good quality and neutral colors and fabrics. (We do have an Ethan Allen here.  Love it, but so can't afford it!)  Munchkin #2 settled on a teal blue satin kind of thing.  Note to my family:  Remember the old 'green' sofa next to the kitchen table at the Farm?  This thing is kinda like that but smaller and made of teal blue satin.  But for around $230 U.S., I can't complain.  And my Munchkin #2 is happy with it.

I have been threatening to hire a cleaning service to help me around our villa (Yes, pigs are flying.  I detest the idea but the husband really wants me to look into it.  We'll see.....).  Munchkin #2 doesn't care one way or the other.  Munchkin #1, however, is very upset at the idea.  It's not that he is worried about losing out on the money he makes doing chores around the house, he's worried about what unspeakable horrors a cleaning service would do to his room.  I explained to the kids that if they can't do chores the first time I ask, then they leave me no choice.  I have a life outside of cleaning house.  I desperately need to be involved in the world in a very real and constructive way.  So, either the family helps do the unsavory things like scrubbing floors and toilets, or I hire help.  This morning, Munchkin #1 was up before me, doing dishes and cleaning in the kitchen.  We'll see how this goes.....

Well, I better get back to floors and laundry.

Peace.

That time of year

This is that time of year when we are gearing up for our countdown to heading 'home' for the summer.

Today's high temp here was 110F and some blowing dust.  The high temp back 'home' was 77F with rain. 

With the crazy temperature changes here, lack of sleep etc...I have a roaring head cold.  Must sleep.

Soon...let the countdown begin.

Peace.