Cu Chi Tunnel

Today began with a 10-15 minute walk from my hotel, that was only a few blocks from the meeting place for the Cu Chi Tunnel Tour.

The landscape is very much like Bangkok.  The same architecture and the same kind of street food market.  Bright and early in the morning folks had makeshift stoves and cooked right on the sidewalk, which was interesting because the sidewalk is shared by people, cars, vans, and scooters.  Lots and lots of scooters.

Our guide said the population of the city is about ten million, and the number of scooters is at about seven million.  There were scooters, scooters everywhere.  It reminded me of seeing the Hells Angels Motorcycles Gangs back home where an army of them would ride into town.  Their collective presence alone was intimating.

These bikes aren't the souped up motorcycles like theirs.  These are a notch above a bicycle, kind of put-putting along.  This picture was taken at a light last night, and didn't turn out that great, but I hope you can see what I mean.

On my way to the meeting point this morning, I stopped a few times to make sure I was headed in the right direction, and I was helped by almost everyone.

Our tour was an intimate one, with only seven of us.  Some of the other groups were massive, but it's just too hard to get everything that is being said, especially when you find yourself at the back of the group.

Notre Dame Cathedral, out meeting point

The Central Post Office, which is a beautiful pink building that looks like a museum inside that is across the street from the cathedral.

The ride to the tunnels took about an hour and a half, because of the back roads that were rough and bumpy.  The distance is about forty miles.

Typical looking building

We stopped along the way to visit a "typical" farming home.  There were huge hogs, a python, some chickens, and acres and acres of rubber trees.  The lady of the house was making rice paper and invited us to make some.  My attempts was colorful.  It would have made an outtake for blooper pictures.

This is the farm house where the lady that's sitting is making rice paper.
The other lady is our guide.

Here I am making a mess of things.
You can't see it, but to my left, the fire is being fueled by what looks like rice hulls -
the golden colored outer skin/hull of the rice.

This hog was HUGE and of all of us, humans and animals,
she seemed the happiest.
She was definitely the biggest hog out there
because she enjoyed being hand-fed,
and we all obliged, as had many others, it appeared.
 There was one right behind her, but he just
didn't have that winning personality of this one.

Another view

Her close-up

This is jack fruit.  It is flat with a bumpy texture.

This one is round.

This is a pineapple that almost looks like it's growing on the ground.

This is a rubber tree.  It is cut at a slant, and the sap drains into the bowl on the right.
The bowl on the left has rubber seeds.  Car tires are made from this.

The family pet - a python

Chickens.  My grandparents had farm animals and had the grey chickens
that we used to call guinea hens.  You don't see them much, but when I do,
it always reminds me of a dress with that print that I wore out while I was pregnant
three consecutive years!

The heat was brutal.  Actually, it wasn't the heat, but the humidity.  It was fierce.  We lost two folks at this point when a mother and son from Australia got dizzy and had to go back to Saigon.

Cu Chi is a jungle-looking area.  Very green with lots of trees, overgrown bushes, shrubs, and tall grass.  Where the tour begins there are underground huts that are used as meeting rooms to show a film of how the local people, the guerrillas, prepared for and dealt with the war in their backyard.

The tunnels were a kind of underground city where the people could go for protection from the bombing and gas attacks.  They were places for them to eat, sleep, and make and store supplies.  There was even a school and hospital. The tunnels were created like a spider web, in that they branched off, and didn't follow a straight line. There were also several levels, with all of them leading to the nearby Saigon River. The entrances of the tunnels were camouflaged and difficult to see/find.  They were also tiny.  The US soldiers wouldn't have been able to fit in them.  Now that it is a tourist attraction, and has been since around 1997, they have widen and replicated some of the tunnels so that Westerners can fit.

I went down a tunnel with every intention of going the short distance, but it's too narrow for any of us to turn around, and when I found out it was no turing back, I bailed.  Ditched.  Call it whatever you want, but I was out of there.  The ceiling was low, so you had to scoot way down, and almost crawl.  To say it was claustrophobic doesn't begin to describe the feeling that the walls were closing in on you, and I was down there for a minute, or less.  Not for the faint of heart.

There were camouflaged air holes created to allow fresh air in.  There was a large, smokeless kitchen, where the smoke from the coking fires were rerouted a great distance from the tunnels.  The meals were cooked very early in the morning, so when the smoke did appear, it was assumed it was fog that was prevalent in the early morning.

The ingenuity that went into to creating these tunnels and the vast assortment of booby traps that accompanied them, was incredible.

Booby trap

Bobby trap 2

Guide entering tunnel

Now you can see how small the entrances were.
They were wider once you entered,
but you had to get through these small holes first.

The spikes coming up out of the ground are made of sharpened bamboo.

An air hole

This is a US tank that was booby trapped and disabled in 1970.

This is the inscription on the tank.

I'm standing between these dressed up mannequins. 

A map of the region and the tools used to dig the tunnels.
The miles of miles of tunnels represent more than twenty years of work.

A model of the tunnels

The five of us left on the tour were all Americans.  You couldn't help but feel horrible for the human lives lost in this senseless conflict.  And quite frankly, it was also hard not feeling guilty by association for the part we played in this craziness.

I thought of both my brothers, Willie and Terry, who spent time here during the war. Willie was here in the heat of things and Terry, as the conflict was coming to an end.

I'm reminded of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC.  When you allow yourself to grasp that each name represents a person who went to war, but didn't come home alive, it's overwhelming.  And of course, that's not counting the folks who went there whole, but what they saw, and what they did to survive, left them broken men, empty shells of their former selves.

As we drove through the area,  I kept thinking, "These are simple people.  Minding their own business."  I'm sure this was even more so forty years ago.  To go from farming your land and taking care of your family, to dodging bullets and bombs, must have been terrifying.

Speaking of bullets, private citizens are not allowed to own or have guns in this country.  (That's a thought to consider America).  There is a firing range at this site where locals and tourist can shoot.  As we were touring, it sounded like the war was still going on.  It was insanely loud.

Below is a five minute video of the area that some guys uploaded.  They did a good job with the story telling but the video quality is not the best.  Stick with it though because at the end you will see them on the firing range and you'll be able to hear the incredible sound the firing guns make.

This is the link to the video, just in case there are technical issues:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azxnc1nDkos

Tomorrow I'm headed to the Mekong Delta.

I know this was crazy long, and for that I apologize, but I just had to share this experience with someone.

As always, thanks for taking this ride with me.

Greetings from Vietnam

My Spring Break officially began tonight when I arrived in Ho Chi Minh, also known as Saigon.  I'm excited to be here for a few days and have a jam-packed agenda beginning early tomorrow morning.

We're three hours ahead of Abu Dhabi, so that puts me fourteen hours ahead of San Francisco.  My body says it's 7:00pm, but the clock says it's 10:00.  So, I'm racing to bed now.

More real soon.

Promise.

Yeah Shana!

I'm committing a cardinal sin by posting this message without permission. but I am so proud I just couldn't wait.

Forgive me Shana.

Why the rush/excitement/need to share?

Because Shana was one of just ten educators from the US invited to attend the annual TED conference, this year held in Canada.

What an honor!

And . . .

What an opportunity!

We are so proud of you!

Attached please find a blog post by TED.

http://blog.ed.ted.com/2014/03/18/why-engage-students-because-they-can-move-mountains/

Shana is featured in the second and third picture.  In the second, she's in the back between the guys.  And in the third, she is on the far right.

Way to go Shana!

Missing You

It has been forever since I've written a post, and I made a vow to myself that I would write this weekend.  Of course, I have waited until the midnight hour (not actually midnight, but my bedtime) to sit down and do this.

With my move to the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, I've gone from dreading work to loving it.  So much so, that the ideas and creativity continues to flow once I get home, so on many nights, I continue to work.  On those nights I'm not actually working, my mind is still going like crazy.

In just over a week we'll be on Spring Break.  I've booked a couple of trips and they will force me to think and do some other things.

Now for some random thoughts -

---I marvel at how fast Zadie and Milu are growing up.  Zadie is holding full fledge conversations.  It's like she's catching up on all those times she wanted to say something, but hadn't figured out how.  She's making up for lost time.  Milu is right behind her.  We were all video chatting the other day, and you could see Milu was trying to figure out how we were all there, without actually being there.

---Isn't it amazing the technology that these kids are growing up in?  I went all the way through college without a computer.  The personal computer wasn't anywhere near on the market yet. In fact, we didn't get one until the boys were in preschool, and the operating system used DOS, so you had to input these long string of code to create some random picture.  We've come a long way, baby.

---My link to the world is my computer.  I'm grateful to be here at such a time as this, when technology has made keeping in touch an effortless venture.

---I wear long dresses to work.  This school allows pants, but the other one didn't, so my closet just has dresses.  The ladies in this culture are used to them and can navigate stairs, uneven pavements, with no problem.  In fact, most of their dresses drag the floor.  And yet, they gracefully glide through the day, with nary a missed step.  We Western folk have to be careful not to trip, especially when we're on staircases.

---Speaking of dresses, under the all black abayas that the ladies wear, are the most colorful dresses imaginable.  You can oftentimes get a peek of color at the cuffs of their dresses.  Recently, at the end of the day when most of the men have left the building, the ladies took off their abayas and revealed dresses that are a kaleidoscope of color.

---Men.  Yes, we have some men teachers who teach the boys.  I think because of this, most of the women wear their faces covered, only uncovering when they're in their classrooms teaching.  The men have to announce their presence before they enter a room, to give the ladies time to cover up.  I have to remind them they don't have to do that to come to my office, but it's a necessary habit.

---The government provides a car and driver for all of the meetings we have to attend.  I like being in control of when I come and go, so on most trips, I drive.  Last week, there were several I attended, and by Thursday (our Friday), I was too tired, so I decided to go with the group that were being chauffeured.  The women will not sit up front with the driver, so it was an easy decision for me to ride shotgun.  If a woman is going somewhere alone, she must bring her housekeeper or nanny to ride with her.  She's not allowed to be in a car with a man alone.

Well, this is it.

My world is on a steady, pretty uneventful course.  Quite frankly, that's the other reason I haven't written much.  There isn't much to tell.

On the other hand, maybe there is, but it has become a part of my world, and I don't see things so much as a newbie, but as an old hat.

Anyway, as always, thanks for sharing this ride with me.

An Amazing Woman

This lady was a NASA Mathematician.

Hat tip to Forrest.

http://www.makers.com/katherine-johnson?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl23%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D454117

College Students Speaking Out Silently

Great campaign.

A picture, and a few words, are worth a thousand words.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/03/the_black_students_at_harvard_georgetown_and_michigan_launch_social_media.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=363b97cff8&mc_eid=ac9b7800d4

Camel Crossing

Camels.  Camels.  Everywhere.

The landscape is flat.  You can see for miles, and miles.

And yet, the camels just seem to appear out of nowhere.  All of a sudden, there're just there.

Beautiful.

Graceful.

Majestic.

A Letter From Death Row

This is a fascinating letter from a man on death row in Texas.  He's scheduled to be put to death by the authorities of that state on March 19th.

Please don't be put off by the length, it's seven pages long, but filled with so much wisdom and insight, it is a must read.  This should be required reading for students young and old.

http://gawker.com/a-letter-from-ray-jasper-who-is-about-to-be-executed-1536073598

Light in the Midst of Darkness

The article below details a meeting between the author, his thirteen year old son, and the mother of Jordan Davis.  This is the young man who was killed because of playing his music too loud.  The outcome of the trial was outrageously wrong on so many levels.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/02/i-am-still-called-by-the-god-i-serve-to-walk-this-out/284064/

My heart aches for his parents, especially his mother.

She speaks with a grace that could only come from God.

As black parents, the burden we bear is a vital one, that is taken very seriously.  That is, to educate and train our boys in survival skills so that they have a fighting chance to see adulthood.

The alternative is a burden no parent should have to endure.  

My Ad Man

My oldest chocolate chip, Ben, is featured in this ad.

Check him out below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMPfRR4gHTs

My New Hero

The woman conducting the interview is annoying (are they taught to talk like that?), but the responses from this young man are spot on.

http://www.upworthy.com/a-tv-star-had-to-explain-why-a-white-man-killing-a-black-kid-is-an-american-problem-not-a-black-one?c=upw1

Up Close & Personal

As I was sitting at my computer in my office at home yesterday, I saw this herd of camels in the parking lot.  I rushed out and watched them for about a half hour. They're amazing animals.  I stayed as long as I did because my phone was updating, so I couldn't use it, so I hung out until it was ready because I just had to get pictures.

Enjoy!

This is the parking lot of my apartment complex,

and this is my school.  I am literally next door to it.

There were four adults and four babies.
I haven't seen any this young before.

I saw this herd today.
They were interesting because of the black ones.
They are rare indeed.

Strong Voice

Is anyone listening?

Spike Lee lets loose on gentrification in New York City.  Read the transcript and/or listen to the audio at the end of the article.

What do you think?

Is it progress, and if so, at what cost?

Or it is, as Spike implies, another example of the "Christopher Columbus Syndrome," with folks "discovering," and claiming as theirs, what's always been there.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/02/spike-lee-amazing-rant-against-gentrification.html

Hitting Close to Home

This protest happened in New York, but it's all about what's happening here in Abu Dhabi.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/24/guggenheim-protest-new-york-abu-dhabi-labor_n_4843947.html

A Different Perspective

This young woman has a revealing viewpoint on volunteering abroad.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pippa-biddle/little-white-girls-voluntourism_b_4834574.html?utm_hp_ref=black-voices&ir=Black+Voices

Qualities This Employer is Looking For

This is a very interesting article on the qualities that Google looks for in their job applicants.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/opinion/sunday/friedman-how-to-get-a-job-at-google.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0

Ben's Work

This is another proud momma moment:

Ben is quoted in the article linked below, about half way down.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/to-help-trucks-burn-less-fuel-streamline-trailers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+energy-and-sustainability+(Topic:+Energy+%26+Sustainability)

Milu's Turn

This is Ben's baby girl walking to school.

I love her sense of wonder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRM7z8psIqo&feature=youtu.be

Yes, this is another proud grandma moment.

Run Squirrel Run!

Squirrels look way too  much like rats with fluffy tails, but I couldn't help but cheer for this little dude.  Any little ones in your world would probably like this one, too.

Check him out.

Hat tip to Forrest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBEyCr5AoIs#t=66

Dirty Old Men

Is it ever OK for a man to marry his daughter? Step-daughter? Adopted daughter? Any man thinking about doing this should be thrown under the jail, and yet when a man does, in fact do just this, everyone turns a blind eye because he's a celebrity?

Bullshit!

Total and complete bullshit!

This describes Woody Allen's relationship with his daughter/wife.

Totally disgusting!

And now we hear from another daughter who said she was abused by Allen.  I don't understand why this is such a stretch from some folks to comprehend.  He was screwing this girl's sister!  Is it so outrageous to think that he might be doing something very wrong to this girl, too?

God bless this young woman for speaking out.  She is definitely going against the grain and will need all of the support that can be muster to go against this shameless, sadistic prick!

I have had an absolute ban on all Allen's movies for years.  I avoid them at all cost.  I don't want to see anything his perverted mind has conjured up, or is in any way involved in.

If this guy was any "Joe Blow" on the street, he would have been hung out to dry a long time ago.  Because he is a celebrity, we look the other way?

Shame on us.

The dude is a creep.

A CREEP I say!

And, according to more than a few women, so is Bill Cosby.

What is it about people men with power, real or imagined, that makes them think they are invincible?

As my beloved Mom would say, "Where there's smoke, there's fire."  How many women have not spoken up?  I'm guessing there's probably more than few of them, too.

I pride myself on being able to cuss with the best of 'em, one of the benefits(?) of being around men all my life, but I've made a conscious effort for that side of me not to spill over in these posts, until now.

For those of you who are offended by my language, my apologies.

There are times, though, when nothing else will do, and today is one of those days.

WOW!

My love for Samuel L. Jackson is well documented.

Here's why I love him even more.

Enjoy!

Hat tip to Tiff and Shana for keeping a sista in the loop.

Zadie Singing to Grandma Faye

Too precious!

Notice the imaginary conversation she is having with me before the song.

I know.  I know.

I'm "that" grandma, always bragging about my girls, but this "grandma thing" is just too good not to share.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9W51tmS0UQ&feature=em-share_video_user

Behaving Badly

The following is an insightful article on the media and how stories are framed.

It's definitely worth the read.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/02/white_men_mess_up_and_all_is_forgiven.html?wpisrc=obinsite

Did You Know, Part 2

Click on the following link for even more fascinating facts about African-Americans, during this Black History Month.
 
Hat tip to Forrest.

http://www.pinterest.com/angela4forever/vintage-black-beauty-history/

Did You Know?

The slideshow below is of African-American women who were the first in their field.

Very informative.

Many of these ladies were new to me.

http://www.makers.com/blog/african-american-womens-firsts-part-one-photo-gallery

Beware!

If you're a cheating husband, hide all sharp objects from your wife.  That's the message from police.  Notice, there's no condemnation of the cheating.

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/abu-dhabi-wife-stabs-cheating-husband-with-kitchen-knife-over-alleged-affair?utm_source=Communicator&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=%5b%5bADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.ADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.LATEST_NEWS_SUBJECT%3a%3a%7b1%7d%3f%3fThe+National+Newsletter%5d%5d

Old School Cool

Sit back.

Turn your speakers up,

And

Enjoy this trip on the . . .

Soul Train.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/12-mind-blowing-soul-train-performances-20140205

Another Reminder

This article was published a week or so ago, but I saved it because I knew I wanted to write about it.  It's about a man who was found dead in an emergency room after being there for eight hours waiting to be seen.

http://www.salon.com/2014/01/26/man_found_dead_after_8_hour_er_wait/?source=newsletter

I was reminded of Ben's accident.

He had been discharged from the trauma center where he spent the first month after the accident.  He was then sent to a rehab hospital, and after a month there, he had used up all of the allotted time that his insurance would cover, so he was headed to a nursing home.  The problem was, he couldn't hold food down, and this had been going on for a couple of weeks.  We were told that whatever it was, it would pass.

It didn't.

Side note - I know I said this many times before, but you never want to see your child in a nursing home.  Under the best of conditions, it's a way station for people in the final days of their lives.

By this time, Frankie and I were taking turns staying with Ben.  I had to return to California to work, so Frankie moved nearby.  The kindness of an amazing man and his family, who paid for a residence hotel for us, made this possible.   Frankie had to return home for a funeral, so he was boarding a flight  back to California as I was headed to Texas.  I spoke to him as he was leaving, and he warned me about Ben's condition and how emaciated he was, but it was still shocking to see how much his health had declined since I'd seen him two weeks before.

Now I knew enough about the hospital system to know that the quality of his care would probably have diminished considerably once he left this rehab hospital, so any medical issues needed to be addressed while he was there.

The hospital's plans were different from mine.  They were going to discharge him to the nursing home, in his current state of not being able to hold down food for weeks, but I absolutely refused to accept that.  I got on the phone and spoke with "everybody and his brother" to get Ben the help he needed.

Thankfully, it was agreed that he would go to the emergency room of the trauma center where he was initially.  He was transported there via ambulance.  Once he got there, we waited for twenty-four hours before he was seen.

Twenty-four hours!

During that time Ben was hungry and literally begged for food, but he couldn't have any because they suspected he might have to have surgery.

He did, but later.

It was a tough time of waiting, and hoping for some help.

This article reminded me how grateful I am, that through this incredibly painful journey, Ben was not alone.  Frankie or I were there for him, and some many others were there for us.

I shutter to think of the outcome if he had been alone.

Where Have You Been Faye?

It's been a while since I've posted, but if I wrote every time I thought about it, there would have been a truckload of posts.

I've been really busy at work, and because I'm enjoying what I'm doing, I've been continuing to work when I get home.  My current role has me teaching more.  I'm teaching the teachers.  Because we come from so many different places (the UK, Ireland, and the US - Atlanta, Chicago, Pennsylvania, San Diego, and Miami), each with it's own pedagogy, it's important that we're all working from the same playbook, and are on the same page, in the way we do things.

The other reason I've lallygagged in writing is that things move really slowly here, so there isn't that much to talk about.

I suppose I could mention I'm really sharpening my skills when it comes to speaking to native Arabic speakers and getting them to understand what I need or want. (There are fewer folks here who speak English).  Mostly it involves persistent questioning because nine times out of ten they have what I need, I just have to get them to understand what I what I'm asking for.  In doing this, I'm picking up some Arabic words.

I could also mention that the men who wear the long gown-like garments (the kandura), that is almost always white, are now wearing dark colors - browns, grays, even black.  These are made from heavier material for the cooler weather.

I could mention, that for the ladies, they are really layering doing these cool days. They are always fully dressed under their abayas (in the UAE these long robe-like dresses are always black, no matter the season), but they sometimes add leggings under everything else and add coats and sweaters on top of that.

I could also mention that I live in one of two apartment complexes that houses the teaching staff of the various schools in the area.  I am the only Western staff member living in these buildings.  Everyone else is from Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Iraq, and other Middle Eastern countries.  The other Western staff live about 60 miles away. They commute by bus (provided by the school system) three hours a day.  The town that they live in is called Ruwais, and it is bigger, with more people, a beautiful hotel, and has more creature comforts.  A new mall just opened there that is the talk of the town.  When given a choice though between commuting three hours a day or staying in this town, there was absolutely no contest.  I choose Al Selaa (or Al Sila, Al Sela'a, or Al Sila'a) and I'm glad I did.  Housing is scarce in all of the Western Region, so the teachers share housing (three to an apartment).  They would have to share whether they lived here or in Ruwais.  The hiccup with my getting here was that approval had to be made for me to live alone.  It would have not been kosher to live with someone that I evaluate.

So, that's it.  It's not much but . . .

It is what it is.

All in all, life is good.

Here's hoping all is well in your world.

Birds Eye View

Fascinating perspective of cities and places around the world.

Hat tip to Forrest.

http://pixtale.net/2013/12/how-our-world-would-look-if-you-were-a-bird/

On the Road Again

I was on the road again, traveling back to Al Ain, where I go once a month to I get my hair colored (vanity thy name is Faye), pick up packages, etc.

It reminds me of living in the country, and every now and then getting the chance to go into town.  It was a big deal then, and it's still a big deal now.

The amazing thing to me, is the traffic, both automobile and people, that seemed so much faster and so much more than I remember.  Maybe it's just my life here has slowed down so much.

Someone asked me what I do here in Al Sila (alternately spelled Al Sela'a, Al Sila'a, Al Selaa; there's no consistency in the spelling, even on official documents) for fun.  I responded that I do the same thing here, that I did in Al Ain, and in Sacramento . . . I surf the net reading current events.  If you're not mindful, you can easily loose track of what is happening outside your immediate world.  I read books and magazines, and every now and then, watch television, usually something from Hulu or Netflix.

Side note - it's been a minute since I last posted.  Work has been crazy busy, in a good way.  I'm discovering talents I didn't know I have.

Speaking of work, I headed out in a bit, so in closing . . .

Good night to you.

Good morning to me.

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back

Notice the "chair" this lady is sitting on.  Somebody, somewhere thought this was a good idea.

We've come a long way, but we still have so much more to do.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/20/dasha-zhukova-black-woman-chair-buro-247-editorial_n_4633544.html

A Beautiful Black Ballerina

Her name is Misty Copeland, and she is a soloist in the American Ballet Theater Company in New York City.  At 25 years old, she is paving the way for others to follow in her elegant footsteps.  She is featured on this clip from the Today show.

Enjoy!

http://theroottv.theroot.com/video/MISTY-COPELAND-31-DANCING-QUEEN

What You Missed in Sex Ed

The most straight forward sex talk . . . ever.

Where was this guy when I was growing up or raising kids?

http://www.upworthy.com/a-20-something-guy-goes-on-and-on-about-sex-for-6-minutes-nails-it?c=upw1

Gems

From the Daily Skimm.

I especially like the next to the last one.

http://theskimm.com/2014/01/15/skimm-for-january-16th-2/?utm_source=Daily+Skimm&utm_campaign=7c1f71d946-daily_skimm&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_74efee6205-7c1f71d946-24014177

Not Welcome

This article in the New York Times today caught my eye.

It's about a group of senior citizens who go to McDonald's each day for coffee and company, but they're no longer welcome because they tend to stay all day.

There were a couple of rotating characters who used to park at my local Starbucks in Sacramento, and they stayed for hours, no problem.

This McDonald's has put up signs stating patrons have 20 minutes to eat and go.

They call the police regularly to escort the senior citizens out.  They shuffle out with their walkers and canes.

Where is the dignity?

There has to be a better way to handle this.

What would you do?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/15/nyregion/fighting-a-mcdonalds-for-the-right-to-sit-and-sit-and-sit.html?_r=0

I'm Impressed

You?

http://www.snowaddiction.org/2013/11/you-will-not-believe-how-these-russians-get-this-car-out-of-a-frozen-lake.html

Yum Yum!

Cajun / Creole Restaurant opens in Dubai.

http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/food/cravin-cajun-american-southern-cajun-and-creole-soul-food-comes-east-to-the-uae?utm_source=Communicator&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=%5b%5bADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.ADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.LATEST_NEWS_SUBJECT%3a%3a%7b1%7d%3f%3fThe+National+Newsletter%5d%5d

Cool Bookshelves

If given a choice, I would choose a "real" book over a Kindle book any day, but every pound (or kilogram) of weight (when moving), is a pound of cash.  So, I'm grateful to be able to enjoy electronic books without worrying about dealing with them later.

But with real books, you can do this:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/13/incredible-bookcases-photos_n_4588105.html

Amazingly creative, right?

An Ex-Pat's View . . .

From an Athletic Perspective.

Love his attitude.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/13/sports/basketball/the-basketball-players-guide-to-the-european-galaxy.html

Another Powerful Message

Please watch this and pass it on.

It's three minutes.

The issue of domestic violence is more prevalent than we realize.  These folks are suffering in silence, hoping that things will get better.  They rarely do.

http://www.upworthy.com/her-husbands-abuse-once-kept-her-behind-closed-doors-now-shes-speaking-out-loud-and-clear-10?c=fea 

It's All Relative

Frankie reminded me that the way we see things depends on the lens we're viewing it from.

It was a high of four (yes, 4!) degrees in New York City yesterday, with ice, and strong, blowing winds which made it feel a whole lot colder.

Suddenly, the sand storm that I wrote about didn't seem so bad.

It's all relative.

Thanks for the reminder Frankie.

A Blustery Day

I sleep like a rock, but the sound of strong, forceful winds woke me up at 2:30 this morning.  I thought it was raining, too, but when I left for work later this morning, I realized it was just the wind.

It was a mighty, strong, cold, unrelenting wind.

I was reminded of Winnie the Pooh and his blustery day.

The blowing sand feels like table salt blowing through an industrial size fan.  It stings.  And if you're in it long enough, it hurts.  It feels like you're being buffed with a loofah sponge at the very least, and with sandpaper when it's really bad.

No matter how well made structures are, (homes, offices, etc.), the fine, powdery sand finds its way into every building and onto every surface.  And on a day like this, there will be "puddles" of sand all over the place, inside buildings.

In my office, I have a kettle for boiling water, along with some cups for making coffee, that sit under a well-sealed window.  Everything is always covered in sand, but today it was especially so.  Try as I might, I couldn’t get it all out without a vacuum, so my coffee was gritty, like when coffee grinds seep through or like Turkish coffee, which is the closest thing to gritty motor oil that you’ll ever drink.

The sidewalks are made out of marble and are very slippery with the layers of sand.  I’ve given up on trying to look cute with fancy high-heeled shoes. My footwear is, first and foremost, practical.

It’s funny how things work out.

I’ve never liked sand.  I have sweaty feet and the sand would always stick to them.  It took like three showers to be sand-free after a walk on the beach.

Now look at me.

On any given day, I’m knee-deep in sand.

I have a practical understanding of the term “quicksand.”   It’s no joke when you step and solid ground is elusive.  You just keep going down and down, deeper and deeper.

I feel bad for the folks who wear contacts.  They must really suffer in these blustery conditions.

This is when you can see where the head scarves that both the men and women wear, really are multifunctional.  They are big enough to cover their heads and to wrap across their faces, or, in wind like today, to completely cover their faces, to protect themselves from these harsh conditions.

I keep a shayla – the name for the scarf that the women wear – in my car.  The winds can turn on a dime.  One minute you’re experiencing a nice sunny day with calm winds, and the next moment, you’re in a sand storm.  They’re really unpredictable. Of maybe they’re just unpredictable to ex-pats.  I’m guessing the old timers who grew up in the desert, can see the storms coming.  They know what to look for.

Anyway.

I'm home now, and the wind is still howling and blowing like crazy.

This is a slice of my world today.

More soon.

When in Rome . . .

Maxwell, Will Smith, and Tyrese were recently in Dubai looking pretty authentic.

http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/film/will-smith-tyrese-and-maxwell-celebrate-in-dubai?utm_source=Communicator&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=%5b%5bADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.ADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.LATEST_NEWS_SUBJECT%3a%3a%7b1%7d%3f%3fThe+National+Newsletter%5d%5d

What a Great Idea!

Check out this video below of a woman who took a picture a day of things she was grateful for.

http://www.upworthy.com/you-take-zillions-of-photos-with-your-cellphone-why-not-try-something-new-with-them?c=upw1

What a great idea that makes us conscience of finding the good thing in our world everyday.

What do you think?

I say . . .

Let's do it!

Faye's New Year Playlist

I spent a lot of time in my car today, listening to music.  I've shared some of my favorite tunes.

"A Beautiful Day" by India. Arie.  Helps you to appreciate what the new day/year brings.

"The Only Thing Missing is You" by Aretha Franklin.  She is in a class all her own.

"When I First Saw You" by Jamie Foxx/Beyonce (Dreamgirls Soundtrack).  This guy is one talented dude.

"Another Day" by Jamie Lidell.  This was my go to song as I was riding through the neighbor on my tricycle.

"Jesus is Lord" by Lionel Richie.  He takes you to church with this one.

"C'est Si Bon" by Eartha Kitt (Something's Gotta Give Soundtrack).  Homage to my recent travels.

"Twistin' the Night Away" by Sam Cooke.  You gotta move when this is playing.

"You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened" by Gladys Knight.  Like Aretha, Gladys is one of a kind.

"You've Got a Friend" by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack.  I think this song was written by James Taylor.  Donny and Roberta do an amazing job on it.

"Home" by Marc Broussard.  I love this kid.  Check out the video for this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuWPseegaKw

"Some Bridges Need Burning"  by Keisa Brown.  Forrest introduced me to this lady. This song definitely rings true.

OK.  Those are mine.

What are yours?

Words of Wisdom

I absolutely love this message.

I was introduced to this work on The Grommet.  Check out the link below.

http://www.thegrommet.com/holstee-cards-posters-and-frames?utm_campaign=20131231&utm_content=15144&utm_medium=email&utm_source=CC&trk_msg=TVLH07ITURL41ATKF9PNV8C9M8&trk_contact=6PJ17299EJ5SLGM27119G0AQ7K

You can also find it on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Teresa-Anyway-Motivational-Poster/dp/B00867DFXI/ref=pd_sim_hg_1

Cheers!

Happy New Year!

We're just hours away from welcoming the year 2014.  We here in this part of the world will reach it twelve hours ahead of the West Coast, and nine hours ahead of the ball dropping in New York City.

I love this time of year.  It's a natural "reboot."

It's a time to let go of the past, and warmly welcome the future.

A new year marks new beginnings.

Like the new school year every September, but only better.

It's a time of re-evaluations in our lives - deciding what's working and what's not and making the appropriate adjustments.

It's a time of prioritizing our lives, putting those things that should be first, first.

It's a time of recognizing the triumphs of the previous year, and a time to learn from the mistakes and missteps during this period.

It's a time of making ernest goals - short term and long term - with strategies in place to make them happen.

It's a time to give thanks for our many blessings, including our good health.

Here's wishing that this year is the beginning of the best years of your life.

Happy New Year!

A Taste of Home

Today I had an unplanned trip to Abu Dhabi to pick up my insurance card, and while there, I decided to stretch my legs at one of the malls.

Lo and behold, there was a Red Lobster among the cluster of restaurants.  Some US brand eating establishments are commonly found here.  TGIF, Appleby's, Olive Garden.  But not Red Lobster.  We also have lots of McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Subway and KFC.  In fact, I've seen a McDonald's and KFC in every country I've visited except France.  There weren't any where the tourists hangout in Paris.  That would be a cryin' shame to waste your appetite on Mickey D's when you can feast on food cooked with real butter, heavy cream and all the bread you can eat.

Seriously, I don't know how the Parisians eat the way they do and look so incredibly fit.  Lots of folks were walking, but many were eating personal size French bread as they walked.  Bread seems to be the main stable of their diet.

Anyway, I was thinking of that, and all the food that I enjoyed while there, as I was eating the Red Lobster cheese biscuits.  They are down home delicious!

I know.  I know.  You're thinking I'd better add a heavy rotation of longterm intense exercise real soon.

I'm way ahead of you.

My New Year's resolution is all about getting, and staying active.

And . . .

I will stick to it.

I will stick to it.

I will stick to it.

But for now, I'm enjoying some cheese biscuits.

Merry Christmas!

I just walked in the door from my travels.  Usually, I unpack as soon as I get home, but today is special and it needs to be recognized.

It's Christmas morning.

So . . .

A Very Merry Christmas to you all!

I don't miss all of the commercialism associated with this day, but without it and the reminders of buying and giving, the day can seem like just another day.  You have to make a conscience effort to recognize and appreciate it.

The seven hour flight from Paris turned into a twelve hour one.  We were late leaving because of heavy runway traffic, and I missed my connecting flight.  Then there was a four hour layover to wait for the next flight to travel less than an hour (the missed flight was 55 minutes long) to get to Abu Dhabi.  Plus add another three more hours of driving to get home.

It's been a long day.

As I was waiting in Bahrain, I was mentally writing a blistering letter to the airlines letting them know this layover was unacceptable.  The connecting flight had not left when we arrived, but they chose to depart without us.  Not sure who made that call, but it was a lousy one for the majority of us, as Bahrain is a major hub and most of us had connecting flights.

Anyway, I wasn't feeling very festive, but then I remembered what day it was, and I was reminded to be grateful.

Especially today.

I decided not to write this nasty-gram to Gulf Air.

I'm sure there's a reason I was delayed.  By the time I got on the road at four this morning, there was virtually no traffic, so it was smooth sailing all the way.

Now that I've set the scene as to where my head was early on this Christmas morning, I have made the necessary adjustments, and now I want to take this opportunity to continue to share my attitude of gratitude.

I appreciate and . . .

I'm grateful for . . .

My boys, and the fine husbands and fathers they have grown up to be.

I'm grateful for my daughters-in-law, for the love and patience they've brought to their homes.

I'm grateful for my girls, Zadie and Milu, and the joy they bring.  I believe God knew what He was doing in giving me sons to raise because that's all I knew, but having these little girls now, is an amazing blessing.  I appreciate the joy of having them, without the job of raising them.

I'm grateful for my brothers, and their wives (even the crazy, wicked one).  There's a reason for having ugly people in our lives.  We appreciate everyone else that much more.

I'm grateful for my family and friends, and the many people that have crossed my path on this journey.

I'm grateful for the technological advances in computers and online communication that have made it effortless to keep in touch by phone, video, and through email (and social media, which I haven't ventured into yet).  I remember when Ben was living in Indonesia in 2004, communication was a challenge.  We've made incredible gains since then.

I'm grateful for the wisdom that I've gained as I've gotten older.  It doesn't have to take years to figure things out, but in my case, it did.

I'm grateful that I learned to forgive.  I was 55 when I got it, but I figured it out, thank God.  Believe me when I say choosing to forgive has changed my life.  I know I harp on this a lot, but this "thing" blocks us and holds us back from being all we could be because we choose to be stuck on stupid.  It saddens me to hear of siblings who are estranged, and kids who have rifts with their parents, and every other kind of mess that keeps our relationships stressed and strained.  Let me encourage you.  Swallow your pride and be the bigger person.  End the madness. Make it right now, whatever "it" is.  Do it for yourself, and because it's the right thing to do.  No matter the response of the other party, take the high road, until they figure out it's the only road if you're looking for peace.

And, finally . . .

I'm grateful for you, for taking this journey with me.

Merry Christmas!

"But Grandma Faye Said . . . "

See earlier post entitled "Santa Claus" dated Dec. 6th.

Plotting

I think my girls are plotting something.

Ben with Milu (1 yr old)
Frankie with Zadie (3 yrs old)

Paris, je t'aime

I'm spending my last day in this beautiful city.

It's overcast, with a steady drizzle, that quite frankly kept me inside yesterday, but today I weathered the elements to see some more of all there is to see.

I toured the Latin Quarter, which is home of the Sorbonne, The University of Paris, and a lively art and music district that dates back centuries.

The Sorbonne
I downloaded this picture because mine was fuzzy.

This area did not appear to be as well traveled by tourists, but seemed to be mostly occupied by Parisians.

I've had a wonderful time here, but this is city that must be shared.

Thanks for letting me share it with you.

A flower shop.  There was at least one on every block.
The floral scents were heavenly.

A fruit market.  These were plentiful, too.

A church.  I walked into one, close to my hotel,
that was referential.  Somehow it projected holiness
in its physical being.  I didn't take pictures.
It just didn't seem right.

An intersection in the Latin Quarter

I was surprised at the number of bookstores around.
Not the big megastores, but these were neighborhood stores.

This storefront is called the Galactic Store.
I'm not into these action figures, but the way there're displayed,
it looks like they're ready from battle.  Really cute.

Au revoir Paris

How to Fold a T-Shirt

Too cool not to share.

http://www.howcast.com/videos/241348-How-to-Fold-a-TShirt-in-Two-Seconds

Lessons From Football

Football.

It's silly, dangerous, and can make a lifetime impact . . . sometimes good, many times horribly bad.

In spite of these contradictions, there are lessons to be learned, as noted from a woman who loves the game.

http://www.marieclaire.com/career-money/jan-crawford-cbs-career-advice-college-football?click=list4

Bon Appetit!

The food here is amazing!

Even the junk food, sold on the sidewalks, is incredible.

The crepes!  The waffles!  The hot chocolate!

In fact, the hot chocolate tastes like melted chocolate.

So smooth.  So rich.

And . . .

The bread.

The smell of fresh bread is everywhere!

I've spent the last couple of days very leisurely enjoying the sights and sounds of this magnificent city.  Like Prague, this is a walking city.  I've seen a few taxis and buses, but it looks like many folks walk to their destinations.  There is a subway system I haven't explored, that I'm guessing is pretty active underground.

Although this is a large city by any measure, it feels quaint and inviting.

The French have a reputation for being rude, but that has not been my experience at all.  People have gone out of their to be nice and accommodating.

This is also a city that represents a wide cross section of people.  They're whites, blacks, Asians, Indians, and everything in between.  The blacks I've met are from French speaking African nations.  The funniest thing was seeing Southeast Asian women - Vietnamese, maybe - speaking fluent French.  It confuses your eyes and ears for a minute.

Side note - It's cold, for real now.  I would not be surprised to see snow.

Side note 2 - The days are very short.  The sun rises at about 9:00 am, and the sun starts to set at about 4:00pm.

This is a place where you quickly feel at home.

The Eiffel Tower peaking through the trees.

This is at the Notre Dame.
What I described in an earlier post as the back of the building
 was really the entrance.
There was a sign stating that.  Not sure how I missed it.

These are lovers' lock.
There are thousands of them attached to a fence 

This bridge is over the Seine River, next to the Notre Dame.

A view of the Notre Dame from the bridge.

Many of the streets are really narrow.
This one is especially so.

Many of the trees are trimmed in this fashion. 

A gallant warrior

Until next time.

Au revoir.

C'est Excellent!

Wow!

What a city!

I'm staying in a quaint hotel, less than a mile from the Notre Dame.  By US standards, it's tiny, but it has everything I need.

My plan was to get a panoramic view of the city via the Big Bus Tour.  So, with clear directions from the hotel folks, and Google Maps on my phone, I was ready to find the bus stop I needed.

Side note -

It's cold.

Not bone chilling sub zero cold, but cold nonetheless.

Side note 2 -

I was here about twenty years ago when the boys and I accompanied Frank on one of his layovers in the city.  It was a real quick visit.

After waiting a while for the bus, I discovered I was waiting at a "retired" bus stop.  A friendly merchant pointed me in the right direction, and after a few minutes more, I was on the bus, seeing the city.

Notre Dame

This entryway at the back of the Notre Dame is so incredibly ornate.

A close-up of the entryway.

 Across the street from the Notre Dame is an automatic public toilet.  You press a button and the door rolls open, you step in, and it closes.  It's fairly big, but very spartan, just a toilet and sink.  After you complete your business, you push a button, the door opens.  Once you get out, the door closes and it self-cleans before the next person enters.  There was no cost to use it and it really was pretty cool.

Once on the bus, I opted to sit on top in the open air, to get better pictures.  Well, the pictures I took were a real disappointment.  I was cold, fiddling with my gloves, and fighting to keep a cute cap on my head.  Why is it "cute" is rarely practical?

Anyway, the best of the lot is below.

The Seine River that runs through the city.

Avenue Des Champs Elysees -
 Shoppers' Paradise, with retail shopping along both sides of the boulevard.
The Arc De Triomphe is in the distance.

Arc De Triomphe - Can be reached via tunnels to get a close up view.
You can also go to the top.  The view of the city must be spectacular from there.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower up close

More soon.

Au revoir.

Bonjour!

Later today I'm headed to Paris.

I'm reminded often of my parents' ability to speak Creole French, but it was looked down upon, so they choose not to teach us.  And of course, I didn't push it because I couldn't see the benefit.

I was so young and dumb, about so many things.

Anyway, I love the French language.  No matter what is being said, it has such a lovely, warm, romantic sound to it.

So, for a few days, I'm immersing myself in all things French.

More soon from the City of Lights.

Festive Cheer

Kids lip-synching a Christmas song.  Hilarious, although some of the choir members don't seem amused.   Check it out below.

http://www.flixxy.com/kids-lip-syncing-a-wonderful-christmas-song.htm

Now that you're in a festive mood, check out this article about ex-0ffenders starting over.  Send your Boston family and friends over to this place.  This is the kind of venture we all need to support.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2013/12/ex_offenders_learn_restaurant_biz_at_boston_s_whisk.2.html

My Guys With Their Girls

Frankie and Ben and their families were together recently.  Their girls met for the first time.   Zadie just turned three years old and Milu has her first birthday later this month.

Check out the fun below.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e31mwxj2gfk52kk/IDgZ3EnpP6#lh:null-IMG_0844.MOV

A Powerful Message

This article is in today's New York Times.  I hope you're able to open the link, but if not, it's entitled "A Lesson Before Dying" by Charles Blow and it can be found in the Opinions Pages.  It is an absolute must read.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/07/opinion/a-lesson-before-dying.html?src=me&ref=general&_r=0

Big Government

In the United Sates, there is always lots of talk by those on the Right, especially the Far Right, about how big our government is, and how we should strive to keep it out of our lives.

I disagree.

Here's why:

I want the government to have regulations and safety systems in place when buildings are erected.  A lack of government oversight is why the buildings in so many places around the world are death traps. Bangladesh garment factories come to mind.

I want the government to inspect the building of our homes, so we can go to sleep at night confident that the workmanship is solid and safe, from the foundation to the roof, and everything in between.

I want the government to oversee the processing and packaging of food items, so that I'm reasonably certain I'm getting what the label says I'm getting.  In many places, you buy food with your fingers crossed.

I want the government to oversee the disposal of garbage and waste, to ensure that it's properly disposed of, and to be sure that it's taken care of on a regular basis.  In Egypt and in India, it looked like mounds of garbage had been piling up on the side of the road for years.

I want the government to oversee public safety.  I want to walk around without having to watch every step for fear of falling in a pothole left uncovered, or an uneven payment that is not marked.

I want the government to ensure that all public spaces are accessible to the disabled. They should feel welcomed wherever they go, with easy access.  Of the places I've been, the US leads the pack in accessibility.

I want the government to build and take responsibility for roads and highways, so that the infrastructure is solid and reliable.

I want the government to monitor work conditions, so that safety procedures are in place and adhered to, to monitor and reduce the number of workers hurt on the job. OSHA comes to mind.

I want the government to stand ready to help in times of need.  The many natural disasters, and the government's response to them to help the people recover, comes to mind.  Remember FEMA?

This list could go on and on, but you get the idea.

One of the greatest aha moments I've had living abroad, is recognizing how much we're protected by the government in America, and how those protections greatly impact the quality of our lives.

So for all those who would prefer not to have big government in their lives, I suggest they take a moment and consider the alternative.

Then . . .

They should be thankful for what they do have.

Santa Claus

WARNING!

SPOILER ALERT!

IF YOU STILL BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS, STOP READING NOW!

Contrary to popular opinion, Frank and I chose to tell Ben and Frankie that Santa wasn't real, and didn't bring the gifts they found under the tree.  We told them this when they were little guys.

Our rationale?

Why lie?

Plus, no big, fat guy in the red suit and long beard was going to get credit for all of the work I/we did in buying and wrapping all the presents.

Did they miss out on a fantasy?

Yep.

Did they need counseling as a result?

Nope.  Not yet.  I don't think.

I always thought that at some point, you're gonna have to fess up and tell the truth, and then the kids would think, "What else have you lied to be about?"

So, we were the truth sayers,

Or

The Grinch personified.

Either way.

We had Merry Christmases.

Here's wishing yours are, too.

You Gotta Love This Critter, Too

Who's in charge?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/04/monkey-crushes-leaves_n_4387659.html

You Gotta Love Cats!

Priceless!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/05/dogs-terrified-of-walking-past-cats_n_4276499.html

An Extraordinary Man

The world woke up today to the news that Nelson Mandala has died.  This tribute, from Mohammad Ali, is amazing.  There will be thousands of remembrances of this great man, but Ali's statement encapsulates his life perfectly.

Rest in peace Mr. Mandala.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/muhammad-ali/tribute-to-nelson-mandela_b_4340781.html

A Flying Thief

A bird steals a camera and the result is pretty amazing.

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/12/01/5962180/bird-steals-camera-in-australia.html

National Pride

National pride was on full display for the 42nd anniversary of this country.  Check out this article below, and note the pictures in the parade.  Also note, the man who owns the featured truck, owns 15 vehicles!

Only in the UAE!

http://www.thenational.ae/uae/heritage/i-have-15-cars-but-i-decided-to-bring-this-one?utm_source=Communicator&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=%5b%5bADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.ADMC_THENATIONAL_LT.LATEST_NEWS_SUBJECT%3a%3a%7b1%7d%3f%3fThe+National+Newsletter%5d%5d

Stronger Together

Whatever your political affiliation, whether you believe in unions or not, this is a powerful message.  And at 53 seconds, it's brief, too.

Side note - I think the band is from my alma mater, FAMU's Marching 100.

http://www.upworthy.com/and-now-for-your-1-minute-of-inspiration-how-change-happens?c=upw1

Thankfulness

I just read a quick article about a man describing five things he's thankful for after overcoming homelessness.

I dare you to read it and not thank God for where you are and what you have.  It may not be where you want to be, but I guarantee you're better off than most folks in the world.

It's so easy to get caught up in what we don't have, (God knows I've been guilt of that), instead of being grateful for what we do have.

Take a minute and peruse the article.

Read it.  Share it.  Remember it (especially when life gets crazy).

http://www.salon.com/2013/11/28/5_things_im_most_thankful_for_after_being_homeless/

We have so much to be thankful for.

And you . . .

You're at the top of my list.

Really?

Some fascinating science facts are linked below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/28/science-facts_n_4344759.html?utm_hp_ref=science

I'm always amazed at the things I don't see.  Everyday things I miss.  This guy explains why, simple enough for me to get it.  It's worth a look, too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-hotchkiss/be-less-stupid_b_4340736.html

Holiday Weekend

There are celebrations all around.

Of course, this is Thanksgiving weekend with the traditional feasts and the crazy shopping in the US.

This is also the anniversary of this country.  The UAE is 42 years old on Dec. 2nd.

Plus, Dubai was just awarded the 2020 Expo, and a special decree declared a day off for all schools, so we had a bonus for all of us from the US, Thanksgiving Day off.  It's a long weekend of partying for many.

Things are quiet in my neck of the woods, which I'm thoroughly enjoying after the weeks of moving. In fact, I planned a trip for this weekend, but the folks I was using to book the trip seemed a little shady, so I canceled.  I'm so glad I did.  I'll have three weeks off for the winter break, so there's plenty of time to explore.

Now back to my recurring theme -

For those of you tired of reading about forgiveness, stop now.

The holidays are a time for family get-togethers that can be wonderful, but sometimes, oh so stressful.

As much as well love our relatives, many times, the quicker the visits the better.

Remember it's better to let "stuff" roll off your back, and move on, instead of adding the latest incident to your list of things you're holding on to.

I speak from way too much experience when I say I understand because I was a master at keeping grudges and setting people straight.

I was 55 before I got it.  Don't be like me and waste all that time thinking ill will about someone or seeing how long you can keep this nonsense up.

Let it go.

Even if it means they "win."

Really, the one winning is you because you've taken the steps to make it right by being the bigger person.

Let it go.

I know I harp on this a lot, but I understand the damage it can do to yourself . . . your mental health, your physical health and your relationship with others.

It's not worth.

Really it isn't.

So . . .

Let it go.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'll end this with a declaration of things I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for health and peace of mind.

I'm thankful for my amazing family and my incredible friends.

I'm thankful for the lessons I've learned and the wisdom gained.

I'm thankful for the people that come across my path, knowing now that they were/are there for a reason.

And, as always . . .

I'm thankful for you, for taking this journey with me.

You see, this has been and continues to be, so much more than living abroad and visiting new places.  It's about growing up and recognizing that the world is so much bigger than we can imagine, but also realizing people are people, no matter where they're from or what they do.  It is recognizing the part you play in the lives of others. It's about growing and stretching, not only as you explore new things, people and territories, but it's about stretching your mind, and allowing yourself to see the world from a different perspective. It really is about growing up.

Thanks for growing with me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a Week!

My apologies for the many days since my last post.

Two things happened in my absence from blogging - I celebrated my two year anniversary here, and I moved.

Yes . . . I moved from Al Ain to Al Sila (Abu Dhabi), about 4.5 hours away.

It's a given that moving can be challenging, but I was a lot more organized this time, so the process went a lot better.

I'm less than ten miles to the Saudi Arabia border.  More on that in a minute.

I swore the last time I moved, from Sacramento, that I would always remember the pain it was, and live lightly.

Well, it worked in theory, but I still ended up moving a truck load of stuff.

And . . . the day my things were moved, we experienced a torrential rainstorm.  The folks hadn't seen anything like this in over thirty years!  Thankfully, although most of my things got wet, the only thing damaged were two pillows, which I gladly chucked.

There is no doubt, I'm really in the desert now.  There is sand, sand, and more sand between Al Sila and Al Ain or Abu Dhabi.  I'll be about three hours from Abu Dhabi, and about four from Dubai.  I requested a transfer last year, letting the powers that be know that I didn't have a preference and would be willing to go anywhere, well "anywhere" is where I got.  This is a region that they have a hard time filling positions because it's so remote.  Typically the teachers hired are young city folks, who kick and scream about being sent here.  Teachers with families are not even considered. I don't mind the isolation, and as long as I have Internet service, I'm good to go.

So, my new adventure begins.

Now about Saudi Arabia.

This is a very insulated country.  Only Muslims are allowed to enter freely.  Everyone else goes through a rigorous visa/entry process.  As a single woman, I am not allowed entry, unless I'm traveling with a male family member and I would have to be sponsored by a Saudi male.  When I found out Ben would be working in Saudi for a week, the original plan was for me to meet him there.  Little did we know at the time that it wasn't in the realm of possibilities.

I'm closer to Qatar, and it's major city, Doha, and flying out of there would be more convenient, but in order to get to Qatar, you have to go through Saudi Arabia, so that's a no go.

Interestingly, the UAE recognizes the many benefits of welcoming the world to its doorstep, and are doing everything they can to encourage more visitors, from even more places.

Saudi Arabia, not so much.

They represent two very difference schools of thought about where they are as countries and where they see themselves in the future.

I'm spending my last night in a hotel in Al Ain.  I'm planning to get an early start tomorrow heading west.

I'll have Internet service tomorrow night, so I hope to be back in the business of writing every day or so.

For those of you still on this journey with me, thank you.

It continues to be one heck of a ride.