Pumpkin Carving Party

Big J, and his bride, invited me to such a party one year, right after my mother died. I was reluctant to go, but at the same time, knew I should get out rather than moping around the house.
Not knowing what to expect, due to their son being one of my small charges during the week, I took some sodas, or cokes, or as they say for anything carbonated in the UAE, pepsi(s) and my favorite coconut flavored spirit... just in case.
It was a blast. There were small children there, but all the adults were indulging in the holiday spirit as well. It was good for me to get out.
Scary pumpkin faces all around.
Funny pumpkin faces were too.
Carving tools, messy guts, children laughing, adults having fun. It was a fun time and a tradition I chose to adopt, even if I couldn't be there with them for it.
So, Friday night, a small group of us gathered to enjoy our own party.
Pumpkins, as I know them, are hard to come by in the UAE. But don't doubt if I found one, even though it cost more than if I had bought 10 of them at home. (The saved seeds will grow many pumpkins for next year)
No fancy carving tools, no patterns other than what I could see on the computer screen and a little while later there was a jack-o-lantern on the table.
Looking evil, I was told he was.
Named him Darth Vader after my favorite pun'kin carving partner, Lil' J.

I have often wondered why I have really enjoyed this new tradition more than any other holiday and last night I figured it out. It is a new one, with no memories of past ones with my mother.
Having always loved the holidays, I hope to make new traditions and enjoy them once again... in this year and the next few.

A Week in Pictures

Wrong, In All The Right Ways

What a day.
Blaming it on Solar Flares...
Yes, Yes I am.

Some days you are the windshield, some days you are the bug.

Today was a buggy day.
So after having a bowl of potato soup and cruising my favorite websites, I turned on the TV. Chose to channel surf today. Stopped on a couple of show channels and nothing caught my interest. So then I chose VH1 and Pink started Raising a Glass to me.
It truly was the beginning of a flash back.
When I was 19 or so, MTV came on for the first time. It was, of course, all the rage. There was Martha Quinn and all my favorite songs with outrageous videos (for the time).
The one night that is extremely memorable was spent watching MTV with Robert Lockwood at one of his friends house.
We had been to the Paramount Club in Amarillo TX, dancing and having fun. After the club closed, we went to his friend's house to hang out. I can even remember what I was wearing, black jeans, and a hot pink and black striped shirt that was a knit pullover, with a plunging V-neck and puffy-topped long sleeves.
I only knew Robert a few days before this night and a few days later he moved to Japan with a bunch of marines.
I have thought of him many times over the years and always wondered "what if"... man I really made a mistake in losing him...

And then the conversation I had with my son this afternoon came to mind. We joked about making all our mistakes early in life so we could have them out of the way and not worry about doing stupid things, or making mistakes that hurt others later in our lives.
It really made me laugh. I wish it were true. Life would be so much simpler if it was.
So, yeah... the universe is talking to me today, and apparently, my son and others in my life as well.

What is the universe showing you today?

oh and the title of the post is from "Raise Your Glass" by Pink. It is a really cool song and a great video. 

Something to Write About... Part Two

Friday morning, bright and early, my flat mate and I boarded the ferry boat bound for the mainland. We chose to travel early rather than rush on Thursday afternoon and drive 3 or more hours in heavy traffic to Abu Dhabi.
We chose wisely.
The ferry left on time and was not crowded at all. Less than a dozen cars and not many more people. We were two of five women on the boat. It is an easy calculation because women sit in a different area than men on the ferry. The water was beautiful, the sunrise divine.
The waves were a bit rougher than I have experienced before, but we figured it might be due to how light the boat was without a full load.
After docking in Jebel Dhana and making our way to the main highway, her phone rang. A co-worker on the ferry let us know the ferrys had been cancelled for the rest of the day because of the rough sea due to wind.
Wow, weren't we lucky to have made it to the main land before that decision was made? Well, that is debatable.
There is always a long list of places and items to find in Abu Dhabi and priorities have to be made. So we took care of several things on Friday, like the Teacher's Place, Spinney's Supermarket, the furniture store, checking into the hotel for the evening, visiting with friends and eating a great meal.
Spinney's is a great Ex-pat store with many brands from the states and a "must" visit before heading back to the island. So, actually it was a recon mission to see what they had for Halloween.
It was a wonderful day that found me stating how happy I was for two main reasons: one was our GPSR or SAT NAV as my flat mate calls it, is very up to date, has a sexy man voice and took us to a new Spinney's we hadn't been to. The other was the radio station we had on was playing great music.
We chose wisely.
Saturday morning found us sleeping a bit late and heading out to make a few new places and then to IKEA before heading back to the Ferry.

Before we even made it to our first stop, there was a text and phone call.
The ferry was not going to run all day because of high winds.
WHAT? We need to work tomorrow morning...
We can try to fly in on Saturday, but the two flights are over booked by 15 people each. The ferry in the morning is at 8:15 am and we would need to be closer to it or get up at 4 to drive in the wee hours.
Or we could stay in Abu Dhabi for a day and take the plane on Sunday and miss a day of work...
Hmmmm it was a crap shoot. Who knew what would work.
I had friends closer to the ferry we could stay with and that would alleviate the need to drive too far and give us a chance to have a decent night's sleep.
If the ferry did run, we would be at work by 10 and be able to just be "late" and not "absent".

After 2 hours of contemplation, we chose to try to make it to the ferry. Knowing that if it didn't run we would need to drive back to Abu Dhabi, a three hour drive, to try to catch the plane and leave our car at the airport.
So, at 6 am, we were up and driving to the Jebel Dhana. When we arrived at the ticket counter, we didn't even ask if the ferry was running, we just gave them our documents and money and waited.
Then, after some discussion about car registration, that had never come up before, we were handed our tickets... WHEW!
We chose wisely again....
Home by 10, and at work.

A lesson learned, don't assume the ferry will run just because it has every other time you were traveling off the island.

Something to Write About...

On the way to Abu Dhabi, my flatmate said
"We have gotten so comfortable and nothing much has been going on, so I don't have much to write home about."
UGH!!!
Don't say that! was my first thought.
It has become clear to me, that when you put the thought out there, it seems to come to pass...

Sure enough. We should be home by now, sleeping in our own beds. But NO...
we now have something to write about.

Unfortunately, I will have to wait til tomorrow to write... it is after 10 pm here
and I have been driving all day and trying to figure out the best way to get home, to my warm, cozy comfy bed.
Goodnight, until it be morrow. 

On the Road Again

Tomorrow morning, my flat mate and I are driving to Abu Dhabi. The ferry ride alone is an hour and a half. Then three more hours to the heart of the city.
Funny how I always want less of a commute somewhere, and I end up driving 200 miles anyway...
This time I am taking the camera and an extra battery.
The ferry leaves at 6 am, so hopefully some great early morning shots from the boat.
The Grand Mosque was lit up blue last time we were there, so I am hoping it is again and to get some night time shots as well.
We will be down on the Corniche to look for some school supplies, so a new area to explore.
It is a short 36 hour "getaway" but it will be good to not have a full schedule of things to take care of...
I will be happy if all I do is have a pedicure and take some photos.

oh and, btw, still don't have the ticket booked for the Winter Holiday and I tried today for 2 hours... ugh!!!

Murphy's Law

For as many years as I have not lived in the Texas Panhandle, it was a given where I would be on just about every school holiday. My boys and I would travel to see and spend time with my mother, whose nickname was Ya.
Having lost her to cancer two years ago, I haven't, or should I say, we haven't had a holiday, of any kind, that felt like a true holiday. Now having said that... the friends that have been so wonderful to have me join them for holidays need to know that I truly enjoyed them... they were just different.
This year, as amazing as it still seems... I am not in the US or now affectionately referred to as "the states", but on the other side of the world in, what seems at the moment as "the endless summer".
My co-workers ask on a regular basis "Are you going home for Christmas?" and I have vacillated back and forth. I want to go home AND I want to see the world while I am on another continent, and see other continents as well.
One friend is going to India and the trip looks amazing and affordable. I was contemplating it until I heard my own voice while talking to a friend about it... and I was saying how it looked amazing, esp. for a 15 day trip. I remember while on my trip to Turkey, where we rarely stayed "still" for a second and we had a few nights in a row in different cities, it felt like we were constantly moving with luggage in tow. So 15 nights, each in a different spot to sleep didn't sound fun to me...
Back to my original thought of going to Germany for the Christmas markets and then on to the states with a return flight at the end of the holiday. I priced it and it was a 500 dollar difference in flights, so that doesn't seem like a huge cost for a flight to Germany and much less expensive than a round trip ticket.

Today I received an email from Southwest Airlines for the lowest fares I have seen since....  I don't know when. So I clicked on the link... and it won't load.
I click on another link,.... and it won't load.
I google Southwest .com and ... you guessed it... it won't load...
so I watch a show and wait for lunch hour in the Central Time zone to be over... thinking they are just busy...
because, once I am in "the states" i.e. the GREAT STATE of TEXAS, I would like to fly to three cities, Lubbock, San Antonio and Corpus Christi and cheap flights would be wonderful, otherwise I might be renting a car and driving.
and now,
now that is late night here, (for me after 9 is late)
and after lunch in Texas,

yes, you guessed it....
the page won't load, and no matter what link I use, it ain't happening tonight...

Murphy's Law, I made a decision and now it isn't executable... well,
at least
Not Tonight

I will try again in the morning...
don't you dare buy up all the tickets before I get one...lol

Green Chiles? I don't need no stinkin' green chilies...

The island is a great place to find fresh fruit and vegetables, some of it is even grown here and not shipped in. However there are comfort food dishes I make that require some ingredients I haven't found on the island, or in Abu Dhabi.
You guessed... a small can of green chilies is a normal ingredient in a traditional family "Mexican Casserole" dish my mother taught me how to make.
Jumping up and down in the Hypermarket clapping my hands and squealing YES, YES, YES was probably the closest I have been to resembling Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally... and that was just over finding Old El Paso Red Enchilada Sauce. Of course, I would have preferred Hatch green enchilada sauce, but I knew that wasn't going to happen.
All of the other ingredients fell into place, even Tostito Rounds, which I paid a very pretty dirham for. In the end, it was worth it, and the casserole was tasty, as the empty bowls attest. It is great to have others over to dinner and have them enjoy the food. In the end, I used a can of Rotel, which had me doing the happy dance in the store aisle as well. (it truly is the "little things" that make life grand)
One of my dinner guests has been harping on me to take pictures of all the food I am making that is "western food" and not local food. I think I want to make some local dishes and learn some new recipes and take pictures of them.

Tonight, my flat mate and I went out to eat, because local food sounded good to me. An amazing dish with lentils, couscous (or a rice I don't know), pasta, chick peas, tomato sauce, fried onions, some other beans I don't know, and a spicy sauce. It is quite tasty, and a dish that could easily have fed 4 people. I also gambled on a dish that simply said "Spinach and Meat". A bottle of water to wash it all down and it was a grand total of 18 dirhams. If you calculate the exchange rate, I paid less than 5 USD for it. My camera was not in hand tonight, but next time it will be. 

Sunday Snippits

The Grand Mosque

Driving Miss Cindy

In the late 60's and early 70's my family traveled to Mexico several times a year. Well, at least once a year. A family of five in a four door Oldsmobile, or Ford Station Wagon, whichever we had at the time, with a poodle name Tommy, would trek across Texas to Piedras Negras, or Ciudad Acuna for a vacation South of the Border.
Many times we stayed in a motel with a two tone blue motif and a kidney shaped pool and a very dark cantina with tinted glass doors depicting a pink panther. It was a very enjoyable trip every time. Shopping in the market, buying silver charms for my charm bracelet and pressed metal trinkets, blankets, sandals, or whatever else caught our fancy.
At the time, I thought nothing of us driving across the border, nor did I give a thought to how narrow the streets were, much less how crowded. My Daddy just drove like it was no big deal. If he was nervous or worried, it didn't show to me.
We ate at local eateries, huevos rancheros and other local fare, visited a resort cantina with outside tables, huge olympic swimming pool with diving boards, high and low. The bar had animal heads and skins, including a snake skin the length of the bar and a full sized stuffed Grizzly bear. We never stayed there... so I don't know if they had hotel rooms or not, but I know we enjoyed exotic dinners outside, listened and danced to bands at the outside bandstand, and visited nearly every trip.
It seemed very normal at the time as something we "just" did. Now, it seems very magical and exotic compared to stories I hear from some others.
Many times since those early trips I have returned to the border towns of Mexico. One of the most memorable was when I was in college at San Angelo State and my mom drove down and we spent a few days in Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras. We were not brave enough to drive over, so we walked over and took a taxi back.
Another time, my last husband and children drove across and he was so nervous, I had to drive. It was then I realized and remembered the narrowness of the streets and craziness of the drivers. It was a short drive, parking and then driving back across the border after a day of shopping and eating. An educational experience for all.

This year I am in the UAE and so much of my experiences here are similar to the ones from trips to another country with my family. New foods, staying in the country and experiencing the culture... but also, now, driving in another country.
Last weekend, my partner teacher in the same grade level and I rented a car to drive in Abu Dhabi and back to our flat on Delma Island. There aren't many destinations we would need a car for, but the few we do have, are more easily traversed if we do have a vehicle with a motor and air conditioner. Early in our discussion of how we wanted things to go, it was decided I would drive and she would navigate... it worked out well.
As usual, the fear was greater than the reality. Riding with taxi drivers who drive like bats had me worried about the defensiveness needed as a driver. The crazy things I see other drivers do without concern had me thinking of what the traffic laws actually say, but driving in the UAE is not that difficult... most of the time.

As I drove the 3 hour drive from Abu Dhabi to our ferry to the Island we call home, my thoughts drifted to my daddy and what he would think of his little girl.... on the other side of the world, driving in a country that seems to have stood still in time for the last 40 years in so many ways, and what he would say.

He would smile this silly grin I see on my youngest son's face sometimes and in a happy voice "well look at you, young'un... when are you going to cross the equator too?" and of course he would ask if the beer here is different and warn me not to fall for any of the men.

Haven't seen a UAE beer and even though some of the men are attractive, I just keep driving along.

Very Long Day

At the end of the day
all that matters
is crisp, yet soft, white linens, caressing my freshly showered, tired yet exhilarated body, as I nestle in with a mountain of soft, downy pillows and fall asleep...
Doesn't really matter where you are in the world, you can still get so tired that you just want a familiar spot or reminder, to let you know this new life is not a dream.
Out my window is a nighttime scene that brings me peace and serenity.

The day started with a wake up call a mere 4 hours after my restless night began. Somewhere in the mix, there was last minute packing, saying goodbye to all the great people at the hotel I was leaving, boarding a bus for a 3 hour ride into the Western Region, pizza in desert, an informative meeting of what to expect over the next week. A lively dinner,  reasonably priced, with pool tables and darts... felt like home and that was a very good thing. A shower and sleep.
Today I will try out the pool and the beach.
There is so much less going on now, for a bit, I will write more often. 

I am an Island.... Girl

It is Saturday...
It is SATURDAY... already?
Time is a wondrous idea.... the days have gone by quickly
while time has seemingly stood still

Adventure to Delma Island on Monday, last Monday,
with a return on Wednesday.
Two days that felt like forever
and still seem to me as a dream.

It is a beautiful island...
with much growth about to occur.

The water is inviting and I could have stayed in it all day,
if I had a hat... (hat is purchased, a new one for the water)
The company of two other teachers that will be there, was great.
The transportation might be interesting to figure out...
if only there were golf carts there... or a Segway or a Vespa...
we will see.

As we have been told, asked, and experienced..
there is little to do there other than spend time at the beach.
Not many shops,
only one grocery store,
a women's gym, that we did not see except from afar,
a beautiful park, but it was much too hot to spend anytime outside
without being in the water.

We were there during EID which is the end celebration of Ramadan
Nothing was open except during the evening
and the first night we explored the Co-op grocery store
and the second night it was closed,
but the ice cream shop was open.
On Wednesday morning I was very ready to be back in Abu Dhabi.

So in the three days I have been at my hotel in Abu Dhabi
I contemplated my choice of the island when asked if anyone wanted to go there...
It is certainly clear to me why others did not choose it
and why I did choose it.
I can't wait to be there now...
and at the moment
I am playing the Patience Game
Wait, wait, wait, and when you think you can't stand it any more
Wait some more....
I am not antsy, or nervous, or freaking out...
I am just excited about
meeting the locals on the Island
Teaching the children
sitting on the beach
floating on the water
practicing my darts
working out
and
having the time of my life...
because

I am an Island Girl... through and through

I am Learning...

Since August 12, 2011, I have been in the UAE.
  Abu Dhabi, as a matter of fact, and August 11 is the last day I had cell phone service. It has been amazing how little I have missed it. Since I am able to communicate with everyone near and dear to my heart, yet thousands of miles away, it has been easy to do without it.

Yesterday, my new employer asked us for our mobile phone numbers... uh... I don't have one. I haven't even tried to get one. I wasn't sure what company to go with, even though there are only two choices. Especially since I didn't know where I would be placed in the Emirate.
Have I found life difficult without a mobile phone?
... uh only once, or actually twice.
Funny, one was yesterday and the other was tonight.
Yesterday, two new friends invited me to meet them for dinner at a Mexican food in a mall close to my hotel.
Even though I wasn't hungry, I wanted to join them for camaraderie and conversation. I arrived at the mall about thirty minutes early, so I could check out cell phones, only to find I had not thought things through and brought along a copy of my passport and work visa.
  Insha'allah, tomorrow I will look for a phone plan. Hmmm, well, I walk over to the mall directory and find the restaurant. Hmmmm, Mexican food, Mexican food, Mexican food... hmmmm there are no any restaurants with Mexican food....
well guess since I am 20 minutes early, I will just wait in case they show up anyway.
Long story short, they went to another mall, and I had hot chocolate at Starbucks (they don't have Chai tea in the UAE Starbucks) and then took a taxi back to the hotel when they hadn't shown up...
My phone had voicemail with one of my friends calling to let me know which mall they went to the Mexican food restaurant.

Then there was tonight. Same friends made plans to meet at another restaurant we both knew at 7 pm. We laugh and say, as we are planning, there is only ONE of them isn't there?
So I show up at the Lebanese restaurant and get a table for 3. Of course, I am early, and reading while I am waiting for fasting to end (it is Ramadan). Then I decide to ask the waiter if there are other locations... and guess what... why yes, yes there are... 3 in fact.
Hmmm, well luckily, there were two ladies at the table next to mine, with a baby. One was an LT also, and in the newest group to arrive and they asked me to join them and I did.
Two new friends made, but wishing I had a phone to call my other friends occurred more than once.
After dinner I caught a taxi to the mall to look at phones and plans with my paperwork in my purse. After a trip downstairs to the Carrefour to check out the options, I went upstairs to the provider kiosk to check plan options. The guys at both counters were very helpful.
I returned downstairs to price phones and pick out a number. Then there was the sim card and the buying of the minutes. 45 minutes later, I pay for my new phone and time and then....

the printers are calling my name....
I need some copies of my paperwork, and the hotel charges so much for copies, I thought it might be cheaper to buy an inexpensive printer and print them myself. 37 USD will buy a printer that comes with a bag to carry it in, because it is compact.
After returning to the hotel with it, I unbox it and attempt to set it up, only to find, there are no drivers compatible for my Mac...
Heavy sigh....
Guess I will pay for the copies and try to sell the printer to a friend...
Insha'allah
I am learning lessons in patience...

Abu Dhabi Adventure

Others: "So where are you going to be?"
Me: "I am not sure yet, somewhere in Al Gharbia..."
Others: "Oh... is that where you wanted to be?"

Me: "Well, when they sent the email about Delma Island, I replied and said I would love the island... but of course I did some research before I responded."

Others: "When will you know for sure?"

Me: "I don't know."

Others:" What is there to do there?"

Me: "I don't know, perhaps fishing, swimming, gardening... I really am not sure."

Others: "How long will it be before you find out where you will be living?"

Me: "I don't know."

Others: "How will you get furniture, etc. to your place there? Will the furniture companies deliver?"

Me: "I don't know." 

Others:"Aren't you nervous? Don't you want to know? Why would you want to go there?"

Me: "Not really nervous... more excited than anything. Of course I would like to know, but I am ok with waiting to find out. I have many reasons for wanting to go to the western region. Just as you have reasons for wanting to be in the city."

Slowly the wrapping is coming off the gift. I have a general idea of where I will be. I know what cell phone company to go with. I know to wait to think about buying furniture. 

In the mean time, enjoying the sights and culture. 

The Big Move

I now reside in the United Arab Emirates.
My final destination appears to be Delma Island
in a few weeks.
Right now it seems there are about 600+ people
from all over the world
hired to work as teachers
and we are staying in 3 hotels in Abu Dhabi...

For a week I have been thinking about my first post
to write involving my newest adventure

it hasn't been hard to think of things to write about
It is beautiful and lavish here
the people are very warm and friendly
oh, and when I say "the people"
I, definitely, definitely, mean the emirates....

but the story that comes to mind today,
in the spirit of this blog
that is for my children

is a Christmas story.

I love holidays, as you know
and probably my favorite as an adult is Halloween
one of the things I know I will miss from the US
is celebrating Halloween

However, as a child
my favorite holiday was Christmas

I remember my dad, A Ray, loving Christmas
in fact, he enjoyed all the other holidays too,
and is probably the main contributor
of my love for celebrating any holiday
real or conceived for a reason to celebrate
 every chance I get.

Every Christmas, for as long as I can remember
I hated having to wait to see what my presents were
I could not stand not knowing
The anticipation was pure torture

The beautiful wrapping of so many treasures
sitting out in plain sight
just waiting til I could caress them
and admire with wonder and excitement
for they had to be
the desires of my heart
surely everyone knew
as I am positive I told them
EXACTLY what I wanted.

As an adult, my skills as a pseudo detective,
interpreter of meaning, super secret sleuth,
I must say,
are directly results of my experiences
during the holiday season as a child

searching behind closed doors,
under beds,
in secret spots
and even
*gasp*
unwrapping and re-wrapping
gifts with such precision
to be undetectable
or at least in the eyes of a child
they were

it was best for me to know what the gift was
because if it was something
I did not like or didn't want
I could act surprised and happy to have it

as I am horrible at hiding displeasure
or disappointment.

the thoughts of Christmas
and the sneak peeks
have come to mind
because as I wait in this hotel room
to find out more
about the teaching adventure before me
I am not unwrapping the gift early.

I am waiting
patiently
to learn where I will be (if it changes)
what my new home will look like
what all the logistics are

while other teachers (many arrogant americans)
are emailing, antagonizing our employers and others
and spouting off information
that may or may not be true.

So I guess, my boys,
sometimes,
and I hate to admit this,
it is better to leave the gift in the box
with the beautiful wrapping intact
the way the bearer intended
until the time arrives,
the time set aside to open it.
Have Patience...

Easy as Pie

Chocolate Icebox Pie from the Tip Top Cafe in San Antonio

Having never lived outside of Texas, much less the United States, you might think I would be nervous, or scared, or even a bit looney.

When in fact, it has been quite easy (after jumping through all the proverbial hoops) to prepare for and look forward to. Saying goodbye hasn't even been difficult, because I feel like I will communicate with everyone easily enough once I am in Abu Dhabi.
It has been a whirlwind-ish two weeks, filled with time with friends, meals at favorite restaurants and attention to the details of having "it" all together and ready to go.

Now, some darn good meals, some much more expensive than others have passed my lips of late.
However, the tastiest was the tried and true Tip Top Cafe. My friend, RJ, introduced me to the (or one of the) oldest and best restaurants I know, so it was only fitting that we go there as our last outing before I leave the country. Onion rings to start, as usual, tough decision on the dinner but we both ordered the chopped steak (best anywhere) with brown gravy and grilled onions. But nothing beats their chocolate ice box pie. I order mine as soon as I sit down, because they tend to sell out sometimes, and I missed it one time.... learned my lesson then. It is so loved and ordered often that you can't even buy a whole pie, and they limit how many pieces one person can order to eat in, or carry out.

As each delicious morsel melted in my mouth, thoughts of Ya (my mother) came to mind and how she enjoyed her cream pies right up until the end. A tear started to form, and then RJ and I discussed regular business of the day and my sentimental thoughts dissipated.

A few days later, while enjoying a decadent meal with another old friend, he shared how his mother's doctor, who is German, gave her advise to move towards quality of life and not quantity of life, as she is in her 80's. It was so heartwarming to hear a Dr. thought what my mom and I thought after we found out her days were numbered and her pleasures few.

When my days are numbered, please do not deny me pie or other decadence. I am here for the quality of life, not quantity.

Now, as I board a plane tomorrow, keep in mind, I love all my friends, my boys, and those who have truly touched my life and are now gone from it, for whatever reason. My choice to leave, whether you agree with it or not, is MY choice. Because I choose quality of life and adventure of seeing new places, meeting new people and learning new things, preparing for it and looking forward to it was as easy as pie and just as sweet.

Late Night Ramble

Everyday
everyday I think of things
I want to write about
in 500 words or so
and when I sit down at the computer
they are gone
sometimes I think about them for days
and finally get them out of my head
and on the screen,
but not to the extent of my other blogs
where there are some days
of two or three posts...
or there were
a few years ago...

In three days
 I leave for Abu Dhabi
in the Middle East
where I am told
I am as safe as I am in the US
as long as I follow the rule
"when in Rome..."

Many thoughts resurface
of big changes I have experienced
in the not so distant past
that didn't turn out the way I wanted
or even resembling anything "good"

at least
not at the time

and then I am reminded
that to become stronger
we must face adversity...
well I know I haven't seen as much adversity
as many people
but I think I have seen enough
to feel like an amazon
strong enough
to take anything on...

This move is for many reasons

The first is to
satisfy my adventurous spirit
of seeing the world
and having the opportunity to do it

The second is
 to have a chance to continue teaching

It became abundantly clear
in the last 8 months

as I searched
 to find myself
regain:
myself,
my inner strength,
my life,
my sanity

that there are many things
I CAN do
and I might enjoy doing
but the one thing
I truly WANT to do
is teach
and to teach very young children

and that just wasn't going to happen
in Texas
any time soon,

The third is the opportunity to save
over half of my salary
pay no taxes on it
have housing provided
and still be able to travel
to anywhere I want
with reasonable costs

the short list
of travel destinations?

Italy
Germany
France
Greece
Australia
New Zealand

So, three great reasons to work overseas
plus, children are grown
no grandchildren in the next several (please) years
parents are both dead
Unattached with no plans to be
anything else again...
It truly is
a great time to have
The adventure of a lifetime

and then return to the states
when I have saved enough to retire
and start a whole new adventure
living off grid
with no bills


that is the plan...

Let's Roll

Truly Grand

Mere words are not adequate to describe The Grand Canyon.

Or the feelings flowing through me as I stood on the edge 

contemplating why it took me this long to be in a place

that I have always dreamed of seeing with my own eyes. 

If you know me, you know I love to be by the water, 

in particular, 

the sea, with waves, where every day, it is different

It is a good question. I love being near the water. 

I also loved sitting by the canyon all day long. 

Observing the subtle changes until the sun set. 

As I gazed out into the vastness, a voice nearby

in utter amazement exclaimed

It is different every day, 

Every day you notice something different

and it doesn't look the same each day.

I have uttered those exact words

many times in regards to the

beaches of Padre Island

There is water in the canyon, 

and just like J. W. Powell

I long to raft down the Colorado River

Sleep on the banks

Cook over an open flame

 enjoy the simplicity of the river 

and the complexity of the canyon.

A true dream that came true. 

It was the first trip I remember 

(apparently I was there as a child) 

to the Canyon, but not the last

I will hike 

I will ride donkeys

I will raft the river

even if only in my dreams. 

Watch Out

Once upon a time I wore a watch

A simple watch with easy to read numbers

A comfy two tone watch 

to wear with gold or silver jewelry

Shortly after my last husband 

(yes he is and will remain my last husband)

and I married,

 I became a teacher

It seemed a good time to replace my watch

with one very similar 

so students could see 

and read the time on it as well

The day we divorced

I took it off and laid it down

and didn't pick it up again

until last month

Last month while going through everything I own

 I found it in a drawer

A smile appeared 

as fond memories surfaced

 a trip to the jeweler ensued

A battery and new crystal later

 it is on my wrist 

wherever I go

May not seem like much 

but it is a huge paradigm shift

I don't know if I associated the watch

 with the loss of my married life

and best friend

This much I do know

 when an experience is soured for me

any representation of it is soured as well

Clothes worn when something negative has happened

rarely worn again

I no longer geocache regularly even though I love it

Gone are the days of collecting quarters 

sorting them by state and mint and organizing them

in fact I cashed them in at the bank

 except for the sets from the mint

and I really enjoyed that hobby

There are others but really these are the ones that stand out 

in this moment

So, my watch looks great

It feels great

I forget I have it on

Like an old friend

we have taken up 

right where we left off

Perhaps I will start collecting coins while overseas

It is the little things... Musical

Way back when
when you could pull music off the Internet
before they called it something illegal
I may have
inadvertently
downloaded a few of my favorite songs
onto my Dell desktop computer
purely for the love of listening
and the desire to have a playlist for
any day....
early in the morning
or Saturdays while cooking breakfast
or when we had company

A few of my all time favorites were on that playlist
Hotel California, a live performance with extended instrumental
Yellow, an all time favorite that breeds contentment and calmness in my soul
and many more

Now my confession
I love music,
I enjoy having it on in the car
Perhaps a bit too loud for most people
but not so loud you can hear the bass a block away
(that just pisses me off)
I enjoy live music
I am enamored by those who can play
However, when you ask me what album a song is from
or perhaps even who sings it
or refer to a song by it's name
I probably can't answer or
even be sure what song you are referring to

There is so much information in the world
esp. in the last ten years,
and my brain picks and chooses what to keep in memory
and that isn't one of the things I hold onto easily
now if you name an Eagles song, I know it, and who sings it
or others I learned before the age of 21or so

anyway, back to the story

The desktop the play list was on
is still in my possession
but there have been 3 computers since then
all laptops
of course I wanted to move my music to them
but used the desktop to play it still, through good speakers
so there wasn't really a need
to "change"
until now

The newest computer is a Mac
yes, I have gone over to the dark side
as some of you would believe
and yes
I have entered the light
as some others would believe

I like it
and I am taking it to the UAE with me
so
time to burn music and make play lists
I did move the music from the desktop over
but it isn't "compatible"
and it was probably not really legal either
so yesterday
I started burning all my cd's onto the mac and
I finally ordered my first songs from I-tunes
and today
today I listened to my new favorite playlist

Yes the little things do matter
the songs brought back memories
good feelings
good thoughts
a feeling of comfort and familiarity
I will take with me
wherever I wander
to give me peace and calmness
wherever I am.

One of the greatest memories this morning
was of my sons, when they were younger
and simple days spent at home with them
One playing the trumpet
the other explaining something techy to me

sadly, I didn't find the exact same Hotel California long play,
but looking on the bright side
it will grow on me and be as good as the other one... soon.

Happy Listening my friends, to whatever music you love
keep walking to the beat of your own drummer
and dance to the beat of others.