on my mind

I can hear cats fighting off in the distance... I hate hearing this sound, especially when it continues on and on, like this one - since they're still fighting and it's been over 5 mins.

There's a Russian woman that lives in some flats around the block from us and she lets her male cat out during the day and night. He fights w/ all the cats, and he's big, so I'm sure that many smaller ones are afraid of him. I feel like telling her to keep her cat inside. For one, these outdoor cats could have anything and pass it to him, he's intruding on their territory and, for all they know, he's wanting to impregnate the females and take their food (which is very hard to come by). It irritates me when ppl don't give a crap ... but as I must, I tell myself... "what to do"... and move on.

Yesterday I was reading in the English paper (Gulf Daily News) how 5 lions and 2 tigers were left here by the circus. Thank God the circus left. Ppl in my immediate area were complaining of roars at night and were afraid the animals would get loose. I have to laugh a little to myself when I think about the animals getting loose and scaring ppl, altho the authorities would probably kill them, so better for us that it didn't happen.

Saw pictures of the big cats in tiny, steel cages w/ no food or water. They're saying that they haven't been fed in 4 days (today being the 5th day), altho those in charge are saying something different. Makes me sick to think about how little ppl care about the lives of these animals. They only see them as entertainment. Forcing them to do stunts that they're not meant to do... parade them around in front of ppl, making ppl think they can be tamed. No wonder so many animals kill their handlers. Truly, I see why and don't blame the animals. The only thing I dislike is that the animal is usually killed after such. Animals shouldn't be in circus' ... how barbarian is this? I used to protest, in Dallas, against the circus with the animal rights' group I belonged to. We'd stand on corners and down the walkways handing out flyers that showed how the animals were beaten and kept in poor environments during circus time. Some ppl showed true interest while many made negative comments and trashed the leaflet right in front of me. I guess something I'll never get used to or understand is how ppl can be cruel to animals.

Oh yeah... think we're going to adopt another dog :)))) Two guys were walking their dogs thru our neighborhood last night and I ran in and got Noof and hubby to get a look. They were bull mastiffs (sp??) and soooo lovable. One was 11 mths old and the other 2 mths. After we came inside, Hashim said that we could go look at dogs. :) I can hardly wait.

Don't know how many of you have heard about this, but there's a British woman fighting for custody of her son right now in Qatar. She was once the wife of a Qatari national and years after he died, his family, in Qatar, asked that she bring her son to visit the relatives there. Stating that the grandmother was ill. After going there, she let her son go and visit the grandmother w/ the uncle and, since then, they're refusing to give the child back to her. They've only allowed to see him, supervised, twice or three times and are claiming they now have custody of the child. Petitions have been going around like crazy to get the son back with one being sent to the Amir's wife in Qatar and they're even taking it to Geneva. There's a facebook group and a petition online if you're interested in signing it. I think it's called 'Get Adam Back' or 'Return Adam'.

This has made me and some of my friends who are married to Bahraini's seriously think of our child's future if anything like that were to happen to our husbands. Me and another friend are going to get court documents signed and stamped that say if something were to happen to us or our husbands or to both, our families would get custody of the children. I can't imagine what this mother is going through and I find that I put myself in her shoes and it's frightening. Being a foreigner in a Muslim country with a child who is Muslim... well... so many things could happen and it doesn't look like the embassies get involved... for the British embassy is doing nothing for this woman, I believe. So could only imagine that the American embassy/govt wouldn't get involved....

We're headed out to the Bahrain International Air Show tomorrow w/ some friends. I'm sure Naief will love it. The Bahraini, French, US, Jordanian, and Saudi air forces will be doing their stuff, as well as Team Viper BAC 167 Strikemaster light attack aircraft, Sukhoi SU 27 jet fighter, and Mark Jefferies' Extra 330C solo aerobatic display. They're supposed to have stuff there for the kids and family.. so we'll head over there by about 11, the air show starts at 1:30 and they'll have fireworks at 5:30. I hope to get some good pics and I'll post them here later.

Saw my MIL at the park that's opened down the street from us late yesterday. She said hello and asked how I was to which I said hello and said that I was fine. Nothing else said.... haven't seen the in-laws in probably 2 mths. And you know... it's peaceful. :)