So many things have been going on... been wanting to write for a while, but have also been thinking about not blogging again or creating new acct where i can be myself, talk about what i want w/out the fear of someone knowing me or telling other ppl that i don't want to know....
been doing swim training to become a coach/swim instructor. started this about 4 wks ago. love it. am training at the dilmun club and the british school. love both places, but would really like to get in the pool and swim laps w/ the kids at the school since it's been forever and a day since i've done any real swimming and i find that i'm not too sure that my strokes are proper and being the perfectionist that i am, i have to know that my strokes are spot on. so will see what i can do about getting in the pool w/ someone that can give me real advice and push me.... so that i'm ready for my testing in november. i'll test for my level 1 then which will qualify me to give classes under another instructor until i take my level 2 test. then i'll be qualified to teach anywhere in the world.... but am hoping that i might be able to stay on at the british school. that would be a dream..... :) so i have my fingers crossed and am hoping.
i'm doing this in the afternoons so it's been up to daddy to watch naief and keep him busy pretty much until bedtime. so far so good. :)
what else???? not sure if i mentioned that someone took our dog. i came home one afternoon and the dog was gone. i have no idea what happened. i still think about him... look out for signs and wonder if he's dead or roaming the streets.... i have no idea... but it all makes me very confused w/ sadness and anger.
on family news, naief and i got over the hand, foot and mouth virus two wks ago. what a terrible, awful virus. horrible fever, chills, ulcers in the mouth, on hands, feet, ears, around mouth and nose. the blisters dry up like chicken pox, so after that happens, you're clear to go out and about, since it's very, very contagious. naief is a lot better now, but we both seem to have a cough that wont go away.....
other than that.... not much going on. been taking care of myself. giving myself the permission to get manicures and pedicures which is really helping to keep my nails strong and healthy. it's been forever since having nice nails.... so it's fun to see them on myself. also been having regular facials which has given me a nice boost of self esteem. dyed my hair real dark, colored my eyebrows and eye lashes, so i'm a dark bruneete now. :) i like it. i also cut my hair short, so i feel like a new woman on a new mission with life.
oh yeah, also been watching a lot of documentaries and conspiracy theories about the U.S. and their involvement in 9/11. i'm convinced they were behind it.....utterly convinced. not only that, been watching all sorts of things about different wars and all things that U.S. has done to involve themselves with things to get money...... never been a history buff so this is very eye opening for me.
hope all of you have been good. peace to you.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
cats and the dog
Haven't seen two of my cats in two days. One has taken to staying outside, which worries me a bit, but.... she's staying close, so that's good. I called the two missing cats today, but have yet to hear or see them. Maybe they'll come out in a day or so. Hashim saw Petunia last night which calms my nerves a bit.
Snoop Dog (scooby) loves to chase the cats. He barks at them like mad, but gets low on his front legs, like wanting to play, so I know it's all out of innocence.... altho they don't care about that. They hate him. Yesterday, he spent all afternoon barking at Puss. She's top cat and refuses to play nice.... but seems to be making a stab at playing nice.... even jumping up next to him on the sofa this afternoon. She didn't stay long and hissed and spat once, but didn't strike him. That's a very good thing. :) I could swear he smiled and was so happy. He's dying to be friends.
Cats and dogs are soooo different. I can see why some ppl are cat ppl and some are dog ppl. I'm letting my guard down this time around and trying to be less afraid. Dogs scare me a bit. Once, as a young girl, I was babysitting for a friend and their young doberman scared me. He/she played rough and I was too young to understand. We also once kept a dog for someone... I think it was a grown doberman and it took to my mom and stepdad's room. He/she would lay on the bed and growl at me sometimes when I'd go inside. I thought it was possessed or something.... so I was terrified of it. Terrified of that room after the dog left.... even had a ghostly experience while playing with a friend of mine in that room.
Frankie, my oldest cat, is really sick. He spent the night at the vet's night before last and they took blood and gave lots of meds for him to take over the next 3 days. His blood was fine, which surprises me since I thought his kidney's were failing. They're fine. His thyroid is okay, altho the symptoms he's having is caused by that. Hashim told them that he's having massive diarrhea, but since he didn't have that problem while in their care, they aren't too worried. Today, he's gone twice in various places and is peeing all over the house.... but maybe it's because he has a bad cold and I can only imagine how he must feel w/ the diarrhea. Imagine how sick you feel when you're having that.... with a bad cold on top of it and always being hungry and thirsty. Poor guy. He's only a year older than Puss and Aimee and they're both healthy.... so my heart pours out to him.
I fixed boiled chicken today and gave him a bunch of it. I'm mixing some of it w/ Snoop's food as well... but he still isn't eating a lot. I think the cats are eating a good portion of his food and he ate a tiny bit this morning when I sat down next to his bowl... so I'm gonna try getting down on all fours and pretend to eat it and see if that makes a difference. I'm trying to be real positive and give 'em lots of positive energy about his food... so I'll give it a little more time. It worries me though, since Henry did the same and was sick. I don't want to take him to the vet too quickly for fear it'll stress him out, so I'll wait at least two weeks, then make an appt to have his teeth cleaned and have him neutered.
Yesterday he spent a good hour humping our bedroom comforter. Naief laughed and asked, "momma, what is he doin" and I laughed and told him that he's crazy. Do dogs stop this once they're fixed???? I can only imagine if he gets Naief down or something or starts it w/ me!!!
Frankie used to do that to Jewels when he was younger and he's been fixed since he was 8 wks old.... so I guess they do it regardless. Lord help me :)))
Honestly, I feel like I have a house full of kids! I've gotten a headache for the last two days with his barking... but I'm trying not to let it unnerve me. I do raise my voice and tell him to quiet down and stop barking... but even with that, I have to be careful because Naief mimics everything I do and he'll start raising his voice or yelling at the animals to stop barking or fighting and such.... :)
Snoop Dog (scooby) loves to chase the cats. He barks at them like mad, but gets low on his front legs, like wanting to play, so I know it's all out of innocence.... altho they don't care about that. They hate him. Yesterday, he spent all afternoon barking at Puss. She's top cat and refuses to play nice.... but seems to be making a stab at playing nice.... even jumping up next to him on the sofa this afternoon. She didn't stay long and hissed and spat once, but didn't strike him. That's a very good thing. :) I could swear he smiled and was so happy. He's dying to be friends.
Cats and dogs are soooo different. I can see why some ppl are cat ppl and some are dog ppl. I'm letting my guard down this time around and trying to be less afraid. Dogs scare me a bit. Once, as a young girl, I was babysitting for a friend and their young doberman scared me. He/she played rough and I was too young to understand. We also once kept a dog for someone... I think it was a grown doberman and it took to my mom and stepdad's room. He/she would lay on the bed and growl at me sometimes when I'd go inside. I thought it was possessed or something.... so I was terrified of it. Terrified of that room after the dog left.... even had a ghostly experience while playing with a friend of mine in that room.
Frankie, my oldest cat, is really sick. He spent the night at the vet's night before last and they took blood and gave lots of meds for him to take over the next 3 days. His blood was fine, which surprises me since I thought his kidney's were failing. They're fine. His thyroid is okay, altho the symptoms he's having is caused by that. Hashim told them that he's having massive diarrhea, but since he didn't have that problem while in their care, they aren't too worried. Today, he's gone twice in various places and is peeing all over the house.... but maybe it's because he has a bad cold and I can only imagine how he must feel w/ the diarrhea. Imagine how sick you feel when you're having that.... with a bad cold on top of it and always being hungry and thirsty. Poor guy. He's only a year older than Puss and Aimee and they're both healthy.... so my heart pours out to him.
I fixed boiled chicken today and gave him a bunch of it. I'm mixing some of it w/ Snoop's food as well... but he still isn't eating a lot. I think the cats are eating a good portion of his food and he ate a tiny bit this morning when I sat down next to his bowl... so I'm gonna try getting down on all fours and pretend to eat it and see if that makes a difference. I'm trying to be real positive and give 'em lots of positive energy about his food... so I'll give it a little more time. It worries me though, since Henry did the same and was sick. I don't want to take him to the vet too quickly for fear it'll stress him out, so I'll wait at least two weeks, then make an appt to have his teeth cleaned and have him neutered.
Yesterday he spent a good hour humping our bedroom comforter. Naief laughed and asked, "momma, what is he doin" and I laughed and told him that he's crazy. Do dogs stop this once they're fixed???? I can only imagine if he gets Naief down or something or starts it w/ me!!!
Frankie used to do that to Jewels when he was younger and he's been fixed since he was 8 wks old.... so I guess they do it regardless. Lord help me :)))
Honestly, I feel like I have a house full of kids! I've gotten a headache for the last two days with his barking... but I'm trying not to let it unnerve me. I do raise my voice and tell him to quiet down and stop barking... but even with that, I have to be careful because Naief mimics everything I do and he'll start raising his voice or yelling at the animals to stop barking or fighting and such.... :)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Hello Scooby :))))
Went to the Dilmun Club today to let Naief and two of his cousins play and, when walking in, saw his picture on the bulletin board and decided to call. He's 3 1/2 yrs old and has been around cats... which is a really good thing, since we have 8 furbabies.
He's a bit nervous, hasn't eaten anything so far - altho I know he must be hungry - has terrible teeth and hasn't been neutered. After he settles down and gets comfortable with us we'll take him to the vet to get fixed and to have his teeth cleaned.
He's smaller than Henry and seems very friendly and gentle. Wants to be next to me a lot, really likes Hashim, and is gentle with Naief, which is good because Naief seems to really like him. Even crying at bedtime because Scooby was taken out of the bedroom.
We're gonna change his name to Snoop Dog, so we've started calling him Scooby Snoop to let 'em get used to the new name. The woman at the kennel said that we could call him his new name after about 10 days.
He's lived with a few different families/ppl, the last giving him up because she had hip surgery and he wanted to sit on her lap all the time. The first woman/family had him when he was a puppy and after returning from holiday, the husband decided that they wouldn't pick him up. The kennel woman said that Scooby had been very ill when he was young and they thought he was going to die, but he didn't, and I guess her husband didn't want the dog and refused to allow her to keep him. I'd like to find out what was wrong w/ him when he was young, but not sure if that'll be possible. I find myself getting scared of tick fever.... that his body could have the parasite, so when we take him in to the vet for shots, neutering and such, we'll have him tested since stress can set it off.
If he doesn't start eating by tomorrow I'll take him back over to the kennel to eat there, walk around a bit and then bring him home. This woman suggests this and I agree. She said that it'll show him that everything's ok and the kennel is still there... to reassure him. Sure wish we had the dog whisperer on TV here.
I'm really happy to have him. He reminds me of Henry.... looks a bit like him, but is golden amber with cream on his chest. He has the same type of curled tail so am assuming he's mixed w/ a desert dog. He's very curious of the cats and chased Chaplina up the outside wall today.... so we'll have to watch him w/ her... and with Puss, since she's on kitty cop mode. :)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
planning a party
Started planning Naief's 3rd birthday yesterday. Hubby was still undecided until then on whether or not we should do it, but he relented and said yes :) We'll do it here at home and, believe it or not, I'm going to try my luck at making him a train bday cake! I looked online and they look relatively easy... so I'm gonna go for it.
Thought we'd keep it small, but by the time you start putting your list together, the number of kids grows real fast. But it'll be fun and he'll enjoy it, I think.
Gonna do a water balloon toss, musical chairs, pinata (sponge bob) and hubby will grill some Arabic meat and we'll do finger sandwiches, chips, dips, fruit salad, and cake and ice cream. The weather has been nice during the day, so the majority of the time we'll spend outside and then if the kids get restless, maybe we'll stroll up to the park after eating.
Gonna invite the in-laws, so it'll be interesting to see who comes.
Me and a friend are gonna take the kids to see Avatar tomorrow. We first thought it might be too violent, but we've both heard that it's not bloody or anything, and the fight scene is pretty tame, so I think it'll be an interesting experience - especially in 3D. I'm wondering how Naief will do wearing the glasses.... can't see him wanting to keep them on... but maybe he might.
Think we'll look at a German Sheppard puppy tomorrow. It's a girl and she's black and brown. We saw one today and found out that there's a puppy that's being sold... and hubby agreed... and she's not too expensive... so who knows, maybe we'll get a new puppy. Naief would love that, and a puppy could grow up with us and the cats, which will be good. Don't know for sure that it'll happen... but it could... :)
Naief is better now. Will take his antibiotics until Sat., and they've already made a huge difference. No coughing, no runny nose and he hasn't complained of any kind of ear ache, but think we'll take him in for a re-check next wk w/ his pediatrician and just make sure it's all cleared up.
That's about it for me. Nothing too exciting happening on this side of the pond. Hope you all have a good weekend.
Thought we'd keep it small, but by the time you start putting your list together, the number of kids grows real fast. But it'll be fun and he'll enjoy it, I think.
Gonna do a water balloon toss, musical chairs, pinata (sponge bob) and hubby will grill some Arabic meat and we'll do finger sandwiches, chips, dips, fruit salad, and cake and ice cream. The weather has been nice during the day, so the majority of the time we'll spend outside and then if the kids get restless, maybe we'll stroll up to the park after eating.
Gonna invite the in-laws, so it'll be interesting to see who comes.
Me and a friend are gonna take the kids to see Avatar tomorrow. We first thought it might be too violent, but we've both heard that it's not bloody or anything, and the fight scene is pretty tame, so I think it'll be an interesting experience - especially in 3D. I'm wondering how Naief will do wearing the glasses.... can't see him wanting to keep them on... but maybe he might.
Think we'll look at a German Sheppard puppy tomorrow. It's a girl and she's black and brown. We saw one today and found out that there's a puppy that's being sold... and hubby agreed... and she's not too expensive... so who knows, maybe we'll get a new puppy. Naief would love that, and a puppy could grow up with us and the cats, which will be good. Don't know for sure that it'll happen... but it could... :)
Naief is better now. Will take his antibiotics until Sat., and they've already made a huge difference. No coughing, no runny nose and he hasn't complained of any kind of ear ache, but think we'll take him in for a re-check next wk w/ his pediatrician and just make sure it's all cleared up.
That's about it for me. Nothing too exciting happening on this side of the pond. Hope you all have a good weekend.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
on my last nerve
Yesterday was a pretty good day, even though we had to take Naief to ER at 2 in the morning with a 39.2 temp. He had been running a high temp since 6, and after piggybacking Advil and Voltarin suppositories with no luck in stopping the fever, we ran him over to the government hospital, down the street. The place was packed, and the pediatrics ER was the worst. All the beds were full and kids were so sick that I wanted to turn the other way and run. After waiting about 30 mins, he was seen by a dr. and we were told he had a bad ear infection. He was given a suppository; we were instructed to give him a shower there and wait 30 mins to see if the fever was coming down. Trying to calm him down to take the suppository and then to get his clothes off to give him a shower.... and then waiting until 4 to see if the fever would break... we didn't get home until 4:30.
He slept until 11 and then got up, feeling fine or so we thought. No fever and he was running around like crazy, and then said he wanted to go to the air show. Begging actually.... so, what did we decide to do? Take him. He had a really good time. Loved watching all the planes, but near the end, he started getting a fever again, so we decided to let him have a crying fit when he couldn't ride the kiddie airplanes or bounce in the bouncy house, and take him home.
So... what happens next? We head over to get on one of the buses to go back to the parking area, and the place is probably 300 deep in ppl standing in line to get on a bus. Naief is sick and crying, had refused to wear socks w/ his crocs, so mommy takes off her socks to put on him, which leads to another crying fit... and we're stuck in a gawwwwd awful long line with all the little Arab beauties walking past us with high heels, fancy headscarves and fancy clothes - walking to the front of the line, that we can't see, and never coming back. So obviously they're either getting on a bus or getting in line up there. Time is ticking, more and more ppl (the beautiful ones) are going in droves to the front, the line is not moving and I'm getting pissed.
Security guys are walking towards our part of the line, counting ppl. As they go past, I tell Hashim that it's pretty good that all these ppl are going to the front and getting on the buses while we're waiting here... so as the little security guys come back our way, he starts talking to them in Arabic about it. What do they do? Make every excuse and obviously start saying how these ppl aren't being allowed and are having to come back, and then little ole me chimes in how that isn't happening and that none of these ppl have come back and we know they're getting on the buses. It wasn't but a second until the lady behind me starts in, the guys in front of us and the other guys beside us. I then tell him how our son is sick and the line isn't moving and why can't we get on a bus. He looks at Naief and motions for us to go the front.
I can only imagine what the ppl around us were saying, and I don't blame them. I would have been pissed too... but, they didn't have kids and Naief was sick, so I felt like we should have been given special treatment, since all these other women were being given special treatment for whatever reason. So... we go the front and immediately one of the headmasters tells us to go back... I guess looking Western and not being all dressed up made a difference. I then tell him that the security guy told us we could get on the bus and he then asks which one and I point to the back. I stand there, pointing... looking at him and hubby talking to him in Arabic.... frustrated, he lets us through. :)))) ehheheh
At the bus, an American (which I didn't know until she opened her mouth) with her family and husband immediately starts going on about all the ppl cutting in line and how she's been standing in line forever and that at least 1,000 ppl have cut in line. I immediately told her that we cut in line because our son is sick and and that, yeah, there were tons of ppl cutting in line. She snarled at me pretty much and said, "I DIDN'T MEAN YOU!" Everyone starts then... her daughter saying something like it wasn't 1,000 ppl, and she seemed almost defeated and said that it was a good bus load with her husband chiming in that it was prob more than a bus load. I understood her anger completely, but only wished that I hadn't been one to cut in line... but .... you know, sometimes we should (as foreigners here) do the same crap. Being polite and not standing up gets nowhere sometimes...
I get soooo sick of it, really. Ppl thinking that they can do whatever they want, and the thing is, they get away with it... that's why it's truly sickening, and probably why it keeps happening. No one stands up to it. No one says anything. Everything's "inshallah".... people are so afraid of pissing someone off.
Same thing today.... with ppl coming in to the studio to record. Supposed to start at 9 and finish at 1. Back to back recordings. But... does that mean anything to anyone?!!!!! No. Do they give a damn? No. Do they think about other ppl and their schedules and the fact that it's a Saturday - the weekend - and we've made the studio available to them, but it's our freakin weekend?????!!!! No. Instead, first lady comes at 9:45. If she wanted 10, why didn't she schedule at 10?! The woman scheduled at 10 had to wait a good 40 mins. before starting. Good thing hers only took 10 mins to record! Oh but wait.
The guy that was supposed to come at 11 didn't come until 11:40, and the ppl supposed to come at 12 called to say they couldn't come until 1:30, even though we couldn't do 1:30 and suggested 3... they didn't want 3. They had to have the work done by 3, so they had to come at 1:30.... well, tell me this... why didn't you keep your 12 o'clock slot, like originally planned if it was so urgent??? That would have given significant time to get the work to the client by 3!! And are they finished? No.
Nothing is ever on time here. No one knows what it means to be on time. Is this from getting things handed to them, wanting for nothing, and being pampered and hovered over all of their childhood and adult life, thus far? Is is because no one has the balls to say anything to anybody for fear of having their names tarnished or for fear of losing business? I don't know.. maybe it's me. Maybe it's because of the way I was brainwashed in the American culture and taught something far different... one FB friend said that it's because of the Industrial Era and how it was passed down to us, but didn't affect Arabia and how ppl here do things differently. They see relationships as more important and, therefore, business is put on a back burner. Ppl like to have things more flexible... talk about family life, how things are going... and then get to the business. Well, I guess that's one way of doing things... but I see it as rude. Ppl take others for granted and have no respect. I just can't imagine having a meeting scheduled at 10 and showing up at 1o:45 and then shooting the shit for another 10 to 15 mins, and then start the meeting... am I missing something here?
Not only that... but I truly get sick of ppl coming over to the house, unannounced and staying for hours upon hours. You know.. there is such a thing as quality time with your spouse... you know, that alone time that you don't get when you have a child. That alone time you sorta look forward to.... in the evenings.
aaahhhhh... now I feel better. ;)
Btw, the airshow was incredible! The American planes/pilots were the best, by far. One, in an F16, I think, came racing towards our area and broke the sound barrier right before he got to us.... looked like some type of time warp was happening behind his plane and the sound... oh man... unbelievable. I found myself in awe watching him race through the air. The B2 Bomber... the sound of that thing, left everything vibrating well after he was gone. Truly something. The French were really good as well and the Saudi planes at the end were also really good. A few of their stunts left me breathless.... that flying so close to each other that you'd think they'd crash kind of feeling....
He slept until 11 and then got up, feeling fine or so we thought. No fever and he was running around like crazy, and then said he wanted to go to the air show. Begging actually.... so, what did we decide to do? Take him. He had a really good time. Loved watching all the planes, but near the end, he started getting a fever again, so we decided to let him have a crying fit when he couldn't ride the kiddie airplanes or bounce in the bouncy house, and take him home.
So... what happens next? We head over to get on one of the buses to go back to the parking area, and the place is probably 300 deep in ppl standing in line to get on a bus. Naief is sick and crying, had refused to wear socks w/ his crocs, so mommy takes off her socks to put on him, which leads to another crying fit... and we're stuck in a gawwwwd awful long line with all the little Arab beauties walking past us with high heels, fancy headscarves and fancy clothes - walking to the front of the line, that we can't see, and never coming back. So obviously they're either getting on a bus or getting in line up there. Time is ticking, more and more ppl (the beautiful ones) are going in droves to the front, the line is not moving and I'm getting pissed.
Security guys are walking towards our part of the line, counting ppl. As they go past, I tell Hashim that it's pretty good that all these ppl are going to the front and getting on the buses while we're waiting here... so as the little security guys come back our way, he starts talking to them in Arabic about it. What do they do? Make every excuse and obviously start saying how these ppl aren't being allowed and are having to come back, and then little ole me chimes in how that isn't happening and that none of these ppl have come back and we know they're getting on the buses. It wasn't but a second until the lady behind me starts in, the guys in front of us and the other guys beside us. I then tell him how our son is sick and the line isn't moving and why can't we get on a bus. He looks at Naief and motions for us to go the front.
I can only imagine what the ppl around us were saying, and I don't blame them. I would have been pissed too... but, they didn't have kids and Naief was sick, so I felt like we should have been given special treatment, since all these other women were being given special treatment for whatever reason. So... we go the front and immediately one of the headmasters tells us to go back... I guess looking Western and not being all dressed up made a difference. I then tell him that the security guy told us we could get on the bus and he then asks which one and I point to the back. I stand there, pointing... looking at him and hubby talking to him in Arabic.... frustrated, he lets us through. :)))) ehheheh
At the bus, an American (which I didn't know until she opened her mouth) with her family and husband immediately starts going on about all the ppl cutting in line and how she's been standing in line forever and that at least 1,000 ppl have cut in line. I immediately told her that we cut in line because our son is sick and and that, yeah, there were tons of ppl cutting in line. She snarled at me pretty much and said, "I DIDN'T MEAN YOU!" Everyone starts then... her daughter saying something like it wasn't 1,000 ppl, and she seemed almost defeated and said that it was a good bus load with her husband chiming in that it was prob more than a bus load. I understood her anger completely, but only wished that I hadn't been one to cut in line... but .... you know, sometimes we should (as foreigners here) do the same crap. Being polite and not standing up gets nowhere sometimes...
I get soooo sick of it, really. Ppl thinking that they can do whatever they want, and the thing is, they get away with it... that's why it's truly sickening, and probably why it keeps happening. No one stands up to it. No one says anything. Everything's "inshallah".... people are so afraid of pissing someone off.
Same thing today.... with ppl coming in to the studio to record. Supposed to start at 9 and finish at 1. Back to back recordings. But... does that mean anything to anyone?!!!!! No. Do they give a damn? No. Do they think about other ppl and their schedules and the fact that it's a Saturday - the weekend - and we've made the studio available to them, but it's our freakin weekend?????!!!! No. Instead, first lady comes at 9:45. If she wanted 10, why didn't she schedule at 10?! The woman scheduled at 10 had to wait a good 40 mins. before starting. Good thing hers only took 10 mins to record! Oh but wait.
The guy that was supposed to come at 11 didn't come until 11:40, and the ppl supposed to come at 12 called to say they couldn't come until 1:30, even though we couldn't do 1:30 and suggested 3... they didn't want 3. They had to have the work done by 3, so they had to come at 1:30.... well, tell me this... why didn't you keep your 12 o'clock slot, like originally planned if it was so urgent??? That would have given significant time to get the work to the client by 3!! And are they finished? No.
Nothing is ever on time here. No one knows what it means to be on time. Is this from getting things handed to them, wanting for nothing, and being pampered and hovered over all of their childhood and adult life, thus far? Is is because no one has the balls to say anything to anybody for fear of having their names tarnished or for fear of losing business? I don't know.. maybe it's me. Maybe it's because of the way I was brainwashed in the American culture and taught something far different... one FB friend said that it's because of the Industrial Era and how it was passed down to us, but didn't affect Arabia and how ppl here do things differently. They see relationships as more important and, therefore, business is put on a back burner. Ppl like to have things more flexible... talk about family life, how things are going... and then get to the business. Well, I guess that's one way of doing things... but I see it as rude. Ppl take others for granted and have no respect. I just can't imagine having a meeting scheduled at 10 and showing up at 1o:45 and then shooting the shit for another 10 to 15 mins, and then start the meeting... am I missing something here?
Not only that... but I truly get sick of ppl coming over to the house, unannounced and staying for hours upon hours. You know.. there is such a thing as quality time with your spouse... you know, that alone time that you don't get when you have a child. That alone time you sorta look forward to.... in the evenings.
aaahhhhh... now I feel better. ;)
Btw, the airshow was incredible! The American planes/pilots were the best, by far. One, in an F16, I think, came racing towards our area and broke the sound barrier right before he got to us.... looked like some type of time warp was happening behind his plane and the sound... oh man... unbelievable. I found myself in awe watching him race through the air. The B2 Bomber... the sound of that thing, left everything vibrating well after he was gone. Truly something. The French were really good as well and the Saudi planes at the end were also really good. A few of their stunts left me breathless.... that flying so close to each other that you'd think they'd crash kind of feeling....
Thursday, January 21, 2010
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. :)
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. :)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
happy weekend
It's Thursday and the weekend is upon us. The weather is turning cooler and it's getting windy this afternoon. Don't know what the temp is outside, but the breeze coming into the house is chilly... feels like it could be 50 degrees.... I know it's not, but it chills you to the bone! It's probably only 70 something.... I guess for those of you under heavy snow, this would be considered pretty nice....
Me and the music man went to the movies yesterday. Saw Sherlock Holmes. Good movie, but I think Guy Ritchie gets a little carried away w/ violence in his movies. The only one I can think of where that didn't happen was his little disaster of a movie w/ his ex, Madonna. Since it was considered a flop by most, and his other movies have been successful, that's prob why.... oh well. Hashim loved it and a friend of his did too, so it's obviously a guy thing. :)
Recently read the leaked, first five chapters of Stephanie Meyer's book ... a follow-up to the Twilight series, but this story is told from Edward's point of view. It's called Midnight Sun, and I must say... I loved it. Read it in a few hours. Couldn't put it down.... but I love these books.
Have watched some good movies/documentaries lately. Saw The Blind Side (loved it), District 9 (great, thought provoking movie), Saddam's House, Precious (didn't like it as much as I thought I would), Where The Wild Things Are (sad movie... I cried a few times), Princess and the Frog (very cute and Naief loved it), New Moon (loved, loved, loved it and can't wait for the next one), Where in the World is Osama bin Laden (liked it and think lots of you should watch it... I was actually scared for the guy when he was in Jerusalem and almost attacked by the fanatical Jews there!!!... scary stuff - no one did that to him in the Middle East, interestingly enough), The Age of Stupid (really good documentary about climate change. left me in a quandary about life, really), The Root of All Evil (documentary that questions if humanity would have been better off w/out religion or the belief in God), and some others.....
which gets me to one big thing that's been on my mind a lot, as of late, and that's faith in God and the existence of life after death. I know these things are all about one's belief and faith, and how strong these two are in one's life, but at this stage in my life I'm starting to question more and wonder if there truly is a God and IS there anything after we die. Arguably, this all comes down to my belief in God and to what has been written... but is it as simple as that? For me, no. So as not to riffle any feathers (which I've maybe already done), I'll leave it at that.... but, maybe later, I'll talk some more about it.... if anyone's interested. :)
later gatorz....
Me and the music man went to the movies yesterday. Saw Sherlock Holmes. Good movie, but I think Guy Ritchie gets a little carried away w/ violence in his movies. The only one I can think of where that didn't happen was his little disaster of a movie w/ his ex, Madonna. Since it was considered a flop by most, and his other movies have been successful, that's prob why.... oh well. Hashim loved it and a friend of his did too, so it's obviously a guy thing. :)
Recently read the leaked, first five chapters of Stephanie Meyer's book ... a follow-up to the Twilight series, but this story is told from Edward's point of view. It's called Midnight Sun, and I must say... I loved it. Read it in a few hours. Couldn't put it down.... but I love these books.
Have watched some good movies/documentaries lately. Saw The Blind Side (loved it), District 9 (great, thought provoking movie), Saddam's House, Precious (didn't like it as much as I thought I would), Where The Wild Things Are (sad movie... I cried a few times), Princess and the Frog (very cute and Naief loved it), New Moon (loved, loved, loved it and can't wait for the next one), Where in the World is Osama bin Laden (liked it and think lots of you should watch it... I was actually scared for the guy when he was in Jerusalem and almost attacked by the fanatical Jews there!!!... scary stuff - no one did that to him in the Middle East, interestingly enough), The Age of Stupid (really good documentary about climate change. left me in a quandary about life, really), The Root of All Evil (documentary that questions if humanity would have been better off w/out religion or the belief in God), and some others.....
which gets me to one big thing that's been on my mind a lot, as of late, and that's faith in God and the existence of life after death. I know these things are all about one's belief and faith, and how strong these two are in one's life, but at this stage in my life I'm starting to question more and wonder if there truly is a God and IS there anything after we die. Arguably, this all comes down to my belief in God and to what has been written... but is it as simple as that? For me, no. So as not to riffle any feathers (which I've maybe already done), I'll leave it at that.... but, maybe later, I'll talk some more about it.... if anyone's interested. :)
later gatorz....
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Happy Birthday to a music man
Monday, January 04, 2010
Happy New Year everyone!
Wow... can hardly believe it's 2010! Time sure flies by when you have a little one around. Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and the new year is finding new beginnings for all of you.
I've considered not blogging any longer, but.... after talking with a couple of friends, I've decided to keep on with it while some of you are still interested and/or just bored :)
Being a mother, I find that most of what I have to talk about is my child or home life.... but since there are some times when something juicy happens or too funny/stupid not to sure, I'll try to keep it fun, light and entertaining... try, that is. :)
The new school term has started here and Naief goes back tomorrow. We had a tumble tots class this morning and he loved it. There are 3 other boys in the class and 3 girls... all the same age/thereabouts as him. One little girl scratched him in the face while in class, he cried and then she tried to do again, but I stopped her. Her mother apologized - the little girl wouldn't - and said that she's rough because she has an older brother at home and has learned to be aggressive because of it. So... next class I'll have to keep a watchful eye on her.
Our Christmas was really good. I got gift certificates for a facial and Moroccan bath at a spa here - have already used my Moroccan bath certificate and it was absolutely fantastic. For those who have never had one or don't know what they are.... this will give you a little info on it.... It's done in a steam room where you lie flat on a stone/tiled table, and they first lather your body w/ a special soap which happens to have a very strong odor and if it gets into your eyes... watch out. It stings like no soap you can imagine - I happened to get some in my eye this time around.... not fun. After lying in the steam for about 5 - 10 mins., it's washed off, and you then get scrubbed down w/ this glove that takes off all your dead skin - and sometimes skin if they rub too hard. It hurts a little, but is worth it in the end. Then you are rubbed down w/ a mix of herbs (rosemary, thyme, etc.) and left to soak in the steam for about 10 mins. Again, washed off and soaked in a yogurt and herb mixture where you lie for another 10-15 mins. When this last part is washed off you are then rubbed down with oil. You also get a hair wash, scalp massage and conditioner that is kept on until the end while having your bath.... my skin has never felt so good and I've promised myself to have it done monthly.
Think I'll go this coming week for the facial. Been needing one of these for a while and might even upgrade to one that's more fitted to my skin type and needs. Ahhhh, I love to be pampered and don't do it nearly as often as I'd like to.... but... family first. :)
Thought I'd add a couple pics from this past weekend. We went to the camel/date farm in Jannabaiya and Naief loved it. The camels were soooo sweet and tender. And HUNGRY. Poor things. The thing I don't like about it is that they keep the males tied up to chains w/ their front legs tied together all the time. They said it was because they fight and kick, but I still found myself feeling sad about it. They had some that were probably yearlings and they were soooo skinny and hungry. We fed some, but they told us, after a bit, not to feed too much because they'd fight from wanting the food. :( Oh well, it was a nice morning.
Also went to see Where The Wild Things Are and was somewhat disappointed in it. I found hardly any happiness in the movie... ok, maybe a couple of places were happy, but not as much as I would have liked. I cried at the end... it was so sad. Naief liked it though and hubby didn't seem to be bothered one way or the other.... obviously it was just me.
I've considered not blogging any longer, but.... after talking with a couple of friends, I've decided to keep on with it while some of you are still interested and/or just bored :)
Being a mother, I find that most of what I have to talk about is my child or home life.... but since there are some times when something juicy happens or too funny/stupid not to sure, I'll try to keep it fun, light and entertaining... try, that is. :)
The new school term has started here and Naief goes back tomorrow. We had a tumble tots class this morning and he loved it. There are 3 other boys in the class and 3 girls... all the same age/thereabouts as him. One little girl scratched him in the face while in class, he cried and then she tried to do again, but I stopped her. Her mother apologized - the little girl wouldn't - and said that she's rough because she has an older brother at home and has learned to be aggressive because of it. So... next class I'll have to keep a watchful eye on her.
Our Christmas was really good. I got gift certificates for a facial and Moroccan bath at a spa here - have already used my Moroccan bath certificate and it was absolutely fantastic. For those who have never had one or don't know what they are.... this will give you a little info on it.... It's done in a steam room where you lie flat on a stone/tiled table, and they first lather your body w/ a special soap which happens to have a very strong odor and if it gets into your eyes... watch out. It stings like no soap you can imagine - I happened to get some in my eye this time around.... not fun. After lying in the steam for about 5 - 10 mins., it's washed off, and you then get scrubbed down w/ this glove that takes off all your dead skin - and sometimes skin if they rub too hard. It hurts a little, but is worth it in the end. Then you are rubbed down w/ a mix of herbs (rosemary, thyme, etc.) and left to soak in the steam for about 10 mins. Again, washed off and soaked in a yogurt and herb mixture where you lie for another 10-15 mins. When this last part is washed off you are then rubbed down with oil. You also get a hair wash, scalp massage and conditioner that is kept on until the end while having your bath.... my skin has never felt so good and I've promised myself to have it done monthly.
Think I'll go this coming week for the facial. Been needing one of these for a while and might even upgrade to one that's more fitted to my skin type and needs. Ahhhh, I love to be pampered and don't do it nearly as often as I'd like to.... but... family first. :)
Thought I'd add a couple pics from this past weekend. We went to the camel/date farm in Jannabaiya and Naief loved it. The camels were soooo sweet and tender. And HUNGRY. Poor things. The thing I don't like about it is that they keep the males tied up to chains w/ their front legs tied together all the time. They said it was because they fight and kick, but I still found myself feeling sad about it. They had some that were probably yearlings and they were soooo skinny and hungry. We fed some, but they told us, after a bit, not to feed too much because they'd fight from wanting the food. :( Oh well, it was a nice morning.
Also went to see Where The Wild Things Are and was somewhat disappointed in it. I found hardly any happiness in the movie... ok, maybe a couple of places were happy, but not as much as I would have liked. I cried at the end... it was so sad. Naief liked it though and hubby didn't seem to be bothered one way or the other.... obviously it was just me.
Friday, November 06, 2009
a tad of this life
I'm bored today.... stiff, really. We took Naief to emergency last night w/ fever, cough, runny nose and whatnot, and first thing they wanted to do was send him to Salminiya to get H1N1 vaccine... which I quickly refused. Instead I got antibiotics and the other necessary drugs to help fight off this cold. They're not even doing tests for swine flu now... immediately send you for the injection if you have any of those above symptoms. How incredibly crazy is that???? So, he's sleeping... has a small, elevated temp, but all in all, is ok. We've been watching Polar Express most of the day..... and if his fever is down, might take him out to get some art supplies for painting... thought it might be fun to make flowers out of paper plates and then plant them in our outside garden. Need more paint though and a plastic thing for the table and we're set.
Hashim left last night for Belgium. Will be gone until Tuesday.... and since today is Friday, family lunch, how did I know that no food would be sent over here. How can I expect it or even think it might happen especially seeing that I royally pissed off the queen of all queen bees..... MIL. She rules that family.... have known it from the very beginning... all the lies.... all the things I was told that weren't the truth... but for the sake of my husband and to hopelessly want them to accept me, I never said a word. Just let things run their course... bitched a lot to friends and my husband (which isn't really the greatest thing to do).... but when you have so much anger... and pain... it happens.
Somebody, think Queen, remarked on my blog comments about the school that was supposed to be started up...... all I can do is laugh about this. Have to. I knew pretty quickly where things were headed. I was told... or rather my husband... one thing and when it came down to actually doing it, it wasn't going to be my way at all. They chose the designs, told me how it would be decorated, laid out, what to buy or not to buy - not giving the necessary money like promised to buy all the essentials - which I knew would happen. And it's not cheap to go out and buy stuff to start a nursery. It was obvious to me that it would be the same as what had been happening before w/ maybe a few minor changes... THE BIGGEST.... an AMERICAN teaching. and... for anyone who has read my blog or knows me... there is a reason behind this... but I wont get into it now.
Also, I was told I could hire however many ppl I wanted, which also turned out to be a lie. I was almost forced to hire to Bahraini's from her school and one couldn't even speak English!!!!! She had been the person to change diapers at her nursery... I flat out refused. Then was told to hire another woman that I didn't want to work with.... again refusing. So I sat out to post my own ads, which had to be okayed by her, needless to say, and the interviews began... in front of her at first, until I put a stop to that. But that didn't stop her from being involved and asking questions and okaying everything w/ my FIL. WHY HE WAS IN THE PICTURE.... I don't know.
Then... when it came down to buying books, materials, furniture.... play things, all the things YOU HAVE TO HAVE for a nursery, it wasn't happening. Hashim and I went to the BSPCA sale they were having and picked up many books, and purchased a bunch of cute pillows (that we took back), but as far as getting anything else that would be beneficial for having a nursery for 2 to 4 yr olds..... it just wasn't happening. And we didn't have tons of money to go out and buy all of this stuff... so I was told to wait. To open the nursery w/out anything... just a few books, which she showed me what she had, and put all the stuffed animals she had at her school (which were filthy) and the broken toys they had in many rooms in the nursery... and I refused.
There is soooooooooooooooooo much stuff.... it makes my head spin to sit and think about it.... and then.... my SIL started getting involved. Telling me who I was going to hire, making the rules - what hours it would operate - who would stay there, who would open the school, my refusal to allow sick children at the school (which they about had a heart attack over).... just everything really....
I told my husband that I couldn't do it. That I wouldn't do it. So he told his mother... who asked if this was my decision or his decision.... and knowing what we know about what you have to do in these parts ... he told her that it was his decision.
NOW..... after all of that... even being told to cut my vacation short so I could come here and start this school (this was all before I decided not to do it)..... they are selling the lease to the school and to that nursery!!!!!!!!!!!! Something I think was going to be done all along, but was being hidden or just not told to us. Here.... we would have bought all that stuff.... with no matter to her, obviously.... because after all, she was selling it. No wonder she didn't want or refused to give money to buy the necessary items when we were told it would be the case.
I was told by my husband that his mother thinks I should work for the new ppl.... NO THANK YOU. I do not want to work in a nursery.... or a school.... or teach. I have decided this. I'd like to do something along the lines of this Kindermusik... which I've looked in to, but I do not and will not try to teach again... and WILL NEVER GO INTO ANY BUSINESS WITH the in-laws.
This... may be boring for some of you... but I swear.. I think it could be a sitcom.... a successful one to boot. This is just a taste of what has happened recently.... two wks ago another situation happened.... this one bigger.... so... anyone interested in something like this... maybe we could make a go at it. Look at how big Raymond was.... but you know, the sad thing about all of this is... so many of my friends who are married to Bahrainis get the same stuff.... if not more. It's sad.
But... hey... I feel better for writing it here..... if I could get my dang blogger to go back into English, I'd start a new blog.... so I'm working on this.
Hashim left last night for Belgium. Will be gone until Tuesday.... and since today is Friday, family lunch, how did I know that no food would be sent over here. How can I expect it or even think it might happen especially seeing that I royally pissed off the queen of all queen bees..... MIL. She rules that family.... have known it from the very beginning... all the lies.... all the things I was told that weren't the truth... but for the sake of my husband and to hopelessly want them to accept me, I never said a word. Just let things run their course... bitched a lot to friends and my husband (which isn't really the greatest thing to do).... but when you have so much anger... and pain... it happens.
Somebody, think Queen, remarked on my blog comments about the school that was supposed to be started up...... all I can do is laugh about this. Have to. I knew pretty quickly where things were headed. I was told... or rather my husband... one thing and when it came down to actually doing it, it wasn't going to be my way at all. They chose the designs, told me how it would be decorated, laid out, what to buy or not to buy - not giving the necessary money like promised to buy all the essentials - which I knew would happen. And it's not cheap to go out and buy stuff to start a nursery. It was obvious to me that it would be the same as what had been happening before w/ maybe a few minor changes... THE BIGGEST.... an AMERICAN teaching. and... for anyone who has read my blog or knows me... there is a reason behind this... but I wont get into it now.
Also, I was told I could hire however many ppl I wanted, which also turned out to be a lie. I was almost forced to hire to Bahraini's from her school and one couldn't even speak English!!!!! She had been the person to change diapers at her nursery... I flat out refused. Then was told to hire another woman that I didn't want to work with.... again refusing. So I sat out to post my own ads, which had to be okayed by her, needless to say, and the interviews began... in front of her at first, until I put a stop to that. But that didn't stop her from being involved and asking questions and okaying everything w/ my FIL. WHY HE WAS IN THE PICTURE.... I don't know.
Then... when it came down to buying books, materials, furniture.... play things, all the things YOU HAVE TO HAVE for a nursery, it wasn't happening. Hashim and I went to the BSPCA sale they were having and picked up many books, and purchased a bunch of cute pillows (that we took back), but as far as getting anything else that would be beneficial for having a nursery for 2 to 4 yr olds..... it just wasn't happening. And we didn't have tons of money to go out and buy all of this stuff... so I was told to wait. To open the nursery w/out anything... just a few books, which she showed me what she had, and put all the stuffed animals she had at her school (which were filthy) and the broken toys they had in many rooms in the nursery... and I refused.
There is soooooooooooooooooo much stuff.... it makes my head spin to sit and think about it.... and then.... my SIL started getting involved. Telling me who I was going to hire, making the rules - what hours it would operate - who would stay there, who would open the school, my refusal to allow sick children at the school (which they about had a heart attack over).... just everything really....
I told my husband that I couldn't do it. That I wouldn't do it. So he told his mother... who asked if this was my decision or his decision.... and knowing what we know about what you have to do in these parts ... he told her that it was his decision.
NOW..... after all of that... even being told to cut my vacation short so I could come here and start this school (this was all before I decided not to do it)..... they are selling the lease to the school and to that nursery!!!!!!!!!!!! Something I think was going to be done all along, but was being hidden or just not told to us. Here.... we would have bought all that stuff.... with no matter to her, obviously.... because after all, she was selling it. No wonder she didn't want or refused to give money to buy the necessary items when we were told it would be the case.
I was told by my husband that his mother thinks I should work for the new ppl.... NO THANK YOU. I do not want to work in a nursery.... or a school.... or teach. I have decided this. I'd like to do something along the lines of this Kindermusik... which I've looked in to, but I do not and will not try to teach again... and WILL NEVER GO INTO ANY BUSINESS WITH the in-laws.
This... may be boring for some of you... but I swear.. I think it could be a sitcom.... a successful one to boot. This is just a taste of what has happened recently.... two wks ago another situation happened.... this one bigger.... so... anyone interested in something like this... maybe we could make a go at it. Look at how big Raymond was.... but you know, the sad thing about all of this is... so many of my friends who are married to Bahrainis get the same stuff.... if not more. It's sad.
But... hey... I feel better for writing it here..... if I could get my dang blogger to go back into English, I'd start a new blog.... so I'm working on this.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
A New Day
Naief started school today. He didn't cry, hang on to my leg, scream... or anything, but momma cried inside myself all the way to the car.... and found myself breaking down a few times while driving home. It's so rough letting go and seeing them at this stage.... even though it's only 3 days a week, still.... it's hard.
I have been in a real, true funk lately. I need to do something with myself... big time. Have looked and am looking for possible jobs, but need something part-time while Naief is in school. Don't truly think this is what's causing my funk, just adding to it a bit.
Hashim's been working a lot in the studio.... so much on his plate that it gives little time to much else. I know to be successful, to build a business and a career for oneself, that this is needed, but I feel lonely a lot. Even going out, doing things, swimming, playing and hanging out w/ friends.... still... the loneliness begs me to obey. And me... being me.... I do.
Have so much to do today... a 4 o'clock appt w/ my therapist, whom I haven't seen in a long time..... I need to find out what's going on with my inner being... that and so much that you might have to whisper the secrets to everyone around you if I told it out loud! ;) I love going for I always feel so much better afterwards... so I'm hoping, really hoping that this time is the same.
There's so much going on w/ me.... so many times I've wanted to write and tell you all about things, but, to be truthful, I don't trust anyone in this country to not tell someone I know who will then tell my in-laws who will then try to make trouble for me and for anything I might say that will bring shame or pissed off attitudes in my and my family's direction. This is hard to explain and probably the reason I've seriously been thinking of starting a new "secret" blog w/ my address being from the States, to afford me some type of ghost writer status.... so cliche, yes.... but, it's maddening, honestly. I've NEVER been one for being watched, can't stand and I mean seriously loathe liars, trouble makers, these evil eye doers.... and since coming back from the States, I've lost all ability to be able to stand to be around such ppl.... which can only lead one to imagine all of whom I'm speaking about at the moment.
Even friends that I had met, done play things w/ for the kids.... but really didn't like the mother or the child for that matter... I've cut the contact. Use to I'd continue w/ the stupid facade... but why create such headache ????? Plus, one little thing that rattles me to the core is any child being mean to my little man.... if I see that, I swear... my claws want to snatch a piece outta somebody.... so it's better to let go.
Again, I have to say, there's so much I need/want/desire to write about, since I feel that I fill this blog w/ mostly nonsense nowadays.... I long to write.... to get it out..... lie in bed at night thinking about it even.... but then, get up, start a new day, and don't.
I will say this... about a week ago, I saw this guy's name on a friend's FB page (he had left a comment) and this was a guy who had caused me heartache, embarrassment, humiliation... you name it, he did it, while I was in junior high. So... I left a comment under his and asked if this was the same person, and, sure enough, it was. He didn't know who I was w/ my last name being my husband's, so I told him, and then proceeded to tell him how much it had hurt me back in school and asked if he was still a trouble maker in his life today (actually, I asked if he was still a trouble maker first, which he denied)...... and what did he do about it all? Denied it. Told me that I must have been talking about the wrong person..... imagine. You carry these things with you, when they're traumatic enough, all your life (or I have at varying degrees at various stages) and when you finally have the chance/courage to say, "hey.... why did you do so and so".... and they say they didn't... well, as my friend Val says, he knows he did it and he knows he was the only DV in that school.
Makes me feel like Josie Gellar in that movie Never Been Kissed when all the really popular kids did such mean things to the others, including her..... and, for once, I stood up and said something.... but God only knows if it made any difference. Don't know many leopards that change their spots.
I have been in a real, true funk lately. I need to do something with myself... big time. Have looked and am looking for possible jobs, but need something part-time while Naief is in school. Don't truly think this is what's causing my funk, just adding to it a bit.
Hashim's been working a lot in the studio.... so much on his plate that it gives little time to much else. I know to be successful, to build a business and a career for oneself, that this is needed, but I feel lonely a lot. Even going out, doing things, swimming, playing and hanging out w/ friends.... still... the loneliness begs me to obey. And me... being me.... I do.
Have so much to do today... a 4 o'clock appt w/ my therapist, whom I haven't seen in a long time..... I need to find out what's going on with my inner being... that and so much that you might have to whisper the secrets to everyone around you if I told it out loud! ;) I love going for I always feel so much better afterwards... so I'm hoping, really hoping that this time is the same.
There's so much going on w/ me.... so many times I've wanted to write and tell you all about things, but, to be truthful, I don't trust anyone in this country to not tell someone I know who will then tell my in-laws who will then try to make trouble for me and for anything I might say that will bring shame or pissed off attitudes in my and my family's direction. This is hard to explain and probably the reason I've seriously been thinking of starting a new "secret" blog w/ my address being from the States, to afford me some type of ghost writer status.... so cliche, yes.... but, it's maddening, honestly. I've NEVER been one for being watched, can't stand and I mean seriously loathe liars, trouble makers, these evil eye doers.... and since coming back from the States, I've lost all ability to be able to stand to be around such ppl.... which can only lead one to imagine all of whom I'm speaking about at the moment.
Even friends that I had met, done play things w/ for the kids.... but really didn't like the mother or the child for that matter... I've cut the contact. Use to I'd continue w/ the stupid facade... but why create such headache ????? Plus, one little thing that rattles me to the core is any child being mean to my little man.... if I see that, I swear... my claws want to snatch a piece outta somebody.... so it's better to let go.
Again, I have to say, there's so much I need/want/desire to write about, since I feel that I fill this blog w/ mostly nonsense nowadays.... I long to write.... to get it out..... lie in bed at night thinking about it even.... but then, get up, start a new day, and don't.
I will say this... about a week ago, I saw this guy's name on a friend's FB page (he had left a comment) and this was a guy who had caused me heartache, embarrassment, humiliation... you name it, he did it, while I was in junior high. So... I left a comment under his and asked if this was the same person, and, sure enough, it was. He didn't know who I was w/ my last name being my husband's, so I told him, and then proceeded to tell him how much it had hurt me back in school and asked if he was still a trouble maker in his life today (actually, I asked if he was still a trouble maker first, which he denied)...... and what did he do about it all? Denied it. Told me that I must have been talking about the wrong person..... imagine. You carry these things with you, when they're traumatic enough, all your life (or I have at varying degrees at various stages) and when you finally have the chance/courage to say, "hey.... why did you do so and so".... and they say they didn't... well, as my friend Val says, he knows he did it and he knows he was the only DV in that school.
Makes me feel like Josie Gellar in that movie Never Been Kissed when all the really popular kids did such mean things to the others, including her..... and, for once, I stood up and said something.... but God only knows if it made any difference. Don't know many leopards that change their spots.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween
Early Learners Nursery party night before last..... this is where Naief will start nursery tomorrow. Had a good time, but had to leave early to make our way to another party at the Bahrain School, which was also a lot of fun... but Naief was exhausted. Two parties in one day is a bit much.... but he did enjoy dressing up and getting treats and playing games.
Happy Halloween !!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
i love you so much
This is what Naief tells me.... and they're the sweetest words to my ear. I'll tell ya... I am so crazy in love with this little guy. The way he smiles, the stories he tells me, how he whispers stuff in my ear, his sweet imagination starting to take off, how he remembers everything and notices even more.... gosh... he's just the sweetest thing.
I was starting to think that he was turning into a mini monster while in the States, but I'm happy to report that it was obvious boredom. He's had no tantrums since our return, is finally {crossing my fingers} back on his sleep schedule... and I must say... he's sleeping in his own bed now - in his own room - and no longer takes the bottle! We stopped the bottle cold turkey and I think it's finished for good. He slept in his room all night last night - didn't wake up - and was a happy little camper this morning. Hasn't asked for his bottle, since I told him that the dr. said he was a big boy now and didn't need the bottle.... he likes that he's a big boy now.
Had to take him to the dr. last night since he had another bout of blood in his stool... been happening for two months now, but since we were in the States w/ food changes, weather changes, emotional changes, I chalked it up to his not being able to go to the bathroom properly. The dr. decided to take his blood just to make sure there's no infection or other problem and, I'll tell ya, it's so hard having your little one experience such pain. Makes me really think about sick children and all that they go thru...
anyway... i love my little man.... and only wanted to share how much :)
I was starting to think that he was turning into a mini monster while in the States, but I'm happy to report that it was obvious boredom. He's had no tantrums since our return, is finally {crossing my fingers} back on his sleep schedule... and I must say... he's sleeping in his own bed now - in his own room - and no longer takes the bottle! We stopped the bottle cold turkey and I think it's finished for good. He slept in his room all night last night - didn't wake up - and was a happy little camper this morning. Hasn't asked for his bottle, since I told him that the dr. said he was a big boy now and didn't need the bottle.... he likes that he's a big boy now.
Had to take him to the dr. last night since he had another bout of blood in his stool... been happening for two months now, but since we were in the States w/ food changes, weather changes, emotional changes, I chalked it up to his not being able to go to the bathroom properly. The dr. decided to take his blood just to make sure there's no infection or other problem and, I'll tell ya, it's so hard having your little one experience such pain. Makes me really think about sick children and all that they go thru...
anyway... i love my little man.... and only wanted to share how much :)
Monday, September 28, 2009
tired and coping
Been back a week tomorrow... and getting back on the time has been a challenge, especially for Naief. He doesn't want to go to bed, waking up every hour on the hour until around 2 a.m. (4 a.m. the first night) and then doesn't want to get up in the mornings. He's so much like Hashim... he's not a morning person.
If I make Naief get up (around 10ish), he's usually grouchy, has fits over getting dressed... doesn't want to cooperate... it takes every ounce of patience on my part, that's for sure. Today we stayed in and he was a tad better, but since he's refusing to go to sleep tonight and we have plans tomorrow... I can only imagine what the morning will bring. :)
Schools have been closed here until November 1st because of swine flu fears. I've been hearing some really negative stuff about the vaccine and I find myself a bit worried tonight over the possibility of children being made to take it. A friend of mine said that it's making ppl throw up terribly and another woman told me that it's being linked to autism and brain problems... not sure how they could know something like this so quickly, but I do find myself questioning it. I'm not keen on giving children lots of injections they don't need and I'm not that scared of swine flu and don't feel that it's something that Naief would need to get... and I just hope that we, as parents, are allowed to make that call.
Many ppl are up in arms about the school situation. Schools have taken money which, in some cases, is quite a lot and there's nothing to show for it. The schools are using the money to pay the teachers who are having to show up to work each day... but the students and parents are suffering at home. One friend of my husband's has paid almost 2,000 dinars for his child's first term and will not see a dime of that nor will it be applied to the next term... I can't imagine.
I must say that I'm really glad to be home. I enjoyed visiting with my family, got into a bit of a tiff w/ my younger sister while we were both at my older sister's house, but all in all, it was a nice time. Naief was bored out of his mind (altho my mom believes that children this age don't get bored - and I STRONGLY disagree) and since there weren't a lot of places to go (that I could find on my own while my sister was at work) and no children to play with, for the most part, we wound up watching a lot of Mickey Mouse, Sesame Street, and various other cartoons while there. I felt guilty for letting him sit in front of the tube, but I found it a real challenge to keep his mind busy and interested in much else. We'd color, paint and while my niece was there, they played Hide & Go Seek, dressed up like a prince and princess - after making their costumes from crate paper, towels and kitchen utensils - play outside and such, but when no one was there and we weren't going here or there, he got bored.
So... I'm glad to be home. I missed my husband, our house, the cats, and just being home. Weird that I call it home, but it feels like that now... and the weird thing is... I didn't get depressed upon my return, which is soooo strange, since I usually do for a good month or so. And it's a good feeling not to feel that depression....
anyway... just wanted to make a quick post... have a good one you guys...
If I make Naief get up (around 10ish), he's usually grouchy, has fits over getting dressed... doesn't want to cooperate... it takes every ounce of patience on my part, that's for sure. Today we stayed in and he was a tad better, but since he's refusing to go to sleep tonight and we have plans tomorrow... I can only imagine what the morning will bring. :)
Schools have been closed here until November 1st because of swine flu fears. I've been hearing some really negative stuff about the vaccine and I find myself a bit worried tonight over the possibility of children being made to take it. A friend of mine said that it's making ppl throw up terribly and another woman told me that it's being linked to autism and brain problems... not sure how they could know something like this so quickly, but I do find myself questioning it. I'm not keen on giving children lots of injections they don't need and I'm not that scared of swine flu and don't feel that it's something that Naief would need to get... and I just hope that we, as parents, are allowed to make that call.
Many ppl are up in arms about the school situation. Schools have taken money which, in some cases, is quite a lot and there's nothing to show for it. The schools are using the money to pay the teachers who are having to show up to work each day... but the students and parents are suffering at home. One friend of my husband's has paid almost 2,000 dinars for his child's first term and will not see a dime of that nor will it be applied to the next term... I can't imagine.
I must say that I'm really glad to be home. I enjoyed visiting with my family, got into a bit of a tiff w/ my younger sister while we were both at my older sister's house, but all in all, it was a nice time. Naief was bored out of his mind (altho my mom believes that children this age don't get bored - and I STRONGLY disagree) and since there weren't a lot of places to go (that I could find on my own while my sister was at work) and no children to play with, for the most part, we wound up watching a lot of Mickey Mouse, Sesame Street, and various other cartoons while there. I felt guilty for letting him sit in front of the tube, but I found it a real challenge to keep his mind busy and interested in much else. We'd color, paint and while my niece was there, they played Hide & Go Seek, dressed up like a prince and princess - after making their costumes from crate paper, towels and kitchen utensils - play outside and such, but when no one was there and we weren't going here or there, he got bored.
So... I'm glad to be home. I missed my husband, our house, the cats, and just being home. Weird that I call it home, but it feels like that now... and the weird thing is... I didn't get depressed upon my return, which is soooo strange, since I usually do for a good month or so. And it's a good feeling not to feel that depression....
anyway... just wanted to make a quick post... have a good one you guys...
Thursday, September 10, 2009
weddings and fairs
some pics from my older sister's wedding in Chicago, at her husband, Marvin's, club (the whole gang), Naief and Katelyn riding the train at the Delta Fair today, and Naief as a ring bearer at my sister's wedding, and, last, but not least, me and Janeen at my sister's wedding...
Haven't been writing a lot.... but will be leaving to go back to Bahrain in less than two wks time... looking forward to going home, but will miss my family.
Monday, August 24, 2009
planes, trains and automobiles
Naief loves planes and trains. My sister lives in the flight path of the Memphis Airport, so we get to see and hear planes every day, to the sheer delight of my dear son. I don't think he'll ever get bored of pointing them out and screaming as loud as possible, "momma, plane! plane! plane!" :)
But... his most excitement came this past weekend while we were all out in another area of Memphis and as we were putting some bags in the car, I turned around, after hearing a train whistle, and realized we were right next to the train tracks... and a train was coming.
Now, Naief loves Thomas and Friends. Knows all of them by name and gets completely crazy with excitement anytime he sees a train in it's stand still state - since he's never seen a real moving train - except on TV, which really doesn't count... I don't think. So... just think how thrilled momma was when she realized a train was coming, and it was a big one. :))))
I immediately grabbed Naief up and told him a train was coming and right then it came thundering down the track, blowing it's whistle several times as it passed us. It couldn't have been better if I had planned it.
His eyes got as wide as saucers and for a minute I thought he might cry from fear.... but he didn't. He was so quiet and still and then got so excited.... screaming at his Auntie when she came to show her the train. The really great thing was that it was a really long train, so he was able to truly experience a big, loud train. It had a big engine as a caboose and everything.... just great stuff.
So... all the way home, all he talked about was seeing that train and wanting to ride one. Even talked out in his sleep this morning about wanting to ride a train. He thinks we can just run over there and hop aboard.... only if it were that simple, eh?
I looked up Amtrak the other day, thinking that we might ride it up to Chicago for my sister's wedding... but don't think it's going to work w/ our schedule, but I'm gonna call this week just to make sure. He'd love that... :)
happy day all.... the clouds are beautiful here and the weather is truly wonderful.
But... his most excitement came this past weekend while we were all out in another area of Memphis and as we were putting some bags in the car, I turned around, after hearing a train whistle, and realized we were right next to the train tracks... and a train was coming.
Now, Naief loves Thomas and Friends. Knows all of them by name and gets completely crazy with excitement anytime he sees a train in it's stand still state - since he's never seen a real moving train - except on TV, which really doesn't count... I don't think. So... just think how thrilled momma was when she realized a train was coming, and it was a big one. :))))
I immediately grabbed Naief up and told him a train was coming and right then it came thundering down the track, blowing it's whistle several times as it passed us. It couldn't have been better if I had planned it.
His eyes got as wide as saucers and for a minute I thought he might cry from fear.... but he didn't. He was so quiet and still and then got so excited.... screaming at his Auntie when she came to show her the train. The really great thing was that it was a really long train, so he was able to truly experience a big, loud train. It had a big engine as a caboose and everything.... just great stuff.
So... all the way home, all he talked about was seeing that train and wanting to ride one. Even talked out in his sleep this morning about wanting to ride a train. He thinks we can just run over there and hop aboard.... only if it were that simple, eh?
I looked up Amtrak the other day, thinking that we might ride it up to Chicago for my sister's wedding... but don't think it's going to work w/ our schedule, but I'm gonna call this week just to make sure. He'd love that... :)
happy day all.... the clouds are beautiful here and the weather is truly wonderful.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
storm clouds
Storm clouds are moving in to Memphis... I love the clouds here. Supposed to rain for the next few days.... am ready for things to cool down a bit.update: the ghost has been leaving us alone. I did what a paranormal specialist friend told me to do and it worked. She said to confront the spirit/energy since they may not know we're here or that they're being loud, so I did just that and for the last 4 or more days there have been no sounds. :)
Taking Naief to the Memphis Children's Museum tomorrow... just the two of us. I think he'll like it. Altho, just looked on their website and they're doing all kinds of fun stuff on Sat., so I'll take him on Saturday instead.
My younger sister comes next week. We're planning to go to the zoo again and after my older sister gets married, we're gonna take a trip to Madison, my birth place and hometown.
anyway... hope you all are doing great. Take care.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
seriously spooked
Hey all... we're here at my sister's in Memphis having our holiday. The weather is fantastic... mostly hot and a bit humid (nothing like Bahrain), and it's rained with thunderstorms many times already... with us having to get in the bathtub once from a tornado warning! :) That scared the daylights outta me, but all was ok. And you know how I love heavy rain, so I'm loving it. :)
Real quick though... before the little one wakes up... last night, for the 3rd night in a row, I heard something in the bedroom where Naief and I are sleeping. It first started about 3 nights ago w/ sounds like a mouse or squirrel in the wall - or what I told myself it had to be - then the night after that, it sounded like something was under the bed and I found myself asking myself if Queenie (a little chihuahua), my niece's dog, was under the bed. That sound went on for a bit and then stopped... but it didn't scare me - I only dismissed it.
But.. last night there were sounds in the room that seriously spooked me. I was on the computer last night until about midnight at which time I heard Chelsea - my sister's dog - growling outside our room. It was a very deep, low growl that continued for several seconds. I got scared, got up and went into the kitchen to check and make sure all the doors were locked. The door to the garage was unlocked, I locked it, checked the front door and went back to bed. She didn't growl again.
After this, I said goodnight to hubby, turned off the light and tried to go to sleep. It was at this time that I heard the first of the sounds.
Sounded as if someone was shuffling papers at the dresser. As if looking for something really. I immediately got scared but talked myself into calmness.... then a bit later I heard another noise right next to me. It was as if someone was closing the drawer to the nightstand next to me. I turned over and looked in that direction.... really terrified that I'd see something, but didn't. I closed my eyes and then reopened them slightly thinking or still wondering if I'd see something. The sound stopped, but again started. This time at the nightstand on the other side of the bed. Same sound.. like someone was closing the drawer or messing with it.
I get chills just thinking about it.
While it was happening or after, I couldn't help wonder why they weren't tripping over our luggage and whatnot in the room... I had the computer on the floor next to the nightstand that was next to me and cables on the floor but nothing moved. We have two suitcases in the room, a box w/ stuff on it - the room is pretty stuffed with stuff... but nothing was touched.
I don't know what it is, but when I got up this morning and told my mom, she told me that she had the same experience in her room lastnight! She had turned off the light, rolled onto her stomach and that's when she heard something being sat down on her dresser. She said it sounded like whomever sat it down had lost their grip and it made a heavy thud when it hit the dresser!!!!! She said it scared her to death. She turned on the light several minutes later, but again, nothing.
I found myself hardly sleeping lastnight... have no idea what time I finally drifted to sleep, but I know this.. I'm afraid to sleep in this room again. I had to talk through it ... telling myself that they wouldn't hurt me and they're here for whatever reason... but still, I'm afraid.
We're gonna tell my sister when she comes home for lunch. I wonder what she'll say. She's never mentioned hearing anything and my niece has never mentioned hearing anything, and when talking to my mom more this morning, she told me that she's had a similar experience in the room where we're sleeping - where she used to sleep. One night she felt the mattress move. It was as if someone was under the mattress and moving it. She said it only happened once.... goodness.
Real quick though... before the little one wakes up... last night, for the 3rd night in a row, I heard something in the bedroom where Naief and I are sleeping. It first started about 3 nights ago w/ sounds like a mouse or squirrel in the wall - or what I told myself it had to be - then the night after that, it sounded like something was under the bed and I found myself asking myself if Queenie (a little chihuahua), my niece's dog, was under the bed. That sound went on for a bit and then stopped... but it didn't scare me - I only dismissed it.
But.. last night there were sounds in the room that seriously spooked me. I was on the computer last night until about midnight at which time I heard Chelsea - my sister's dog - growling outside our room. It was a very deep, low growl that continued for several seconds. I got scared, got up and went into the kitchen to check and make sure all the doors were locked. The door to the garage was unlocked, I locked it, checked the front door and went back to bed. She didn't growl again.
After this, I said goodnight to hubby, turned off the light and tried to go to sleep. It was at this time that I heard the first of the sounds.
Sounded as if someone was shuffling papers at the dresser. As if looking for something really. I immediately got scared but talked myself into calmness.... then a bit later I heard another noise right next to me. It was as if someone was closing the drawer to the nightstand next to me. I turned over and looked in that direction.... really terrified that I'd see something, but didn't. I closed my eyes and then reopened them slightly thinking or still wondering if I'd see something. The sound stopped, but again started. This time at the nightstand on the other side of the bed. Same sound.. like someone was closing the drawer or messing with it.
I get chills just thinking about it.
While it was happening or after, I couldn't help wonder why they weren't tripping over our luggage and whatnot in the room... I had the computer on the floor next to the nightstand that was next to me and cables on the floor but nothing moved. We have two suitcases in the room, a box w/ stuff on it - the room is pretty stuffed with stuff... but nothing was touched.
I don't know what it is, but when I got up this morning and told my mom, she told me that she had the same experience in her room lastnight! She had turned off the light, rolled onto her stomach and that's when she heard something being sat down on her dresser. She said it sounded like whomever sat it down had lost their grip and it made a heavy thud when it hit the dresser!!!!! She said it scared her to death. She turned on the light several minutes later, but again, nothing.
I found myself hardly sleeping lastnight... have no idea what time I finally drifted to sleep, but I know this.. I'm afraid to sleep in this room again. I had to talk through it ... telling myself that they wouldn't hurt me and they're here for whatever reason... but still, I'm afraid.
We're gonna tell my sister when she comes home for lunch. I wonder what she'll say. She's never mentioned hearing anything and my niece has never mentioned hearing anything, and when talking to my mom more this morning, she told me that she's had a similar experience in the room where we're sleeping - where she used to sleep. One night she felt the mattress move. It was as if someone was under the mattress and moving it. She said it only happened once.... goodness.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
hello travel
Tomorrow is the big day. Leave at 11 pm, flying into Amsterdam with a 9 hr layover there and then on to Memphis - a 10 hr flight. I hate flying. Scares me, and even tho people say that it's much safer than driving, it still doesn't change the fear inside of me. Also doesn't help much that every day, here lately, when I turn on the TV, I see where another flight has gone down. But... trying not to think about it and trying to stay positive... inshallah it makes a difference. :)
Not much going on w/ me lately, altho I was having dinner w/ a friend tonight and she said that I should blog about my current addiction... which is....
Farm Town on FB.
I am sooo addicted to this game. Love, love, love creating my own little farm/ranch with animals, plowing my land, growing seeds, harvesting the crops, hiring ppl to work on my farm, working on other ppl's farms, buying land.... I just love every aspect of the game. I love creating my own little world, I suppose. Can't quite figure out what it is that pulls me in so much, other than that. I love planting trees, growing flowers, designing the layout of the farm... and really, I truly enjoy growing the crops. I also enjoy going to other ppl's farms and working... sometimes working along w/ other ppl or just by myself. I've noticed that when I'm working w/ someone else, it adds more excitement in that you're working against someone to get the most money for the harvest... which adds to my level of enthusiasm.
Hashim got bored w/ it rather quickly... preferring Sims and such, but not me.
So.. if any of you are playing, let's be neighbors! :) I'm on level 24 right now and can't wait until I reach level 25 coz I get to buy more land.
Hello, my name is Tania and I'm a Farm Town addict! :)
But anyhoo... it's almost time to fly away from Bahrain, leave my hubby behind and enjoy being back in my homeland.
Everyone cross your fingers and send positive energy my way in hopes that we have no issues/problems when going thru immigration here... will be checking in w/ his American passport, but going thru immigration w/ his Bahraini... and I'm just hoping beyond all hope that there are no issues w/ these ppl. Every year that we've traveled, we had some issue... but hopefully none this time around.
happy day everyone!
Not much going on w/ me lately, altho I was having dinner w/ a friend tonight and she said that I should blog about my current addiction... which is....
Farm Town on FB.
I am sooo addicted to this game. Love, love, love creating my own little farm/ranch with animals, plowing my land, growing seeds, harvesting the crops, hiring ppl to work on my farm, working on other ppl's farms, buying land.... I just love every aspect of the game. I love creating my own little world, I suppose. Can't quite figure out what it is that pulls me in so much, other than that. I love planting trees, growing flowers, designing the layout of the farm... and really, I truly enjoy growing the crops. I also enjoy going to other ppl's farms and working... sometimes working along w/ other ppl or just by myself. I've noticed that when I'm working w/ someone else, it adds more excitement in that you're working against someone to get the most money for the harvest... which adds to my level of enthusiasm.
Hashim got bored w/ it rather quickly... preferring Sims and such, but not me.
So.. if any of you are playing, let's be neighbors! :) I'm on level 24 right now and can't wait until I reach level 25 coz I get to buy more land.
Hello, my name is Tania and I'm a Farm Town addict! :)
But anyhoo... it's almost time to fly away from Bahrain, leave my hubby behind and enjoy being back in my homeland.
Everyone cross your fingers and send positive energy my way in hopes that we have no issues/problems when going thru immigration here... will be checking in w/ his American passport, but going thru immigration w/ his Bahraini... and I'm just hoping beyond all hope that there are no issues w/ these ppl. Every year that we've traveled, we had some issue... but hopefully none this time around.
happy day everyone!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
The Farewell
Watching the MJ farewell right now... and no matter what he did or didn't do in his life... I am filled with sadness when listening to the songs, seeing the pictures and hearing ppl talk about him. Seeing his casket sit there... it's a sad thing.
I feel sorry that so many negative things were in his life... the drug addiction, most of all. It destroyed him.
I don't know what's waiting on the other side... and, at times, I wonder if there's anything... but I hope that he's at peace. I'm happy that his demons have been taken from him....
One thing... and you know there has to be at least one thing w/ me... I was a bit turned off in that no one is weeping. His children... the youngest child has a huge wad of gum in his mouth, chomping on it as fast and hard as he can, and when they panned to them, sitting next to their grandmother, not one of them seemed upset with the littleist squirming around, but I suppose it's to be expected. The daughter had her head over on her grandmothers shoulder... seeming very shy. It's all, I'm sure, overwhelming for them. Al Sharpton is on right now preaching .. they all just stood to give him a standing ovation... which is a bit much at a funeral, I think... but...
Oh yeah... the youngest son always had white blond hair.. and now it's jet black. I knew it was dyed.
I feel sorry that so many negative things were in his life... the drug addiction, most of all. It destroyed him.
I don't know what's waiting on the other side... and, at times, I wonder if there's anything... but I hope that he's at peace. I'm happy that his demons have been taken from him....
One thing... and you know there has to be at least one thing w/ me... I was a bit turned off in that no one is weeping. His children... the youngest child has a huge wad of gum in his mouth, chomping on it as fast and hard as he can, and when they panned to them, sitting next to their grandmother, not one of them seemed upset with the littleist squirming around, but I suppose it's to be expected. The daughter had her head over on her grandmothers shoulder... seeming very shy. It's all, I'm sure, overwhelming for them. Al Sharpton is on right now preaching .. they all just stood to give him a standing ovation... which is a bit much at a funeral, I think... but...
Oh yeah... the youngest son always had white blond hair.. and now it's jet black. I knew it was dyed.
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