If anyone is looking for a way to help our rather damaged world there is a great charity out there called ShelterBox. With roughly $1000 they can send a box to an area in need. Unfortunately “ShelterBox is unable to accept time or location specific donations.” But a good deed is still a good deed no matter whom you help.
What they do is really cool:
“Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.”
The charity is based in the UK, so if you wish to donate make sure you go to the homepage and pick your country of origin.
http://shelterbox.org/index.php
Disaster Aid Canada also has a similar package:
http://www.disasteraid.ca/index.php?p=2_1_Aid-Packs
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sunday, October 17, 2010
I need to believe
ok, so I've been away from here for, like, forever...sorry about that. You didn't miss too much...summer was awesome, kuwait is the same as always...just slightly less hot.
This school year has been amazing so far (Inshallah). The problems I had with staff (admin and "underlings") have vanished, as have some of the troublemakers. I have two new assistants and they're both amazing and positive people...hard workers too. So, the BIG problems in my life are gone...yay!
and now to tonight's point...I need to believe that the people I meet and don't know are nice to me because they want to be not because they want something.
When we first came here we were kind of warned that cabbies, maids and other such people would be "nice" to us "rich" (ha!) white people because they wanted a bigger tip or whatever...this is such a service driven culture that the notion that anyone who helps me in the run of the day is on the take is beyond depressing.
So, I have chosen to believe the best in everyone (a surprise to anyone who knew me as a teenager I'm sure). I've also chosen to treat these people as actual human beings...something that I forget to do sometimes, in part thanks to the language barrier and cynicism.
Tonight I complimented a bank teller who was helping me on her nice bracelet, was teased by a cashier who "knows" me about buying M&Ms when I'd mentioned dieting and had a cabbie help me carry groceries to my door (outside not apartment) in what seemed to be a genuine show of friendliness. I've had maids at work say they like a shirt (yes, one you picked out Mom) and necklace of mine...they didn't have to do that, but they did...the least I can do it return the favor.
I had cabbie a week or two ago who in very broken English told me he's been in Kuwait for 19 years (he was Pakistani I think). He asked where I was from and what my family was like. The man had upwards of 7 sons, one of whom is in Canada and another in Spain...he seemed to really miss them. I assured him Canada was nice and did my best to empathise...I live in a country where at least half the population is made up of foreigners.
The point of this ramble is, we are all people, no one should be ignored. My feelings are not more important than yours because we are different...even cabbies get homesick.
This school year has been amazing so far (Inshallah). The problems I had with staff (admin and "underlings") have vanished, as have some of the troublemakers. I have two new assistants and they're both amazing and positive people...hard workers too. So, the BIG problems in my life are gone...yay!
and now to tonight's point...I need to believe that the people I meet and don't know are nice to me because they want to be not because they want something.
When we first came here we were kind of warned that cabbies, maids and other such people would be "nice" to us "rich" (ha!) white people because they wanted a bigger tip or whatever...this is such a service driven culture that the notion that anyone who helps me in the run of the day is on the take is beyond depressing.
So, I have chosen to believe the best in everyone (a surprise to anyone who knew me as a teenager I'm sure). I've also chosen to treat these people as actual human beings...something that I forget to do sometimes, in part thanks to the language barrier and cynicism.
Tonight I complimented a bank teller who was helping me on her nice bracelet, was teased by a cashier who "knows" me about buying M&Ms when I'd mentioned dieting and had a cabbie help me carry groceries to my door (outside not apartment) in what seemed to be a genuine show of friendliness. I've had maids at work say they like a shirt (yes, one you picked out Mom) and necklace of mine...they didn't have to do that, but they did...the least I can do it return the favor.
I had cabbie a week or two ago who in very broken English told me he's been in Kuwait for 19 years (he was Pakistani I think). He asked where I was from and what my family was like. The man had upwards of 7 sons, one of whom is in Canada and another in Spain...he seemed to really miss them. I assured him Canada was nice and did my best to empathise...I live in a country where at least half the population is made up of foreigners.
The point of this ramble is, we are all people, no one should be ignored. My feelings are not more important than yours because we are different...even cabbies get homesick.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Don't Fear the Reaper?
It's a question we all ask: what happens to me after I die?
I think about Hell a lot these days...mostly what it is and how I can stay out of it...morbid, I know. But, if you know me...then you KNOW me.
First and foremost, I want to tell you that I do believe in God...I have to, literally since the moment I was born (3 months premature) I've been walking on and out of situations that should have hurt or killed me...or at least left an emotional scar. Someone out there is protecting me, why I can only guess. And then there are the ghosts...there is at least life after death in some form, I know, I've seen them.
This post, of course, assumes you subscribe to the Church's version of Heaven and Hell- GOOD (whatever that is...Crusades anyone?) Jews (pre-Christ) and Christians (post-Christ) go to Hell because they accept God AND Jesus into their lives and show His (Their) love and salvation through all that they do in their lives (not easy, is it? I’m pretty sure Jesus never flipped anyone off in traffic) and everyone else suffers unimaginable torment in a great lake of burning sulfur...quite the choice we get, eternal worship and servitude or unceasing torture.
Not exactly fair is it? This, contrary to popular belief, is not a rant against God (perhaps against the man-made Church, but I'll try and keep it down a bit) but, a quest for answers...or maybe just for sleep.
Okay, you're not going to like this but my main problem stems from...the Bible. In the Bible there are many passages that when taken literally are hard to swallow or seem to outright promote hate crimes (homophobia much?), some of this is only when the Bible is taken and used in the wrong hands but some is plan Church propaganda.
The problem isn't so much the Bible, but how much it's changed over the years; it's been translated how many times? And usually by men (need to control the females in your "flock"? Make Eve the evil one and you get a great guilt trip you can use for centuries). It's also a proven fact (according to my Early Church professor at Saint Thomas University) the monks who were translating and copying the Bible would add content in or take it out if told to and sometimes just because they felt like it. There have even been scrap copies found where there were doodles in the margins of the page...nice to know they took their work so seriously.
Even the Jewish teachers are decried in the Bible as hindering the spirit’s progress to Heaven. Matthew 23:15: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte [ed: a convert], and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
But, on the other hand, I have to give credit where credit is due, without these talented men we wouldn't have amazing works of art like the Book of Kells- Google it, it's beautiful and permanently on display at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.
So Heaven...what is it? I'm not even going to ask where it is, my mind isn't up for that one tonight. Is it all the Good people sitting on clouds in togas strumming harps? Is it like earth but with out the pain and suffering? What about that white light so many people who've had near death experiences have seen? Does anyone ever see Hell during these out of body experiences?
And if there's a Heaven then surely there has to be a Hell, right? So, somewhere out there, there is a giant, all consuming lake of burning sulfur that all the evil people get pitched into. In the Church evil means non-Christian, those who had the chance to convert and passed it up.
Psalm 55:15 says: “Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.”
But wickedness is never defined, is it murder and mayhem or merely not living a perfect Christian life?
This is what the Bible has to say of the final judgment in Revelation 20:12-15:
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
A question I've had since I was a little kid was/is: what happened to all the civilizations that existed before Judaism and Christianity (our own ancestry lies within "cavemen") or that died on continents like South America where the word of God never reached for a long long time? Did they ALL go to Hell?
Psalm 9:17 says: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
But can they have forgotten God if they never knew Him in the first place?
Surely, in a world that is so full of shades of grey the end can't be so black and white...God Himself killed when it suited His plans.
Exodus 14: 26-28:
“And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may return upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and upon their horsemen.
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength toward the morning; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overturned the Egyptians into the midst of the sea.
And the waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen of all the host of Pharaoh that had come into the sea after them; there remained not even one of them.”
Lucifer, an ANGEL, fell. Isaiah 14:12-19: “How art thou fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning! Thou art cut down to the ground, that didst prostrate the nations!
And thou that didst say in thy heart, I will ascend into the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit upon the mount of assembly, in the recesses of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High:
none the less art thou brought down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee; they shall consider thee, [saying,] Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that shook kingdoms;
[that] made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities thereof; [that] dismissed not his prisoners homewards?
All the kings of the nations, all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house;
but thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, covered with the slain -- those thrust through with the sword, that go down to the stones of the pit: like a carcase trodden under foot.”
And Judas, one of Jesus' own chosen disciples, gave him up to the Romans and killed himself.
Matthew 27:1-5:
“When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that.
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”
Killing yourself, some in the Church say, damns you immediately without thought for the circumstances the act was committed under...what if the Pope kills himself? Does he go to Hell?
In Matthew 10: 28 we are taught not to “…fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him that is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Is suicide a form of murder? I don’t think it is, suicide is not taking another’s life but your own and that is your choice alone.
Another thing that bothers me about Judas is, if he DIDN'T give Jesus up then the whole "save the world" plan would be dead in the water. You could argue, and I do, that Judas was born to betray Christ to further the Christian mission and not responsible for his actions, God is. Really think about it, what if Judas didn't give Jesus up? You may say that God would have had someone else do it...but wouldn't that mean our infallible God failed?
I read a book last summer (I'd tell you the title and author if I could remember and hadn't left it in Canada...oops) in which the author, a medium (suspend your disbelief please) says that he's dealt with many kinds of entities in his line of work. He says that different souls are at different spiritual levels, sounds weird but think about it some people are barely human (Hitler, Ted Bundy, that guy who is a closet alcoholic who beats his wife because he hates himself) while others are living saints (Mother Teresa, Princess Di, the wife who gets beat because she believes her husband needs her and loves him despite everything) are these two groups really equally spiritually evolved?
The author says that there are levels of spiritual development in life and after, that the lowest souls get the lowest level after death and the purest souls get the highest level. Obviously, the lowest level is our idea of Hell and the highest is Heaven. But here come the shades of grey and second chances I've searched for: there are levels in between, many levels, for all those souls that are neither the lowest nor the highest...you know, us "normal" people.
Here's the twist I know some of you will get caught up on...souls are reused (according to the author, I'm not sure...but then we can't be sure of anything so who knows?).
It's like the low and mid-level souls get some second chances to move higher (or lower) on the spiritual afterlife totem pole. I assume, most souls don't remember their former lives (some people do, I for one am up for regression therapy!). But each go round can move a soul a peg up or down depending on how they act during the time they're given and eventually (hopefully) they reach the highest level. Ever hear someone call a person an "old soul" even if it's a seven year old kid they're talking about? Maybe they're right. Maybe our Mother Teresas are on their final round before they reach the top and they stand out in life for the works they do because they're so close to Heaven.
Is there anything out there? I have to believe there is, for me and not for some man-made Church that may or may not be on the money every Sunday.
You know when you think about it all major religions are pretty similar. A couple even share holy books (Christianity, Islam and Judaism all share the Old Testament).
Maybe being a good person (in the don't kill puppies sense and less of the ridged Church sense) and following the main, corresponding tenants (I'm trying to stay on the level here, I do believe some of the things I learned in Sunday School- the book of Revelations scares me just thinking about it) of any religion you find yourself in is good enough...?
I want to know what will happen to me, and people like me, when we die. Will I go to Hell simply because I keep my faith to myself and don't conform to a Church I'm unsure of even if I live a good life?
And remember, fear of Hell, so they say, isn't enough to get you into Heaven...so if an Angel, a disciple and whole civilizations didn't have a chance, what kind of chance at eternal peace do I have?
What chance do any of us have?
Am I the "heretic" that will go to Hell for asking too many questions and, perhaps not enough faith, or am I allowed to be this open-minded because God created me in HIS image?
God's message is love and life. Man's message is praise and protect..."Praise God and pass the ammunition" is a favorite quote of mine. Personally, I think God is closer to being a Hippie than a televangelist.
I've rambled, I might not have always stayed on point and Lord knows I don't have an answer to my own questions (does anyone really? They wouldn't be questions if we also had the answers).
I just thought I'd share, maybe make some space in my head so I can sleep without wrestling with cosmic issues beyond human comprehension…you know, the usual.
I think about Hell a lot these days...mostly what it is and how I can stay out of it...morbid, I know. But, if you know me...then you KNOW me.
First and foremost, I want to tell you that I do believe in God...I have to, literally since the moment I was born (3 months premature) I've been walking on and out of situations that should have hurt or killed me...or at least left an emotional scar. Someone out there is protecting me, why I can only guess. And then there are the ghosts...there is at least life after death in some form, I know, I've seen them.
This post, of course, assumes you subscribe to the Church's version of Heaven and Hell- GOOD (whatever that is...Crusades anyone?) Jews (pre-Christ) and Christians (post-Christ) go to Hell because they accept God AND Jesus into their lives and show His (Their) love and salvation through all that they do in their lives (not easy, is it? I’m pretty sure Jesus never flipped anyone off in traffic) and everyone else suffers unimaginable torment in a great lake of burning sulfur...quite the choice we get, eternal worship and servitude or unceasing torture.
Not exactly fair is it? This, contrary to popular belief, is not a rant against God (perhaps against the man-made Church, but I'll try and keep it down a bit) but, a quest for answers...or maybe just for sleep.
Okay, you're not going to like this but my main problem stems from...the Bible. In the Bible there are many passages that when taken literally are hard to swallow or seem to outright promote hate crimes (homophobia much?), some of this is only when the Bible is taken and used in the wrong hands but some is plan Church propaganda.
The problem isn't so much the Bible, but how much it's changed over the years; it's been translated how many times? And usually by men (need to control the females in your "flock"? Make Eve the evil one and you get a great guilt trip you can use for centuries). It's also a proven fact (according to my Early Church professor at Saint Thomas University) the monks who were translating and copying the Bible would add content in or take it out if told to and sometimes just because they felt like it. There have even been scrap copies found where there were doodles in the margins of the page...nice to know they took their work so seriously.
Even the Jewish teachers are decried in the Bible as hindering the spirit’s progress to Heaven. Matthew 23:15: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte [ed: a convert], and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
But, on the other hand, I have to give credit where credit is due, without these talented men we wouldn't have amazing works of art like the Book of Kells- Google it, it's beautiful and permanently on display at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.
So Heaven...what is it? I'm not even going to ask where it is, my mind isn't up for that one tonight. Is it all the Good people sitting on clouds in togas strumming harps? Is it like earth but with out the pain and suffering? What about that white light so many people who've had near death experiences have seen? Does anyone ever see Hell during these out of body experiences?
And if there's a Heaven then surely there has to be a Hell, right? So, somewhere out there, there is a giant, all consuming lake of burning sulfur that all the evil people get pitched into. In the Church evil means non-Christian, those who had the chance to convert and passed it up.
Psalm 55:15 says: “Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.”
But wickedness is never defined, is it murder and mayhem or merely not living a perfect Christian life?
This is what the Bible has to say of the final judgment in Revelation 20:12-15:
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
A question I've had since I was a little kid was/is: what happened to all the civilizations that existed before Judaism and Christianity (our own ancestry lies within "cavemen") or that died on continents like South America where the word of God never reached for a long long time? Did they ALL go to Hell?
Psalm 9:17 says: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”
But can they have forgotten God if they never knew Him in the first place?
Surely, in a world that is so full of shades of grey the end can't be so black and white...God Himself killed when it suited His plans.
Exodus 14: 26-28:
“And Jehovah said to Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may return upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and upon their horsemen.
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength toward the morning; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overturned the Egyptians into the midst of the sea.
And the waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen of all the host of Pharaoh that had come into the sea after them; there remained not even one of them.”
Lucifer, an ANGEL, fell. Isaiah 14:12-19: “How art thou fallen from heaven, Lucifer, son of the morning! Thou art cut down to the ground, that didst prostrate the nations!
And thou that didst say in thy heart, I will ascend into the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit upon the mount of assembly, in the recesses of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High:
none the less art thou brought down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee; they shall consider thee, [saying,] Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that shook kingdoms;
[that] made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities thereof; [that] dismissed not his prisoners homewards?
All the kings of the nations, all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house;
but thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, covered with the slain -- those thrust through with the sword, that go down to the stones of the pit: like a carcase trodden under foot.”
And Judas, one of Jesus' own chosen disciples, gave him up to the Romans and killed himself.
Matthew 27:1-5:
“When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that.
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.”
Killing yourself, some in the Church say, damns you immediately without thought for the circumstances the act was committed under...what if the Pope kills himself? Does he go to Hell?
In Matthew 10: 28 we are taught not to “…fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him that is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Is suicide a form of murder? I don’t think it is, suicide is not taking another’s life but your own and that is your choice alone.
Another thing that bothers me about Judas is, if he DIDN'T give Jesus up then the whole "save the world" plan would be dead in the water. You could argue, and I do, that Judas was born to betray Christ to further the Christian mission and not responsible for his actions, God is. Really think about it, what if Judas didn't give Jesus up? You may say that God would have had someone else do it...but wouldn't that mean our infallible God failed?
I read a book last summer (I'd tell you the title and author if I could remember and hadn't left it in Canada...oops) in which the author, a medium (suspend your disbelief please) says that he's dealt with many kinds of entities in his line of work. He says that different souls are at different spiritual levels, sounds weird but think about it some people are barely human (Hitler, Ted Bundy, that guy who is a closet alcoholic who beats his wife because he hates himself) while others are living saints (Mother Teresa, Princess Di, the wife who gets beat because she believes her husband needs her and loves him despite everything) are these two groups really equally spiritually evolved?
The author says that there are levels of spiritual development in life and after, that the lowest souls get the lowest level after death and the purest souls get the highest level. Obviously, the lowest level is our idea of Hell and the highest is Heaven. But here come the shades of grey and second chances I've searched for: there are levels in between, many levels, for all those souls that are neither the lowest nor the highest...you know, us "normal" people.
Here's the twist I know some of you will get caught up on...souls are reused (according to the author, I'm not sure...but then we can't be sure of anything so who knows?).
It's like the low and mid-level souls get some second chances to move higher (or lower) on the spiritual afterlife totem pole. I assume, most souls don't remember their former lives (some people do, I for one am up for regression therapy!). But each go round can move a soul a peg up or down depending on how they act during the time they're given and eventually (hopefully) they reach the highest level. Ever hear someone call a person an "old soul" even if it's a seven year old kid they're talking about? Maybe they're right. Maybe our Mother Teresas are on their final round before they reach the top and they stand out in life for the works they do because they're so close to Heaven.
Is there anything out there? I have to believe there is, for me and not for some man-made Church that may or may not be on the money every Sunday.
You know when you think about it all major religions are pretty similar. A couple even share holy books (Christianity, Islam and Judaism all share the Old Testament).
Maybe being a good person (in the don't kill puppies sense and less of the ridged Church sense) and following the main, corresponding tenants (I'm trying to stay on the level here, I do believe some of the things I learned in Sunday School- the book of Revelations scares me just thinking about it) of any religion you find yourself in is good enough...?
I want to know what will happen to me, and people like me, when we die. Will I go to Hell simply because I keep my faith to myself and don't conform to a Church I'm unsure of even if I live a good life?
And remember, fear of Hell, so they say, isn't enough to get you into Heaven...so if an Angel, a disciple and whole civilizations didn't have a chance, what kind of chance at eternal peace do I have?
What chance do any of us have?
Am I the "heretic" that will go to Hell for asking too many questions and, perhaps not enough faith, or am I allowed to be this open-minded because God created me in HIS image?
God's message is love and life. Man's message is praise and protect..."Praise God and pass the ammunition" is a favorite quote of mine. Personally, I think God is closer to being a Hippie than a televangelist.
I've rambled, I might not have always stayed on point and Lord knows I don't have an answer to my own questions (does anyone really? They wouldn't be questions if we also had the answers).
I just thought I'd share, maybe make some space in my head so I can sleep without wrestling with cosmic issues beyond human comprehension…you know, the usual.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Le Gitan
Hello all,
A lot has happened since I last posted.
There are butterflies EVERYWHERE, really pretty orange ones :) It's SPRING...not that we ever had Winter this year...which is abnormal even for this place.
Went to St Pat's Ball at the Hilton that was put on by the Irish Society, but it wasn't anything special, nothing out of the ordinary and the guys were lame...moving on in more ways than one.
The ball was on a Thursday night and on Saturday it was Carnival Day, a MUCH more fun day! All the kids from school and their parents were invited to go to Sha'ab Amusement Park (it's pretty much in my backyard...err front yard). All the teachers had to go to make sure everything ran smoothly, but with the parents there I really didn't have to do anything but wander around with my friends, go on rides, visit Rippley's Believe It Or Not and say hi every time a kid yelled "Hi Miss Ash" from a ride.
Got my first sunburn of the year too! it's mid March and we're already in the low 40s temperature wise...hotter here now than it gets at home in the middle of summer at home!
Uhmm, what's next? Oh right, I had an MRI on my knee to figure out why I've been in pain for 11 years...nothing seems wrong, so now I get tons of fun meds to help me sleep at night in hopes that does...something...
We also had International Day at school, all the kids dressed up in their country of origin's national dress and paraded through the school. We had assemblies, fashion shows, guest speakers, booths set up by parents and even a real camel!
Next week in my library is Genre Week! Activities at our recess breaks everyday! Prizes! Yay!
The countdown to going home has begun! I leave the Sandbox around June 10th and am spending a week alone in the English countryside, I'm going to walk EVERYWHERE and enjoy seeing nature again. Then it's on home to Canada.
Today was uneventful, I cleaned from top to bottom this afternoon and now and sharing the couch with my cat and am watching Julie and Julia...yeah, I'm totally a crazy cat lady.
Oh, and I've rekindled my love of French singer Charles Aznavour and of Quebecois singer Garou.
A lot has happened since I last posted.
There are butterflies EVERYWHERE, really pretty orange ones :) It's SPRING...not that we ever had Winter this year...which is abnormal even for this place.
Went to St Pat's Ball at the Hilton that was put on by the Irish Society, but it wasn't anything special, nothing out of the ordinary and the guys were lame...moving on in more ways than one.
The ball was on a Thursday night and on Saturday it was Carnival Day, a MUCH more fun day! All the kids from school and their parents were invited to go to Sha'ab Amusement Park (it's pretty much in my backyard...err front yard). All the teachers had to go to make sure everything ran smoothly, but with the parents there I really didn't have to do anything but wander around with my friends, go on rides, visit Rippley's Believe It Or Not and say hi every time a kid yelled "Hi Miss Ash" from a ride.
Got my first sunburn of the year too! it's mid March and we're already in the low 40s temperature wise...hotter here now than it gets at home in the middle of summer at home!
Uhmm, what's next? Oh right, I had an MRI on my knee to figure out why I've been in pain for 11 years...nothing seems wrong, so now I get tons of fun meds to help me sleep at night in hopes that does...something...
We also had International Day at school, all the kids dressed up in their country of origin's national dress and paraded through the school. We had assemblies, fashion shows, guest speakers, booths set up by parents and even a real camel!
Next week in my library is Genre Week! Activities at our recess breaks everyday! Prizes! Yay!
The countdown to going home has begun! I leave the Sandbox around June 10th and am spending a week alone in the English countryside, I'm going to walk EVERYWHERE and enjoy seeing nature again. Then it's on home to Canada.
Today was uneventful, I cleaned from top to bottom this afternoon and now and sharing the couch with my cat and am watching Julie and Julia...yeah, I'm totally a crazy cat lady.
Oh, and I've rekindled my love of French singer Charles Aznavour and of Quebecois singer Garou.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
This is Halloween Town...
Okay, so a million things (give or take 99,9999 or so) have happened since I last posted...here's the run down.
Did I mention before that I spent every other day for a week in November get iron injections by IV? Well, I did...even on my birthday.
All our new friends threw an awesome Christmas party, I got to meet Santa! But before that they threw a birthday/costume party...fun all around!
Before I knew it, it was Winter Break at school, everyone left and for one lovely week it was just me and the cat :)
Then Mom, Dad and Jackie (my sister) came to Kuwait for six days. We went to all the malls near me, the highlight of Jack's trip I'm sure, the Towers, the Heritage Market and even the ice rink (Dad was in shorts). We got a tour of said rink, much to Dad's delight...I think the ice here is at least as good as the ice at home. Haven't gone skating yet, but I will.
We also went to the Aquarium, really cool though I felt bad for the penguins- their tank thing seemed kinda small. If I've forgotten anything I'm sure Mom will remind me in the comment section.
School has been back in for a month and we're all now looking forward to spring break. I'm also looking forward to summer break (4 months!) so I can stop over in England on the way home.
So now I'm going to settle in for the night and watch Halloween II, not for the faint hearted or squeamish- it was directed by Rob Zombie (LOVE) and as far as I can tell is dark, suspenseful, has buckets of blood and fairly realistic breaking bone sounds.
I'm also eating chocolate covered raisins and later will start reading a new, non-child related book.
Did I mention before that I spent every other day for a week in November get iron injections by IV? Well, I did...even on my birthday.
All our new friends threw an awesome Christmas party, I got to meet Santa! But before that they threw a birthday/costume party...fun all around!
Before I knew it, it was Winter Break at school, everyone left and for one lovely week it was just me and the cat :)
Then Mom, Dad and Jackie (my sister) came to Kuwait for six days. We went to all the malls near me, the highlight of Jack's trip I'm sure, the Towers, the Heritage Market and even the ice rink (Dad was in shorts). We got a tour of said rink, much to Dad's delight...I think the ice here is at least as good as the ice at home. Haven't gone skating yet, but I will.
We also went to the Aquarium, really cool though I felt bad for the penguins- their tank thing seemed kinda small. If I've forgotten anything I'm sure Mom will remind me in the comment section.
School has been back in for a month and we're all now looking forward to spring break. I'm also looking forward to summer break (4 months!) so I can stop over in England on the way home.
So now I'm going to settle in for the night and watch Halloween II, not for the faint hearted or squeamish- it was directed by Rob Zombie (LOVE) and as far as I can tell is dark, suspenseful, has buckets of blood and fairly realistic breaking bone sounds.
I'm also eating chocolate covered raisins and later will start reading a new, non-child related book.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Dia dhuit!
Connas ta tu?
...nothing huh?
The answer to that would be Dia is muire dhuit. Ta me go meath.
*cricket noises*
Okay, moving on!
The Irish Society semi-formal was, to borrow the two biggest compliments from the Old Country, altogether brilliant and grand!
It really was great. Great place, great food, great dancing (who'd have thought I'd learn Irish dances in the Middle East?) and great friends (old and new).
I think we're going to go whatever function is happening every month...we really really need something to do.
We (Amanda, Dawn and I) took a cab to the Hilton (fancy!) and then hung out until Amanda's friend Lloyd and his friends got there. We were introduced to most of the guys, I think I missed a few of them though. They brought some of the best homebrew I've ever had. :)
Dinner was an amazing buffett that included local dishes as well as Irish stew (naturally!), Yorkshire pudding and roast beef...don't even get me started on the dessert table!
Then is was time to DISCO! And we did my friends, we did. Whilst belting out the words of course (why do I know the words to so many disco songs anyway?!).
Next came Irish dancing lessons. The first round I sat out thinking I was going to be horrible at it and look like an idiot. Then I was two things that made me change my mind: 1) no one was any better at it than I would have been and 2) it looked like a hell of a lot of fun!
So Mike, one of my new friends, and I learned two dances and quite frankly I think we did pretty damn good. Who really cares how good you are at something or what you look like so long as your having fun? Live a little, right?
Then it was time for more non-Irish dancing and some more drinking (for me anyway).
We left at midnight because Cinderella (Amanda) had to be at school ON A WEEKEND at 8am...boo! Do you hear me Amanda?! Boo! And thanks for making me leave my apartment for some fun times with friends..I owe you.
Here's to cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking.
If you cheat, cheat death.
If you steal, steal a woman's heart.
If you fight, fight for a brother.
If you drink, drink with me!!
- Irish toast
Connas ta tu?
...nothing huh?
The answer to that would be Dia is muire dhuit. Ta me go meath.
*cricket noises*
Okay, moving on!
The Irish Society semi-formal was, to borrow the two biggest compliments from the Old Country, altogether brilliant and grand!
It really was great. Great place, great food, great dancing (who'd have thought I'd learn Irish dances in the Middle East?) and great friends (old and new).
I think we're going to go whatever function is happening every month...we really really need something to do.
We (Amanda, Dawn and I) took a cab to the Hilton (fancy!) and then hung out until Amanda's friend Lloyd and his friends got there. We were introduced to most of the guys, I think I missed a few of them though. They brought some of the best homebrew I've ever had. :)
Dinner was an amazing buffett that included local dishes as well as Irish stew (naturally!), Yorkshire pudding and roast beef...don't even get me started on the dessert table!
Then is was time to DISCO! And we did my friends, we did. Whilst belting out the words of course (why do I know the words to so many disco songs anyway?!).
Next came Irish dancing lessons. The first round I sat out thinking I was going to be horrible at it and look like an idiot. Then I was two things that made me change my mind: 1) no one was any better at it than I would have been and 2) it looked like a hell of a lot of fun!
So Mike, one of my new friends, and I learned two dances and quite frankly I think we did pretty damn good. Who really cares how good you are at something or what you look like so long as your having fun? Live a little, right?
Then it was time for more non-Irish dancing and some more drinking (for me anyway).
We left at midnight because Cinderella (Amanda) had to be at school ON A WEEKEND at 8am...boo! Do you hear me Amanda?! Boo! And thanks for making me leave my apartment for some fun times with friends..I owe you.
Here's to cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking.
If you cheat, cheat death.
If you steal, steal a woman's heart.
If you fight, fight for a brother.
If you drink, drink with me!!
- Irish toast
Monday, November 16, 2009
When I'm havin' fun ya know I can't conceal it
I'm sorry but if my train of thought veers off it's track it's 'cause the kitty wants to play fetch...seriously.
Dawn's birthday was awesome, great food, great friends...some "juice" when we got back to her place.
My birthday is tomorrow and all I get is the kindergarten teacher from hell bringing her class to the library, a staff meeting after school and another iron drip/injection....lovely...oh well, c'est la vie
We had costume day during "spirit week"...I've never seen so many Hannah Montanas in my life! I was a hippie...wore a wig and everything. LMAO
Still missing the music scene from home but limewire will get me through the rough patches.
Does anyone out there know how to sinc an ipod to a laptop when the ipod is in fact already synced with a desktop that I left in Canada without erasing all the music?
I'm drawing again....I found art supplies! SO HAPPY!!!!!!
When we get paid I'll finally get to paint my apartment!
Also, I'm going to the Irish Society's semi-formal Thursday night...so, I'll look great but there's no way I'm covering my tattoos.
And so ends the random update.
Well, three more...
I found out the kitty is 6 months old not 12 weeks (she's just super stunted).
I've developed an addiction to watching pro-wrestling. Go Matt Hardy!
And I've stopped cutting my hair...so growing it out again.
Fin
Dawn's birthday was awesome, great food, great friends...some "juice" when we got back to her place.
My birthday is tomorrow and all I get is the kindergarten teacher from hell bringing her class to the library, a staff meeting after school and another iron drip/injection....lovely...oh well, c'est la vie
We had costume day during "spirit week"...I've never seen so many Hannah Montanas in my life! I was a hippie...wore a wig and everything. LMAO
Still missing the music scene from home but limewire will get me through the rough patches.
Does anyone out there know how to sinc an ipod to a laptop when the ipod is in fact already synced with a desktop that I left in Canada without erasing all the music?
I'm drawing again....I found art supplies! SO HAPPY!!!!!!
When we get paid I'll finally get to paint my apartment!
Also, I'm going to the Irish Society's semi-formal Thursday night...so, I'll look great but there's no way I'm covering my tattoos.
And so ends the random update.
Well, three more...
I found out the kitty is 6 months old not 12 weeks (she's just super stunted).
I've developed an addiction to watching pro-wrestling. Go Matt Hardy!
And I've stopped cutting my hair...so growing it out again.
Fin
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