Trashy Treasure

A science fair is one of the 'End of the Year' projects we are working on. Well, worked on; Grant is done, the fair is on Thursday. Don't worry, there are still more projects to be had by all the kids. Isn't that just fabulous? Yes, we still have another month of school. Not fluffy school, real school. Sigh. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

Rotten Thumb

I have been falsely misled into thinking I have a bit of a green thumb. I planted ornamental sunflowers about 2 weeks ago. The package said sprouts would appear in 7-10 days. And that they do best in full sun. And to water them frequently. Yes, I have to be reminded to give nourishment to things I am responsible for. (I may or may not be referring to other non-plant growths that need to be fed) 

Just 5 days after doubtfully planting my seeds, little green sprouts poked out of the black soil. Yay! I can grow something! I tended them dutifully; preparing myself for a few empty spaces in between the other sprouts, there have to be duds in every packet. Actually, I only had 5 out of the two packets not sprout. I also know that some will not make it to full size; there have to be sprouts that die, either through natural selection or thinning. I watch National Geographic, I know the circle of life. I'm still surprised that the hordes of doves, pigeons, and sparrows haven't turned it into their own personal buffet. 

The past two days, though, my little sprouts have been shriveling up and dying. Wha...? I've only got about 30 percent of the original successes. I've moved them out of the full sun, contrary to the packaging directions. I know Bahrain's weather can be harsh; we've been hitting the century mark daily for the last month. This was supposed to be the perfect conditions for them, too. I saw the same sunflowers thriving last year. There are even ones that sprang up spontaneously and are being ripped out and treated like weeds. 

Last Saturday, the kids came running inside and said they discovered a tomato plant with little red tomatoes on it!. I told them to leave it alone because it's not our plant. But they insisted that it was right beside our door, so it must be ours. I went outside and looked under the tree that overhangs our steps. Lo and behold, two hardy cherry tomato plants, each bearing 2-4 red fruits and at least a dozen green ones between them. There's even a monster basil plant right near it. Seems like the previous tenants had a little tomato sauce garden going here.




So, I give up. Little seeds of any sort, stay away from me. If you are planted by me, it is surely a death sentence. I guess the green on my thumb stands for rotten. If only plants grew spontaneously around me, that would be a great superpower. ::*plant powers turning on*:: I command squash, strawberries, watermelon, and chilies to pop out of the ground. I promise I won't touch you until you're ripe.

Time

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have,
and only you can determine how it will be spent.
Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you."
~ Carl Sandburg

I've been silent for a while. Sometimes silence is good. This was a good silence.

I've been trying to sift through my life, picking out the unnecessary and bringing in the important. Deciding which category this blog resides in has been the biggest struggle. I love writing; composing a story for someone. I have figured out that because of the blog, I am a better writer and because of the blog, I write. But therein lies the dilemma. This blog began as a connection to the family on the other side of the ocean. The easiest way to share pictures and such. Things have changed (for the better).

Another quote I really like is, "You have time for what you make time for." Or something like that. There's that object lesson where you have to fit the rocks and sand in a jar, but all of it fits only if you put in the big rocks first, then the sand. Point being that you take care of the big things in your life before the small stuff.

I think it is time to split the blog. One for just me and my narcissistic needs, and this one for family stuff. I have pondered over that dilemma too because so much of who I am revolves around the family. But I believe I have just about got that figured out, too. Really, I'm just trying to decide on a name for the other one and I'll open it right up.

"For disappearing acts, it's hard to beat what
happens to the eight hours supposedly
left after eight of sleep and eight of work."

~ Doug Larson

Thoughts on 22 Dec '11

This is from my notes I wrote down while we were on vacation in Thailand. No, it's not too late to use this.

It seems I can't escape the Middle East; or the Middle East can't escape me. Either way, I must be destined to be inextricably reminded of Islam at every corner I turn. Our hotel is located near one of the few mosques in Southern Thailand. I hear the call to prayer at the proper times each day.

After we visited the Phuket Aquarium, we explored a bit down the boardwalk. Along the way, there are vendors making street food from their scooter stalls. A car pulls up for some chicken satay and greets the vendor with "Salaam aleekum!" and the vendor responds, "Aleekum essalaam." Fabulous, it's like I never left home. Except when we get back to our hotel, I'm laying out swimsuits to dry on a balcony overlooking the northern Andaman sea. And a coconut tree is swaying in the jasmine scented breeze. I'm not kidding; the scent is sometimes so strong, it's unreal. I could never mistake this for Bahrain, or Egypt, that's for sure.

Papaya and banana trees grow amongst rubber trees right off the side of the road. And greenery chokes everything else that stays in one place for too long. It's December and the temperature is in the high 80s with humidity at pretty much perfect.

Valentine, will you be mine?

Not just another movie

I have the next movie you have to watch. Have. To. Watch. It will leave you speechless. It is thought provoking and utterly compelling. From the first moment you press ‘play’ you will be riveted in your seat, unable to tear any part of your consciousness away from this story. It takes hold of your very person, body and mind.

Don’t read any reviews. Don’t read about the preface. This is the perfect ‘blank slate’ kind of movie. Don’t learn anything about it. Just watch it. Just do it. Spence saw this on the plane and ordered it within hours of when he landed. It came in the mail today and I outrageously proposed that I could just watch it the next day; I just wasn’t “in the mood” for an unknown entity. He started it and said that we’d just watch a little and then I could turn it off if I wanted to. 92 minutes later, the movie is over and I am left feeling like Rip Van Winkle. You know when a movie ends, you blink and look around. You feel like you are reconnecting to ‘real life’; left in amazement that life has still gone on, time kept moving.

This movie will leave a physical impression on you. This is a gem. What movie is it? It is called ‘Another Earth’. Don’t go read about it on IMBD (no I will not link to the site!) or plug it into Google or Wikipedia. Go pick it up at the video store or move it to the top of your Netflicks cue. You can thank me in the form of chocolates and eternal praise.

Meet Chance

Guess who we got to bring home this morning? Our new puppy, whom we have named Chance. He is 8 weeks old and 100% golden retriever. We have waited so long for the right time & place to get a puppy. He is fluffy, adorable and we are so excited to have this little guy in our life!