I put my hands up in the air sometimes

Yeah, oh yeah! You know what time it is! It's 'back to school' time! Can I get a whoop-whoop? 

It's 7th, 5th, 3rd and 1st graders this year. Man, talk about tough. I mean, I remember 7th grade. I had a crush on my History teacher Mr. Duffy. No. freaking. way. is this happening to me. And the youngest is in first grade. I thought it was tough sending each kid that first year; now I know that the youngest is the toughest to let go. *sniff* FINE! Leave me to go grow up!!

 

As much as I may complain or kvetch about the insanity that they drive me to, I miss 'em. Not so much the first week or so; more in a couple of weeks. I think I could be okay with a staggered school year where I have two in school and two at home. Not that that scenario exists, I'm just saying I'd be okay with it. 

I also think this is an appropriate time to crow a little about their school. It's wonderful! It's their first experience with an "American style" school. Though what is that anymore? I love the curriculum; it's like the math program was made especially for them. Though a great curriculum is nothing without great teachers to implement it. They all (at least my kid's teachers) want to be there and live for what they do! I love that they say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning at the A.M. assembly. I love that my kids feel comfortable enough, and CAN, run up to their teachers and give them a big hug. I think that touch and contact is a BIG part of any relationship. And I know one bennie that the kids love is the cafeteria hot lunch option. It's not too expensive (which I can't always say for Bahrain) and it helps me out some days.  

So here's to a new school year!  

 (if you can't tell, i'm on a gif kick)

 

One bite at a time

I try to maintain a positive vibe on this blog. (i totally do this every morning)

Yet in life there must be balance in all things. Life isn't all cheery times or slogging through the doldrums. I've had a hard time finding that balance again, as you can tell. In some ways, our two years here in Bahrain feel just as long or longer than the 4 in Egypt. Every 6 months, there has been an upheaval; 

- getting to post, waiting 4 months for household goods
- finally getting unpacked and we get hit with an evacuation
- return to house, re-find everything and settle into groove
- get moved from one house to another due to unstable neighborhood conditions
- get to unpack and reorganize and decorate for the 2nd time at post

And now we are back from summer R&R, have gotten over the jet lag and are starting school tomorrow. Still trying to find solutions to everyday life, like where the homework working is going to go down (dining room table did *not* work before), finding a maid (for the last year) and so on and so forth.

I have been doing some serious soul searching in the past few months. I had to find out for myself if blogging was a benefit or a burden to me. I have taken quite a long break and almost every. single. day. I had a new idea; a writing point or a blog topic. It's become quite clear to me that writing has become integral to my sanity and personal growth. Like anyone, I am afraid of failure. Am I setting myself up only to sit back and watch it all burn? Oh wait, I'm not a local troublemaker. No, I don't think so. Besides, how does one eat an elephant? One bite at a time. 

Beware the Groove

I think I can confidently state that due to my lack of regular posting, I have lost any and all interest anybody ever had in this blog. I am basically posting into thin air. 

Bahrain has been a tough post. There, I said it. I finally feel like I've got my feet under me again and it's time for summer R&R. The 26th was supposed to be the last day of school. Not anymore.

Yesterday afternoon, I got an email stating that due to possible incidents (roadways being blockaded, clashes with protesters & police, etc.) school would start three hours late on Monday. Then an hour later, another email came stating that because the possible incidents would also impact Tuesday, they would start 3 hours late that day as well. It was already a half day. Another hour and another email and the whole thing is sorted. Monday will be the last day of school for the elementary and Tuesday will start late and run just long enough for the middle and high school students to take their last exam. Yes, the MS & HS take their exams the last days of school. Crazy, I know. We have this site called Gradespeed where the students can check their test results in a week. I'll bet the teachers love that. 

The reason my feathers are still ruffled about this whole thing? We leave for the States on Wednesday night. Instead of having just one day for the kids to undo all my hard work, they'll have two. Another impediment to my progress here in Bahrain is that I lost my maid in the move back in January. (please, don't even give me any grief on that subject, k?) I have been doing it all on my own since then and it's not easy. You try keeping a 5,000+ square foot house clean. So I've been going along, working my groove, and this hits me like a ton of bricks. I tell ya, love my kids as I do, but when I've got a list of things I need to get done that didn't have the kid factor times 4 included, that messes with the math. 

So since they just left on the bus 20 minutes ago instead of 3 hours and 20 minutes ago, I've really got to get off my duff and get a move on. 

 

YouTube Tuesday: She Lives!

I know, I know. I've used that title before. And the reference, too. (*cough* Mulan *cough*) I'm not even searching for the clip. It's a mental video you'll have to conjure.

We've been here, done that and bought this t-shirt so many times I could open my own t-shirt store. I know, I've been delinquent. Truthfully, I'm really working on making my own blog. Yessiree, my own, my precious. It's not anywhere near being ready to launch, so don't worry. When it's ready, you'll know. The biggest holdup is the name of the blog. I've changed this blog's title once and I don't want to do it again. The reason I want a separate blog? I'd like to put the more personal, family stuff private & let the rest all hang out. Maybe I'll get some input if I get really stuck.

But now, on to the real star of the day. The YouTube Video! I have to brag just a little because I found this channel all on my own, with just a little help from Me, Myself & I. And do you know who was on The Ellen Show yesterday? (hint: not me) Yousef, the guy who makes these videos. He plays all the characters, he is awesome. I did have a hard time narrowing it down to just one video. That's why there are two! You have to promise me that you will go see his other vids. Start with: 'You Know You're Arab When . . .', then move onto the 'Middle Eastern Family' episodes. 






 

 

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