Yesterday dear friend and I hooked up at the park in the late afternoon for an extremely overcast, brink-of-rain couple of hours. The cool breezes rushed in and blew away the humidity and it was actually brilliantly pleasant Alabama summer weather. When the kids had had their fill of fun, we opted for some pizza at a local 'oven,' one where said friend and I ate many a pizza as youngsters.
It was a great night: God provided us with rainstorms and mad puddle-jumping opportunities. I have video of our seven (yeesh!) kids shrieking with laughter, running up and down the sleepy town sidewalks in front of the pizza joint. My son even took a shower in the building run-off water. It's pretty fantastic to think about that many raindrops falling on my kids' heads in the middle of July. After a while we realized that most of the restaurant's patrons were standing in the window, watching our motley crue make the most of what others may find dreary.
Here's to memory making!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Vacation Post #4: Let's Eat
I didn't work hard all year, exercising like a fiend (well, not a fiend, but a decently dedicated spinner) to come here and gain it all back.
Nevertheless, I've enjoyed some mighty tasty meals in the last two weeks. Yesterday was my birthday, and just so happened to be Cow Appreciation Day at Chic-fil-A. They were having a deal where if one dressed up as a cow--full costume--said cow would receive a free meal. Did I do it? Well,
no. I opted for being treated to Thai/sushi by my dear friend who flew in all the way from Washington state. It's been a fab reunion and I finally got to meet her three darling kids. Our kids collectively bonded as if they've known each other for ages. Great, great fun.
I did, however, have a Chic-fil-a sammy with my kids earlier in the week. And some vanilla bean cheesecake yesterday. And some bread sticks and salad from the Olive Garden a few days ago. And tonight I made a blueberry cobbler using four pints of fresh blueberries. It'll be an anti-oxidizing dessert-fest when we eat it tomorrow, topped with Blue Bell natural vanilla bean. Good Lord, it'll be time to spin, spin, spin once we go back.
But, for now, I'm enjoying each and every bite.
Nevertheless, I've enjoyed some mighty tasty meals in the last two weeks. Yesterday was my birthday, and just so happened to be Cow Appreciation Day at Chic-fil-A. They were having a deal where if one dressed up as a cow--full costume--said cow would receive a free meal. Did I do it? Well,
no. I opted for being treated to Thai/sushi by my dear friend who flew in all the way from Washington state. It's been a fab reunion and I finally got to meet her three darling kids. Our kids collectively bonded as if they've known each other for ages. Great, great fun.
I did, however, have a Chic-fil-a sammy with my kids earlier in the week. And some vanilla bean cheesecake yesterday. And some bread sticks and salad from the Olive Garden a few days ago. And tonight I made a blueberry cobbler using four pints of fresh blueberries. It'll be an anti-oxidizing dessert-fest when we eat it tomorrow, topped with Blue Bell natural vanilla bean. Good Lord, it'll be time to spin, spin, spin once we go back.
But, for now, I'm enjoying each and every bite.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Vacation Post #3: Let's Read
So far on this trip I've ventured into a few bookstores. For some reason I keep drifting over to the "Summer Reading" or "Required Reading" sections, which mainly display classics or new-to-me classics. I'm always looking for that great novel I somehow missed in the ten years I was too busy to read for leisure/pleasure, because I was seemingly always giving birth or nursing someone. Or wiping a bottom. Or cooking.
Lo and behold, oldest daughter's new school just sent me a summer reading list for all students. I was thrilled to get it, as well as surprised at how many contemporary novels are on it. I circled all of the books we'd already read, then the ones I've had on a "to read" list for some time, then the ones I have on the shelf at home but have not yet tackled, then the ones I do not own, have not read, but still am interested in. We more or less drew lines or circles all over both pages of the list.
At one of the bookstores this week, before I even knew about the summer reading, I bought:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Cry, the Beloved Country
Off to the library we went today, where we found a few from the list and checked out:
Animal Farm
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Fahrenheit 451
Then we headed downstairs to the library's basement, which houses a used book bookstore. I love that place! For $3.75, we purchased:
A Confederacy of Dunces
The Quiet American
The Golden Compass
Song of Solomon
The World According to Mr. Rogers (not on list)
Hurrah for books. Hurrah for literacy. Hurrah for Jordanian schools that care about both!
Lo and behold, oldest daughter's new school just sent me a summer reading list for all students. I was thrilled to get it, as well as surprised at how many contemporary novels are on it. I circled all of the books we'd already read, then the ones I've had on a "to read" list for some time, then the ones I have on the shelf at home but have not yet tackled, then the ones I do not own, have not read, but still am interested in. We more or less drew lines or circles all over both pages of the list.
At one of the bookstores this week, before I even knew about the summer reading, I bought:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Cry, the Beloved Country
Off to the library we went today, where we found a few from the list and checked out:
Animal Farm
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Fahrenheit 451
Then we headed downstairs to the library's basement, which houses a used book bookstore. I love that place! For $3.75, we purchased:
A Confederacy of Dunces
The Quiet American
The Golden Compass
Song of Solomon
The World According to Mr. Rogers (not on list)
Hurrah for books. Hurrah for literacy. Hurrah for Jordanian schools that care about both!
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Vacation Post #2
I've been to Opelika.
That's Oh-puh-like-uh.
It is near Auburn, home of the Tigers,
sworn rivals of the Elephants.
Passed two lakes to get there,
contemplating the beauty
of Hwy 280 scenery.
Really, it's pretty.
Hugged my cousin, 16 years my
elder. She lost her mom in March,
that dear, sweet, sweetheart.
Talked and laughed and ate
and reminisced.
The kids rode golf carts
on land. Almost into the pond.
Four Jordanian-Palestinian-American
kids, hooking worms on
cane poles with an aged
great uncle-by-marriage, a new widower,
a sad man, made happy for
a few hours with those
chatty kids.
17 fish caught, including one bass.
A 2-pounder.
I once caught the 5-pounder
with the same uncle, then younger.
Squeamish son transformed into
champion worm-hooker.
Mentioning to my cousin a friend 'back home,'
a lady whom
I admire and miss, and wish
I'd have gotten to know better,
who lived
briefly in Amman, I drew
quick attention.
"Would you happen to know, this grandma
of my friend, she makes..."
"Come with me! Come with me!"
as she took me to her own room, showed me
a picture of a studio. A quilting studio.
They, too, treasured this fine lady and her work,
her contributions to art, culture,
hospitality, and southern finesse.
The resident architect
of the house, my cousin's son, Ed, had worked on
this studio. Ms. Mozell gave him a quilt.
She had him
over for supper. Ed is a gem.
I got a t-shirt with Ms. Benson's studio on it.
A treasure.
The day was a perfect one. Somehow we wove
that Alabama-Jordan connection
into an even tighter thread
of recognition, understanding,
and small-worldedness, in the best
of ways.
Simply.
That's Oh-puh-like-uh.
It is near Auburn, home of the Tigers,
sworn rivals of the Elephants.
Passed two lakes to get there,
contemplating the beauty
of Hwy 280 scenery.
Really, it's pretty.
Hugged my cousin, 16 years my
elder. She lost her mom in March,
that dear, sweet, sweetheart.
Talked and laughed and ate
and reminisced.
The kids rode golf carts
on land. Almost into the pond.
Four Jordanian-Palestinian-American
kids, hooking worms on
cane poles with an aged
great uncle-by-marriage, a new widower,
a sad man, made happy for
a few hours with those
chatty kids.
17 fish caught, including one bass.
A 2-pounder.
I once caught the 5-pounder
with the same uncle, then younger.
Squeamish son transformed into
champion worm-hooker.
Mentioning to my cousin a friend 'back home,'
a lady whom
I admire and miss, and wish
I'd have gotten to know better,
who lived
briefly in Amman, I drew
quick attention.
"Would you happen to know, this grandma
of my friend, she makes..."
"Come with me! Come with me!"
as she took me to her own room, showed me
a picture of a studio. A quilting studio.
They, too, treasured this fine lady and her work,
her contributions to art, culture,
hospitality, and southern finesse.
The resident architect
of the house, my cousin's son, Ed, had worked on
this studio. Ms. Mozell gave him a quilt.
She had him
over for supper. Ed is a gem.
I got a t-shirt with Ms. Benson's studio on it.
A treasure.
The day was a perfect one. Somehow we wove
that Alabama-Jordan connection
into an even tighter thread
of recognition, understanding,
and small-worldedness, in the best
of ways.
Simply.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Vacation Post #1
Well, I haven't done so well in the Dr. Pepper restraint department, but that's OK.
The flight was uneventful--as uneventful as taking three planes for a total of 17 hours flying time can be. I assume I slept 8 hours of the first flight, because when I woke up, we only had 4 hours left. Leaving at 12:40 a.m. from Amman is THE WAY TO DO IT, especially when you have a bevvy of kids who need to sleep. It's actually dark at that time.
Once again I feel like I'm in some kind of tropical paradise, with the greenery like a new discovery. And friendly smiles. Two years ago on my Alabama visit I think I wrote about how nice everyone is. Still true. It looked as if the lady at the DMV was going to reach over yesterday and hug my neck.
I'm beside myself with happiness from the simplicity of just sitting with my parents, barbeque-ing some chicken on the grill, or watching Cash Cab on the Discovery channel. I tried to think of a way Jordanian taxi drivers could come up with a "Fluus Taxi" trivia game for those unsuspecting passengers who could actually win money instead of fork it out for a taxi ride. The hilarious possibilities are endless for such a game, which would never work in our fair land. Those of you living there know what I mean.
We're off for a family swim.
The flight was uneventful--as uneventful as taking three planes for a total of 17 hours flying time can be. I assume I slept 8 hours of the first flight, because when I woke up, we only had 4 hours left. Leaving at 12:40 a.m. from Amman is THE WAY TO DO IT, especially when you have a bevvy of kids who need to sleep. It's actually dark at that time.
Once again I feel like I'm in some kind of tropical paradise, with the greenery like a new discovery. And friendly smiles. Two years ago on my Alabama visit I think I wrote about how nice everyone is. Still true. It looked as if the lady at the DMV was going to reach over yesterday and hug my neck.
I'm beside myself with happiness from the simplicity of just sitting with my parents, barbeque-ing some chicken on the grill, or watching Cash Cab on the Discovery channel. I tried to think of a way Jordanian taxi drivers could come up with a "Fluus Taxi" trivia game for those unsuspecting passengers who could actually win money instead of fork it out for a taxi ride. The hilarious possibilities are endless for such a game, which would never work in our fair land. Those of you living there know what I mean.
We're off for a family swim.
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Fun Stopped
It doesn't matter who you are or in which corner of the world you reside:
We all have a Michael Jackson memory of some kind.
I have many.
Inna lilahhi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon.
We all have a Michael Jackson memory of some kind.
I have many.
Inna lilahhi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Checks and Balances
This is a more or less useless post, but...
I know I've lived in Amman for a while when I am jubilant about the price of Dr. Pepper dropping nearly 25 piasters (cents). When I first spotted Dr. Pepper in 2002, it could only be found at a few stores, and sporadically, at that. I would happily pay 70 piasters ($1 US) for one can, but would only do so about twice a month, allowing myself to have three or four, maximum. (I have even paid a whole Jordanian Dinar ($1.41 US) for one single, lonely can.) If comparing my usual consumption with that of the average American soda drinker, that's barely a traceable amount of corn syrup, folks.
Dr. Pepper is medicinal. It was made in a pharmacy. Whether or not it contains any bona fide healing elements does not matter to me; it makes me feel good, and I allow myself this little treat every now and then. I swear it has nursed my through many a sore throat or cough. I sometimes test my restraint by keeping a few cans of it in the fridge and seeing how many days I can go without grabbing one. Albeit, I usually hide them from myself behind a large Tupperware dish of leftovers, but my heart knows they're there. Those burgundy-colored cans are filled with cold, brown, bubbly, fruity rewards.
Lately I've been able to find D.P. for half a dinar, namely at Miles Supermarket and Carrefour. Carrefour is hit-or-miss, however, so I usually count on Miles to carry the goods. (Miles provides a calm, clean, superbly air-conditioned shopping environment with hard-wood floors and a lovely bakery, too). I am not disapprovingly questioning the sudden decrease in price, but I also do not want Dr. Pepper to become too affordable. If, say, it dropped down to 35 piasters, I just might feel inclined to drink one every day. This would undoubtedly throw off my system of checks and balances I've so scrutinizingly laid out for myself, not to mention my health/weight.
What will become of me this coming month, as I leave the comfort of my Middle Eastern self-restraint and cruise the aisles of U.S. hypermarkets? As I spot case after case of every soft drink known to man, including Dr. Pepper's old adversary, Mr. Pibb, which is sometimes sold for much cheaper? I've even been known to throw back a knock-off of the knock-off, Dr. Thunder, which is manufactured by the big, bad, small-business-crushing Wal-Mart. Sigh.
Must. Resist. Temptation.
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