Saturday, October 31, 2009

Oh My Gosh....

It's another goal!!!

Today is no sweets and I'm going to walk for at least 15 minutes.

Dun Dunt Dunnnnn!

Hangover Saturday

Went to the party as a gypsy.

Had a great time.

Drank.

Had some pie.

Drank some more.

Had some chicken.

Drank some more.

Went home and woke up with a hangover.

But I had class so I couldn't stay in bed...

Our class was moved to a downstairs room - which echoed.

Really bad.

There were a lot of loud people organizing an art show.

Really loud.

In a room that echoed.

And I had a hangover.

Ow.

Friday, October 30, 2009

It's Halloween!


We're going to a party and I've decided to go as a lush!

I was going to go as a Ninja but I couldn't find a pair of silky black men's PJ's.

You'd think that'd be a fairly easy item to find.

At least I thought so.

You know, hop down to Target or TJ Maxx, buy a pair for 20 or 30 dollars on clearance. Take about an hour to go, find the PJ's, and get home. Quick, easy, instant Ninja outfit.

Oh. Wait.

I don't live in America.

There isn't a Target or TJ Maxx.

There are discount stores, but they seem to only have cotton Grampa PJ's.

Well at least at Lu Lu's.

And there was only a choice of about 10 in the same style but in varying shades of blue.

Since the sales guy seem confused when I asked for PJ's, I asked for sleeping clothes, then I asked for bed clothes. He finally got it then.

I guess men here mostly sleep in the nude (not a good visual).

After Lu Lu's we went to the mall, it's a big mall. You can walk at least 3.5 miles without doubling back (I clocked it) that should give me enough choices and I should be able to find some there.

Nope.

Well yes but, it turns out if I wanted black silky PJ's they would actually have to be silk. And I really didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a halloween costume.

So I'm going to the party as a lush.

All I need are my comfy PJ's, my oversized robe and a bottle of whiskey. I'm going to be an expensive lush too, cause my whiskey is single malt.

America is a great country.

You can get anything.

Easily.

Say it with me people...America!


================================


Update on the costume...


I ended up as a gypsy!  It's a little scary that I have everything I need in my wardrobe to dress as a gypsy...must be in the blood!

Friday Morning


Ohhhh the bed, the down comforter, sleeping in...

Wallowing.

Bliss.

Morning coffee...

Sublime.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Goals Part Deux

Well I didn't have any sweets yesterday. 

Hmmm "They" could be on to something when "They" say if you write down your goals you're more likely to meet them.  Just Google "How to meet goals" and you'll get a whole list of how to meet them.  Lots of experts out there.

Maybe I should write a goal to win the lottery, the big one, a hundred million dollar one, do you think it will come true? 

Oh, wait a minute, that's the Secret - not a goal.

Anyhoo...I'm going to set another goal today. 

No sweets.

Yes I know - same goal.

But if I can keep this up, little bit, little bit, little bit, I'll start adding more goals to my list.

And one day maybe I'll "gasp", maybe I'll excercise...

Dun dunt Duuunnnnn (cheesey music noise).

Middle Eastern Friday (aka Thursday)

I love Thursdays.

I love them for two reasons.

1.  I can wear jeans to work.

If I could wear jeans to work everyday my mornings would be so much easier and my days so much more comfortable.

And

2.  Tomorrow is FRIDAY.

And as everyone knows Friday mornings are for wallowing in the most comfortable bed in the world.

My bed.

Knowing that I don't have to be anywhere or do anything unless I want to, it's bliss.

 I can even stay in bed ALL day.

Wallowing.

Possibly napping.

I rarely nap.  But I could if I wanted to, on a Friday.

Nice.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Goals

I have a goal...

It's similar to a dream, but not.

I have a goal.

I'm no longer going to say "I want to lose XX pounds".  I'm just going to try to break it down to the simplest of goals.

I'm going to try to not eat sweets. 

Today.

Because trying not to eat sweets forever isn't going to work, neither is stopping for 6 months or 6 days.  So we're just hitting for today.

For some reason during Lent I can give them up for 6 solid weeks.  Any other time - it's a no go.  So for today, just today, no sweets.  No biscotti with my coffee, no chocolate with my wine.  No pudding after dinner. 

Just say NO!

Now "they"  and you know who "they" are... say that you have a better chance of attaining a goal if you write it down.

I'll let you know how that works out.

Tomorrow.

I have a DREAM America!

Oh, sorry - carried away there, what I mean is;

I have a GOAL America!

Back Again....

2nd post in one day and all I have to say is apparently I'm ready to do anything except what I need to do.

Sew.

I have a private class tomorrow and I need to have my trouser pattern at least started.

This is suppose to be fun. And it is.

But I'm putting it off. Why do I do this to myself?

It's the same with weight loss - I'm a self saboteur!

BAD GIRL!

BAD BAD GIRL!

Spank me Daddy...he he he!

Monday, October 26, 2009

BLEH!

I know you are going to be suprised by this....but....

I am NOT a morning person.

Especially when my coffee is bad...

Really bad.

With humidity it's gone off and it tastes like crap.

This is not a good way to start the day - I can feel the beneficial effects of my week long holiday sliding right off me.

It's a good thing another one is up coming.

My husband was in a jolly mood again today, early in the morning (you can sing hoo ray and up she rises...now). How can a person be joyful in the morning - without coffee?!

I married a mad man.

Where is my coffee?

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Shopping

I went shopping this past weekend and lo and behold I actually found things that fit. I couldn't believe it. I haven't lost weight, but I still had a good shopping day. It's better than a sugar rush!

I almost felt like I was 25 and a size 4 again.

Almost.

Not quite.

And I still have no idea on how to manifest my mid-life crisis - I almost feel like I'm over it.

Which would be a bit disappointing since I thought I would do something crazy.

Like another tattoo.

Or a piercing.

40 year olds don't do that right?  This is what you do when you're 22 (which is when I got my first tattoo).


But I don't know where to put the tattoo so it's only visible when I want it to be and so it doesn't hurt like a bitch.

And I'm scared to get my belly button pierced. It'll hurt.

So still thinking...

Thursday, October 22, 2009

I'm 40...

I was going to write something about being 40 and my mid-life crisis (still have no idea how to manifest it) but since I've been 40 for only 3 days I don't really have anything profound to say.

So I'm not going to say anything except - we are on our way back home from Turkey.

Hoo Raa

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

A little bit of America outside the US


Well, we're here at Starbucks...

Surprise!

And guess how many American's are here?! I can count 3 aside from us... judging from the accents.

The world (from the comments I get) thinks we're taking over by going to war, or by economic means... really we're taking over the world one Starbucks and McDonalds at a time...

Which can be viewed from an economic perspective I guess. But I think it's more a cultural one. We are seeping into the cultures of the world and turning them toward "the dark side". I've yet to be in a country that doesn't watch our movies, eat our food, or wear our clothes.

And I have yet to be in a city which does not have a Starbucks or McDonalds. And they always have people in them - including locals...

Even the French have Starbucks. He he he!

There aren't any in Italy - but really who would drink it? Italy has the best coffee I've ever had. Their coffee is excellent, even out of the vending machines, AND they even have good instant coffee. And I hate instant.

I don't think the Italians can even wrap their heads around how to make a bad cup of coffee, in any situation.

I love Starbucks and I love America - but even I wouldn't go to Starbucks for coffee in Italy. Maybe for the snacks but not the coffee. I would buy the coffee outside then bring it in...

But McDonalds is alive and well in Italy, so we're still getting in...

Anyway - we're in Istanbul, in Starbucks, chillin out and thinking about going to a palace or two this afternoon. Maybe.

We'll see.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

We're Walking...We're Walking...

Today I actually got up semi early.  About 8:30am.  This is early for me on a weekend or on vacation.  But this was going to be a day for proper sight seeing...so up early, no wallowing in bed. 

Have I mentioned how comfortable these beds are?

Anyway we spent the day tooling around Istanbul and did all the normal things one does on vacation in Istanbul.

Starbucks

The Hagia Sophia

Lunch

The Blue Mosque

Snack

The Topeka Palace

Back to the hotel for a rest

Then dinner

And now to bed.

I love how laid back we are on vacation - you can't beat it.

Not even with a stick!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Gobble...Gobble...Gobble!

We're in Turkey and we've had such an exciting time so far!

We checked into the W Istanbul, which looks like a hip, happening night club. While we were checking in the receptionist told us to make sure we attend the "party" on the 2nd floor. This great party was going to start at 10:30, AND one of the most famous DJ's in Turkey would be "spinning".  Apparently he's not to be missed.

Interesting....

Then while we're being escorted to our room the porter, who was dragging our luggage up, made sure to tell us about the great time that would be had if we went to the "party".

He also wanted to make sure we understood this would not be a party of only W guests. They were expecting about 200 people to show up to listen to this great and wonderous DJ.

Now we thought "Great! We can party, see this great and wonderous DJ, and not have to worry about the logistics of getting back to the hotel..."

Yeah. Good thought. But we're old.

So we get to the room, take a shower (kick ass rain shower by the way) then "relax".

Which in old speak is - fall alseep.

I woke up about 6:10pm in time to go to dinner at 6:30 (great food).

Then back to the room - were my other half fell asleep...at 8:00 suffering from a food coma.

I am old. This is glaringly obvious - I had a chance to see the best DJ in Istanbul, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

And I was asleep.

I am old...

Friday, October 16, 2009

Sometimes it SUCKS....


being a woman.

I have cramps.

And I'm on my way to Turkey for vacation. These two things are usually mutually exclusive.

Endometriosis.

It sucks.

Really, really...

Someone needs to figure out how to take the uterus out of the body, deep freeze it until it's needed, use it, then take it out again. And if you never have children, then you never have to deal with cramps, spotting, bleeding, ruining bed sheets, your clothes etc...

AND you wouldn't have to plan your entire life around "that time of the month".

Really.

Where is my Menopause?!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Mornings are for Mules...

Yeah I know it makes no sense, but what does first thing in the morning. 

I am not a morning person.

My husband is. 

Can you feel the tension already?

He chatters in the morning - non-stop.

While I do everything in my power not to kill him.

Not really.

But yeah - really.

How can one function without coffee? How can he be so chipper in the morning?

How on God's Green Earth did I marry a morning person?!

Monday, October 12, 2009

My Brother

I talked to my brother and his Mom this morning.  I always love talking to him even though he says like the same five things over and over again every time I talk to him.  Sandra (his Mom) said everything is going really well over in their neck of the woods and that they went to see Lion King in Alaska.  Apparently Art and Erica were so enthralled they were quiet the entire show (Aside from the laughing and clapping).  It was a great start to my day hearing how much fun they had.

We're going on vacation on Friday to Istanbul - I'm more looking forward to not being at work than I am about seeing Istanbul.  But it will be fun and most importantly the beds at the W are suppose to be very, very, comfortable.

I love sleeping and wallowing in a comfortable bed.

LOVE IT! 

I have special wallow time sheduled every Friday morning - my husband even leaves me alone until it's finished...

There is nothing like lying in the bed knowing that you don't have to get up and you don't have to be anywhere anytime soon. My sheets are perfect - 800 thread count Egyptian cotton (my favorites that I bought at TJ Maxx - gotta love the Maxx). My bed is a Sterns and Foster pillow top with a Sterns and Foster mattress pad. It's the ultimate in comfort. 

I live for Friday mornings...

I haven't talked to my sister in a week or so - which makes me worry.  Especially now that she's lost another job.  I hope she gets her shit together soon and doesn't do anything stupid.

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., Hey Yeah, Rocking in the USA...  - this is what is going through my head right now...sad.
====================================

O.K. it's a bit later in the day and I have a sick feeling in my stomach regarding the health care bill.  You know who is going to be paying out their eyeballs for it...middle class.  People like me - we'll never be able to save enough for retirement and we'll end up eating generic dog food that was tossed out...

While living in a cardboard box...

While still working because I won't be able to afford the cardboard box without a job... 

I'll be 80 and working 50 hours weeks just to pay for health care for "the poor". 

I cannot stand government who wants to take my hard earned dollars out of my pocket and put it into either their pocket or someone they think is more deserving. 

I should have been a teenage mother.  Then I wouldn't be worried about my pocketbook or retirement.  I would just need to keep voting Democrats into office.

Haven't they heard of the Public Health Clinic.  We used that when I was a kid and we didn't have any money or insurance.  It worked out just fine - got my shots, got my dental work, was able to even get gyn exams and birth control.  I used the PHC until I was well into my 20's. 

But no - we can't send more funding to them - we have to overhaul the entire system. 

ARGH!

America is still the best country on the face of the earth.  The Democrats are just hippies.

Who Should Have Won....

I'm back to politics again today, the Nobel Peace Prize and education.

I firmly believe education is key, once you have it, whether from experience or formally no one can take it away and it helps you see the world from a different perspective. It also allows you to see what is possible. Especially for women and girls.

How can a country move forward out of the dark ages when 1/2 of its population is oppressed and treated little better than chattle? How can one question what IS if they don't have any idea what can BE? If we want peace in the world it needs to be educated, all of it. Without education there can be no peace.

This is the man who should have won the Nobel Peace Prize, Greg Mortenson. His website is:

http://www.gregmortenson.com/welcome.php

An article in Time said this about him: 

"Greg Mortenson, nominated for the prize by some members of Congress, whom the bookies gave 20-to-1 odds of winning. Son of a missionary, a former Army medic and mountaineer, he has made it his mission to build schools for girls in places where opium dealers and tribal warlords kill people for trying. His Central Asia Institute has built more than 130 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan — a mission which has, along the way, inspired millions of people to view the protection and education of girls as a key to peace and prosperity and progress." http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1929395,00.html
Obama is in over his head - when I look at what he's doing versus what he's saying he just looks like he's floundering. He needs to pick one major thing at a time (leave health care alone) and deal with it, his method so far of little bit, little bit, little bit, doesn't work and it's down right annoying.

America.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Wow...

I have to say - it looks like this whole blogging thing really helps with the anger and frustration of living overseas.  It's still early but I can't think of anything to bitch about today...bummer.

Maybe I should spend some time deciding on how I should manifest my mid-life crisis.

I was thinking about maybe another tatoo...

Belly button piercing? I thought of something more dramatic but I'm too scared to pierce anything more sensitive - and I don't think my husband would be too pleased.  But really it is my mid-life crisis and my body so if I really wanted to I would regardless of what he thinks.  However, the thought of piercing a nipple or my labia makes me cringe, it really isn't my cup of tea.

Photo facial?  Here in Dubai... I'm not sure I want to try that here - if I were in the States I would have already done this as it sounds like a risk free way to reduce wrinkles without surgery.

I can't think of anything else - how to mark 40? What to do?  Maybe become obsessed with exercise...but that doesn't sound like fun.  Someone suggested a baby. 

REALLY?!   Really.  Please.  

That does not sound like fun.  And a mid-life crisis is a bad, bad reason to have a child.  Almost as bad as someone having a baby to "bring us closer together".

I'm going to spend a bit of time and I'm going to think on it, pray on it, eat on it, sleep on it, and maybe have a whiskey or two while I contemplate on it...

I can hear the Macallen 50yr calling my name...Judith....Judith....come be with me Judith....

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Sewing


Today I spent the morning sewing trying to finish up my homework, then the afternoon in class - learning how to sew. I've completed the easy parts of my skirt - and will attempt to put the zipper in this week as well as the waist band. Wish me luck lord knows I'll need it!

I also worked on my blouse - I sewed up the toile and in class Gail had a look at the sleeve and made me take it out and redo. So I redid it - she took a look at the redo - and now I have to redo again... the sleeve it's not so good...

After class we went to the Dubai Mall - I love that mall it has one of the best things here in Dubai. The biggest bookstore I've ever seen - anywhere, ever. Even in America.

It's called Kinokuniya Bookstore and they have the biggest selection of hobby books I've ever seen. I'm addicted to the books - I bought yet another embroidery book - I bet I have 20 or 30 of them now. I need to take an inventory so I can make sure I'm not buying the books twice.

No political rants today...

Will post photos of my skirt later.

Oh yeah - I love America...

Friday, October 9, 2009

Nobel Peace Prize



WTF - And what exactly did he do?  NOTHING. 
"So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act," said former Polish President Lech Walesa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate.   
"This is probably an encouragement for him to act. Let's see if he perseveres. Let's give him time to act," Walesa said.  http://www.newsday.com/news/in-a-surprise-obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize-1.1512274 
ARGH!

Obamination


I just have one thing to say about the President for whom I did not vote. How in the HELL can you not meet with the Dali Lama?! I don't want to upset China...?! If you are going to meet with the likes of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad why can't you meet with a person who is a pacifist and promotes peace? Piss off the Americans - but play nice with the Chinese?

Seriously people.

Well I'm in the midst of trying to finish the skirt I'm learning how to sew. Yes, it's one of those things I've taken up in order to fill my time and try to find a purpose. It's actually interesting - I've learned how to draft the pattern and now I'm sewing it together. So no store bought patterns for me - which is a good thing since you can't get them over here.

I'm also conserving the white paper I use to draft the pattern on, because while I did find it once, it's not currently available in the UAE. Kinda like this past summer when we couldn't buy chicken from June to September. Inventory control hasn't quite made it over here.

How thankful do you think I am that I'm an American when I go back to the US and know that I can get anything I want? Especially when it's something as simple as chicken? My new mantra is - you can never have too much choice.

I've said it once, will most likely say it again, people who bitch about America should be relocated to another country and forced to live exactly like the nationals. I can tell you it'll shut their mouths up pretty fast. And if they like the way of life in that country so much they can stay and give up their citizenship.

Which brings me to something that has pissed me off ever since I first heard it. "...for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country.."

Michelle Obama should get down on her hands and knees and thank God that she was born in America. That nasty little comment she made;


"...for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country..."
http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/803267,CST-NWS-marin20.article

made me want to smack her and make her live here or even London. Not with all her money, but live as one of us. She'd find out pretty quick that, while we may not be perfect in America (and really who ever is?) we sure as hell are a lot more progressive and treat people more equally than most of the rest of the world. 



Maybe Scandinavia is better at it but they really don't have much diversity so in my opinion they don't count. Great country to visit - excellent food...but I digress.

In England you are not considered an English person unless you are white and have been there for many generations. If you are of Indian decent you're always going to be India, Asian you are Chinese, Korean, black you are African, Jamaican etc... In America you are American and your ethnic background is whatever it is.

Those who have not experienced this will never understand the distinction. But it is there and it is glaring. And I have to say - it was shocking but a good ease in to living and dealing with the mindset here in the UAE.

We have opportunity in America - opportunity like no where else in the world.

I can truly do and be anything I want to be in America. Not here.

Here in the UAE I'm not allowed to;

- work more than 10 hours a day (not that I want to but it's a LAW people)
- work after dark, this too is a LAW

I cannot;

- drive without written permission from my husband
- work without written permission from my husband
- drink without the same written permission

I also am not allowed to have a cell phone without...you guessed it, written permission from my husband.

Actual honest to God written permission.

Because I am a WOMAN.

I miss being a woman in the south. So much more respect and consideration from men.

To be honest I'm not completely treated like a local woman here - I'm not married off at 18, and I won't lose my citizenship if I marry outside my nationality. And while my lack of children is looked down upon here, it would be enough reason for my husband to take a second wife or divorce me if I were an Emirati woman. I also have more freedom to work. But if my husband choses to beat me I'm S.O.L. just like the local women.

Isn't that nice?

God bless America.

And I do thank God that I was born in America.

Everyday.

Back to sewing.


Thursday, October 8, 2009

And we're live!


For the past few days I've been obsessed with reading blogs, not sure why, well I have an idea, I'm homesick. But in the course of immersing myself in people talking about their normal lives in America I've become inspired. It may not last long, but I'm going to give it a try. I gotta do something. My level of frustration with living outside of the US is ratcheting up. Not quite to the level it was when we lived in London - a truly horrible nightmare - but it's getting up there.

I'm living in the Middle East - Dubai - which is not exactly the most oppressive place in the world, and it is better than London - but it's still the Middle East and women are not sitting at the highest rung on the ladder.

Plus it's not America.

The home of the free and the brave.

Those are no longer just words to me.  It's the God's honest truth.  



I'm not kidding.

Every American who bashes America should have to live, and be localized, outside of the States. I guarantee that it will shut them up. Especially Michael Moore - that man needs to experience the NHS as a local, unable to buy his way to American healthcare. He'd shut down those idiotic documentaries of his pretty quick. You can't ask someone who has never known any other method about how effective they think their healthcare is.

Example:

I have a friend (first hand knowledge) who's sister-in-law cannot get an appointment to have the pins in her leg removed (she was hit by a car). She lives in Canada - it's not considered urgent - so she cannot have them taken out. Even though her GP thinks they should be.

Another example:

I worked with a gentleman in London (again first hand knowledge) who needed heart valve REPAIR - not replacement - surgery. He was put on a 6 month wait period (which is now a 9 month wait period due to lack of money) before they would give him the surgery. His heart stopped between 6 and 8 times while he waited.

Have a look at this article in the UK paper:


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article6806274.ece 

which talks about how the UK rations healthcare and the US does not.

And this article which talks about breast cancer diagnosis

"Despite the poorer survival rates of younger women, Professor Coleman said it would not be justified to extend breast screening to them. Cancer was less common in younger women and screening was more difficult because their breast tissue was denser." http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/breast-cancer-survival-rate-soars-by-20-per-cent-in-a-decade-510422.html

Here is another article about a woman being denied treatment due to cost.


"Despite health officials' contention that decisions about treatment are based solely on clinical effectiveness, critics contend that with drugs growing ever more expensive, cost has become an increasingly important factor. They also say patients are at the mercy of the so-called postcode lottery, in which treatments are available in some postal zones but not others." http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/16/world/europe/16iht-cancer.html

This is what Obama and the Democrats want us to end up like, and quite frankly after living it and being thankful America had a different healthcare system, this really scares me.

I guess I'll get off my soap box now...on a brighter note - I sure do love listening to Willie Nelson, and you can't beat the Apple TV for keeping me up-to-date on US shows!