tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62877092011-08-28T13:45:08.243-07:00Abez and Aniraz's Momma, and she rules!Carolnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-32952275543736475332011-06-24T21:45:00.000-07:002011-06-24T21:49:38.127-07:00

Wow, it's been over 4 years since I updated this blog, but I wanted to publish the news that I finally achieved my lifelong goal of completing college. I graduated this June with my BA in Early Childhood Education from Governors State University. So to all the non-existent readers of my dead blog, I share my great accomplishment.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-21148160139443533882007-05-03T17:09:00.000-07:002007-05-03T17:15:27.001-07:00

My short time between trimesters is about to come to an end. I start classes again on Monday. I have two classes starting Monday and continuing till June 26th, then one class starting June 27th. It will be a busy summer since I'll have tons of reading and work to do in just 6 weeks. One class has 4 books.I am proud to report I got two A's last trimester. Not bad for a menopausal half-wit with no

Carolnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-14270757705400080902007-03-17T11:59:00.001-07:002007-03-17T12:08:38.515-07:00

Ok, I've grown used to slowing down or stopping my car for groups of deer crossing the road, but yesterday on the way to work I saw something I'd never seen in real life before.A small furry object with a high rounded rump and dragging something behind scurrying across the road made me slow down in curiosity. "What the heck is that!" I wondered aloud. As I got closer I was able to identify it

Carolnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-48902249962038822592007-03-09T09:40:00.000-08:002007-03-11T17:22:11.501-07:00

For nearly 30 years of my adult life Chicago has been my defacto "hometown". Now that I'm back in the States, I living with my oldest son's family. He works in Chicago, but his house is in a rural area at the end of the metra train line. I've never known how to refer to the area. It is a suburb of Chicago? If I call it a suburb will it insult the locals? What do they call it? Is this "down-state"

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-61868951724411888462007-03-02T22:40:00.000-08:002007-03-02T22:44:52.432-08:00

It's 12:40 in the Am (that's just after midnight, folks) and my hubby is cooking up a storm. The house smells of the wonderful aromas of frying onions and spices. He's cooking some spinach and beef curry so Large Hulking Son will have something to take in his lunch tomorrow when he starts taxi driving school. Another generation of Chicago cab drivers is about to begin. Hopefully, LHS will only

Carolnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-40645200775552687062007-02-23T20:30:00.000-08:002007-02-23T20:33:15.854-08:00

Someone, anyone, everyone save me from myself.If any of you, or some of you, or all of you are ever with me at Baskin Robbins PLEASE remind me that I am lactose intolerant and can only handle one scoop.Thank you.Now I will go moan and groan in my bed.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1168818005659802612007-01-14T15:38:00.000-08:002007-01-14T16:13:07.980-08:00

It's been an eventful week. Lots of things have happened: mountains have been climbed, dreams long put on hold, but not forgotten have been re-activated.I had my interview with the head of Special Education last Thursday and by Wednesday I'll know if I got the job at the local elementary school. I don't like waiting. I'm ready to jump into a new year, a new job. And there's the added suspense

Carolnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1167887961912620042007-01-03T20:40:00.000-08:002007-01-03T21:19:21.943-08:00

I just got a new job today!!!It's only a temporary job as a teachers aide while the Kg aide is on maternity leave, but it's a JOB anyway. And, it's within walking distance from home. I've been unemployed for sooooo long that a few more days and my spirit would have been so broken I would have paid someone to employ me. I don't maintain redundancy well. (For my American readers, redundant is the

Carolnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1166425876213910222006-12-17T23:07:00.000-08:002006-12-17T23:11:16.226-08:00

Announcing to the world: (aka:the five people who read this blog) The restaurant in Pakistan we have been trying to sell for the past two years has FINALLY sold. Now my husband can leave Pakistan and join the rest of the family. God has graciously answered our many prayers. After joining our daughters in the UAE for Eid, he will be flying out to visit me and our sons in the USA. I don't know how

Carolnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1159986683659956912006-10-04T11:15:00.000-07:002006-10-04T11:31:23.676-07:00

Today is my 30th wedding anniversary... well, actually today is me and Hubby's 30th wedding anniversary, but only one of us is here. I'm in America and he's still in Ajman. I scored all the points by: 1. Leaving him a card to open on this day (well, actually I put "Do not open till Oct 5th" on the envelope, but later realized after I had left the country that our anniversary is really Oct. 4th. 2

Carolnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1159366371272704892006-09-27T06:56:00.000-07:002006-09-27T07:12:51.293-07:00

I've been in the States for three days now and my first telling of where I've come from has resulted in the blank look and "Where is that?" follow-up question. I would expect such from an uneducated person, but this man was a bank officer and a college educated person. When he asked me the fateful question,I knew right away not to answer Ajman, 'cause let's face it, half the people in the UAE

Carolnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1158649993230433252006-09-19T00:05:00.000-07:002006-09-19T00:13:14.856-07:00

In just a few days I'm out of here for the homeland. I'll see my lovely but aging and frail mother, my sons and daughter-in-law and my grandsons. Today I start packing. I may be gone for 6 months to 2 years depending on the business I have to take care of. I leave my daughters sadly. My little grouchy Owl and the ever bright and perky Abez. I'll miss my youngest grandson, Abez's babyface who is

Carolnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1157786745124648452006-09-09T00:21:00.000-07:002006-09-09T00:25:45.146-07:00

I had a great evening last night with friends both old and new. We had a sort of Pakistan-based blogger reunion last night at Villa KNICQ. We reunited with the bubbly and ever noxious Hemlock, newly arrived to Dubai, our favorite crayon in the pack, Li'll Grey, and the pithy Owl. Joining us was another Dubai newbie from church, Ann.We spent the night remembering good times past, and planning

Carolnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1157518955287035102006-09-05T21:59:00.000-07:002006-09-05T22:02:35.313-07:00

I need one of those three minute delays that they use in broadcasting. If I could invent one for humans I'd have Bill Gates mowing my lawn.I need a day without regrets and since I don't have a bio-tech delay implant,I guess it's just me and God.Please God, bless me with a day without regrets.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1155912488083064572006-08-18T07:18:00.000-07:002006-08-18T23:39:26.736-07:00

It's been a good day, but a bad Sabbath. Let me explain. Last night I asked the Roomie if she wanted dropped off at the Mall to meet Abez and do some Dubai shopping and sight-seeing at the Mall of the Emirates while I was at church. She agreed that it sounded like a good outing. Because of the extra driving involved, I tried to leave early and decided to drive the Toyota instead of the Civic.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1154763652657064432006-08-05T00:39:00.000-07:002006-08-05T00:47:18.263-07:00

I'm having Owl Withdrawal Syndrome. My Owlie-bird has flown the coop and has been spotted on her annual migration to America. While not having to feed the peckish Owl with her disdain for anything fattening, greasy or overly spicy has been nice, I miss her hugs. Where else can I get even without have to ask, a long, silent, soulful, heals-all-wounds hug? I wandered around the house yesterday

Carolnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1153042345733104102006-07-16T02:16:00.000-07:002006-07-16T02:33:43.476-07:00

Last week I was horrified to discover that my blog tag boards have been overwhelmed by nasty people proposing nasty things. Wow, nothing is safe in this day and age of mass corruption. So... I called AbezTech Support and got the offending comments removed and vowed to keep my blog looking alive. A lame weekly entry is my punny goal, so here I go.I'm sitting in my local internet cafe. It's

Carolnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1140788807756326422006-02-24T05:16:00.000-08:002006-02-24T05:56:17.023-08:00

I just woke up from a nap where I dreamed they built an 8 lane elevated expressway over my apartment. If you're expecting anything funny or witty or newsworthy from this blog, forget it. I've got 15 minutes to kill till the Large Hulking Son comes to get me from the very expecting Mrs Abez's house. It's a sleepy, dark, and cloudy Friday in the UAE. We've had three rainy days this week. I don't

Carolnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1138783238404648242006-02-01T00:21:00.000-08:002006-02-09T10:43:46.100-08:00

Well, almost. Really, I'm visiting at Abez's house in Dubai. We have been in the Ajman condo for three weeks now and are loving it. It's huge, absolutely palatial compared to our previous rental apartment in Sharjah. It's so delightful to see my furniture properly spaced out instead of crammed in wall-to-wall. We also love Ajman. It's much poorer than Super-LUXURY Dubai and even Middle-Class

Carolnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1136480948128018712006-01-05T09:06:00.000-08:002006-01-05T09:09:08.140-08:00

Can you guess by my desperate question that we have MORE hamster babies? Large Hulking Son made the discovery late last night. Now the original two hamsters brought into the house by Owl and LHS in October have multiplied and multiplied again. The original two had 6 babies. I found homes for two of them and then we had 6 adult hamsters which we tried to separate by gender into two separate

Carolnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1136188190152249072006-01-01T23:48:00.000-08:002006-01-01T23:49:50.163-08:00

I'm I love with my new apartment!!!We just moved our stuff in two days ago and yesterday Husband and I spent the day assembling and try to arrange the furniture. All the stuff that was crammed into the Sharjah apartment now looks great spread out in this much larger apartment. The place looks great already, except for mountains of boxes stacked everywhere.We are heading back again today to

Carolnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1136026757866200952005-12-31T02:55:00.001-08:002005-12-31T02:59:17.866-08:00

Well, the move to Ajman is underway. The camel caravan is loading even as I blog. We were hoping to make a clean break, but it seems there was a mix-up by our real estate agent. He said we could have possession of the new apartment, but didn't know that the electric meters hadn't been installed yet and may not be for another 2 weeks. We found out the repercussions of that news the hard way a

Carolnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1135544123278604022005-12-25T12:36:00.000-08:002005-12-25T12:55:23.320-08:00

Got the hilarious holiday greeting from my dear friend Li'll Gray Crayon. She thinks she's not the brightest crayon in the pack, but I know for a fact that she is brilliant. I'm sending all her carefully worded politically correct holiday wishes your way.Dear All,Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit: my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low

Carolnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1135438091862281062005-12-24T07:12:00.000-08:002005-12-24T07:28:11.873-08:00

Well, Carol in Perpetual Motion is about to pull another move. In just a few days, a hundred packed boxes and many sprained muscles away, we will be moving into our freehold condo in Ajman. Freehold is the local expression for property that can be purchased by non-UAE citizens. You pay a ridiculously high price (about 3 times normal rates) and you get permenate residence here in the Land of

Carolnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1134746090536787742005-12-16T05:49:00.000-08:002005-12-16T07:14:50.596-08:00

I know this blog needs an update, but it's gingerbread baking season so all you get is my wonderful, top secret gingerbread recipe. Gotta go, I've got 2 gingerbread houses to assemble. Cookies:2 cups of sugar1 cup butter, softened to room temperature3 T molasses (or date syrup is a good substitute)1 egg2 T water or milk3 1/2 cups all purpose flour2 teaspoons baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt (

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1133681864690433512005-12-03T23:34:00.000-08:002005-12-03T23:37:44.700-08:00

Well, it's the first week of December and that means it's time to put up the Christmas tree. This year I, Owl and her co-worker went shopping in Karama, Dubai for a replacement tree. My tiny, crooked and motley looking tree had finally bit the dust. For several years, I had been propping and mending and ignoring its many flaws thinking they added a kind of Charlie Brown charm to it but last

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1133265255762637552005-11-29T03:52:00.000-08:002005-11-29T06:43:01.270-08:00

As you know I, Carol: Queen of Cultural Confusion; love to meld cultural boundaries. If you give me an inch I'll take a mile. Tomorrow is UAE National Day and the students and staff at my new workplace are invited to dress in Arab national dress or the colors of the UAE flag: black, white, red, and green. Inside this really big and middle-aged exterior is a third grader always trying to come

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1132919020176787832005-11-25T03:35:00.000-08:002005-11-25T03:43:40.186-08:00

Found this very cute and funny poem at Marti's blog I don't know for sure if she wrote it, but since her profile says she is a humor columnist, I'll assume, till informed otherwise that she is the author. I've never had such a traumatic turkey fiasco, but I once survived an attack by an exploding family-sized bag of frozen peas. The Flying TurkeyThe turkey shot out of the oven,and rocketed into

Carolnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1132769020334049902005-11-23T09:59:00.000-08:002005-11-23T13:49:53.596-08:00

This Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. We have always attempted to celebrate Thanksgiving wherever we are in the world, with limited success. (Abez, please post a picture of last year's anorexic turkey, Kate Moss.) It was difficult while we lived in Pakistan. The turkey's that looked like normal birds while alive turned into skin covered bones when dressed out. Owl and I both gasped with shock

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1132155085271002842005-11-16T07:30:00.000-08:002005-11-16T07:31:25.283-08:00

I had to make cookies today. I didn't need to. I didn't want to. I HAD to. I had to make chocolate chip cookies. I didn't need them. I don't like them, but they HAD to be chocolate chip cookies. I HAD to make chocolate chip cookies today to hide the fact that I've been uncontrollably eating the frozen chocolate chips till there was only 1/2 a bag left. To hide my chocolate debauchery I had

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1131867431533738582005-11-12T23:36:00.000-08:002005-11-13T02:45:21.520-08:00

The Bird Flu may be preparing its attack on humanity, but here at Momma's house, the Hamster Flu has already struck. Hubby got sick with bronchitis, but he had his tickets so he flew off to Pakistan anyway. The next morning the visiting Mrs Abez, Owl and myself all woke up with the flu. We've been coughing, over-medicating and commiserating together for the past 4 days. Mrs. Abez is deemed

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1131437730879453402005-11-08T00:14:00.000-08:002005-11-08T21:43:44.066-08:00

Help... Someone call the American Embassy and have me rescued by the US Marines...I'm turning into an ARAB!!! Although not a bad thing, it shocked me that it was happening so quickly!I just did my third visa run to Oman this week so that means I've been in the UAE for 6 months. How could it happen so quickly? The first step towards my arabization began only a few days after I arrived here. I

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1131197386001129272005-11-05T05:22:00.000-08:002005-11-05T05:29:46.013-08:00

Our newly married Mrs. Abez was in Oman on Eid day and we missed her like madness: apparently she missed us too 'cause here's the Eid mail we got from her the next day. It seems Dorothy has flown off to Oz and Kansas isn't looking so black,white and boring anymore. Share the love, share the madness.AssalamuAlaikum and Love to everyoneI've been trying to call but apparently no one has roaming (

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1131127466573258802005-11-04T10:02:00.000-08:002005-11-04T10:04:26.583-08:00

Today my husband’s lifelong dream of riding a jet sky was fulfilled. We went down to the Dubai creek where they have rentals and he and Large Hulking Son (LHS) took a spin. Owl and I watched from the shoreline till they returned and beckoned us to join. Owl then took off as the passenger with LHS driving. They soon returned and Owl took the driver’s seat and I climbed on the back. She took off

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1130877291474513732005-11-01T08:03:00.000-08:002005-11-01T12:34:51.523-08:00

Happy Diwali to my many Hindu readers. Okay, probably none of my readers are Hindu, but Happy Diwali anyway. I'm big on celebrating any and all holidays. I may not have any Hindu readers, but I do have a Hindu neighbor; a lovely girl from Delhi who is mid-20-something with a 3 year old son. She and I regularly exchange homemade food. I send her banana date bread and cookies and get wonderful

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1130353171884687772005-10-26T11:31:00.000-07:002005-10-27T11:03:51.000-07:00

Someone needs to update this blog and since I'm Carol, I guess it's my job.Enough said: On with the update.Ramadan is about 3 weeks gone now and Eid is fast approaching. My family loves Ramadan 'cause they're Muslamics. For them, its a time of spiritual renewal, self-evaluation and cleansing. For me,its a time of loneliness and more evidence of our seperate and unique religious traditions.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1129658106148779822005-10-18T10:41:00.000-07:002005-10-18T11:01:42.986-07:00

Can't this family ever do anything in the conventional manner? Today I arrived home from work and realized I didn't have a house key. Owl and I had left together, but I came home by taxi. Well, I thought Hubby is home and will let me in. I rang the bell several times, but got no reply. I then called on my mobile and he answered. "Let me in, I'm locked out." I said. His reply: "I can't.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1129018466968249832005-10-11T00:39:00.000-07:002005-10-11T01:19:24.073-07:00

I was hoping for a call or email from my daughter, Owlie but the only word I heard from her today was via her column in the newspaper. I suspect she is terribly busy. Well, it's time for me to get busy too, I've got winter weight shelvar kameez to donate and unfortunately, it's buried in the open places in the frame under my WATER BED mattress. I guess that means draining my bed. I thought we

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1128969225179395832005-10-10T11:06:00.000-07:002005-10-10T11:33:45.216-07:00

This comment from Faramin has prompted me to post some good charity orginizations for those who want to donate to the earthquake victims. Cash is the best and fastest way to help, but please be careful where you donate. You want your hard earned donation to go to help the devestated, not to line the pocket of some tribal lord, corrupt official or professional con artist. "Instead of just praying

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1128930983138253022005-10-10T00:45:00.000-07:002005-10-10T00:58:27.553-07:00

Owlie is flying off to Pakistan to cover the earthquake story for her newspaper. She's excited about her first "foreign correspondant" gig and her first return "home" since we moved away 4 months ago, but even more, she's conserned about witnessing the devistation, covering the disaster and chronicling the suffering of the victims. So far, all our friends in Islamabad we have contacted have been

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1128773568675527042005-10-08T04:54:00.000-07:002005-10-08T06:10:24.310-07:00

To all our friends in Islamabad: You are in our prayers as you go through the difficult period of recovery from today's earthquake. May God bless the souls of the departed and comfort the living. May the spirit of Ramadan expand throughout the world and bring you aid and relief from friends and neighbors around the world. Amen

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1128422470829951872005-10-04T03:20:00.000-07:002005-10-04T03:41:10.836-07:00

It's been a very busy 24 hours. First of all, last night around 10 pm Owl gets a call from Abez's Husband Friend telling her that Saudi has cited the Ramadan moon and tomorrow is Ramadan! Owl, is shocked since she spent the day writing a story about how Ramamdan is probably 2 days away. After abruptly ending her call with HF, she calls her boss and I hear those famous words, "Stop the presses!"

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1128194338072864212005-10-01T11:55:00.000-07:002005-10-01T12:18:58.130-07:00

I've known my computer was infested and needed "exterminated" for a few days, but can't get Large Hulking Son to disconnect it, tote it to the car so I can deliver it to my Large Hulking Son-in-Law with techie knowledge to fix. LHS said he could do the "extermination" himself and downloaded a spyware detector. It came back claiming we have no infected files. If we were still in Pakistan, I'd

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1128016818854550082005-09-29T10:58:00.000-07:002005-09-29T11:00:18.860-07:00

Woo Hooooo This Momma is going mobiletecular. I've got my very first cell phone today. Now all I have to do is figure out how to use it. :(

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1127848224410123792005-09-27T12:02:00.000-07:002005-09-27T12:21:17.586-07:00

My letter to the editor was picked as the "Star Letter", given a colored background, boarder and photo making it 1/4 page in size! Now all I have to worry about is the Sharjah "Thought Police" tracking me down and deporting me. Ha... let them try and anyway, they have to find me first! maww haaa haaaaLetter:How are you supposed to find anything in Sharjah? Frequently secondary and tertiary roads

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1127766033046406252005-09-26T13:11:00.000-07:002005-09-26T13:20:33.053-07:00

This morning while cleaning up the living room (read as damamge control from Large Hulking Son-LHS) I surveyed his mess all over the room. He'd used the lid of the candy dish as an ashtray again, his clothes and dishes were strewn about and as usual, he had left his bedding and pillows tossed on the floor. I spoke aloud my displeasure;He's used the candy dish lid as an ashtray AGAIN!I'd like to

Carolnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1127557957925165432005-09-24T03:17:00.001-07:002005-09-25T01:02:07.366-07:00

Well, not really, but kinda.My daughter Owl,IS a mild mannered reporter, and she's a super-girl to me. This Friday as I was driving her to work I noticed the new bright orange covers for the radar boxes. They were sporting adverts for HP. I was jazzed by them. It was the most innovative advertizing I've seen in a long time. It makes so much sense to put your logo where all drivers are

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1127213620494543102005-09-20T03:53:00.000-07:002005-09-25T05:39:08.193-07:00

This was in the paper the other day and I thougth it was sooooooooooooooo Dubai that I just had to pass it on.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1127117931145783202005-09-19T01:00:00.000-07:002005-09-19T01:18:51.190-07:00

Owl and I were out and about running errands in the car this morning. As we were negoiating the Clock Tower roundabout in Sharjah there was an Ikea truck in front of me. He wanted my lane, I wanted his, "Come, on Ikea, switch with me, I'm giving you space here." I said aloud. Owl looked up from the newspaper she was reading and said, "Sounds like that car company...what's it called, oh yea...

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1126270368176375912005-09-09T04:51:00.000-07:002005-09-10T07:16:11.263-07:00

We just made our second visa run so that means we've been here 4 months. Where has the time gone? I've met some wonderful, kind and generous people, and had some fun along the way. I've even learned a few helpful hints I'll pass on to any UAE newbies out there. Now that I've got 4 months seniority (and they were summer months too), I'm not a newbie anymore; I'm a Sharjah summer survivor! Here

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1126037076604296982005-09-06T12:46:00.000-07:002005-09-06T13:04:36.610-07:00

There is a joke told by Pakistani's about the notoriously cruel and corrupt law-enforcment agencies. President Musharrif is visiting George Bush at his Texas ranch. Dubbya is looking sad and tells Mushy that a few days ago his prized bull was stolen and the police, FBI and CIA are unable to track down the thief or recover the bull. Mushy sees his chance to impress Dubbya and announces he will

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1125556754444246682005-08-31T22:53:00.000-07:002005-08-31T23:39:14.476-07:00

I had a lovely drive this morning dropping Owl at her office. The temp was in the upper 30's; brisk breezes kept sand dancing lightly across the roads; the traffic was super light because it was a Thursday preceeded by a religious holiday. We made the trip in record time without a single near-miss... or so I thought. As I was making a left turn into Owl's office parking lot we (By the Grace of

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1125473284321739532005-08-30T23:23:00.000-07:002005-08-31T00:28:04.356-07:00

Yesterday Mrs Abez came home for a visit. She rushed into the house,hugged me and then ran into the kitchen and started opening cabinat doors. "What a wonderful collection of white people food! she gushed. "Ooo, cereal... what no kid cereal? (Large Hulking Son eats it as fast as I buy it.) Peanutbutter! Chocolate syrup AND chocolate fudge! Wow,homemade cookies! Three kinds on hotdogs!" she

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1125303884843422902005-08-29T00:12:00.000-07:002005-08-29T01:24:44.936-07:00

On Friday, I dutifully, sat down to type a blog update. I pounded away at the keys for over an hour on a piece about how I never know the day or date since moving to the UAE because I go to church on Friday instead of Sunday and that throws my whole mental calendar off. When I finished my piece I asked my live-in editing troll, Owl to please edit it for me. She read it, grew angry because I

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1124786300952873442005-08-23T01:11:00.000-07:002005-08-23T01:38:20.990-07:00

Bloggers, you won't believe this, but we finally have internet access at home!!! Amazingly, I installed it myself (with the help of Abez over the phone and tech support!!!) Abez took me as far as she could and then convinced me that I wasn't too stupid to call the provider's help desk. Oh Happy Day!!! No more schleping through the 106 degree heat and sand of Sharjah in the summer to the busy

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1122545679914105002005-07-28T02:30:00.000-07:002005-07-28T03:14:39.920-07:00

After many promptings from Abez, KNICQ and Owl, I got myself down to the local internet cafe to read my emails and blog. It's not that I've been too busy to do these things,what was keeping me away was the cockroach infest computers at the cafe. Abez gave me the rundown of which computers are the most infected: the ones on the back wall, the one nearest the office and the one in the Conner of

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1121774885899524852005-07-19T03:42:00.000-07:002005-07-19T23:24:07.620-07:00

This blog is coming to you live from Abez's house. She just dyed my hair a color that the box called hazelnut blonde. It's amazing what passes for blonde here in Mid-East hair dye packageing. The color sample book had 3 shades that I would call blonde and about 20 shades I would call brown that were all labled as various shades of blonde. Some were very dark, and I have to assume that any color

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1120053176739757752005-06-29T06:47:00.000-07:002005-06-29T06:52:56.743-07:00

Sorry I've taken so long to update. I thought I could wait till we had our own Internet connection at home, but it's been too long. Now I have to come to an Internet cafe where the cockroaches own the computers and have been running out to chase typers away. We have been in the United Arab Emirates for the past two months now. We're still getting settled in but it's almost complete now. All

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1115497495356976642005-05-07T13:08:00.000-07:002005-05-07T21:21:37.493-07:00

We are in the last rush to get ready for the container truck that comes late Sunday evening. (Why would a shipping truck come late Sunday you ask... because big trucks aren't allowed in Islamabad so it will be sneaked in under cover of darkness. It feelins like we are smuggling ourselves out of the country. Weird huh, but that's Pakistan for you.) The family all takes turns driving our little

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1114527710974677892005-04-26T04:01:00.000-07:002005-04-27T09:17:00.756-07:00

Yes, it's true. I am quite a pack rat... or as much of a pack rat as possible for someone who has moved internationally soon for the fifth time. Local moves number around 20. It's no wonder that everyone in this family considers himself to be packing pro. I've been going through my personal stuff and realize so much of it could just go into the trash can, but not so much of it that I could

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1113708020720406272005-04-16T19:39:00.000-07:002005-04-16T20:20:20.723-07:00

Well, as you can see by the layout, the clan is on the move again. We womenfolk are just fueling up the camels and then we will be off for the Land of Sand, aka the UAE. That's me in the scandlously hiked up tunic,Abez is helping me fill the bottles (she must be closely supervised during drudge work or she will wonder off and start blogging) and Owl, the family work horse is about to hand off

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1112468965504093752005-04-02T11:07:00.000-08:002005-04-02T11:09:25.506-08:00

This is the third time I've blogged about hair disasters. It seems me and my hair are mortal enemies. We are always at war. Occasionally, we get tired of the efforts war takes and we declare a cease-fire, but never a peace treaty. I color it, I perm it, I cut it, and I ignore it. I may occasionally win a battle, but I never win the war. A couple of times in all my 50 years found a style

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1112123541060607462005-03-29T11:11:00.000-08:002005-03-29T11:12:21.063-08:00

Easter eve, after spending many hours decorating over 100 large sugar cookies, I went to bed dead tired and had an Easter related dream. I dreamt that it was the day after Easter and I was buying Cadbury's cream eggs at mark down rates (many of my dreams involve serious bargain shopping, something that doesn't exist here in Pakistan and I really miss). They were displayed in a large tin box, and

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1111933452362304812005-03-27T06:23:00.000-08:002005-03-27T06:24:12.366-08:00

Easter Hugs for one and all and please take a moment from your busy life to pause to reflect on the people you have loved who have died and thank God or Allah or what ever else you call your Higher Power, for the wonder of eternal life and eternal relationships.Remember when you were a child and you went to bed knowing that in the morning there would be a great big Easter surprise waiting for you

Carolnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1111748114287647362005-03-25T02:53:00.000-08:002005-03-25T02:55:14.296-08:00

The family was surprised last week to hear the cries of a newborn baby coming from our upstairs tenant's apartment at all hours of the day and night. The tenants have been living here for four months, long enough for us to notice if the wife had been pregnant. We mused among ourselves, "Do they have houseguests?" The astute Owl, guessed, "I think he has a second wife." I dismissed the idea,

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1111429694112832902005-03-21T08:18:00.000-08:002005-03-22T02:31:28.856-08:00

This weekend Owl,Crayon and kids and I flew down to Lahore in Crayon's snazzy little white car. Abez, who masterminded this trip was ill and unable to make it and so with me and Owl as sad and sorry last minute Abez substitutes, the trip proceded as planned.Somthing I learned this weekend: McD's Happy Meals have only a short term happiness factor, then the sugar and caffine from the Pepsi wear

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1110910050556371262005-03-15T09:25:00.000-08:002005-03-15T10:07:30.560-08:00

Once upon a time there was a very greedy girl named Carol who lived in Islamabad. When Carol went to America last year she bought two very nice calendars which featured the Christian artwork of Del Pearson. One of the calendars she gave as a gift and the other she kept for herself. Since Carol lived in a Muslim household which forbade the pictorial Representation of "Prophets" (Not that Carol

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1110302431592872172005-03-08T09:11:00.000-08:002005-03-08T09:20:31.593-08:00

Too much Spider Solitare can rot your brain. Yep, without a blog, that's how I spent my time unwisely. There are two things I do to keep my brain from closing down and shutting off: the newspaper's daily crossword, and blog. My mind needs all the stimulation it can get. Can't blog long now, it's dinner time. I cooked dinner today... it's a fusion dish of thinly sliced onions browned in a

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1108809899811557412005-02-19T02:28:00.000-08:002005-02-19T02:44:59.813-08:00

More ridiculous and innane obeservations of my short stay in the UAE:I had what I call an "American Moment" the other night. That's when I forget I'm in "foreign" and think or act like an American... like when I go to the left side of the car and expect to find my steering wheel, or I think a bowler means someone who is bowling, not a cricket playing ball pitcher. My most recient one happened as

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1108584242072661392005-02-16T11:55:00.000-08:002005-02-16T12:04:02.073-08:00

We've been in the UAE for two days now. This morning I saw two men touch noses three times as a form of greeting. I found that very funny, but was smart enough to not laugh. Unfortunately, both girls missed it so I'm hoping that the act is repeated again and they witness it before we leave. This evening when I left the apartment, I noticed a sweet smell wafting through the air. It smelt like

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1108321736209700222005-02-13T10:26:00.000-08:002005-02-14T06:46:59.796-08:00

(I want music notes. Why aren't there little music notes on my computer keyboard?) After 12 straight days of cold and rain and drizzle and more rain, today was finally sunny and warm. All of Pakistan celebrated by doing their laundry and hanging it over the balconies, on Mosque walls, on the fence of Fatima Jinnah Park.... everywhere you looked, there was shelvar-kameze flapping in the breeze.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1107693566136297112005-02-06T04:08:00.000-08:002005-02-10T11:15:20.113-08:00

As you know from previous posts, everyone in this family drives and everyone thinks their driving is the best and everyone else's driving is life threatening. The truth is that all driving is life-threatening here as no traffic laws are enforced. Pakistan is the land of creative driving. Each person drives with disregard of common sense and laws alike. The result of this situation is that

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1106893077438155752005-01-27T20:45:00.000-08:002005-01-30T03:06:36.033-08:00

Today was nnother cold and wet day. Brrrrr! I'm running out of work worthy winter wear and have been showing up for some of my classes dressed in my winter national costume: an oversized sweatshirt and jeans. Being self-employed has it's advantages. I get to set the dress code bar and somedays that bar is real low. Around the house, funky, but warm hats are all the rage. We have the grey

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1106462526418412652005-01-22T21:06:00.000-08:002005-01-22T23:15:01.553-08:00

I must share with you the extraordinary Eid had by one of our family members and so without further introduction I give the keyboard to our beloved Wafadar, the family dog. Guest Post by Wafadar: Hi, Blogistan. Wafadar here. I wonder if this will go into the record books as the first blog by a family dog? Thanks Momma for giving me a chance to share my scummy Eid with your blogger friends.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1106296783135043442005-01-20T23:55:00.000-08:002005-01-21T00:39:43.136-08:00

It's a wet and cold Eid here in Islamabad. A light drizzle is falling from a gray sky, the tempurature is a very cool 45 degrees F. Hubby and Large Hulking Son are both in Karachi on business, so we girlies are feeling the loss of our menfolk. This morning, I breakfasted on the wonderful sher-korma Hubby made before he left last night. This is a dish made with vermicelli, cream, nuts,

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1105943191745158202005-01-16T22:07:00.000-08:002005-01-16T22:26:31.746-08:00

Sing with me children, "Cellll e brate good time, come on.. let's celebrate!" What are we celebrating you ask..... Not one, but TWO Dunkin Donuts shops have opened in Islamabad this week!!! You can immagine my suprise a few days ago when I answered a knock at the door with, "What's the password?" (I knew it was the girls returning from a dinner with Chai.) "Dunkin Donuts!" was the response. I

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1105364807904142312005-01-10T04:14:00.000-08:002005-01-10T09:24:46.606-08:00

Wow, this blog just had it's first anniversary. Cake, confetti, horns, firecrackers, etc. Abez and I went on a small outing to the bank today. The weather is cool (60 F) and sunny. The Margalla Hills that ring Isloo are unusually smog-free and looking very majestic. Everywhere you look there are boys out flying kites in the gentle breeze. As a motorist, I have to be especially careful of

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1104915113621775992005-01-05T01:24:00.000-08:002005-01-05T00:51:53.623-08:00

I'm trying to blog, but this is a lame attempt. The flu/food poisioning that knocked me off my feet last week, still has lingering effects. I'm so sick and tired, I still have two of the three candy bars Doctor Chai dropped off and a Magnum Bar(Pakistan's attempt to copy the Dove Bar) in the freezer for three days now. I'm feeling all the energy of a dead dog. I'm languishing away, but I

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1104675819442704142005-01-02T06:16:00.000-08:002005-01-02T06:23:39.443-08:00

In following Blogger SophyQ's advice to dedicate a blog to the victims of the tsunami, I encoundered this info at Big White Guy's blog. STAY CLEAR OF SECTARIAN GROUPS SUCH AS IDRF, HSS, SEVA INTERNATIONAL AND VHPA "Please remember the lessons of past natural calamities: Latur earthquake in 1993, Orissa cyclone in 1999 and the massive earthquake that shook Gujarat in 2001. Sectarian groups in

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1104313569775904092004-12-29T01:25:00.000-08:002004-12-29T03:39:39.743-08:00

I'm still feeling bad. After last night's marathon bout of cramps and diarrhea abated only a dozen anti-diarrheal pills, I decided it must be more than a simple flu and allowed myself to be dragged to the doctor today. In preperation, I showered and changed the clothes I'd been wearing for the past week (literally). A few days back when my family complained about the length of time I had worn

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1104158571388634912004-12-27T06:42:00.000-08:002004-12-27T07:26:56.376-08:00

Well, it's two days past Christmas. I know a Christmas blog is little late, but I needed the time to recoop from a flu-ish feeling past two days. Christmas day here in Pakistan was a lovely 78 degrees and sunny. The playing field behind our house hosted a series of soccer matches. I knew something special was up when I awoke and looked out my bedroom window, I saw folding chairs, shiny new

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1103963814743120222004-12-25T01:35:00.000-08:002004-12-25T00:36:54.743-08:00

Holiday hugs to one and all and God Bless us Everyone!

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1103804591854282532004-12-23T04:23:00.000-08:002004-12-23T04:26:31.363-08:00

The Thinker: Lamenting the devastation caused by Chai's fist when she crashed it through the front door of Gingerbreadville Manor.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1103779920323230282004-12-22T20:40:00.000-08:002004-12-23T03:41:02.656-08:00

I've been a bad blog host, but a great holiday one. Sorry it's taken me so long to update. I've been busy hosting the girls' friends, then we had a dinner party scheduled for the next evening. Now more holiday parties and then more hosting and then Christmas. Wow! Such an onslaught of socializing is soooo unusual for us. Ususally we lead very quiet Isloo lives. A coffee morning here, a

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1103383666287266272004-12-18T07:24:00.000-08:002004-12-19T08:11:42.936-08:00

The scents of Christmas, cinnamon, ginger, chocolate are wafting through my house as I bake...bake...bake. For me Christmas is all about baking tons of cookies to give away. I combine this with my other Christmas passion, holiday music and create a spiritual experience as I crank out the goodies. Here in Pakistan, the daytime high temps are still in the mid 70's F, so there's no hope for a

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1103132668053228952004-12-15T09:10:00.000-08:002004-12-15T09:44:28.053-08:00

Recently, Abez's email address was incorrectly printed as the reply address to letter in a Bengali matrimonial ad by a father seeking a match for his daughter in Bangladesh. Her email box has been getting CV's and bio-data from hopeful Bengali men all week. It set me to thinking about what kind of man I should be seeking for my daughter, the real one not the bogus one in Bengladesh. If I were

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1102859889032520952004-12-12T05:30:00.001-08:002004-12-12T05:58:09.033-08:00

While having a delicious South Indian fish dish made by the very hands of fellow blogger, foreign wife and Isloo-ite, Crayon, one of us complimented the fish and asked what kind it was. "Well, the man told me if was salmon, but it isn't pink is it?" she replied. "Ha!" I laughed, "Every fish is salmond and every fabric is silk here." We all laughed knowing how true that statment was. Any

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1102443168838492302004-12-07T09:33:00.000-08:002004-12-07T10:12:48.836-08:00

Hubby and large hulking son (LHS) were unexpectedly called out of town so it's just us girls for the day. Hubby felt bad that he hadn't gotten the car repaired before he left. He was worried that it might breakdown while he and LHS were gone and there would be no one to come to our rescue, so he made us promise that we would only use the car for work purposes. "No unnecessary trips till I get

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1102078230495276062004-12-03T04:36:00.000-08:002004-12-03T05:10:05.486-08:00

So, did you ever do a Google search of your name? I did with some hilarious results. Carol _______'s of the world include: One registered Afghan Hound. (No kidding! Maybe I should post Carol the dog's head in my pic above. Wouldn't that be hilarious.) An elementary principal in the States. (Everyone, get off the computer and do your homework!) One person in a group pic of a sing-a-long

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1101998151040928612004-12-02T06:16:00.001-08:002004-12-02T09:36:27.100-08:00

Just returned from a class with a new student, teaching the middle L sound with the paragraph mentioned in yesterday's blog, so if you haven't read it yet, skip down and read it first. Today was our very first class. My new student is a professor teaching Japanese here in Pakistan. She has very good pronounciation. On the initial pronunciation test, she nearly got a perfect score by very

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1101927657569637592004-12-01T10:11:00.000-08:002004-12-01T11:37:54.053-08:00

I love this program! After just 10 minutes of practice, I got an adult Japanese man to say his middle L's. How did I preform this amazing feat of linguistic acrobatics, you ask?! (interrobang) I use the American Accent program by Ann Cook. (Genuine, unsolicited testimonial.) First she recommends you go through then T/D sound, then N, then modify the two positions to produce the L. (The tip

Carolnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1101722210137292622004-11-29T01:44:00.000-08:002004-11-29T13:03:11.453-08:00

Pakistan, being the poor country that it is, uses, reuses and re-reuses everything till it dies. Then they resurrect it and use it again. Here are two cases in point. Last year I saw a photo of a computer cpu being used as a barbeque grill. Yep. Its metal shell was all aglow with charcoal and complete with kebobs. Recently I've seen some very creative uses of old CD's. Of course, there's the

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1101648307875056612004-11-28T04:25:00.000-08:002004-11-29T13:03:45.750-08:00

After discovering our turkey to be all skin and bones, the family discussed our options. I asked Hubby if it were possible to go to Rawalpindi to get a nice plump chicken to roast beside Henrietta. A roasting chicken couldn't be purchased from any of the neighborhood chicken sellers since they don't have the equipment to defeather the bird they pull off all the skin- unacceptable for roasting.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1101545532264860632004-11-27T01:29:00.000-08:002004-11-29T13:04:24.546-08:00

It's 1:30. I've just returned home from a required meeting to find the girlies up and actively engaged in the t-day cooking. The turkey was out of the bag and sitting seasoned in the baking pan. I was SHOCKED by the sight. I asked Owlie, "What happened to our bird! She's all angles and points! That's the skinniest turkey I've ever seen in my life. Did they steal the breast meat when they were

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1101531425321895522004-11-26T19:38:00.001-08:002004-11-27T00:56:01.693-08:00

T-Minus 12 and Counting Today, Saturday is my unofficial Thanksgiving dinner here in Pakistan. It was postponed due to work on Thursday. It's 7 am and I've got twelve hours till serving time. This is a feast that takes 2 days of preparation. This year our menu reflects daughter Abez's newly perscribed anti-migraine measures of no chocolate, mint, cheese, soda-pop and nuts. Bummer! Yesterday I

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1101403377510464942004-11-25T08:58:00.000-08:002004-11-25T09:22:57.510-08:00

Thank God for Family and Friends Today was American Thanksgiving Day. We didn't have the traditional celebration: 4,500 calories worth of turkey and trimmings. That's scheduled for Saturday. We celebrated the event as friends joined us for an impromptu pizza dinner. After dinner we played scrabble, with Hubby smashing all contenders with his 2 seven letter plays. After dinner chocolates

Carolnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1101136446708228092004-11-22T05:17:00.000-08:002004-11-23T14:42:56.340-08:00

Just returned from a whirlwind weekend at Hemlock's house in Lahore. As usual she was a wonderful hostess inspite of her crazy class schedual at Uni. She catered to our every whim, drove us around town, feted and entertained us. We met several bloggers there and had a great time. But let's back up this happy scene to the beginning of our trip. Saturday afternoon, we were about 1 1/2 hours late

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1100845688690861732004-11-18T21:35:00.000-08:002004-11-19T06:12:24.996-08:00

My Almost Nine Lives I've always been a very feline human. Of course, any person who makes such a statement would have to be a cat lover, which I am, but I mean that I have many cat-like traits in my personality. I'm shy and standoffish around strangers. I take time to get to know someone before I get cozy with them. I require maximum attention to my food, but minimum attention from my people.

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1100508239303472412004-11-15T01:08:00.000-08:002004-11-15T03:53:52.116-08:00

Carol' s Theory of Relativity Sunday was day one of the three day Islamic holiday calledEid al Fitr. (Holiday of Charity) here in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia and some parts of Pakistan had declared the new moon sighted the night before and celebrated their Eid a day earlier, but the rest of the country was waiting for the official moon sighting to be announced. After hours of is it or isn't it Eid

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6287709.post-1100241895790990182004-11-11T21:44:00.000-08:002004-11-12T08:43:06.986-08:00

Such Low Standards This morning I was reading Scribbner's Cafe, an american ex-pat in Japan, who celebrated the fact that she had taken a taxi ride alone and ordered pizza over the phone in Japanese sucessfully. She commented that her excitment over such mundane accomplishments must represent "such low standards". I disagree. To me both are amazing feats worthy of celebration. (The pizza was

Carolnoreply@blogger.com0