Author: Robin Chartier

pain in the neck

For the past two weeks I’ve had a pinched nerve in my neck/shoulder and the constant pain is dragging me down. I’ve tried: heat/ice/immobilization/exercise/Motrin/Coke (the legal kind)/homeopathy/essential oils/Epsom salt baths/Osteopathy/massage/whining and complaining.

One day I think things are improving — the next I’m back to walking like C3P0.

The only thing I haven’t tried is the Valium that Josh was prescribed for his back pain (it works as a muscle relaxant) because it’s not exactly responsible for me to be blissed out while I’m ensuring the safety of a 3 year old. (And my phobia of taking new medications might also play a tiny part in that decision.)
Meanwhile I’m driving around on a wing and a prayer, hoping that no one sneaks into my extra-large blind spots as I’m changing lanes since I can’t look over my shoulder without turning from my waist. 
Everything else here is pretty normal. The dog and cat continue to become better friends by the day, the cat has narrowly escaped being loved to death by Camille several times (including having to explain that the cat’s tail is not a handle for picking him up), and the boys are continuing with Tae Kwon Do, basketball, water polo and Youth Group (and all the required driving that goes along with it). This week the temperatures have moved from 110 and high humidity to high 90s with high humidity. I don’t know if I can really tell the difference. It’s either freezing in the A/C or hot and drippy outside. 
School has been fine — no parent/teacher meetings, the kids all seem relatively happy, and everyone has been responsible for their own stuff for the most part (only a few extra runs to school to bring forgotten items). I’d call that a pretty good start. I also decided to try something new this year: Instead of having the kids make their own lunches again this year, I’m buying them all lunch tickets every day. Lunch only costs $2.50/kid and I’m almost positive I spent more than that on groceries for them to make lunches. When granola bars cost 50 cents each, lunchmeat costs $10/lb and string cheese is 60 cents, we’re coming really close without factoring in any of the hassle/time/yelling involved in making sure those lunches get to and from school every day with all children happy with the contents. A month in, and so far so good. Less stress, less mess. 
We have friends coming from Oman to visit this weekend. We have a trip to the waterpark planned and I’m hoping the government/my neck/the weather all cooperate. 

this explains a lot

Subtitled: Toddlers and Tiaras

You know how toddlers misbehave to get attention? And if you ignore a particularly annoying behavior they’ll get bored and eventually quit doing it? I think the government here needs to go to parenting classes. Every stupid little thing here is a power struggle between the government/police and the people.

The people protest at the Pearl Roundabout — the island’s most famous landmark, so the government bulldozes the symbolic sculpture, rebuilds the road, but then sits on it 24 hours a day with tanks and guards, not allowing anyone to use it. It’s like putting the cookies right out of reach, but still in view.

The people throw tires in the street and light them on fire and the police come and close the road and try to chase them down and it becomes a game with no winner. Just teasing back and forth, back and forth. Never ending.

I run into tire burning every so often. It usually comes in waves and then dissipates for a while. It’s not a big deal, just an irritation and an interruption. I’m more annoyed with the government who should know better than to antagonize the people. They are doing this in their own neighborhoods — there’s no reason for the cops to set up camp and run around shooting rubber bullets or tear gas at people. The tires would burn out or people move them out of the way and drive around them. If they didn’t generate such an immediate and excited response from the police there would be no point to doing it.

The purpose of this video isn’t to freak anyone out — as you can tell from my voice (as I’m on my way to school to try and pick up poor Calvin who is sitting out in the heat) I find the entire event ridiculous. But you want to know what it’s like to live here? This is a taste of it.

PS: The dudes with the masks are the tire burners and they are always helpful in directing people away from the action. So when he crosses his arms, it’s him telling me to avoid going down that street. Yes, I know how insane this all sounds. I guess the craziest part is that this is normal and not anxiety provoking?

For reference, the school is about 200 yards past the tires and I’m bummed because if I could have gotten by before the police came I could have hopped the curb or driven around the tires in 2 seconds, but the cops just drove through on the sidewalks and shut it down so I have to detour.

sweetness

On Labor Day, the boys had school, but Josh had the day off so we went to our favorite breakfast place, Lilou’s.
She gets many, many more treats than the boys did at her age. 
Both chocolates that came with our coffees, her own drink — fresh squeezed orange juice . . .
mmmmm . . . 
And this decadent delight — pain perdu 
She went right for the chocolate stick that decorated the top. I admit that I ordered Camille her own breakfast just so I could have some of the whipped cream and berries. 
And a few days later she was invited to a princess birthday party. She wasn’t sure she wanted to go, but then asked, “Will there be cake?” That settled it. Lots of sweet things for a sweet (and spicy) girl. 

Best in Show

The internet guy came by tonight and hooked us up with a signal that is not being blocked by the Saudis. And just because I can, I uploaded some videos:

Have I mentioned that Camille reminds us of the little girl from Finding Nemo?
It’s all done in love, but she loves our kitty hard. If I turn my back to pick up a piece of paper off the floor she swoops in and scoops him up and wants to carry him around by one paw.
This toy that I ordered keeps her hands off the kitty, but still lets her “play” with him. She’s going to wear him out the way she flings that mouse all over the room.
Our pets are doing great together. Only a week in and they are already wanting to play — we just have to wait for Zeki’s size to catch up with his personality. He’s certainly not scared of the dog.

For all the hassle and frustration and energy that has gone into helping Micah over his anxiety issues, he is paying it all back 10xs over since Zeki came to town. I’m confident they are going to get along great.

ETA: Got one more — the internet is on a roll!

hell on wheels

I always feel like a race car driver when I return home from driving around town. Usually it’s because I’ve been weaving in and out, dodging other cars, and possibly hopping a curb or two. It always feels like an accomplishment to return home without having been in a fender bender. 

This is how they do kindergarten pickup. Cars every which way, some just stopped in the middle of the road while they go inside to pick up their kid, others having to go in reverse because there’s only one car width available to pass. 

This silver car just parked in the middle of the road like it’s a parking lot
Green light standstill. No one can move. There is a guy who controls the traffic lights at rush hour. We’d be better off with a computer. The cars on the left can’t drive because that street is backed up. No one can turn left because the cars going straight have completely blocked the lane. The traffic guy had to leave the light green for almost 5 minutes before anyone was able to get anywhere. Then these cars going left will completely block the lane and no one will be able to go straight. Lather, rinse, repeat. 
Hopefully she grows up to be a better driver than some of these crazies on the road. 
Ma lesh! (don’t worry about it) That’s how we drive here. 
Obligatory pet photos: Micah is a good sport. He actually let Camille put a headband on him, but then we laughed and he wouldn’t let her do it again. He’s also great with the cat. He really wants to play with him so I have to watch him closely so he doesn’t step on tiny kitty with his clumsy paws. 
Sweet sleepy kitty
Completely relaxed