My Life As A Soap Opera

Since I was a teenager I have loved soaps. In high school I started watching Young and the Restless and As The World Turns. I still watch Y&R and ATWT recently ended. I now have to download all my favourite shows from North America. When I returned from holiday I had a lot of catching up to do (Young & the Restless, 90210, Greys Anatomy, Coronation Street, Dancing with the Stars and The Amazing Race). I have them all downloaded but still need to watch. I will get thru it. The are more daytime and evening drama's I would love to watch. However there just isn't enough free time for this so I had to decide on a select few.

Perhaps this is where I got my view on life. Was I always looking for the handsome prince to come and sweep me off my feet? Take me away to his castle and we would live happily ever after. Our relationship would be full of romance; sex would always be hot and passionate.

But real life is not like this. In daytime soaps I don't see the women being kept up all night with kids. Walking around in old sweats (if you have gotten out of your pj's) doing dishes, laundry and cleaning. At night when the kids are finally asleep and your husband has decided he now needs your attention and you have no energy or desire left. Romance - my hubby was never the "romantic" type.

Life should be more like the soaps - without all the drama, murder, evil twins and such. But alas I think that is just a dream. We are stuck in the real world. So I will just continue to live thru my shows.

Back In The Desert

The vacation is over and the family has returned to the desert.

The holiday was great. Phuket is a great place with plenty of things for families to do. The beaches are beautiful and the ocean is warm like a bathtub. I think I also may have put on a few pounds due to the fact I had huge plates of Thai food every night. It was sooo yummy! There was also plenty of wine and beer. I certainly made up for the fact this is not available in Saudi. I managed to get some time away from the kids at the spa. I had 3 Thai massages, if you have never had one it involves stretching and deep massage. You wear loose clothes that allows alot of movement. I also had 2 foot massages, a facial and a mani/pedi.




The temps here in Saudi have dropped a bit. Daytime temps are around 25 and night time are 5 (brrr). I need to go thru the kids closets and see if any of their jeans and long sleeve shirts fit anymore. Funny how this now seems chilly to me. I am in for quite a shock when I return to a Canadian winter.

Which Way To "The Beach"

We are going on vacation!

The family is heading to Thailand - Phuket to be exact.

If you have seen the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo Dicaprio this is the spot.

See you in 2 weeks!!

Wordless Wednesday - Important Dates to Remember

The Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is currently the largest annual pilgrimage in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.

Next week is the beginning of Hajj here in Saudi Arabia.




Tomorrow (November 11) is Remembrance Day in Canada - in honour of the men and women who serve...Lest we forget

Tearing A Strip Off

Today I went for my waxing appointment before our holiday. My son was with me. I hope I haven't scarred him for life. I didn't think of it beforehand.

I sent him off to look at the fish tank when we started. As I was lying on the table and the lady moved from my legs to my bikini line I realized he was standing there. As he stood there watching with a puzzled look on his face he said, "Mommy do you have a johnson" (this is what he calls his penis)? Let's get it straight first, I still had my underwear on, I do not get a Brazilian bikini wax done anymore. As the esthetician giggled I replied "No becuz I am a girl". He said "Then how do you pee"? I decided this was the perfect time to use a trick all mothers know - distraction. I asked him if he would like to go to the store and get a treat when we were done.

Awkward situation diverted.

Note to self...do not take the kids to my waxing appointments again!

Inside My Cage

To someone outside looking in compound life in Saudi seems pretty sweet. But after a while it also becomes your prison.

Compounds in Saudi are heavily guarded. Since they are full of expats they are a target for terrorists. There are high walls, covered in barb wire. Surrounded by army men with machine guns. To enter your must stop at security. Your name must be on a guest list. Your car is then searched, engine, trunk and underneath.

Once you are permitted to enter it looks like a vacation resort. There are palm trees and flowers in the perfectly landscaped lawns and gardens. There are grounds men who's job it is to manicure it everyday. There is a store for groceries, DVD rentals, a dry cleaner, and even a beauty salon. A restaurant should you decide to grab a bite. Swimming pools, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, tennis courts and playgrounds. This all sounds great, I know.

The one thing you don't have here is freedom. Many people I have met have been here over 10 years. I think they get use to this life where everything is done for you and cannot see themselves going back into the "real" world. You don't even have to clean your own house or look after your own kids. Maids/Nannies are extremely cheap and everyone seems to have one. I have not gone down this road so far and don't intend to.

I do feel safe here. Even outside the compound walls. Altho, I never forget where I am and that I am a stranger (and a Westerner) in this country. My guard is up and I always try to be aware of my surroundings.

Wordless Wednesday - Call To Prayer

This edition of "Wordless Wednesday" is the Saudi Call To Prayer.

This happens throughout Saudi Arabia 5 times a day. Everything shuts and people must go to the mosque to pray.

It is a beautiful sound - however the call at 4:00am can be quite annoying!

Namaste

BC (before children) I started doing Pilates.

I continued thru my first pregnancy with Pre-Natal Pilates. My class was during my lunch hour downtown. The class started with 5 people. By the time my due date rolled around I was the only student left. Which was good and bad. I enjoyed the private sessions (especially since I was paying for class ones) but the teacher had no one else to focus on but me, so she worked me hard.


During my second pregnancy I took Pre-Natal Yoga. This time I took a class close to my home in the evenings. The class was large and it was funny to see each new first time mom come in only a few weeks pregnant and they would look at us near the end of our terms with fear. After my second baby was born I took Mom & Babies Yoga. With a toddler and newborn in the class with me it was hard to get much serious exercise done, but we enjoyed it.

When we moved to Saudi I picked up a few DVD's to do at home. Never did them, I need to classroom setting to be motivated. Finally our compound started a Yoga class 2 times a week and I jumped at it. So each Saturday and Monday evenings when the hubby walks thru the door I pass him the kids and say "so long"! This is my time to shut out everything and think of myself, do some meditation. At the same time get some exercise.

Namaste... “I bow to the divine in you”. Namaste is a traditional Indian greeting of respect and thank you, with spiritual and symbol meaning. This is done with your palms pressed together at your heart, and lightly bow your head and shoulders.