Too Cool for School

In addition to one of our fave wedding gifts, the Nikon D90, we are continuing to move into the tech-savvy subculture with the latest addition to the Hardy family: The Hardy's Kindle (thank you Aunt Mary, who has been tirelessly committed to bringing us into the new world with the digicam and, now the reader).

Looking back on Journalism 101 and all the chitter chat about internet media and case studies of those weird things called "blogs" and the bastardization of news by "online publishing," I can't believe that I, former print magazine writer and editor, own a Kindle.

I love books...the real things. The ones I can look at and smell and flip through and admire on my shelves once their done, like some kind of finished piece of art I can pride on. I love holding a real newspaper and getting inky while manipulating difficult pages into manageable creases. But, I am not about to turn down a device that is thinner than my iphone and stores about as much media as I can cram onto it - especially while we're still so transient, constantly on long- and short-haul flights and carrying our entire lives in no more than four suitcases and two carry-ons (yes, that's the baggage we packed for an entire year of living and traveling abroad).

So, let's be honest, the first thing that catches an avid reader about the Kindle is that, hello, it's soooo cheap to buy books and mags. You'll remember my obsession with YThe New Yorker, my search for the pub and finally locating it in one store in one mall in one province of the UAE. And, you might remember that it was about $10 a pop. Not exactly the best budget line item for newly-married MBA student couple, right? Well, it's $2.99 for a month subscription (weekly) and $3.99 for an individual issue! YES!

I also found a searched-for, but slightly random title, Little Pink House: A True Story of Defiance and Courage (the story of Suzette Kelo and her neighbors in New London, CT in an eminent domain legal battle that went to the Supreme Court). It's half the price of print in the Kindle Store!

So, we leave off for our next US step with our little digital world intact. The D90 is home, the Kindle is loaded up and we are on the road again.

Look out Cleveland, here we come...

Uuuugggmmmhhh

Jacob and I aren't too addicted to TV, especially since we have all of six English-language channels at our humble abode in Oman.

But can. I. Just. Say...

Food Network. Where have you been all my last seven months? I miss you, Giada and Paula and culinary inspiration and excitement about cooking and fun utensils and aromatic herbs and worn wooden cutting boards and roasting vegetables and...of course, cooking with wine (or Brandy or Beer even) and pork.

You say goodbye and I say hello

It just doesn't seem right that we're already making rounds to say goodbye. It's been way too short, but it's also been pretty amazing...and, it's not over yet.

One thing I've been thinking about since we arrived in Lexington is my former life. My sweet little Chevy Chase Bungalow is about to be rented to my sister in law, I stopped by my old office and visited my successor at work and lunched with my boss from another former job (in fact, my replacement for that position just friended me on facebook!). It's like a changing of the guard in my own life! It's hard not to look at things and wonder, "where did my life go?".

The good thing is that, though the lives of friends and families move on as we're out of pocket in "the deserts of Africa," as my girlfriends still refer to our sometimes-location-unknown-status, with them is one place I don't feel like my old life is blowing kisses to me from the VIP entrance to a hip club whilst I stand in line.

We've had parties, cookouts, dinners, movies, concerts, card games, hikes, adventures, chats, coffees, engagements (2!), late-nights, couch time and cleanups (mostly at my house and the home of the in-laws, recently renovated).

So, we'll go on the next few days making the most of this time and head to Cleveland next weekend to visit some growing-up friends' of Jacob and then on to Indy for the final days, which will be anything but boring.

Michael will host a bonfire Saturday evening and then we'll head to the airport on Sunday to greet the new Taylor family, comprising Sarah, Travis and Mia! Check out the updates at their blog.

The maybe bestest news of the morning is that we just got a call from Murphy's and our camera is back from the digicam hospital. Yay! We'll have only a few days to make up for lost time, but it'll be just in time for the trip to France!

Oh, and a little shout out to the Browns, who have lent us their beautiful West Lexington home in which to play house (complete with wonderful dog, Bama) while they are vacationing in the Greek Isles.

When it rains, it pours

Sunday's time of worship at our home church, TCPC, was such a bright and blessed time. Though we're fortunate to have a church to attend in Al Ain, it is, as they say, "just not the same as home." We got to reunite with lots of friends and friends of family and friends of friends. We got to take communion with our own congregation and see lots of people who had wished us well and seen us off from the church steps seven months ago.

In addition to church, Jacob and I also had a date night at Lexington's annual Ballet Under the Stars at Woodland Park complete with wine and picnic. What was once a plentiful resource is now a limited commodity: alone time. I mean, let's be honest, if you count sleeping, most days we are together about 18-20 hours a day. Here, we are learning the art of operating as a married couple in a socially demanding situation. People keep asking us if it's harder to be married abroad, but my answer has usually been, "No, not really." (even though we spend tons of time together and hadn't experienced the flip side). Now, after a little experience, it's an "Absolutely not!" Despite the challenges, though, we are having a ball with everyone.

Today I woke up early to get breakfast with a friend and was greeted with something I miss tremendously: the pale, diffused, misty blue light of a Kentucky morning. A thunderstorm, which has now fully blossomed, was on the sunset's horizon, creating gorgeous bright colors of morning. So, now Jacob and I are sitting with the family enjoying the beautifully dreary weather in the way that only happens during storms and snows.

We head to Indy later today for a concert with mom and Michael, followed by hiking in my childhood haunt of Brown County State Park. Then off to TN for more hiking, cookouts, lazy days and card games. Doesn't get much better than this.

Getting Phat

Not sure who the anonymous commenter was who said I'm going to get fat, but he/she obviously hasn't seen me lately because, ha, I've already gained weight and it happened before I got here! Foiled!

Don't worry, unnamed fitness guru, we have lots of hiking (not to mention moving) planned for the next couple of weeks and insh'allah, we'll be able to maintain our fitness.

The sad news is that our fave wedding present (sorry, so-un-pc), the D90 has come down ill and had to be sent away for repairs. We're anxiously awaiting its return, but photos will be unfortunately lacking as we are separated.

Big rest of the weekend news is that we're excited about heading to our home church (and the church in which we were married) for the first time in seven months and seeing all the great friends there tomorrow.

Hope your weekend is as wonderful as ours is shaping up to be! The (much-desired-by-me) rain has mostly drifted off into the atmosphere and sunny weather has moved in. What a lovely lovely time we can have walking around in the temperate 80-degree summer weather. Dreamy.

PS

How did I possibly forget to include a stop to Graeter's in all that planning? Thankfully, my in-laws were prepared for just such a slip-up because they had a shwea (little) stash of the stuff in their freezer, from which I just filched a spoonful, Jacob-style, standing in front of the fridge.

Mmmmmm....black raspberry chip french-pot, full-cream ice cream.

My Old Kentucky Home

Correction: Arabic word of the day should really be "hell-u" (sweet) instead of "hell-uah" (sweetie) despite my affinity for all things and people found at home.

Update: We've moved southward for the week to Jacob's true, my adopted, hometown of Lexington. Just as with Indy, the best thing is seeing people and we've been thrilled to get to spend so much time with Jacob's family with whom we're staying (even though one sister-in-law, who shall remain nameless but who also married an Italian, hasn't made an appearance yet).

I'm loving the weather (rainy and 70s!) and (no surprise here) the food. Nearly every day has been populated by all things Haramicana, particularly pork and alcohol.

The first afternoon I dropped Jacob off in Louisville to do a bit of work with his dad at their furniture store, The Craftsman Collection, and I made my way down to meet up with a girlfriend for lunch at an old haunt, Stella's Kentucky Deli, where I thoroughly enjoyed the signature fried green tomato B.L.T. with homemade coleslaw. From there, I ran errands (in my own car, all by myself, listening to the local NPR station, with the sunroof open - paradise!) and chatted up random friends at offices and coffee shops. I had a blissful wine-and-coffee-laced salon appointment at Brittin Tate (a fab friend and stylist, who I last saw on our wedding day while she was perfecting my coif) during which I cut off and donated 10 inches of my hair (no, not drink-induced). Company joined me during the slashing, including one sister-in-law and one good friend. I stopped by to see another friend and one thing led to another led to Mexican food, of course. It was delicious to catch up on fresh guac, taco salad and a bit of social news.

Within that paragraph is one other hidden thing that I've missed while being away: a schedule! Being busy! Having "things to do and people to see," as my mom used to say.

Other highlights include Harry's signature chopped salad (ham and fritos, hello what a combination!), a stop by the old office, Smiley Pete, and a double date over at my 'hood sushi spot, Tomo (first sushi in 7 months!), as well as after-dinner drinks at Buddy's.

In the midst of all this, Jacob's family is also returning to a newly-remodeled home after the housefire that moved them out (just one week after Jacob and I got engaged last September), so we're not the only ones living out of a suitcase! As I type, in fact, a parade of boxes is passing by. Maybe I should go help now...

Still on the docket: homemade bean soup (w/pork), beer and euchre with Jacob's family tonight, more lunches (probably to catch up at frequently-dined-at spots Wines on Vine and Bourbon n' Toulouse), girls' champagne-game night, Crosby Stills & Nash Concert, Cabin Getaway in TN...how does it get any better?

Ok, well, it does get better because the true highlight of yesterday was getting a text from BFF Sarah at about 11:30 a.m. yesterday confirming that she and her husband Travis had passed court in Ethiopia and have been approved officially to adopt their daughter and travel to pick her up. After more than two years of applications, prayers, beauracracy, patience, love and hope, Mia is getting a homecoming date. We praise the Lord for his graciousness in expanding the Taylor family and bringing their daughter one step closer to their arms. Read all about it at their blog.

Home Hell-uah Home

Arabic word of the day: Hell-uah
Meaning: Sweet

After 36 hours of travel literally around the world we made it home. From Buraimi to Dubai, Dubai to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Detroit and Detroit to Indy, we had only one small hitch and a few extra hours, but still, we made it back!

In addition to my mom, brother and BFF being nearby, some of Jacob's family came up the next afternoon to join my family and our friends in celebrating our return and the day of mom's "double nickle" (55th Bday).

So, here's the quick update on all things Haramicana (my new name for things that are typically American and that might also be shameful - haram - or otherwise unavailable in the Middle East) so far:

Day 1- Mom, Dog, Pizza (with pepperoni, ham, sausage - all porky).
Day 2- More family, lots of friends, Bratwust (read: pork), and BEER and WINE (also, cruising in our '68 GTO to pick up ice cream cake that didn't melt!).
Day 3- Egg casserole with real, porky sausage, various outdoor activities with the families to take full advantage of the 70-some degree weather (whee! outdoor activities!)

Still on the docket:
Hair cut and style - yay, more family to be visited, lots of friends, outings, foods, drinks, sights, relaxations and otherwise fabulous times!

Another 48 Hours...

Just another 48 hours and we'll be headed to DBX to wing our way home to the states.

I won't be sad to spend my time blogging about seeing family and friends, soaking in backyard cookouts, hiking, live music, driving (yay!), oh, and France for my birthday! Could life be any sweeter?

I guess the cultural comments this time will be more to do with what it feels like to be home with everyone and being introduced as a married couple for the first time!

Until then...

PS-My old mobile number will be reactivated on Friday. Give me a call if you want to hang out. Vmail isn't set up yet, so text if you miss me!

FAIL: Me and the Culture Guru

Arabic Word for the Day: Shoo Hadtha
Meaning: "What's this" or "What's going on here"?
Used to express surprise or to lightly call attention to a displeasing situation.

C'mon. After I decided I should let it go, of course it wouldn't just go away. I fail: at letting it go. He fails: at being reasonable in a diverse group of people (ironically).

The culture guru strikes again. Today in class, while discussing, in Arabic, places we'd traveled, our class listed most of Western Europe, some Eastern, several African States, Antarctica, America (North/Central) and the Middle East. The instructor inquired after one of the missing continents: Australia.

"Moob Australia?" (Not Australia?)
"Naam, arreed zart Australia," I said (yes, I want to visit Australia), while a couple of other voices stated the same.
Then the culture guru himself, "La. Ma arreed zart Australia." (No, I don't want to visit Australia).
"Laish?" asked our teacher.
"Oh, come on. It's just the same as America. Same as South Africa," he responded.
"What?" I said. "Really?" (thinking he must be joking).
"Oh of course it is, the cultures are very similar."
Whatever. I exchanged looks with a couple classmates and let it go (until I got home, of course).

Did I mention that his job is to educate people about cultural sensitivity here?

Shoo Hadtha?