It's February 20th and I have yet to post in February. I have a bit of writer's block, I think. And, our photograph technical difficulties continue, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Stay with me, friends. I mean it. For today, here's a little picture-less update but you don't mind, right? And here we go, in no particular order of importance.
My yoga teacher returned to Muscat from Japan and last week we did some headstands. I can do it. It's not perfect and there are no guarantees about how long I'll be up, but I can do it. I will have someone take a photo next time so you can see it and feel impressed. This, together with my children's relative good health and decent diets, is the level of achievement in my life right now. Which is okay.
Lizzie woke up on Valentine's day with a bunch of welts. Initially, I thought she had an allergic reaction to hazelnuts but over the next day, I became convinced that there was a mosquito in her room. The maid claims to have found mosquitos while cleaning in there - she said one of them was even full of blood. I have no idea, I just know that she went to her swimming lesson Saturday and then to school last week. She's fine. But it was a little bit startling, poor thing. I learned today that she will have a ballet recital in May. Parents aren't allowed to watch the lessons so I have no idea what this recital will be like. Last night I almost convinced her to show me the dance by claiming that I wouldn't remember it, but she stopped and pointed at Tommy and said, "But you're a good rememberer, am I right?" Tommy (honest to a fault!) nodded, so she refused to dance.
Last night, Eli came home and said, "I had this realization today that your community here is like a small town." And I just sort of looked at him because my friend Joyce told me that a long time ago. She said, "they'll either love you or hate you and there's nothing you can do." Luckily, I haven't found that to be true (plenty of people don't love me or hate me, which is fine with me) but I do agree that I am constantly running into people I know. I also know the owners of many of the businesses I patronize. And for a girl who never thought she would like to live in a non-city, this place has been kind to me and I mostly like it.
I continue to spend hours each day listening to podcasts, and I have to suggest that each of you listen to the two most recent This American Life episodes about police. Worth it. I also listened to a Freakonomics episode about terrorism which gave me about ten minutes of material to spew at Eli this morning while our children were swimming.
Tommy and Lizzie are starting Karate twice a week. I mention this so that any and all of you who overhear me complaining about how all I do is drive my children around can point at me and say in a very forceful voice, "YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF."
I will be back soon. I promise.
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