Question of the Week

What is a Plant Mastard?  Please tell me what you think it is.  And don't even think about mentioning illegitimate vegetation.  Again, I think there is something lost in this translation.

The Gift I Gave to Myself

It was my birthday last week and during my morning errands I found myself singing in the car.  My iPod was hooked up, Blondie's hit "Heart of Glass" was blasting away and so was I.  No, I wasn't just singing when I was driving on a deserted road with no judging gawkers around (that is impossible in Doha anyway).  I was singing out loud with a wide mouthful of lyrics.  There were no mumbled words being swallowed and disguised at the intersections either. 

You might ask me what the big deal is.  Well, let's just say I have been pretty inhibited my whole life, and singing in the car always had me worrying about what those other drivers might think about the crazy girl in the SUV talking to herself.  So this was a big step for me.  I guess it is about time I gave myself permission to enjoy what few pleasures there are while driving.  It has only taken me . . . oh . . . about 47 years to do this, and while I'm at it, you now know my age, which is another thing I don't care about either.

Blog Vacation Over

I shut down my blog for awhile, but the vacation is now over.  I hope I didn't lose the few readers I had, but it couldn't be helped.  I took the time off to brush up on my blogging protocol.  For those of you still with me: Thanks for reading and commenting.  It means a lot to me.  And for those of you who aren't:  What's wrong with you?!  :)

Baylee "Boo" Kearney Adopted Us

We have a new family member.  This is Baylee.  She was found hanging around the villa where we go to church every week.  She tried to take refuge in the building a few times as members would come and go, so our friends took pity on her and carried her home even though their daughter is severly allergic to cats.  They were determined to not let this white princess kitty succumb to the Doha desert heat or the tough feline gangs that roam the Qatar streets with their crossed eyes and lame legs.  The one time I saw this white cutie at the villa she was sitting on a window ledge and we made eye contact.  When I saw those amber eyes look at me I could feel a connection but told myself that she would be too wild to even try and pick her up (I had tried that before with another cat with a not so great outcome). 

So when I went to officially meet her at my friend Cydney's home, Baylee instantly won me over with her limp purring body and her sweet pink nose.  The Woolleys had christened her "Marie" after the white kitten in Disney's movie The Aristocrats, but after having her in our home for a few days and trying out some different names for her, we arrived at Baylee.  I think the green collar that was on her even when she was homeless on the streets prompted an Irish flavored name, and then her spunky personality cut out the more prissy kitteny possibilities.

As you can imagine, Baylee's arrival caused some complications and intrigue.  Ci Ci was less than welcoming.  Baylee is fascinated by Ci Ci's every move and follows her around the house expecting to play, but this new "friend" is not of the same mind.

"Aha!  I have you now you young whippersnapper!  Just try and get past me down to the food!"

"How much will you give me to NOT roll her down these stairs?"

Baylee has chosen Brett as her favorite person, and you can tell by these photos, she has the same flash phobia he has.

Baylee's favorite spot in the house is anywhere by or ON the piano.  She often sleeps right behind the music stand on the top.  I will let you know if she turns out to be musically inclined.  She and Brett would make a good piano/guitar duet.  They could play "To All the Cats I've Loved Before," or "Blue Cats Meowing in the Rain."  Oh boy!  That's all we need:  another Willie Nelson fan in the house!

4th Grade!

Here she is folks, a grade four student!  Abbey has been in school for over three weeks now, so she is feelin' pretty comfortable in her fourth grade skin.  She loves her teacher Ms. Ossman, who is from South Africa and expecting a baby in February, and thinks she is ALMOST as wonderful as Ms.Verhoye, so that is saying a lot.  Abs says it is pretty difficult to rate her ASD teachers because all three are so amazing and have helped her in different ways. Mrs. Errico really helped Abbey with her confidence and her spelling.  (There is no photo with this year's teacher because for the first time, Abbey wouldn't allow me to take pictures at school because it embarrassed her. Oh, there are so many changes going on! Even her favorite color has changed to green!) 

As you can see by her fashion statement, the 80s Madonna era is back.  Even more anciently, fourth grade was my favorite year in school because Mr. Cannegator was the kind of teacher who carried us along the learning adventure, with his treasure hunts, guitar, and 60s folk songs, without us even realizing we were in school.  Even in his 70s polyester pants and horned-rimmed glasses, he made a Pete Seeger song cool enough for a nine year old to sing.  I hope this school year will be as memorable for my sweet Abbey.  So here's to all the Mr. Cannegators and Ms. Ossmans out there who make school such a great place to be, and here's to another year of homework, piano lessons, packing lunches, and mostly learning, lots of learning - for Abbey AND me.