Forging the bonds of friendship

Today I have been looking at persian carpets. After a 3 hour lesson in the designs, patterns, origins and materials used I am so overwhelmed I may never be able to decide on one - and the trouble with that is - I need two!

Here's a sampling of what I have learned todayabout hand made rugs: they are city made or tribal made. City made means that exactly - made by people who live in cities. Usually a family, many of which have been making rugs for generations. They are pretty exact with their patterns, which look like giant cross stitch patterns. Tribal rugs are made by people who live outside cities. Their patterns are not generally written down and the designs are passed on from generation to generation. Their patterns are not as exact, so are thought to be more "one of a kind", whereas the city ones can be reproduced from the written pattern. Technically since all are handmade, they are "one of a kind", but more room for error or uniqueness among the tribal ones. Rugs are made of silk, wool, cotton or any combination thereof, with silk being the most expensive. Tribal rugs are almost never made of silk. Cotton only rugs are not as durable, silk is the most durable and the most expensive. These carpets come in a variety of sizes and come from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Nepal along with some from Turkey. I have listed them in the order of their desirability. Iranian ones are the most expensive, etc on down. So the silk ones from Iran are the most expensive ones. You are supposed to look not only at the front of the carpet, but also at the back of it to see if you can see the knots and tails. The more you don't see, the better. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and colors. Just when you think you've seen every color and design you can imagine, they bring out a whole new batch. And bring them out they do! Before you can blink twice they have flipped out and unfolded at least 50! It is astounding how fast they can unfurl them and refold or reroll them.

As we were finishing up today, a gentleman came in to look at rugs. The owner of the shop introduced us and the man gave me his business card. He is with the Raffles Hotel and was looking for persian rugs to lay down in the lobby of the hotel. For those of you who might not know, the Raffles Hotel is Singapore's oldest and most prestigous hotel. The hotel bar is where the Sinagpore Sling drink was invented!

The man who owns the rug shop is an Iranian by the name of Saeid (pronounced sigh eed). Very nice, well educated, speaks English very softly and very well. Came very highly recommended. He told me today never pick a rug until at least your third or fourth visit. Just come in, drink tea and look. One will call to you. As we were concluding our lesson and visit for the day, I was asking where in Iran he was from. He tells me Tehran, as is his wife. He learned the business from his father and his grandfather. He came to Singapore several years ago because it is an easier place to do business from. But he says I would love Tehran and would be treated very well there in private homes. Visits in private homes best, in public very political with much rhetoric and posturing. Many rules in public. Then he says too bad nations cannot be more civil as everyday people are to one another. Then maybe we could all get along better. Amen to that! I'll buy my rugs from him.

Faye - Shari says you read the blog all the time. Send an email to rathbun_debbie@yahoo.com and let's get acquainted. What's your favorite color to wear?

Cindy - I can never reach you! Just wanted to say hi!

Sam- are your parents trekking through the wilds of central America yet?

Patsy - cannot wait for a Wed night Mexican fest with you!

Becky - sounds like you all are having some fun coming up!

Heather - Yes, still in the future. Yes, he's still there.

Howdy,ya'll and God bless the queen

I've had this happen to me a number of times. I step into a taxi, tell the driver where I am going. Or I go into a store to look at and purchase something. After a minute of conversation I am usually ask either, "Where are you from?" or I am asked, "Are you from the UK?" meaning United Kingdom which translates to Great Britain. Now to me, I don't sound like I am Bristish. I sound Southern. In fact, to be precise, I sound like a Texan, which we all know is exactly what I am. And it's a hard accent to shake. Anyway, I keep getting asked if I am from the UK. I reply no, I am from the US, I don't have a British accent. Everyone of them so far has then shrug and said, "Oh you caucasians (which is what hey call us fair skinned, light haired people) - oh you caucasians - you all look and sound alike. Cannot tell you apart! " I think that is just hysterical! So I guess it's all relative to the culture and what side of it you're on!

I was in the IKEA store the other day buying lamps. I was standing there talking to Basil, we were discussing the merits of one lamp over those of another lamp when two very Australian ladies approached me. They told me they loved my accent and where exactly was I from. I told them the US. They told me, "Oh yes, we can tell that. What we really want to know is what part of Texas are you from?" I was floored!!

So I guess the lesson learned today is that in Singapore I look and sound exactly like every other caucasian here except to two little old Australian ladies who know a dead-on Texas, southern accent when they hear one!!!

You should hear me teaching the taxi drivers to say, "Howdy, ya'll!! How ya doin' today? Just can't seem to get that accent down pat yet though!!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Andrea - good for you! Two years is plenty long enough - enjoy !!!

Heather - Yes. Still.

Pizza - Singapore Style

I've had pizza twice this week. Both looked like regular pizza I've become accustomed to, but then again, neither was like any pizza I'd ever had.

I went to get my nails done on Thursday afternoon as I have gotten into the habit of doing. One of the young girls - she's 22 I think - she's from the Phillipines and she can cook. Seems like almost everytime I go in, she's made some little something and they've saved me a bite. This week she had made pizza, all from scratch. Still hot. Smelled great. Looked like pizza. Took a bite - it was simply delicious. But then again, there was something about it. A little something. Took a minute to put my finger on it. Great pizza dough; not too thick, not too thin. Hawaiian style pizza, she called it. It had pineapple, cheese, mushrooms, just a bit of onion and tuna. Yes, tuna. Not tuna from a can, but real tuna. Cooked on the pizza, it was flaky chunks. Usually the hawaiian pizza has ham, but let me tell you - this was good. But then I discovered there was no tomato based sauce on it. It had spiced, flavored mayo instead for the sauce. Almost came out like a tartar sauce. They served mayo spiced in a variety of ways with a number of dishes. A favorite is lemon or lime mayo. Very different, but tasty nonetheless. It's just kind of a shock at first to discover all the ways and things they serve it with.

The second pizza was today. Walking with Basil through one of the downtown areas it was beginning to lightening a lot and looked like rain, so we decided we'd duck into a shoping area and let it pass. There was a Pizza Hut. Good old American food, we thought, let's do it! Now, I'm not up on what Pizza Hut is serving stateside as it's been a little while since I've been there. We got a "deal", which is what they called it. Two drinks, 4 spicy chicken drumettes, a plate of sesame seed and cinnamon mini-breadsticks and a "splitizza". It's a medium pizza split in two and you can order each half to be different. Ok, good. We get the Hawaiian style and the other half a little of everything. Now this one could not have been more different from the other Hawaiian style pizza I'd had earlier in the week. Both halves of the pizza had bar-b-que sauce in place of pizza sauce. Not only that, but the meat that was on it was spam and bologna. Chunks of it. In bar-b-que sauce. Strangest pizza I think I've ever eaten.

The people all across Asia just love spam and bologna. I mean they love it! The stores cannot keep the cans of spam on the shelves and bologna in the deli case. And they do not make tuna salad with it either! They use it in all kinds of dishes in a kinds of ways. It's nothing to see a grocery cart with 20 cans of spam in it. The deli sells several different types of bologna - spiced, garlic, onion, with a glaze, marinated in soy sauce and chili sauce spiced to mention just a few. No slices for a sandwich. In fact, they don't eat very many sandwiches here at all. They have the deli man cut off huge unsliced pieces and, as with the tuna, they eat it in a variety of very creative ways. I ate quite a bit of spam and bologna growing up, but trust me when I tell you, my mother was creative with it, but nowhere near in the same league as these people.

I mentioned chili sauce spice - Chili sauce spice is a huge thing here. It's not chili sauce like tex-mex chili. It looks like catsup, but it's actually called chili sauce. You can buy it in the states - I have a recipe where I mix a bottle of it and make a glaze for little meatbals. Pretty good. But it's a huge thing here. A special dish to order at a restaurant is chili crab. Yep, you guessed it - crab meat served with chili sauce. No crab boil - just boiled and chili sauce drenched. I'm not sure I get it.

All this talk of food has made me hungry - I think I need to go find a cookie or something to replace the bar-b-que spam and bologna taste. Can can!

For those in Louisville - we watched Thunder on our Slingbox early this morning - great music and fireworks! Almost felt like we were right there, too!

Abby - hope you liked your own special fireworks!

Suzie - I did get the picture - she's precious - I'll write soon.

To everyone that's ask - I promise to start posting pictures!

Heather - yes, still.

A Vocabulary lesson

Ok - today class we're going to have a vocabulary lesson. I jotted down a few words and how they relate to my new world. These are things I am encountering everyday. There are others, but these were ones that came in all in about a two hour time span in one day.

Risers - risers here are closets, but more on the utility type end. There are risers that contain electrical workings, plumbing works, janitor supplies - things along those lines. Risers are also stairs or the stairwells containing the stairs.

Closets as we know them as a place to put your clothes are called wardrobes. They are not closets in the sense we know them either. They are big cabinets - anywhere from 2 to 6 put in your bedroom - that are actually cabinets that hold your shoes and clothes, many times ceiling to floor in size. They are only as deep as a regular closet. Even in the huge designer homes this is what you put in. They are found made from all types of wood, laminate and frosted glass. Some are so very rudimentary and some are exquisite in the material and design. But there are no closets of any type anywhere in the home or apartment as we know them. Comes from the age old European custom that even carried over to the states in some places - the people were taxed according to the number of rooms they had in a house. A built in closet - regardles of how tiny - was considered a room. Wardrobes were not. Also because they have no air space above and below as our American closet doors do, they help keep out insects (which nowadays is not a big problem) and humidity, which is still a huge problem.

Carpark - this is exactly as it seems, a place to park your car while you are out of it. A carpark may be at a shopping center or it maybe at the end of your driveway. It can refer to a parking space or it can refer to what we know as a garage or a lot. It is never a parking lot or a parking space though regardless of size, space, containment factor - it remains only a carpark.

A garage on the other hand is the place where you take your car to be repaired. I asked a question of the taxi driver yesterday trying to figure out where he parked his taxi at night - at his home or a main lot. I asked about a garge for it. he was very puzzled and told me no need for a garage - his automobile was running fine. And they are only called taxis, as in the generic sense or automobiles. never auto or car, but always automobile.

We secure things here as in we acquire them. I always think of secure as to making or keeping something safe. here to secure something is to purchase, buy, trade or obtain.

To make or keep something safe here, you are safekeeping it. Not to be confused with keeping it safe, guarding it and never shortening the word, but always using it as safekeeping. As in " we are safekeeping it for her". "The police will be safekeeping us tonight as we sleep".

On the other hand, secure is not to be confused with things you have acquired through any means other than through money as a rent, lease, purchase or trade. In this case things you receive through means other than money is to be gifted. "She was gifted for her birthday with a new car." "He was gifted with a promotion."

To ask for a restroom, either at a business such as the mall or in one's home means you would like to wash your hands. Bathroom means literally that you'd like to take a bath. Toilet means "I need to go!

Over here they do not text message - they SMS (stands for short message service) and they do it constantly. The world champ is a 19 year old from Singapore - he can do some incredibly large number of characters in a super short period of time. I understand it has it's own language and vocabulary - something we all know I will probably never master. Yes, it is so hard to teach an old dog new tricks. SMS's are very cheap, but talking on your cell phone is incredibly expensive. They will charge you a high rate for 200 minutes, but charge nothing for 5,000 text - sorry - SMS messages.

Also, it is never a cell phone - it is a hand phone, not to be confused with your house phone. Sometimes you will hear it referred to as your mobile number, but again, never as a cell phone. And not as a mobile phone, only as your mobile number.

You never ask a question or make a request. You are making an inquiry.

The tab you need to pay for your dinner is never known as a check. It is referred to as a ticket or a bill.

You are never given a ticket by a police officer, but have been cited. Not given a citation, just cited. Some words here only have one form.

Purses are never purses, but only handbags. Never mind whether it is a wallet, a big bag or a small bag - if it's a ladies it's a handbag. For men and children any bag carried, whether it goes on your back or is pulled like a suitcase is called a back pack.

My absolute favorites are when the answer to something - anything is cannot. "Would you pass the salt?" Cannot. "Would you move over a little?" Cannot. You get the idea - substitute cannot for any place in your vocabulary you would use the word no. It is most often accompanied by a negative, quick shake of the head in one direction. Not shaking back and forth. Just movement to one side.

On the other hand, if you want to say yes to something, then the appropriate response is can can. Not just one word usually, but both - can can. Makes me think of dancing women in crinoline petticoats in France doing the can-can.

My last one for this lesson is suresureokokokno worries. If you want to know if something is ok, they say sure, sure followed by ok, ok, ok, followed by no worries. It always comes out as one big long word. "Did the doctor say you are over your cold now? Suresureokokoknoworries. All in one breath.

Ok, class that's the lesson for today! I am headed down the risers to the carpark where the taxis hang out so I can head to the mall to secure soomething I will later tell Basil he has gifted me with, but I hope the taxi doesn't get cited for speeding or I will have to find the toilet as soon as I arrive, hoping all the while I have not left my handbag in the automobile, at which point i would have to make an inquiry through a SMS on my handphone to locate it. Can can. Everyone try to be good - cannot. See ya later! Suresureokokoknoworries!

Shari - you are wonderful - please take care of yourself and get better soon.

Lynn look for an email regarding your mom and her trip - if you don't get it soon, remind me!!

Rox - thanks for the rice measurement - Basil surprised me and brought a couple of boxes home from LA last night.

Yes Heather - he's still there.

Different cultures, different ways!!!!

As I said earlier in a blog, I am meeting all sorts of interesting people and learning a lot. All the people have been very nice and are so good about answering questions about their different cultures and traditions. When ask, I share with them also. I have gotten to know several people pretty well already in the short time I have been here.

One of the Indian women was telling me about her daughter getting married last year and now the daughter is pregnant, living in Bangalore, India with her husband. She's due in June. The mother - according to their tradition - will leave Singapore next month fly to Bangalore, and escort her daughter back to Singapore to stay until she has the baby. They will purchase clothes for the baby, clothes for the mother for after having the baby; blankets, booties, all sorts of things. After the daughter has her baby, she will then remain at her mother's for at least 40 days. I did not quite get the understanding of why 40 days, but it must be at least 40 days. Then the mother will escort her and the baby back to their home in Bangalore. She said this is a custom among her "people" which she explains means what her extended family has practiced for 6 generations. I asked about the daughter's husband and the baby's father being present for the birth. The mother answers this question with a wave of her very elegant hand, that has gold bangles on it from wrist to elbow, and says to me ," He does not need to be here for this - he has already fulfilled his duties by impregnanting her. The rest we will do." Different cultures, different ways!

One of the girls from Singapore I have met is 29. Her parents and grandparents were all born here as was she, but relatives before that emigrated from China. When asked where are you from, she and her mother say, "We are Chinese, but we were born in Singapore." To most of the people we have met, where their ancestors are from, the traditions and practices they follow are much more important than simply where they happen to be born.

When I first met her she was being married the next day - we met at the nail salon - is there a better place to get acquainted? She was getting her nails done for her big day. For weddings the girls will get very intricate flowers painted on their fingers and toes complete with tiny faux pearls and gems for the centers of the flowers. Very elaborate and pretty. Some of the things she told me about their weddings: The emphasis is on your area's and your family's traditions and practices that have been followed for many generations. Religion plays much less a part in what and why they do things the way they do. They have a tea ceremony in her mother's home for friends and family of the bride the morning of their marriage, followed by a tea ceremony at his parents' home for the groom's friends and family. He shows respect to her parents and grandparents with small presents. She does the same to his parents and grandparents. He wears a suit and she wears something like if you were having a nice dinner out. They then go to the registry building for the signing of the marriage papers. It's done at the government building and performed by a civil servent, not religious and no spoken words of "do you take, etc, etc". Some girls at this point wear a wedding dress as we know them, or a fancy tea length dress. Never a veil though. Many of the friends and family accompany them. This is always done on a week day. No appointments are taken. You just show up and wait your turn, along with however small or large a group is with you. No decorations or flowers, except this is when the groom presents the bride with a bouquet of flowers, which she holds during the signing of the papers and has with her again later in the evening. Large bouquets as we are accustomed to seeing some brides carry are considered very poor taste here. After the registry is completed, everyone goes home and get all dressed up for a dinner. Very dressed up, both short and long for the women, most times a tux or a nice suit for the men. The bride's dress can be any color she wants. Red and gold are considered the best colors for luck, prosperity, good fortune, etc. Lots of the friends and family wear these colors. Usually they reserve a banquet room at a hotel or a restaurant. The entire restaurant will close for the entire evening, so a wedding dinner can take place. Depending on the size and how over-the-top it is, the dinner can be anywhere from 3 courses to 15 courses and even the small ones go on for hours. Many times even though the restaurant will lose money for the evening because it has been reserved for a wedding, it is considered good luck and gives the restaurant an excellent recommendation among people in general because they are showing that despite the loss, they care. A good reputation is very highly regarded and is considered to be as important as the profit. The feeling is, and seems to be true, that a good reputation will go very far in producing a good profit. And all this time, I thought a good restaurant was just based on food and service! The bride has bridesmaids, but they do not dress alike. Same for the groom's attendents. They have no duties - it's an honorary thing. Sometimes an elder will offer a blessing if they are asked to do so, but there is no religious ceremony that accompanies any of the process. During the evening there is dancing, at larger ones entertainment, lots of toasts (sometimes alcohol is served, sometimes not) and the bride and groom are showered with small red envelopes containing money. The only gifts other than money they are given is jewelry. There is no registering for gifts and no showers of any kind. Many times they have been given an engagement party, but that's all, and no presents then. If they can afford it, they purchase an apartment before the marriage, but after they are married the custom is to live with one set of parents, usually the bride's parents. This is supposed to be so the bride's mother can "teach" her to be a good wife. They rent out their purchased apartment - it'sconsidereda good investment. They live with the parents until they have one, usually two children. Then they either sell their place they bought for an investment and buy a new place or they move into that one.

I received a call from the girls at the nail salon one day telling me my new friend was going to be there at 3 pm and would I come see her wedding pictures. I wondered why didn't call me herself since we had exchanged phone numbers. I later learned that custom dictates that had she called me herself I might have felt obligated to go. Since it came through a third person, I was under no obligation. She brought her mother with her, in case I did come so I could meet her. Also since I came, she called her husband and had him come by to pick them up after their nails were done. Later I learned that was so I could meet him also. Otherwise, she and her mother would have taken a taxi home. Evidently, I am told by others, that having come to view her wedding pictures I was essentially saying I want to know you and your family. It was a good thing all the way around. I have now been invited to their home for tea.

One of my goals while I am here is to get myself invited to a variety of parties and weddings, so I can see the different houses, decorations, etc for the different cultures. They say the Indian weddings are by far the most elaborate of them all.

Lynn - I have actually rescued a plant that was left on my terrace by the last people. It looked pathetic when I got here. Trimmed it, cleaned it up - it seems to have perked up. I think it might have been considering hari-cari, but is sticking around to see how things go.

Sam- I am so glad about your new job!!!

Jim and Pam - say hi to Lindsay for me, stay safe and don't drink the water!

Flossie - how's that embroidery machine working?

Yes Heather - he's still there!

A pitcher of margaritas cost what?????

We have a nice group of friends here. There are 16 guys, including Basil, who all flew for Delta Air Lines together. Several of the guys go all the way back to Academy days and pilot training. There are several wives who live here on a full-time basis and several who come over every few months for a few weeks at a time. It's nice to have a support group. We are close to being the last ones hired here, so it's nice that everyone has already scoped out stores, restauarnts, where to buy different things, etc. Makes it much easier for us. Basil knew many of the guys, but I knew none of the wives previous to coming here. There are three other wives who live here full-time, as I do, right here in my building. We can meet several of the others quite easily as they don't live too far away. It's a great group to be part of.

We are also meeting some other Americans who are living here and working for a variety of companies. There is a very large contingent of people here working for several different banking and financial ventures. We also met a nurse who works with a large cancer center here from Nashville and a couple of people who are professors at one of the local colleges. About 20,000 American here all told, I believe. I have also had the opportunity to make friends with some Indian women, some from Cambodia, VietNam, Hong Kong, several who were born and raised in Singapore, some from Malaysia and Australia. Very global, very fun! Everyone has different customs, cultures, food, different activities - it's a lot of fun to learn and experience it all.

Last night we had a girl's night out. 5 of us went to a local Mexican food restaurant across town. It is excellent Mexican food! Even the hot sauce - which they only call salsa - is pretty good. The Margaritas are excellent! Since we weren't driving, we decided to order Margaritas. Also since there were 5 of us, we decided a pitcher was a good efficient use of our resources. Then our reasoning was if one pitcher was good, two would be even better! Good food, good company, fun conversation, sitting outside, nice breeze blowing - then we got our bill. It was unbelievable! Not looking at the menu and checking the price, we were astounded to find each pitcher was $55. Good thing we'd had two and were mellow enough to deal with this!

Turns out alcohol is incredibly expensive here. A small size bottle - not the "normal" size we buy in the states- of tequila or vodka is around $60 a bottle. A lower-end single malt scotch can go as high as $250 a bottle for something we are accustomed to paying around $50 to $60 for. As a crewmember, Basil is not allowed when clearing customs after a working trip, to bring back or purchase in the duty free shop any alcohol at all. When entering the country just as a tourist you cannot bring any alcohol through customs unless it is purchased at the duty free shop here in Singapore that you see just prior to clearing customs. Then you are allowed to purchase only one bottle of hard liquor and one bottle of wine. Alcohol purchased at any other duty free shop when departing the states or any other country will not be allowed in unless you pay taxes on it that equals to what the bottle would cost here. Beer and wine are also expensive, but not as much so as "hard" alcohol. We thought maybe it's because of all the Muslims in the country, but we were told by a Singaporean man sitting at the next table who overhead us talking that it is because it is all imported - they make Tiger beer here, but that's the only one- and the government likes to keep it controlled and the tax high because they can make money on it. Turns out he's a government employee in one of the Ministry departments. He says it doesn't seem to keep people from drinking, so the government knows people will pay it. We asked about the Muslims not drinking alcohol. He laughed and told us he was Muslim - he was on his third Tiger beer. He said many Muslims in many countries drink alcohol - making no big deal about it. He told us that during holy days he and others he knows abstain from it, but then after the holidays it's life back to normal. He said you can buy and drink alcohol, even when he travels to more "strict, even extremist Muslim countries "- it's just done very quietly and in private homes. Sometimes, he said, it's served in the open - just disguised as tea! There are extremely devout, extremist Muslims who do not drink alcohol, but there are probably more who do tip a few. Very interesting conversation and information. We all decided it seemed a lot like the old days of prohibition in some places.

Many of you have asked about our VoIP phone and when you will be able to call us. My boxes - one of which has the Internet phone in it - have not arrived from the states. Evidently when I sent them through the US Postal system addressed to Singapore, they must have been placed on literally a slow boat to China. I'm hoping it all - including the phone - gets here soon. As soon as it does, I will send out an email letting you know it's all operational, along with the phone number and a schedule of what time it is where you are and what time it is where I am. I can tell you already, it will be a Shreveport (318 area code) phone number. The cost of the call will only be the cost to call Shreveport unless you have a calling plan on your home phone or cell phone that includes free long distance - in which case the call will be free!!! I set up the phone number when my father was still at the nursing home so they would be able to reach me easily and quickly. He has since passed away, but I just left it as the Shreveport number. I'll let you all know as soon as it arrives.

Many of you also have expressed interest in visiting us. Check CheapTickets.com, Orbitz.com, Expedia.com and others like that. Please check where you layover and for how long. If you go through New York, be aware you may have to change airports, in which case you have to land at one, retrieve your luggage, load it on the bus, go across town to JFK and then re-check it. If you go the pacific route then if you book all the way on one airline or an airline that code shares with another that comes here, they usually check your luggage all the way through. Also please note they are extremely strict nowadays on the weight limit. If you non-rev (airline people only note this) Delta does not come to Singapore. Going through Amsterdam or Paris, then use zfare on Air France usually works, the other way is through Narita in Tokyo and then the zfare on Northwest. people tell me most times it's not too bad.

Also those interested in visiting - to answer the question we are being asked most often - when is the cool season? Answer - We don't have one. The temp here is constant = only difference is maybe 5 degrees between night and day. No - you will absolutely NEVER need a sweater. The only difference in our weather is whether it is the rainy season or not. November, December, January are our big monsoon season. It doesn't change the temps at all. The only thing it changes is that instead of just feeling the humidity and it raining a little almost everday; you feel the humidity and it rains a lot everyday. Those are our only weather changes. But we'd love to have you over! Plan on clothes that are 100% cotton, shorts and/or cropped pants and sandals that can get wet and can be walked distances in. Some people do wear athletic shoes;but when wet - and they will get wet, they tend to get heavy and rub blisters. Voice of experience here on that one.

I'm off to pick up my alterations - I've lost 13 lbs and am having to have my pants taken up! I've done it by swimming and sweating. At least when I'm swimming, I don't kow I'm sweating!

Rusty - it was good to talk to you - Mariah sounds so grown up - be sure and let me know when the new one arrives.

Joyce - pat Piper for us

Lynn - I can't wait for you to see all the gorgeous flowers here.

Bill and Betty - how are you? Jot a note

Barb - how are your parents and the cats?

Yes, Heather - still the future. Yes, he's still there!

Where's Basil and his new love?

I've been replaced as first, no second, no third - oh whatever - Basil's newest love of his life is a big, shiny airplane known as a 747. Yep, that's right - that 747 is at the top of the list. He loves flying it and is having a great time with his new adventure with Singapore International Airlines Cargo. He's in the last stages of his training and is travelling all over. He's like Where's Waldo?. So far he's been spotted in Tokyo; Melbourne, Australia; London; Copenhagen; Dubai; Hong Kong; and as I write this he's headed to Anchorage, Alaska and Los Angeles, California. And this is in less than 2 months' time! His first training flight was as a Captain on a passenger 747. The night before he printed up the welcome announcement they make in big letters, so he'd have it to just read off. The reason for this? His biggest fear at that point was making sure he didn't say, "Welcome aboard Delta Air Lines, Flight such and such". Rumor has it one guy actually did this and had to correct himself, but we don't know for sure. Even if it was only a rumor, it struck home enough with him that he was doing all he could do to make sure those words did not cross his lips! Almost 25 years habit of saying something is hard to break. Thankfully it went well, he said the right things and all his other flights have been on the cargo side, so no announcements to make! The thing that has been his most vivid trip experience so far was how shockingly bad the traffic was in Dubai. He said it was simply horrendous and he cannot for even one moment imagine actually driving in it himself! Evidently the taxi trip from the airport to the hotel was experience enough for a lifetime. Unfortunately for him, he'll be experiencing that quite a bit as Dubai is a place they go often. Maybe it will grow on him in time. His friend Wayne, who spent some months living and flying in India, says just wait until he gets there! Ah! The good, the bad and the ugly of travelng the world!

For those of you who have asked - here's the link to Abby's website : http://smith.photosite.com/
There are lots of photos of her, but for those wanting to see her at this age, check out the Talkative 3 year old section - really darling pictures of her taken recently.

Hey - this blog thing is pretty easy and fun! Thanks for all your emails saying you are enjoying our adventures and my blog.

I haven't heard from Roxanne, so I need a favor from anyone out there who might know. I have a casserole recipe I got from Roxanne which Basil just dearly loves. It calls for 1 box of Uncle Ben's Wild Rice. I can't get that here, but I can improvise. There's an unbelievable amount of rice to chose from! What I need to know is how many cups of rice are there in a box of Uncle Ben's Wild Rice?

Nancy - I hope you're digging out of all the "spring" weather!!! Unbelieveable! What's the latest snow you've ever had or was this it?

Patsy - I sure miss Mexican with you on Wednesday evenings! That the first thing we're doing when I get back! Abby says she's coming,too!

Patti- Basil wants to do a quick trip to Dallas our first trip home, so we'll make a date for dinner!

Nate - good to talk to you - thanks for all your help!

Shari - I love you and thanks so much for all you do!

There seems to be a problem

Ok, I seem to be having a little problem. To paraphrase a line from the old Paul Newman movie Cool Hand Luke, "What we have here is a failure to communicate." I bought a beautiful cabinet from a wonderful store here. It is made of rosewood, has glass shelves in it and has glass doors on it. I bought it to hold all the pretty things - mostly delicate ones - that Basil is buying for me on his trips. The only trouble is it has a design flaw. The base sets squarely and solidly on the floor - no problem. The problem is the rest of the cabinet moves side to side when you even just barely touch it. Polishing the wood on the sides or the glass in the front makes the whole thing do the shimmey! So, I call and tell them about it. No problem, they say, we bring you another one on Thursday. They do. It does the same thing. It's definitely a flaw in the design. I call again. I tell them the problem. They say no problem, we bring you another one. No I tell them, it will be the same, you can bring 100, but it will be the same - it's a design flaw. But, they tell me, it's very pretty wood, very good. Yes, but it moves. No problem, they say, put it against the wall. No that won't solve the problem either, I'd like my money back. Cannot, they say. No refunds . But it moves, I say. Yes, very pretty cabinet. Yes, very pretty wood. I don't want a cabinet that moves, take it back, I'd like my money back. Cannot. No refunds. But it doesn't work, won't hold my delicate pretties, it moves. So sorry. Cannot. No refunds. Very pretty wood. Very pretty cabinet. We bring another one. Circles - we are just going in circles. This seems to be the land of no returns, not for any reason, at any place, even when the piece is broken. And favorite words here are "cannot". Must be a communication problem - more than likely on my part. Actually at this point, I'm ready to push the damn thing over the balcony from the 24th floor. Trouble is - no one would probably notice!! Very frustrating!

We'll see what tomorrow brings. Maybe we'll bridge the communication gap. I think "cannot".
I think a rum and coke is the next order of business - can!!!

Is it warming up any over there yet?

Be careful what you wish for

Well, the apartment is getting there! Yes, for those of you wondering - I am learning to decorate around chocolate brown. In fact, now I'm actually contributing to it! We put black-out drapes in the bedrooms so that when Basil has to sleep during the day for a flight at night it's much easier sleeping. Also, I had them put in the guest room so when you come to visit, you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn. Of course, I'm trying to work with the chocolate brown head board, sheets and comforter - so what do I order? You guessed exactly right - chocolate brown drapes!!! I do have to admit though - they look great in there.

Some more touches here and there - brown rugs, brown leather furniture in the living room - you get the "brown" picture. Shari always says "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it." We're in a store the other day both wandering around in separate directions. All of a sudden Basil is at my elbow waving this gorgeous pillow around saying this is exactly what he wants for the living room! I'm thinking - ok, good! A little color to offset all the brown, the man is branching out, pillows will add some much needed color and these are downright gorgeous. Turns out, much to my - not neccessarily in this order - astonishment, chagrin, dismay, horror, utter disbelief, etc, etc, etc - this is the color he wants, not just for the pillows, but to paint on three walls!! That's where the "be careful what you wish for" comes in. I wished for a little color in my life and - bam! All of a sudden out of no where - I've got red up to here. I mean we are talking Chinese, fire engine, Christmas card red! We'll see where this goes! I guess it beats some things he could have gone with - the plum pillow he picked out next was ok - hard to match other accessories and rugs to, but the orange and lime green pillow would have caused me to faint or catch the next flight home!

What do you mean it's been snowing from Ohio down to south Louisiana? In April? Could I put in an order for some?

Shari - keep repeating that little saying - you may need it someday. And I believe. Quit wishing, just go wit it will b e my new mantra.
Marilyn - get well real soon.
Matt - kiss Jellybean for me.
Heather - Yes, I'm in the future. Yes, Bush is still the president.

To be continued........................

Debbie, the Blogger

Hi everyone!

Shari has been sweet and has set me up a blog site. Instead of sending out long emails, I can now just write on this however much and often I want. You, as the reader can read however little or much you want, whenever you want. My understanding also is that you can forward the link to anyone if you wish to - evidently my emails are being passed around to people I don't even know so we'll just open it up to the world! Also I think you can post comments here back to me. Shari says I can post pictures and videos also. I guess, with Shari's help, we'll all figure it out! She also put all the emails I had previously sent out on here, too. Thank you, Shari - you are the BEST!

So this is my first try at being a blogger!

Are you happy now, Shari? It's before noon my time - so I made the deadline!