Tomisms! (Funny Things my Dad Says Everyday)

I am making a list of things my Dad says or does as I have been home... I will continue adding more to the list as time goes by. Warning: There are some swears here....
1. Asks Dave, "Which is better, HD TV or 3 D TV?"
2. Dad has a shot of whiskey sometimes before bed at night. He pours the whiskey into a shot glass (I thought he was going to drink it as a shot) but he takes it into the living room and sips out of it for 1/2 an hour...? I asked if he would rather put it into a glass with ice and he says no. Okay.....
3. "This finicky remote pisses me off!"
4. Talking about the killer in Peru.... "Give him some electrical treatment and he will talk!"
5. Talking about the Clint Eastwood songs on his Ipod.... "I got his songs on my Ipod...I love them... They are brain relaxers!"
6. Talking about the crazy farmer next door "You tick him off and you'll wake up with a shit spreader in your bedroom!"
7. "Come and look at this! One of the dogs took a shit on my lawmower! They must not think too much of it to do that! I am flabbergasted!"
8. By God... Look at that! Another ass drencher! (Talking about the storm)

I will continue to add more as the summer goes by. Too funny not to post!

The Past Eight Years in Kuwait and what I have Learned from Some of the Men Here

This list of things is meant to be sarcastic and funny but honest at the same time! These are based on some of my experiences in Kuwait.

1. Do not answer your cell phone when you do not recognize the number. More than likely it is a random guy looking for a date, a hook-up or just to annoy you. It seems men call random numbers in hopes of the above. Gross and just plain stupid.
2. Be careful of walking around in supermarkets. Some men will follow you around with an empty shopping cart while trying to keep their distance behind you. I don’t know what they want, but I imagine it is similar to number one.
3. When riding in a car, do not look out your window to the left or right at anytime. Some men will take this as a flirty invite and may follow you all around the town.
4. Walking right behind your husband actually does have its advantages. It will block the stares of other men trying to sneak a peek.
5. You will have to raise your voice often (because you are not being listened to or taken seriously). Unfortunately, I have learned that I need a megaphone to be heard. I have even thrown my sunglasses on the ground in a fit of rage to get a point across. Geez!
6. When you are in Starbucks and feel you are being watched, YES you probably are! I have noticed some men using a newspaper to spy on me from behind it. Ick!
7. Do not be overly concerned if weirdo men pull over in their cars as you are walking to ask if you are married or have a boyfriend. Also, these same men may have curtains hanging up in their car over the windows. This is very common-moronic, but common.
8. Don't sit in the subway (restaurant) window to eat your sandwich while you are there. Men will walk by and keep walking by to stare. Maybe they think you are one of the store displays. I do not know.

Of course not all men are like this. It is usually the random guy here and there. I have become much stronger from all of my experiences

English Department -End of the Year Breakfast

This past weekend we had our annual end of the year breakfast to say goodbye to teachers who are leaving AIS and to celebrate JUNE! I thought I would be getting more and more emotional about leaving Kuwait but it hasn't really happened yet. Either it hasn't sunken in yet or I am really just that ready to move on. We shall see in the next two weeks how I will be doing. Happy June everyone!

Going home in Two Weeks!

Cape Cod this Summer

Cape Cod is one of my favorite places to go in the summer. Yes, it is crowded and the roads are jammed with traffic, but it doesn't stop me from going there from time to time. It still holds sentimental appeal to me as it is the honeymoon spot of my mother and father when they were married.

The Cape Cod National Seashore is rated as one of the top beaches in the States and no wonder. The gentle sand dunes, classic lighthouses and sharp blue water make it a one-of-a kind beach. There is a quaintness about the Cape that is hard to beat.

When I stayed at the Cape a couple summers ago, I was able to find a hotel right withing walking distance to the local beach, restaurants and gift shops. As I was walking past an inlet of water by the road, I saw local families out digging for clams. There were even spectators nearby on their lawn chairs watching the action as if they were out at a parade. Just extraordinary.

I enjoy going to the Cape and just unwinding. I get into a routine of peacefulness that rejunvenates my soul: going out for a walk in the morning, having breakfast, going to the beach for the day, reading my books or listening to music-all at my own pace and time schedule. Hopefully, this year I would like to make my way over there again. There is something magical about the Cape and New England in general.

Accelerated Reader Field Trip 2010

You know it is the end of the school year when Tina (our wonderful middle school librarian) and I take the kids on the AR field trip. For those of you not familiar with AR, it is a reading program based in the library where students basically read books and then take a reading test on a computer. Students generate points per book for each test passed. By the end of the year, we take the top 35 students with the most points on the trip.
This year, we took the kids to the Cozmo bowling center in Salmiya. We ate our lunch first in the food court area of the mall and afterwards hit the lanes. The kids had a blast and it was fun to see them enjoy themselves outside of school. We don't go on many field trips here in Kuwait so it was much appreciated. Unfortunately it was my last AR field trip for AIS which was a bit bittersweet. I will miss so many of the students next year. They are a really good group of kids.

2010 AIS Spring Invitational Basketball Tournament

Dave and his JV Varsity Boys' Basketball team won the Spring Invitational Tournament this past weekend. This was a tournament that Dave organized about a month back with five other schools (or clubs) in Kuwait; one of them being Kuwait Basketball League.
Anyway, the tournament went on for two weekends straight and this past Saturday was the championship game. Dave's boys won! Dave also gave out medals for both the 1st and 2nd place winners with a trophy. I don't think the boys ever received medals before as they usually just bring home a banner for the school. It was a wonderful experience for all the boys as they continue to grow and improve in their basketball skills. Mabrook!