School Schmool

So it has been brought to my attention that while I talk a lot about school, I failed to mention WHY I’m going to school. Well, that’s partly because I still don’t really know. Before we came out here, as most of you know, I worked for the Attorney General in Idaho. I LOVED my job, but mostly because of the people I worked with and the STUFF I worked on. Tobacco. So it’s not like I got a real good idea of what working with all types of law would be like. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is… is still don’t REALLY know. If you were to ask my major, that’s easier, I declared Political Science. But the more I think about it, the more I’m leaning toward doing something else. I figured I’d pick a major with which I could get a “real job” eventually. The more I see people succeeding at their “dream jobs” (doing what they love AS their career), the more I am pulled to try to do the same.

I realize I am not the best writer on the planet (and unfortunately this blog is not a testament to my “skillz” since when I am writing this I am generally wrangling Kaden or it’s the end (or beginning) of the day and I am just wiped out), but to freelance or write books is really where my passion lies. I figure every mediocre writer has an editor, so my stupid overlooked mistakes (and they are plentiful [!!!]) and typos wouldn’t be an issue. But of the last 5 books I’ve read, 3 of them have been by mediocre writers. In fact, the one I am reading now is a book about this British guy who decided to try to drive across America without using chain gas (petrol) stations, restaurants (caffs), or hotels. It’s a decent story, but it’s fairly poorly written. So, if someone can sell a book about that (hey, I bought it at least!), would someone be interested in reading about a 20-something American woman trying to make it in the Middle East? I’m guilty of lingering over books here about the secret lives of Iranian women, or the “love struggle” faced by a Brit who fancies a Muslim man.

I haven’t faced any major trials or tribulations on this journey thus far (thank Allah), but I HAVE been dealt some pretty curious cards (i.e. nearly getting stuck in Qatar with my infant… all alone and unable to contact anyone… so I sat down a cried in the middle of the airport while being stared at [and finally rescued] by more Muslims than I’d ever seen in my life, much less in one locale). *It should be noted that burkas and turbins are really scary when you've never seen them before in person... who knows why. They are just intimidating.

So… what am I studying? For now, “law and order” (hehe). We will see if that ends up amounting to anything. I chose it because it’s the one career I can see myself enjoying for next 40+ years. Stu says go for the “dream job” goal. I hear my Dad’s voice in my head telling me to get a real job. What do you think?

(side note: I consider it because Stu HAS a “real job”… so long as my son has health insurance, it makes me less weary of the prospect of us being broke AND healthcare-less while Mom tries to keep food on the table.)

The above are what happens when you leave a baby with bored Abu Dhabi wives... they become toys. Sigh... my poor son! haha

MLA v. APA

Kaden ready to go on the roof with Mommy and the pool... and his cool sunscreen-induced mohawk!

Having some lunch and still looking suave.

My little amazing face learned hpw to turn on the printer... see this? And he doesn't even have to try other buttons... he knows the right one to make the thing start warming up with all of it's wonderful noises.

My babies' shoes!

What do you do when it's too hot to play in the pool on the roof? Well, you play in the pool in the living room... duh!

So we've had a pretty uneventful last few days. I have been working on my final paper for school pretty much non-stop. This is what happens when I'm completely UNmotivated for about three weeks. Crash-writing at the last minute. But anyway, aside for a few revisions on my references page, we're good to go.

Short rant: Not only is learning a style of citation gay in and of its self, but I learned all through high school and when I first went to college to cite in MLA style. NOW all of a sudden the requirements are in APA style. So I have to go back and look up every single type of reference to make sure it's being cited properly. Sucks. Now I have all this wasted space in my brain dedicated to MLA style citation. Grrrrr.

Ace.

Oh, I forgot to mention... after being so stressed out with the internet going down, I was worried I'd miss my test this weekend. Thankfully we worked it out yesterday so I took my test and I aced it! Missed one question, but still got a 97%. So that made me happy and MUCH less stressed.

Who Are We?

Did you know America is in an “Identity Crisis”? Neither did I, but according to BradleyProject.org, my generation (ages 18-34) is less likely to believe in the strength of American culture than our parents were (are). What it means to be an American, the feeling of obligation to hold America in high regard and pass this on to our children is growing weaker with the younger generations. Those of us who are entering the workforce and breeding the future of our country are the ones who are supposed to be strong in our national pride (taking over where past generations have left off), and have a desire to lead by example to promote the power of the American dream.

When you live abroad you get a whole new sense of what America means. It has both good and bad reception, but for reasons that are different when living in the States. Here, for example, there are people from all over the world who have fled their home countries to come to a land where they can make a living for their families that they could not make back home. Nearly all of these types of people that I’ve talked to would love the opportunity to go to America to work and live. Most will never have the chance. The UAE has become the Islamic version of America. You can come here to better your lives, but under Islamic law. It’s essentially America without the Bill of Rights. But as Americans, we take the Bill of Rights for granted and forget that they are not God-given rights. Our founding fathers realized the importance of individual liberty and gave it to us. You can come to Abu Dhabi and make money to send home to your family in Pakistan, but this is NOT America. You do NOT have the right to bear arms. You do NOT have the right to freedom of religion, or speech, or even press. It concerns me that my generation takes these rights for granted. We really should care more. We should be more proud in our national identity.

Ok, political rant over.

Kaden had a great time in the bath again last night and I just had to include some “getting ready for bath” pictures. He gets so eager, like this is a trip to Disneyland, every night when it is bath time! I wish I could get so excited about the things I do every day!

Eagerly watching Daddy get the bath ready

He never stops playing in the freaking box!

One more thing, I couldn’t help myself… Anyone who knows me has probably heard me stress the importance of schooling, and more specifically emphasis on Reading and America History. I am shocked by how many of my peers (friends and otherwise) who are completely ignorant of our national history. I think this is where a lot of our lack-of-pride comes from. You have to read, a lot, to increase your personal vocabulary, and be able to sounds relatively intelligent in a conversation, and you HAVE to be taught about your nation’s past to understand it. Public schools are failing our children.