Ya Never Know

We heard drums coming down our street so I ran to get the video camera. I wish it had a longer zoom so you could see the unique dress of the men. They look like tribal warriors...shirtless, feathery armbands, black sarongs (official term: lungis), yellow turbans and bare feet. Percussion groups like these are often hired to perform at special occasions.

What was the special occasion? A new grocery store advertising it's Grand Opening:)

I really LOVE this!!! You just never know what you will see out your window here.

For the Grandparents

I think baby talk is really cute and thought maybe Kai's grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone else who finds toddler pronunciation entertaining, would find this enjoyable:) When Haddon was going through his ABC flashcards for school Kai wanted to get in on the action. He's learning the pictures:D

Bringing Out the Worst

Everyone has things that bring out the worst in them...I think. At least I do. I've recently realized the top 2 circumstances that bring out the worst in me. One is traffic. Ridiculous, chaotic, obstacle-course traffic which includes jaywalkers, cows, bicycles, rickshaws, buses, all at the same time. I sometimes feel the road rage bubbling within and when I'm behind the drivers seat I become very cynical. The sad part is my kids are in the backseat hearing all the moaning and groaning coming from mom. Such a bad example. So I'm becoming very aware of that after 2 years of driving here. Which also has caused most of the wrinkles on my face:) Thankfully it doesn't stress me out like it used to but I still need to work on the moaning:)

The second is orderly lines. This is the wrong country to live in with that pet peeve:) The word does not exist (well actually it does but it's called a queue:) People cut with no thought about it. At the grocery store if they have only one or two items they feel obliged to cut...maybe they don't think they should have to wait behind the lady with a full cart and since there are no Express Lanes this is the way to solve it:) The other day at the mall I was waiting in line for drinks. People were just going straight to the front totally ignoring the line that was formed. Usually when this happens I turn into the Line Police. I cannot help but inform people that there is a queue and they need to get in it:D One poor guy cut to the front and I pointed out the line to him in my Principal's Office voice. His head dropped with his eyes pointing to the floor like he was being sent to the corner (this is not the normal reaction--usually I'm just ignored:) and he walked to the back of the line. Little did I know he was just coming to pick up his order that he had already paid for! Oops. So I'm determined to not stress out about lines--which is so hard for me. But I'll have to remember "The first shall be last and the last shall be first":)

One thing that used to make me seethe was going to public places and strangers taking hold of Kai without asking, wanting their picture taken with him, and pinching his cheeks. I'm over it now but I did capture a little bit of it on film to show you. All 5 of these people had their picture taken with Kai (and all 5 pinched his cheeks:) but I only got my camera out right at the end. Notice the cheek pinching when he puts him down (which still drives this germ-freak momma a little nutty) and you can hear the cynicism in my voice:)