After a week of holidays...

Well, today officially ended my week off.  Granted I still have an entire weekend before I head back to work.  Regardless, it seems like the work is just around the corner again.  It's not that I mind.  I do like my job.  I feel like I am a little ahead of the game.  I spent some of my holiday at school and lots of it at home.  Rest is just what I needed.  Mind you, how could I not feel rested when bedtime has been between 8 and 9 each night.  It's not that I sleep until noon or anything.  I am still waking at a normal hour - it is just nice to feel like I am actually rested when I wake up in the morning.  Hopefully I can maintain that feeling until my next holiday at the end of November.  Yes, I know, I have it hard.

I finished my ethics modules (all five) during this time off.  One more thing off the "to-do" list.  Next is getting my articles read for Module Five and making my post.  I feel a little less pressure this week.  I simply need to do a critique of the articles and two TED talk videos we had to watch.  Will make for a nice change to the regular pace of the course.  Then I just have one module and a paper to do before December 7th and at last, this class will be over.  Perhaps I am counting down the days!

Well, the seven baby kitties and momma cat are still quite contently calling my garden their home.  They sleep outside my kitchen door.  A couple of the cats (momma included) are starting to feel quite at home and poke their noses into the door.  They are even willing to come over for a little head scratch.  No worries, I am NOT attached, and they will not live in my house.  Two cats are enough...especially when they have the personalities that my two little gaffers have.  Henry is his usual self.  Now that it's almost 7:00, he's into his "Ummm, I think it's almost time for bed - are you gonna go to bed soon - I can't go to bed if you don't go to bed" routine.  Ella has been her usual self as well.  A little more needy when she sees me paying attention to the kittens.  She is really funny...even if I am just playing with the kittens through the window, she'll come right over, hop on my lap and be all "look at how cute I am!".  Too funny.

I guess one of the good discoveries I've made since having the babies in the garden is the orange tree that is in my yard.  It has oranges on it.  They are almost ripe.  I will be picking them shortly (because I suspect it might be too cold).  I will let you know how they taste once I've picked an orange from my ORANGE tree.  hee hee hee.  Wicked cool!

Speaking of wicked (great segue and I wasn't even trying), I have started to introduce my students to the soundtrack from Wicked.  They're a riot. They keep saying things like "Miss Desfosses, what is happening now?"  Or " Miss, would you play the popular song again!"  They are really quite sweet.  With the end of October came a new seating plan.  They are quite excited about their new desk arrangement.  The desks sort of form a "T".  Wasn't intentional.  I am trying to make room for two additional computers in my classroom. I am also getting a projector installed this week.  I know, I am a little bit of a suck, but really, I deserve it!

I guess the only other exciting news pertains to plans for my birthday.  It seems like November 24th was still a ways away, but as of today it's only 2 weeks away.  I still haven't managed to settle on a place for dinner.  Is it wrong to tell my friends in Kuwait to pick the place and just go with it?  I think I would just be okay with pizza with a couple people at Jessie's house.  You know, the KISS principle.  It's something that has been really important to me this year.  I think I am learning quite well.  Given the amount I have on my plate this year, simple is good :)

Anywho, my birthday in Kuwait will involve my birthday festivities, a workout at the Corniche, some shopping at the Avenues, perhaps a movie and some easy going visiting.  I am looking forward to it.  I leave on Thursday (24th) morning and will return to Damascus on Sunday.  I have Sunday off as well, so it will be a nice long weekend.  Then it's time to start thinking about Christmas.  Right now the plans are pretty hazy.  I will be spending most of the holiday here in Damascus.  I am seriously considering a few (4) days in Europe - maybe Prague.  Somewhere that I can definitely take in the Christmas Markets. Hey, maybe I'll go back to Ireland.  That would be cool!  Now I really need to start thinking.

Alright, that is all that I have to say.  Sorry it's been a jumble of not all that interesting fluff, but it's my life in Damascus.  I continue to be very happy here.  Hopefully life will continue to be fairly balanced and I'll be back again next year...but before I get to ahead of myself, I should get through this school year, right.

Until next time.  sorry for the delay in the posting.  I got carried away with my exercising and relaxing.

Talk soon,

Tylene