Saudi Arabia

Imbolc                                                       Valentine Moon Saudi Arabia.  Mark has been there for well over a year, almost 2, so the day-to-day scene comes more and more into focus, even for […]

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A Third of the World Between Sibs

Winter(?)                                  First Moon of the New Year Both sibs have sent photographs recently.  Mary has taken several pictures of elephants in a series placed around Singapore.  They’re part of a fund-raiser to help Southeast Asian elephants. Mary lives within […]

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News from Ha’il

Fall                                                            Full Autumn Moon News from Ha’il*.  Mark reports having to leave a restaurant with a friend because it was about to close for prayers.  During prayers many businesses in Saudi Arabia lock customers in so they can continue shopping or eating.  This is at least three times a day, could be more since there […]

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A Year of Two Springs

Fall                                                  Full Autumn Moon A cool rain and a chilly fall evening with wet gold stuck to the bricks and asphalt, a low cloud cover and darkening twilight skies. Though ready to travel there is a sadness in missing the rest of fall, the transition from this still part summer, part cooler season time to […]

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Visa, Visa. Where Art Thou?

Lughnasa                                          Waxing Harvest Moon Oh.  Visas.  I think I shall never see a visa lovely as a tree.  Or something like that.  Anyhow, the Saudi visa saga took an unexpected and unpleasant turn this morning.  Turns out there are two steps to the process for teachers, certification of the degree and qualifications, then, the visa […]

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Growing Up

Lughnasa                                        Waxing Harvest Moon Mark’s (my brother) days here will end on September 16th provided the Saudi visa process works and it’s on track, though a track with a terminus very near his flight date.  He flies from Minneapolis to Chicago, Chicago to Amman, Jordan and onto Riyadh. He will spend a few days in […]

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Pulling Hair

Lughnasa                                                                 Waning Honey Extraction Moon Over to Carlson Toyota this morning.  Why?  To have Kate sign over the Tundra to me, as a gift.  The purpose?  Avoid sales tax on the title transfer.  My name alone is on the Rav4, for no particular reason except that’s how we did it that day.  Her’s alone was […]

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Drawing Blood

Lughnasa                                                                           Waning Honey Extraction Moon Took Mark in for a counseling session at 8 am and then over to Allina for lab work.  He said the phlebotomist kept putting on more tubes to collect blood. “I’m woozy,” he said, as he drank a cup of hot chocolate.  After this, a fasting blood draw, we went […]

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Those New Job Jitters

Lughnasa                                                               Full Honey Extraction Moon Mark has a new job in Ha’il, Saudi Arabia.  He will teach English as a foreign language, as he did so well at AUA in Bangkok for twelve years.  He worked hard over the last five months to recollect himself, to figure out next steps then find a job.  This […]

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