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 […]
Read the rest of this entry »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 […]
Read the rest of this entry »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 […]
Read the rest of this entry »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 […]
Read the rest of this entry »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 […]
Read the rest of this entry »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 […]
Read the rest of this entry »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 […]
Read the rest of this entry »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 […]
Read the rest of this entry »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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