Touched

It’s been REALLY hot here in Kuwait. At 10:30 a.m. it was already 45°C (about 113°F) and I was boiling! As I was waiting in line this morning at the grocery store, I went to get some water from the fridge next to the check-out counter. Much to my dismay all the bottles were lukewarm at best. Another man came up and was also looking for a bottle of cold water but I told him that all the bottles were warm in this fridge. Definitely the wrong day for beverages to be warm!

The queue was building up so instead of searching in another fridge, I just proceeded and to put my items on the conveyor belt. As I placed my last item and was getting ready to pay – all the while dreading the idea of going back in that sweltering heat – the man who was searching for water came up to me and gave me an ice cold bottle of water.

I was so touched.

I wish I wasn’t so moved by that gesture. I wish that it was common enough for it to seem ordinary. The truth is, I think it’s far from ordinary and commonplace. So rarely do I see acts of random kindness – holding the door open for someone else, picking something up that someone has dropped, saying ‘please’, ‘thank you’, and ‘excuse me.’

Why have these simple gestures become so rare? A little bit of kindness goes a long way – it doesn’t cost anything, and it makes the other person feel good – which in turn makes them more likely to do something good for someone else. Everybody wins!

Workin' It Out

I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since I last posted.

Things have been quite busy since the new semester started. I think people (non-teachers) definitely underestimate how much work teachers have to do. I guess if you look at our summer & winter holidays (and working hours here at KU), then it’s understandable … but those ‘perks’ give people the wrong impression … there’s so much more that others don’t see or consider. Lesson planning can take hours; figuring out the perfect lesson – something to keep a class of 25 adolescents attentive and interested in what you’re saying – is not easy! Grading takes even longer. Then of course there’s the fact that we go in every morning and stand in front of a class and try to TEACH them. You’re not working on your own; you don’t get any down time … all eyes are on YOU. So, as I was saying, it’s a lot of work!

Anyway. I didn’t intend for this post to be about my teaching. Actually, I’m quite amazed at how much I’ve accomplished in the past 6 weeks in terms of my PhD, despite the added hours that I spend on teaching now that the semester has started.

It hasn’t been easy balancing everything, but I’ve accomplished quite a lot. My reading is going well. My interviews are going great, and my writing has picked up. I’m on a roll and I feel terrific about it!

This week was particularly good as I was finally able to gain remote access to my university’s library in London. It’s so great to have all the journal articles that I need at my fingertips! Plus, one of my interviewees gave me a ton of information to follow-up on – opened some avenues that I didn’t even think about going down, so I’m quite excited about that! All of this has of course given me the push I needed to sit down and get some more writing done.

Feeling marvelous and motivated!!

Nostalgia Part III: Music to My Ears

Nothing like a good tune to start your day ... and nothing like the following tunes to take me back to days of elementary, middle & high school -- Isn't it unbelievable how you still remember the words (and even some dance moves???)

Who can ever forget the New Kids on the Block?! Jordan, Donnie, Jonathan, Danny, and Joey - their ripped jeans, choreographed moves, and oh my, what charisma! Aren't they the ones who really kicked off the 'boy band' phenomenon?

I am still a huge fan of Madonna's ... and though there were many songs to choose from, this one one music video that I knew (and still know) all the dance moves to!

"Everybody's doin' a brand new dance now ..." :)

To what other song do you hum (sing?) the opening beat to than this one?

Don't tell me that you don't start to tap your feet and perhaps even snap when this song comes on! My friends at NES were crazy about Wham! and that soon spread to me - this is one song that always reminds me of you guys (see you this summer!!)

I really wanted to upload MC Hammer's 'U Can't This' video but I wasn't able to download it.

Michael Jackson. Whitney Houston. Debbie Gibson. Tiffany ... among many others are part of my nostalgic music moment. Remember the huge scandal Milli Vanilli caused when it was revealed that it wasn't really them singing?! Didn't they actually have their Grammy revoked?! :)

Well, all these songs/artists have a place in my musical scrapbook!

Happy Listening :)

Nostalgia Part II: Shows I Loved

Once I started going through those old TV show clips, I couldn't stop! Here are a few more for old time's sake :)


Mr. Roger's Neighborhood -







Sesame St. - What a terrific educational show!







The Muppet Show - Why don't they make shows like this anymore?







I absolutely LOVED the Donnie and Marie show. Donnie Osmond was my first 'movie star' crush - I was devastated (at the age of 6) when I found out he was married *sniff sniff* This was my favorite opening performance:







Gummi Bears -- I don't remember too many cartoons from my childhood, but this is one that I absolutely loved! Didn't you wonder what is in Gummi Bear juice?

*Sigh* To be a kid again ...

Nostalgia Part I: TV Moments

While my packrat tendencies have filled up trunks and boxes with loads of memories, going through them over the past few days reminded me of exactly why I kept them in the first place ... This is part of my trip down memory lane ...

Growing Pains ... I had such a crush on Kirk Cameron!

I'll never forget rushing home to watch 90210 and then calling up my friends to discuss what happened on that episode. What drama!

Making lists and planning my routine started from an early age for me. TV time was scheduled into my after-school routine ... come home from school, lunch, 1/2 hr of TV, homework, 1/2 hr of TV, dinner, sleep (something like that). Half hour sitcoms were perfect for my TV time slots - Different Strokes. Silver Spoon. Webster. And, how can anyone forget ... Small Wonder.

Punky Brewster was another favorite of mine ...

And of course, what childhood was complete without the family fun of the Cosby Show?

I'm so glad most of these TV shows are available on DVD now ... I get to relive any chidhood TV moment I want :)

The Rattle in my Bronchi

My chronic bronchitis is torturing me. This is the third year in a row that I’ve suffered from this horrible, suffocating sharp cough for more than 2 months. In fact, the last 2 years I had it for 3 months each … so I’m hoping there’s just one more to go. I feel absolutely miserable. From the sound of the cough to the soreness in my throat to the bruised ribs I have from all the coughing … and that’s not even the worst part. The struggle to breathe is the most painful and depressing part. I feel like there’s a huge weight pressing down on my chest and just constricting my lungs – I get no air. For a few seconds every hour I feel like I’m being choked and there is absolutely nothing I can do.

I’ve been taking my medication. I still have a few more days for my antibiotics, but I can honestly tell you that I feel no different than I did when it first started. The medicine isn’t doing anything for me. The only good one is the one I have to take at night. I think it sedates me and just puts me to sleep … at least that’s the good thing. I’m hoping I can just relax this weekend – maybe try some deep breathing exercises or yoga to help relax my muscles and just relax in general. At this point I’ll do anything. I just want the coughing to stop.