RIP White-Hearted Kuwaiti Police Officer

There should be more people in the world like this.  (And his small act of kindness should be an every-day occurrence, but unfortunately, most of the time, it isn't.)

Heaven must have needed another angel

Arab Times, December 28, 2015

A first sergeant of the Interior Ministry died when his vehicle toppled on Mitlaa Motorway. The remains were taken to Forensics for autopsy. It is noteworthy the photo of the deceased officer went viral on social media last year while he was giving water to a thirsty cat.

August 14, 2014

A Kuwaiti sergeant heading a police patrol in the Gulf emirate abruptly stopped off the road and stepped out of his car to give water to a little cat after noticing it was swaying of thirst in the scorching summer heat.

Sergeant Mashari Al Anzi used his own water bottle to give water to the cat, which appeared in a picture to be drinking avidly to quench its thirst on that day when temperatures were close to 50 degrees.

The Arabic language daily Al Watan, which published the picture, described what  Al Anzi did as a “humanitarian gesture required by everyone.”

Source:  LINK

RIP, White Heart.

The Blanket

Lilli had a favorite blanket.  She slept on it every night for years. She used to drag it around and arrange it properly before circling in to sleep.  It was a very cozy off-white wool blanket that I shuffled her around with when I went on trips and had to leave her with friends.  I know this is dumb, but I had the thing dry-cleaned.  Yup - my dog's blanket, dry cleaned.  Well....

When Lilli passed away a few months ago, her blanky kind of went with her.  It was really worn/torn and not much of anything.  I have kept other mementos of her.  I probably shoulda kept a piece of that stupid blanket.  (Things you think of later.)

I still have her collar with her little pink heart ID tag on it.  Her pink floatation jacket (boating/swimming).  A few of her favorite sweaters. A few toys (that Mikey has now confiscated). The "usual."

Our family Christmas gift-giving tradition is an opening event that continues from Christmas Eve (which is when we have our big family dinner) to the next morning when guests have gone and it is just the immediate family opening.  The wrappings and ribbons and decorations had been gathered in 400 gallon (I exaggerate, but you get the point) hefty bags.  All of the gifts were cleared from under the tree.  There were miscellaneous gift bags hanging out on the huge coffee table (I've seen an F-16 land on that thing once). There was one gift bag next to my feet that I hadn't opened yet and didn't have a tag.  Turned out to be mine from my sister. The very last gift. .... I opened it and my breath caught.

There is no way she could have known.  I've never told her.  It wasn't the type of gift she would normally get me (said it was a shawl, but looks more like a throw).  I started crying and couldn't get the words out.  The family's immediately thought I was hurt or sick (it's really rare when I burst into tears.) .  It was such a dear gift.....  and it wasn't really FROM my sister, but through her.  Cait had given me the same blanket (only not for a dog as it now appears in cashmere).  Same fringy things.  Same color.

Lilli was letting me know she's ok and sending me some comfort.  (Call it "reaching" if you will.  I don't care.  I believe in signs where ever/how ever they come.)

You know - when you have to put down a pet, you don't expect it (even if you do, you don't). I still don't expect to cry (but I do - 18 years of constancy is a hard thing to lose in any case).  I didn't expect the amount of guilt I've felt over it.  There is no way I should feel this guilt.  Lilli Putian was in pain.  It was the right thing to do.  But I have felt so bad about it.

The little blanket was such an enormous gift.

There is no way Cait could have known the meaning when she got it for me.  She was being guided by a little, white, Maltese angel dog. One of the many joys of Christmas.

KK9A Dog Show - Mishref Fair Grounds - Jan 22 & 23

Alianz Kennel Club just held their outstanding dog show on the 11th and 12th of December.  It was very well organized and had several rings where different types of dog breeds and types were shown.  The show first place winner was a very good natured pittbull with a gorgeous shiny tan coat.

I have been meaning to write another post on the Alianz show but I just haven't had the time.  I will get to it because as a first-of-it's-kind show in Kuwait, I think it is important.  |I was very impressed.

I'm interested in the dog shows because of Mikey.  Mikey is a show line German Shepherd - as most of the dogs at the Alianz show were.

The Kuwait Kennel Club - KK9A (ad above) will hold another dog show of mainly work line German Shepherds, showcasing various activities, sponsors, dog resources including services and products.

Here is a map of the show site:

KK9A holds dog gatherings in Kabd near the police station (just off the side of the road) at approximately 3:00 to 5:00 PM every Friday.

Alianz holds dogs gatherings at Messila (next to the Messila Beach Club) every Saturday from 3:00 pm to 5:00 PM.

Both of the weekly gatherings are free and open to the public.  Bring a dog.  Bring a kid.

Women's Self-Defense Class

Paternity Site for Runaway GCC Dads

Maybe this site will help my friend, Melisss, and her daughter, Kristen, find Kristen 's father, Aqeel. Aqeel was part of our group in DC back in the day, before he moved to Eugene, Oregon to study. When Kristen was born, Melissa went to court and the judge ordered a DNA paternity test. I think this was around 1984. Right after, Aqeel skipped the country.  Kristen now has kids of her own but wonders about her biological dad.

That's messed up. Own up to your responsibilities, "men"!

The website is called "Saudichildrenleftbehind.com".  Article HERE.  (The site started with just Saudi deadbeat dads but it has expanded to include other GCC nationals.

That guy who.... (the Mr. Big post)

As a follow-on to my post, "Why is it so difficult to have a normal relationship in Kuwait?" below... the guy that I really like (let's say it was "pre-love") and I got together to talk.

I'm calling him, "Mr. Big" because he's a big guy.  I love that.  It makes me feel more feminine/girly. I have said it before and I will say it again - I adore this guy.  He is all that I really want in a man.  And it has nothing to do with money, business or looks (although I think he's gorgeous I don't think he sees himself that way).  It is HIM.  He is fascinating and funny and I could talk to him for hours. I love the way he looks at me.  I love the way he sits next to me.  I love the way his mind works; he's so quick that he immediately responds to anything I say.  It's hard to find that kind of quick banter and it (along with a great sense of humor) are signs of a very intelligent person.

... if only he would let me into his world.  Our time together was at my home.  He lives alone.  He met my friends.  Saw where I lived.  We only went out to dinner once.  (Yeah yeah yeah - my inner jaded-woman voice says that there is another woman in the picture, but I am trying hard not to believe that.  I want to keep positive thoughts in my head.  It's hard.)

When I met him, he said he was looking for "that perfect girl."  Maybe I'm not his idea of perfect.  I'm not perfect.  I don't want to be. We are all unique and different and all of us have flaws...

Including him.

When you first start a relationship, you want to get to know the person.  That becomes very difficult if that person doesn't allow you to.  "I'm too busy" translates to "I'm just too busy for YOU."  -  you know your place on their schedule. How can you start a relationship by pushing the other person away?  I know he's a busy guy, but if  you care about someone - especially in the beginning - you make time to get to know them.  I'm busy.  If someone doesn't make an impression immediately, I'm usually not going to stay for long.  Impress me.  Begin as you mean to continue.

If he wants you in his life, he'll put you there.  You shouldn't have to fight for a spot.

I usually put up barriers and walls, but his were seemingly inpenetrable.

I hate to ask a man when I can see him.  I hate to call if he tells me he's busy (which is all the time). You saw the post (I can see you between x day and x day and x time and x time). That is a one-sided relationship and I'm an after-thought.   And - call me old-fashioned, but I really want the guy to call me.  He travels a lot, so on his last trip, he sent me text messages.  When he returned, I made a (I admit this:) passive-aggressive flippant remark about, 'Is there something wrong with your phone that you couldn't call me from there?'  Mmm.  The response (mean!) wasn't what I was hoping and I felt like I had hit a wall.  (Seriously, I just wanted to hear his voice.)

He came over to talk - maybe after hearing my reaction to his reaction.  It had been a month since I met him.   I thought since we were having long conversations about everything else in the world that maybe I could breach the topic of exclusivity.

I deal in the world of contracts.  The ones I hate the most are the ones where we are not exclusive; we have to compete on the same contract (once awarded) with multiple vendors.  I can never provide the right level of service if I'm not exclusive.  Just sayin...

Bam.  Again, the response was not at all what I was hoping for.  'Is it just you and me (while I was sitting on his knee, staring into his big, dark eyes)?' ... (here it comes, girls... get ready for this one because after all these years, this is a FIRST for me....)  "I don't have anyone now, but if the opportunity presented itself, I might be with someone else." (I can't quote that verbatim because I was so distraught and trying not to cry that I couldn't catch the exact words.)

Dufuq?

Dude, I am sitting on your knee with my arms wrapped around your neck and you theoretically just body-slammed me, WWF-style, into the floor....

You know, I remember some men strictly by quotes or actions that have stuck with me over the  years.  There was, "The guy who peed in my bidet."  "The guy who did an obscene act in my living room." (I'm not writing what I really call him but the terms initials are J.O.)   And then of course most recently, "That big fat liar."  (There are more, but you get the point.)  Years later, their real names are irrelevant.  Faces blur. Positive things that they may have done or said become obsolete because it is only the negative things that most people (me?) tend to remember.

I vaguely remember Mr. Big telling me that I was beautiful.  I will not remember that.  It is of no consequence.  We remember the negatives.  'So I've been told.' is what I said. (What I usually think when I hear that is that they are just saying it so I don't feel bad about my body flaws.)

And ok - why does my beauty (inner or outer) matter at that point?  I'm not special.  I'm not the one.  You just cut the line and the fish is swimming away.  How do you go back from that point?

Unfortunately, I will remember him by the quote (unless, in the HIGHLY unlikely event that he makes some huge turn around and a grand gesture and things work out.  Realistically, indecision is a decision):

"I don't have anyone now, but..."

WHO says that?!  You can think it, but who actually says that out loud?  He's incredibly intelligent.  So how would he think that it was even slightly appropriate or acceptable?  He might have said something like, "This is going to fast for me.  Maybe we should just see how it goes and get to know each other better."  That would have been ok.  Then maybe we could have continued.  But Oh.My.God - what do you do?  Why not just say, "You're not good enough.  If someone better comes along, I'ma gonna do her." (Ergo my theory that most men here are constantly looking for the next-best-thing and have zero clue as to the value of the person they are with NOW.)

Or.... was he pushing me away because things were going to fast?  Did he say it intentionally?  ("Do you think you can be pushed to attain your goals without some kind of pain to get you there?")  Poop! Why do I constantly over-analyze everything?  Why can't I just walk away from it?  Frickin chick genes!!!  RRRR.

Emmm.... There has been no apology or phone call or anything to let me believe that he even sees that this was hurtful or mean (or wrong); proving my point once again, that I'm not his idea of "special."

This all makes me sad because I really did think that he was special.

Since we work in buildings next to each other, I'm sure our paths will cross and that I will act with the same dignity I give everybody.  However -  that quote will be shouting loudly in my head as I smile and walk by.

Unless ...

You know, it's all about respect.  If you're not getting it, that person isn't special.

The Cat Came Back

It's back.  Like nothing happened.  Remember how a few months ago I wrote about a guy who I caught with another girl in the car?  Dude came back around like nothing happened.  Called me this MORNING. (Why?  Probably because I just got my salary and I know his family is all angry at him for a family-related-violation.)   He wants to "be friends."

Me:  We were friends before. My friends don't lie to me.
Him:  No, this time friends with no love.
Me:  Did you love me?  I wasn't in love.
Him:  We can be friends now.  Just friends.  Then, I won't lie to you.
Me:  I can't be friends with someone I don't trust.  You're lying to me now.
Him:  It is all your fault!  If you weren't following me (I wasn't - I was on my way home), we never would have had a problem.
Me:  If you hadn't LIED to me about having a girl in your car with you 2 days after you said  you wanted to marry me, we wouldn't have had a problem.
Him:  Why are we talking about this now?  Do you want to make me angry?  Do you want to see me or not?
Me:   (.... click....)
Him:  (via SMS that followed:)  ??? what happened?

The cat came back....  I can't get rid of it.

I've met 3 men in the past 24 hours (and it is only because I have totally given up and The Universe is just messin with me now).

• One at the phone store last night.  
• One this morning: my sheikh-neighbors who has apparently memorized my schedule and always sees me when my dog is taking a poop at 6 am when I look my absolute-worst (I don't brush my teeth, I don't comb my hair, I don't wash my face.  My dog is taking a poop.)  
• One at the restaurant where I have lunch.  

Am I going to talk to any of them again?  Nope.  (Maybe the sheikh - only because he will undoubtedly come running over when it's poop time and I will be cornered....  I have found that you can't make your dog poop and run at the same time.  I tried - totally gross.)

Did I mention I'm tired?

I used to get  flowers and romantic dinners on boats by candle light and crystal and "that" look (the one that makes  you weak in the knees) and weekend trips and shit like that. Now I get this?  I swear I would become a lesbian if I could possibly turn myself (not gonna happen, ladies, and no, you pervs - you can't watch).

Sigh.