NO Import

Former friend who shall remain nameless cause I can't stand her.... (Oh yeah - I recall that I referred to her as "Mare" because she looks like Mare Wittingham, the actress... anyhoo...)   When she dumped her x-boyfriend, he got in touch (I suppose so I could be his one girl support system).  Boo hoo, she did him wrong.  Took money from him.  Dumped him.  He should have known better as he said.  He was warned by her x, x-boyfriend..  Yada yada.  (Yuh, he shoulda known.  He's married with 2-3 kids - I can't remember, but married.  Dumbass.)

Never met the guy in person for his therapy sessions.  Never wanted to, but listened to his drama for a while before he found another girl (I'm sure) and didn't need the support anymore.  Whatever.  Yawn.

So, once in a while he gets in touch.  I assume because he wants something. (This time, about a year since I last heard from him...)  It all starts like this, "How are you?  How's your family?  How's your job?  Is everything ok?" (interject some more chit chat BS small talk conversation here.)  Then, they finally get to the point.  Maybe during the call.  Maybe on the next call.  But it always comes....

So he texted me.  "I'm shy to ask you this, but can you help me with something?"   They're always "shy" (so why f-ing ASK?!)  Then, much later, they finally get to the point.  I had to wait an hour (musta thought that was a respectable amount of time between the introductory text and the actual voice call...)

"Can you help me with something?"
'Inshallah'
"You make me more shy with 'Inshallah"
'Kheir, inshallah.'
"C'mon!"
'Maashi.  Allah Kareem.'

THIS is how you should answer those in dire need (of something really stupid that they haven't gotten to yet),  It is the standard response to put a favor-beggar in his/her place.

(Yawn)

"Do you have a contract with the Army?"
'Why?'

Here
It
Comes
Hold on.....

"Can you bring in sex toys for my friend?"  (Yeah riiiiiight - your "friend")

What
The
Phuck?!
It's Ramadan!  It's bad enough that he's just totally insulted me in several ways, but... It's RAMADAN - and the last few DAYS of RAMADAN.  Have some respect.

(I didn't want to ask what KIND of sex toys.)

So he went on and on about, "You're American.  You can't bring them in?"  I'm like, 'You're a Kuwaiti ranking officer in the police force.  YOU can't bring them in?'

Technology is GREAT.  BLOCK/DELETE.



(Disclaimer:  To the best of my knowledge, the US Army does NOT import sex toys.  But if they did, it would make trips to the PX just THAT much more fun!)

Just go out!

Since my Rumaithiya Apartment Ordeal of 2015, I have become somewhat of a hermit.  My apartment isn't really what I would want it to be for entertaining.  Small living room.  Kind of weird entrance....  very quiet building where I can hear my neighbors and I'm sure they can hear me....  My former apartment was da bomb for gatherings and having people over.  No question.  It had a lovely terrace and a huge open plan living/dining/kitchen area.  It was in the basement so no one could really hear me.  Easy private entrance where no one could see comings and goings.

Note:  I still hate those former landlord people.  I shouldn't carry that negative energy around, but I do.  If they had only told me that they wanted more money, I would have paid it.  I paid 450.  I would have gone up to 7.  Monsters!  You didn't have to threaten and terrorize me!  Anyways, bygones.

Really, I see what that did to me.  It put me into a kind of PTSD where I am worried about who I can and can't trust here.  And I didn't want to socialize anymore. When you go through some really awful, traumatic stuff in your life, you immediately find out who your friends are and who they are not.  The people that I thought I could trust and depend on the most suddenly disappeared or inflicted additional drama on me.  I lost who I considered to be very good friends in 2015.  And I consider it all a blessing.  The truth may hurt, but at least I saw it.

Cut to 2017.

I get invited by friends or distant friends or even acquaintances quite often.  Most often, I turn down the invitations in favor of staying home in the peaceful comfort of my apartment with my dog and my cat. Yeah, that's some old lady shit, isn't it?  But it's true.  It doesn't take much to push me out of my comfort zone these days; even something as silly as, 'How far do I have to park away from your house?'  And then if it is too far or too inconvenient,  I find an excuse.  I'm making constant mental excuses to just stay home all the time.  And that's wrong.

I'm an active person (ok, well, used to be.  I guess mid-2016 was kind of my cut-off point for activity).  I used to go to parties. I used to go to business functions.  I used to do a lot of things.  (And I used to have a lot more to post about here.  When you are doing routine things like K9 training or surfing Apple TV for movies, there really isn't a lot of material, is there?)

Now, I reason in my head about how much traffic/road rage there will be just leaving my neighborhood. Should I really bother?

Recently, while at my favorite salon, Mirror Mirror, I met the new Executive Director of the American Business Council of Kuwait, Teresa.  She was kind and bubbly and literally talked me into attending an ABCK function.  I hadn't been in several years.  The owner of Mirror Mirror, Wendy (who has become a really dear friend) said she was going as well and wanted me to join her (she ended up paying for my ticket and I thought that was so sweet!).  Anyways, I went and saw people I hadn't seen in years.  I had a great time.  It was held at the Millenium Hotel and it was my first time there.  The food was FABULOUS and I was really impressed by the hotel.  And - BTW - the ABCK has changed a lot.  There is a new female Chairwoman and it is no longer the old white dude in blue suit organization that it used to be.  They have a lot more activities and the whole vibe was good.  Thank you, Wendy and Teresa, for pulling me out.

That was my first social outing.  Baby steps, Desert Girl....

My second outing was last night.  Kim (from Ladies Who Do Lunch in Kuwait blog) has been inviting me for (no joke) maybe the past 3 years.  Being Hermit Girl, I found excuses when I could have just pushed myself to go.  Last night, I accepted a dinner invitation and I'm so glad.  She's got a lovely family and her apartment was more like a comfortable villa somewhere.  It was gorgeous and the whole night was lovely. I'm so glad I went and even though we talked for what - maybe 5 hours - I still felt like I could have continued (but had to work today!).

These occasions have given me hope for myself.  Maybe all is not lost.  Maybe I can actually  push myself to do more.  It's a start.

KSPATH is Closing

I'm sorry, but WTF?  The only government-licensed animal shelter in Kuwait closing it's doors???

Official notice from KSPATH:

Sheikha Fatima M. Al Sabah announces closure of Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat (K’S PATH)

• Says “We worked very hard to improve animal welfare standards and set an example for new animal groups in Kuwait”

Sheikha Fatima Mubarak Al Sabah, the Chairperson of Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat (K’S PATH) announced this morning the decision to close K’S PATH by the end of six months that is December 2017. All animals at the K’S PATH shelter will be adopted out in Kuwait or will be rehomed in international shelters. No animals will be put down.

Dissolution of K’S PATH 

Citing reasons for closing K’S PATH, Sheikha Fatima M. Al Sabah explains that the K’S PATH team has worked very hard for the past 12 years to protect Kuwait’s animals and the environment and thankfully, much has been achieved through the years. Therefore the decision to close the Society is not based on financial or administrative reasons or as a result of any problem; but this decision was made based on the knowledge that Kuwait’s animals and environment will be cared for by compassionate people in the community. She further adds that the new animal protection and environmental laws passed by Kuwait’s Parliament reflect the progressive approach of the Government authorities to foster future generations that appreciate Kuwait’s natural heritage.

Thanking the Community

Additionally, Sheikha Fatima M. Al Sabah thanks all members of the community who have supported her and the Society over the past 12 years. She also extends her love and gratitude to the K’S PATH team of staff and volunteers, for their dedication and efforts in contributing to the welfare of Kuwait’s animals and environment; May the Almighty protect Kuwait’s people and animals.

The Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat was officially recognized as Kuwait’s first legal animal welfare and habitat protection society in 2014 by the Ministry of Social Affairs, and was founded in 2005 by Ayeshah Al Humaidhi who first established a shelter in Wafra to protect abandoned, homeless and rescued animals. Sheikha Fatima M. Al Sabah became a volunteer at K’S PATH in 2009, and became the Chairperson in a few years.

K’S PATH Achievements

In 12 years, K’S PATH has cared for over 18,000 animals across over 41 species including companion animals, farm animals and wildlife. The Society has adopted out over thousands of animals including relocations to regional and international sanctuaries. K’S PATH’s Marine Conservation Program launched in 2011 has conducted over 300 beach, island and desert cleanups, clearing over 80,000 tonnes of terrestrial marine waste, through the support of over 4000 volunteers. It also registered over 800 volunteers to help at the shelter and awareness events. K’S PATH’s Humane Education Program reached over 22,900 students across 40 schools and universities. Its humane animal control program is a compassionate and effective alternative for reducing street cat and stray dog population. K’S PATH is also the official country representative of Kuwait for World Animal Day.