Go Obama!

Thanks for the nice emails. I am actually at my house emailing this while Sam watches cartoons. This is how I envision it will be, once we get it all squared away. Sam and I hosted a dinner party last night. I invited Kulsum and her family, which made five, then Bethany, and Sam and I made a total of eight. I have a nice oblong dining room table, and we all sat around it. I was attempting to serve them an American meal, stolen from Mexico, so I set up a fajita bar, so they could help themselves to chicken, beans, rice, salsa, cheese and sour cream. I think everybody enjoyed it. Khalid commented that my flat feels very homey and comfortable, which made me happy. I still haven't figured out how to hang anything on these cement walls, but there are other ways to add personal touches. Scents are big here, so I burn lavender oil for guests, and hope the soothing smell will calm Sammy down. He is not at his best when we have guests with kids. Of course then he has to share his toys, and he does not shine at this AT ALL. He looked quite nice, however. He dressed himself in a kandora, typical arab gear, complete with the headress. I will take a photo of this, along with a pic of Sam in school gear and send it out.

We are so looking forward to Ted and Clayton's visit. I will host another dinner party next week when they are here. I have invited my principal and his wife, who I think the uncles will very much like, and I am trying to invite a Tunisian husband and wife, as well as Khalid (Kulsum won't consider a sitter), and Bethany. I think the uncles will enjoy the view of the resort from our balcony. Now, if the lasagna turns out, then everybody will forgive the brightly colored plastic plates.

Still no news on the opening of the school. In any case, thanks to my siblings, Sam is paid through this semester, and we will be open by next, surely, if not before. I am not sorry we are here. I know it is a hard time to be in the U.S. I have not registered to vote, but I am going to try to do it online after I send this email. I like having Sam see another way of living, though it made me more than a little nervous when Sam suggested I might want to start wearing an abaya and head scarf. He may take this all too far, our Sam! I guess what has been hard is how long it takes to get things done, and how little power I have over the process.

We continue to work, and now that Ramadan is over, our work days will of regular length. Sam and I did not go to Oman as hoped. Sam brought a cold home on his last day at school before break, and then promptly gave it to me, so we've been ailing. Still, it has been nice and tomorrow, our last day of break, we are to go on a desert safari, which will be fun.

About the heart stuff. Thanks to everybody for help and input. My last day of school is June 11th, I believe. I would much rather have the minimally invasive surgery with the repair. I don't want the pig valve. Besides having to take medicine for the rest of my life, Als pointed out that I couldn't eat pork anymore because I would be eating my brothers and sisters. Not to mention that Sam's favorite food in the world is bacon, which I am always having to sneak around and buy for him here. How could I watch all that meat snapping and sizzling in the pan, knowing that it was my own flesh and blood that I was cooking? Just kidding, but the repair sounds better all around. Anyway, there is nothing more boring than someone else's health problems, and I am boring the crap out of myself just thinking about it here. So, I will sign off. I am going to take Sam to the pool later, but in the meantime, it is my duty to sign up to vote! Go Obama!
Miss you guys.
Love,
Lucy