Seabee and Basket Balls

Last night was the first ever Seabee Ball in Bahrain. It was a huge success. There are only about 60 Seabees here (mostly without their spouses), however 300 people attended the Ball. It was held outdoors, ironically at the first place we stayed when we arrived before being kicked out because of Benny. It's a gorgeous place. The food was amazing. It was served buffet style. They had a grill going with kabob & kofta, whole leg of lambs hanging over the flame rotisseree style, tons of salads, grape leaves, Indian foods and all the usual condiments (hummus, baba ghanoush, yogurt salad, etc...) plus an amazing spread of desserts. My only complaint....no coffee. I spent the day getting my hair, brows & toes done. I should not have spent a penny on my hair, because it was so windy that within 2-seconds (no exaggeration) my hair was messed up. My dress was flying up like crazy. I couldn't really walk around. When I went to get my food, I wrapped my pajmina around my hips to hold my dress down. I needed my hands! About 5-minutes into the meal, believing I was clever, I decided I would go use the bathroom because 100% there would be a line within 15-20 minutes when everyone was finished eating. I got up and walked toward the entrance to the building. The doors leading into the building were right behind the main table where the Admiral & his wife were sitting as well as the guest of honor who flew in from California just for this and some other important people. Well, just as I went to pull the door opened, my left foot somehow slipped & I landed flat on my left buttock. Luckily, I am well padded there. I was so embarrassed. All these people at the table jumped up to help me but I jumped up myself and pretended that I was fine. I was in so much pain!!!!! Luckily nothing was broken. I went and did my thing & then found my way back to our table (After getting lost in the building & the security guard showing me where to go. I have always been directionally challenged). I told Scott what happened and he did his usual head shaking & told me to be more careful. He didn't appear shocked. I could not fully explain to him the drama of what had just happened...in front of so many people! Oh well. This morning, I am so sore on my left buttock. It hurts to sit, stand & walk. As I woke-up this morning I realized I had a horrible pain in my left shoulder that also shoots up into my neck. I feel like I've been in a car accident. What a pain, literally! We had a great time, though. These Balls are always so interesting because you see such a spectrum of dresses. You have some on the casual side (me), some super fancy...Cinderella style & then there are the tramps. We're not sure why one lady decided to wear a bottom half of a dress. The slit was so high, you could see her panties, honestly. The people watching is one of the highlights. We look forward to next year's Seabee Ball.

Work is going well. I am on my count down until spring break. We have a week off starting on April 2nd, which happens to be a very special person's birthday!!!!! I can't wait for spring break. I really need a break. I love my kids & my job but I really want this break! Last Thursday was my class's turn to play in the annual basketball tournament. It really was hysterical. From the coach, to watching my kids & the other third grade class play, to the cheers & jeers in Arabic from the sidelines, I was just cracking-up the whole time. My class was instructed to wear blue and the other class wore red. Girls were NOT allowed to wear shorts. Of course, one of my girl's shows-up in shorts! The P.E. coach was yelling at me about it. Like I have any control on what they put on in the morning before they leave their house. Just another example of how these kids really do whatever the heck they want. On a funny note, one of my girls brought me a note from her mother. The note said, "Mrs. Monique, Can you please not give so much homework? It gives Hessa a lot of stress and she has a headache. Please only give her homework two days a week." Whatever!!!!! That was my response back.

Scott left today for the UAE. He'll be gone for about 3-days. I am alone.....again! Benny and I dropped him off on Base at 1:45. A van was going to take him and the three other guys to the airport. I decided to take Benny for a walk since we were there anyhow. Scott had the leash, initially. We were all walking toward Scott's building & Benny thought he saw a cat (he always thinks he sees cats) and pulled Scott (which never happens...he pulls me) through a puddle of mud. The back of Scott's pants were covered with mud. His shoes were filthy. His suitcase was full of speckles of mud. There was nothing we could do. Scott was leaving right then & there. We tried to wipe off as much as we could but it was useless. The best part, Benny was walking as happy as could be. His tail up and wagging. A big happy face. Clueless to what he had just done. It reminded me of the movie, Marley & Me. I had been putting off seeing that movie because of the ending. I'm still scarred from my experience of putting down the best dog in the world, Spunky. Caroline & I were there with him. It was so sad. Well, Marley and Me was on cable yesterday & I watched. So much of what happened in that movie reminds me of Benny boy! I cried so much at the end of the movie, just as I knew I would.

I just finished reading another Lisa See novel, Peony in Love. It was excellent! All of her novels are excellent. I am now reading, The Street of a Thousand Blossoms, by Gail Tsukiyama. She's another one of my top authors. I just realized that I have read 7 novels in the almost 6-months that we've been here. That's a record for me. I need to find book number 8. Any suggestions?