figs

I have a new problem. It comes in multiple sizes and is not expensive at all. I cant get enough of it. Fig jelly. so good, its not sweet like other jellies but tastes like the fruit, did i mention it is delicious? So the seeds are all there and the fruit is still chunky I think in USA it would be closer to a preserve. I used to eat peanut butter sandwiches as I never saw the point of jelly as it was never very good, I have tried schmuckers and all the rest but to no avail. Yet here I find myself having a jelly sandwich without the PB. Remarkable really. I wish everyone could try it, it is that good. Tomorrow I return to work with a smile. Looking forward to it. I will get paid shortly after that. I havent done anything really but I am also not going to complain about being paid to relax.

routine

After a long and uneventful period here in KSA I am ready for the return of routine. I am actually looking forward the days of waking early, going to school, teaching and returning to my home. It is the little things that make me happy and while I have been happy just lounging and walking around Riyadh it has been a long vacation. I feel like it is time to get started again. I am sure that soon enough I will want some time off but for now work will suit me fine. There are lots of plans for the future and I will reveal them as they are more finalized. Happy turkey day to everyone. Enjoy the meal and the company.

king and queens

This could be interesting. The House of Saud is in trouble. The current king in KSA is now 86 years old. He holds a slew of titles including the newest on keeper of the two holy mosques. He can not be called a caliph for various reasons but the new title is as close as it gets, really. Another of the kings positions is to be head of the alternative armed forces. He just gave that position up to one of his many sons. This son is now in a unique position. You see the other brothers of the current king are in line to rule, they are all in their 70s but without the leadership of the military the crown could pass them over and go to the son of the current king. This is the stiff civil wars are made from. I know if I were one of the brothers of the current king I would want my shot at being king, in fact I would eliminate all rivals (including brothers and sons of my brothers) thus making my bloodline rulers forever. This current king is trying to sidestep the blood letting and make his line rulers for the foreseeable future. I wonder how it will all play out. To make matters more interesting the King is ill and just left KSA to go to USA for treatment the day he left the newspapers reported that his son had landed in the Kingdom and would be assuming responsibilities. After he passes away it could get even more interesting. In case you ever wonder why I live abroad it is just for these reasons, the intrigue of national interests fascinate me. I hope it goes smoothly but really when does that ever happen.

travel

almost a disaster. I got to the train station to go the one place that the train runs here in KSA(Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and after presenting my ticket and heading towards the metal detector I was asked for my passport. I dont have my passport, it is with the Saudi Government. I have a xerox copy of the picture page and the visa page as well as a letter from my employer that explains that I am in process. All of these papers are stamped and signed by the company I work for. I showed these pages to the police officer and he explained that the papers were no good as they had not been stamped by the police. So I was detained for about 5 minutes while the two officers discussed what to do with me, it is apparently not ok for me to be walking around without a passport (or at least I guessed that is what the repeated mentions of ,"you must have passport" meant.) after 5 minutes of this finally they (the police) decided that I wasnt worth the trouble and let me go. they didnt send me back out to the street they let me go to the train, just strange. The coast was dirty and had few people. I am glad I went now I know a bit more about the gulf and what happens in KSA. I dont think i will be going back to that side again, too much else out there to spend any more time in a place that wasnt striking.