Day 868: Parkas and Pot… and a Little More Pot… okay… A Lot of Pot

You know?  It’s actually starting to cool off a bit and it’s really nice.  During the day we’re averaging temperatures in the middle to high 70s and at night it’s actually dipping into the 40s.  I love it.  We’re having beautifully comfortable days and cozy nights perfect for curling up under a blanket to watch a movie… if only Serena and they boys were available to cuddle.

Now, I’ll admit, temperatures in the 40s are cold.  Being a southern boy from the States, I normally break out my Member’s Only Jacket once daytime temps start dipping into the low 60s or 50s… and I’ll probably dig out a more substantial winter coat once daytime temperatures are consistently in the 40s.

The key word here is ‘daytime’.  Low temperatures, of course, occur in the middle of the night.  Normally between 2 and 4am.  Although it dips into the 40s here… by the time 8 or 9am rolls around, we’re back up in the 60s… and by lunch time the 70s.  Sure, a light jacket might be in order some morning… but not often.

That said, I am amazed at the number of people wearing Parka’s in the middle of the afternoon over here… and this trend started about a month ago when daytime temperatures were still in the 80s.  Now, Serena wasn’t surprised at all.  When she lived in Kenya, it was very common for locals to bundle up when the temperatures dropped in the slightest ways… but Kenya lies in the torrid/tropical climate zone.  Islamabad lies in the temperate climate zone… and more importantly, Islamabad falls on the 33^rd parallel.  Do you know what other city falls on the 33^rd parallel?  My home town… Atlanta, Georgia.  Discovering that piece of trivia was eye opening to me.  Especially the fact that Islamabad sits at a much higher elevation as Atlanta… which would suggest lower temperatures… but it’s hotter here and culturally folks are much less equipped to handle cooler weather.

Beyond wearing Parka’s in the middle of the afternoon, once the sun goes down it is very common for locals to light fires for additional warmth.  These fires with rage throughout the night… and by morning the city is pretty thick with smoke… and my clothes often smell like I’ve even been roasting marshmallows all night... er… more like ‘baking’ marshmallows… if you catch my drift… wink-wink nudge-nudge.    

Hmmm… that joke may have gone over your head, let me explain.

You see, to fuel these fires, local Pakistani’s will burn anything lying around… wood… brush… weeds… weed… did I mention weed?  Grass, ghanja, Indiana ditchweed, pot… or let me be more specific: marijuana.

Now, I’ve never been into drugs… but I did go to college… and I studied theatre… so, I would be lying if I said I didn’t know what pot smelled like… and folks… in the wintertime… Pakistan smells like pot.  A lot of pot.  It’s pot city up in here.

From the moment I wake up in the morning to the time I go to bed at night, its pot, pot, pot.    Seriously… Californians should move here.  This entire city has to be on one giant contact high… which would explain why I’m always hungry. 

Dang it!  I just want a box of Girl Scout cookies!  Is that really too much to ask for?!?

Day 867: The Talk

Day 866: Harvard Quidditch Team?

So… um… yeah… So, I’m a self admitted ‘nerd’… although, being a former actor and avid griller, I prefer the word ‘geek’.  Geeks , of course, are known for their theatrical abilities, as well as, their prowess for preparing meats… like chicken.

Now, since the jury has been out for quite some time… I think I’ve finally figured out why I never went to Harvard or any other Ivy League school (although College of Charleston was considered Ivy League once upon a time… a long… long… time ago).  Anyway, besides my subpar SAT score and dismal High School GPA, I have recently discovered the real reason I wasn’t Ivy League ready: I’m not nearly nerdy enough.

  I know!  How could that be?  I’m uberGeek!  I love Star Wars and Harry Potter!  BUT, you will never…. I repeat, you will NEVER catch me playing Muggle Quidditch:

(BTW: My favorite part of this video is the two guys at the end in the ‘Harvard’ chant circle.  The look on their faces says it all: ‘This is way better than home economics.’)

Day 865: Gilliam & Skype, Part 2

To continue with yesterday’s theme, skyping with Gilliam is just as special as skyping with Grayson. 

Gilliam was only 6 months old when I left for Pakistan, so having a chance to interact with him every day is priceless.  I’m always greeted with a warm smile and a wave.  He’s calling me ‘Da’ now… and tries to give me kisses on the screen.  Which are just as awesome as the ‘computer hugs’ Grayson and I exchange.  And our patented ‘I love you’ hand squeeze.

Gilliam is just an awesome boy… if you’re following our monthly music videos you’ll see some of my perspective of watching him crawl for the first time and now cruise around tables.  I can’t wait to see him and I think skype is doing wonders to curb any unfamiliar feelings he might have about me when I get home for Christmas.

Now… the thing with Gilliam and Skype is that he’s always trying to get closer to me (the computer) and as his arms flail around he hits keys at random.  At least once every conversation Gilliam inadvertently opens some feature of Serena’s laptop that she’s never seen before… and then Serena is forced to figure out what it is and how to turn it off.  The best is when Gilliam changed the setting on her webcam to show her desktop instead of them.  I ended up staring at myself in skype from their perspective.  It was really funny. 

Also, if you are familiar with skype, there is an instant message feature that runs in tandem with the video chat.  Which is AWESOME!  Because we can talk about Christmas openly around Grayson, but type what the actual present ideas are.  Now, Gilliam also likes this feature.  When we video chat, I will get a lot of instant messages that look like, “lsdkhSlkasb3441”.  Very cute… well… it gets cuter.

The other day Serena and I were talking about my upcoming R&R… my departure date is getting closer and closer.  And we’re both VERY excited.  Serena started joking around and saying, “I wish you could come home now.  I want to go to dinner with my husband!  Now!  Now!”  Then Gilliam sent me an inadvertent message that read, ‘sasa.’  Serena started to laugh hysterically.  “That’s right Gilly, send Dada home now!”

You seem confused… well, I was at first too… but I figured it out.  ‘Sasa’ is Kiswahili for ‘Now’.  Remember, Serena is fluent in Kiswahili.

Sasa, Now… I’ll be home as soon as I can!

Oh!  BTW: Happy First day of Hanukkah everyone!

PS: Pauline… no, I haven’t finished ‘The Chair’… yet.  I left off with Costello’s flight being diverted.

Day 864: Grayson & Skype

There are three things in this world that amaze me: Grayson, Gilliam, and Computers.  And what’s even more amazing is how they all interact together.    

My father worked for IBM most of my life and our first personal computer was introduced into our home when I was 4 years old.  I was trained on DOS and I never had a computer with Windows until I was… I want to say I was in high school.  Probably high school.  I remember running a Bulletin Board System in Middle School on a DOS based 386 Clone with a 10 Megebyte hard drive and a 14.4 baud dial-up modem… all of this before the internet took off. 

Needless to say… when it comes to computers I have mad skills.  Well, not really.  I’m pretty rusty.  When I left computers to peruse theatre I got behind the eight-ball.  Technology moves FAST!  However, some things haven’t changed… like problem solving on a computer is still the same.  It’s logical… and with a basic understanding of hardware and software you can fix most issues.

So… I started playing on computers when I was 4.  BUT, I was probably eight before I started using it by myself… and even then it was only to play ‘Montezuma’s Revenge’, ‘Bruce Jenner’s Decathlon’, ‘Pac Man’, and ‘Tetris’.

And now… Grayson is 4… and how is he using the computer?  Well… he’s called me on Skype all by himself a couple times.  So… I think he’s doing pretty good.  Lol! 

Now, don’t get m wrong, we don’t really give Grayson unsupervised computer time.  We always cue up the things he likes to do: watch Scooby-Doo episodes on youtube, play games on PBS Kids.org, play Disney’s ‘Club Penguin’, and hooked on phonics.  That’s about it… but over past couple years his confidence with the computer has increased and he’s really good with a mouse and the touch pad. 

And now that he’s calling me on Skype, I am simply amazed and proud.  Well… truthfully, he’s not really calling me as he is calling me back.  You see a few times I’ve tried to call and no one answered.  Then a few minutes later I get a call… this is pretty normal regardless of who is calling me… with two kids how could you ever expect Serena to get to the phone on time?  But, a few times when the answer, I only see Grayson.  “Hi dad, mom and Gilliam are in the kitchen making dinner.  Wait a minute, I can’t see you, can you see me?”

“I can see you buddy… do you know how to turn on the video do you can see me?”

“Yeah, I know.”  And then I watch him looking at the screen very thoughtfully… I see his wheels turning… and then… his eyes light up with excitement.

“I see you!  Hi dad!  I was just watching ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and then you called!  So I called you back.”

It’s a warm feeling.

Day 863: Stay At Home Because You’re Well Day

Sweet Lord in heaven!  It’s ‘Stay At Home Because You’re Well Day! 

Listen folks, I’m a big believer in taking mental health days.  And your mental health is just as important as your physical health!  Do you have sick days accumulated?  Take one.  Don’t go crazy… but taking one sick day when you’re healthy from time to time can be refreshing.  But do it in the middle of the week.  Don’t do it on a Monday or a Friday… if you play hooky to extend you weekend you should take annual leave.  I’m talking about mental health sick day.  Those should be islands of time… taken on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Better yet, pull your kids out of school for the day to stay home with you!  It’s just for one day; they’re not going to fall behind.

Sometimes you just need a day at home or a special day with your kids.  Playing hooky with your kids is the foundation for some great memories.  You can go see a movie with your kids anytime, but I guarantee they’ll always remember the time took off work to take them.  ;)

Oh, and take advantage of today because ‘Stay At Home Because You’re Well Day’ is on a Tuesday.  Celebrating it this year will be a lot more fun than celebrating it in 2013 and 2014, trust me… no one needs to play hooky on the weekend. 

Day 862: Movie Map…

I’m from ‘Deliverance’… where are you from little piggy?