It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Everyone is on their way to Bethlehem:

And Grimsby is reluctantly joining in on the celebrations:

Takeout in Amman...

I ordered takeout from the Four Seasons tonight - spring rolls, kourma and a side of steamed rice.  I guess they didn't have any bags because they brought it out in this enormous box (I took a picture with my hand, so you could get an idea of the size contrast).  


By the time I got out to my car, my arm hurt from carrying the weight of the box.  I'm trying to decide how to recycle it - maybe as storage for my unmated socks?

Incidentally, my spring rolls came on of a bed of this stuff, instantly reminding me of a philosophical debate that I replay every time I order P.F. Chang's lettuce wraps (they come with an entire BAG of this stuff).  


What, exactly, is this substance?  What purpose does it serve in the Asian food world?  Am I supposed to eat it?  If so, what is it made out of?  Or is it just garnish?  If so, could my secret suspicion that it is, in fact, styrofoam be correct?  Can anyone provide me with answers?

Sleep-ringing...

I woke up this morning with a ring on my finger.  It wasn't there when I went to sleep.  In fact, it was about 20 feet away in my closet.

Interestingly, even unconscious, I apparently recognized the ring belonged on my right, not left, hand.  

Just a troupe of bagpipers...

Wandering through the Roman ruins of Jerash, I found a merry troupe of Arab bagpipers.  Their staple was Praise to the Man but when they found out we were American, they played us Yankee Doodle Dandy.  

Argh...

I went to move the towels from the washer into the dryer, only to find a long, meandering puddle of water leading from the washer out into the hallway.  Caught up in this stream of water was toilet paper, a 72-hour kit, a boogie board, a vacuum cleaner still in the (now soggy) cardboard box and a bookshelf full of lots of small miscellaneous items that must be removed, to tip the bookshelf and wipe up the water underneath (I am imagining mold culturing even as I type).


As an awesome side note, the towels in the washer were the same towels I just used to clean up the two inches of water that leaked out of the bathtub while I was taking a "relaxing" Sunday evening soak.

Marine Corps Ball...

I got out my best and fanciest dress and attended a Ball last night.  Happy 236th Birthday United States Marine Corps and thanks for the party!

This picture is for you, Mom.

I spent a good portion of the evening chatting with a very handsome Scottish Army Colonel (who can resist that accent?), only to find out that he was married.  Men.  Please wear your rings.  I clearly did not learn this vital lesson from P.S. I Love You:

Truly Heartbroken...

Ummmm....

I don't think the package designers thought very carefully about the placement of that plate of truffles...

And there was light...

Incidentally, right as I was taking this picture, a young, handsome Turkish man walked up and invited me to tea with him.  I politely declined, explaining I was on my way to the airport.  

He said he was pleased to meet me and turned to leave.  Just before he walked away, he turned back and said "You are so very beautiful and I love you."  

Almost, I reconsidered that tea invite. 

Istanbul...

I spent 40 short hours in Istanbul this past week.  I didn't have a lot of time to sight-see, as I was there for work, but I did get a few hours to wander around the Sultanahmet area (where the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia hang out).


I did a lot of shopping (yay for exotic Christmas presents!) and ate some delicious food (yay for Doner Kebap!) and visited a Hamam (yay for naked Turkish ladies!).  And I took a zillion pictures of the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque - more on that later.  Unfortunately, since its a very high traffic area, a lot of my pictures turned out like this:

Why am I so angry?

London...

A confluence of events led to a very quick but very fun weekend in London (and Bath) with my Mumzie and sister.  It definitely spoiled me - it was very hard to get on the plane and return to an apartment that suddenly seemed very empty.


When I started listing possible sights, Mumzie indicated that everything was a "Tier One" sight (and anyone who's been to London would agree - it's a Tier One kinda place).  So I created an itinerary that we affectionately referred to as the "Death March through London."  


We did it all - history, arts, culture, shopping.  We ate great food (Khan's - why don't you have a franchise in Amman?) and lots of British chocolate and Ginger Beer.  By the end, we were taking taxis from destination to destination, to preserve tired feet and bodies.  


But most of all, we enjoyed the really great company.  I love you guys - can't wait till Christmas...

Sleepytime...

Thank you Rachel, for hauling mattress pads halfway across the world.  And thank you Mom, for hauling the sheets a quarter of the way across the world.  My big girl bed is now complete.

Success...

It took us a few tries...but we finally got it.