Oct 062012
 

Yes, that’s right, it’s that time of year again – when the weather starts to break from the intolerable heat and people come out of summer hibernation. It’s also a great time to plant seeds to get them germinating for harvest in a couple of months when the weather is cool, but glorious!

Now that I’m starting to actually be able to enjoy my weekends and relax a bit, I decided it was time to get my little garden going again. I decided to go full out this year and attempt to plant all the variety of seeds that I had bought a couple of years ago in Oregon. So, this year, I’m hoping to get tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, celery, onions, carrots, beans, peas and two varieties of zucchini going. I didn’t succeed with anything but the tomatoes and a few beans and peas last year, but I also didn’t really know what I was doing. So…keeping my fingers crossed that this year will prove to be more fruitful.

I also planted more herbs as I had such a great harvest of that last year and am still using the herbs that I dried or froze. πŸ˜€

Finally, I did manage to plant flowers – my favorite, pansies – this time. So, we’ll see how those get on.

Oct 5 all seed germination start
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Oct 5 all seed germination start05-Oct-2012 10:29, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 50
Oct 5 all seed germination start
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Oct 5 all seed germination start05-Oct-2012 10:30, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
 
Oct 5 all seed germination start
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Oct 5 all seed germination start05-Oct-2012 10:30, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
Oct 5 all seed germination start
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Oct 5 all seed germination start05-Oct-2012 10:30, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
 
Oct 5 all seed germination start
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Oct 5 all seed germination start05-Oct-2012 10:30, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 50
 

In the meantime, I’m hoping today is also the start of the nice weather so that I can enjoy our balcony again and watch those lovely little green sprouts grow!

Oct 5 first day on balcony with cooler weather!
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Oct 5 first day on balcony with cooler weather!05-Oct-2012 10:31, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
 
Oct 052012
 

It took me quite a while to complete my latest masterpiece at pottery class, but at last my hard work has paid off!

Although I have no real intention of showing my work at the next pottery exhibit, I took on the theme “Teapots” for one of my projects. While I had made a version before, I wasn’t satisfied with it as it has been moved to a shelf rather than being used due to a creative defect. πŸ˜‰

So, with the help of my instructor, I was able to build a better teapot on the wheel. Since I also have a bit of a fascination with vines and leaves, I wanted to decorate the pot that way. It took time to put on the vines and apply the leaves individually (I did have a little help…).

It turned out well enough happily! Maybe I should stop now that my work is starting to get better…? heheh.

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01-Oct-2012 15:42, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 64
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01-Oct-2012 15:42, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 64
 
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01-Oct-2012 15:43, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 64
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01-Oct-2012 15:43, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 64
 
Oct 042012
 

It’s been a very busy start to the fall and new academic year. One of the reasons is because the major government higher education institutions were required to implement the use of iPads. This came about at the end of the last academic year, but the fun really began when we came back for this year.

Since work began in early September, I have been deeply involved in faculty training and also attending various functions for the launch of this initiative by the country heads. One of the events even included a sighting of the Β Prime Minister and Vice-President of the UAE and ruling Sheikh of Dubai. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

HH Sheikh bin Rashid Al Maktoum
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HH Sheikh bin Rashid Al Maktoum23-Sep-2012 12:29, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 64
 

This event included following him around one of the Higher Colleges of Technology campuses and then lunch at the Sheikh’s palace (not Emirates Palace).

HH Sheikh bin Rashid Al Maktoum's cars
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HH Sheikh bin Rashid Al Maktoum's cars23-Sep-2012 13:24, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 50
 
Lunch at HESN's palace
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Lunch at HESN's palace23-Sep-2012 13:27, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 160
 

All in the name of the iPad! πŸ˜€

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23-Sep-2012 14:01, Apple iPhone 4S, 2.4, 4.28mm, 0.05 sec, ISO 160
 
Oct 022012
 

I thought it might be good to start off with a post on my “ups and downs” as it has been a while since I wrote anything about it. By the way, this is what I call my ‘bipolar’ tendencies. My therapist and I have agreed that I definitely have a pattern and whether or not we put a label on it doesn’t really matter – so I prefer this term for now.

While I have considered for the past few months possibly going back on some drugs, I think that until I finish my PhD serious consideration will have to wait as I need to be in a mental place where I am prepared for the ‘daze’ that might set in. Since this is my writing year and I really want to complete this degree (finally!), I think it best to continue trying alternative and natural ways of dealing with my ups and downs.

In the last session I had, my therapist reminded me of making lists that properly prioritize the things I need to get done. It’s a three-tiered list with “Things I have to do (now)”, “Things I need to do (later)”, and “Things I should do (eventually)”. She called them ABC, but I prefer this way of separating and prioritizing. So, when I am feeling ‘up’, I should focus on the As and Cs. When I am in the middle, I do As and Bs. When I am ‘down’, then I just do the As. In this way I am not trying to accomplish everything, but focusing on what I can do as well as being in tune with myself and what I feel able to do.

So, this seems to be working for me at the moment. Sadly, there have just been too many As to get through that I’ve nearly given up on the listing…but as routine starts to kick in, everything will start to sort itself out….

Interestingly, the hardest part I have is in controlling the ups and downs. I’m supposed to achieve the midlands consistently and yet a part of me wants the ups and downs…

It’s all a work in progress…later, I will discuss my thoughts on the genetic disposition I might have with all of this….

-T πŸ˜€

Oct 012012
 

To start off fresh, I decided that the site needed a bit lightening up as the black was starting to feel a bit too dark. While I like the artsy look it gives my photos, I felt a little change wouldn’t hurt anybody. πŸ˜€

It’s been a busy time, but things are starting to fall into place (get it? fall…haha). So, upcoming posts will include:

*restarting my container garden
*adventures in the kitchen (as I bake more to procrastinate!)
*life around the Dhabs
*…and more!

Stay tuned!!! πŸ˜€

-T

 Posted by at 08:41
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