Parks: Same All Over

This trash can could be in any park in the world*, with its fake tree stump design, gaping hole, and PLEASE USE ME sign.

And in almost park in the world the back would be torn off so that as soon as you throw your trash in the gaping hole, it falls onto the ground. At least you feel better about yourself than if you just threw your trash right on the sidewalk, though.
*With maybe the exception of Gatlinburg, Yellowstone, and other bear-infested parks. And Indonesia which would never even bother to provide a trash can.

Holiday Stealing

Now I would be the first to say if you want something to catch on you gotta have a cool logo, catchy slogan, peripheral add-ons, and maybe a cute character. But I find myself asking if fasting month really needs any help in this department. Maybe that is the same way people felt when the first guy in the neighborhood hung up lights at Christmas.

Admittedly I probably thought that the first time I saw Ramadan Lights around here. This year, though, I believe its gone to new heights.

First we were greeted by this guy in a load of stores. I can only assume he is the Ramadan Bunny.

Then amazingly we saw this beauty last week.
Angie pointed it out and I was simply blown away* to see what can only be called a Ramadan Tree, decked out with lights and everything. It even wishes you a Selamat Hari Raya! I am so glad people are finding common ground.
*The really funny thing is that I had forgotten my phone that day and so I was without my camera til Angie reminded me she has this device that can make photos but cannot send text messages, receive calls, or access the internet. She called it her "camera" and I found it quite amazing that I had so quickly been assimilated into the technology world that I forgot I could make a photo even without my phone.

Teach 'Em While They're Young...

and when they are older they will be able to handle their liquor better.

Can You Believe??

Can you believe this is Angie not only cutting up an onion in our kitchen but smiling about it? She is amazing in her versatility!

Squatter Village

There was an official gov't decree recently that required all kinds of foreign workers to be registered. This was, of course, done with not nearly enough notice so the situation that resulted was masses of foreign workers being dropped off at the immigration office near our home for registration.

The line was so long no one could leave. Even after the office closed. For the weekend. We had hundreds and hundreds of people sitting around on the curbs, sleeping in the grass, and depositing their plastic bags all over the place.

Finally they did at least set up a few tents to give the folks a bit of shade. Restroom facilities seemed to be limited to the nearby restaurants, which also did a brisk take-out business.
Scenes like this are the reason so many countries are trying to do away with the plastic bag. It may be cheaper to make and ship than a paper bag but it stays in a gutter for much, much longer.

Finally (a few more days after the pix were snapped) the deadline was done away with and all the workers left the line and went back to the job site. At least for the time being.

Hudson's Birthday Extravaganza!

All the birthday excitement started (as it often does around our house) on Birthday Eve. The family loaded up and went to a Science Museum that has a building full of snow! Pretty incredible to be in a room that was a chilly -4c (25 degrees, I had to look it up) when you live at the equator.

Since NO PHOTOS are allowed inside we only have this one grainy video which may or may not be from someone's phone and may or may not include all the non-broken-rib members of our family wiping out big time at the end.

Did you see at the very end the lady come running in and snapping a photo? That is why NO PHOTOS are allowed. They want to sweep in, take a pic, then give you a tiny slip of paper to hold in your gloves or shove into the rental coat you have that features a big pocket hole and a ton of wadded up, previously washed slips of paper. FLASH BULB! Brilliant!

Everything was good til this group of Kindergarteners showed up. A bit of context: Asian kids have no patience, no understanding of "lines" or waiting their turn. Instead they speak enough English to say sweet things like, "Move" as they push through. Its darling. Perhaps you can imagine what they do with all the little slips they received from the photographer.

Maybe the bigger issue was the whole place has to grind to a halt for each individual tube to go down the hill. Mix in a load of sweet little children and you get a BIG back log.

So we were off to the museum and the 3D theatre for the shark show.

And the FIRE TORNADO!
We capped Birthday Eve at TGIF (where sodas now cost $3.20 ouch!).

On the actual day Hudson got to pick breakfast (pancakes)
Soon after the gifts started rolling in, from Bethany: a Lego guy.

From Caleb: a gag-gift toilet that squirts water. Notice how excited he was!
Some friends got him awesome stuff

You can't beat good buddies!
What was the bet gift? The Lego Star Wars watch??
Chipper Jones jersey??
The Lego Harry Potter game??
Surely its just being with friends and family!

Well, actually ... maybe it was the cheesecake.

That was how our special Davis celebrated being 8!