New Beginings to an Old Self

This morning I had to search frantically to remember my blog name. That says how long since I have posted.
Well here I am back living and working in the United States. What a wild place with political upheaval, lawless gun violence and freedom of speech rights effecting our great American past time, football. Wow.
But this is not a political blog, this is me, starting a life style change. Since returning from overseas I have let my American eating habits over take my body. Now it is sluggish, tired and nutritionally deprived. This has to change.
I have begun a competition with the staff at work. It is a weight loss, do better with your eating and exercise competition. It's all friendly and a way to be responsible for my actions. For the next 8 weeks I am trying to make changes I can live with the rest of my life. I figured out that I am not getting any younger or in any better shape.
Currently I am trying to balance my diet and keep it to 1200-1300 calories a day. I am doing this by eating 6 small meals that are balanced with protein, carbohydrates and fats. I don't feel deprived and although I get hungry, I am not ravenous, nor am I over full and stuffed after a meal. So far I have not missed my Doritos!
I am attempting to increase my exercise to walking the dog 3-4 times a week, yoga once and a class called barre once a week. Last time I did this I keep the NSAID people in business for a week.
Sleep is my other issue. I know that sleep effects my fat cells. I'm not kidding, I am fatter because of spending 10 years not sleeping well! Maybe even more

So before I become one of these blubbery seals, I am out to make a change.Today is day 2 and so far so good! :)

Madrid Spain

 Our Presidents Day adventure took us to Madrid Spain. A wonderful city with a friendly atmosphere.  My Spanish is no better than my French, but communication seem easier. We spent almost 4 days in a city that had KFC, BurgerKing, McDonald's and Starbucks. I heavily used the Starbucks where I ordered my American coffee and enjoyed every drop.
We did the usual tour of the city and spent time watching the street performers in the plazas. They had some things we had not seen like these levitated folks.

 

 

 

 

While we were there, protests were being held. Several times traffic was blocked by peaceful protesters walking in large groups. It seems they are unhappy about the austerity programs. My understanding is that there are many governmental cuts.

 

As with any trip to a 1st world county we frequent grocery stores and admire the pork selection. We found this store along the main walk between Isabella plaza and Puerta Del Sol.

 

We returned from Spain with 10+ pounds of hot dogs. The all American food right?



My Knight near shining armor

We also ventured into the county side to visit Avila and Segovia.  Both were fascinating towns with old churches, monasteries, and synagogues from early times. We visited a castle which sat high on a hill and the river had cut cliffs so it was only accessible one way.

Segovia also boasts of Roman aqueducts 16 km long and intact. It was impressive considering they were built in 77 AD with no mortar.





Attitude of Gratitude

It has been quite a while since I posted and in some ways much has happened, then again much is the same. Mostly I am grateful, we are grateful. We had the privilege of being in the United States for the holidays where we were surrounded by family and friends. There is nothing to be more grateful for than family and good friends. They are the backbone of your well being.

         While Christmas is full of commercialism, gimme-ism, have to have the latest, greatest, best-est of everything, I focused on what is important. Living overseas makes you appreciate how easy many Americans have it. While we laugh about our tales to find adequate toilet paper or transport pork to a porkless country, I can now recognize and respect what it's like not to have the simple things.
       
         Algerians have a currency that is only good in Algeria. Think about that. They cannot go online and order from an online company for the latest, greatest. Their money has no value outside the country and they do not have credit cards, no checks, cash only. If they want to travel they go to the airline, pay cash for their ticket, then they go to the black market and buy euros at some outrageous exchange rate. They have no alternative. 

         They focus on family and friends. They are grateful for the simplest acts to enhance there life.
Recent events in country bring to light how unstable this part of the world is. How much everything can change in on instant.

        Having an attitude of gratitude makes it easier. I am grateful for all the things it means to be an American, and I assure you it is not about the latest, greatest, best-est object, but family and friends.

THE SAHARA

Timmimoun Algeria was our destination for Thanksgiving. A group of us decided the desert was calling and this was the perfect opportunity. It was a fabulous trip complete with good food, good friends and camel rides to the dunes.



Thanksgiving Dinner

One of the many beautiful views of the area. All the palm trees are irrigated from water piped from natural underground wells.

Tea in the desert before sunset

Sunset

 

Watch out for these!

Wayne and I both rode but he is not in the picture

 

Palma de Malorca Spain

 When you need a quick get away from Algeria, there is a small island off the coast of Spain that is an easy hop from here. Mallorca Spain is a beautiful island of beaches and mountains and old towns that grow oranges, olives and produce inexpensive wines.   This old trains travels through the mountains to a small town of Soller Spain. You go through tunnel after tunnel to pass through the mountain, a great adventure

Church and cloister house located on the sea coast. It is truly impressive to visit.

Castle where the last king of Palma once resided and then became a prison.

SECRETARY CLINTON RETURNS

Meet and greet with the staff in the embassy

What would you do in Algiers if you had a four day weekend coming up? Most embassy employees look forward to these events. After all we are not far from Europe and relaxation. We work a Sunday through Thursday work week. That means we are always confused when talking to our US counterparts because your Monday is actually the second day of the work week in our mind. Hence we have Friday (on Thursday). I realize this may be confusing. So on Tuesday late evening when every one knows we are on a short work week and Wednesday will end our week, we get the call. Secretary Clinton will be arriving on Monday. The scramble was on. Trips were canceled, late nights began and plans set into motion. On the morning of the event we gathered at the embassy at 2:30 am to prepare for her arrival. Many had not even been to bed.
I climbed into the motorcade at 3:30 and proceeded to the airport. I had been moved up in rank this event, I was in the extra limo (actually the BMW she used last time) and the 3rd car in the motorcade just in front of her. On the previous visit I was last in a large suburban sedan. I was also with her private secretary when we moved. Great insight into Sec. Clinton. Wayne even boarder her plane in the course of his duties.
Now here we are, exhausted but on another three day week end for which we have no real plans but to rest.
 

ITALY

This month we had a short vacation. It was much needed and appreciated. We met with family and spent nine days in Italy. Brooke, Art and Pat joined us to tour Rome, Florence (Tuscany) and Venice. I could have stayed much longer. Drinking good wine, eating pizza and pasta, and walking seeing the sites. We had a wonderful time.

Roman ruins

Rome with all it's ancient ruins, Tuscany with it's wines, Florence with art and Venice with its waterways. We saws a gamut of lifestyles in our travels. We witnessed weddings in Rome and a funeral boat in Venice. Italians eat breakfast standing and dinner is several hours. It was a country of contrasts.

Back here in Algiers security remains but we can now go to the store and walk to work again.

Work remains work.

Brooke and Wayne consulting the map



Clean, fresh open markets in the neighborhoods of Rome

The property where we stayed in Tuscany. Vineyards and olive groves.


 

 Water is the only means of transportation on Venice. The taxi, fire department, ambulance, and even the funeral hearse travel by water. there is no vehicle traffic on the island of Venice.

Hearse