Don Cheadle (can be) a Bad MoFo!

One of the great things about going on vacation is the craptastic cable movie that you may catch while lounging between touristing around your destination and the pool. I recently was sucked into "Swordfish" and realized this is the 3rd movie in about 6 months that I have viewed where Don Cheadle is a bad mofo. However, he is a quiet, bad mofo. Not the crazy-eyed screaming mofo-ness of Samuel L. Jackson (awesomeness) or the throw a few fists and a quippy line of Duane "The Rock" Johnson (hold on... I need a moment). Nope, he's the one you should really be scared of... he lowers his voice, threatens and then follows through. However this seems to be a thankless role as most people when you mention Cheadle's name say "Yeah, he was great in 'Boogie Nights'" or "He did a good job in Hotel Rawanda." Can't a mad, but quiet, mofo get some street cred, respect and love? I'm just sayin'...

Examples:
Swordfish (2001) :Plays the FBI investigator Agent J.T. Roberts who shot his suspect in the hand.

After the Sunset (2004): Plays the local thug - again with a more vicious quiet-ness.

Traitor (2008): Plays a superundercover agent attempting to infiltrate a terrorist network.

Fascination with Food

I've noticed a somewhat unsettling trend in my photography over the past year or so....food pictures. Specifically, I like to take pictures of my food. I'm going to chalk this up to an increased fascination with some culinary arts when you are deprived from such (hello Pakistan!). Or maybe I'm just getting older and if I had kids this would be the thing they would roll their eyes at and say not again! You judge....

Budapest - September 2008 - Fruit Soup



Aspen - March 2009 - Plate o' Meat

Kuwait - June 2009 - Mocktails
Amman - October 2009 - Salt Fish

Inspired by Mr. Royster

I was inspired by my friend Mr. Royster who is doing his country proud in Cameroon. He shared a video of an Embassy-sponsored trip to a Gorilla Farm. So cool! Although the Embassy here sponsors trips to the grocery store for the newbies, I decided to venture out and see what kind of wildlife I could find.

Sadly, all I found was a bunch of cocks.

Sorry that I was late to the party on these...

I was rolling after watching these...

Jeopardy - Awkward Question

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5H5r4_CoJo
  

Leeroy Jenkins!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkCNJRfSZBU
  

Another good one in Kuwait

This is another good one that I found one evening.

Coloring Outside the Lines?

There are tons of signs reminding you that "speed = death" and that "mobile is most dangerous" on all the Kuwaiti highways and streets. Of course, everyone ignores this because what good is a super-souped up GMC Surbanan if you can't weave it in and out of traffic while chasing down a woman half-scaring her to death in an attempt to show off for her?

But rules aren't meant to be broken while driving, why bother using those convenient white lines to park your car?

Why did you name it that?

Back in 2007, Kevin and I decided that when I found out my first assignment, we would celebrate with sun, sand and some fruity (read alcoholic!) drinks. When I received the news that I would be posted to Islamabad, I told him "Well honey, I got two of the three that I wanted!"

And so the fun continues in Kuwait which has waaaaay more sand than Islamabad and definitely 140 degrees rates as some serious sun. As for the fruity drinks? Well, the Embassy has twice weekly happy hours and we are rationed the amount of tea that we can take home with us. Two out of three, baby. You gotta look at the bright side.

So far, Kuwait is a little quiet as most Kuwaitis, and other diplomats, flee the city to avoid the devastating hot summer. And the devastating humidity that will hit in July and August. And when I say they leave for vacation, that means they ship the Ferrari to Italy so they can drive around the countryside or take the family yacht to the Mediterranean for a month. You know, the usual.

So we are gearing up for summer the best we can! We bought a charcoal BBQ - do we dare flame broil in this heat? The pups clamor to go outside, but after a few minutes on the hot sand and/or sidewalk, they are pretty much tugging to come in. As Roseann Roseannadanna would say on SNL, "It's always something."

About the picture: These are the Kuwait Towers, the most well-known landmark for Kuwait. Designed by a Swedish architectural firm and opened in 1979, this was the first tourist trap we visited here. The largest tower's globe has two restaurants (with minimums!) and an observation deck. On the observation deck, in addition to the 360 view of the city and Arabian Gulf, they have pictures with captions about the barbarians attack and devastation to the Towers. The lower globe on the highest tower and the single globe on the middle tower are used to store water. The smallest tower provides electricity for the other towers.