I promise, I haven't shimmied once.

1.)  I'm beginning to think that maybe in the Arab world a girl sitting alone on a bench is the equivalence of a shimmy in a halter top and go-go boots, and possibly a "Hello there, sailor."  Because yesterday afternoon I was sitting on a bench overlooking the water, reading a book and enjoying the solitude and two guys came up within 20 minutes of each other and started chatting, and then asking if I would like to go for coffee, and then inviting me over for couscous later on, and asking if I was married.  One even asked if I would consider marrying an Arab. 

2.)  I went to a concert last night with Walli, who teaches math here at the American school.  She's 70 and she has traveled all over the world.  I want to be her when I grow up.  It was up at Sidi Bou Said in this glorious old mansion that has been converted into a museum and music venue.  I'm determined to go back so I can take pictures because it was unbelievable inside.  We had no idea what type of music we were going to be hearing but were pleasantly suprised to hear these guys who sing traditional Occitan songs.  What, you don't know what Occitan is?  Neither did I.  And I didn't actually find out until I got home and looked it up because all the chitchat in between songs was in French.  They must have been hilarious because they had the crowd rolling.  And at one point I made out that they were talking about the Dalai Lama and then everyone broke out into sincere and earnest clapping.

3.)  I have given up on doing my hair.  It is so humid here (well, certainly more so than back home) that my hair refuses to stay straightened.  It just isn't worth the effort.  So it's usually back in a ponytail or I throw in some defrizzer serum to dry naturally and let the tumbleweed take over.  Speaking of humidity, it is so humid in the embassy gym that I think my eyeballs were sweating this morning.

My workout before my workout

I had to do some serious talking to get into the embassy this morning. All I wanted to do was use the gym but I'm not on the guest list yet so I waved my passport and flashed Bronwyn's badge at the local guard who mans the front gate who said, "This badge is not for you." So I smiled and said, "But I'm living with them and they said I could come and use the gym." And he said, "This badge is not for you." So I smiled even more and took off my sunglasses and said, "But it's just the gym and I'm here for three months and you know them, right?" And he said, "This badge is not for you." So then I really pulled out the charm and said, "Pleeeeeease." And he opened the gate. Then once I was inside the complex I couldn't immediately see the gym beyond the pool so I asked another guard where it was. He said something back in Arabic. So I said, "Gym. Exercise." He shrugged. So I had to start doing an elaborate pantomime of exercise. I started pretending I was on the eliptical, which didn't help so then I jogged in place and did a few jumping jacks and finished off by wiping my brow and panting a bit. He just waved his arm in a general direction. I bet he does that to all the newbies and goes home and tells his family and they have a good laugh over it. I would totally do the same.

I am not above selling my love for a mixed CD

Several years ago I somehow lucked into a close group of friends who are lovely, intelligent, hilarious, and up for anything remotely fun. We were always throwing themed parties and hootenannies (No seriously. Our hoots are legendary. You would weep if you heard us sing You're in Love by Wilson Phillips. Weep, I say!), and having grand adventures. Some of them have gotten married and had kids and moved away but they're the types of friends that you keep forever. We will totally be having hootenannies in heaven.

Well, this weekend Wendy came into town and we got the gang together (minus Gina and Amanda, (we miss you), who will be having their own Northern Contingency Get Together next weekend.) and we laughed and ate and had a nunchuck demonstration. It was a pretty spectacular night.

So I was already on a high after everyone left and Katie reminded me that I didn't have my bib for the race yet. So I went down to check the mail and found my bib in there...and bonus!, a package. I LOVE getting packages in the mail. It's like Christmas in my mail box.

The package was from my friend Valerie. I imagined it was a bag of brownies as a thank you for recommending the book Rebecca. I recommended it long ago and she bought a used copy online and when it came she was ashamed of the rather cheap cover (cheap, as in Woman-of-Easy-Virtue cheap) and had put off reading it until now and she loved it. Of course she loves it. It's a GREAT book. But it wasn't brownies. It was better! It was a mixed CD. And it came with a note that explained that while other people merely told me about their favorite songs when I asked for them a few weeks back, she was sending me a CD of them. Now they were actually favorite songs of her husband James. He had a birthday party, wherein they crafted a block of cheddar into a boombox, and the CD was a party favor. But regardless, it was a CD of music that I have enjoyed all weekend long.

There something so wonderful about getting mixed CDs. I think it's fascinating to hear what people deem worthy enough to put on one. Whenever I make a mixed CD for someone I usually put songs that I'm listening to right now as well as songs that are old favorites. There is almost always a Neil Diamond song on there because people never expect him but when they hear him that love him.

Now, I'm telling you all of this because I really care about your happiness. Let's say there's a contest going on - a contest called Make Rachel Love You More Than She Already Does - and you really wanted to win it. I'm not saying there is a contest, that would be ridiculous because I already love you all so much. But if there were a contest what would really put you ahead is if you made a mixed CD of your favorite songs and sent it to (redacted). It would be tough to beat Valerie, so it really wouldn't hurt your chances if you slipped a few brownies in there.

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In other news, the race was great. Tons of people and B-list stars. This is what happens when you go to charity events in LA. You always get B-list stars at charity events, but in LA you get a lot of them. Katie kept saying, "Who's that? He looks really familiar?" I was no help as I was a wee little bean sprout in a field of corn. All I could see were people's shoulder blades. This really is unfortunate when you're trying to catch a glimpse of That Guy Who Was In That Show. Because we got there insanely early we were able to make it up to the front of the pack. Which would have been great except that the front of the pack was for the runners so when Miley Cyrus counted us down and the confetti cannons went off we were forced to actually jog for a bit and then shoved our way to the side so we didn't get in the way of people who not only owned shorty jogging shorts but actually wore them without shame. We hustled around the USC campus and made our way to the Coliseum. If you ever get a chance to run onto the field of a major sporting area, I would highly recommend it. It is kind of exciting. If you throw in taiko drums as you run into the tunnel and someone standing at the finish line ready to put a medal around your neck than you have pretty great experience. Michael Bolton was slightly painful to watch because 1.) He's nothing without his awesome 90s mane and 2.) I can only remember 1 song that he sings so every time he started up a new one I would realize that I had completely forgotten that the song had even existed and then I would feel really sad for him. And he sang Nessun Dorma. Weird!'

I just checked my ranking on the race. I came in 6882nd out of 27738. I am clearly on my way to 5K greatness.

This Blog is a Fat Joke

The 5K was a success! Except that it was not a 5K. Or even a 5K+ like they advertised. It was a 6K+. We passed the 1K sign in no time and then like 18 hours later we passed the 2K sign and we figured that something was up so I just mapped it out on Google Earth (don't you love that feature?) and it was 6.3K. Of hills, I might add. It was more of a hike through residential areas than a walk. But it was fun and the weather was lovely and we had a good cry beforehand as they introduced all the cancer kids we were doing the race for (seriously, I was not prepared for all those tears.) and at the end of the race we got medals and a pancake breakfast. I've decided that everything should end with a pancake breakfast. Wouldn't that be great if, say, at the end of cleaning your bathroom or balancing your checkbook or weeding your garden someone made you pancakes?

Funny story about that breakfast, but first some background: If you've spent more than 5 minutes with my sister Camille you have heard her call something a fat joke. Like if a chair is really small she'll say, "This chair is a fat joke." Or if she's trying on a shirt that doesn't fit right, "This shirt is a fat joke." You get the picture. So we started and finished the race at Chino Hills High - Home of the Huskies, and the breakfast was held in the school's courtyard and (this is where I wish I had my camera on me so that I could post the picture but you're just going to have to take my word for it) above the entrance to the courtyard was a sign that said, "Husky Student Entrance". The ultimate fat joke! We laughed and laughed...as we piled pancakes and bacon on our plates.

One race down, one more to go. There is still time to donate to the cause. A good question was asked about it being a one time donation or by the mile. It's a one time donation. By the mile would be pretty sad as it is only a 3 mile race.

And good news on the musical headliner: Michael Bolton! HILARIOUS!

PS. I didn't get any pictures of us at the race but you can see what we looked like after the race as we jackhammered our parent's backyard. I think the medals are a nice touch.

Why can't they make it a 1K

Somehow I have signed up for not one, but two 5Ks over the next 2 Saturdays. I know. Who am I? This is the walking variety 5K. The only time I think it's appropriate for me to run is if I'm being chased by zombies. And it's not like zombies can move very fast. So unless there are zombies chasing me, I'll be walking.

Tomorrow I'm doing one in Chino Hills for the Let it Be Foundation which helps terminally ill kids. That's worthy, right? We get to briskly stroll around Chino Hills State Park and enjoy a pancake breakfast afterwards.

And next Saturday is a slightly larger one in LA. The Revlon Run/Walk for Women's Cancers where you get to walk around the seedier side of the city and end up at the Coliseum where an 80s band will be playing. One year it was Kenny Loggins. Last year it was the Go-Gos. I'm praying it's Boston this year.

I just registered for it and they give you the option to start up a fundraising page, and because I'm such a follower, I did. So if you would like to donate to the cause just click here. I particularly hate asking people to donate to things. No really, I do. I failed at all those school fundraisers and that was for things like new kickballs. Not for cancer research. But I know that you're a lovely group of people and if you're feeling generous or have an extra buck or two that you'd like to toss this way, head on over. The site automatically sets the outrageously high goal of $2000. But no worries, the Wealthy Benefactor will make up the difference, I'm sure.

And if you'd like to join us (it's just me and Katie so far) go ahead and register. We can wear matching t-shirts! We have to leave insanely early in the morning but I can promise you witty conversation after 7am. And if there are zombies you get to see me run.