recent obsessions and the long weekend

I cannot stop listening to The Weight (Take a Load Off, Fanny) by The Band. I think it is one of the best songs ever written. Elie got me addicted to it! It is also one of those songs for which it's fun and easy to create alternate lyrics. Mostly I love the harmony and the guitar. I have become readdicted to music and unaddicted to cooking and eating. This is a VERY GOOD THING!

I still eat as I get hungry, but I am not obsessing over food like I did until recently. I guess after 16 months of food being the main pastime here, I just got tired of it. Honestly, now it feels like a burden to go out for a meal and I have significantly simplified my cooking. I am somewhat obsessed with the notion of my lack of interest in eating...so I guess I'm not really over it!

I gave up going for specialty coffee and hot chocolate for Lent. I had a discussion with my high school seniors (who I love a little too much) about giving things up for Lent. One of my students said he had given up giving up stuff for Lent. Much in the spirit of my New Year's Resoultions not to make resolutions. Then I told the students of the time in third grade when I gave up biting my fingernails and then it became habit for me not to bite my nails and I never did it again. So the aforementioned student said he as going to give up playing guitar with his thumb over the neck for Lent. Brilliant- a kid after my own heart.

I am staying in Kuwait this weekend, though it's National Day Celebrations (five day weekend), which result in absolute madness downtown. The trick is to stay out of downtown after sunset as people will spray aerosol cans of foam and worse all over cars and people. And of course, traffic is worse than ever.

I went to Folk Music Club on Wednesday evening for the first time in awhile. It was very fun, as always. I so love the people who go and play and sing and humour me into thinking I can sing and may someday become a decent guitarist. Sweetness and gratitude for having found this amazing group of random people with big hearts and good souls.

And, finally, my friend will be returning soon and I will have to return her car key. I have really enjoyed driving and have been lucky to not have any bad episodes. I am going to have to rent a car right away as the temperature is increasing as is my need for freedom. To give you an idea of the weather- yesterday I swam in an heated outdoor pool and then sat, in my swimsuit, on a chair on the sun deck for half an hour feeling warm and cozy. I love the morning sunshine, though it tends to get cloudy, windy and cooler in the afternoons.

Lots of love to everyone.