Monday Morning Briefing

(I wrote this email on Monday…and tried unsuccessfully for three days to post it. Let’s give it a try again…!)

I feel a little incomplete today. Like my weekend was missing something. And it was...

The Internet.

It's kind of pathetic that I can't feel like a grounded individual without a little technology fix in my life. But, in my defense: Africa feels a whole lot darker without the soft glow of my computer screen serving me up the weekly, daily and (in some cases) hourly updates of the latest and greatest in the lives of people in a far off place.

So, as I'm sitting at home this morning, waiting for someone else's  furniture to arrive, (No lie. That's what I'm doing. It's a very long, complicated and boring story.) I've decided to take advantage of my resurrected Internet connection to offer up for the taking the latest and greatest of our lives.

Let me begin with a spooky story.

Yes, I know there's nothing more tacky than a holiday afterthought. But. To be sure, this is a story that you won't want to miss:

Not too long ago, my fabulous hubby and I were doing a little late-night dinner date at our favorite outdoor diner, where the food is cheap, the flavor hot, and we occasionally suffer from second-hand smoke from the foreign types with the hooka pipes. (Who say “Ay oh whey oh, ayyyyy oh wheyyyyy oooooh.")

Suddenly, through the minuscule parking lot packed with Toyota Prados came the sweetest convertible Beemer I have ever laid eyes on. Top down. Paint job gleaming. Engine revving. It was a beauty.

Aaron was drooling.

But wait.

Check that.

We're in Kenya, aren't we??

We were a little confused. But, then the chicken tikka arrived, and our confusion gave way to concern for getting that spicy goodness in our hungry bellies.

The End. (Of the BMW story.)

A little while later, we were in the same area when suddenly an equally sleek "looker" came revving down the road. But this time it was a Mercedes. Black. And forgive me for my stereotypical female automotive ignorance, but I can't even name the most common of Mercedes models...let alone this one. All I know is that it screamed wealth and opulence at me.

Same gaping stares. Same unanswered questions.

Then just a couple of weeks ago, Aaron was chatting with our CEO. Somehow, they got on the topic of Nyali (the suburb where we live). The CEO, who also lives in Nyali, started complaining about the fact that pirates were driving up the cost of real estate in that area.

Wait...what?? Did he say pirates? Pirates and real estate? Like Jack Sparrow meets Caldwell Banker??

What?!

Yes. Yes. That's what he said.

So, true story: Apparently several Somali pirates keep a summer home (or something like that) in Mombasa--in our neighborhood. And those fancy schmancy cars? Although I didn't see a single skull or cross-bone, I am convinced that there were pirates in them vehicles. Because no Kenyan I know even dares to dream about luxe like that.

The whole situation isn't that random when you consider the fact that Mombasa is the largest port city in East Africa. But, seriously. All those crazy pirates that you hear about wreaking havoc in the Indian Ocean? They're bunking in my 'hood. And, given that they have millions of _____ (you name the currency) at their disposal, they'll pay any price for any house that they want. So Cap’n Jack ain’t got much competition in Nyali.

Ok…so maybe real-life pirates taking over the neighborhood isn’t like dead-man-under-your-bed spooky.

But maybe a bit disconcerting, at least?

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood…a beautiful day for a neighbor…in Ny-arrrrrrrgh-li!
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By way of other updates:

- We are on our 12th roommate and number 10 is back for more.
- We most likely will be leaving the country this weekend in order to re-enter and renew our visas. We'll keep you posted there.
- Sundays just got busier. But in a good way.
- My friend Melinda is coming to visit over Thanksgiving and we're super excited to have her here.

And finally...

- I just can't find it in me to listen to Christmas music...not when my make-up is melting off of my face.

Happy Weekend, Everyone.