I Used to Like Surprises...

Really. Surprises can be so much fun! Except when they're not.

This week, as I was badly in need of a hair appointment, I booked in to a hair salon at a nice shopping center here. I spoke with the stylist first, asking if he had experience with "foreigner hair." He was very confident that he could perform the task of putting in hi-lights and low-lights and giving me a trim. I was enjoying having "pregnancy hair" as it's thick and full and nice. And I had been growing it out for about a year, and loving it.

So, Tuesday was the big day. Foil weave just like I'm used to, but then after, with all my hair flopped forward covering my face, they started to put in another product, a very brown product I soon realized.

I didn't cry...right then. It was the next morning when I woke up and it was still there! Along with a bad, difficult to manage, no-longer fun and easy to style cut. Then I cried. I know, too, that it wasn't just the hair. It was probably time for a good cry anyway. My last good relocation-related cry was Christmas Eve. Overdue!

By Thursday, I had come to realize that it would grow out in a few months, that I could have the color improved in Bangkok next month (because I'm not letting anyone else in this city touch my hair, ever), and I was pretty sure T wouldn't leave me over it. I'm avoiding mirrors for now though. It's helping.

So here's me as of this morning. I blew out my hair this morning and hid the hacked part behind my ear. I'm also in a bright room so it looks lighter than it is.

Thursday afternoon was another surprise! I had hired a woman here to make me some custom silverware wraps for the lovely new cutlery T gave me for Christmas. This is how my Nana stored her sliver and I thought it would be a nice way to keep it clean and organized as it isn't the cutlery we use daily.

I had no idea where to find fabric here so asked her to find something soft but thick and durable. For some reason I couldn't come up with the word "flannel." That would have been helpful. I requested red, but let her know I wasn't picky about the color as no one would really see it. So, Thursday this sweet woman returned to my house with a stack of handmade silverware wraps. She put a lot of thought into the design and even added a few touches to make them more functional, like reinforcing some areas where the tips of knives or tines of forks could poke through. One wrap has a spare sleeve, just in case I go out and get a 13th salad fork. But overall, acceptable. Good surprise, except for the part that was left up to personal taste.

I give you my new, handmade, hot pink, velour silverware wraps! Tied with attached round shoe laces! Surprise!

I have to admit they are growing on me because they make me laugh every time I look at them. Assuming they last, these will make me smile, if not laugh out loud with each holiday and formal meal we host. Silver lining baby.

Comedians

Each day we get to know our drivers and security detail a little better. I suppose some people like it when such personnel are quiet and simply do their jobs but I feel like these people we spend our days with ought to be personable and I'd like to get to know them, and them know us. Just like Khun Bum back in Thailand, they can become a part of the family.

The kids also like having a faux aunt/uncle/grandparent around to interact with. The guys can tease the kids, but the kids will sure tease back! It's always a test of character to see who is receptive to the kids' playful nature.

One of the drivers' names is Maynard. One morning a few weeks ago C came out and said, "Good morning Mater!"
This was early on, before we knew anyone well,  and I corrected C, letting him know that the driver's name was Maynard and we didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. C thought his "mistake" was hilarious and when he saw Maynard smiling about it, continued to call him Mater.
Then D added, very tongue-in-cheek, "I bet he's really good at driving backwards."
 

The House Scoop

This move has been another unique experience. I'd like to think we get better at the expat life with each move. The perks have gotten a little nicer each time. We've had great locations...well... this one has been, like I said, unique.
I've shared on Facebook about some of the crazy situations I've found myself in. And I don't think that's over yet. There is more crazy yet to come. Our house is turning out nicely, the scoop on the house goes like this:
A man from Singapore and his Filippina wife built this house together. I guess it was supposed to be a second home (the first being in Singapore) or maybe they were planning to retire here. Not sure but they split up, and all work on the house stopped. It was mostly finished. Still needed a couple of air conditioners, light fixtures, appliances, window coverings, etc.
The man remains in Singapore and his spouse has returned here. 3 days before we viewed the house for the first time, she took out her frustrations by throwing landscape rock through nearly all of the 1st floor windows and several of the 2nd floor windows. I arrived with the agent (and with C) to a house totally covered in shards of glass, inside and out. A total mess. I was initially worried about our safety. I had to carry C all through the house and, of course, I'm wondering how safe the house is if someone got away with doing this? Rough neighborhood??
So I get the story about the marital issues and we are assured that all will be repaired and finished and the house is ours if we want it. Yippee!!!
 But wait...
 Nothing in the way of repairs and finishing goes quickly here. Nor is it simple. The owner didn't seem interested in dealing with it, the "corporation" who co-owns is represented by a woman with her own job and things to do during the day, and the guy on site giving orders doesn't seem to have any real power or knowledge regarding purchasing and schedule. We went around in circles trying to get answers.
 Then, there's the issue of the items used inside the house, which were all shipped from Singapore. We cannot find light bulbs for the dining room fixture, no controls for the upstairs air conditioners, no cleaning supplies for the pool, no cables for the tv! And some things have been "misplaced" since it was all sent here how ever many months ago. It seemed all the loose ends would never be tied up!
 We thought we'd never get to move in but I finally resigned myself to the idea that this may last another week or 2 and we were fine and healthy and fed and safe. I prayed a new prayer too. I didn't pray that we'd have this beautiful house ASAP. I remembered how laborers are paid such a small wage here, that they work in rags and flip-flops, that lunch is often some bread, soda and a cigarette. And I remembered that they often work in unsafe conditions without the proper tools to do a job right. So I just prayed for their care and safety and that when they go home they have enough money in their pockets to feed their families and pay their bills.
 We were able to move in on February 1st, as planned. We still had workers here until Wednesday but that worked out well because they were here to rearrange furniture for me and hang artwork. Nearly all the boxes have been unpacked, pictures on the walls, cable and internet connected. We're still waiting on the AC remotes (a couple have a manual on/off button, but no temp control), and the pool will get a good cleaning on Saturday when the pool guy comes to train us on how to clean/fill/treat it, and the owner has promised to send us light bulbs from Singapore when our dining bulbs go out.
 Now, we're looking ahead to entertaining by the pool and hosting playdates. NORMAL things! Love it. I love normal. :)
 

Love & Affection

 It's time for me to have another little little baby to snuggle. I don't mean that I'm having this baby any sooner than planned. I just mean that recent events around here are proving to me that I need a new little person who will not refuse me a good cuddle. This week, when I asked C for a kiss good-bye, he would only offer me his cheek. Not his "wips." I asked, "what about a lip kiss?"
To which he replied, "Kisses on the wips are for getting mawied."
 C has never been a big snuggler, his hugs last 2 seconds tops and then he's off and running again. But when I've asked for a kiss and hug he's always eagerly obliged, offering up his little lips and giving me a squeeze. Now, I just get his cheek. :(
 He does, however, want to kiss the baby all the time. We'll be walking through the shopping center when he announces loudly, that he wants to kiss the baby. And so we pause and he kisses my belly and then we continue on. I'm glad that I'm clearly pregnant or we'd get even more strange looks than we already do.