Just a quick "howdy" from back in the USA...

[onager]

:hi:

I got out of Egypt and back in the USA ok. That may disappoint some people in R&T. :evilgrin:

Currently gritting my teeth and choking back smart-ass atheisms. Most of the time.

Last night I went to see the kids from my Mom's pre-school class put on the annual Baby Jesus Xmas Play, because those are always fun. She's a Wrug-rat Wrangler at the Learning Center attached to the Baptist church we always attended. (Built in 1857, IIRC.)

The play went about as expected. Each kid had to yell out an answer to a question, and one little girl put on a bravada performance by yelling at the top of her lungs: "I forgot!!!"

The Virgin Mary got her headscarf tangled in her hair somehow and nearly strangled. Joseph tripped over his robe. One of the angels, clearly miffed at being stuck in a bit part, tried to upstage the BVM (and pretty successfully).

Not quite as much fun as one I saw a couple years ago. In response to the stage-whisper "Pick up the Baby Jesus," the BVM picked up the doll playing Baby Jesus by one foot and dragged him away from the manger, banging his head on the floor.

I'll be around intermittently...

[awoke_in_2003]

1. "Wrug-rat Wrangler"

Believe it or not, this is easier that Cat Herder :) Welcome back, and I agree- you can see some real humorous things going on at them.

[YankeyMCC]

2. Welcome back

good to see you're already going out for the high culture entertainment available here in the USA :)

[immoderate]

3. Welcome back.

But I will miss your "our man in the Middle East" posts. Are you back to stay or just for a visit?

--IMM

[onager]

4. Just a short visit.

Two weeks and I go back to Egypt. Well, one week now.

I'm trying not to think about it...

[charlie]

5. You timed this return well

Mediterranean undersea cables have been cut again and Egypt's internet connections are hobbled.

[onager]

6. For the SECOND time this year!

Thanks for the update.

This also happened back in February 2008. At that time, the Official Story was the following: a ship somehow lost an anchor. The anchor happened to fall near the cable, and after an undersea disturbance, the anchor got dragged over the cable and cut it.

This supposedly happened off the coast near Alexandria, where I live. It sounded fishy. Seems like we would have felt any "disturbance" strong enough to send a heavy anchor caroming around the sea bottom.

[onager]

7. OK, I'm back in Egypt.

:hi:

And Happy New Year!

[awoke_in_2003]

8. Glad you travels...

were safe.

[JNelson6563]

9. See?? Now THAT'S culture!

Hope your stay is/was fun! Glad you're takin' in some culture while you're on your home turf. ;)

Julie