Assimilated

Well, it's official!  Mike has assimilated.

I guess we all knew it was just a matter of time.



Ha ha, actually, this is the guy who works at the shop where we bought our new table!  It is an antique window turned into a table.  I have no idea what his name is, but he is hilarious.  Next time we are home, please all of you remember to ask Mike to do an impersonation of this guy.  He is SO energetic and effervescent, and he calls the kids "cutie."  The closest way I can describe it is as though Apu has had one too many Red Bulls and suddenly exclaims, "Ohhhhhhh, cutie, cutie, cutie, would you like chocolate?" Everyone here is always offering the kids candy and wants to hold them and touch them (it's a cultural thing that I am still getting used to), but when this guy whipped out 5 Snickers bars (one for everyone, even the baby!) and immediately stopped a Lawrence meltdown, I figured what the heck and let them eat it.  Lawrence used to be terrified of him, but now he's Lawrence's good buddy. 


So anyway, our new table is made out of teak and it is extraordinarily heavy.  It is just the right size for our dining room (seats six), and I really like that it gives our boring-white-walls-and-Company-furniture look some pizazz.

Now we just have to pray that the children don't destroy it.  And that's like driving in Khobar - good luck!