FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010
Just hanging out
I was chatting with #1 son the other day. I asked him what he'd been up to lately. 'Not much. Just a bit of fishing and hanging out.' he replied. 'Do you wanna come home for a visit?' I asked. 'No way. There's nothing to do there.' he said. Through the miracle of the internet, he sent me some videos of his latest fishing trip and also this picture:
He's right... there's nothing to do here....None of his friends here have a boat to spend the day on and there are no gators to mess with either. Time for me to go for a visit, check up on my #1 son and spend time with my family.
...... there's no place like home... there's no place like home... there's no place like home...
He's right... there's nothing to do here....None of his friends here have a boat to spend the day on and there are no gators to mess with either. Time for me to go for a visit, check up on my #1 son and spend time with my family.
...... there's no place like home... there's no place like home... there's no place like home...
FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2010
Wasting Time on Facebook
What a week! Last Sunday I logged onto Facebook and noticed that one of my sisters (the brown-haired one) had posted a comment that my mom was in the emergency room. Of course, no other details were given so I frantically tried contacting someone, anyone, that could give me more information. I finally got hold of another sister (baby sister) who had no idea what I was talking about and had to check Facebook to see for herself. No one answered the phone at my mom's house and my son (#1) wasn't answering his phone either (he was at the ER). By this time I was not onlyworried, but totally pissed off too. What was going on???
Finally, I found out that my mom had been feeling dizzy and had had pain in her arm, so they decided to take her by ambulance (911!) to the hospital where she was admitted for tests. After a few days and tons of tests (it took days for the cardiologist to do his thing) they said she was fine and could go home. I still haven't gotten the whole story - my sister's cryptic Facebook posts about mom stopped, and it seems that none of my sisters are communicating very well (ahhhh... sibblings!). My son just says 'Mom, stop worrying. Grandma's fine.' And of course my mother isn't saying much either. Maybe she thinks I will worry too much - but not telling me what's going on just makes me worry all the more.
After three days my mother was discharged from the hospital. She got home and was settling in, walked out into the back porch and slipped. Crash! She twisted her ankle, there was lots of pain, the ankle swelled up, and she was off for another trip to the emergency room. Twice in one week!! After looking at the x-rays the doctor pronounced 'It's just a sprain. You should keep off your feet for a week'.
Mom is home - resting and playing solitaire (I hope). I think it's time for me to go 'home' for a visit.... to see my mother... and to beat up my sisters and #1 son.
SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2010
A month wasted
At long last... the World Cup is finally over. Now things might be able to get accomplished .. hurry up... Ramadan is only a few weeks away. And then there will be another whole month of the population in a stupor again.
Maybe my house will get painted?
Maybe my house will get painted?
FRIDAY, JULY 09, 2010
Tripoli, the past and the present
I've finally found some time to sit down and relax, check my email and do a bit of reading. I was looking up some information about Ibn Battuta and came across two posts about Libya on the Saudi Aramco World website.
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| Tripoli, Crossroads of Rome and Islam |
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| Miss Tully's Letters from Tripoli |
WEDNESDAY, JULY 07, 2010
Not a Fan
I was driving home this evening at eight o'clock. The roads were full of crazy drivers - all trying to get home to watch the World Cup. I was nearly driven off the road by one idiot and I had a guy tail gating me and flashing his brights - well he was trying to flash his lights at me... he was too close to my rear bumper for the lights to reach my rear view mirror. I just made it a point to drive even slower (but I was still over the speed limit).
The last match is on Sunday. I will be so happy when it's over and life can get back to 'normal' again. I'm so sick and tired of hearing about football.
The last match is on Sunday. I will be so happy when it's over and life can get back to 'normal' again. I'm so sick and tired of hearing about football.
SUNDAY, JULY 04, 2010
More on Beach Safety for a Safe Summer
A little over two years ago I wrote a post about the beach season in Libya and posted a link to a wiki about how to survive a riptide. This innocuous post brought forth a barrage of comments - many quite negative and quite a few that were so horrible that I couldn't even post them! Beach safety became the HOT issue of the day in the blogosphere!
In the end, one commenter was inspired to make a FANTASTIC swim safety video and post it on youtube, and I also posted it my blog in a follow up post.
Well, it's beach season again in Libya. And safety is still an issue. I found an interesting post titled: Recognize the Real Signs of Drowning and Save a Life. Have a look at the links in this post - you just may save a life, it may even be your own!
In the end, one commenter was inspired to make a FANTASTIC swim safety video and post it on youtube, and I also posted it my blog in a follow up post.
Well, it's beach season again in Libya. And safety is still an issue. I found an interesting post titled: Recognize the Real Signs of Drowning and Save a Life. Have a look at the links in this post - you just may save a life, it may even be your own!
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| Tajoura, Libya |
Wishing you a safe and happy summer.
FRIDAY, JULY 02, 2010
Two cultures, one family
I got up this morning at six, which is when I normally wake up, but of course this is my day off and I don't need to be up so early. I made the most of it and had a peaceful breakfast on the front porch (after putting the dogs out on the farm).
My internet has been intermittent lately. At one point I had no internet at all and had to contact the company, which took days because they don't answer the phone. Finally, I got through to someone at LTT and they decided the problem was with my wimax modem. 'Bring it into the service centre to be looked at.' said the service rep. 'The office closes at four.' I looked at my watch, it was 3:25. 'Hurry up Nora! I think we can make it!' I shouted.
My children have inherited the genes of two very different people from two very different places and cultures. Unfortunately, my daughter Nora has inherited the Libyan time gene from her father. The concept of 'hurry up' doesn't exist for her. We arrived at the service centre at 4:05. It was closed of course. So internet was put off for another day.
I finally made it to the service centre and my modem has been sorted out. I'm catching up on emails and finding out what's up in the blogosphere. And what do you think is going on?
Pleasant surprise for me! My blog is being featured on Pocket Cultures. You can see it here: Libyan Summer
Thanks Pocket Cultures!
FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2010
Seasons changing in my garden
Spring is over and summer is underway. The spring flowers that I planted in my garden have faded and dried. This morning Ibrahim and I went out in the garden to collect the seeds so that we can plant them next year. It's kind of sad to see the dried-up plants that were once glorious. But there is beauty in the prickly seeds and flower heads.
We've been putting out birdseed in the garden to attract birds. In one place a millet plant sprouted and we liked the look so much that my husband decided to plant a border with them. It will look interesting and attract lots of birds too. The basil seeds my mother-in-law gave me are coming out, about 8 inches tall now, and I've got some sage, mint, rosemary and marjoram in the garden too.
There's a basket on the window ledge next to my desk that I fill with plants in small pots. I can change the plants so there's some variety. Ibrahim calls the area next to my desk Mom's forest. :)
SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010
Singing the summertime blues
I haven't done much of anything lately aside from work and forage for food to feed my tribe.
We've started the countdown to Ramadan, and taking into consideration my busy schedule, I've been stocking up from now. I got some really nice soup bowls and plates the other day. I stopped at a shop at a time that a football match was playing. The shop was nearly empty and I was able to get in and out quickly without anyone pushing and shoving. I plan to do ALL my shopping during a match - yeah! World Cup, it's good for something!
I'm looking forward to Ramadan this year. If dreams come true I will spend it in the US with my son. I'm not sure who is going with me because the kids' passports are expired and hubby says there are no blank passports (jilda) available in Libya at the moment. How can a country run out of passports? This has happened before as I remember, and it was also at the beginning of summer too. How very (in) convenient! This might mean that I will have to go alone.... hmm... I kind of like that idea...
Between now and Ramadan I expect to be on a treadmill. Not much chance for adventure - not unless adventure crosses my path.
THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2010
He's legal now
It's my first born child's twenty-first birthday today. It seems like only yesterday that I was in Salahudin Hospital. It was a 6-day ordeal that we both survived. We're has the time gone?... OMG that's something my mother has said before!
Happy Birthday Adam!
MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010
Lions & tigers & bears...oh no... just serpents!
It's been hot and humid for the past few days. The kids have been playing outside early every morning before it gets too hot to go outside - that means about 5:30 in the morning they go out and come inside around eight. They have breakfast and then go to bed for a long nap.
Being up at that hour of the day and being outside allows the kids to see different kinds of wild life they would normally have missed. Number one on the list unfortunately seems to be snakes, particularly horned vipers which are nocturnal (and venomous). They bury themselves in the sand and lie in wait for their prey - rodents, lizards and other small things. They don't usually bite humans.
For a list of snakes in Libya, and more information: Snakes of Libya
FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010
Working hard to get things finished
Work is progressing slowly on the outside of the house. Hubby is still working on the marble, the main gate to the farm and the arbor is ready to put up over the terrace. Soon it will be time to paint, unfortunately, we are still butting heads about the colours. Lately I've been suffering from low blood pressure... the painting is probably going to change that.
I've been looking at plans for gardens. We have an area that I think would make a fabulous succulent garden. These two pictures caught my eye:
It will take a while for the plants to fill in and look like this, but it's do-able. And Hubby said he could make a garden bench something like the one in the picture.... so there's hope. Gotta get the house painted first.
Yes? ..... No?.... What do you think?
What will they come up with next?
Here's an excerpt of something I read on the internet this week:
Egyptian scholar Izzat Attiyah caused a stir and raised many eyebrows when he issued a 2007 Islamic ruling urging women to breastfeed their male colleagues to avoid illicit mixing between men and women at work. The act, the scholar argued, would establish a symbolic maternal bond between the men and women and would inhibit any sexual relations.
I bet that would stir up lots of interesting things in the office. I suppose it could be pretty useful as an excuse if people got caught doing naughty things at work... 'It isn't what you think it is.... we're just establishing a symbolic maternal bond!' hehehe....
Ughh... I think some of these 'shaikhs' are just a bunch of perverts. I imagine they spend their days sitting around thinking these things up - possibly during the commercial breaks on Aljazeera.
FRIDAY, JUNE 04, 2010
'Mom..... I'm bored!'
Yusef finished his exams this week as did Nora. Now they'll wait for their results. Sara and Jenna have received word that they've passed, but it's second-hand information because they haven't been to the school to see their results for themselves. Apparently their friends have gone to look at the lists. They'll have to go on Sunday to have a look just to be sure.
The kids are already complaining about being bored, so they nag me daily to take them into town to see their friends. I think they should plan a party and invite their friends over.
The big problem with summertime is that the kitchen always seems to be a mess (or a bigger mess than usual). Snacking goes on all day and half the night. Crumbs and spilt juice and tea on the counters, and lots of dishes piled in the sink..... ugh! We have a small kitchen outside in the garden next to the terrace, but it's still not finished. It needs the sink installed and the marble counter-tops put in. Then it will be ready to use. I will then be able to keep the kitchen in the house locked (and clean!) most of the time while the outside kitchen is put to use. I'm trying to limit the mess and snacking.
This morning hubby was watching some stupid program on TV when I went into the marbowa to remind him of the long list of things that needed to be done. Now he has a full-time team of teenagers to help him get things accomplished. That will keep them all busy and no one will dare say they're bored.... maybe...
TUESDAY, JUNE 01, 2010
Long days... very long days..
We're still getting through exams in our house. I get up each morning at 6 o'clock to get breakfast ready. Yusef is miserable to wake up in the morning. I have to call him about 8 times before he finally drags himself out of bed. But worse than that is Ibrahim, Today he had to be physically picked up (by his father) and carried to the bathroom, held over the sink and dowsed with water. That was of course after I spent about 15 minutes trying to wake up his father. I set my alarm and get up... why can't everyone else in my house do that?
My day begins at six in the morning and finishes after midnight. It's a long day! When all the kids finally finish their exams I will get to sleep a bit later... but most likely I will get up early... and enjoy the peace and quiet while everyone sleeps in.
On another note... It's my father's birthday today. He'd have been 81-years old if he were still alive.... sigh.. I miss you Dad.
My day begins at six in the morning and finishes after midnight. It's a long day! When all the kids finally finish their exams I will get to sleep a bit later... but most likely I will get up early... and enjoy the peace and quiet while everyone sleeps in.
On another note... It's my father's birthday today. He'd have been 81-years old if he were still alive.... sigh.. I miss you Dad.
SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2010
Cover Girl
There's an interesting article on Oprah.com by writer, Krista Bremer, an American woman whose husband is from Libya. She writes about her daughter's choice to wear hijab.
You can find the article here: Cover Girl
Krista is the winner of a 2008 Pushcart Prize and a 2009 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers' Award. She is associate publisher of the literary magazine The Sun, and she is writing a memoir about her bicultural marriage.
FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2010
GECOL.... FAIL!
A few weeks ago I blogged about how the electric company were out changing all the cables and putting in new poles in my neighbourhood. The guy from the electric company had told me it was to make sure that everyone had a steady supply of electricity in the area. Apparently some of the neighbours had been having problems with very weak power, leaving them unable to run appliances and dimming their lighting. Our electricity had always been fine...until now....
Ever since they 'fixed' the electricity we've had weak power. The microwave takes twice as long to heat up anything, the lights are dim and go on and off. Sometimes the lamps blow up. Today we tried to use the popcorn maker and finally gave up and made the popcorn the old fashioned way. The wimax modem keeps disconnecting. If it messes up my computer I'm going to be pissed off for sure.
I hope they get their act together.. grrrrr.. this is really making me cranky!
SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2010
Yusef's turn now
Final exams are well underway. Sara and Jenna have finished and are now waiting for their results. Jenna mentioned that her results were supposed to be out by next Thursday... hmm.. I'll believe it when I see it. Tomorrow Yusef begins his exams. He hasn't been doing as much studying as I had hoped, but he seems confident. Nora's finals are coming up.
I hate this time of year - way too much stress for everyone.
TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2010
It's a sunny day!
Making some sun tea to go with today's lunch.
Couscous and sun tea - now that's an interesting mix!
MONDAY, MAY 17, 2010
Recycling
When we started building we soon discovered that wood was very expensive. Even though the main building material used in Libyan houses is cement and blocks there is still a need for wood to make things such as scaffolding, support for windows and archways and many other uses. So we started collecting and stockpiling scrap wood. We came across some old wooden rolling shutters and they were added to the wood pile. We will use the wood for something... eventually...
Recently, while I was surfing the net, reading one of my favorites since we started building - Design Sponge, I came across this really cool chaise lounge designed by uhuru . 'Ah ha!' I shouted, 'I think we can put some of the wood to use!'
How about if we turn this:
Into this?
I don't like the way they made the metal part on the bottom, which is supposed to emulate a Coney Island roller coaster - I'll design something simpler and more pleasing to the eye. But I think it can be done. It will be perfect for the garden. What do you think?
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