Distractions

We had no electricity all day yesterday. The electric company is moving the poles and putting in new cables in our area. This morning they came and said they needed to move the poles on our farm so they would need to come inside. It took Ibrahim and I quite some time to get the dogs under control and secured inside. Cisco was holding his ground and refusing to budge - I actually had to physically pick him up.... that dog needs to go on a diet! He's heavy!

The electric company guy promised me that they would only have to turn off the electricity for about an hour and  a half. Why don't I believe him?

I'm also stuck using my mobile phone to connect to my laptop to get internet. The wimax allotment has run out... 10 gigabytes doesn't last very long. I'll be back to wimax in another week or so. It's actually come at a good time. The kids have final exams starting next week - internet would just be another thing to distract them.

I've got limited internet and no electricity... I guess I'll take a nap.

Wondering how long it will last

It's raining. Not a heavy rain, just a drizzle. Will this be the last time I see rain for a while? I dread the hot, dry summer months without a cloud in sight. Last year in May I had a month of rain in Florida. I'd have appreciated it more if I had gone there for other reasons.... sigh....

I'm going for a walk in the rain before it stops. It might not rain again for months.... sigh..

trying somethings out

I'm playing around with my blog template.... expect chaos for a while....

It's the little things...

I found A&W Root Beer in the supermarket last week. It was three times more expensive than Pepsi and Coke but I got it anyway. Just in time for summer. I'm going to make some really yummy root beer floats. It reminds me of home and my childhood. Now if they could just make sure to keep bringing it to Libya. And while they're at it they could start stocking Dr. Pepper and Mr. Pibb too. 

Throwing tradition to the wind

When I first came to Libya twenty-one years ago most women wore a farashia when they ventured out into public. A farashia is part of the traditional Libyan or north African costume. Basically it is a white sheet, often woven out of silk that is worn in such a way that it covers the whole body, usually leaving only one eye peeking out. It's a useful garment that can be used as a quick cover up when a woman wants to go out and also offers protection from the hot north African sun.

Nowadays you rarely see women wearing this traditional cloak, especially in the capital Tripoli. For some reason Libyans seem to want to shed their identities and throw off their own culture, and that means getting rid of the farashia. Either they head for a western style of dress or they face east and choose the all covering black abayah and niqab.  

I suppose that there are plenty of women who think that its the Islamic thing to do. I guess there are all kinds of ways people interpret religious edicts and Islamic scripture. Who am I to tell anyone what to do or wear? But when I see women with  loads of eye make-up peeking out I think that their intention is more likely not because they are looking for that proverbial ticket to heaven. Today I came across an image that made me laugh out loud:

Now I really wonder what is under those niqabs! I guess it could be quite surprising. Ok girls... go ahead and cover your beauty... but please don't drive while you are doing it! I really hate when I see that. The roads are treacherous enough without veiled women behind the wheel. Even worse are the veiled women who are holding BABIES in their laps while they drive. I see this ALL the time now in Tripoli. What are they thinking?

Take 2 minutes

I really love the message in this video. 

You are special.

Getting out the garden gloves

It was a peaceful weekend. I stayed home, caught up on housework and relaxed. We only went out once for a quick run to the supermarket. I took a few pictures today of some of the plants in my garden.

The sunflowers are popping out in clusters. I brought a packet of seeds home with me last year from America.  I was surprised to see so many flowers on each plant. The sunflowers I've seen in Libya have a single larger flower on each plant. I planted them next to the gate and I can see them peeping over the garden wall from my kitchen window. The sky was hazy today... white sky instead of blue.

These small flowers are from the seeds a planted a while ago. I can't remember what they are called but they are so pretty and delicate.

I've been collecting succulents over the years. Very suitable for desert-dry Libya. These are in a flower box that is on the waiting list for hubby's marble edging.

This cactus is beginning to bloom. It looks like its frosted on top. 

This plant has already bloomed once and now it has three flowers that will probably open tonight. Its sitting on another spot that needs marble. I'm holding back on the garden, waiting for the house to get painted but hubby has to get the marble work done first. Hurry up please! My green thumb is itching to get to work!