windstorm 2008

well we  here in the louisville area had a bit of a windstorm. They are calling it WINDSTORM 2008 (original eh) 

trees were uprooted and all over roads (and houses) and ofcourse powerlines were all over the place.  

This happened last Sunday and there are still people without power. Schools have been out (which means I had nooooooo work for a whole WEEK!). 

The main reason schools were out (they say) is because of all the traffic lights being out AND because of the kids being around the downed power lines. 

Kids today did not have LOUIE THE LIGHTNING BUG to tell them about powerlines that are down. I have had his little blues song in my head this whole week! And younger people/ foreign husbands are looking at me like I am insane.

SING IT LOUIE!

Finally Ramadhan???

Ok then

RAMADHAN MUBARAK

I'm ready for my close up!

Look mom Im on TV

so now that I am famous Autographs will be $5

Boom said he will only charge $3 for a paw print

Apparently this ran a few times this morning (there is a longer version as well) but they came and talked to me yesterday

TEEE HEEEE

Hijab Hanger

I know what you're thinking. It must be school time, that is why you are blogging instead of doing your homework. ANNNNNND you're right. BUT in my defense I keep getting error messages and that is the only reason I am procrastinating.

So I have become quite the sally homemaker and it is really sort of weird. My latest thing I am pretty proud of (besides my broiled chicken teriyaki) is my HIJAB HANGERs.
I am sure many other hijabis feel my pain in the whole how to store them and then find them. I have folded them up and put them away ... only to never be used again and forgotten about. Which leads me to wearing the same ones over and over. When I have loads of colors and designs. You get to the point where you are like ... well Black goes with everything (really it doesnt) and I have different black scarves on the couch or on my book shelf that I wear most.
FINALLY I have DONE IT!
introducing the the SCARF HANGER. For some reason Bed Bath and Beyond thinks this is for pants. I dont get how that would work but it works great on scarves.
TAAAA DAAAAAAAA:

Things I have learned on my trip....

1. Mauritanian people are the nice-est sweet-est people in the world. They are GREAT!
2. Malaria Meds are a must. (while we were there two of his relatives got malaria. But it was really no big deal to them...sort of like having a cold)
3. Mosquito Nets are a must (they stop both flies and Mosquitoes!!)
4. Bring Food nets ( Did I mention there are lots of flies ...you've seen those pictures of people in africa, flies all over the place walking all over the the faces of little kids and they dont swat at them but you are swatting at the tv for them like it will help. yeah that is Maurtiania)
5. Bactrim Forte ILOVE YOU!!! Aspergec I HATE YOU! (Stay away from fresh camel milk on the roadside and bottled water ONLY...UNDERSTAND)
6. I love the US Health Department and their resturant rating system. DO NOT ... I repeat DO NOT eat a Hamburger from a resturant in Mauritania the night before you are going to get Henna on both hands and both feet. Trust me ... you have been warned. That is all I have to say about that!
7. YOU CANNOT WEAR HEELS IN THE DESERT! (yes I did learn that the hard way on Eid)
8. Squatter toilets are NOT more sanitary because urine splashes on your feet. well like little dropplets ..... UGH ... you know what I mean
9. ALWAYS have your Embassy's Phone number incase your husband has been taken by the Gendarmerie in a city you dont know, in a country you do not speak the language and you are left with only the driver and cook/helper, neither of which speak a word of english. More than likely there are no phonebooks so write down the number before you go OK!
10. Camels are VERY tall and Donkeys are very LOUD!
11. Aly's Family ROCKS! I love them Very much!

saharan adventure in T minus 36 hours and counting

Yes OBVIOUSLY I have a paper due. and it must be an important one ... worth... say 70% of my grade...beacuse there would be NOOOOOOOOOO other reason I am just playing around on the internet!

Anyway there is that and Aly and I leave on SUNDAY! yes SUNDAY! Oh my GOODNESS!

Checklist:

• Hold the mail (just went online and did that ...seee procrastinating on the paper paid off)
• Shots (5 ... COUNT THEM 5 including Typhoid, Hep A, Menengitis, Polio, and Yellow Fever which I had to get the yellow fever one to get into the country)

Ok never mind about the checklist because I keep thinking about stuff and its freakin me out!
I did get this handy arabic Phrase book that is pretty cool. The arabic is correct (according to Aly) but the transliteration is Egyptian style, so Aly told me to read the arabic. Like that will be NOOOOOOOOO problem at all.

Me: Salaam alaikom Salma squiggle squiggle Line dot?

Maybe I will just do alot of pointing to the book.

anyway the adventure of a lifetime... I have NO idea what to expect or what will happen.

please keep me in your prayers and Du'aas

Alright kiddos ONE month until my trip and I am flippin out

WHY:
1. UGH school is CRAZY! My professor is ...well...lets just say only one person in the class passed the midterm and we have all complained to the dean. I will be missing finals week (which is only a paper we have to turn in) so I have less time to do all of my work.

2. WORK is .....hmmm I am just going to say I am ready for a change. I will be quitting my job in order to go on the trip and I have noooooooooo clue where I will be working when I come back.
I am not worried about it so WHAAAAAAAAAATEVA

3. What we have to take there...."gifts" 2 desk tops, a laptop, a fax machine, his 5 sisters, 5 brothers (one brother and one sister is under 5 years old so they will be easy to buy for). I still have not got the final count of Neices and Nephews. We have not even began the conversation on Cousins.
All people under the age of 15 are getting candy!

Well My Visa is on its way back to me and I have had my shots and ordered my malaria pills.

Yeah its going to be an interesting month!!!!

Any tips will be greatly appreciated!