There are people who say that music is forbidden in Islam. And there are people who say it isn't.
Bear with me here for a minute. (but no baring please!)
I grew up listening to music and I was crazy about it like most teens I guess.
And I understand the reasons why music would be considered bad, but I can also feel the good parts, or what most people who aren't Muslim consider the good parts.
In any case, there are so many Muslims who aren't aware that there is even an issue about music being right or wrong to listen to.
I have an ipod and it is loaded with both music and the quran. I don't listen to my ipod often, and in fact I only bought it originally for when traveling.
I got it out tonight when I was sitting on the couch, and I was flipping through the songs, and I found one that is a favorite of mine, and that always makes me smile, no matter what.
While I was sitting and listening, what occurred to me was the difference between the world going on inside the headphones, and the world outside the headphones.
Outside there is chaos. Traffic, horns, ambulances, police sirens, the loud toy store, the school across the street (all the day long normal noises here).
And on the inside, coming through the headphones, the perfectly orchestrated world of music recording. Nothing left to chance, nothing out of place, everything precise and ordered.
Honestly, I was just so happy hearing some favorite songs, but that's not to say that I don't love the noise of the chaos outside as well.
They are just two very different things.
And I think too much of either one is just that - too much.
In other news....
One wedding Thursday night (Thursday here is like Friday in the States), two weddings on Friday, none on Saturday, then one on Sunday!
I'm actually missing them now when I don't hear them. The sound only lasts a few short minutes and it's nice. Even the loud trilling that I'm sure would make me just about deaf if I was within five feet of it. lol
Had salad twice this week! Hurrah!
There is a restaurant down the street called Whats In. It is now my favorite for take out. They have decent salads, though I would say overpriced for what you actually get. And they have panini sandwiches that are great. I never ate panini sandwiches in the States, though I knew of them.
Not sure what I will manage for breakfast tomorrow. I am running out of sliced cheese and bread, so we will need to go to the store. And cheese / bread is not really my idea of an ideal breakfast anyways.
I miss being able to make my cinnamon applesauce raisin chocolate chip bread, but insha'Allah I will be able to make it again soon.
Actually I've been craving oatmeal since a few days ago, though I haven't eaten oatmeal from breakfast in some years now. And while we're on the subject of oatmeal, some oatmeal raisin cookies (perhaps with some chocolate chips thrown in, because you really can never have too much chocolate can you?), sounds awfully good right now! Yum!
I can't wait to have a kitchen!
There is a page that I've had bookmarked for some time, and it has some great pictures from around Cairo. I will put up the links soon. Some of the pictures are ones that I would want to take myself and show you, so until I can take something better, these pictures will be a nice little peek on the life here.
It really is a beautiful city, with all the pluses and minuses.
Monday, March 30, 2009
What day is it?
The days seem to roll into each other and sometimes I have a hard time figuring out what day it is. I think what also contributes to that is trying to figure out what time/day it is back in the States.
Nothing exciting today. Just some small stuff around the apartment.
I organized my luggage since I hadn't done so since I arrived and I was having a hard time finding anything. I haven't unpacked since we aren't staying here and I'd rather not have my stuff out all over the place. So I'm basically living out of my suitcases.
Made ramen for dinner. I'm not used to gas stoves and the kitchen isn't that great so um, yeah.
We are out of some things at the store and Ahmed will be working long tomorrow, so I'm not sure when we'll get them. Little inconvenient to be sure, but um, oh well.
Hopefully I'll have something more positive or exciting to post about tomorrow.
Nothing exciting today. Just some small stuff around the apartment.
I organized my luggage since I hadn't done so since I arrived and I was having a hard time finding anything. I haven't unpacked since we aren't staying here and I'd rather not have my stuff out all over the place. So I'm basically living out of my suitcases.
Made ramen for dinner. I'm not used to gas stoves and the kitchen isn't that great so um, yeah.
We are out of some things at the store and Ahmed will be working long tomorrow, so I'm not sure when we'll get them. Little inconvenient to be sure, but um, oh well.
Hopefully I'll have something more positive or exciting to post about tomorrow.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Untitled no. 37
Hello and welcome....lol
I'd just about give an eye tooth for some food that wasn't full of grease/butter/oil and or fried, oh, or processed and full of weird non-foods and msg.
*sigh*
I'd be more than happy to cook but our little kitchen in this temporary apartment isn't equipped well at all. One pot/pan, i think there is one spoon, a few plastic plates, and that's about it. Oh, and some cups.
I can't wait to have our own place where I can cook whatever I please. Well, that is, if I can find the ingredients required. I still am not sure about that. It seems most stores are like a little corner market and they aren't like shopping in a supermarket like Safeway or something. I'm sure I will have to hunt around for some things, but I should be able to get basics fairly easily I guess. I hope!
I would just love some very plain food right now. No spice. No fat. Nothing fried.
Some plain jasmine rice and cooked broccoli / carrots sounds like heaven. With maybe just a touch of garlic salt, but that's it, no butter or anything else.
lol
I don't usually drink much soda, but I've been drinking 7-up with meals as it seems to help combat, at least the tiniest bit, some of the grease/fat from the foods I've been eating.
I didn't start out thinking about posting about this, but I happen to be hungry at the moment so I guess it's on my mind.
We never did get out to the furniture place on Friday. We slept pretty late and then lazed around the rest of the day.
I'm not sure when we'll go. The fair ends at some point but I'm not sure when. I'll ask Ahmed.
We were talking about the noise from the street. He thinks that maybe there is just something strange about the street here, because he's lived in places with traffic like this and it wasn't as loud. So perhaps it's just the acoustics of this area of the street or something. Or the floor we're on. Who knows.
It's hard to hear the tv well, or have a conversation unless you are right next to each other. lol
I was looking forward to earth hour tonight. It should be in less than half an hour here. Except that my husband has gone back out to work. And sitting in a dark apartment by myself for an hour sounds kinda creepy and scary, so oh well.
I hope many people are participating in this to show that they care. Even if we can't "fix" things, at least we can try to slow down the damage that we are doing. Even if the planet is naturally going into another phase where the temps are changing, that doesn't mean we need to help it along.
I'm sure I had a lot to write about but I'm feeling blank.
Perhaps tomorrow.
I'd just about give an eye tooth for some food that wasn't full of grease/butter/oil and or fried, oh, or processed and full of weird non-foods and msg.
*sigh*
I'd be more than happy to cook but our little kitchen in this temporary apartment isn't equipped well at all. One pot/pan, i think there is one spoon, a few plastic plates, and that's about it. Oh, and some cups.
I can't wait to have our own place where I can cook whatever I please. Well, that is, if I can find the ingredients required. I still am not sure about that. It seems most stores are like a little corner market and they aren't like shopping in a supermarket like Safeway or something. I'm sure I will have to hunt around for some things, but I should be able to get basics fairly easily I guess. I hope!
I would just love some very plain food right now. No spice. No fat. Nothing fried.
Some plain jasmine rice and cooked broccoli / carrots sounds like heaven. With maybe just a touch of garlic salt, but that's it, no butter or anything else.
lol
I don't usually drink much soda, but I've been drinking 7-up with meals as it seems to help combat, at least the tiniest bit, some of the grease/fat from the foods I've been eating.
I didn't start out thinking about posting about this, but I happen to be hungry at the moment so I guess it's on my mind.
We never did get out to the furniture place on Friday. We slept pretty late and then lazed around the rest of the day.
I'm not sure when we'll go. The fair ends at some point but I'm not sure when. I'll ask Ahmed.
We were talking about the noise from the street. He thinks that maybe there is just something strange about the street here, because he's lived in places with traffic like this and it wasn't as loud. So perhaps it's just the acoustics of this area of the street or something. Or the floor we're on. Who knows.
It's hard to hear the tv well, or have a conversation unless you are right next to each other. lol
I was looking forward to earth hour tonight. It should be in less than half an hour here. Except that my husband has gone back out to work. And sitting in a dark apartment by myself for an hour sounds kinda creepy and scary, so oh well.
I hope many people are participating in this to show that they care. Even if we can't "fix" things, at least we can try to slow down the damage that we are doing. Even if the planet is naturally going into another phase where the temps are changing, that doesn't mean we need to help it along.
I'm sure I had a lot to write about but I'm feeling blank.
Perhaps tomorrow.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Turkey sandwhiches
Feeling much better today, neck wise. Still some sore but insha'Allah within another couple of days I'll be as good as new. My left arm is still sore, which makes me more sure that it was probably a pinched nerve. My husband thinks the whole thing was caused by weather. They have some different ideas here about getting sick and weather. I don't agree with them, but if it makes them happy, so be it. :D
It's 1:45 am and we just had dinner. lol
I had a turkey sandwich with extra pickles. yum.
Ahmed had some kind of hot breaded chicken sandwich.
The traffic isn't getting any more likable. But! I've been here for a week already so hopefully that means only 3 more weeks of the noise at this apartment.
Not sure when we'll have word about if we're moving to Kuwait or not. Not sure what to think about it in general since I've never been there, but Ahmed assures me that I'll like it, that it's nice and clean. We shall see.
Tomorrow we are planning to go furniture shopping at a furniture expo type of thing that is going on. Well, furniture looking might be a more appropriate phrase. Who knows if we'll buy anything or not.
Apparently, and let this be a warning to anyone who visits Egypt, you are not allowed to take naps on couches!
lol
Don't ask.
:D
When we were on the way to Ahmed's folks house today, the taxi took a different route than the normal one we seem to take. He took more back streets. I always love to drive on the back streets because you get to see more of life than just driving down the main roads. I wish I could describe it but I don't think I'd get it right, so let me think on it some and come back to it.
Of course, you can't really drive anywhere and not see donkeys pulling carts. It really amuses me. Not just because of what they are, but that they are so persistently who they are, in the face of ever increasing modernization. Of course it's cheaper I'm sure to haul stuff on a donkey than to buy a truck and pay for upkeep and gas and all that. I don't know, but it puts a little smile in me whenever I see them going down a main road with all the honking cars and buses side by side.
The other night as we were relaxing, I heard some sounds from the passing cars. I can't remember which particular sound this one was, because there are so many, but I distinctly remember that it was a sound that I had heard from the movie Blade Runner, which is one of my favorite movies. I told Ahmed and he laughed. And then a day later the movie came on tv. Amusing. More amusing is that I continue to hear sounds that I've only heard from that movie before.
And tonight, Ahmed happened to ask me why I liked the movie so much. In my mind I started to relate the Egyptians with the dwellers in the land of the movie Blade Runner. They live in perhaps crappy circumstances, but they are making the best of what they have. I dunno, in my mind there was a big connection but I'm not coming up with it right at the moment.
It's 2:13 am. So long, farewell...
It's 1:45 am and we just had dinner. lol
I had a turkey sandwich with extra pickles. yum.
Ahmed had some kind of hot breaded chicken sandwich.
The traffic isn't getting any more likable. But! I've been here for a week already so hopefully that means only 3 more weeks of the noise at this apartment.
Not sure when we'll have word about if we're moving to Kuwait or not. Not sure what to think about it in general since I've never been there, but Ahmed assures me that I'll like it, that it's nice and clean. We shall see.
Tomorrow we are planning to go furniture shopping at a furniture expo type of thing that is going on. Well, furniture looking might be a more appropriate phrase. Who knows if we'll buy anything or not.
Apparently, and let this be a warning to anyone who visits Egypt, you are not allowed to take naps on couches!
lol
Don't ask.
:D
When we were on the way to Ahmed's folks house today, the taxi took a different route than the normal one we seem to take. He took more back streets. I always love to drive on the back streets because you get to see more of life than just driving down the main roads. I wish I could describe it but I don't think I'd get it right, so let me think on it some and come back to it.
Of course, you can't really drive anywhere and not see donkeys pulling carts. It really amuses me. Not just because of what they are, but that they are so persistently who they are, in the face of ever increasing modernization. Of course it's cheaper I'm sure to haul stuff on a donkey than to buy a truck and pay for upkeep and gas and all that. I don't know, but it puts a little smile in me whenever I see them going down a main road with all the honking cars and buses side by side.
The other night as we were relaxing, I heard some sounds from the passing cars. I can't remember which particular sound this one was, because there are so many, but I distinctly remember that it was a sound that I had heard from the movie Blade Runner, which is one of my favorite movies. I told Ahmed and he laughed. And then a day later the movie came on tv. Amusing. More amusing is that I continue to hear sounds that I've only heard from that movie before.
And tonight, Ahmed happened to ask me why I liked the movie so much. In my mind I started to relate the Egyptians with the dwellers in the land of the movie Blade Runner. They live in perhaps crappy circumstances, but they are making the best of what they have. I dunno, in my mind there was a big connection but I'm not coming up with it right at the moment.
It's 2:13 am. So long, farewell...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Expressions
You know that expression "pain in the neck"? We'll apparently I've become the embodiment of that. lol
I woke up Monday morning with a sore neck and it's been pretty continuous since then. It's now Wednesday morning. We did finally try some ice on it and that did seem to help some so hopefully with some more icing I'll be back to normal and I'll be posting again.
I woke up Monday morning with a sore neck and it's been pretty continuous since then. It's now Wednesday morning. We did finally try some ice on it and that did seem to help some so hopefully with some more icing I'll be back to normal and I'll be posting again.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Water heaters and stiff necks
Well, I woke up today (Monday morning) with a stiff neck. At first I assumed it was because of the strange pillows they have here, which we mostly didn't sleep on when I visited last time. But after thinking it over I decided I probably just slept on my neck wrong, as sometimes happens.
I wish we had a hot water bottle or heating pad, but since we just got here we really aren't established and I didn't feel like sending hubby on a chase for either item.
While he was at work this morning I did try using a hot washcloth on the back of my neck for a while, but getting up every 5 minutes to heat it up some more got old really fast. lol
I finally decided that a hot shower would be nice. I could just let the hot water run on my neck and also I could try to heat up in general since it was windy/cold/overcast today.
Well, I gather my things and go into the bathroom and start the shower. After stepping in so to speak, all is well and I'm loving the hot water, but noticing that I keep having to turn up the heat fairly quickly. It's not lasting long each time I turn it up. All in all, I think I got 5 minutes max out of the shower, and it was probably more like 3 minutes.
Very disappointing, but I did learn something. Which is that the water heater, which is a little dealy bob that hangs from the wall near the ceiling, actually needs to be turned on before you take a shower. lol
I just assumed it stayed on all the time and I'm sure Ahmed assumed I knew to turn it on before showering.
Now I know better and insha'Allah I will be having that nice hot shower tomorrow.
:D
I'm sick of the traffic noise. For sure.
Maybe ear plugs will help some. I'll try it tomorrow insha'Allah and see.
I wonder what people do all night that there is always traffic here on this road? Ahmed says that this road leads to 6th October, so people are driving back and forth, which is fine, but I can't imagine that they work any different hours than the rest of Egypt, so what are all these people doing up all night long???!!!! Go to bed people!!
lol
We might go to City Stars, which is a big mall, later in the week. I told Ahmed there was no rush, just that I wanted to go sooner or later. We will see.
It's 2:45 now, in the morning. Maybe I will try to find some sleep, though I'm not sure my neck will like it so much.
I wish we had a hot water bottle or heating pad, but since we just got here we really aren't established and I didn't feel like sending hubby on a chase for either item.
While he was at work this morning I did try using a hot washcloth on the back of my neck for a while, but getting up every 5 minutes to heat it up some more got old really fast. lol
I finally decided that a hot shower would be nice. I could just let the hot water run on my neck and also I could try to heat up in general since it was windy/cold/overcast today.
Well, I gather my things and go into the bathroom and start the shower. After stepping in so to speak, all is well and I'm loving the hot water, but noticing that I keep having to turn up the heat fairly quickly. It's not lasting long each time I turn it up. All in all, I think I got 5 minutes max out of the shower, and it was probably more like 3 minutes.
Very disappointing, but I did learn something. Which is that the water heater, which is a little dealy bob that hangs from the wall near the ceiling, actually needs to be turned on before you take a shower. lol
I just assumed it stayed on all the time and I'm sure Ahmed assumed I knew to turn it on before showering.
Now I know better and insha'Allah I will be having that nice hot shower tomorrow.
:D
I'm sick of the traffic noise. For sure.
Maybe ear plugs will help some. I'll try it tomorrow insha'Allah and see.
I wonder what people do all night that there is always traffic here on this road? Ahmed says that this road leads to 6th October, so people are driving back and forth, which is fine, but I can't imagine that they work any different hours than the rest of Egypt, so what are all these people doing up all night long???!!!! Go to bed people!!
lol
We might go to City Stars, which is a big mall, later in the week. I told Ahmed there was no rush, just that I wanted to go sooner or later. We will see.
It's 2:45 now, in the morning. Maybe I will try to find some sleep, though I'm not sure my neck will like it so much.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Videos
Alright, I got a few videos uploaded to youtube. I'll put the links and you can see the street here.
It's not this noisy and crowded in all parts of Cairo. We just lucked out. lol
Had a relaxing day. Spent some time at mom and dad's while Ahmed was at work.
It seems like I had a lot to say earlier but for some reason I can't remember any of it now. Isn't that the way? :D
Link one:
Street during the day
Link two:
Street during the night
Link three:
Wedding party
We managed to get some 100% orange juice. When I had originally asked Ahmed for some orange juice (not stating 100%), he brought orange "nectar" which is not precisely like having Tropicana or something. It claims to be at least 50% juice, but the rest is... well, who knows. I looked at the label and it included the ingredient "natural flavor". I try to stay away from things with that listed, as it could be anything and I'm pretty picky about what I eat. Anyways, I tried it but didn't like it. It didn't taste like orange juice at all. So, I will try the 100% juice in the morning insha'Allah and I hope it will be nice.
One thing I can say for Ahmed (not that there is just one, lol), is that he is always willing to try to get me whatever I wish. What a sweetie pie. :D
It's not this noisy and crowded in all parts of Cairo. We just lucked out. lol
Had a relaxing day. Spent some time at mom and dad's while Ahmed was at work.
It seems like I had a lot to say earlier but for some reason I can't remember any of it now. Isn't that the way? :D
Link one:
Street during the day
Link two:
Street during the night
Link three:
Wedding party
We managed to get some 100% orange juice. When I had originally asked Ahmed for some orange juice (not stating 100%), he brought orange "nectar" which is not precisely like having Tropicana or something. It claims to be at least 50% juice, but the rest is... well, who knows. I looked at the label and it included the ingredient "natural flavor". I try to stay away from things with that listed, as it could be anything and I'm pretty picky about what I eat. Anyways, I tried it but didn't like it. It didn't taste like orange juice at all. So, I will try the 100% juice in the morning insha'Allah and I hope it will be nice.
One thing I can say for Ahmed (not that there is just one, lol), is that he is always willing to try to get me whatever I wish. What a sweetie pie. :D
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Noise much?
My husband found an apartment for us the day that I got here. He wanted to take it before anyone else could, and he thought I would be okay with the place. We were only planning to be in the place a month anyways, so no big deal if it wasn't perfect.
Well, the apartment itself is not bad. There are a couple of issues I have (the kitchen is the size of a small matchbox and the bathtub was made for babies?) but since we are here a short time I can deal with these things.
But...
The noise.
Wow.
This makes the apartment in Alexandria seem quiet by comparison.
lol
We are on the Pyramid street. It's quite long and I can't remember what hotel we are near to describe exactly where we're at. I think it's maybe 15 or 20 minutes to get to the pyramids from here. On the bottom floor of the apartment building (we are on the third floor), there is a Mobinil business that takes up the ground floor I guess.
Anyways, there appears to be a police station within a block from here, because there are sirens emanating from the block at all hours.
There is also a wedding hall in the building next to us, and if you have never heard the traditional Egyptian wedding, it has women trilling and drums and clapping and some kind of horn and people are dancing and it's really quite loud, well... it's loud. I don't know how many people have this type of celebration. It is not Islamic, but of course there are still Muslims who do this.
I believe there is a toy store close by as well that has some loud toys.
And, the street itself is busy non-stop with traffic. And I mean non-stop.
Ahmed got up for something at 4 am this morning, and I woke and was laying there listening to the traffic. It stopped 2 times, for about 2 seconds each, and it felt like something was wrong. Where was the noise? It's just continuous. It slows down a bit at night, but not as much as you would think.
It takes some adjusting.
I took some videos of the street but I haven't uploaded them to the computer yet. When I do I'll put a link up so that you can see.
I had a cheeseburger today from Hardee's. I believe it is like Carl's Jr. in the States. Of course, since I started eating meat some months ago, I couldn't eat out at fast food restaurants because in the States they don't serve halal burgers.
So this is the first burger I've had out in more years than I can remember. It wasn't spectacular but it was okay. I tend to not like alot of fast food type food anyways so I don't think it will be a habit.
Dinnertime now. Grilled cheese. Yum. I'll be back to post later or tomorrow.
Well, the apartment itself is not bad. There are a couple of issues I have (the kitchen is the size of a small matchbox and the bathtub was made for babies?) but since we are here a short time I can deal with these things.
But...
The noise.
Wow.
This makes the apartment in Alexandria seem quiet by comparison.
lol
We are on the Pyramid street. It's quite long and I can't remember what hotel we are near to describe exactly where we're at. I think it's maybe 15 or 20 minutes to get to the pyramids from here. On the bottom floor of the apartment building (we are on the third floor), there is a Mobinil business that takes up the ground floor I guess.
Anyways, there appears to be a police station within a block from here, because there are sirens emanating from the block at all hours.
There is also a wedding hall in the building next to us, and if you have never heard the traditional Egyptian wedding, it has women trilling and drums and clapping and some kind of horn and people are dancing and it's really quite loud, well... it's loud. I don't know how many people have this type of celebration. It is not Islamic, but of course there are still Muslims who do this.
I believe there is a toy store close by as well that has some loud toys.
And, the street itself is busy non-stop with traffic. And I mean non-stop.
Ahmed got up for something at 4 am this morning, and I woke and was laying there listening to the traffic. It stopped 2 times, for about 2 seconds each, and it felt like something was wrong. Where was the noise? It's just continuous. It slows down a bit at night, but not as much as you would think.
It takes some adjusting.
I took some videos of the street but I haven't uploaded them to the computer yet. When I do I'll put a link up so that you can see.
I had a cheeseburger today from Hardee's. I believe it is like Carl's Jr. in the States. Of course, since I started eating meat some months ago, I couldn't eat out at fast food restaurants because in the States they don't serve halal burgers.
So this is the first burger I've had out in more years than I can remember. It wasn't spectacular but it was okay. I tend to not like alot of fast food type food anyways so I don't think it will be a habit.
Dinnertime now. Grilled cheese. Yum. I'll be back to post later or tomorrow.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Let the adventuring begin!
Alright, I made it here safe and sound. I'm not going to post anything now but when I have regular access I'll post about how the trip was and such.
It's good to see my family here again and I am so happy to be back with hubby. Alhamdulillah! :D
It's good to see my family here again and I am so happy to be back with hubby. Alhamdulillah! :D
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sale today from 9 til 1. More people came but still didn't sell anything big.
Salvation army will be here sometime between 7 am and 5 pm to haul most everything else away. Too bad I only claim standard deductions on my taxes.
Tomorrow will be busy. Two appointments scheduled. Need to pack up my stuff. Need to clean the apartment.
Dad is going in to my old workplace to borrow a van to haul the couple of things that we'll put in storage.
We should go by the bank but that might happen Tuesday, we'll see.
Still alot to do tonight. Have to finish packing everything up since I don't know if the Salvation Army will be here at 7 am or sometime later in the day. And I can't wait til later to finish getting everything ready for them to take.
Mom and dad did a big bunch of packing all the kitchen stuff up so that was nice and saved me some time.
Tired.
Not ready.
Time moving too fast.
Salvation army will be here sometime between 7 am and 5 pm to haul most everything else away. Too bad I only claim standard deductions on my taxes.
Tomorrow will be busy. Two appointments scheduled. Need to pack up my stuff. Need to clean the apartment.
Dad is going in to my old workplace to borrow a van to haul the couple of things that we'll put in storage.
We should go by the bank but that might happen Tuesday, we'll see.
Still alot to do tonight. Have to finish packing everything up since I don't know if the Salvation Army will be here at 7 am or sometime later in the day. And I can't wait til later to finish getting everything ready for them to take.
Mom and dad did a big bunch of packing all the kitchen stuff up so that was nice and saved me some time.
Tired.
Not ready.
Time moving too fast.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Had a sale today from 10 til 3. Only a few people came, very disappointing. Insha'Allah more people will come tomorrow but who knows.
We've scheduled a local charity to come and pick things up on Monday, whatever doesn't sell, except for the roll top desk and nice dresser, which will go into storage for at least a short time.
I'm donating a few bags of books to the library, and I wish I could find more people to give stuff away to. But, hopefully the stuff going to the charity will find a good home.
I went through things after the sale today and tried to get things more organized for packing / giving away.
I still have a lot to do.
Tomorrow's sale should be from 9 til 1.
My parents got into town today. They will be here til next weekend, so they will drop me at the airport when I go. Dad is trying to organize everything, which I guess is fine since I'm sure I need help.
Time to bake some bread I think, and organize a few more things.
And lower prices on stuff for tomorrow's sale.
*sigh*
We've scheduled a local charity to come and pick things up on Monday, whatever doesn't sell, except for the roll top desk and nice dresser, which will go into storage for at least a short time.
I'm donating a few bags of books to the library, and I wish I could find more people to give stuff away to. But, hopefully the stuff going to the charity will find a good home.
I went through things after the sale today and tried to get things more organized for packing / giving away.
I still have a lot to do.
Tomorrow's sale should be from 9 til 1.
My parents got into town today. They will be here til next weekend, so they will drop me at the airport when I go. Dad is trying to organize everything, which I guess is fine since I'm sure I need help.
Time to bake some bread I think, and organize a few more things.
And lower prices on stuff for tomorrow's sale.
*sigh*
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Hurrah!
Well, today was my last day of work. Exciting but a little sad at the same time.
Also said goodbye to a good friend of mine, Zahra. She is so special and I will really miss her.
Got a whole slew of errands done after leaving work around 2:30.
There's just a few more errands that need to get done. At least, that I know of right now. I'm sure I'll come up with some others.
Moving sale Saturday from 10 til 3 and Sunday from 9 til 1. Then on Monday, Salvation Army is scheduled to come and pick up anything that didn't sell, with the exception of the dresser and roll top desk. If those don't sell, they will go to the consignment store (which picks up thank goodness), or into storage. I'm voting for consignment. Less hassle.
Still not packed. I'll wait til after the sale. Still need to clean the apartment. I hope it doesn't take too long. I was going to have dad work on the outside since I don't want to get all dusty/dirty/cobwebby. :D Dad's are great for that kinda thing right? lol
Alright, that's enough post for now. I'm beat.
Also said goodbye to a good friend of mine, Zahra. She is so special and I will really miss her.
Got a whole slew of errands done after leaving work around 2:30.
There's just a few more errands that need to get done. At least, that I know of right now. I'm sure I'll come up with some others.
Moving sale Saturday from 10 til 3 and Sunday from 9 til 1. Then on Monday, Salvation Army is scheduled to come and pick up anything that didn't sell, with the exception of the dresser and roll top desk. If those don't sell, they will go to the consignment store (which picks up thank goodness), or into storage. I'm voting for consignment. Less hassle.
Still not packed. I'll wait til after the sale. Still need to clean the apartment. I hope it doesn't take too long. I was going to have dad work on the outside since I don't want to get all dusty/dirty/cobwebby. :D Dad's are great for that kinda thing right? lol
Alright, that's enough post for now. I'm beat.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I can't remember the last time I posted but I guess it's been a couple of days.
I think I have the car sold. One less thing to worry about.
But still 5 billion other things to do and worry about. lol
Honestly I don't know how I will manage it all and I should have given myself a few more days of not working before the trip.
Maybe I can leave early tomorrow and Friday. We will see.
Met up with some friends from high school tonight. A nice goodbye before I go and I was really pleased to see them all. They all look well and happy and that makes me happy too.
Trying to find people to help move furniture if it doesn't all sell. Having some trouble. Insha'Allah we'll find enough help since dad's back is out right now.
I'm sure I have more to post about but I'm pretty tired and my brain is a little fried at the moment.
I think I have the car sold. One less thing to worry about.
But still 5 billion other things to do and worry about. lol
Honestly I don't know how I will manage it all and I should have given myself a few more days of not working before the trip.
Maybe I can leave early tomorrow and Friday. We will see.
Met up with some friends from high school tonight. A nice goodbye before I go and I was really pleased to see them all. They all look well and happy and that makes me happy too.
Trying to find people to help move furniture if it doesn't all sell. Having some trouble. Insha'Allah we'll find enough help since dad's back is out right now.
I'm sure I have more to post about but I'm pretty tired and my brain is a little fried at the moment.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Busy busy day.
I'm not sure if I'll be able to work the whole week like I had planned. I really still have alot to do.
I wrote to a consignment store tonight and sent pictures (like their website requests) to see if they will take my nice dresser and roll top desk, as I don't think I'll sell those at the moving sale that I'm going to be having again this weekend.
Longer hours at this weekends sale, and I reduced the prices on pretty much everything. I really need to get this stuff sold.
Loaded up the ipod and charging it now. I'll see if it needs charging again before I leave, but basically I'm done with it for the time being. I have some nice lectures and podcasts to listen to on the long flight to Paris and then Cairo.
Selling my computer to someone at work and they want it on Wednesday. I was planning to burn all the information onto disk and then reformat the pc, but we will see. I think that is the cleanest way to do it. I just want to make sure I have the right drivers to load after or that will be a pain.
So, I think that will be what I'm working on tomorrow night.
Also having some friends over on Wednesday (I hope) so that we can see each other before I leave. These are friends from high school and it's nice to see them since we don't see each other all that often. I'll be trying to make a cake for that night since it's my friend's mom's birthday, and her mom might come for a visit, which would be nice too.
Need to call the sewing machine store and see if they'll buy my sewing machine. They just reconditioned it so they should know it works okay, but I'm not sure if they'll buy it or for how much.
Also need to find a buyer for my nightmare before christmas items and star wars cards and Anne Rice books, some of them first editions, signed, etc. I would hate to just donate them to the library, but I'm running out of time. Maybe I can get an ad on Craigslist tomorrow night.
Time is running short!!!
I'm not sure if I'll be able to work the whole week like I had planned. I really still have alot to do.
I wrote to a consignment store tonight and sent pictures (like their website requests) to see if they will take my nice dresser and roll top desk, as I don't think I'll sell those at the moving sale that I'm going to be having again this weekend.
Longer hours at this weekends sale, and I reduced the prices on pretty much everything. I really need to get this stuff sold.
Loaded up the ipod and charging it now. I'll see if it needs charging again before I leave, but basically I'm done with it for the time being. I have some nice lectures and podcasts to listen to on the long flight to Paris and then Cairo.
Selling my computer to someone at work and they want it on Wednesday. I was planning to burn all the information onto disk and then reformat the pc, but we will see. I think that is the cleanest way to do it. I just want to make sure I have the right drivers to load after or that will be a pain.
So, I think that will be what I'm working on tomorrow night.
Also having some friends over on Wednesday (I hope) so that we can see each other before I leave. These are friends from high school and it's nice to see them since we don't see each other all that often. I'll be trying to make a cake for that night since it's my friend's mom's birthday, and her mom might come for a visit, which would be nice too.
Need to call the sewing machine store and see if they'll buy my sewing machine. They just reconditioned it so they should know it works okay, but I'm not sure if they'll buy it or for how much.
Also need to find a buyer for my nightmare before christmas items and star wars cards and Anne Rice books, some of them first editions, signed, etc. I would hate to just donate them to the library, but I'm running out of time. Maybe I can get an ad on Craigslist tomorrow night.
Time is running short!!!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday evening
Well, still didn't sell any major pieces of furniture, but did a little better than yesterday. Still have a house full of stuff.
Going to have to have another sale next weekend, and during the week I'll have to check out consignment stores. My dad thinks they take 50% of the sale, which sucks. But I'm not sure what other options I'll have. Storage is just too expensive.
I did go down to the antique store today after my sale was over, but they don't really have any space for furniture right now, but they kept the pictures of stuff that I brought down and put my phone number with them and if anyone is interested they can call me.
I very possibly have found someone who will buy my car though, and that is a great weight off of my mind. He drove it today and liked it and said he will call me tomorrow and let me know. Insha'Allah he will buy it!
Parents are coming down Saturday and that should be a help. I'll have to start cleaning this week and then over the weekend.
My last day here at the apartment is the 17th.
Going to have to have another sale next weekend, and during the week I'll have to check out consignment stores. My dad thinks they take 50% of the sale, which sucks. But I'm not sure what other options I'll have. Storage is just too expensive.
I did go down to the antique store today after my sale was over, but they don't really have any space for furniture right now, but they kept the pictures of stuff that I brought down and put my phone number with them and if anyone is interested they can call me.
I very possibly have found someone who will buy my car though, and that is a great weight off of my mind. He drove it today and liked it and said he will call me tomorrow and let me know. Insha'Allah he will buy it!
Parents are coming down Saturday and that should be a help. I'll have to start cleaning this week and then over the weekend.
My last day here at the apartment is the 17th.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Saturday part 2
Didn't sell much today, just a few small items.
I've reposted the ad in a couple of places and hopefully I'll get some more people coming and buying stuff tomorrow.
I may have to have another sale next weekend.
I've reposted the ad in a couple of places and hopefully I'll get some more people coming and buying stuff tomorrow.
I may have to have another sale next weekend.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
I'm having a moving sale this weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 3. This should be interesting as I've never done anything like this before. And I'm not exactly looking forward to people tromping around my place. But, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Still not quite ready for it so I need to finish getting things done this morning.
I'll try to come back later today and post how it went.
Still not quite ready for it so I need to finish getting things done this morning.
I'll try to come back later today and post how it went.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Well, I called the crystal store from work yesterday and the owner said that times were rough and she couldn't afford to buy anything from me. Same with the crystal store I called closer to home that I used to go to. So now I'm not quite sure what to do with them. I suppose I could put them up on Craigslist or Ebay, but no idea what to ask for them.
I did alot of arranging and organizing last night. Which is good because I put an ad in the paper, both online and in print, starting Friday, for a moving sale this weekend. It will be 11 til 3 both Saturday and Sunday. I need to get things a little more organized and I've never had a sale like this or any kind of garage sale and so this should be interesting. I have to figure out how to get prices on things. I don't want to use stickers because they .... stick. lol
Might go by the antique store tonight. Didn't make it last night as there were a few more things I wanted to show them that I had to get out and get ready.
Need to call a lady today who was interested in the car and see when she would like to look at it.
I put an ad on a mailing list that I am part of and I've had a few replies, which makes me feel better about things. Insha'Allah I will be able to sell most things in the two weeks (minus a day) that I have left.
Mailing off my old video camera to my brother. It was actually originally his, but he gave it to me when he got a better one I guess. It's a super 8. Fun.
Also mailing off some David Bowie albums to an online friend who liked Bowie as much as I did, if not more. That's the last of the albums, the rest were sold some weeks back.
Slowly but surely getting many things out of the house! It feels good.
=)
Current idea, though it could change, is to ship my extra stuff on the plane with me instead of through a shipping company. It's $150 each for every bag over two. We shall see.
I did alot of arranging and organizing last night. Which is good because I put an ad in the paper, both online and in print, starting Friday, for a moving sale this weekend. It will be 11 til 3 both Saturday and Sunday. I need to get things a little more organized and I've never had a sale like this or any kind of garage sale and so this should be interesting. I have to figure out how to get prices on things. I don't want to use stickers because they .... stick. lol
Might go by the antique store tonight. Didn't make it last night as there were a few more things I wanted to show them that I had to get out and get ready.
Need to call a lady today who was interested in the car and see when she would like to look at it.
I put an ad on a mailing list that I am part of and I've had a few replies, which makes me feel better about things. Insha'Allah I will be able to sell most things in the two weeks (minus a day) that I have left.
Mailing off my old video camera to my brother. It was actually originally his, but he gave it to me when he got a better one I guess. It's a super 8. Fun.
Also mailing off some David Bowie albums to an online friend who liked Bowie as much as I did, if not more. That's the last of the albums, the rest were sold some weeks back.
Slowly but surely getting many things out of the house! It feels good.
=)
Current idea, though it could change, is to ship my extra stuff on the plane with me instead of through a shipping company. It's $150 each for every bag over two. We shall see.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
tuesday part 2
I got a lot done today.
Canceled my car insurance (as of the day after I leave).
Got the smog check done on the car after work.
Came home and polished silver for an hour and a half.
That was not how I wanted to spend my Tuesday evening, but the silver in the closet has been packed away for 11 years and desperately needed a polish. So I gave it a once over. It's not looking perfect (too much fancy scrollwork that needs a lot of time), but it looks much much better.
I called an antique store today and it's a co-op owned by 40 dealers or something, and the lady I spoke with told me that it's possible they would buy some of my things but I'd just have to bring them down and whoever was working that day would look at them. I'm hoping to go by tomorrow after work, as they're open til 6:30. That's why I was polishing the silver tonight.
I'll have a bunch of items to bring down and insha'Allah they will want to buy some things from me.
Also have an errand to do during work. There's a crystal store about 10 minutes from work and I'm hoping they'll buy some of my crystals from me. But the store closes fairly early, so I think I'll have to go down during my lunch break or something.
Still need to go by the cabinet store to try to get a new slide stopper for one of the dresser drawers.
Canceled my car insurance (as of the day after I leave).
Got the smog check done on the car after work.
Came home and polished silver for an hour and a half.
That was not how I wanted to spend my Tuesday evening, but the silver in the closet has been packed away for 11 years and desperately needed a polish. So I gave it a once over. It's not looking perfect (too much fancy scrollwork that needs a lot of time), but it looks much much better.
I called an antique store today and it's a co-op owned by 40 dealers or something, and the lady I spoke with told me that it's possible they would buy some of my things but I'd just have to bring them down and whoever was working that day would look at them. I'm hoping to go by tomorrow after work, as they're open til 6:30. That's why I was polishing the silver tonight.
I'll have a bunch of items to bring down and insha'Allah they will want to buy some things from me.
Also have an errand to do during work. There's a crystal store about 10 minutes from work and I'm hoping they'll buy some of my crystals from me. But the store closes fairly early, so I think I'll have to go down during my lunch break or something.
Still need to go by the cabinet store to try to get a new slide stopper for one of the dresser drawers.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
I know it's been a few days since I posted. I've been pretty busy. Things are not going exactly as I thought they might and this is all taking longer than I thought it would.
Did some more work in Jake's room, cleaned out my photo drawer and made a small album to take with me.
Had the car in yesterday for a 400 dollar tune up. Unavoidable. Have someone who is interested to look at it for possible purchase, so hopefully they will decide to buy.
Turned my taxes in to my accountant Friday and he mailed them back to me Saturday. I only owe 1400 dollars. *sigh*
Have to get ready for work now but I'll try to post a bit more tonight.
Did some more work in Jake's room, cleaned out my photo drawer and made a small album to take with me.
Had the car in yesterday for a 400 dollar tune up. Unavoidable. Have someone who is interested to look at it for possible purchase, so hopefully they will decide to buy.
Turned my taxes in to my accountant Friday and he mailed them back to me Saturday. I only owe 1400 dollars. *sigh*
Have to get ready for work now but I'll try to post a bit more tonight.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
I've done a bunch of work the last couple of days.
Today was spent doing kitchen stuff (getting things out that I'll try to sell) and taking some more pictures.
Plus I went through the stuff I had planned to ship and pared that down some. More to sell or give away.
Tried to bring most of the smaller items to sell that were upstairs and put them downstairs. I know that sentence isn't worded great but it's late. lol
Car needs to go into the shop Monday morning first thing and it's not really drivable at the moment, so we're in all weekend. I could probably drive it but it wouldn't be helping the car any.
I've had a couple of people interested in the car, which I'm thankful for.
It's starting to feel a bit strange - the move. Or just more real perhaps.
Not sure what we'll get up to tomorrow. Perhaps more in Jake's room. Lets see if I can get his dad to come pick up some more stuff.
Today was spent doing kitchen stuff (getting things out that I'll try to sell) and taking some more pictures.
Plus I went through the stuff I had planned to ship and pared that down some. More to sell or give away.
Tried to bring most of the smaller items to sell that were upstairs and put them downstairs. I know that sentence isn't worded great but it's late. lol
Car needs to go into the shop Monday morning first thing and it's not really drivable at the moment, so we're in all weekend. I could probably drive it but it wouldn't be helping the car any.
I've had a couple of people interested in the car, which I'm thankful for.
It's starting to feel a bit strange - the move. Or just more real perhaps.
Not sure what we'll get up to tomorrow. Perhaps more in Jake's room. Lets see if I can get his dad to come pick up some more stuff.
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