Well, for one reason or another, well, one reason really, being that we didn't have the "right" kind of butter for me to make cookies, although I wanted to make them on Tuesday, I won't be making them until tomorrow.
It's a bit of a story and a bit of one of those, "tomorrow" and then when tomorrow comes it's another "tomorrow" deals.
In any case, we took a walk this evening to go to the bakery Le Poire to get cinnamon rolls with are my new favorite and which I can't seem to get enough of.
On the way back, we were going to pick up some of the "right" butter from a store that is on the way, which normally doesn't carry it but said the other day to come back in a couple of days and they would have it.
Well... just 20 steps or so from getting to the store, a car started up next to us and took off pell mell down the street.
This is no small feat. The streets are narrow, pock marked, full of people walking and bicycles and scooters and cars parked in all sorts of ways on either side.
And this guy just punched it! I've never seen/heard anyone go that fast down one of these small side streets.
Lo and behold, he gets one intersection down, at that point not even a whole block, and we hear the squeal of tires and the crunch of metal on metal.
This sound to me is horrifying and truly one of the very worst sounds there is.
Though a car serves some extremely useful purposes, it is also a weapon, and a loaded one at that. There is never a safety switch with a car, it is always on and ready to fire. And you never know what will be in that line of fire. It could be you.
So we heard the sound of that racing car hitting at least one other car, weather it was moving or parked we aren't sure.
People started coming out onto the street to see what had happened, and we could see a small group form around where the accident happened.
I didn't hear any yelling or shouting, so insha'Allah no one was hurt except maybe the driver.
I don't know if the police were called or what will happen. I don't know what they do with traffic offenders here. Will he have his license taken away or suspended? Will it really make a difference to this guy, in this country where you can buy your way out of almost anything?
Hubby went into the little corner store to get the butter and came back out, and we watched a few seconds more down the street where the accident was before heading back home.
And all the way home I felt slightly disquieted wondering what happened and if anyone was hurt. Even if this driver was a jerk and shouldn't have been driving so dangerously fast, I still don't like to think about anyone being harmed.
Better news being, I now have the correct butter and come hell or high water, I'M MAKING CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES TOMORROW!!!
lol
Sometimes it really does take a herculean effort just to get the simplest thing done here.
Love it here all the same though.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Wow, 2 years!
Today is the day hubby and I got married back in 2007. Hurrah for making it all that time apart and alhamdulillah that we are finally able to live our lives together in the same location!
=)
I am too sore today from cleaning out that fridge yesterday. I definitely need to get moving more. The excuse I keep telling myself is that with no a/c in the very hot summer here, how could I exercise? lol
Well, with the new apartment there will be no excuse! There is a/c and cooler weather is on its way anyhow.
I'm thinking about making some chocolate chip cookies tonight. Not sure if it will happen or not but I'm thinking about it.
I haven't used the Hershey's chocolate chips yet in a cookie, and I know they taste different than Nestle, so it will be interesting to see how different the cookies taste. I was planning to use the recipe off the back of the empty Nestle package that I have. That way I guess it should be an even comparison. Though I was thinking of switching out some of the brown sugar and replacing it with more white sugar. Although brown sugar imparts a particular taste, I find I don't have as much of a liking/tolerance for it as I used to for some reason.
Watched a few good movies lately. I absolutely LOVED The Brothers Bloom. I watched it one night while hubby was sleeping, so now I get to watch it over again when he is awake! What a great story. I even cried at the end! lol
=)
I am too sore today from cleaning out that fridge yesterday. I definitely need to get moving more. The excuse I keep telling myself is that with no a/c in the very hot summer here, how could I exercise? lol
Well, with the new apartment there will be no excuse! There is a/c and cooler weather is on its way anyhow.
I'm thinking about making some chocolate chip cookies tonight. Not sure if it will happen or not but I'm thinking about it.
I haven't used the Hershey's chocolate chips yet in a cookie, and I know they taste different than Nestle, so it will be interesting to see how different the cookies taste. I was planning to use the recipe off the back of the empty Nestle package that I have. That way I guess it should be an even comparison. Though I was thinking of switching out some of the brown sugar and replacing it with more white sugar. Although brown sugar imparts a particular taste, I find I don't have as much of a liking/tolerance for it as I used to for some reason.
Watched a few good movies lately. I absolutely LOVED The Brothers Bloom. I watched it one night while hubby was sleeping, so now I get to watch it over again when he is awake! What a great story. I even cried at the end! lol
Monday, October 12, 2009
Shine and sparkle!
Well, lo and behold, we made it up today and got over to the apartment before 10 a.m.!
Left here around 9:15 or so actually. Took about 10 minutes to get there. Not too bad. I think traffic was just horrible yesterday because it was kind of our Monday here and everyone was back to school/work.
I didn't bring anything with me by way of cleaning supplies. There were 3 sponges in the kitchen, but they were that kind of um... not like o-cello sponges, they were this cheapy lightweight foamy feeling kind of thing. They don't tend to absorb very well. At all.
I got out some towels that were packed in my luggage, which has been sitting in the apartment, to use to wipe and dry with. I also got out the uber expensive lemon and eucalyptis liquid hand soap that I had sitting in my luggage, which while not made for cleaning fridges, was the only soap or cleaning agent I had to use.
Here was how it went:
10:10 into the kitchen
11:00 freezer is wiped out and "clean" for now.
break
11:25 back to the fridge
1:15 done with fridge
I can't believe it took me that long to clean it out, but there were a couple of reasons why.
The first is that we left the doors open to air it out, and they ended up being open for a couple of weeks, and so there was a bunch of dust inside.
The second reason is because the whole fridge, inside and out, was covered in some kind of oily slime. You couldn't see it, it left no visible residue, but you could feel it when you touched any surface. I don't know what it was from, I'm assuming it's not unexpected but I don't know as I've never bought a new fridge (or other appliance for that matter) before.
So, I had to clean all that grungy feeling stuff out and off before I wanted to even consider putting any food in there.
We didn't turn it on yet. In fact, I'd like to go back with some vinegar or rubbing alcohol and give it a final quick clean. I would feel much better that way.
Also, the floors. *sigh*
I understand now why the grout in the tiles gets so dirty. However, it isn't that it can't be cleaned, it's just that the way they clean here doesn't support grout being anything other than gray/black.
Because there's typically no carpet, just area rugs, the floors get hosed down so to speak, and they run a mop over, but no scrubbing. And if there's dust on the floor, and lets face it, we live in the middle of a giant desert and there's tons of dust, the dust tends to combine with the water and make a kind of sludge over the tile/grout. And because they don't scrub, it just gets darker and darker and more mucky looking.
I can't say I want to scrub my floors all the time (linoleum is sounding better and better, lol), but I don't want the black grout. Not sure how this will be solved, hopefully I can figure something out that isn't too time/chemical intensive.
I turned the a/c on in the bedroom about an hour or so before I was done cleaning. It was so nice to lay on the bed in the cool air when I was all done. Yay for a/c!
Not sure what is next apartment wise, but hopefully we'll continue to take some small steps that will get us in there soon.
Left here around 9:15 or so actually. Took about 10 minutes to get there. Not too bad. I think traffic was just horrible yesterday because it was kind of our Monday here and everyone was back to school/work.
I didn't bring anything with me by way of cleaning supplies. There were 3 sponges in the kitchen, but they were that kind of um... not like o-cello sponges, they were this cheapy lightweight foamy feeling kind of thing. They don't tend to absorb very well. At all.
I got out some towels that were packed in my luggage, which has been sitting in the apartment, to use to wipe and dry with. I also got out the uber expensive lemon and eucalyptis liquid hand soap that I had sitting in my luggage, which while not made for cleaning fridges, was the only soap or cleaning agent I had to use.
Here was how it went:
10:10 into the kitchen
11:00 freezer is wiped out and "clean" for now.
break
11:25 back to the fridge
1:15 done with fridge
I can't believe it took me that long to clean it out, but there were a couple of reasons why.
The first is that we left the doors open to air it out, and they ended up being open for a couple of weeks, and so there was a bunch of dust inside.
The second reason is because the whole fridge, inside and out, was covered in some kind of oily slime. You couldn't see it, it left no visible residue, but you could feel it when you touched any surface. I don't know what it was from, I'm assuming it's not unexpected but I don't know as I've never bought a new fridge (or other appliance for that matter) before.
So, I had to clean all that grungy feeling stuff out and off before I wanted to even consider putting any food in there.
We didn't turn it on yet. In fact, I'd like to go back with some vinegar or rubbing alcohol and give it a final quick clean. I would feel much better that way.
Also, the floors. *sigh*
I understand now why the grout in the tiles gets so dirty. However, it isn't that it can't be cleaned, it's just that the way they clean here doesn't support grout being anything other than gray/black.
Because there's typically no carpet, just area rugs, the floors get hosed down so to speak, and they run a mop over, but no scrubbing. And if there's dust on the floor, and lets face it, we live in the middle of a giant desert and there's tons of dust, the dust tends to combine with the water and make a kind of sludge over the tile/grout. And because they don't scrub, it just gets darker and darker and more mucky looking.
I can't say I want to scrub my floors all the time (linoleum is sounding better and better, lol), but I don't want the black grout. Not sure how this will be solved, hopefully I can figure something out that isn't too time/chemical intensive.
I turned the a/c on in the bedroom about an hour or so before I was done cleaning. It was so nice to lay on the bed in the cool air when I was all done. Yay for a/c!
Not sure what is next apartment wise, but hopefully we'll continue to take some small steps that will get us in there soon.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Cinnamon roll success!
We almost made it over for a visit to the apartment today. Almost.
I was going to clean the fridge out because you know they have some kind of gunky stuff on them when they're new and I really don't want a gunky fridge.
Was also going to pick up a few things from my luggage while I was there.
Alas, traffic was horrid today so we decided that we will go tomorrow morning.
At 9:00 a.m.
Okay, who's laughing with me about that? Maybe it's just me. We just go to bed way to late to attempt to be up and atem at that hour.
However, I did get some things ready to take over when I thought we were going today, so that is done at least. We're bringing over the sheets for the bed, some towels, and a few things that I have here that I don't need (like 10 pairs of shoes, lol).
In other news, since I had some cinnamon rolls from the bakery Le Poire the other week, I've been craving them something fierce.
I really don't eat a lot of sweets, mainly because I have a different sweets preference than what my MIL makes, and also because I can't eat from the local neighborhood bakery anymore (grown intolerant for some reason, my mouth doesn't like their food!).
We've been on a quest to get some cinnamon rolls and croissants from Le Poire for a good couple of weeks, but they're always out by the time hubby calls or they don't have a delivery boy or they didn't make any that day.
Talk about frustrating! The one thing I want, the ONLY thing I'm craving, and I can't get at it.
I'd make my own but sometimes baking at the in-laws is a bit of a production and something like cinnamon rolls would be a nightmare I think (though I am thinking about making some chocolate chip cookies in the next day or two).
So, I called hubby early this evening when he was still at work and asked if he could call the bakery and see if they had anything. He said he would stop by and check on his way home.
He came home and his arms were laden with a box containing 5 cinnamon rolls.
Lovely, luscious, delicious, cinnamony, topped with frosting goodness, cinnamon rolls.
Of which I have now devoured one and am eagerly awaiting tomorrow to have another.
:D
Plan is to go to the apartment tomorrow morning. I will update with details either way. lol
The saga continues!
I was going to clean the fridge out because you know they have some kind of gunky stuff on them when they're new and I really don't want a gunky fridge.
Was also going to pick up a few things from my luggage while I was there.
Alas, traffic was horrid today so we decided that we will go tomorrow morning.
At 9:00 a.m.
Okay, who's laughing with me about that? Maybe it's just me. We just go to bed way to late to attempt to be up and atem at that hour.
However, I did get some things ready to take over when I thought we were going today, so that is done at least. We're bringing over the sheets for the bed, some towels, and a few things that I have here that I don't need (like 10 pairs of shoes, lol).
In other news, since I had some cinnamon rolls from the bakery Le Poire the other week, I've been craving them something fierce.
I really don't eat a lot of sweets, mainly because I have a different sweets preference than what my MIL makes, and also because I can't eat from the local neighborhood bakery anymore (grown intolerant for some reason, my mouth doesn't like their food!).
We've been on a quest to get some cinnamon rolls and croissants from Le Poire for a good couple of weeks, but they're always out by the time hubby calls or they don't have a delivery boy or they didn't make any that day.
Talk about frustrating! The one thing I want, the ONLY thing I'm craving, and I can't get at it.
I'd make my own but sometimes baking at the in-laws is a bit of a production and something like cinnamon rolls would be a nightmare I think (though I am thinking about making some chocolate chip cookies in the next day or two).
So, I called hubby early this evening when he was still at work and asked if he could call the bakery and see if they had anything. He said he would stop by and check on his way home.
He came home and his arms were laden with a box containing 5 cinnamon rolls.
Lovely, luscious, delicious, cinnamony, topped with frosting goodness, cinnamon rolls.
Of which I have now devoured one and am eagerly awaiting tomorrow to have another.
:D
Plan is to go to the apartment tomorrow morning. I will update with details either way. lol
The saga continues!
Friday, October 9, 2009
Ever so pink
We went out on Thursday morning to the mogamma building to get my resident visa.
The building is crowded even on a good day. And seeing as how Thursday is the last day of the week here, it was even more packed!
We got there around 11:20. We got the form we needed and then hubby decided that we would take it back on Saturday instead of fighting the crowds.
As I mentioned the last time we went to the mogamma, the place is a perfect germ incubator. And with swine flu and every other kind of flu, particularly as there are people from all over the world trying to get different visas there, it seems like a bad idea to spend any amount of time there.
The plan is to go close to when they open Saturday so that we will avoid the crowds, but since we're usually not sleeping til after 3 a.m., and sometimes after 4 or 5, getting anywhere by 9 a.m. seems a bit daunting.
In any case, after we got the form and left, hubby asked if I wanted to walk around downtown so I said sure. This answer was the result of me forgetting that when you do any exercise or something to strain your body, it's not the next day you hurt but the day after. And that it was two days before that we walked down to Metro and I got sore feet etc.
It was fine at first, despite hubby's permanent race walking. When he asked what I wanted to look at, I couldn't quite say though. We weren't buying and he rarely slows down enough for me to get a good look in the windows. Hmmmm....
He suggested we find a cafe, so after some walking around, we went to one that we had gone to when I visited in 2007. It's in a computer mall. It's called... I dunno, Cafe Rose or something like that.
We found a table and sat down. Hubby ordered coffee and a sprite for me. I told him I didn't want anything but water seeing as how I hadn't ate or drank anything yet that day, and putting sprite in my body first thing after I'm tired and hot from walking around was a bad idea. lol
Well, I got thirsty and drank some anyways. Which seemed fine until we were on our taxi ride home and I started to feel not so well. Of course, we were stuck in traffic at that point. I was sure I was going to be sick before we could make it home but it was fine alhamdulillah.
While sitting at the cafe, I noticed, being ever observant, that there was a roach crawling around on the ground under our table. Hubby noticed me looking down and asked if it was a bug. I said yes. I watched it, thinking it would just pass us by, but then it started crawling up the wall next to me, at which point I stood up and then hubby made us trade chairs. I asked him why he didn't just kill it, but it seemed that wasn't on his agenda. Not his house, not his bug. lol
So... I thought all was fine, and then a few minutes later, out of the corner of my eye, I saw that same darn bug crawling on the floor right towards me. What, am I a magnet or something? So I finally took matters into my own hands (or feet as it were) and stepped on the thing.
Yay!
It was fairly small, which is why I was able to get close enough to it to step on it. If it was one of those ginormous multi-colored light/dark brown ones, forget it. I wouldn't get anywhere close to one of those buggers, they're freakishly huge and scary.
I finally uploaded the pictures I took from our walk the other day. What a surprise when I looked at them and they all had a pink background! I dropped my camera a couple of years ago and I've had some problems off and on since then, but it's pretty rare. Usually what happens is I'll get some lines going across the viewfinder and pictures. This pink background is something new. While it does make for a nice saturated effect, I wouldn't want it for my normal picture taking. Hopefully it will right itself. Though I do so want a new camera!
Anyways, here's the pictures. I had originally only intended to post 2 of them, but that was before I saw how strange they turned out, at which point I decided to post them all.
This is one of my favorite buildings in the area. The glass is a pretty blue color, and I like the round part of the building as well. I'm a sucker for round buildings with lots of glass.
This picture is fairly pink, as you can see.
This is the same basic view, but for some reason it came out slightly less pink.
And this is a third view, a vertical shot, and it's very pink!
Next we have the park there, first looking one direction and then the other. You can't see how big the park is from these. It's not very wide but it's quite long.
Looking one way:
Looking the other way:
We might go by the apartment tomorrow. I told hubby I wanted some things from my luggage, most of which I have been without for the last 4 1/2 months while we've been at the in-laws. It's been so long I've forgotten a lot of the stuff I brought with me, though I didn't bring all that much to begin with! Anyways, looking forward to seeing and going through some of my things.
We might go out to a cafe or something later today but not sure. As you may have noticed, our plans are ALWAYS subject to change. lol *sigh*
The weather finally seems to have cooled down on a more permanent basis, though there could be small spikes. It's been in the 80's or very low 90's for a while now. Much nicer. I actually got cold sleeping last night with the fan on. The fan is normally on 24/7, but when it's cool enough of course we don't need it.
We are thinking about me getting a job. It seems that I'm not allowed to work without a work visa. As far as I know, you can't just go get a work visa, you have to find a job you want and then your prospective employer gets the visa for you.
Hubby has a friend whose wife works at a multi-national company, and she's going to see if there is anything available there. It would be a bit of a commute, and I don't know if I want to work a 9 hour day *and* commute on top of that, but we shall see.
Hopefully something will turn up job-wise, though I would prefer to work part time and not full time.
Right now all I want is to go to the beach and lay out on the sand and relax under and umbrella. Been a long while since I've been to the beach but I sure could use a vacation. Sounds funny to say perhaps, seeing as how I haven't worked in over 6 months now, but still, things aren't always easy in my current circumstances, and I often feel a bit stressed about things. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be here and living with hubby. Just.... ya know?
Off to dream of warm sandy beaches....
The building is crowded even on a good day. And seeing as how Thursday is the last day of the week here, it was even more packed!
We got there around 11:20. We got the form we needed and then hubby decided that we would take it back on Saturday instead of fighting the crowds.
As I mentioned the last time we went to the mogamma, the place is a perfect germ incubator. And with swine flu and every other kind of flu, particularly as there are people from all over the world trying to get different visas there, it seems like a bad idea to spend any amount of time there.
The plan is to go close to when they open Saturday so that we will avoid the crowds, but since we're usually not sleeping til after 3 a.m., and sometimes after 4 or 5, getting anywhere by 9 a.m. seems a bit daunting.
In any case, after we got the form and left, hubby asked if I wanted to walk around downtown so I said sure. This answer was the result of me forgetting that when you do any exercise or something to strain your body, it's not the next day you hurt but the day after. And that it was two days before that we walked down to Metro and I got sore feet etc.
It was fine at first, despite hubby's permanent race walking. When he asked what I wanted to look at, I couldn't quite say though. We weren't buying and he rarely slows down enough for me to get a good look in the windows. Hmmmm....
He suggested we find a cafe, so after some walking around, we went to one that we had gone to when I visited in 2007. It's in a computer mall. It's called... I dunno, Cafe Rose or something like that.
We found a table and sat down. Hubby ordered coffee and a sprite for me. I told him I didn't want anything but water seeing as how I hadn't ate or drank anything yet that day, and putting sprite in my body first thing after I'm tired and hot from walking around was a bad idea. lol
Well, I got thirsty and drank some anyways. Which seemed fine until we were on our taxi ride home and I started to feel not so well. Of course, we were stuck in traffic at that point. I was sure I was going to be sick before we could make it home but it was fine alhamdulillah.
While sitting at the cafe, I noticed, being ever observant, that there was a roach crawling around on the ground under our table. Hubby noticed me looking down and asked if it was a bug. I said yes. I watched it, thinking it would just pass us by, but then it started crawling up the wall next to me, at which point I stood up and then hubby made us trade chairs. I asked him why he didn't just kill it, but it seemed that wasn't on his agenda. Not his house, not his bug. lol
So... I thought all was fine, and then a few minutes later, out of the corner of my eye, I saw that same darn bug crawling on the floor right towards me. What, am I a magnet or something? So I finally took matters into my own hands (or feet as it were) and stepped on the thing.
Yay!
It was fairly small, which is why I was able to get close enough to it to step on it. If it was one of those ginormous multi-colored light/dark brown ones, forget it. I wouldn't get anywhere close to one of those buggers, they're freakishly huge and scary.
I finally uploaded the pictures I took from our walk the other day. What a surprise when I looked at them and they all had a pink background! I dropped my camera a couple of years ago and I've had some problems off and on since then, but it's pretty rare. Usually what happens is I'll get some lines going across the viewfinder and pictures. This pink background is something new. While it does make for a nice saturated effect, I wouldn't want it for my normal picture taking. Hopefully it will right itself. Though I do so want a new camera!
Anyways, here's the pictures. I had originally only intended to post 2 of them, but that was before I saw how strange they turned out, at which point I decided to post them all.
This is one of my favorite buildings in the area. The glass is a pretty blue color, and I like the round part of the building as well. I'm a sucker for round buildings with lots of glass.
This picture is fairly pink, as you can see.
This is the same basic view, but for some reason it came out slightly less pink.
And this is a third view, a vertical shot, and it's very pink!
Next we have the park there, first looking one direction and then the other. You can't see how big the park is from these. It's not very wide but it's quite long.
Looking one way:
Looking the other way:
We might go by the apartment tomorrow. I told hubby I wanted some things from my luggage, most of which I have been without for the last 4 1/2 months while we've been at the in-laws. It's been so long I've forgotten a lot of the stuff I brought with me, though I didn't bring all that much to begin with! Anyways, looking forward to seeing and going through some of my things.
We might go out to a cafe or something later today but not sure. As you may have noticed, our plans are ALWAYS subject to change. lol *sigh*
The weather finally seems to have cooled down on a more permanent basis, though there could be small spikes. It's been in the 80's or very low 90's for a while now. Much nicer. I actually got cold sleeping last night with the fan on. The fan is normally on 24/7, but when it's cool enough of course we don't need it.
We are thinking about me getting a job. It seems that I'm not allowed to work without a work visa. As far as I know, you can't just go get a work visa, you have to find a job you want and then your prospective employer gets the visa for you.
Hubby has a friend whose wife works at a multi-national company, and she's going to see if there is anything available there. It would be a bit of a commute, and I don't know if I want to work a 9 hour day *and* commute on top of that, but we shall see.
Hopefully something will turn up job-wise, though I would prefer to work part time and not full time.
Right now all I want is to go to the beach and lay out on the sand and relax under and umbrella. Been a long while since I've been to the beach but I sure could use a vacation. Sounds funny to say perhaps, seeing as how I haven't worked in over 6 months now, but still, things aren't always easy in my current circumstances, and I often feel a bit stressed about things. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be here and living with hubby. Just.... ya know?
Off to dream of warm sandy beaches....
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