Bath takes the Blues Away

I have recently developed a new philosophy after an experience of severe melancholia/emotional sensitivity to anything due to over-stretching myself. It's the seasonal blues, not literally brought by season change but by perhaps hormonal change or just phase-changes like that of the moon. Momental lunacy? Ahhh whatever was the cause, i decided to take a long warm shower and a tub soak. The effect was instant. I felt better after a three-day-pouring-out-of-trash. And i am ready for more trash again.

Strangely, the next day i found Romana's words so true.

I began to feel the need to connect with women- occasional lunatics, moms, housewives, givers...and of course, speakers of language i could speak. I still cannot relate well to the women in my family here so i tend to stay up here on the 3rd floor the entire week and see them for a few minutes on a day we are about to go to Janzour. Oh my sad existence.
But the bath, the soak, water, suds and bubbles...and the luxury of 30 minutes alone - it was a blessing that came at 12 midnight.

Tips anyone?

am searching and wondering, so perhaps you could help.

a souk that sells cheap clothing textile and how much is cheap here?
(ribbons, tulle, chifon cloth)

a shop that sells furnitures (even plastic) for baby's room.

Libyan words for castor oil, essential oils

location of a bookstore selling books in english and children's books

location of a shop selling dvds, the original ones.

a good beauty saloon- where the hairdressers know how to cut and color hair. and how much they charge.
have been to one around the neighborhood and discovered i could style/trim my own hair better than they do. i was charged 7 LD. and i was horrified to see a highlghted hair of one costumer...it looks like a kindergarten's art project. omg!

i need to know these. apparently the women in my family do not know where these places are.

One Good Weekend Treat

l-r: the family man, his two boys, his nephew, his bestfriend


the family was treated by papa to the zoo and took along Sami's favorite cousin, Ahmed


the boys were so eager to touch the huge and walking "teddy bear" lol

Ahmed: "Did u like the popcorn?"

Sami: "Let's give him some more!"

this tiger was proudly trotting (even prouder than the lion who looks old, sick and tired and who refused a foto-shoot and opted to sleep) as the boys were kept amazed at how big, lean and snobbish he was.

feeding the pony with...popcorn!

this was my favorite sight...long necked, long legged, graceful, and most of all PINK!!!!

Super models...in pink and white, luminous, dazzling, i love them. i wanted to take two home but couldn't. sigh....

with Ami Dafer feeding the ostriches with popcorn, our signature feeds. lol.

another amusing and amazing sight for the boys...

this is a beauty. another favorite of mine. it's a divine art work. Mashallah!

hello there bear!

Papa, Leaf, Sam and Ahmed...all waiting for the bears to come closer.

It was a wonderful treat from husband dear though he informed me of his plan just a few hours before. Typical Libyan but sweet. We did not get to tour the entire zoo because the boys were getting hungry and we saw the rain coming. Dafer, my husband's friend came along to help us with the boys. He is such a sweet man (and nanny, lol) and we kept on hoping and praying he will finally find someone to love and who will love him back.

the rain came a few minutes after we finished our sandwiches. it was one good weekend.

and oh, husband dear got to take me out shopping with the boys the day before and i got myself two pairs of nice and comfortable maternity clothes for a good price of 85 LD.

just musings about everything

have been trying to get some peace and quiet in installlment terms today. have to chase the boys every now and then...
i need this time for myself every morning in order to have a good start- coffee, internet (checking mails, mesages, news, etc.) and a silent prayer.
found myself wanting to see Morocco and other exotic countries after viewing travel fotos of a friend in facebook.
found myself figuring out how to re arrange the bedroom to be more child-friendly and baby-friendly. we have a double-decked bed which the boys love to climb. we have a bed only Tarek sleep on because i sleep on the floor with the boys, using the foam mattress of the double deck beds. and there's the dresser which the drawers are always rasacked by the boys and sometimes i find them emptying my facial cream and other cosmetic bottles. they are trying new tricks now since the dresser top is already bare of anything, not even a hair brush.

they do have a very wide play-area filled with toys but they seem to be in need of something new every week- a new toy, a new trick, a new children's video to watch. i find myself stressed out thiking of new ways to entertain them. when i spend time with them either playing ro watcing videos, they always get all over me - wanting to ride my bulging tummy (i could not let them ride my back now for a horsey) or press it. i love their affection towards me but oh im thinking of the baby in my tummy too. funny, they call her "tweety" and i do not have any idea where they got that.

i've been making lots of lists again- on what to do, to organize, to buy, to research on the net about, etc...

i might be "nesting" already but i couldnt seem to do anything for i already have my hands so full with the boys and their ever growing need for everything. i am just waiting for the helper to come with tito a few weeks from now.

for today i have a menu to plan and a list of things to buy. tonight we are entertaining filipino friends at tito's flat in janzour and inshallah on friday we have Tarek's italian officemate and his wife as guests for dinner. i have practicaly no idea what they like to eat and that i can cook so i plan to play it safe and go stir fry some veggies perhaps and top it on some pasta...and let tarek grill some meat...i have to plan this.

and there's the closet...needs to be repaired or the doors redone so the boys won't be able to open them.
and there's some shopping to do later for some maternity outfits for me. this baby has been helping a lot for i have never been in shape and pregnant like this before. with \sam and \leaf i have always looked like a cow, but thank goodness for this pregnancy, i kept fit and slim and have less problem with the need for new clothing until now. my only problem is the waistline so i can still basically wear my house dresses. i can still even wear my strechable, low waist jeans. wow!

have to order Anew (of Avon) from my cousin back home. could not find the brand here. some brands from here like Olay and L'oreal doesn't seem to work well on my asian face. or it is because of the climate or my pregnancy, i dunno. i grew crow's feet under my eyes, and some miniature facial warts, creases and pre-mature wrinkles. my skin looks oily-dry, i could not determine the type anymore. inshallah on my next ob-visit (ahhh...we decided to go back to the old hospital and that male doctor for he is offering his service for free and to think, it is in a hi-tech, international hospital, so thank god for this and some good connections) i plan to inquire the derma clinic there about their services and the rate. back home for a regular facial, one can get it for a minimum of 10 dollars, and wart removal with laser costs about 50 dollars and this is done by the dermatologist herself. so i have yet to compare prices.

there are tons of things i wanted from home which cost a lot cheaper compared to the ones sold here. one can get a good brand of children's clothes for 10 dollars (like disney brands and they are original) which costs about 30 dinars here...and there's branded make-up, toiletries, textile, etc...
now i am thinking of opening a shop here...
so like Iman. (have to link here blog here.)

ahhh, plans, pursuits and plain headaches!