Today was just go go go from the beginning (trying to win a race sweet like cinammon....). Left in the morning and ran around the block to get some taxi money from the ATM without making me late for the taxi. Then I got to class, taught and played with the students, then I came back home (keep in mind these locations are way accross the city from each other). Called my coworker who had volunteered to take me to pick up my furniture in his SUV. He came, we went to the carpenter's. Turns out he's STILL behind in his work, so the furniture wont be ready til Tuesday. GRRR. So I went grocery shopping instead, came home, filled my fridge, did some cleaning and finally settled down.
Ok, well reading through the above paragraph it's pretty clear that I made it very succint when in actuality it was quite a busy day. I'm too tired to type everything out in details and all that, but I'm just glad I'm home, and it's nighttime, and I can chat with le boyfriend before I hit the sack.
The bed is beckoning and I must comply... after all, I took an oath to ser cortes y obediente :)
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Who'da Thunk?
I took my first Sabbath nap in a loooong time. It felt quite refreshing.
I had a practice that got cancelled on me last-minute so I immediately jumped at the chance of having a free Sabbath afternoon and took advantage of it as best as I knew how. Sabbath naps. Oh, what a wonderful thing :)
Woke up, listened to a sermon online, surfed the net, read up on some documents for work, and chatted with le boyfriend.
Pretty low-key, pretty much just the way I like it. I'm starting to turn into an old lady that enjoys staying home on Saturday nights and just reading or chatting or munching on popcorn while surfing the net.
Wow, who'da thunk?
I had a practice that got cancelled on me last-minute so I immediately jumped at the chance of having a free Sabbath afternoon and took advantage of it as best as I knew how. Sabbath naps. Oh, what a wonderful thing :)
Woke up, listened to a sermon online, surfed the net, read up on some documents for work, and chatted with le boyfriend.
Pretty low-key, pretty much just the way I like it. I'm starting to turn into an old lady that enjoys staying home on Saturday nights and just reading or chatting or munching on popcorn while surfing the net.
Wow, who'da thunk?
All the Time...
FRIDAY'S POST:
Phew! The week is over, what a feel-good moment. Tonight I was planning on listening to more sermons online but then Gera showed up and we ended up exchanging videos and sheet music for a music program we're organizing... while I simultaneously video-chatted with le boyfriend so it got too late to listen to anything and I decided to go to bed.
I pray tomorrow is filled with blessings and full enjoyment of the gift that is the Sabbath day. I don't know what I'd do without a Sabbath in my life. God is good, all the time. Before time was, he was good to us by establishing this wonderful gift into our user's guide for life.
The Psalmist but it best when he wrote: Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
Phew! The week is over, what a feel-good moment. Tonight I was planning on listening to more sermons online but then Gera showed up and we ended up exchanging videos and sheet music for a music program we're organizing... while I simultaneously video-chatted with le boyfriend so it got too late to listen to anything and I decided to go to bed.
I pray tomorrow is filled with blessings and full enjoyment of the gift that is the Sabbath day. I don't know what I'd do without a Sabbath in my life. God is good, all the time. Before time was, he was good to us by establishing this wonderful gift into our user's guide for life.
The Psalmist but it best when he wrote: Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
Oldie but Goody
THURSDAY'S POST:
Wow this week really flew by, it feels like it barely started and it's already almost over... phew that's a good thing though.
Anyhow... another uneventful day at work. My workload is starting to get a bit on the heavy side, but that keeps things interesting so I can't complain. Tomorrow the guy whose former position I now have will arrive from his days off to train me. I was recently informed that the amount of training I was supposed to receive over a couple of months will now be crammed into a week and a half because my trainer has been offered a position with another company and will be starting there soon. Umm, ok. Thanks for the warning.
So I've been up to my copetes in preparing to take on the roll full force, and it's been making me want July to get here very badly. I need a vacation already. I know, it seems as if I just went on one. But I need another one! lol
In honor of my longing for July to get here, I'd like to sing an oldie but goody... If you know the words, you can sing along.
El cielo esta encapotado
La lluvia empieza a caer
Las plantas estan contentas
Pues van a calmar su sed
Bienvenido mes de Julio
Con tu lluvia y con tu sol!
Y con tu bello arcoiris
Que habla de paz y de amor
Sigh...
Wow this week really flew by, it feels like it barely started and it's already almost over... phew that's a good thing though.
Anyhow... another uneventful day at work. My workload is starting to get a bit on the heavy side, but that keeps things interesting so I can't complain. Tomorrow the guy whose former position I now have will arrive from his days off to train me. I was recently informed that the amount of training I was supposed to receive over a couple of months will now be crammed into a week and a half because my trainer has been offered a position with another company and will be starting there soon. Umm, ok. Thanks for the warning.
So I've been up to my copetes in preparing to take on the roll full force, and it's been making me want July to get here very badly. I need a vacation already. I know, it seems as if I just went on one. But I need another one! lol
In honor of my longing for July to get here, I'd like to sing an oldie but goody... If you know the words, you can sing along.
El cielo esta encapotado
La lluvia empieza a caer
Las plantas estan contentas
Pues van a calmar su sed
Bienvenido mes de Julio
Con tu lluvia y con tu sol!
Y con tu bello arcoiris
Que habla de paz y de amor
Sigh...
The One with the Knock Knock Joke at the End
WEDNESDAY'S POST:
I was supposed to start running this week, but my shoes are rotten because they stayed tied up in a plastic bag during the time I was traveling and grew mildew the size of alfalfa sprouts while they were in there... so I'm gonna have to put it off for another week while I take them to the laundry service to get them washed and disinfected. SMH.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened today... just tried to get through a day productively while still feeling bogged down by the lazyness that a mid-week holiday brings.
Afterwork I met up with a friend who is interested in going to SWAU as an international student and helped him read through the requirements and application process he would have to endure. Whoa, getting into SWAU as an I20 student is no peace of cake.
I made sure to suggest to him that he consider TSU (Texas Southern University) the most lenient college for international students that I've ever heard of! lol
Anyways, I came home afterwards and caught up on some emails and fb and tried to do some trip-planning but it got too tiresome so I decided to just write a blogpost and call it a night :)
So knock knock
Who's there?
Whatchamacallit
Whatchamacallit who?
Watch, Imma call it a night.
Elisa Out.
I was supposed to start running this week, but my shoes are rotten because they stayed tied up in a plastic bag during the time I was traveling and grew mildew the size of alfalfa sprouts while they were in there... so I'm gonna have to put it off for another week while I take them to the laundry service to get them washed and disinfected. SMH.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened today... just tried to get through a day productively while still feeling bogged down by the lazyness that a mid-week holiday brings.
Afterwork I met up with a friend who is interested in going to SWAU as an international student and helped him read through the requirements and application process he would have to endure. Whoa, getting into SWAU as an I20 student is no peace of cake.
I made sure to suggest to him that he consider TSU (Texas Southern University) the most lenient college for international students that I've ever heard of! lol
Anyways, I came home afterwards and caught up on some emails and fb and tried to do some trip-planning but it got too tiresome so I decided to just write a blogpost and call it a night :)
So knock knock
Who's there?
Whatchamacallit
Whatchamacallit who?
Watch, Imma call it a night.
Elisa Out.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Lounging
TUESDAY'S POST:
So I slept til noon today, got up, lounged around, cooked an actual balanced meal and ate, then sat down to tighten my dreadlocks one by one. Took my sweet time so they came out good. What a leisurely day... I need a few more of these! Loved it. I didn't even leave the house or change out of my pjs. (well except for a quick run to the corner store to get some juice... yes, in my pgs. But my pjs look like workout clothes when worn outdoors... so leave me alone, heehehee.)
Other than that I was pretty unproductive other than some domestic activity such as cleaning up and cooking.
My hair turned out nice...
Overall I have zero complaints for a day such as today :)
So I slept til noon today, got up, lounged around, cooked an actual balanced meal and ate, then sat down to tighten my dreadlocks one by one. Took my sweet time so they came out good. What a leisurely day... I need a few more of these! Loved it. I didn't even leave the house or change out of my pjs. (well except for a quick run to the corner store to get some juice... yes, in my pgs. But my pjs look like workout clothes when worn outdoors... so leave me alone, heehehee.)
Other than that I was pretty unproductive other than some domestic activity such as cleaning up and cooking.
My hair turned out nice...
Overall I have zero complaints for a day such as today :)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Groggy Day
MONDAY'S POST:
Today I got a really early start to my morning. We had to get up at 4.30 am in order to make it into the city before the traffic jams started, so I was home by 6, wide awake, and didn't have to go to work for anothe 1.5 hrs. So I took my sweet time lazying around the house, chatted with le boyfriend, got ready, did some dishes, and overall an easygoing morning. No rushing around to make it out the door. Pretty sweet. Except, at work, I was so sleepy all day due to the fact that I had gone to bed late and gotten up so early.
The day dragged on a bit with me fighting my sleepiness but I ended up leaving 30 minutes early so I could take my fridge to the techinican, since I can't get him to commit to coming to the house to take a look at it. Anyhow. I lugged the thing over there and left it, he promised it'd be ready by noon tomorrow. Hopefully he keeps his word.
After that I came home, lounged around watched the movie 'Meet the Browns' (those movies Sabrina sent back in '08 are still going strong, lol) and chatted a bit more with le boyfriend before calling it a night.
Tomorrow is a national holiday here, so I get to sleep in and I finally will have some free time to tighten my locs. I'll also get to do some cleaning up around the place and some reading.
Sigh, thank you, Angolan government. If there's one thing you do right, it's to grant us so many random holidays during the year!!!
Elisa out.
Today I got a really early start to my morning. We had to get up at 4.30 am in order to make it into the city before the traffic jams started, so I was home by 6, wide awake, and didn't have to go to work for anothe 1.5 hrs. So I took my sweet time lazying around the house, chatted with le boyfriend, got ready, did some dishes, and overall an easygoing morning. No rushing around to make it out the door. Pretty sweet. Except, at work, I was so sleepy all day due to the fact that I had gone to bed late and gotten up so early.
The day dragged on a bit with me fighting my sleepiness but I ended up leaving 30 minutes early so I could take my fridge to the techinican, since I can't get him to commit to coming to the house to take a look at it. Anyhow. I lugged the thing over there and left it, he promised it'd be ready by noon tomorrow. Hopefully he keeps his word.
After that I came home, lounged around watched the movie 'Meet the Browns' (those movies Sabrina sent back in '08 are still going strong, lol) and chatted a bit more with le boyfriend before calling it a night.
Tomorrow is a national holiday here, so I get to sleep in and I finally will have some free time to tighten my locs. I'll also get to do some cleaning up around the place and some reading.
Sigh, thank you, Angolan government. If there's one thing you do right, it's to grant us so many random holidays during the year!!!
Elisa out.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Long-Overdue Visits
Music class was great today. The students are getting better and better at sight-reading, catching themselves when they're playing off-tune, and coordinating their rhythm. We also got a new saxophone player that already owns a saxophone, he's an older gentleman but a total beginner so we'll see how that goes. The little orchestra is growing and coming together nicely!
After class, I took a complete detour from my routine and caught a ride all the way to the boondocks where the Velosos live so I could spend the afternoon with them. It's been a looong time since I've seen them and Fofa is here so it was high time I came to visit and caught up with all that's been going on...
I've been here all afternoon, we went to visit some random aunt because it was her birthday and it turns out she was close friends with my parents back in the day when we used to live in Portugal. She was so happy to see me and sent many greetings their way... and I left there thinking 'what a small world'.
So I'm still here at the Velosos' (It was such a trek to get here that I decided to just spend the night and make my way back into the city early in the morning), typing away, browsing the net, and waiting to see if le boyfriend signs on to messenger before I collapse into a fatigued slumber.
See ya'll on the flip side (wherever that is...)
After class, I took a complete detour from my routine and caught a ride all the way to the boondocks where the Velosos live so I could spend the afternoon with them. It's been a looong time since I've seen them and Fofa is here so it was high time I came to visit and caught up with all that's been going on...
I've been here all afternoon, we went to visit some random aunt because it was her birthday and it turns out she was close friends with my parents back in the day when we used to live in Portugal. She was so happy to see me and sent many greetings their way... and I left there thinking 'what a small world'.
So I'm still here at the Velosos' (It was such a trek to get here that I decided to just spend the night and make my way back into the city early in the morning), typing away, browsing the net, and waiting to see if le boyfriend signs on to messenger before I collapse into a fatigued slumber.
See ya'll on the flip side (wherever that is...)
Music in the Air
Today was filled with music... lots of music during church service, as per usual, and then an awesome sacred concert in the afternoon. It was the closing program of the week-long sacred music workshops we've been having and they sure went out with a bang... Several church choirs had gotten together to form one mass choir and practiced with the visiting pianist and the results were quite phenomenal.
Afterwards I came home, had Eugenia over for a bit of more chitchat while sitting on suitcases/mattress, made myself some popcorn for dinner, and attempted to webcam chat with le boyfriend and talk on the phone with the fam, but internet signal was too low. It's just so annoying sometimes. Anyways, I ended up getting ready for bed at a reasonable time because I have to get up early in the morning for music lessons.
So there is the synopsis of my day...
have a great night, one and all!
Afterwards I came home, had Eugenia over for a bit of more chitchat while sitting on suitcases/mattress, made myself some popcorn for dinner, and attempted to webcam chat with le boyfriend and talk on the phone with the fam, but internet signal was too low. It's just so annoying sometimes. Anyways, I ended up getting ready for bed at a reasonable time because I have to get up early in the morning for music lessons.
So there is the synopsis of my day...
have a great night, one and all!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Ma Cherie Armoir
Man, I was sooo looking forward to getting my closet from the carpenter today... I'm ready to put away all these clothes in an actual organized fashion and stowing away the suitcases... HOWEVER the carpenter made the executive decision to wait for some kinda wood that he prefers to work with than the one he had at hand, so he pushed the work back by a week. He didn't even tell me... I showed up at the workshop this afternoon after work all eager to get my awesome closet and he wasn't even there. I had to call him and find out what was going on. SO mad at him.
I really gotta get this place in order already, people are starting to visit and they have to sit on suitcases. In Nelitos case, who called me at 1 a.m. on Wednesday night telling me he was on the way to my place to crash for the night before he drove back to Benguela in the morning, he ended up sleeping on the mattress while I slept on the big cardboard box that my stove came in...
It's time to get a couch. Or more like a loveseat, because a couch would NOT fit in this living room hahaha.
Anyhow, today I came home, changed, and listened to David Asscherick on audioverse.org (this is definitely going to be part of my Friday evening routine now. Such refreshing messages.)
Nothing else much happened today. Chatted a bit with Dina and RaeRae on facebook and now I'm ready to call it a night... it's been a long week!
Hopefully I'll be able to get my beloved closet in here in one week's time and then there will be new pics to post :)
I really gotta get this place in order already, people are starting to visit and they have to sit on suitcases. In Nelitos case, who called me at 1 a.m. on Wednesday night telling me he was on the way to my place to crash for the night before he drove back to Benguela in the morning, he ended up sleeping on the mattress while I slept on the big cardboard box that my stove came in...
It's time to get a couch. Or more like a loveseat, because a couch would NOT fit in this living room hahaha.
Anyhow, today I came home, changed, and listened to David Asscherick on audioverse.org (this is definitely going to be part of my Friday evening routine now. Such refreshing messages.)
Nothing else much happened today. Chatted a bit with Dina and RaeRae on facebook and now I'm ready to call it a night... it's been a long week!
Hopefully I'll be able to get my beloved closet in here in one week's time and then there will be new pics to post :)
Who Will be a Witness?
THURSDAY'S POST:
Uh, how come the teacher asked me out to dinner?
He's a married man. He's in a professional setting. And he asked me out to dinner. He's NOT serious. What's worse, he's one of the best know producers and pianists of the Novo Tempo ministry. Way to witness, dude. SO mad at him...
Anyways, class went well today aside from that disturbing factor. Oh, also, I didn't get to appear on the talk show after all because the confirmation from the production team was too last minute to bring together the equipment for the performance... so last night the professor and the event organizer just went and got interviewed and there was no song performed.
Hmmm what else? Oh nothing much, I guess. I'm tired. Stayed up too late last night chatting with le boyfriend. But it was definitely worth it :)
Anyways that's all for today.
Hope you all have a great day!
Uh, how come the teacher asked me out to dinner?
He's a married man. He's in a professional setting. And he asked me out to dinner. He's NOT serious. What's worse, he's one of the best know producers and pianists of the Novo Tempo ministry. Way to witness, dude. SO mad at him...
Anyways, class went well today aside from that disturbing factor. Oh, also, I didn't get to appear on the talk show after all because the confirmation from the production team was too last minute to bring together the equipment for the performance... so last night the professor and the event organizer just went and got interviewed and there was no song performed.
Hmmm what else? Oh nothing much, I guess. I'm tired. Stayed up too late last night chatting with le boyfriend. But it was definitely worth it :)
Anyways that's all for today.
Hope you all have a great day!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tickling Them Ivories
I'm so excited: Last night I attended a music workshop from a master piano player that came from Brazil and is holding these workshops for the community at the Central church. At the end of the session, during Q&A time, I asked for advice as someone who has been classicaly trained, limited to strictly reading music, and wants to foray into improvisational piano playing (aka 'playing by ear'). He said well if you already know the theory, you know how to read, you know how to play, you're a more specific case... I'd have to spend a specific amount of time with you just to give you some tips and then you can take it and run with it. I was like, ok... is there any way we can do that?
Well, he's here only for this week, and he's booked solid for the whole time he'll be here. So we spoke some more, and at the end he ended up talking to the guy that worked out all the scheduling for the event so that they shortened the Friday workshop by one hour, so that we could meet on Friday from 3-5, have some one-on-one time, and he could teach me the ropes of improvisational piano playing. It's gonna be SOOO awesome!
He also promised to send me additional material and exercises by email so I can keep developing my improvisational skills once I get started. Dina, you better believe I'm gonna be taking notes (no pun intended, lol) and gleaning all the knowledge I possibly can... so get ready because when I see you again we WILL be sitting down at a piano so I can impart some knowledge :)
Well, he's here only for this week, and he's booked solid for the whole time he'll be here. So we spoke some more, and at the end he ended up talking to the guy that worked out all the scheduling for the event so that they shortened the Friday workshop by one hour, so that we could meet on Friday from 3-5, have some one-on-one time, and he could teach me the ropes of improvisational piano playing. It's gonna be SOOO awesome!
He also promised to send me additional material and exercises by email so I can keep developing my improvisational skills once I get started. Dina, you better believe I'm gonna be taking notes (no pun intended, lol) and gleaning all the knowledge I possibly can... so get ready because when I see you again we WILL be sitting down at a piano so I can impart some knowledge :)
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Before to the After
TUESDAY'S POST:
So today was pretty much uneventful except for the fact that I went to pick out some furniture for the room. I really need to buy a closet/chest set to put away my clothes so I can empty and clean out the living room.
I haven't had a closet in almost 2 years, and I'm honestly tired of having to take out stuff from suitcases, puttting stuff in, looking for separate items to put together an outfit, keeping track of the dirty laundry vs. the clean clothes, and having to iron so much because everything gets crushed from being stuffed in suitcases.
However, being that I AM in Luanda and I simply cannot affort to buy things as I would in a normal city, I had to go find a carpenter to make me a closet and a chest of drawers from scratch. Oh and a bed. A tall bed so I can store my suitcases underneath. I gotta get creative, since this place has NO kind of storage spaces anywhere. No closets, no cabinets, no pantry, no laundry room, no NOTHING. Anyhow I was able to find a pretty good deal, so I placed my order and it'll all be done in 2 weeks. The best part is that I got to say exactly how I wanted (well from their range of choices, at least) each piece of furniture to look. once I tackle the bedroom furniture, I'm going for painting the walls and installing a bar and stools in the living room/dining room. But that's a story for another day (more like a story for another paycheck...)
Oh! I amost forgot! I have some pictures that show just how tiny the place is. I think I'm gonna start calling it The Tent. It's so small I feel like I'm camping in it instead of living in it, lol. I know it seems ridiculous, but don't laugh... It's quite an accomplishment to find such a place for such a low price in this city! Anyhow... without further ado, I present to you, The Tent!
If I stand with my arms spread out, I almost span the whole room. Note that this is both the living rom AND dining room. hahaha
The itty bitty hallway of a bathroom. I think I'm gonna call that section of my living quarters the shoebox...
I present to you, my kitchen!
And last but not least, my bedroom! Please ignore the odd neon lighting. And the gaping cement-filled repair on the wall.
Isn't it lovely?!? Well it isn't yet... but it will be! I already have all the changes I want to make in my head. It's just a matter of implementing them. It's gonna be so cute when I'm done with it! If only I could get enough money right NOW to get everything going. Sigh. Anyways, I guess the journey is half the fun.
Stay tuned for the AFTER pictures coming soon (hopefully) to a blog post near you!
Good Times...
MONDAY'S POST:
Nothing much happened today... Just getting used to my slightly changed routine of getting up early, getting ready, walking to work, getting out of work late, walking home, doing a bit of home improvement stuff (unclogging some drains, exterminating roaches/centipedes/spiders/etc), catching up with my online stuff (blogs/facebook/emails/etc), connecting the U.S. phone in case someone wants to call me in the middle of the night (lol) and getting ready for bed. Anyways, today was so uneventful that I don't have anything to tell you that wouldn't bore you to tears, so instead, I'm gonna leave you with some long overdue pictures of my training in the U.S.
I entitle these:
Good Times with the Staff!
Hard at work inspecting some warehouses:
Helicopter overhead transporting a crew to the rig:
Night out on the town on our last night in Lafayette... my first introduction into the coolness that is Zydeco music :)
(courtesy of Louisiana's International Music Festival)
That's all for today!
Tootles!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Spick and Span
SUNDAY'S POST:
Oh man, I'm gonna be so sore tomorrow... I did so much cleaning today... until the place was ready for me to move in!
Well it still needs a lot of work... but I scrubbed the bedroom, the bathroom, and the kitchen with ammonia (you never whether or not the previous tenants where hygienic) from top to bottom. The living room is another story... it's full of all my junk so I swept a little bit around the suitcases and left it at that...
Next order of business will be to get a closet (houses here don't come with closets... one buys that separately) so I can put away all my clothes and store all my suitcases somewhere so I can wipe down the living room as well.
Other than that, Operation Move to My Own Place In The City is a go!
Tonight is my first night spent here. It's official, I've moved in!
Here's a few pics of the progress :)
Cleaning and jamming to the Gaithers:)
All my cleaning supplies...
Cleaning from top to bottom...
Ready for bed!
Oh, darnit... I forgot to buy a pillow!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Talk Show Appearance
So today after sociedad de jovenes, one of the music directors that's putting together some music workshops for the church and community folk asked me to join them to practice a song he just wrote. We ran through the song a couple of times and then he told me that he was gonna need my help on Thursday. What's on Thursday?, I asked. He said, we have an appearance on Hora Quente, a late night talk show in the style of Late Night with David Letterman (or whoever the host is) where different well known personalities get interviewed and stuff...
Anyways somehow he landed an interview in the show in order to promote the workshops and he was invited to perform a song, so he asked me to tag along to add some of my violin ad libs. This is the second time I'll be appearing on a show on TPA (the national channel) if you remember correctly. The first time was to get interviewed about the vegetarian lifestyle... and now it's to help promote the music workshops put on by the Central church.
Is it just me, or does it seem a little too easy to get your 15 minutes in Luanda? lol
Anyways somehow he landed an interview in the show in order to promote the workshops and he was invited to perform a song, so he asked me to tag along to add some of my violin ad libs. This is the second time I'll be appearing on a show on TPA (the national channel) if you remember correctly. The first time was to get interviewed about the vegetarian lifestyle... and now it's to help promote the music workshops put on by the Central church.
Is it just me, or does it seem a little too easy to get your 15 minutes in Luanda? lol
Blinking the Night Away
FRIDAY'S POST:
Well today I finished buying everything that was absolutely essential for the big move: Kitchen utensils and bedsheets. Everything is in place. It's time to make the big move. Tonight I still gotta spend the night at the Tadeu's because by the time I leave work I wont have enough time to clean up and organize the place and make it livable before Sabbath start. So I guess I wont be spending my first Sabbath at my new place quite yet... but I do plan on spending all Sunday afternoon cleaning and organizing and all that jazz so I should be able to start out the week there.
Nothing much happened today other than that. Oh except last night I had the most interrupted sleep I've ever had... it was so weird. First I fell into a deep sleep on the couch (I guess I'm still jet-lagged...?...) and after about an hour or so Tia Susana woke me up to go to my room. Then I fell asleep for another while and then Eddy woke me up clambering over me trying to get on the other sideo the bed because he wanted to sleep with me. Then he kept trying to chitchat and when I finally got him to be quiet and fall asleep, I fell back asleep. Then Chinha, who is staying with us these days because her baby has malaria and Tia is an expert at treating it since all of her family members have had it several times, came to the room and woke me up so I could get Eddy out of my room and take him back to his mom's room because there's a mosquito net on that bed and it's malaria season. So I got up, carried him the other room, laid him down, went back to my room... and fell BACK into a deep sleep. A couple of hours later I woke up to Eddy climbing all over me AGAIN. He had woken up, discovered that he had been moved against his will, and sleepily stumbled his way back to my room while stubbornly declaring that he was going to sleep with me. I just blinked at him in the darkness and exhaustedly dropped my head into the pillow, accepting defeat. Another while later, I woke up due to the urgent need for release my bladder felt. Then back to sleep again. And yet ANOTHER while later I woke up an hour earlier than I meant to, because apparently I had set the alarm clock at the wrong time by accident. I was so mad. The whole night I just kept thinking UHN. BELIEVABLE...
So anyways... that's the story of my day. And my night. Please try to contain the excitement that these thrilling stories of mine most undoubtedly cause you to feel. LOL.
Tootles!
Well today I finished buying everything that was absolutely essential for the big move: Kitchen utensils and bedsheets. Everything is in place. It's time to make the big move. Tonight I still gotta spend the night at the Tadeu's because by the time I leave work I wont have enough time to clean up and organize the place and make it livable before Sabbath start. So I guess I wont be spending my first Sabbath at my new place quite yet... but I do plan on spending all Sunday afternoon cleaning and organizing and all that jazz so I should be able to start out the week there.
Nothing much happened today other than that. Oh except last night I had the most interrupted sleep I've ever had... it was so weird. First I fell into a deep sleep on the couch (I guess I'm still jet-lagged...?...) and after about an hour or so Tia Susana woke me up to go to my room. Then I fell asleep for another while and then Eddy woke me up clambering over me trying to get on the other sideo the bed because he wanted to sleep with me. Then he kept trying to chitchat and when I finally got him to be quiet and fall asleep, I fell back asleep. Then Chinha, who is staying with us these days because her baby has malaria and Tia is an expert at treating it since all of her family members have had it several times, came to the room and woke me up so I could get Eddy out of my room and take him back to his mom's room because there's a mosquito net on that bed and it's malaria season. So I got up, carried him the other room, laid him down, went back to my room... and fell BACK into a deep sleep. A couple of hours later I woke up to Eddy climbing all over me AGAIN. He had woken up, discovered that he had been moved against his will, and sleepily stumbled his way back to my room while stubbornly declaring that he was going to sleep with me. I just blinked at him in the darkness and exhaustedly dropped my head into the pillow, accepting defeat. Another while later, I woke up due to the urgent need for release my bladder felt. Then back to sleep again. And yet ANOTHER while later I woke up an hour earlier than I meant to, because apparently I had set the alarm clock at the wrong time by accident. I was so mad. The whole night I just kept thinking UHN. BELIEVABLE...
So anyways... that's the story of my day. And my night. Please try to contain the excitement that these thrilling stories of mine most undoubtedly cause you to feel. LOL.
Tootles!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Makin' Moves
YAY!!!
The C.A. aka the [self-procclaimed] coolest chick on the planet has allowed this challenge to go on! I'm still in the running to become Africa's next top blogger.
So on to the news for today: I bought a mattress, a stove, and a gas tank today (the gas tank is for the stove. It's a gas stove. Stay with me, people). Anyways so what started out as a lunchtime hour errand turned into a lunchtime 2.5-hour errand... but at least I was able to get everything. Things here in Angola take FOREVER to get done, since one has to deal with horrible traffic, scarce resources, long lines at the bank, etc. But thank goodness everything worked out and I'll be able to finish moving in this weekend. It hurts my heart that I paid for half of March and all of April on my lease but only get to move into it in May. Wow. But anyways at least it served as storage while I was traveling :)
So I'm gonna stow my new purchases in the apartment tonight... tomorrow I buy pots and pans and a couple of sheets and pillows for the mattres... and an iron (yes, Dina, I DO iron my clothes) and I'll be good to go! I believe I'll be spending my first Sabbath at my apartment! Looking forward to it indeed!
Oh, I've got some pictures of it in my camera I need to upload. Hopefully I'll get to do it soon but I'm waiting on a new laptop since my old one is now resting in peace :'(
Tootles!
The C.A. aka the [self-procclaimed] coolest chick on the planet has allowed this challenge to go on! I'm still in the running to become Africa's next top blogger.
So on to the news for today: I bought a mattress, a stove, and a gas tank today (the gas tank is for the stove. It's a gas stove. Stay with me, people). Anyways so what started out as a lunchtime hour errand turned into a lunchtime 2.5-hour errand... but at least I was able to get everything. Things here in Angola take FOREVER to get done, since one has to deal with horrible traffic, scarce resources, long lines at the bank, etc. But thank goodness everything worked out and I'll be able to finish moving in this weekend. It hurts my heart that I paid for half of March and all of April on my lease but only get to move into it in May. Wow. But anyways at least it served as storage while I was traveling :)
So I'm gonna stow my new purchases in the apartment tonight... tomorrow I buy pots and pans and a couple of sheets and pillows for the mattres... and an iron (yes, Dina, I DO iron my clothes) and I'll be good to go! I believe I'll be spending my first Sabbath at my apartment! Looking forward to it indeed!
Oh, I've got some pictures of it in my camera I need to upload. Hopefully I'll get to do it soon but I'm waiting on a new laptop since my old one is now resting in peace :'(
Tootles!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Home, home on the range...
Ok so I'm back at home... (I use the term 'home' very loosely right now, since I'm still squatting at the relatives' until I get my apartment in livable conditions).
I realize I have lost this challenge. I can accept defeat. But I wont go down without first stating that I put up a good fight. I wrote every day during the time that I WASN'T away on a business trip or vacation. I made blogging a part of my daily routine. So all in all, I think what la Sabrinota set out to do by giving me this challenge was actually accomplished. She got me to form the habit of updating my blog often... or at least more often than 4 or 5 times a year.
So anyways, I'm mad that I didn't think to write into the initial challenge reply the disclaimer "only applicable when physically in Angola". Otherwise, I SOOO would've won this challenge. And I'd be cobrando Sabrinota my winning prize. But alas, I hold my head high and I raise my fist as a gesture honor for a fight well-fought. I will continue to post daily and maybe the Challenge Administrator will have enough consideration by letting me include the above-mentioned disclaimer into the original challenge reply... in which case, I'd TOTALLY still be in the race... but alas... it's all up to the mercy of the C.A. now.
At times like this, the following lyrics come to mind...
Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darling please don't [disqualify] me, giiirl.
Ain't too proud to pleaaaad, Kitty Kitty, please don't [disqualify] me, girl!
Anyways. I'm back at work, and already throwing myself into a pile of stuff to deal with (expense reports from the trip, training sessions to prep for, etc). I'm also unusually hungry even though I had a good dinner last night and a healthy breakfast this morning. I think the U.S. spoiled my belly into being satisfied only with largely-portioned-and-hormone-filled foods.
So the adventures shall begin soon again.
For now, I'll say it's good to be back... but I already miss my fam, my girls, and my boy.
Have a lovely day!
I realize I have lost this challenge. I can accept defeat. But I wont go down without first stating that I put up a good fight. I wrote every day during the time that I WASN'T away on a business trip or vacation. I made blogging a part of my daily routine. So all in all, I think what la Sabrinota set out to do by giving me this challenge was actually accomplished. She got me to form the habit of updating my blog often... or at least more often than 4 or 5 times a year.
So anyways, I'm mad that I didn't think to write into the initial challenge reply the disclaimer "only applicable when physically in Angola". Otherwise, I SOOO would've won this challenge. And I'd be cobrando Sabrinota my winning prize. But alas, I hold my head high and I raise my fist as a gesture honor for a fight well-fought. I will continue to post daily and maybe the Challenge Administrator will have enough consideration by letting me include the above-mentioned disclaimer into the original challenge reply... in which case, I'd TOTALLY still be in the race... but alas... it's all up to the mercy of the C.A. now.
At times like this, the following lyrics come to mind...
Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darling please don't [disqualify] me, giiirl.
Ain't too proud to pleaaaad, Kitty Kitty, please don't [disqualify] me, girl!
Anyways. I'm back at work, and already throwing myself into a pile of stuff to deal with (expense reports from the trip, training sessions to prep for, etc). I'm also unusually hungry even though I had a good dinner last night and a healthy breakfast this morning. I think the U.S. spoiled my belly into being satisfied only with largely-portioned-and-hormone-filled foods.
So the adventures shall begin soon again.
For now, I'll say it's good to be back... but I already miss my fam, my girls, and my boy.
Have a lovely day!
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