Some censuring Readers will scornfully say, why hath this Lady writ her own life? Since none cares to know whose daughter she was or whose wife she is, or how she was bred, or what fortunes she had, or how she lived, or what humor or disposition she was of? I answer that is true, that 'tis to no purpose to the Readers, but it is to the Authoress, because I write it for my own sake, not theirs. ~Margaret Cavendish in 1655

Sunday, August 28, 2005

blahs

This is just a blah sort of day in the 'Desh. My honey Rana came down for the weekend and we talked alot about the future, marriage and the whole kit and caboodle. He is going to talk again to his parents about our marriage. I've found out that they are ok with me, just they don't like my religion. They'd be happy as a lark if I converted to Islam, but since that's not going to happen, I vote they deal with it. Too bad there is no voting on this. Unfortunately, this is really upsetting my honey and he pretty much has to deal with it alone. I hate that he has this burden, but since my family is really accepting of his religion, background and etc., I don't have to deal with half of the crap that he's going through. Hopefully, everyone will come around on this. We'll see.

Work is going on ok. I have a 128-page report to edit for gross errors, but I'm actually enjoying the task. The funding request, that made last week such a beast, has been couriered off to Global Fund and peace again reigns on my floor. Yeah for that.

OH!!! I met little Nosim Sama (Rana's middle sister Lata's baby girl) and she has the sweetest face! She has really deformed hands and feet and legs curl up way more than a baby's should (from the spina bifida), but she's still a cutie. I took some pictures, so when I actually finish the roll, I'll try to get it on here. Cross your fingers!

Well, I have to plan for a mini-vacation for the middle of September, to keep my visa valid. I'm thinking a quick plane trip to Calcutta for a long weekend of good eating and shopping. I can buy my Eid gifts there and maybe a little something for myself. :) There are so many cute clothes in India - it's rather disgusting! Let me know if anyone has a suggestion about the vacation. I'm up for a little spoiling. Or just something beautiful to see and experience.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

back to everyday life

Well, things are back to normal around here. The hartal finished off with a whimper (for now) and everyone has settled into their everyday routines. I was requested to work all weekend, so cancelled meeting with Rana this weekend. I came into the office and they didn't have anything for me to do, so wasted time was abundant. I don't know when I'll go home today, since everything that 6 colleagues write has to go through me first. That is not going to be fun! I hope that they don't expect me to pull an all-nighter, since I couldn't even do that in university! However, Rana will be coming next Thursday for the weekend and that makes me very, very happy. I haven't seen him in a month. It's so hard to be without him as daily influence. He adds a good balance in my life.

As for the family, everything on that front seems to be forming a new normal. Mom's Cousin Lee Ann just got back from a lovely trip to Alaska and has only lovely things to say about it. I think I'll be smart like her, and only visit in the summer! I really hate the cold, so its someplace I will never in my right mind move to. Visit, yes; live, no.

More family news: Grandma F. is on the recovery list and seems to be in good spirits. Aunt Lisa seems to be coming 'round. Cousin Jamie is moving soon to the farm and kudos for her... moving 2 kids, herself, a small menagery of animals (I couldn't keep track if I tried), her man, keeping sane and being pregnant to boot. She amazes me on a regular basis. Mom and Dad are being good Aunt and Uncle and helping out. And everyone else seems to be working at something or another. Yeah for the family!!!

And on the friend front: Princess Megan is getting back to her new normal also. She doing great in her treatments, but if you don't believe me, just click on her page under Links. Sweetie is going through a rough patch. Boy trouble is never a good thing. I wish I was home to order in pizza and Ben & Jerry's with him and just veg. Lay like broccoli. Also, a belated BD shout out to Friend Alison. She is once again 25. You go for the gold, honey!

Take care folks!

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

don't panic

There was multiple bombings here in Bangladesh. Two people have been reported killed and 150+ injured. I was working in my cube and the power went out for about 10-15 minutes. I didn't hear anything or feel anything shake, so it wasn't a very powerful bomb. The only thing that is really disturbing my everyday existence is the lack of public transport this morning. The roads were really empty and I had to pay extra for my ride into work (but I have to take into account that it was raining, which always means you have to pay more). I don't know if there will be hartals (general strikes), since a radical Islamic group might be behind it and not the political opposition. We'll see. But that won't stop me from coming to work all weekend! No fun for me this weekend and 10 hour work days. Let it begin!

Take care!

Sunday, August 14, 2005

good news finally!!!

OK, campers, we have some good news! Grandma F. made it through surgery ok and has a new hip to prove it. Yeah for her! Also, my Honey Rana is coming this Thursday for a much-needed visit. His sister Lata is coming with an entourage on Wednesday (with siblings Diba and Raja and Baby Sama), so I'll finally get to meet Baby Sama. It'll be nice to visit with normal folks here in Dhaka. I plan on going over for tea on a regular basis, so it'll just be like living in Rajshahi again.

Other good news is that Friend Allison got a new job and moved to new digs! Good for her!!! Check out her good news by clicking on her link on the left side of the screen.

Well, today is a half-day hartal (strike), but Roomie Aliza and I both came into work. I forget what the hartal is about, but that's normal for me. It might be over the mobile court that is going around and looking into all the food factories and resturants and closing them down if they are unhygenic or putting crap in the food to make cheaper to produce or something to that affect. The factory owners and restauranteers are protesting it, even though the mobile court has found really disgusting stuff, like fertilizer in cookies and spoiled food being mixed with good food to disguise the fact that it's gone off. This means I'm only buying foreign cookies from now on!

Take care and enjoy sanitary restaurants!

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

the cookie is a crumblin'

Well, more bad news fly my way this morning. Grandma F. fell at the office and broke her right hip. She's in St. Rita's in Lima, OH and the surgery should be Thursday. I'm not sure what the doctor is going to do, but I'm hoping for the best. I don't know where she is going to convalesce, but I don't think it'll be at home. Keep her in your prayers, everyone. This is the same grandma that just lost her son last week, so she's not doing the best this month.

I think that my cookie consumption is never going to level out at this rate, let alone go back down. Ugh.

On a happier note, so that you might actually want to visit here again, 58 fresh-faced Peace Corps Trainees flew into Dhaka yesterday. There was a meet and greet at the office last evening and I caught up with older Volunteers and met the newbies. They are so young! And not jaded in the least. Give them time and experience and they will be!

Take care folks and send some good news if you got some to spare!!!

Monday, August 08, 2005

Rain drops are falling on my head....

So, it's raining here without a hint that its going to stop in the near future. I think that the rainy season is going out like a lion this year, so I'm prepping for flooding. Extra food stocked up with water bottles full to the brim and waiting for days that we won't go outside at all. It isn't helping the mildew problem, but I know that the sun will come out to play one day in the near future. Or at least I hope it does.

New Roomie Aliza is dealing well with the rain, so that is a good thing. I think that she is getting bored, but that is just part of living in the 'Desh during the rainy season or really any season for that matter. As an only child, I can pretty much entertain myself to a large extent. Only after living here can I honestly say that I have felt boredom. This only happens when your house is clean (or as clean as your going to get it), the laundry is done, there is nothing to cook and you've read every single book in the house, including the Bible and dictionary, you have nothing to write in your diary and you're not tired enough to take a nap again.

OK, campers, enjoy being hot and dry and entertained. Take care.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

life and going to hell in the handbasket

You know... some days its really not worth getting out of bed. It's been like that for a week or actually closer to a month. It's really upped my cookie consumption.

*Found out that Friend Princess Megan has Hodgkins a week before her wedding. She's doing good and really positive, so a big yeah for her! She's made promises of pics of the new pre-chemo hair-do, so I'm looking forward to this. This, of course, will go next to her wedding pics that shows the world that she is super-shundor (beautiful).

*On the 22nd of July, my Honey Rana's middle sister Lata had an emergency C-section and gave birth to Nosim Sama who has spina bifida (of the two forms, the bad one). It's questionable if she will survive. This is what you get in the thirld world... prenatal care that sucks if you can even get any. And if she does survive to adulthood, she'll have survived not only her disability, but also a culture that is not open to such things (most people who have any physical/mental disabilities are either locked away or are beggars).

*Then on the 2nd of August, my dad's younger brother, Uncle Fred, had a heart attack and died about 12 hours later. He was 8 days short of his 54th birthday. I can't hardly imagine what the rest of my family is going through. Today is the viewing and tomorrow is the funeral. Please keep his wife, kids, grandkids, mom and other assorted family members in your thoughts and prayers.

*On top of all this, I really don't like my job currently. Small potatoes in the great scheme of things, I know, but I spend 40+ hours a week doing it, so that's a chunck of time I'm doing something I don't like. Not cool, so I'm going to do something about it. As soon as I have a plan. Glitch. (Shhh... don't tell Mom, she gets upset when she thinks that I might, potentially, be unemployed!)

So, campers, count your blessings one by one. Until I can see through the fog, it's cookie time for me. Ugh... my ass is going to be so huge, it's not going to be funny.