The Sound Of Silence

Another night of silence .This will make number six.It is becoming common place to have a peaceful nights sleep these days .We had gunfire just several days in our neighborhood but it was a short burst. I think the boy has either run out of bullets , or he has surrendered his gun as all citizens have been requested to do .They have options of course of joining the army or the police force if they still want to do armed duty .Right now there are groups of,  I think the army or the militia , not to sure which , but groups are going door to door gathering up arms.It won't be long before the gun/gun firing at random situation will be under control .Already about town you can see men and young guys getting their cars unconverted from a fighting war machine back to a civilian car .Nice. They did an amazing job fighting as they did with so little training and arms.But normal is nice too .

Went to the larger grocery store today and was dismayed over how empty the selves remain. It was almost impossible to find a simple thing like shaving cream .Had to go to several stores before finding any for Moe.But on the other hand , more and more of the food items we had taken for granted are beginning to appear. I found something I haven't seen in two yesterday . The wise businessman would load up in Tunis with all sorts of food items for here and make a killing. Food is still very expensive here with prices continuing to raise by the hour seemingly.

The Eid is coming this weekend . This is the celebration where Muslims sacrifice a sheep.I have heard different people say that the price of a sheep is anywhere from 900 dinars to as low as 450 dinars . This is for a Libyan sheep which most Libyans prefer. It is reported that the government has imported some sheep from Eastern Europe for people that want or can not afford the more expensive sheep at a much lower price than local sheep.We are leaving the whole thing up to our son this year.

Our weather has been very mild this past week, cool at night and comfortable in the day with sunny skies . But right now I can hear loud thunder booming occasionally in the distance.I have become spoiled by all this rain we have so early this year.Today driving past a field I could smell fresh cut grass.A unheard of thing for this time of year in Tripoli area.That is a late winter, early spring thing.Imagine grass tall enough to need cutting in the first week of November in Libya !Farmers are preparing their fields for winter crops.Not too many fields were planted for the autumn crops this year because of the war. Now , they will need a work force to harvest the fields when the crops ripen.Most of the guest workers went back to their countries when the war broke out . They have been slow to return.

Since NATO has ended it its mandate here the no fly zone has been lifted. As of now, only Haj pilgrims are flying out of Libya/ Tripoli, but reportedly some commercial fights will be allowed to begin flying in to Tripoli  starting next week .At least that is my understanding.I might be incorrect on this matter. It seems to be a " blurred" subject. I do know of different friends returning this week end though from abroad.

So, all in all it seems progress is being made on all fronts.There is a new prime minister that has hopes running high.New political parties are being formed here and there. New activists groups are coming together to test the new governments polices toward various civil rights issues that they feel  are long over due to be addressed. It is an interesting time in Libya.A very unique time .Some times it feels like not just Alice feel down the rabbits hole , but all of Libya too.

Excitment In The Condo On The Seaside

 
It's raining.It's pouring. The old witch is snoring .
Lovey , lovely rain falling ,singing a siren sing .
I wish I could live inside a rain cloud .

Ok , here's what really happened tonight .After a day filled with low black clouds that baptized us off and on, the evening brought far off rumblings and flashy illusions of misty light in distant sky , occasionally we would have fleeting showers to punctuate the night.As the storm drew closer and closer the misty light became like popping flash bulbs, blindingly brilliant  . The Condo shook as the rumbling morphed into shaking earthquakes

 of sound.The cat ran to hide under the bed seeking refuge .We turned off the electricity , in hopes that the lighting wouldn't search for a way into the Condo.Moe and I sat mesmerized watching the show  being played out in the inky black sky.

The tempest came to a crashing crescendo just as the neighbors began to pound on our door . Moe went to open the door and in doing so allowed a cascading waterfall that was tumbling down the stairs from the roof of the building into our apartment.The neighbors had come to tell us the building was drowning .The drains on the roof top became clogged from the debris the rain had washed into the drain pipes.Only one way for the water to escape it's confinement on the roof top , down ; down the stairs and into any apartment it could take sanctuary , flooding all in it's mad dash.

There was much shouting. Excited rushing to and fro, up and down the stairs with giant squeegees on long handles , mops , brooms,and clothes to help soak up the waterfall .Freezing cold water flowing like a river around the tops of ankles,while drenching clothing .An entire hour was devoted to bring order from chaos.I am sure tomorrow  will see all manner of carpets , drapery , and soft furniture hung out on balconies to dry .

Several blessings came from this near disaster ...... the earth was given a much needed drink of fresh water . We were provided a sound and light show of  unmeasurable beauty. The neighbors came together as a united group to solve a common problem . But the one I love the most ... the building was washed from head to toe in sweet water and is sparkling clean .WOW , you just can't buy excitement like this anywhere .

Painting by :Barbara Kacicek , " Late Rain".

                                        Here is a video by Mystic Moods Orchestra: " One Stormy Night", for you to enjoy.                                                                                                                                                                                              

A Gift From Allah

Today Allah gifted us with a wonderful present of clouds and rain. There was a cool wind from the north. My soul absorbed the rain like a sponge absorbs water. I felt like I had stumbled onto a oasis after wandering lost in the desert  for so long .

A drop of rain fell onto my lips as I hung my head out the kitchen window to let the rain fall on my face. I was tempted to lick it from my lips but remembered I was fasting. The temptation was strong , almost over whelming. Until I realized this was a test of my faith and the strength of my fast. I let it trickle down my face to my chin. By now my entire face was glistening from the rain.I pulled my head back from the clouds, turned to the stove to cook our dinner, feeling refreshed physically and spiritually.


 Later, I walked into the living room to tell Moe something. I saw it was glowing in a pink orange light. I looked out the balcony to find the source of this light. It was the sunset .

Some Of This And That

Thought I would ask if any of you here in Libya have heard about the anthrax rumors going around ? Some one told me that the professors in the university was informed that there was a out break in the Ben Ghazi region of Libya . They were told NOT to buy or eat any mutton or lamb from Libya . That even though the sheep had been vaccinated , it was unsafe to eat them for the next six months .Then a different source was told not to worry about it , it wasn't a problem . Last night some one else told Moe that thirty sheep had to be slaughtered because they were found to have the hoof and mouth disease , which is a different name for anthrax . This was here in the Tripoli area . So , what with Eid Khabir ceremony coming up next month in which everyone here in Libya sacrifices a sheep , we need some concert information and get it out to the people to prevent a disaster . Of course no announcement has been forth coming from the news networks here , at least as far as I know . So, ... any info anyone ?

I am still so excited over Obama's win Tuesday .Still feeling optimistic for the future . Of course things will change once he is in office and facing the mess that's waiting for him .But for right now , this minute , I am so happy .Oh I forgot to mention to those of you that are interested , lol , that Moe woke up before me on Tuesday , turned on the TV to see how the election was going . Just as it was announced on TV that Obama was the next president , the calls for morning prayers were called out from the near by mosque . Now that is sooo cool !

I woke up late yesterday . The clock's battery was dead . This put me in a bad mood because I had a full day scheduled for myself and because I woke up late , that meant I was already behind schedule . I hate to feel rushed in the morning when I am trying to wake up . I am not a morning person anyway , so this just aggravates me even more .I walked into the living room with my coffee to discover MORE bad news . It had rained while I slept and I had missed it ! OH NO ! I have been waiting for rain for months now it seems and I MISSED IT ! That really depressed me . The weather people also had said it was gonna cool off and that hadn't happened , so more disappointment .

I got Moe to town for his gym date , went on to my luncheon feeling already frazzled by the time I got there . I had to battle my way across town in the Thursday traffic . Every idiot in Libya, and his MOTHER is driving on Thursday according to their own traffic laws .That translates to every person for their own selves .

My friends and I were sitting around talking , as women love to do , when we felt a slight breeze come in the window . Yeah ! At least something is stirring outside . A break from the oppressive weather . I wished it would rain again . Then as if God had read my mind , it starts to pour down raining . We rushed to the windows to watch the rain .Glorious rain .What a present !It didn't last long but long enough to please the senses and to settle the dust .

I went to bed early last night but woke up around 4 AM no longer sleepy . I watched some TV and then Moe got up too . So I fixed us both a early breakfast . After that I straightened up the house up before I made my way back to bed for a long nap .I had opened the house up for some fresh air since it had cooled off yesterday after the rain .As I was going around closing things back up , it began to rain again . I sat down to watched and listened to the rain .

This rain wasn't silent . It splattered , splashed , and pattered .The wind carried a earthly aroma , rich and wholesome . Made you think of fields abundant with crops waiting to be harvested .Dust was washed away and things began to sparkle with newness . I was so tempted to go out on the balcony to dance in the rain , but sanity won out sad to say . Now we have the feeling of autumn since it is cooler then even yesterday . I love it.

OMG ! I just now read up on anthrax and it has scared the you know what outta me ! Things are handled so lax here in Libya , that if there is anthrax here , we are in for some BIG trouble ! Did you know that anthrax is considered to be the sixth plague that will contribute toward destroying mankind as is mentioned in the Bible ? Read what Wikipedia has to say about anthrax and you will have nightmares .Ok , I have to go have a nervous break down now . Bye .

Hot , Hurrican Ike , And Too Much Ramadan !

Spoke to some of my family in Houston last night before Hurricane Ike hit .They had batten down the hatches so to speak . I have spoken to my daughter and son in law this morning and they are ok .Thank Allah !The National Hurricane Center said that Ike was roughly 600 miles across . That is the same distance from Houston, Texas all the way to Panama City , Florida , 6 states apart .

Many of the rivers, creeks, and bayous that lacy their way all through out the Houston area have flooded . Galveston Island and the low lands north of the island getting the worse of course .Still not a lot of news coming out of there yet since many of the telephone and electric lines are down as well as internet too . So maybe until later today or even tomorrow before I hear from the rest of the family there .

On the other hand , I have have had enough of HOT , STICKY , HUMID Tripoli today !!! The fan quit working last night . I have the air conditioner going full blast and it is still hot in the house .I take a shower and before I even dry off , I am sweating all over again ! I wish it would get cool and maybe have some rain .It's raining ever where else in the world , why not here ???

And .... Allah forgive me , I have had enough of Ramadan today ! It is one of those days when you feel like this has gone on way too long . I am not hungry or thirsty , just tired of the whole thing . Maybe it is worrying over my family that is making me feel all out of sorts , or maybe it is the full moon coming up . I don't know . I think I will go back to bed ...... until it is all over !