Another, special day

So today was my sweet daughter's BIG day. She came home so pleased with the fact that her teacher gave her a 'coupon' for a 1day without homework for her BD which she can redeem at any time, 3 pencils and a bookmark. So sweet! She also had a little girl come up to her and ask her if she wanted to play. Then she told me about how her science teacher likes her so much. She did her homework on her own, I no longer have to majorly gripe about homework being done. Her question today had to do with boyfriends, and how I felt about them, and whether or not she can have a boyfriend before she gets married. I had to answer to all these questions, and discuss girls' body changes.... Quite frankly, today was NOT a good day to do all this, but I did it nonetheless.

I had a great meeting with my boss whom I like A LOT! So cool, down to earth and full of energy. Exactly what I need my boss to be! I had a scare going into my office and not seeing my small laptop (I found it later next to my bed).

I have been overwhelmed by pain lately and it has been hard to function because I constantly feel drained. I didn't do what I was supposed to do as far as work goes, because I'd fall asleep every time I set out to do my reading.

Stayed up late last night following Libya. What happiness! Quel bonheur! I hope it will be soon complete once Gaddafi is captured.

Things are definitely changing and the map of the Arab world is as well. August 21st, the day the rebels entered Tripoli was a big one.

Now that I'm settled in my new life, work is starting to bombard me. I'm turning into a soccer mom in my spare time and am not very pleased.

And now I'm falling asleep on my computer, as I do every night!

Another great day in Knoxville TN

I'm exhausted, been running since 6am, but everything has gone so well. My orientation at work, though boring, was informative. I nearly fell asleep once, I had some coffee, it was beyond disgusting, so I went back for tea, which was almost as disgusting as the coffee... I gave up on drinking by noon. I managed to get my new ID as well as my parking permit. I was so excited! After those two huge tasks were accomplished, I went to the bookstore, and boy did I have a blast. ALL the books which I'm supposed to teach for this NEW course that was pleasantly 'dumped' upon me last week, were waiting for me to pick up (I enjoyed billing the department for all my books!). After I got all these books in English and French (I start reading them TOMORROW!) I went to the computer store and enjoyed my first purchase (part of my start-up $$). I got a mac computer!!!! Yes I Diiiiid! And I'm listening to 'fip' on it right now. So cool! Now netflix did not cooperate tonight. Of course, what else is there to do here? I assume that 3/4 of the population is on their computer connecting to netflix.

Oh well, I need to sleep. Meems' first day at daycare went very well. She got in touch with my Methodist ancestors, and loved her 'new' friends and the teachers. She did very well and her teacher could not believe that today was her FIRST day ever in a formal school setting. Daddy and I really like the school.

I have lined up 2 nannies so far, which I need to interview asap. Tomorrow is the big 'piano' day for the girls, as they meet their new teacher. I found a choir for them at the Presbyterian Church down the street... and YES, everything is church-related here. Mohamed Chokri, in For Bread Alone, showed that religion is a 'luxury' that only the rich and middle class folks can afford. I was able to truly believe this years ago, but he did not see Knoxville. Had he known Knoxville, he would have seen that the luxury of emptiness is very helpful on a God-seeking path. I am guilty of not spending much time per day doing this myself, though my daily deeds are an attempt to 'remember' the tradition of those who came before us, starting with Abraham, or actually, going back to Adam.

Did you know that Colette had a brief relationship with Josephine Baker? I didn't! I have had very little time to myself today, though have had plenty of lonely moments. At the end of the day, I'm thankful that I had the maids over at 7:15am! Que du bonheur as Albert Memmi would say!

Furniture, furniture and more furniture

My saga with livingroom furniture continues. It started on July 25th and it goes on until today. How I regret ever returning the sectional that was SO comfy and which I adored, is beyond this world. I had to go back to the store and choose another item. So I ended up with a couch and a loveseat which look a lot like the sectional I once had and which I really miss. Now of course, bringing them up the stairs meant that they got scratched in a few places, go figure! So, next week I need the leather expert to come out. It has been quite the process! Right now, I'm mostly excited to see my girls, hug them, kiss them, take them in my arms and cuddle them real real tight!

Time to reconnect with myself

I haven't been very productive today, though I did go to the grocery store, discovered where the post office was and as always, I still enjoy not having to battle for space on the street. I have been listening to the news, snoozed off briefly and am actually early on sending out BD cards. I wonder if this will continue. I brainstormed about a talk I am giving next month, but found myself blocked when it came to ordering the textbooks for the new class I am teaching. I sort of smiled to myself when I wondered, how did my PhD, my specialization academically and me as a person end up and will end up teaching such a course. A year ago, had someone told me you'd be teaching this course, I would have laughed at the absurdity of the idea. Ok I guess we're still in the realm of women so I shouldn't act too shocked.
Meanwhile, I'm eager to hold my girls in my arms, to give their dad a break from them and take them to all the fun places I discovered in Knoxville: the cupcake places (2 so far!), crepes at the downtown area, and so much more. While shopping at Kroger's today, I saw all these young cute college students shopping for food. They were cute, full of energy and life, ready to conquer the world, full of theories about life as well as themselves... soon, all their theories will be bouncing off the walls of their classes.
As I lay here fasting from drinks and food, I think of how people are coping in Hama and all over Libya. I have an earache, I'm supposed to go to have dinner at a colleague's house but I'm waiting for the furniture movers once again to come and take the furniture they ruined, and replace it with hopefully furniture that is less ruined. Just thinking about the process nauseates me. Will I ever move again? I know the answer is yes, and I know it hasn't been that bad of a move, in fact if anything, it has been smoothe. I spent a few hours going through books but I discovered that unpacking books and shelving them is NOT as difficult as unpacking clothes. So, the plan is to totally ruin ALL my clothes during my 'sejour' here in town. This is unbelievable, but I'm not even tempted to shop. Could it be that my life is so fulfilled and complete that I no longer feel the need to compulsively accumulate fabric?
I did something I have wanted to do for years: I love orchids yet I have never dared to buy one. Even Trader Joe's had them, but I always thought they were 13 or 15$ too much. So I never bought myself an orchid. I finally did today, at Kroger's they had them for 9.99, so I didn't hesitate. I bought a purple one, and I found room for it in my livingroom, in my African corner specifically.
I'm starting to feel my serenity flying away as the tribe arrives tomorrow. I can't wait to hug my girls and cuddle them to sleep.