Hey Peeps in Peepland!

Hope today is finding you well rested, well fed, and well employed! We hear the unemployment rate is still steadily falling, and has reached over 9% in Oregon! That's astounding, and very sad news. Praying that that drops soon, and that the good friends (many!) of ours that have been affected can find jobs soon.

Honestly, I want to post more, but everyday there seems to be some reason I can't get on here! 2 days ago, our modem just stopped working. It worked in the morning, then was totally not working in the afternoon. So, no iternet at the house... It sucks! The techs from the phone company are supposed to come today or tomorrow- so meantime, I must come to the office to do anything on the net. Today, it was ordering a new belt for my beloved vacuum cleaner, researching a little more about Dubai, and returning about 45 zillion e-mails.

Macaroni's passport was issued, and supposedly it's on its way to us via priority post from the big city. I will definitely hold my breath until it gets here. That was quite an ordeal to get that taken care of, but it's not done yet. Now, we have to get the visa put into the new passport. You used to be able to just carry both the old and new passports, but now you cannot do that anymore. But we still have plenty of time until March to get it done. But so glad we started the process when we did. I'm not sure I'll ever get used to how much longer EVERYTHING takes to get done overseas. Not sure what's worse though, that, or the people spitting and blowing their noses on the sidewalks. No wait, maybe it's the open manholes that swallow whole humans alive with one gulp.

Big news.... Last week the Financial popo showed up without just cause and confiscated a bunch of stuff. We have a very knowledgable helper now, and he seems to be willing to take on the various depts. involved. If you think about it, could you lift this up?? It's stressful for everyone involved! Our staff is learning valuable lessons on how not to be sheep, though, so that's a good thing.

Other big news.... I think I've talked my girlfriend (long, long time friend from ch. in Portland) to spend a few days at Disney World with me next year. You know who you are... I'm pretty darned excited, as you might imagine- it's been almost 2 decades that I've been able to do something like this for just me! Marriage has a way of doing that, doesn't it?? I know what you are saying, Mom... why would you want to go there again??!!! Okay, so I love the place. You know the happy family-growing up- let's be 8 again memories and all that. I guess growing up in So. Cal. and working there for a spell can do that to a person. It's my happy place.

The creative juices are flowing again, and I'm dying to start a new quilt. Spring is just around the corner, and something with vines and pastel flowers seems just the thing to brighten up my cold days. I've really come to like hand applique' since a good friend in the big city showed me how. It looks so much nicer than fusible applique method. As soon as I get a little bit done, I'll post a pic. Hey, have you ever like, totally lost a project??!! I did. I went to layer up a wall hanging top I did and can't find it anywhere! I'm sick! I know it'll turn up, but I was so excited to get it up. Ah well, chalk it up to my offspring who pilfered half my gray matter while in utero.

Well enjoy your day of being well!

Your SteppeSister

Wow! Sorry it's been so long since posting! I knew after The Water Guy got home I'd have much less time on the computer. Ah well... that's the way of things around here.

Last time, I shared about what our house looks like. This time, I think I will share a little about the arts and crafts that the local culture affords. We surmise that the variety is practically nil, perhaps because for many centuries this people group was nomadic. Therefore it had little time develop more types of artforms. In addition, maybe it is because there is a major lack of natural resources for creating.

So, given that camel and sheep fur are abundant, what do you suppose is THE main form of art?

YUP! Rugs- Wool rugs.

Here are pictures of very typical rugs:

See those curlicue thingys?? Those are VERY common around here and emblazen everything from supermarket ads to diplomas. They symbolize the horns of the ram and with strength and freedom of the people.

Another form of "art" is sequined vests. Here is a pretty good example:

So, there you have it- a little glimpse into the art of this lovely culture. Like most places, examples and artists of this culture are disappearing fast. There are only a few older ladies left who can craft such a piece of work any longer. Sad....

Post Your Comments!

First, I must say that I KNOW that more than one person is reading this blog! It's OKAY to leave a comment, people! Just hit that comment button and send me a note- I love to read what's on your minds too :)

Now, some of you have asked to see some photos of what my house looks like... It is basically a one level home made of mud bricks that are covered in plaster and white washed with color added. Since my walls "melt" we have had to cover the bottom metre with wood set out from the wall itself. We've covered these with wallpaper, so it looks surprisingly like any other house, except that the walls above the wallpapered wood are uneven and have cracks that have to be repaired every year! Huge pain in the neck! The outside walls that "touch" the outside also have a MAJOR problem with mold in the winter. Short of completely tiling these walls there is really no solution.

We have 3 bedrooms, a family room, living room where our piano is, a large kitchen and eating room, a bathroom and toilet room. It is comfortable, albeit small. It stays warm in the winter, thanks to our central heating from the city coal plant's circulated water, and mostly cool in the summer. The insulation is a thick layer of rice straw above the ceiling. God forbid it ever catch fire. After watching a house burn up last fall, we took a set of window bars off, so in a similar event, we would have a place to get out. Around here it is just a necessary evil.

A lot of people think of beautiful carpets in this area of the world, but alas we don't have very many of those around here. Most are just synthetic junk, imported straight out of China. The colors are nothing I would ever choose if not living here. The one authentic rug I do have is quite nice, but the moths have had a heyday, and the edges are eaten up in many places. So. SAD!

We have a real toilet, a real bathtub, and a teeny tiny cooking stove. We don't have to "go" outside anymore, although during our re-modeling time we did have to do that for about 6 months. Ever had to clean up a brimful chamber pot??

Well, I don't have very many photos, but here's what I could find.

Hope you are all very well, and until next time,

Your SteppeSister

Life Almost Back to "Normal"...

.... whatever that is! You never know around here :) The Away One is now away again- in some ways it feels emptier than the milk carton every morning when I trying to make my coffee. But it's not all bad; The Water Guy is making his way home at this very moment! Hurray! Two weeks without best friend, Daddy to offspring, Mr. Stablility, the one who owes me a trip BIG TIME, is almost back. Tuesday morning to be exact.

Funny how a change in routine can induce apathy. But, I actually was motivated enough this evening to make dinner! Can you believe it?! The househelper left a huge load of noodle dough from "the -day- before- yesterday's- ravioli -making-fest" in the refrigerator, and it took resistance to every synaptic impulse in my body to not just chuck it to the dog. The chicken breast screamed, however, to be turned into homemade chicken with noodles, so the laborious process of rolling and cutting and fighting to the death with said dough began. Fortunately, I won!

Not only do I make war with noodle dough occasionally, I also wage bitter battles with beloved offspring periodically. Tonight was one of those nights. Bedtime has progressively gotten harder to maintain since The Water Guy sought warmer climes. I tried, really, I did try, but unfortunately, although the noodle dough lost its battle, I did not prove successful in the war waged against bedtime. Have you ever gotten to the point of just giving up? This will be one area that will have to be mopped up by the one who sought bluer waters.

You win some, you lose some. I did manage to set a new SteppeSister record whilst The Away One was galavanting across the continent. Most years the air of holiday merriment can be felt long into February around our house. This year I was triumphant! Christmas decorations and yuletide accouterments were safely stowed into their locked and upright positions until next year, and the usual clutter and junk have neatly taken their places- all feels right again.

Score:
SteppeSister: 2
Obstacles to All-rightness: 2

Ahhh yes, one more victory bringing me neatly into the 21st Century! I have learned how to listen to streamed radio. We finally got unlimited internet, and can peruse all kinds of wholesome entertainment, from the weather where we don't live and shouldn't care less about, to Disney music streamed live 24 hours a day.

Well, I can say it's been a good day. We call those "5 star days"- those days when your telephone, heat, electricity, water, sewer, internet, and cooking propane are all working as they should. The Away One landed safely, no one slipped on the ice today, no one has a fever, everyone had enough to eat, everyone was warm- indeed it's been a good day. God is good, He is good all the time.

Until Next Time,

Your SteppeSister

Well, as promised, I said I'd post a picture of two of where HE is... Yes, he is still there, and I'm still here. There is something definitely wrong with this picture, people!!!!

He e-mailed the other day, and said his entire agenda for that day (it wasn't like this for all the days, I'm certain) was to workout, sit by the pool, read a Clive Cussler book, watch a sunset, and not get arrested for driving after a beer. HA, Ha! If that got lost on you, read 3 or so posts back.

So, here is where he is:

Can you tell by the flag? If not, how about by the crystal blue water, palm trees and sandy white beaches??

Did I tell you this was supposed to be an early 20th anniversary trip? We couldn't find someone to watch the kiddos, so he went solo. I console myself thinking that someday it will be payback time, and I will go to Disneyworld all by myself.

Well, I must call it an early evening, I am not totally done with our Precepts lesson yet for Friday. Real life calls...

Until we meet again,

Your SteppeSister

I Can't Believe He's There and I'm Here!

Well, The Water Guy has been gone for a few days now, and I'm spending WAYYY too much time on the internet. We are managing to get our daily allotment (sp?) of schoolwork done, and the kitchen is staying reasonably clear of crusty- encrusted dishes. Let's face it, there's not much to do on these cold wintry evenings! I could work on the Christmas quilt I am mostly done with, but nah, now what's the point? I'm putting all the stuff away tomorrow and maybe after that I can get those creative juices flowing again.




Let's make a little photo comparison of our respective situations... First mine...

Okay, so I just totally made the quality of those pictures like a Cental Asian repair job- craptacular. Sorry about that, I think those 2 were taken on the office camera a couple of years ago. But, hey it gives you the idea. It's COLD. Like the kind of cold that when you stick your tongue on anything metal you tear it out of your face, cold. Only my daughter would ever do that, by the way.

Well, I just realized that you'll have to wait unti tomorrow to see where The Water Guy gets to hang out for 2 weeks because the looky- sees that I want to show you are on his side of the computer. I'm too lazy tonight to mosey over there and do the whole log-in thing again.

I will have to say, an out of town trip for hubby does have its advantages. There is certainly more movies being presented in the familyroom theater. We even splurged on a DOUBLE FEATURE a couple of days ago!!! (THE HORROR!) To say that I'm a more relaxed parent may be a serious understatment. The other night most of the kids didn't go to bed until 12:00. One stayed up with me until 2:00. If you haven't guessed we are the epidemy of nightowl.

My oldest "baby" turned 18 today! That seemed faster than the time it took me to burn dinner the other night! Where does the time go?! We really whooped it up, I tell ya! His sister made him a choco cake ( can you say, "add a little more cottage to the cheesy thighs?) and we enjoyed, yep you guessed it, another movie. His annoying friend kept calling on the phone every 10 minutes interupting Danielle's journey to the castle of her prince in Ever After. We were forced to pull the plug, because who wants to miss the part where she almost slits her kidnapping thug of a "suitor" from naval to nose??

Well, I should end it here. I really will try to get more photos posted tomorrow, but no promises. Until then,

Your SteppeSister

The Night Before The Power Goes Out

Well, you'll probably all think we are just dumb and dumber! First, The Water Guy lands himself in the "Commander's Office", and now yours truly forgets to pay the electric bill! With all the holiday stuff, and me not being the one who actually GOES to the electricity office to pay, well, I just spaced it off. You know what they do when you forget to pay, and you are 2 weeks late?? That's right, they cut your line.

When it went off on Friday at 10:00, I thought, "Oh, it's just another rolling brown out. It'll come on in a couple of hours. " 3:00. Nope. Nada. 5:00. Nope. Still Nada. Okay, must be a line down. Hmmmm. Now it's 6:00, and WHAT'S THIS? Why do all the neighbors have lights on, and we don't?? Okay, it's all sinking in now. This is our own house's problem!! Saturday. Mike goes to the electric office, to figure things out. "Yes sir, your 2 weeks late on your bill." "No sir, you can't pay now, it's too late, everyone's gone home." "Ummm, no sir we're not open tomorrow. You can try again on Monday."

Monday morning at 9:00, househelper (who normally pays the bills) had also forgotten, and went to pay the bill and get things fixed. Ummmm... it's 3:00, why is my power not on yet. They promised to come THAT afternoon. No one came, another night of sitting in the dark. Tuesday, office manager goes to electric office to ask why no power yet. "Oh, maam, they haven't paid the re-connect fee". "Ummm yes, they have, AND why did you tell them you'd be out yesterday, if you thought they hadn't paid the re-connect fee?" "Oh sorry, our mistake. Yesterday's secretary forgot to write it in the book that that has been paid. " We'll have it hooked up by 2:00. PEOPLE! It's 2:00, I still can't take a shower (this is day 5), grind any meat, my kids can't do their schoolwork, and I CAN'T CHECK MY E-MAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 3:00. Nope. Nada. 4:00. Nope. Nada. Okay, now I"m freaking out. The next 2 days are holidays and no one can come then, can they? Phew, I look out and see the guy climbing my pole. 4:30 was the magic hour that the lights came back on. I know, I know... I'm supposed to have joy, and peace and all that, but somehow having lights makes that just a little easier. JMHO!!! Oh, and yes, I will remember to pay the bills on time, too.

The Water Guy is gone now for 2 weeks. I'm sure he'll have a great time soaking in a little warmth in tropical paradise. Meanwhile, we will watch extra movies, keep at it in school lessons, and hold down the fort.