with distance? Have you loved me more because I have not posted?? 🙂 No need to answer that unless the answer is yes.
To be honest, until about two or three days ago I was running substandard… convention and aftermath have wiped me out. I went up to Chi-town Wednesday before Labor Day to do prep. Four days of walk, walk, walk. My feet only let me down twice – once with a blister due to my fisherman sandal tatami birkenstocks (i forgot it had some bad spots which require the wearing of socks) and the day I actually left and could barely walk at the gas station on the way home. Eeek. All told, the event was successful — which is to say we raised the money we meant to raise. We had some incredible speakers, a very good line up for the Saturday night main session with the former Iranian prez, Robert Fisk (who, by the way, is a consummate speaker who prepares and keeps to his time immaculately without reminder – some of our folk on Fridays could try this sometime), Hamza Yusuf, Zaid Shakir and others.
I love Dr. Ingrid Mattson. She did very well over the weekend. I was not happy with some of her counterparts who tried to cushion the crowd for the “lady prez”… She is smart enough and on her game to stand on her own… she doesn’t need the male help for taking charge.
I met Izzy Mo (check sidebar). She is the absolute bomb, but she moves like lightening. I would pass by her art booth, see her talking to someone and figure I would catch her in a min after using the facilities, but ZOOM she would be gone. We did get to chat a couple of times– it stunk because I had to work both times I saw her and kept getting interrupted by work.
When I got back to town, work was still in high gear for me, unfortunately, after having worked something like 60 hours in four days. Ramadan being imminent on the horizon and all… I did not get to take some time off work until a week and a half later… I finally got caught up on my sleep… I finally had the energy to work on the house this weekend… lets just say its a mess around here. Getting better.
Husband is about to buy the tickets to Al Maghrib tonight or tomorrow. I am excited and scared to death — although this is my second time to go, I am staying a month longer than husband (two months!!) and its sort of freaky weird to think I am hanging out in country without language skills.
I need to start making my packing lists. Husbands consist of things like gifts for every person under the sun who might be related to a third degree. 🙂 Mine involve lists of antibiotics, OTC drugs, personal comfort items, homesick goodies. This will be great opportunity to learn language, learn to cook more, meet more of the in-laws. It also means I will have to quit the job.
Quitting the job. Mentally, I’ve been ready for it for a while. Financially, is anyone ever “ready” to lose their second, larger income? Didn’t think so. I am tired of working and never having enough time to have a clean home, a routine with my son throughout the week so our time and my temper is not so mish-mash. I am also ready for hubster to man up to his responsibilities of providing for us. In my heart, I am ready for a simpler lifestyle… I don’t know if my nafs are. I am trying to cook more simple food, from scratch when I can. Right now, that consists of oatmeal, pancakes… bread is next on this list. I am doing crafty sorts of things that keep me occupied for a long time that are enjoyable and relatively cheap if you do a time/cost comparison. Lately, that’s been hemming a swaddling blanket (three evenings) and making a rag rug (this is going to take weeks, I think, with all the cutting and sewing of pieces). I am not a terribly frugal person and I dislike budgeting, but I suppose that has to change too. 🙂
I hope you all find your way back here. I missed talking to all of you.
And yes, I will get internet in the Maghrib. Hubster is bringing his fam the laptop.
Salam alaikoum
COOL! My fisherman tatami sandals make me have to wear socks too, right where the buckle is.
Oooh Morocco. I am so excited for you!
Good to see you blogging again. I hope everything goes well on your trip.
Asalamu Walaikum Uhkti,
Alhumdiallah you have been helping your husband for so long and you have even been kind enough to give him warning…I just suddenly QUIT. I gotta tell you the adjustment is HARD. Not just becoming a single-income family, but there are also a lot “role” and power adjustments that come along too.
Some sisters and I share frugal tips. We really try to support each other. It is a very different lifestyle from the mainstream, but of course it is so much better for our families. And I found that my deen really improved when I stopped spending so much time, errr um doing my husband’s job and that helped his deen too, alhumdiallah…anyhoo. Here are a couple of articles that are really good starters, inshallah.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/LearnToBudget/50waysToTrimYourBudget.aspx
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/SavebigOnATinyIncome.aspx
I almost never got to use my lame french in Casa. As soon as they figured out I was American, they would speak to me in English…So I began to start every transaction with “Asalamu Walaikum. I’m not French”…sounds funny, but they LOVE to use their english!
Asalamu Walaikum
How exciting! I pray your trip is a time for rest and relaxation. I’m trying to do the “cooking from scratch” thing and while it does work out cheaper, it takes a bit longer so it’s a balancing act – do I have the time vs. does this fit in with our budget?