Friday Free-Thoughts

I've gone 75 days without using a credit card. That has only happened because I know look about 8-12 weeks ahead to anticipate any big-ticket items. Like plane tickets.

Don't get me started on plane tickets, airlines, airplanes, or the related.

Has teleportation been invented yet? Like from Star Trek or Star Gate? If so, I'd like to use it. Like, on the weekends especially. And holidays.

Do you know that if you purchase a container of Steel Cut oats at $2.29 a can that each serving comes to be about 13 cents each? Well, in my case, about a quarter. I eat a lot.

What happened to the "Cents" key on the keyboard?

This weekend I am going to play Russian Roulette with a recipe book and just make whatever page I land on. Here's to it not having any pork or cottage cheese in it, because I don't like either.

I have no plans this weekend thanks to Northwest Airlines. I transferred all of my WorldPerks miles from them to Delta and now have 17000 miles with Delta. Just another flight and I am good for a free one! Oops, I said no mentioning airlines. My bad...

I have a ton of writing ideas related to some social justice issues and cannot seem to get them organized. Also, I don't want folks to feel obligated to comment. I still think about Africa nearly everyday. I really hope to get to other parts of the world with my camera in my lifetime...

I've been going running on my lunch hours a couple times a week and I found that you can get some nice happy endorphins running through your system that way - and more energy!

I am getting really upset with Facebook status updates that talk about people not liking their jobs. They forget that 5 million Americans are on unemployment right now. Be grateful!

That salon appointment last night was a disaster. I asked for a cut and got a trim and my hair "thinned" which only made me have an afro, then they put my hair in clips and set me under a hair dryer and I left the place with hair nearly as big as my brothers.

He has big hair... I had to re-wash and re-style it and now...I am growing it out!

Welp. Here is what my hair looks like now, "thinned". Whatever!
On a much happier and joyful note, tomorrow is Matt's birthday and I wish him the best from 2665 miles away!

To the rest of ya'll, have a great weekend!!! :)

Grumpy

I am trying to focus on all of the things that are going right and well today. It is hard when things don't go our way, isn't it?

Last night I babysat the sweetest little girl and read to her from the Little House books. I wished for a moment that I could just transport myself to a prairie for awhile. I'd wade in the creek, eat Ma's gingerbread, play with chickens, go horseback riding, and enjoy the silence.

I am super bummed that Matt could not use that plane ticket for this weekend. But, I am grateful that he knows how to look on the bright side of things, and it is looking like he can come out for the Cherry Blossom Festival at the end of March. So, that gives me hope again. Can't shake this feeling bummed out thing, tho.

Ah. At least it is almost Friday. I feeling like I need a change...

Maybe I should head to the hair salon today. I am feeling adventurous.

Happy Thursday, all.

All I Need Is a Miracle

***Updated - See below***

Sooooo my dad decided not to go on that trip out here this weekend, last minute. It is a good decision overall really - but it leaves a plane ticket unused. To DC. Where I am.

There is a birthday boy that I would REALLY REALLY love to get that ticket switched to his name so we can celebrate his birthday together this weekend.

Dad is calling Northwest Airlines to see if they will switch the name on the ticket. All the fine print on the website seems to point that it is non-transferable.

I believe in miracles. The timing alone is so incredible - fly out of Seatac on Friday and leave DC on Sunday, and the day in between is Matt's birthday???

I am freaking out.

And praying BIG.

Stay tuned...

*****************************

EPIC FAIL.

Northwest Airlines lost my business for life. (Anyone want my miles?)

This feels like my Inauguration Ticket Dilemma all over again.

Sorry, sweets. I hope you have a good birthday nevertheless.

Love,
Ruhiyyih

Wacky Wednesday

It's off to a crazy start already!

So I got maaaja (major, with emphasis) spammed. My comments section on all my posts for the past month got a crazy amount of spam. My fault for turning off the Word Verification, but since I get an email when I get a comment, I thought well if I see one of those pop up I can delete as the day goes on. Accept that those spammers operate mostly at night. AHA. Oops. SO! I had to make a couple changes to the blog. Thanks for your patience!

So, I also turned down the heat last night and forgot to turn it back up before bed. I woke up to a frozen house at 6am! Hard to get out of bed which is unusual for me... and my choice of reading this morning? The biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder. For some reason, I am craving all things country and pioneer life right now. Perhaps it is the desire to return to the simple things, and remembering how Laura and her family would weather the tough times I wanted to read up on how she did it. I realize a part of it is simplicity, but the other part is hard work. I am willing to do both - if that means that things will work out for the good and better.

SO before 9am today I got up in a cold room, read, journaled, got ready, had breakfast, walked a mile to the metro, metro'd on two train lines, read my Bible while traveling, then walked from the station to work, got an address off my computer, walked to the post office to mail Matt's birthday card and the store and back to work and made coffee and...

...whew. Breathe, Ru Ru!

It is Matt's birthday on Saturday. If you want to know his age, well, maybe he will let you know in his comment that I am hoping he will leave below... :)

Ok ya'll. Have a great Wednesday, and just know that when things are a little nutty, they too shall pass. In the meantime, humor it all! :)

Tagged - Six Randoms

THE RULES:
1- Post the rules on your blog
2- List 6 random things about yourself.
3- Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
4- Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
5- Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Ok. Hmmm...six random things. I am a random person...this should not be too hard. Here it goes:

1. I hardly watch any TV. Not having cable in the house for the last 3 years has helped, but also I am too figity - I'd rather be doing something. I do like to watch The Office on the website though, when I have downtime.

2. I am a morning person. I can't wait for my alarm to go off so I can get up and go make coffee and start my day. I like to read and journal for the first hour that I am up. "Sleeping in" for me on the weekend is about 8:30.

3. I am super stubborn - I hate change. )This means I won't change phone plans even though I have to wait until 9pm to call everyone that is not IN.) This strikes me as strange because I feel adventurous and all, but when it comes down to daily life, I like stability and predictability. Just loyal, I guess :)

4. I like quality, healthy food but I am not a great cook. I am too cheap to buy the good stuff anymore (like organic produce) and I hate messing up recipes. But, I would really like to cook gourmet meals like my mom does.

5. I like to speak a little Chinese and Ebonics from time to time. Especially with my housemates and my family. One of my dearest friends, Hana, taught me how to speak in Ebonics a few years ago and I thought it was so fun. It is not uncommon for me to say something like, "shooooot this is so Bu Hao...fo shoooo" I make no sense. And with my attempts at speaking Chinese, I forget the tone to use, so I just make it up as I go along.

6. I can be very sneaky. When I was growing up in Montana, I used to steal a "Fun-size" Snickers from my Grandaddy's fridge everyday. I'd hide the wrappers in the woodpile. One day, we got down to that layer of wood, and my stash was uncovered. They all knew it was me because I was the chunkiest of the four kids! I still remember how big the pile of wrappers was on the counter when he confronted me, and the grin on his face. I was so busted, but it was so funny.

OK! I tag:
Mom
Becky
Mandy
Erin
Karen
Krissy

:) Happy Tuesday, all!

3 Years in DC

Goodness - where has time gone? I took this picture a couple weeks after arriving in DC.

It was three years ago today that I boarded a plane at Seatac en route to the East Coast. I had planned on maybe spending a year in DC - to learn about how to make a better difference in the world, live car-free for awhile, and absorb some history while I was at it. And museums here are free!

So one year came and went. I realized that being able to live car-free meant that you could pay a lot more towards your student loans. While I was at it, I happened to be having quite the fun time living with four other ladies in the Edison House, teaching a small group at church on Social Justice Issues, and picked up a new hobby: running. Like my 60 miles a month of walking to and from work was not enough exercise. ;)

So then I thought well, I've been here this long, might as well stay until the next Inauguration - just to say that I was there. That has come and gone as well! Oh this city. There is so much opportunity, such great community, and everyone else is from somewhere else, so we are all homesick together.

Now there is this teeny issue of an economy on the rocks that is dictating where my roots remain for now. And, I am ok with that. As long as I can still fly home from time to time to eat Ma's cooking, see my sweet boyfriend, and hold babies - I am ok with just continuing to do this DC thing. It has been a pretty incredible ride so far, and I think I will just stay buckled in, throw my hands up in the air and weeeeeeeeeeeee! Enjoy the ride :)

Happy Monday, all!

Reflections On...

I've been in reflection mode a lot since returning home late Monday night from my trip home. Some random thoughts going through my head include:
My Mom: she is the best cook ever. And, she just learned to cook in 2005. I seriously ate so gourmet at home. And, I got up at 7am both mornings to have coffee with her. We just sit and chat with a cat in our lap and a strong cup of Peets. Good times.
My Brother Rahmat's Hair: It is BIG. ;) I realize that I need to give up the hope that he'll ever cut it. Just as he needs to give up the hope of ever finding a job with that 'fro. Still, I think he is the sweetest - and brilliant.
The Economy: It is making my life really unpredictable. Not miserable (yet) but I find myself wondering how things I am waiting on will work out. (Like Matt's job search, my attempts at paying off debt and saving, and how it changes my ability fly home occasionally).
Auntiehood: I love my Daisy! We have strikingly similar personalities as I got to spend an exceptional amount of time with her when she was young. We are both a little hyper. ;)
Relationships: Well now -that is some fun stuff. I waited for ten years for this guy. I've spent the last decade working on and developing my relationship with God. And then He decided it was time for me to be ready for this guy - someone that I met when I was 19. Matt is a blessing in my life and I am so grateful that we are doing this relationship right. Though on opposite sides of the continent, we are making it work. (Thank you Facebook, text messages, emails, free minutes after 9pm and airplanes!)

Those are just a few thoughts for now. Lots more brewing, but this is a good (fun) start.

I'll close by saying all couples out there need to watch a Seattle sunset from the beach at Carkeek Park in North Seattle/Shoreline area. It is loverly :)

*Sigh*

...Oh what a great trip.
Seattle is such a fun place. It was a great idea to go straight from the airport to downtown as soon as I landed Saturday afternoon. The sun was out, I was near water again, could see mountains in the distance...it is home.
Matt and I took a ton of pictures of the city, the waterfront and piers, and at the beach up north.
The setting sun over the Olympic mountain range on Saturday night was stunning. We watched it in awe for quite some time.
It was a wonderful weekend. I am still adjusting to the time change, and when I get a chance to process it all, I will write some more.
It was so worth it all. :)

Stay tuned!

Valentine's!

One more day!

I am flying out bright and early tomorrow morning, off to Seattle to see Matt for the long weekend! We've been looking forward to this for sometime now...this one was a 40 day countdown. If any of you have ever been in a long-distance relationship, you know how hard it is - and how excited you can get when the day arrives!

I purchased this ticket looong ago, before the economy went coo-coo on me (us), so please know that I will be especially thrifty this weekend. Matt has been working as a temporary for sometime now and we would appreciate your thoughts as he looks for full-time permanent work. It is hard to make future plans when we just don't know the when's and how's at this time. He has been looking for about six months.

I will be back on Tuesday with the details. I hope you all have a great long weekend!

And Mom - I am saving my appetite for some of your good home cookin'! :) See you soon.

Cutes and Sweets

How about a rest from worrying about our economy and check out the cuteness that is this Koala! My co-worker Krissy alerted me to the adorable Sam the Koala. The lil girl was rescued from the Aussie fires this past week. I want to squeeze her!
Also, my tulips are looking gorgeous today, thanks Matt! See you in 2 days!!!
I can hardly wait to give him some twolips too! :)

Happy Thursday, all. If I don't report back it is because I slipped into a chocolate coma. It is Chocolate Challenge day today at work! ;)

More Than Fine

I totally have that song by Switchfoot stuck in my head, "More Than Fine":

When I wake in the morning,
I want to blow into pieces.
I want more than just ok, more than just ok.
When I'm up with the sunrise
I want more than just blue skies.
I want more than just ok, more than just ok.

I'm not giving up, giving up, not giving up now.
I'm not giving up, giving up, not backing down.

More than fine, more than bent on getting by.
More than fine, more than just ok.

When I'm wet with the sunshine.
I want more than just a good time.
I want more than just ok, more than just ok.

I'm not giving up, giving up, not giving up now.
I'm not giving up, giving up, not selling out.

More than fine, more than bent on getting by.
More than fine, more than just ok.
More than fine, more than bent on getting by.
More than fine, more than just ok.

I guess that is how I was feeling as I was walking to work. More than fine, more than OK :) Then, a little look at the site I Can Has Cheezburger and found these fun pics!


Oh that last one got me - why I don't like to eat pork! Piggies are so darn CUTE!

Ok, and reason #4567 why my boyfriend, Matt, is the sweetest thing:
He sent me flowers! I took this with my cell phone, so sorry it does not capture how beautiful the tulips are. Thanks, babe! I love them! (and love you!)

3 days until I get home. So excited! A little tip for you if anyone out there is looking for ways to enjoy Valentines this weekend without spending a ton of money: I redeemed some of my miles on United for restaurant.com certificates. Just a tip!

Happy Wednesday, all. :)

Wondering - But Not Worrying!

Question: Are any of you worried about the economy?

What kind of shortcuts have you had to make? Any big changes?

I'm just wondering, not worrying.

All I know is I finally learned how to save this year, and now I feel kind of bad that the economy is suffering from me not spending as much anymore.

Get used to it, economy! I've been greedy for too long. I'm wising up.

I appreciate your thoughts here - I'm wondering how it is affecting families, especially.

Welp, off to work. I am so blessed to have a job.

Colds, Change, and Cleaning...

I figured it out. What in the world - how could I be getting bronchitis again, after getting it just this past December? Sure I run outside when it is cold - while extremely well layered. I take my vitamins, eat very healthy, drink lots of water and green tea, all that good stuff - I am always thinking of more ways to protect my immune system.

Notice the new decor, above? Well, I moved into the room on the main floor of the house, as Marianne took Laurens' old room. When Lauren moved out, the dust in the air got heavy - she had been in that room for 3 years with...very little to no deep cleaning.

Then Marianne moved her stuff upstairs...she had been in her room for two years, and also, very little deep cleaning.

I figured it out after a short walk outside when I felt sinuses clear, my energy start to return...and then walked into my house - full of old nasty DUST that was now resettling - after three bedrooms of stuff had shifted on the two floors. DUH!

Combine that dust with a little cold that I had on Tuesday (when I had a fever) and it turned into full blown nasty nasal congestion, hurting eyes, wheezy breath, etc.

The lesson in all of this? Well, besides get rid of your carpet, is to do seasonal cleaning! UGH! If only my housies new how NASTY it is when you don't vacuum under your bed for three years! Then that crap gets in the air, then, yup - my lungs.

When I was in China, these SAME symptoms hit me, very hard. It has been five years but I still can remember. The air in Beijing was pretty horrible. That was the main reason that I could not imagine myself serving there long-term. Ew.

Ahhhhhhh. It was in the SIXTIES here today in the DC area, folks... nice weather! I sat on the porch while I talked to Matt. Breathed that crisp air, deeply. We talked about the trip next (!!) weekend - I can hardly wait for our Valentine's Day date :) I leave Saturday morning and return on Monday night.

So - I'm beating this cold. I am loving my new (quieter, smaller) diggs with windows that face the sunrise, and it is so fresh and clean. All dusted, all organized, and I am all rested up. Just needs a little work on the decor and I am all settled in. It's a new day :) Happy Monday, all!

Want My Mom

So sick of being sick.
I've been drinking lots of fluids,
getting lots of rest.
The vaporizor is on,
cough syrup, Cold Eaze lozenges, tissues...

I may just cough up a lung.

Just when I thought I was getting better yesterday, I went to work and was exposed to a few sick co-workers and BAM! Woke up this morning even more miserable, more sick, and more discouraged. :(

I hope to catch up with ya'll on Monday...until then, I am going back to bed.

At least it's Friday...

Sick sick sick....

I don't do sick well. I have a really hard time taking medicine, for one.

So when I woke up this morning and felt awful, I was really grateful that I had just stocked up on some Boiron Homeopathics. No worries about side effects - they help my body to fight this body chills-aches-cough-scratchy throat-thing, naturally.

I slept all day. Haven't done that since about the fifth grade when I had pneumonia.

I hope to be back up and running again tomorrow...God willing. Until then - back to bed for meeee!

Movin' On

It was 6am on Saturday morning. I was fighting off a bug, desperate for good sleep. I'd woken up to the sound of housemates making noise throughout the night.
When one of their alarms sounded for a half-hour straight - at 6am on a Saturday - I'd had it.

I decided to move.

Don't freak! Just to a different room. Not leaving the wonderful Edison house, not leaving the state...just moving downstairs to a room all away from the other four girls.
It was a productive weekend. As I was packing, I came across this collage that I made when I was living in a tiny little studio apartment in Seattle back in 2005. The little piece of artwork was a bit of therapy for me, so when I moved to DC, I brought it with me to remind me of how far I'd come. I smiled as I pulled it out of my closet that I was emptying out. I realized that so much that I had been praying for and about back then all got answered. Each and every prayer.

The whole house rolled up their sleeves this weekend and we all scrubbed our dwelling from top to bottom, getting ready for a new housemate to move in soon. Still, the sun was shining so I managed to get a run in, grocery shop, bake cookies, and clean as well. I am all packed up now to move into Marianne's room - she is moving into Lauren's old one. So funny that I am moving back into the room that I started in...like I am coming full circle. As we cleaned, I found a stack of shoes that I totally forgot that I moved here with. I was embarrassed. Not a good steward of my stuff, I see...so, I donated them all to Goodwill. Then I looked at my clothes and realized that some stuff in my closet I had not worn in over a year. They had to go too.

It feels good to clean up and clean out and start over fresh. Less dust, that is for sure. Hopefully some more quiet, and the sun will rise into my windows now.

Happy February! 12 days until Valentines...and yes, I'm counting because it is less than two weeks until I get to see my Matty.

Happy Monday, all ;)