TIP to MLA

TIP to MLA stands for Tripoli to Malta.  Tomorrow afternoon we are taking off for a quick weekend trip to Malta.  It's a last minute plan but It just felt like a good time to get out of here together before Mel heads out to Seoul in 2 weeks.  Besides, when is it not a good time to go to Malta?  We'll fly out of Tripoli just after 5 and land in malta 40 minutes later.  It's so nice to have it so close.  It's our first time and we're both looking forward to it.  We get to go back at the end of May too hopefully we love it as much as everyone else seems to. 

Dan and Bryson are going as well but they will stay at a different hotel.  They booked a room at a hotel that runs 40 bucks a night.  Yikes!  I hope they don't end up trying to squeeze into our room at our hotel.  We're staying at a place called Baystreet Hotel.  Nobody we know has stayed there so we'll find out what it's like.  The best part is that there's a McDonalds IN THE SAME BUILDING.  Are you kidding me?  It's like the person who built the hotel was reading my diary. 

So, that's going to be it for me this time.  Not a lot to say but I wanted to check in before we head out tomorrow.  Miss you all.


 

This and that….

 

   

Here are a few pictures (to make up for Rob :)…

My Coworker Bryson and Aladdin

First of all I'd like to say "Welcome aboard" to Aunt Karen.  She is our newest follower on this little blog and we're happy to have her.  All of you other faithful followers please don't get upset that you did not get a welcome.  I told Mom to tell Karen that if she wanted us to write things about Bryson she would have to become an official follower.  We love to see that number go up and we're running out of people to bribe, so tell all your friends.

So to welcome Karen, I will write a blog that centers on him.  But I don't want it to be creepy like I am documenting his every move, so I'll just share about things that he was present for, and we'll see how it turns out.  Last night we went out to Palm City and picked up "My friend Dan" and "My coworker" Bryson on the way.  We grabbed some shawarmas in Rigatta (sp?) between Girgarash and Palm City and then I got a double cheesburger outside the Palm City Market. It was better than most burgers here and I'd get one again sometime.  Then we put in the movie "Green Zone" and enjoyed those leftist lies for a while.  Even the liberals in the room, I was outnumbered 2 to 1 after Mel went to the bedroom, didn't enjoy the movie.  I don't think we ever really knew what was going on and to be honest I didn't really care.  The movie has already been thrown away.  A dollar sixty, wasted.

On the walk back from the market we got to talking about Disney characters, because of a guy here who Mel thinks looks like he is an animated Disney prince (I still don't if this is a good thing).  So I decided to ask the group who they think is the best looking Disney character, and before I even had time to finish the question Bryson blurts out, "Aladdin!"  And with so much enthusiasm this must not have been the first time he's thought about it.  I think all will now already but Aladdin is a man.  Bryson tried to recover and insist he meant to say Jasmine, but we aren't so sure.

Needless to say we had wonderful time teasing Bryson about his affection for Aladdin.  It's nice to spend this time with him and learn things I might never have known had we not come to Libya. 

It was a good time.  We spent the night talking about Aladdin and "typical Republicans" all in good fun.  Mel leaves for Seoul in 2 weeks, I believe, and Bryson and I will go to Tunis in 2 weeks and 2 days.  My friend Dan heads to Rome in 8 days.  That trip has nothing to do with us Rinards but I hang out with him a lot and was updating our next travel plans so I decided to include his.  Perhaps Mel will add a picture to this entry.  If not, I apologize, but that takes more time and effort. 

Byeee

Just a little activity we like to call eating…

 

 

I think he liked it…

Lazy Saturday

Today is our last day of the weekend and we are enjoying ( I think enjoying, I don't feel miserable so it must be enjoying) a lazy day in our place.  We stayed the last 2 nights out at Palm City because why not?  It's Palm City and we like it there.  Bryson and I woke up at 4 (Bryson actually slept until 4:30ish) to watch the Duke-Purdue basketball game.  Then we crashed again after the game and when Mel and I woke up Dan and Bryson had left.  Bryson wanted to go to the museum where someone we work with was giving a tour.  He used to work as a tour guide and I've heard it's very interesting.  You might wonder why I did not go on this tour then.  Well, we had a doubles tennis tournament yesterday and in our first game my calf muscle exploded.
Exploded might be exaggerating but it feels like that's what happened.  It had been bothering me for a couple weeks so I rested and stretched a lot this week to gear up for this tourney that I was looking forward to.  Well it felt good when I started but near the end of the match I pushed hard to chase down a short shot and I felt this terrible rolling type feeling in my calf and "Down goes Frazier!"  That was the end of my first doubles tennis tournament and we lost the match.  After helping me off the court Dave Harris filled in but they couldn't win the match against a solid team.  "My friend Dan" and I were playing so well so not being able to play was a major downer.  The good news is Bryson got to take my place for the next two games when they beat one team and lost the next to end their improbable run to the 3rd round.  Maybe not so improbable but there wasn't mush suspense so I tried to spice it up.

So now I hobble around and when I step with my left leg I can't step more than an inch or two in front of my right foot (the injured side) because a shooting pain goes up my calf.  Anybody who knows me well knows I love a little sympathy when I have injuries but that doesn't mean I'm not actually in pain.  It really does hurt and it will mean at best I'm probably done with anything athletic for 6-8 weeks.  Hello, 300 pound Robby.

So Mel cut a lady's hair from the US Embassy today while Rocco and I just took a nap.  I think Mel is going to treat us to dinner at Lino's soon.  Injuries aside, life is good.  We miss everyone back home, but thanks for following along with our little Libyan adventure.  Looking forward to seeing some of you in McCall.  Not to say there are others who I am not looking forward to seeing in McCall.  But to those who will be there: Who's up for Fogglifter each morning?  My favorite place in McCall and I hope everyone gets up and joins me, because that's where I'll be.  Love you guys,

(the picture is from a BBQ we went to a couple weekends ago)

Burrr it's cold today!

     This is from a BLOG I read every once in awhile. It made me laugh. I can't relate to all of these things by any means, but can imagine soon enough I will.

Cheers!

You Know You've Lived in an Arab Country too Long When....


You're not surprised to see a goat in the passenger seat
              
You think the uncut version of "Little House on the Prairie" is provocative 

You expect the confirmation on your airline ticket to read "insha'allah"
(insha'allah means Lord Willin' basically, whenever they get around to it, if they ever do get around to it...they use it a lot)

You don't expect to eat dinner before 10:30 p.m.

You need a sweater when it's 80 degrees outside

Your idea of housework is leaving a list for the maid 
(my idea of housework is letting the maid come in and not telling her to come back tomorrow when she comes)

You believe that speed limits are only advisory

You have no problem with tractors driving 40kph on the highway

You think all cops drive Audis and Mercedes Benz'

You know whether or not you are within missile range of Iraq 
(yikes! this is an old one on her blog, hopefully this doesn't apply anymore!)

You get excited and spread the news when "Oreo" cookies show up at the grocerystore 
(Rob would be VERY excited!)

You fully expect to go to jail when a local national hits the back of your carat a stop sign

You know which end of a shawarma to unwrap first

You think that the further you inch into the middle of an intersection, thefaster the light will turn green

You consider it normal for the same section of the road to be dug up three timesby contractors in the space of a few weeks

You understand that the true definition of a nanosecond is the time interval between the light turning green and the guy behind you honking his horn

You think that all gas stations are made of marble 
(haha, EVERYTHING is made of marble, or granite...it's SO slippery!)

You can receive every TV station crystal clear except the local one

You get used to using the cold water tap to get hot water during the summer

You make left turns from the far right lane without a second thought

You expect gold for every birthday

You think Pepsi begins with a "B"

You think that a box of kleenex belongs on every dinner table 

You think water only comes in bottles

You understand that when someone says "Bukra (tomorrow), Insha'Allah" to you itreally means "Sometime during this calendar year"...if you're lucky! (that's a better definition of Insha'Allah) 

CLICK HERE----->This is so cool!
Check it out. I'd tell you what it is...but now it's a surprise!
Don't you love surprises??

another cool one: the puppies

Another Day, Another Dollar

Oh, hi!
So here we are, on a Monday night, relaxing at home.  We went out and got food to go and brought it back home to eat.  Mel will be cooking but as of now only has one burner that works on the stove.  We have to get the gas burners hooked up to a tank and I just keep forgetting to request that.  I had chinese and Mel had Turkish.  Not as good as home but not bad. 

This weekend we have a doubles tennis tournament out at the Airport Villas.  Dan and I are combining our powers to make Team Shawarmaz.  We should have some pretty good competition, considering we both only took up the game less than 2 months ago.  I think it will be a good time.

The bummer part is that a friend here is giving a tour downtown at the museum or something.  He used to work as atour guide here and the word on the street is that the tour is pretty interesting.  So we may have to miss that if we want to crush everyone at the tennis tournament. 

Well this is pretty boring and Mel says I just need to put pictures up and people will like it.  Here's the thing. I don't really want to take the time to add pictures since I don't actually have any good ones on my computer right now.  So I will post this now, enjoy time with Mel and Rocco while watching Friends, and catch up with you later.  Maybe add some photos tomorrow or actually have something interesting to say.

Sweet little sleepy boy.

Complete the test Mel posted below please, and Breaking Bad

I just wanted to share that tonight I bought both seasons of Breaking Bad for 20 dinar, about 16 dollars US.  I was so excited since it's my favorite show running right now.  Arrested Development is my favorite show of all-time, but no longer airs.  It only lasted 3 seasons before it was cancelled and I never watched it until after it was off the air.  But, my favorite tv show viewing experience was watching 24 with Mel.  We hadn't ever watched it when they had run about 5 seasons and I checked the first one out from the library.  We started watching and were hooked.  We'd watch 2 or 3, maybe 4 episodes each day and ran through them in no time.  It was an awesome time we had together, except when she would fall asleep in the middle of an episdoe and it killed me to have to turn it off during exciting parts so she didn't miss any of it. 

Breaking Bad's season 3 starts tomorrow, Sunday, March 21.  The end of season 2 was a little disapointing but I won't ruin it in case this inspires someone to check it out.  Also, one of the stars of the show, Jesse Pinkman is his character, Aaron Paul I believe is his name, is from Boise!  Just a fun fact for all of you. 

When Mel saw I was posting another thing just now she was worried because she says now nobody will take the test she posted just under this.  So please, complete it.  It is interesting, and she will be very happy.  I took the test, you can too. 

For the sake of a little feedback and conversation, what is your favorite tv show?  Of all time? and currently running?

Help me out here…

Alright everybody! I wanna know about you. I stole this from Catie’s blog.
Go here to take the TEST.
I took it twice, and I think the more accurate one is the ESFP. "In general, they take great pleasure in objects of aesthetic beauty."You can get more detailed RESULTS here. Rob was INTJ.
I always love these kinds of things, so take it, and post what you are as a comment PLEASE! I don’t have much to do here, so it would give me hours of entertainment : )

One of our Hang Outs

 
“Right now we're at Lino's, an Italian coffee shop where we had lunch and are using the wifi.  Our internet at home has been out for the last 24 hours. “


Lino’s Coffee


They have pretty good food here, and Rob has the coffee usually and likes it. We like to come here sometimes with groups, or like today, just us. The upstairs is for families, and the downstairs is for men only…I’m pretty sure.

Good Time All Around!

  

Robby Bobbers, checkin in. 
Mafia night was a huge success last night.  We had maybe 23 or 24 people, 21 of those played the game and it was a great time.  The start time was 7 pm, but of course nobody ever wants to be the first to show so nobody arrived until 7:15.  We played 3 rounds from 7:45 unti

l just after 10.  Unfortunately, I had to be the narrator since nobody had really played and didn't know how to narrate. But my coworker Bryson volunteered to narrate the last game so I did get in one round.  And even better, he forgot to deal the sheriff card so he then gave it to me.  I had never been sheriff before and have always wanted to, so that worked out great for me.  It was a little difficult because people had difficulty understanding strategies, since they were new to the game, but they started to catch on and particpated well enough to keep things moving. 
People loved the game and I think will definitely be willing to play again in the future.  We had a nice mix of personalites and age groups and I was so happy to have things go so well.  Mel made some awesome Irish Tea Cake and this jalapeno dip that is out of this world, and I dont usually love jalapeno stuff.  We crowded into our big room, used every bit of space in their and had just enough.  So our limit for games in our house is probably 23, I'd say.  We techincally only have 20 seats but with large flat armrests on the sofa and two chairs it works out well enough.  Actually we lost one chair during the course of the night when TWO wheels fell off the chair Andrea was sitting in and she almost ended up on the floor.
So I'm feeling good.  I really wanted it to go well because it's my favorite game in the world and wanted people to have fun so we could play more in the future. 
Also, last time I said Mel was saying we have to move.  Well, I don't want to actually give details on here, but it's kind of funny.  Maybe not for her but I think we'll be staying in our place.  You may have to call or message us to find out if you're interested.
Miss everyone back home.  Right now we're at Lino's, an italian coffee shop where we had lunch and are using the wifi.  Our internet at home has been out for the last 24 hours.  We saw Bryson walk by listening to his ipod and enjoying perfect weather.  He was also checking himself out in the reflection of a car window (sorry Bryson, but don't worry, you did look good).  Alrighty then, talk to you soon.

For those of you who haven’t played, click HERE.

Mafia, our place, Friday night, be there.

So I found out it's not difficult to get people to come to things over here.  Back home if I wanted to do something, like watch a football game or have a game night, I could never get very many people.  Sad, but true.  Over here, very different story.  I'm planning a Mafia night for this Friday and now we may have too many people to have it at our place.  And we have a pretty big place.  I think we're around 20 people right now and that number could grow.  I'm looking forward to it like you can't believe.  We may have to switch it the the Arkno, which is one of the residences that many people live at that has a large lobby area.  I really hope we don't move it to there though for a couple reasons.  I want it to be at our house so it's like our thing that Mel and I host regularly.  And also, the sound will be much better in our house than a big lobby, where we would also have people coming through all the time.  So, unless we reach 25 people or so, I will hold firm that it's at our house.  Maybe we need to have 2 games going on at the same time.  We may not have enough chairs but we have the space for that.  Anyway, I'll keep you posted on how that goes down. 

Tomorrow is Thursday, the last day of our work week over here.  And it is also the day that my team, Olivet Nazarene University, has a game at the National Championship Tournament.  They play at 9 am Kansas City time, which is 4 PM Tripoli time.  So, my goal now is to find a way to get to listen to it over the internet.  The problem is that the work day ends at 4:30 so I would miss most of the same.  Hopefully I can work something out, I may just have to schedule a meeting that gets me out of the office a little early, if you're pickin up what I'm puttin down.

Oh, I forgot, Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I hope you're all wearing green today.  I am not since I don't have any green dress clothes.  Now that I think of it I don't know if I have anything green, casual or dress.  Nobody has pinched me though, I guess that's not something adults do.  I'm also not wearing any red and so haven't been kissed.  Mel picks out my clothes and said she didn't want girls kissing me all day.

So that is what i going on with us.  Mel just messaged me saying we have to move.  I don't know what the big issue is but I hope it's not too bad.  I'm sure you'll hear about it though.  Byeeee   

PS- The picture at the top is of Rocco and Me at Leptis Magna, standing where the emperor used to sit. 

Knitting put on hold...

Update anyone?

All that cute messy food ended up all over my bed! I didn't take pictures this time around...sorry.

Also, to make things a little more interesting...while I was in the kitchen the power blew out...or something. Scared me half to death.

I think that's all a good sign it's bed time.

messy mess

Rocco gets to enjoy my new juicer as well : )

He got to eat bananas and avocado tonight and loved

every second of it!

...is baking.

Hello again!

Exciting things have been going on in Rinard household! Well, exciting for me anyway : )

Yesterday I bought a juicer....and juiced things! It's so weirdly fun. Mostly because they have such terrible juice here, and well, because it's loud and it spins, and it makes juice. What can be better than that? So, yesterday, I bought a bunch of produce, and mixed all kinds of things. My favorite was everything together. It was 2 oranges, 2 carrots, half a lemon, a banana, and two apples. I also made grapefruit juice, which was good, but very sour!

Here is the special machine, gutted so I could wash it.

This is the good one.

So, today I decided would be a baking day. In the past that has not worked out so well with all the substitutions I have to

do. I'm not a baker. I can bake, but only if I follow the recipe exactly. No coloring outside the lines for me, thinking outside the box, or baking outside the...directions. So, I found two recipes that I had all the ingredients for. Irish tea cake, and zucchini bread.

Now if I could just get myself to stop eating them : )

Rob just called and said he picked up my ticket for Korea!! I'm really excited! That will make my 5th continent.I'm not sure if the other two will ever get a visit from me. I wouldn't mind Australia, but Antarctica is not really a goal.

Well, that's the exciting news from me. I promise I will get Rob to put up a post. He probably has something interesting to talk about. He's planning a trip to Tunis, Tunisia for a weekend while I'm gone. I'm exciting for him, it sounds like they'll have a lot of fun.

Love you all, hope you're having good days!

rain, but waterless...

It's been raining a lot today, which, apparently means our house floods!

Okay, that's an exaggeration. The rain does come through the windows though. It's forgiven, it sounds nice, and makes it feel less dusty around here.

Funny, on the day that I've seen more rain here than any other day, we don't have water! Coming from the showers, faucets, and washing machine, that is. We have it on the floors, on the walls, and on the counters...but not where I need it. Let's see how this turns out.

Oh, and today is my mom's birthday, SO

Happy Birthday, MOM!!

Nutella, I love you.

Okay, another blog...I think this makes 3 in one day!

Good thing you guys are just dying to know about every little thing we do.

Mom, the flower picture is for you... : )

The other one is Rocco and I in front of the market in Palm City that we go to a lot.

Alright, goodnight!

I hope you like him...

Here are a few stragglers that didn't really fit anywhere...

I feel bad about the flash, but sometimes I forget, and it makes for a really funny picture of the taco man.

There is a bath picture...

Also, we have rocco sleeping on the floor while I cook. I finally remembered to bring his Johnny Jump up over here, but before that, I didn't have anything for him to sit in while I cook.

:out:

...and we're back!

Oookay, sorry about my "bad attitude" : ) I figure I'll leave it up though, so as not to sensor you from real life here.

I felt much better once Rob came home and we walked down to the store, I made dinner, and we watched Friends.

A few goals for this week:

Find the post office.

Make an apt for Rocco to get his shots.

Get my ticket for Korea. (I think that is in the works, but I don't understand the whole process)

Hopefully I get all those things done.

Rocco and I went for a walk this morning, today is SO beautiful!

I think tonight we are going over to Guest House 3 to play Bingo...there are prizes, so why not?

: ) They are also playing a movie after, but I'm not sure if we'll stay for that.

Well, there's my update! I didn't feel great about that last one being the newest one..so I had to update.

Here are a few pictures for you:

This is one Dinar, they have kind of weird money. It gets confusing for me. They have coins and bills for the same amount. Like, for 1/4, there is a coin and dollar, same for 1/2.

I actually got this picture from the internet, but it's a good example of the portraits they have everywhere. Not to mention all the billboards, random paintings on buildings.
This is also from the internet, but last weekend we were down at Medina and I saw this little copper store. So, since I didn't take a picture, I'll use this persons. Those things go on top of the mosques.

Who needs power anyway?

One thing I will miss about Libya when we are gone:

Nothing.

Today was stupid. I think I'll go to bed early so it can end in a timely manner.

Here is a map of the huge world, so you can see just how far away from civilization(!) we really are. Don't let Europe fool you, it doesn't count.

Hope that lifted some spirits!

Love you all!

The Casa

No Kittens Allowed...

Just a few pictures from around here...

This is a picture of "Tuesday Market". I don't know what it's really called, but that's what everyone I know calls it. I went there today and got the stare down while I was in one of the stores...so I left. It's kind of like a mall. There is a grocery store on the bottom, with a pet store in the middle...sanitary? well, who knows : ) There are birds, fish, and a REALLY cute little kitten there. I've heard from a reliable source that we are, under no uncertain terms, getting a kitten...so, I suppose it will have to continue living at Tuesday Market for now.

The second floor there are shops. Mostly jewelry and clothes. Except one section that has appliances, containers, and all kinds of random kitchen things. It kind of reminds me of the dollar store. I don't know why, everything is a lot more than a dollar.

The third floor there is a coffee shop, kind of like Starbucks, and a kids carnival thing. There is a little mini bowling alley for kids, and little train that runs up on the ceiling...and it's very loud! There is also a food court. I haven't been to the fourth floor, and am not sure if there are more than four floors or not. It isn't my favorite place, but its okay.
Here is Veranda. We like going here for coffee, dessert, and ice cream. I haven't had the coffee myself, but Rob likes it. I really like the little desserts though. They are super good. This place is also like a Starbucks.
Do "Proud New Dads!" usually wear pink nightgowns?? You can't see it very well, but it says My heart belongs to Daddy in the heart. Oh dear...you'd think someone would see that this at least doesn't deserve to be in the window of the store!? Oh well, it was pretty funny for us!

I'm the boss of you, you, and you...

We have a new Mr. John in town...

"Don't you just love the way they talk?"

Here are some pictures of Rocco I took today. He is getting SO big! As soon as I get around to finding him a doctor, I'll let you know how big he has actually gotten.

He makes the funniest faces! Gotta love it.

Well, Rob took a video of our new apartment, but it just won't upload. I'll see if I can't get it to upload while I'm out in Palm City. For now, you can look at cute baby Rocco. : )

Does Carpet Stain?

<--Just an old picture from my cell phone. I like looking at these because it reminds me how little tiny he really was. : )

I mean, if you happen to say, drop the iron onto the carpet, have a screaming baby, and not pick it up RIGHT away, melt the carpet a little, then go to iron like, your husband's pants...do you think that carpet stains? maybe carpet washes out?

It's late, and while I am sincerely concerned, I am also amused with the idea that yes, carpet probably does stain. Luckily for me, they're black!

You may hear this a lot from me, but not much is going on. I am, however, planning a little trip to South Korea! To see my dear sister and Ben. I am beyond excited to see them, and for them to finally meet little Taco Paco. I want to make it really official and buy my ticket already! I will buy it soon though. I have to actually go down to the ticket selling place and buy it though. It's a little ridiculous, but I can deal.

We have been in our new apartment forrrr, two weeks now. I think. I haven't used our beautiful kitchen just yet. I tried to cook yesterday...the outcome? Two grilled cheese sandwiches with red robin seasoning. A delicacy here in Libya. Luckily for me, you guys aren't allowed here, and won't know I'm lying. Come to find out, after I had the ingredients out for a few things, we have no salt. We have no spatula. We have no cake pans!!! These are basic human rights, no? Well, here I am, with none of them. So, that is another thing I put on my list of things that need hunted down and purchased. Here is my problem, well, among others, I have a few things to do. I need to go to the dry cleaners, to the grocery store, and to get kitchen things. I really don't want to go out and do those things alone...so, I wait for Rob to get home from work. Understandably, those things are the last thing on earth he wants to do with his precious few hours of daylight.

Maybe tomorrow I can convince him. Maybe tomorrow.

Well, it's almost 1am, and my big beautiful bed is calling me name. Something I love here, my bed. Not because it's the most comfortable thing, but its big, and my sheets are on it!

Okay, goodnight.

(I use the word thing way too much. I think this post calls for a thesaurus!)