Ah yes, the blog finally starts to deal with the finer aspects in life – such as, the restroom.

Mine’s shiny. That’s partly the reason why I lie to get inside it, twenty times a day. I love the hand-wash, and apparently, I had a dream that it returned my feelings.
But, that ain’t exciting. Especially when you see that it doesn’t care for touch as much as you’d like. Its content if I pass my hand under it for the flow. That’s just not the Rafa Benitez way.

The latrine is kept cleaner than your dining table. Mainly because we use five different types of cleaners. So I really enjoy sitting on it, as close to birth as I can get, and read my favorite comic books.

I like the Thing. Batman, he’s got cool gizmos. But the webster is ofcourse Spidey. I’m so addicted, that I grow miniature versions of him, especially in places of my restroom hard to get at with a broom-on-a-pole.

Then, there is the omnipotent hose. No, not ho’s. Hose.
Its not Jose either.

I think they call it silverwear, but I never found much use for it on my body. I like to pretend I’m a fireman by turning it on at full power and blasting the stupid washing machine. I also use it to reach the inaccessible areas.

There’s a kind of whole ecosystem in that hose. For example, the neighbours come to sleep on it if they sold their mattress to the Maple Tree. The lizards and the cockroaches rent it pretty often too.

Look before you leap eh? It should have more of grab in it.

I grabbed the hose, and I am confronted with the alpha-male of geckos. A complete 10 inches long, scaling reptilian. First instinct? Wow, the decorators sure did a good job lining the hose with rubber.

I allowed it to wriggle out of my grasp, for it had to return to the matchup versus the Dragonfly. As far as I had observed, (while not reading the comics), the dragonfly was giving our gecko the stick. It should teach that wall sticking lumberjack to get a dose of its own medicine.

The big bad boys from the insect world are usually the roaches. They run around, or fly, faces covered in huge gas masks and bill boards which read, “Jesus loves you. So does Barney”. What better remark when you’re busy drying yourself or relieving yesterday’s rice?

Ants are the stark opposite of Party Balloons. Well, not really. They are hot. And they can glide on air. They carry stuff, either above or below themselves.

But party balloons aren’t hard-working. Neither do they have mandibles which could make you wish you had a Doberman stuck up your arse instead.

The first I saw of them, was when I attempted to sing. Understandably, they were annoyed when I disturbed their afternoon siesta. Either that or they are plain mean. I’d go with the latter.

I took out the hose and held on to it for dear life. Then, I realized that I had got into knee-deep shit. For I noticed the big gaping hole in the washing machine and the wall. And the long column of ants.

I also heard the intro before they air my favorite TV show. Then, I lost my cool.

It was every jackass for himself.

Preparing to press the trigger as the solitary ant made a bee-line towards me, I saw my life flash past. The School. Argh! I meant something good, goddamnit, I’m about to die and all my brain cares about is giving me short shrift.

Of couse, I remembered the telephone. Oh yes What a nice little gadget that was! It was so conservative and helpful that I didn’t receive a bill in excess of 10 bucks every year. Thats because it didn’t work.

Good old days. I was hit by what I would call as nostalgia when I remembered that I once had held the world record in the racing game I used to play. Then, I realized that the nostalgia was the result of a huge fire ant doing a hand-stand on my leg.

You probably haven’t seen my kind before.. they have huge back legs, tiny front legs, can swim in water and speak English.

“Eww you taste like muk!”
I brush the cheeky arthropod off my leg and deliver the ‘Coup de grâce’ with a gently push on the trigger. That should teach them!

Unfortunately, the column of ants had managed to bring out their cavalry.
Now, I was faced with a whole army of ants.

One jumped from the overhead shower.

Then something flashed past my eyes… before I could swat it, I noticed that it was gulping down the ant faster than you could say ‘Pizza’.
Aha! I had allies! The dragonfly and lizard had given up the hopeless friendly match for a much more inviting free-for-all buffet of ants.

So, we squared up. The opponents, small little things called Antz. Us, we was the human-lizard-fly combination. I am pleased to say I added weighty substance to our team.

That was till I hadn’t seen the Queen.

She was a huge ant (disguised cleverly as a pink lollipop). What was worse, she still had her price tag on. This was when I was about to say, the gloves are off.. then I realized that I could no longer do that statement justice :|

So I shouted, Chaaarge! The ants flexed their cutters and acid-sprays and each of eight legs in preparation. My ‘team’?

Provided somewhat a mixed response. The gecko was lazier than the average bachelor, licking its eyes with its long tongue. I paused to contemplate the strategy. It could be a good move, scaring the enemy to death with ugly faces and smelly bodies. Uhm.

So I made it clear he could no longer stick around (pun not intended) and he made his customary dive to freedom inside the latrine.

I could distinctly pick up the words ‘Man Down! Man Down!’ and ‘Die Scumbag!’

I turned around to see a giant lollipop flinging its body towards my face.
I jumped up and over and heard a sickening ‘Plop!’ followed by ‘Glub Blg.. GLUB!’

Ha! My clever tactics of appearing to laze about had cost the queen dearly! Now she was stuck face down into the delivery tube, which conveniently, I had forgotten to flush.

I realized I was doing a tight rope act, standing on the pointy end of the queen. The dragonfly was pinned down by squadrons of termites, but they all froze once they saw that their queen was going face down to the leader so soon.

I am generally very kind. So I only jumped up and then down thrice. Then I broke her back … ‘crraaack!’.
I knew all those hours of economics would someday do me good.

Now, the angry mound came out to wreak havoc upon my bathroom. Nothing was spared, not me, or the handwash. They didn’t even give me enough time to turn this to a romantic adventure, or a perfectly normal soap opera.

I was not particularly worried when the dragonfly was being torn apart and called me ‘traitor’. I say, buzz off.

Next thing I know, my arms, legs and eyes are covered in a huge slimy moving reddish mass of antz. I still remember the burning… the pain…
I closed my eyes.

And awoke, to a wholly new kind of hell. Today was exam day. I would have to dissect them antz. Again.

“They sure don’t make random ant attack novel comic thingies like they used to”

Okay, so I don’t know about all of you but I am pretty worried about getting sick at this school year.  Here at SU, school officials are predicting that half of the students will probably get some form of the flu. And that includes the Swine variety. Yikes! If you’re anything like me you’re probably a little worried (Read: freaking out and considering becoming a hermit).

But before you lock your doors and resign yourself to online courses, there are some things you can do to try to avoid getting sick, like protecting yourself against bacteria. As a self-described germaphobe, I am not embarrassed to say that I carry antibacterial wash with me everywhere (it comes in handy at frat parties), and you should consider doing the same since so many germs are on doorknobs, tables, and communal computers.  Plus, you’d be surprised how many of your friends and fellow students aren’t washing their hands after going to the bathroom! I see it all the time and I’m like, “Hey girlfriend, I’m standing right here and can see you aren’t washing your hands!”

But rather than yell at random strangers in the bathroom, even if they deserve it, you can protect yourself.  And that doesn’t mean squirting that nasty smelling Purell on your hands every 10 minutes; there are some really great smelling cleansing products out there that won’t leave your hands dry and cracking. Give some of these a try:

Hand wash: Indulgences Purifying Hand Wash in Coconut Nectar is a cheap antibacterial that cleans and moisturizes. Oh and it smells deeeelish.

Bodywash: Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish - This body scrub exfoliates but also includes real brown sugar, which is a natural antibacterial ingredient.  Fresh also makes a soap bar that has the same helpful sugar properties.  Who knew that sugar was good for more than just curing a sweet-tooth?

Lotion: This Bath & Body Works lotion is small enough to throw in your purse, and has moisturizing beads to leave your skin soft and germ-free.  Try Midnight Pomegranate, my fave new B&B scent.

Waterless Hand Foam: The Bath & Body Works hand foam is the quickest way to sanitize your hands after touching public surfaces, plus this Sea Island Cotton scent should take you on a mini-vacay.

All Rolled into One: Bath and Body Works: Spread Love, Not Germs Kit. It’s only $19.50 and you get tons of antibacterial products in top selling scents like Sweet-pea.

Stay clean, healthy, and smelling delish this year, ladies.

My first Texas morning sunrise

Since coming to the land here in Texas I find myself in quite a different situation. I do not awake each morning to get ready for work and leave the house by 5:30 in order to be at work by 5:45. The day here on the land can be early but waking up is for very different reasons.

We have been here for about 3 weeks now and my mind is trying to uncolonize my role. When back in Egypt I shared the process of bringing home the bacon so to speak. My day was filled up with work, house cleaning and more work. Now I find myself having to rethink things. My duties have changed as well as my role. I am no longer the bread winner. I no longer have any responsibilities to outside work. Only to my husband and my home and land.

Now I no longer can think like I used to. My time  has to be spent on more productive things. Transitioning ones thoughts to a different and Godly way of life can be a bit overwhelming. sometimes I just have to sit a while and focus my thoughts. It can be difficult at times as the old nature whats to rear its ugly rebellious head and complain. I think that is why it is so important to take the time to read the word and get back into the will of God.

I must say my first month here has been a busy one and a real eye opener. I can say that I don’t mind this way of life at all and it come pretty naturally as I was raised in a quite similar way. But trying to keep the outside influences out that have been my way of life for so long is a challenge. I know with the Lord’s help and my leaning not on my own understanding will keep me focused.

Learning to be a different kind of helpmeet, a role that God ordained from the beginning for women, will be a blessed one, once I daily let go of how I used to think. My role is to be one of God first then my husband. I am here to serve him and his needs. I was made for him according to Genisis. Daily dying to the old way of thinking, the worldly way of thinking that has created feminism, made women walk away from such an important and blessed role, will make me into the women that God created for me to be from the beginning of time!

I am enjoying my new environment, my new way of life. I pray that God will continue to cleanse my mind of its worldly way of thinking and allow me the joy of being a proper help meet.

Here are a few pics of my first hand wash and our rv… as well as we experienced our first major storm, it lasted almost 12 hrs, which I heard was unusual. I thank the Lord for the precious water that he provided as well as the safety and protection he gave us during the storm. I found out when it rains it pours……..!

Blessings Debylin

The Amana NFW7200TW front-loading washer is one of the least costly ways to get in on the front-loading washing machine craze. The biggest benefit of this Amana washer is its energy efficiency. With this washer you’ll use 10,521 fewer gallons of water each year and save 44% on energy use when compared to a standard non-ENERGY STAR washer. When it comes to temperature selection, this model offers automated control based on the cycle selected. It has five temperature combinations & a generous 3.5 cubic feet capacity. Additional convenience features include a Antimicrobial Component Protection, a delay timer, an extra rinse, a quick wash and a rinse/spin setting.

The Clothes Line, an Elegant Survival Original, Copyright M-J de Mesterton 2006

Clothes dryers are energy-wasters, and will ruin your clothes as well, through fiber-loss and shrinkage. Hand-washing and line-drying your shirts will extend their lives. I use Zote soap and a microfiber cloth to rub dirt out of cuffs and collars. Underarms need special attention, too. I use a microfibre cloth instead of a brush because it is more gentle on the fabric, while strong enough to grab what I like to call “café crud” from cuffs. You don’t need a fancy contraption for clothes-drying; a five-dollar investment in a clothesline from Walmart, and a packet of wooden clothespins for about three dollars will do. Having a couple of trees to hold your clothesline at each end is lucky indeed, but in their absence, wooden posts can be installed.

When travelling, pack a small piece of Zote or Octagon bar-soap for hand-washing dainties and shirts in your quarters. The shower is a nice place to hang them; they will likely dry overnight, and probably not need ironing.  You might pack a couple of clothes-pins as well.

The sun and Zote soap both act as  fabric-brighteners, and your clothes will have a clean, fresh scent if treated to a sun-bath.

~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2009

]]> http://putitinh.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/swine-flu-survival-guide/ Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:20:42 +0000 eeyun http://putitinh.wordpress.com/2009/04/28/swine-flu-survival-guide/

Don’t want to get the swine flu? Me either. With all of the press it’s gotten it must be killing everyone that gets it right!?!?  And it must be untreatable right?!?!  Oh wait.  It’s neither of those things.

Anyhow, want to avoid getting sick?

Wash your fucking hands.

PS – Vitamin water will totally help combat the swine flu too. Trust me.

As I walked through Spitalfields to Liverpool Street Station after work this evening I listened to “Paris Is Burning” and strolled along watching all the ’suits’ dash to the station. I was very happily minding my own business when I noticed the usual Evening Standard Newspaper billboard stands… “25 Britons Tested For Killer Swine Flu”. At that very instant I was convinced I was at the very beginning of 28 Days Later… or some zombie film equivalent.

And it’s canny scary man. If theres any confirmed cases here in London, that it, I’m locking us both in the apartment and we’ll live off beans, sweetcorn and weetabix until its all over. There has been 2 confirmed cases here in the UK so far… and 22 odd have been tested/have mild symptoms.

You can keep up to date here at the BBC’s website….. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8021813.stm

Ms. Judy Pink.

____

Finally, there’s a company that gets it. We love our handmade items. We wear them. We want them to last.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that we want to spend an hour every week hand scrubbing and rinsing and lying flat to dry. You can wring until your hands hurt, but you’re never going to get that last little bit of soap out of your favorite sweater.

Well, good news. You can have your hand-wash items and wear them too. Soak is the answer. You soak your delicates in cool water with just a li’l bit of this wonderful stuff. The dirt comes out in the water. What’s left behind is a light fragrance that evaporates over time. No need to rinse.

I’m telling you, lovers of fine threads should not be without a bottle. Or ten.

::

Back at work after a lovely christmas break. My eyes are a little tired from general lack of sleep, festive behaviour etc, and I’m really noticing it now, staring at the screen all day.

There is another factor here that contributes a great deal to my ocular displeasure, and that is the Hygenically Clean Cussons’ Carex Moisturising Hand Wash, supplied by the contracted cleaners. Most probably the unspecified ingredient ‘Parfum’ which, let’s face it, could be any bloody thing so long as it smells. Whatever it is, whenever I use it, I’m immediately afflicted with itchy eyes. I generally manage it by using as little of the stuff as possible, but in the interests of hygiene you do have to use a bit from time to time.

My dismay was compounded today when I discovered the latest thoughtful addition to the toiletry supplies. Perfumed toilet paper. Just… don’t get me started…!

Family Feast

Liya has not finished her ‘roti telur’ yet when Ajib washed his hands, lips and cheeks. Liya and Ajib are prone to get rashes on the face. Ajib slowly walked towards me and took my hand. “Wash hands, Mama,” Ajib said, waiting for my answer. As I was turning on the tap water, Ajib hurriedly left. He was only showing me the way. His next target for hygiene-campaign would be his sister, Liya. ‘Thanks, Ajib’ I said for Ajib’s assistance. Not that I didn’t know my way but his ability to take me to the sink. It was voluntary and logical but I was pleased beause Ajib is barely 3 years old.

“If your hands are dirty, you might have germs. Germs can go into the stomache and cause tummy ache..” Once I caught Liya explaining to her younger cousins. Being the oldest has its benefits and ‘followers.’

Y’s MENS CLUB OF HYDERABAD’S SOCIAL SERVICE PROJECTS.

YMC Hyderbad is the first club in Central India Region (CIR) . They are celebrating their golden jubilee this year .The Club was nurtured by Ym. Narasimha Rao (PAP & ICM) .It is the home club of Ym.Vijaya Kumar (ICM) .The YMC Hyderbad has a host of impressive social service projects .The photos show the implementation of the UGP whereby HIV/AIDS patients are given a regular supply of nutritious food .One of the photos show the club volunteers observing the ‘Hand wash day’ at the school sending out positive health and social messages. The current President of the Club is Yw. P.Padma

Ym.Philip Thengumcheril

As I’ve said before, I love being green but hate to compromise style. This is why, when I ran out of handwash today, I restocked with Method. On the green front: it’s made with naturally derived, biodegradable ingredients, recyclable plastic and isn’t tested on animals. On the style front: it’s designed by slickster Karim Rashid (who, on the local front: also happens to be Canadian! … OK, technically he was born in Cairo … All right, and he may or may not live in New York now … but close enough!).

It retails for around $4, which is pretty reasonable for handwash. I find that it doesn’t lather up that much, but spreads around easily and feels like it’s getting the job done. The people behind the brand are a little kooky — they have this whole “people against dirty” campaign, which creeps me out for some reason — but they seem nice enough.

Best of all, though, is that you can get this stuff everywhere, so no need to go digging in the dusty aisles of that alternative health store with the semi-comatose cat in the front window.

*Update: Jessie Jane has a great comment on this post. “My favorite thing about Method,” she says, “is the story my boyfriend heard the CEO tell at one of their corporate meetings — apparently he came home one day to discover his infant daughter had drunk almost a whole bottle of the surface cleaner (apparently it tastes as good as it smells). They took her to the hospital, but aside from a brief tummy ache she was just fine, no stomach pumping necessary.”