This is a tumblelog, kinda like a blog but with short-form, mixed-media posts with stuff I like. Scroll down a bit to start reading, or a bit more to read more about me.
The scene: Our office at lunchtime. We had ordered lunch from a delivery service that serves a collection of restaurants, calling itself ‘Hungry.’ (in Arabic).
Publishing Assistant: “Now I know why they call it Hungry! They’re late and I’m starving.
Me: Yes, if I have to wait much longer I’m going to take a chunk out of one of these books (we are medical publishers).
Publishing Assistant: Yes, well avoid the Medical Parasitology.
I have been conspicuous by my absence yet again. Sorry about that. I’m rather deep in the midwinter blues right now. Ashamed to admit it but can’t seem to kick it this time. It’s nothing in particular; as with most people it’s more a collection of rather small, insignificant unhappinesses that have converged to overwhelm me.
What makes it worse (and yes I know this sounds whiny) is that so many people around me are having actual crises, that I feel ashamed to talk about it. So Tumblr is getting it. At least you have the option of clicking out if you don’t feel like listening to a whine.
One close friend has traveled to be with her mother who just had a stroke. Another is dealing with the fallout from her husband just falling off the wagon.
Another friend has just had a lump removed from her breast. It did turn out to be benign, but a shock like that stays with you for a while.
Not just on the advice of friends, I am doing stuff to try and make me feel better. I’m taking my vitamin supplements more regularly than usual. I’m taking deep breaths whenever I catch myself dwelling on unhappy things.
Going to the spa for a few hours sounds great, and I’m sure it would help, but I’m at work all day and too tired in the evening. I’ve been given orders by my daughter to stay away from the news, and heaven knows she’s probably spot on that following world affairs is not helping. it’s usually bad, but for the last few months it has been even more horrific than usual. May God help this planet.
If you have any suggestions for a cheer up session, I’m all ears. Well?
I just got back from a two-day business trip to Cairo. We didn’t go many places (no time), just the hotel and the medical center where we were to meet with one of our authors and a client. Oh, and we visited the WHO building too. But we got to talk to plenty of locals because that center was miles away from our hotel and we had to take at least eight taxis during the course of our stay.
The taxi drivers were very talkative about politics and their lives, which is in stark contrast to the pre-revolution situation. They all freely told us that they were overjoyed that the reign of Mubarak is now at an end. They said that prices are high and the administration is in a state of disarray, but that this was all a small price to pray for freedom.
Our hotel, the Marriott, was a stone’s throw away from Tahrir Square so we got to see that a couple of times too. Amazing how they’ve already expunged all traces of the Mubarak family. There are even already restaurants and other venues around the square using the name Tahrir. How about ‘Tahrir Table.’
Opposite the WHO building is a garden which we were told is now called Hadeeqa’t Al Otfal (the Children’s Gardens). Apparently, up until the revolution it was Susanne Mubarak Gardens.
To me, it’s just a symbol of how much that family was hated that the people have moved so fast to rename buildings, parks and everything else. After all those decades of oppression and exploitation Mubarak is reduced to a nobody. Should be a lesson for others, but seems that it won’t be.
Anyhow, back to Cairo: It has the potential to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. But sadly pollution and lack of municipal services have left it looking drab and unhealthy. And it is unhealthy. I came back with a chest infection for which I’m now taking medication.
Would I go back? Maybe if there’s a huge clean-up. We’ll have to wait until after the promised elections to see. I truly hope that things improve for the sake of the people.
If you have other recent photos of Cairo why not post them here?
Kelley Fernbacher is the director of non-profit outreach at BroadCause, a social good platform that unites people, brands and non-profit organizations to activate passionate communities around the causes that are most important to them. Follow BroadCause on Twitter and Facebook, or support BroadC…
For the past couple of weeks I have been feeling totally overwhelmed. I have major life decisions to make and they’re crowding in on me. Actually, I have already made some key decisions (stand by I’ll be posting them here in a few weeks once I notify the affected parties that they are about to depart my life). But I’m discovering that when you make life-changing decisions ahead of the time when you can actually act on them, it can be a heavy load to carry.
This applies especially to me. I’ve been impulsive all my life. The self discipline necessary to hold the course I’ve decided on and let it play out over a period of months is taking everything I’ve got—and making me more tired.
To make things worse, I’m so busy these days that I barely get enough sleep. No, the truth is I simply don’t get enough sleep or Me Time. And this is drastically affecting my creativity. I cannot even think straight at the moment.
One of the decisions I took will change the way my professional horizon looks right now. I had planned a timeline of three months for acting on my decision. This weekend I had an epiphany. It might be a lot better if I move up the timing. Again, I’ll blog about it when I can.
I’d just like to mention that this post on depression resonated with me on an unnervingly personal level. Made me wonder if everyone feels like that when they’re depressed, or if I just have a lot in common (neurologically) with that writer.
tumblrbot asked: WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?
This world is a wonderful place. I’ve been blessed to visit quite a few unforgettable destinations so far, but one trip that’s still on my ‘to-do’ list is to rent a private island somewhere in the Caribbean—just me and my husband. :)
To continue with some more easily reachable travel goals, I would also like to continue with my exploration of the United States. I love the South. Charleston is one of the most magically historic places I’ve been so far. I have New Orleans on my list. Although I’m slated to meet up with Donna (of Dazzlin’ fame) in Atlanta this winter. I’ll blog about that when i get to it! :P
I’ve also been on a long drive around the Carolinas, starting out in Raleigh (North Carolina) and finishing in Myrtle Beach (South Carolina). That was an unforgettable trip back in 2008 with my daughter, son-in-law and their beautiful children.
I haven’t yet been to Paris. I think I’m the only member of my family that can claim this, so I should put it right at some time in the near future. Maybe it’ll be on one of the stops my son and I have planned for attending marketing and SEO conferences in 2012.
Exhuberance!
For a while now I’ve been getting the urge to write about things that happen to me. But I can’t post it to my professional website, Wellwrittenwords Speaks SEO because, when someone wants to know what I can do for them in the way of SEO services, they probably don’t want to read about this month’s crises, or what I cooked for dinner, or how I love spending time with my friend of 25 years, Leah Jabri, or about my dream home, or about the business venture Donna Fontenot and I am planning together…
But as a writer I need to express this side of me. This is where I’m going to do it. Hey, if you have things you’d like to say but you never get a chance, let me know about that below. :)
