'Earth to Naomi'

Blogging typically serves as therapy for me. It serves a creative and emotional outlet. However, recently, I haven't been publishing with any regularity. Why? There are two reasons, which are related.

1. I've had a rocky experience on the job that I accepted in the fall. I love my work. However, there were people issues over which I had no control - crazy stuff. But I'm surviving it. In fact, just a week ago, I was suddenly reassigned - temporarily - to the executive office at headquarters. One of the senior officers called my boss, requesting me.

2. I've been dealing with major depression for months. It just has a way of popping up. Actually, I was diagnosed with major depression many years ago, but I have always worked very hard to keep going in spite of it.

Not a day goes by when I don't think about you, my readers. You have given me so much in friendship.

I'm trying to get back into the habit of blogging regularly. But please bear with me as I work to get myself back. For the moment, I'm a bit of a recluse. I have a lot to say, much of it humorous. But somehow I can't get it out. But that will change. Maybe the change will happen this week on my birthday. :)

tags: depression, naomi-usa, journey to naomi

As seen on bumper stickers

- So many men, so few who can afford me.

- God made us sisters; Prozac made us friends.

- Princess, having had sufficient experience with princes, seeks frog.

- Coffee, chocolate, men - some things are just better rich.

- I'm out of estrogen, and I have a gun.

- Do not start with me. You will not win.

- All stressed out and no one to choke.

- I'm one of those bad things that happens to good people.

- If we are what we eat, I'm fast, cheap and easy.

- Don't upset me! I'm running out of places to bury the bodies.

- If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen.

- How can I miss you if you won't go away?


Tags: bumper stickers, humor, life, naomi-usa, journey to naomi

Quote of the week


Never place

a period

where God

has placed

a comma.

- Gracie Allen

Examining alternative 'marriages' in the Arab world

In Iraq, some men practice the "enjoyment marriage," also known as "mutaa." Shiite clerics and others who practice mutaa, say the unions are not much different from a traditional marriage, where the husband pays the wife's family a dowry and provides for her financially.

Proponents of mutaa say such marriages are keeping young women from having unwed sex and widowed or divorced women from resorting to prostitution to make money. Critics of enjoyment marriages, most of them Sunni Arabs, say it is less about religious freedom and more about economic exploitation.

Is a mutaa contract really in the best interest of Muslim families? Dawn.com and the Washington Post examine this ancient tradition.

As I was researching mutaa contracts, I ran across a story in the Middle East Times that describes the misyar marriage, a no strings attached arrangement practiced by some Sunni men.

What do mutaa and misyar marriages say about these men's commitment to Muslim women? Inquiring minds want to know.


Tags: mutaa, enjoyment marriages, misyar, marriage, muslims, arabs, women's rights, culture, traditions, naomi-usa, journey to naomi

Could someone tell my dad?

Your Power Level is: 89%

You have all the tools you need to be a success - both professionally and personally. You'll probably go beyond reaching your goals. You'll change the world (at least a little).

How Powerful Are You?

Tags: blogthings, fun, success, musings, naomi-usa, the journey to naomi

Brief update

With the exception of a couple of things, life hasn't changed too much since my last post. I'm still looking for a place to live. I thought I had found one this week, but it didn't work out. One of my colleagues is helping me look, and I am very thankful for that. He has lots of contacts with people who own property or have knowledge of resources.

I've been updating my son about my "progress". I told him that I noticed that he had been pretty quiet recently - and if I had done anything to annoy him, I needed to know. My son assured me that I had done nothing wrong. But he repeated what he had said before - that he can't "do certain things" at his apartment while I am here. I assured my son that he didn't have to worry about me staying with him long-term because while I'm living with him, I can't do a lot of things.

I must admit that for a few days, I wasn't really happy with my son, although I respected his need to have his privacy again. So, for a few days, I stopped doing some of the things I typically did - like cooking dinner for two and buying food for both of us.

I just cooked for myself. I only bought food that I liked. I wasn't angry at my son. I was a bit disappointed. I'm not the kind of mom who tries to put her children on guilt trips, but I couldn't help remembering all of the sacrifices I had made for my son. I also remembered how proud I am of my son - that he really is a wonderful young man. He isn't perfect, but neither am I. One day the burden I had been feeling went away. I knew I had to let the hurt feelings go if I was going to continue to move forward.

I'm sure everything will work itself out. It will just take some perseverance and patience. I am grateful for having people here who care - and for having a colleague at work who is willing to make calls every day on my behalf.

As for other things going on, my daughter's godfather and I exchanged heated words last weekend. Godfather started whining about my daughter's pregnancy. As far as I'm concerned, we need to move on. I apologized for getting angry, but Godfather isn't taking my calls. I know that I'll simply have to wait him out.

Even so, life is good, and it's going to get even better. Thanks to all who share my feelings of hope.


Tags: life, family, musings, naomi-usa, the journey to naomi

Poem of the day

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

Thanks to Sidhusaaheb for sharing this Kipling gem.


Tags: poem, rudyard kipling, naomi-usa, the journey to naomi