I’ve been having sleeping problems during the past couple of days 🙁 I get home so tired, and no matter how much I try to stay awake I just HAVE to fall asleep for half an hour either at 8:30 or at 10. This half an hour keeps me up all night long. Even if I managed to sleep, I keep waking up in the middle of the night… Anyway, just came across a cute poem that explains what I’m going through these days. Enjoy 🙂

Night Without Sleep
– by Ellen Bailey –

Have you ever had a night
when you just couldn’t sleep?
Even when you’re so tired
you could fall off your feet?
You get up for awhile,
and then you lay back down
And just lie there,
watching the clock go round

Have you ever had a night
when you just couldn’t sleep?
And you remember that old adage,
“Try counting sheep”
After some time has passed by
You decide you’ll give it a try

Have you ever had a night
when you just couldn’t sleep?
And you start counting sheep,
even their feet
Since sleep won’t come,
you get out of bed
And decide to have some
roast mutton instead

It’s been really cold the past few days. Going outside my home is a nightmare. It’s really windy, and I feel my whole face is about to break like ice! And no matter what I wear, I always feel cold 🙁
Anyway, I try to keep myself warm by drinking a lot of hot drinks, mostly Coffee and “Sahlab”. “Sahlab” is a drink that tastes somehow like a milk desert! It’s white, and tastes so out of this world. It’s served with drops of coconut and a bit of cinnamon topping 🙂 It’s well known in the Middle East, and I bought the material with me from Jordan, but I ran out of it. The last “Sahlab” drink I had was last night 🙁
As usual, my appetite goes crazy in cold days, so basically my life these days revolves around eating and drinking a lot of caffeine, which by the way has no effect on me anymore. Not to forget the loads of work I have to do… aaah, don’t wanna even think of this! It’s the year’s closing, and seems like employers remember EVERYTHING in the last week of December!

I remember last year I was sick I thought I’ll never recover anymore, but the reason was that I had to go for my French course after work, meaning a lot of effort, and little rest, which really destroyed my immune system and turned me into an easy catch for the many diseases of the hundreds of people I meet daily at work, in the bus, in the institute and while visiting!
This year, thank God, it’s better. I still work a lot, but it’s all between my job, home, and my in-laws’ place. So no big chance of catching illnesses like last year. But still, the weather is so cold, and humidity makes a 9 degrees weather feel like –9 !
I hope my family in Jordan are fine, I know it’s cold there too… just wonder how my bro & sis in Canada are managing to live with winter in their part of the world!

Ok,let me get back to work. Hope all of you are in great health and are not suffering from cold as much as I am 😛
And let’s just hope my umbrella will be strong and brave enough to keep open against the heavy rain and the terribly strong winds…

The other day, after work, I went to get a cab. I waited for almost an hour. The weather was so cold, it was getting darker and darker. And when I almost lost hope, I found a taxi approaching me. I stopped it, got in and told him where I was heading to.
Frankly, I couldn’t but be shocked for the size of his eyes. He had unusual tiny eyes. Never saw eyes smaller than his. We drove to the main highway, and 5 minutes later, while I was trying to enjoy the sight of raindrops falling on the street, I felt the car moving rapidly to the extreme right! I freaked out! We were about to hit a passing car, I suddenly looked at the driver, only to find out he was in deep sleep! I woke him up, and shouted at him to take care, since we were in a highway. Thank God we didn’t have an accident. Anyway, I realized after waking him up that he had normal eyes, it was just him ABOUT TO SLEEP that he couldn’t keep his eyes wide open!
I kept watching him to make sure he’s awake! But no use, it happened again… twice! I asked him to pull over, but he refused and apologized every time I woke him up. Anyway, I wouldn’t have any other cab in the area we reached, so I kept talking to him to keep him awake till we reached the place I wanted.

As angry, as scared and as tensed as I was in the taxi, a thought kept me wondering that day. The thought of this old man, and many others like him, who are working so hard, day and night, having no time to rest, no time to sleep, no time to eat, and trying not to miss any client, just to go back home with a loaf of bread, some water, and some vegetables. Or maybe to go pay the rent, or buy medications, or, or, or…
It’s true they’re risking their lives and the life of others, by driving in such a state of exhaustion. And I don’t tend to give them excuses for what they do. But if we all help each other. If we care about people’s health, their survival and their needs! If responsible people care to save the lost money and use it in helping the needy, I’m sure this guy wouldn’t be out struggling to keep driving asleep, risking both our lives. He would be resting at home, knowing that he’ll be up in a while, active enough to drive a car, and that he will get his money in the end of each ride.
But in our time, every one of us is focusing on getting their own money, even if it meant stealing away other’s chances, ruining their hard work, or simply playing blind to ignore their calls for help.

Would there be any hope in making things better? Or will I encounter more and more sleeping beauties?