Ohhhh all the "to-dos"

I really thought I would be all deep in language and coming off my holiday in Accra I would be eager to do it! Hmmm…it did not quite go that way. It seems I did almost everything but language. What sorts of things did I do? Well, well, well, let me tell you…--We received our first electricity bill. We have been here for 7 months. You can imagine the big bill. I called our electrician to see if he could go and get it reduced because the rate we have would include the use of air conditioners etc, etc. (We don’t even have a TV.) He said he would come and do it for us. I did not want to do it myself because I was told if I show my foreign face they may even increase our flat rate! I waited for him to come the time he said…and of course, that never works out according to my American time. You know how people complain their refrigerator repair guy or internet repair guy never come when they say they will? Well, that is my life all.the.time. But, on a good note, I had some things that needed fixing so when he did come he was able to fix one of our fans and some electrical thing in my bathroom. Yay!--We have had some sketchy encounters with carpenters. One asked me for money when the landlord told me he already paid him. Another one insulted Damary in Dagbani not realizing her Dagbani language helper was able to translate all that he said. When I first came to Tamale I was introduced to a carpenter who “does a lot of work for white people”. I went to him with my ideas and drawings for shelves and a cabinet in my bathroom. (I have been using my travel bag hanging on my towel rack since last year July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) This carpenter finished when he said he would, came over with a guy who drills and completed everything within a remarkable time. I was so thankful I had a list ready for him to get more things done like kitchen shelves, night stands for our guest rooms, and a futon.--Something I inherited from Auntie Ruby was a beanbag, except it didn’t have beans in it, it just was stuffed with cotton, but you know what I mean. I brought it to Tamale with me. I have never even used it myself. The cover was old and the cotton was so-not-cottony. Pastor Andrew told me the man who used to be his neighbor sells cotton! We went over to his house and sure enough, the man harvests cotton pods and fills up gunnysacks full of cotton. I tried explaining to them what I needed the beanbag chair thingy for and ended up just showing them pics on google. I know they were talking about me in Dagbani about how crazy Silimingas (foreigners) are. The next day Pastor called me and said the man stuffed my bag and I can come and pick it up. Then I went to an upholstery shop, found some sofa material, and took it to a tailor and he is going to cover it for me. He said it should be done on Tuesday.--Another thing I did was try a new seamstress. It seems seamstresses do a great job the first time but then it goes downhill from there. I was told that once they have your business they could pawn off your dress to their apprentices. Grrr… Yeah, finding a good seamstress is a big deal, especially for me since I am a cloth-aholic. Ghana has beautiful batik, tie and dye, and wax prints that are made with a light cotton. The colors are beautiful and I just cannot help myself sometimes. The problem comes when the seamstress ruins it (sigh). This seamstress did a great job, though it was a simple dress. Her price was a bit more expensive but if she does this well, I don’t mind paying. When I say expensive I mean $7.00 to make a dress for me :)--I had to get my annual car check up at the DVLA, equivalent would be DMV in the USA. I got an all clear.--Our microwave has been slowly dying so I took it to a repair shop along with some other things that needed fixing. The next day they were finished and Pastor was able to pick them up for me.--I had a skype call with a church.--A month ago my neighbor, who I just love, had a baby. I took some photos at their naming ceremony. I decided to print some out for her as a gift. She loved them and told me the photographer she hired did not do well. I am glad I could do this for her.--The light I have in my room is not so nice and the fan is under it so when they are both on it is hard to read or whatever because the rotation of the fan makes shadows. While I was in Burkina in February, I saw a lamp that was tall and the top was a calabash. A calabash is a gourd. They hollow it out and dry it and then they make a hole and paint it. Then they put a light bulb in it. It looked so cool. I finally bought a calabash and there are some iron welder boys down the road. I showed them the pics and they said they would be able to make a stand. Cool!!--The few days I did go out and do language people asked me if I traveled. They also told me I look bigger. It is a compliment to be fat…but of course, I don’t see it that way, not that I am fat, but Accra did add some weight to meeeee!! And I fried donuts when I came back to Tamale. And I wasn’t exercising. And people sent me chocolate that I HAD to eat from my birthday. So, all that to say, I needed to make a menu or list, go, and buy some good foods, healthy foods. I went to the market. Tamale does not have everything but sometimes you can really get lucky! They always have fruits and veggies and I am thankful for that.--When I was looking at upholstery for the big cotton cushion, I knew our 20 + year old dining room chair covers were about to tear from wearing out. I told Damary about the shop and we came back another day to pick out covers. Damary, then, stated she would like to recover them! One afternoon, we sat down and tore off the old ones and she glued and nailed the new ones on. They look great. I am so thankful. I have been wanting to do that for a long time.--The last time I came back from Accra, my friend Martha told me I was supposed to buy bread for her. When buses drive north they make stops and the stops before Tamale sell lots of bread. It is a nice gift people buy for family when they are coming to visit or coming home. When I called her and told her I was back in Tamale she asked if I bought her bread and laughed. I told her I will make some myself. Having a bread machine makes baking bread so easy! She was so surprised to have a hot loaf of bread.In terms of doing things and getting things accomplished, it was a fantastic week. In terms of language learning…it was a disappointment. Will try again next week! Be praying. Love you.