sultanahmet diaries

books and dirt

it's thursday morning. i'm sitting here with an empty yogurt container, an empty cup of coffee, and i should be ready to go. unfortunately, the lack of sleep is getting to me. it's not quite as hot as it was last week, but it's so still and humid at night that i can't sleep. i've tried sleeping on the couch (didn't work-- ended up angry at mr. bojangles because he wanted to play, but it was 3am...! then some street cats started fighting outside the living room window, so i had to get up and squirt them with the water gun).

i received a hammock for a birthday present, so i guess i could try and rig it up on the balcony, but i'm scared that the orange devil cat will come and try and get me.

so.... hot, sleepless nights turn into lethargic, overly-caffeinated days.

tomorrow is my day off (wheeeeee!) but i don't have anything planned. this is a good thing! i paid all the bills and such last week (which required trips to the bank to pay the rent, utilities, and to the post office to pay the phone bill/ADSL bill) so i am free. maybe i will go see a movie. actually, i should try and convince richard (my boss) to take me to "the american book exchange" -- which apparently consists of an older, eccentric american woman who has lived in istanbul for many years and her vast collection of books that she lets people borrow. i've been hearing about her for a long time and i am dying for an introduction. richard says she just likes meeting interesting people, having them over for tea, and then lets them borrow her books (or do a 1-1 exchange). since he's off to tasmania soonish, i should pester him about this.

in other exciting news, i need to buy dirt to plant 2 things: cilantro and basil. this is when you know you're really 30, i guess.... gardening shows suddenly seem very exciting and buying dirt to plant things is the hightlight of your odd thursday. (but the cilantro is from the US and i can spice up some mexican cooking with it!)

posted by camille @ 11:54 AM