Today has been the worst day of the week… I am having a very very very bad day and the problem is I cannot figure out why? I feel so crabby…so short tempered … so pissed off at something that I can’t figure out!

Today, I woke up feeling fat, tired and sleepy! I haven’t had breakfast, and it’s almost lunch time! I do have a taste for nachos with extra cheese and extra extra extra jalepeno peppers.

Allright, I know there are way far worst things in the world to feel horrible about, but the truth of the matter I cannot handle feeling this way! Maybe, after having lunch, I’ll feel better? 

As I was typing this, my phone rang. It was Lilian.

Me: Hey Lil

Lilian: I just left the lady’s house! she has a very nice house. Iman, I think I put on some weight! remember how I was supposed to have her take in the dress from the waist and hip area?

Me: yeah?

Lilian: Well, there is nothing to take in? do you think it will still look flattering??

Me: hahahaha

(Read on …)

‘Others’ here is defined as friends and family. Inspired by a conversation I had with a friend this evening, this is me in the eyes of others:

I could be too straight forward, too honest, too much of a nag (sayeda is the only one responsible for this accusation), too serious, stubborn, cultural, conservative, and judgemental…

My mother sees me as very helpful, too stubborn, and if I put something in my mind it has to get done…

My sisters see me as too anal, too stubborn, witty, so into shoes, and so into certain looks…

My sisters and friends don’t seem to be in agreement as to what my ‘trademark’ is …

I will mention one of the two:

my walk!

I love their honesty! I’ll leave the praises for some other day…

Good night for now!

I had the nasiest lunch today! I feel nauseous!

TEL AVIV, Israel - A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up outside a fast-food restaurant in a bustling commercial area of Tel Aviv during the Passover holiday Monday, killing seven other people and wounding at least 49, police said. A security guard posted outside the restaurant, the target of a suicide bombing in January, prevented Monday’s bomber from entering the building, police said.

“We think that this operation … is a direct result of the policy of the occupation and the brutal aggression and siege committed against our people,” said Khaled Abu Helal, spokesman for the Hamas-led Interior Ministry. Earlier, Moussa abu Marzouk, a Hamas leader abroad, told Al-Jazeera television that “the Israeli side must feel what the Palestinian feels, and the Palestinian defends himself as much as he can.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of the rival Fatah Party, condemned the bombing, calling it a “terrorist attack.”

The major difference in rehetoric between the two Palestinian parties is quite evident and nothing new! I must say though, an eye for an eye will make the whole world blind, Mr.Abu Marzouk! not to mention my utmost disappointment and disgust with Abbas calling it a ‘terrorist attack.’ Condemn it as much as you want (and it’s something I wholeheartedly condemn) Mr.President, but don’t call your own people in struggle ‘terrorists.’

Thousands of Christians from around the world attended church services in Jerusalem on Easter, in the busiest Easter weekend since the start of the Palestinian uprising five years ago. Many pilgrims retraced the final steps of Jesus Christ on the Via Dolorosa through the narrow streets of the walled Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, said to be the site of his burial.

About 90,000 tourists were visiting the country for Easter and Passover this year, up 20 percent from last year.    “For all the inhabitants of this land — Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Druze — we ask God that the grace of the Resurrection may become a blessing and a source of peace, of protection against all oppression, and of courage to face all the challenges of our difficult life here in this Holy Land,” said Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the Vatican’s chief representative in the Holy Land, during a mass attended by several thousand worshippers.

Here are the top 10 cities for Art Lovers.  We’re number 2 on the list! 3 of the 10 are considered local! so we don’t have to go too far…

1. Berlin
2. Chicago - They might call it the Second City, but Chicago is second to none when it comes to its lively arts scene. The Art Institute of Chicago in itself is reason enough for art enthusiasts to let the winds blow them towards this Midwest city—this phenomenal museum, flanked by its two iconic lion statues, hosts one of the world’s finest collection of Impressionist paintings, as well as some fantastic works from more recent art icons including Picasso, Dali, Pollock and Warhol. Another noteworthy Chicago draw is the Museum of Contemporary Art, where a broad spectrum of contemporary arts, from painting, sculpture, and photography, to film, dance and music can be enjoyed.
3. Florence
4. London
5. New York
6. Paris
7. Rome
8. San Miguel de Allende -Unlike the other cities on this list, San Miguel de Allende, a beautiful colonial town set in the mountains outside of Mexico City, isn’t renowned for its art collections per se, but rather, as a stellar place to create art itself. In fact, New York magazine described it as “the closest thing Mexico has to Florence”—an apt comparison, as the town’s unusual light has helped transform it from a colonial backwater into an upscale, world-renowned, art colony. The place is particularly popular with North Americans, many of whom visit for the art classes alone. Indeed, painting, jewelry-making, sculpture and ceramics, among various others crafts, are taught at terrific schools here; one of the most reputable is the Instituto Allende, which occupies an atmospheric cloister loaded with murals and stone work. When you’re not in your studio, spend time browsing the dozen-plus galleries that line the compact town’s colorful streets.
9. Vienna
10. Washington, D.C.

[Source]

“I am not happy…I am miserable…Life sucks…I hate my life…My life has no purpose…I cannot remember the last time I was really happy…I wanna have a life…Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? You write your own destiny…It’s just that my ways are always blocked…I’m meant to have happiness in work only…and not in life…I want to have a life… Iman, pray for me.”

Only if you give me the chance to put in a few words.The truth of the matter is that you just don’t want to hear it…simply because it’s not what you want to hear… things are not as bad as you want to believe they are…you tell me you’re sick of hearing this but time and time again, it’s all that I can say: Everything happens for a reason…and keep in mind that Allah does not burden us with more than we can bear. Have faith in Him and everything will be just fine. We wish you nothing but the very best!

Be there for each other… for your friends … but always remember to keep a distance giving each other space … and try not to get too attached to certain things and people, so that when they’re no longer there the degree of the loss wont be as hurtful! This is something my mother has always told my sisters and me..

and I completely agree!

I’ve been spending too much time at my sister’s lately … Here is something else I came across for one of my neices, this time it’s for Jeneen! She’s 8 years old. It was a note folded reading:

From: Layla

To: Jeneen

Being the curious aunti I am, I opened the note:

The content read:

Dear Jeneen,

I was just wondering if you would like to be friend. I would want to be. your a pretty girl, nice, smart, talented, and my friend. Maybe you can come over to day. Does your mom speak english? I can give you my phone # and address. so your mom can talk to my mom about coming over. And when you come over we can go shoping together. And Iman can play with Bayan. And me and you play together. and see a movies

Sincirely,

Layla

Aww! how well mannered Layla is! She’s Jeneen’s classmate at Arabic school…I laughed so hard at the ‘does your mother speak english’ part.  … I love kids! well, some of them…

Amoonah, my niece, keeps a journal for school. I asked if I can flip through it and she agreed. Notice the cute spelling of certain words

Date:

2/27/06

I wish I had a pearl ring and a pearl braclet. Iwona’s mom is comeing back from Poland ion Wnesday March 1st. My dad is comeing from businiess  in a week. next week. My mom is haveing tweins. I love my mom and dad. I love tweins.

2/28/06

My mom is anoied from my brother’s crying and sisterr. m My mom is proud of me. I love my mom sooooooooo much. My brother cryed soooooooo mucht today. My mom is going to make my brother an egg. my sister some times she doesn’t listen.

3/1/06

I think my mom is mad. My frends are Iwona and some times Nicole and Geselle but not Kily she is stooped and meen and she allwis tells on us. that is why we hate her. My mom is very nice and my dad too.

3/2/06

My dad mite come next weeek. I love my dad. I love my dad soooooo much. Now ki Kily is Iwonas and my friend. I like Kily “now”. I miss my dad soooooooooo much. I am going to Iva Iwonas bithday party on this coming Su  Sunday at Chuck-E-Cheeses I am going there at 2:00 P.M. Nicole is coming and a fuoow of her friends. Iwona is Polesh and I am Arubick. Iwona’s allwes says she loves me.

At least the majority are.

I went to the mall today to pick a few things (I am so proud of myself, I actually was able to walk out of there without buying a few pairs of shoes!)…anyway, as I was walking from one shop to another, I noticed a few fathers sitting on a bench with their kids in strollers in front of them. Awww! How Cute! I always thought this is one of the most adorable things to see… so as I walked away very slowly (I was tired! I hate the mall) I kept looking their way! Shortly after, a woman - nicely dressed with beautiful shoes - starts walking in front of me … all I see are the two fathers’ eyes moving head to toe and top to bottom …completely checking this woman out!

I don’t understand! These are husbands and fathers…what are they doing checking out some random woman as they are attending to their kids at the mall while their wives are probably shopping? I cannot stand men of such nature…could it mean that I cannot stand 99.9% of men?