Chicago’s Christmas spirit…

There are many ways of showing appreciation for what you see and like without having to drool and make a (I can’t even find an expressive enough of a term) out of yourself! It really doesn’t take much to get them excited, does it! that excitement shows their weak, immature side in a bizarre way…and quite honestly…that’s kinda sad and a big turn off!

I can write a book about the things said to me … I’ll start with a few …

“So detailed, so anal …to the point of annoyance!”

“Like me, you’re a very curious one…and often times, people take us as being interrogating…”

“Some of the stuff you write there just spews arrogance…”

“Nice but mean…”

“You’re my favorite aunt…can you buy me shoes??”

“Unbelievably stubborn…”

“Give a stuck up, very intimidating first impression…”

“Sweet with a streak of bitchiness…”

” When I feel the loneliness inside my heart…
When there’s darkness all around me …
You’re the light I see …
When I need someone to ease my troubled mind ….
You’re the answer to my prayers … ”

Makes a perfect Christams gift for co-workers and friends…beautiful art combined with important dates marking the struggle the Palestinians have been enduring for the past 58 years for everyone - whether Arab, American, British, Irish, etc - to remember.
PalestineCalendar.org aims to keep significant dates of the Palestinian issue alive in the world’s mind. Because Palestinian history is replete with human tragedies, many of the dates are commemorations of massacres and assassinations inflicted by the State of Israel. It is important to remind the world community about these atrocities whenever their anniversaries come up. Atrocities that are forgotten, or ignored, will be repeated, as we continue seeing in today’s events.

This website is dedicated to the memory of all Palestinians killed in the conflict with Israel, as well as the Palestinians displaced from their homes and their descendants who are languishing in the deplorable conditions of the refugee camps to this very day.

You can support [this] work by purchasing [the] 2007 calendar “The Exodus & the Odyssey,” featuring the political art of Tamam Al-Akhal-Shammout, who witnessed the Palestinian catastrophe in 1948.

The Witness: The doves, without eyes, beaks, or legs, are caged within barbed wire. How can peace move forward in such circumstances? Israel has wrought havoc to the Palestinian infrastructure, destroying our agriculture and industry. But as long as Palestinian mothers bear children, the next generation will pass on the torch of resistance.

Palestinian Poppies: Beautiful poppy flowers dominate the Palestinian landscape in the spring. Their vivid color inspires us and gives us hope. The Israeli occupiers systematically destroy our land and our trees in an attempt to uproot our hopes and squelch our dreams. Nevertheless, spring will come, and the poppies will bloom again, and so too will our dreams.

Jaffa: Bride of the Sea: Jaffa, the city of oranges and one of the oldest cities on the Mediterranean. The Canaanites called it “Yafi,” meaning beautiful. In season, the colors of ripe oranges on the trees filled me with joy, as did the happy rituals associated with picking and shipping the fruit across the blue Mediterranean.

April:

Jaffa: Harbor of Abundance Our home was in the old City of Jaffa; its windows framed the clear blue sea. The bustle of the harbor intertwined with the ancient mellowed stone of the old buildings to form a mosaic of color and beauty. In the late afternoons, when the fishing boats returned home with their catch, the harbor teemed with life and excitement.

November:

Olives and Oranges: To the Palestinians, the olive tree is sacred and blessed, and has become a national symbol. But Israel continues to uproot and destroy our olive trees in its ongoing effort to erase our heritage and our connection to the land. The famed Jaffa oranges also had filled European markets long before the creation of the State of Israel. But today, even as our oranges are described as “Israeli,” we know that our Palestine will continue to be the source of giving, and our trees will continue to bear fruit, no matter what.

September:

Do Not Forsake: The Steed The Arab horse, symbol of Arab pride and strength is hemmed in on all sides. He is bound by restrictions and obstructions, unable to realize his capacity to give and achieve and unable to realize his hopes and dreams.

Very inspirational, is educational and serves as a reminder. I am ordering a bunch of them… View the full inside of the Calendar… Support this project, purchase a calendar!

To my Credit Card: Sorry, but I couldn’t resist… when my co-worker told me she paid $25 for the same exact shoes, by the same exact designer, I said to myself, no way am I going to pay $79+ for this pair of boots. talk about a steal!I’ve bought many shoes since, but this pair was still in the back of my mind. Today, I couldn’t resist. My mother thinks my obsession with shoes is almost sickening! Lilian & Sayeda feel proud when they’re able to hold me back from buying any shoes whenever we decide to shop together. Ranya and Beesan (my sisters) think I’m crazy, yet they enjoy borrowing my shoes…(the ones they can actually walk in..I guess tennis shoes come into use more than 4 inch heels when you have little ones to run after!) not that I mind of course … Maryam (my other sister) thinks I’m sick.. and I bet that’s because she can’t borrow anything from my collection. Her shoe size is a 10…

Seriously, I couldn’t resist. they’re hot! at least I held back for 2 (I think) months, but I just had to have this pair! even if it was just a tad bit over $25…

A: Would you like to go to dinner?
B: Inshallah!
A: So, is that a yes or a no?
B: Inshallah.
A: (At this point extremely frustrated.) Okay, I know… Everything
happens by God’s will, but would you like to go to dinner?
B: Inshallah.
A: Okay, I know… but is that a yes or a now? Actually, never mind. Forget it!

————–

A: I have not received your RSVP card. It would be really nice to have you, so will you be there?
B: Inshallah…
A: Ok, it would be really nice to have you. So would that be a yes?
B: Inshallah…
A: ummm, Inshallah yes or Inshallah no?
B: Inshallah, who knows what might happen…
A: True. So is that a yes??
B: Inshallah
A: (At this point doesn’t even want her there, and wouldn’t even include her in the count.) Alright!

————–

A: Would you like to go bowling Dec. 23rd?
B: Inshallah…
A: Okay, I’d take that as a yes…how many tickets would you like?
B: Inshallah I’ll let you know…
A: (Thinking, yeah sure you’ll let me know..why don’t you just say it. No.) Yeah? Please do.
B: Inshallah!

————–

These are just a few minor of the many encounters I have with the word Inshallah through out the day! According to Mariam’s Webster Inshallah is defined as: if Allah wills : God willing.. I know that everything happens by God’s will, but we actually have to take the initiative to make something happen. Right?! What’s wrong with Yes, inshallah, I’ll go. Yes, inshllah, I’ll be there. Yes, inshallah! In may instance, I’m inclined to believe that, when saying inshallah as a stand alone response, people are telling you No! So why can’t they just say, plain and simple, No!

This was my first semester teaching at this community college and my first time using the material and book required for that class. Having a week-day full time job as well made it a bit difficult for me to fully concentrate on this weekend class…over all, it was a very pleasant experience not to mention rewarding. Today was the last day of class…I was touched when quite a few of my students came up to me and asked if I would be teaching any of the evening or weekend Composition 102 sessions for Spring 2007 semester so that they can sign up for my section…isn’t that sweet!

Words/phrases I use often through out the day:

“your task for the day is…”
“Please let me know if you have any questions…”
“Bug fixed…”
“Please clarify…”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“No problem, I’ll follow up!”
“Ugh!”
“well…”
“Whatever”
“Aha”
“hmmm”
“right!?”
“Really?”
“No way!”
“Sure!”
“Ok!’
“No”
Thanks…”
“Done!”
“I’m tired.”
“I have a headache!”
“stop swearing, please!”
“you suck!”
“I know!”

Words/phrases I use often when driving:

“You’re such a 7aywan…”
“Loser!”
“Move! you’re not even doing 30!”
“Stop tailgating me you idiot!”
“You have got to be kidding me if you think I’m gonna let you cut in!”
“Hold on. I need to put the phone down because I need to change lanes…”
“Trucks should not be allowed on the road! seriously!”
“Ugh! I can’t believe you passed me up!” (I really do feel offended when someone passes me up.)
“What’s your problem?? You think you own the road!”

I’ve seen this word tossed around lately in either post titles or comments through out the blogsphere..and I really cannot put a vocal sound to it…but I can bet that it has a zanakha (extremely annoying) tone to it! and though I don’t think I know what it means, I don’t like the look of it…it just looks …umm wrong!
I wonder if it’s the same as ‘ugh!’ or ‘arrgh’ or ‘effftt’ or ‘ugh whatever!’ …

Talking to Shaden today, I realized that I suck at carrying a full conversation in Arabic…a prime factor is the fact that I was raised and grew up in a non-Arab country. Though my parents always stressed the importance of speaking Arabic at home, English was always the dominant language…I can speak Arabic very well, I believe, but it’s just very difficult to carry on a majority of a conversation in Arabic. I tried and I failed..but I will try again so my goal for the next two days is to speak with my parents, my sisters, my nephews and nieces (despite the fact that some of my nephews and nieces have an Arabic dialect that sounds like a different language of its own - Iraqi…it’s my sister-in-law’s fault), my brothers-in-law (though some of them are just like me if not worst when it comes to Arabic speaking skills :P) and Arab friends in Arabic only.

Gallup poll shows that 39% of surveyed Americans are in favor of requiring Muslims in US to carry special IDs.

39% is relatively high for a country that regards itself as the epitome of democracy! Whatever happened to the land of the free…in fact,two clauses in the First Amendment guarantee freedom of religion…we couldn’t graduate Junior High (8th grade) without passing the US Constitution exam…so the least we could have retained is a few of the five rights in the First Amendement…in and out so it seems…and really, what do most Americans know about democracy anyway? It, after all, has become more of a slogan than a real action. A survey early this year showed that about four in ten Americans cannot name a single freedom of the five. Roughly one in five thought the right to own a pet was one of the freedoms…that’s just hilariously outrageous…also, many of us believe the First Amendment exists solely to protect our right to freedom of speech. Maybe that’s why so many of us feel we have the right to express our views despite them being very bigoted:

When radio host Jerry Klein suggested that all Muslims in the United States should be identified with a crescent-shape tattoo or a distinctive arm band, the phone lines jammed instantly. (Read on …)

I know and I bet that somewhere sometime, someone out there feels, has felt or will feel the same way about my taste as I feel about some people’s taste. But anyway, right now I came to the true and utmost real realization that some people have horrible taste – too horrible to even begin describing! What the hell is wrong with people!