In the words of Einstein, A question that sometimes drives me hazy: am I or are the others crazy?

arrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!!! (I need to add a New Category: WTF?!)

Winter! I HATE hate hate hate winter…

(and potholes…and  assholes)

I’ve written more than 5 posts on 5 different instances about the Gaza situation over the past weekend…and deleted all 5 before publishing any of them … Anyway, to say mildly, the situation is beyond absurd … Yes the occupation sucks…Yes the occupation is barbaric…Yes the occupation is the root cause of all the crap (I feel this is the most expressive word I can come up with at this time) that Palestinian men, women, Children, cities and towns have been enduring and continue to endure… But right now I want to give myself the right to blame some for the latest humanitarian crisis, the latest misery, the latest catastrophe on the Cancer of Palestine - Hamas! They are the source of the misery Gaza and Gazans have been Plagued with… It’s time to put the firecrackers away and think logically of the best way to get your people out of the misery you (of course with the help of your very people, as they are the incompetent citizens who voted you in to begin with) put them through since you ‘liberated Gaza.’

End the Siege!

I think I’m starting to gain weight … I feel it …

A little secret: I am a bit vain - just a tiny bit - and I cannot cannot imagine putting on a few extra pounds …That’s it … I am going to go on a diet… and resume my workouts effective tonight! ‘cuz tonight tonight tonight….I’m gonna make it right …tonight tonight tonight…ohh!

HAPPY MONDAY!:)

All we see of someone at any moment is a snapshot of their life, there in riches or poverty, in joy or despair. Snapshots don’t show the million decisions that led to that moment. - Richard Bach

—I was in Palestine when King Abduallah of Jordan was scheduled to make a visit to Ramallah…witnessed the intense security in preparation for his visit, but it was canceled. I would have loved to be in Ramallah at this time to witness, first hand, the amount of security in preparation for President Bush’s visit…immense is an understatement… and it was not canceled. Anyway, I have to admit that this is probably the first time that I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. President… Hamas has brought nothing but misery to Palestine and the Palestinian people… and I quote: Hamas — which I thought ran on the campaign, ‘We’re going to improve your lives through better education and better health’ — has delivered nothing but misery. Doesn’t it sound like the most eloquent and logical thing ever uttered out of his mouth?!

Now, as far as his confidence in a peace treaty being signed before he leaves office, bearing in mind that he’s on a “timeline” and has “got only 12 months” left…well, it’s always good to have dreams! But then again, maybe God communicated to him that it will happen.

—Watching him live in Bethlehem - in the Church of Nativity was truly moving … Being the religious person he is, being a person whom God speaks to and instructs, I am sure it was a blessed, spiritual and peaceful experience for him to be in the birth place of Jesus. (not to mention Bush stood in the same place I stood last year…the only minute difference is the fact that he didn’t have to wait 3+ hours at the check-point to get to it… despite the challenges and obstacles to get there [Yes, even with my American passport], the Church of Nativity is always a destination I never miss on my annual visits to Palestine. I’ve established the ritual of lighting a candle for peace in Palestine and worldwide!)

—And so Bush goes down in history as the first US President to visit the West Bank! See: (Read on …)

:-)

:-)

:-)

Thanks, Hani!

;-)

Every single day I try to remind myself of the scattered potholes all over Butterfield road…but everyday I sink into at least 5 deep ones… Should I start driving on the sidewalk to avoid them?! I hate hate hate hate potholes… What the hell is wrong with the City of Oakbrook?! seriously. And. I hate hate hate people…in general, they’re insensitive, ruthless, and selfish…

Happy Tuesday:)

“Bush will visit the Occupied Palestinian West Bank and Israel on the first leg of a tour of the Middle East from Jan. 8-16.” He will then travel to Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. According to a White House press release, Bush will meet separately with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

The meetings aim to “follow up on the progress made at Annapolis in helping Israelis and Palestinians to advance their efforts toward peace and achievement of the President’s vision of two democratic states living side-by-side in peace and security, as well as encourage Israeli/Arab reconciliation.”

yeah, yyeah…being hopeful is healthy…. so help set the agenda for his visit…
TAKE ACTION: I already did… Contact the White House and demand that President Bush raise concerns with Israeli leaders about steps that Israel has taken since Annapolis that are inimical to peace.

Support this Project. “Battlefield Without Borders” - Iraq Poems by David Smith-Ferri

“About two thirds of these poems were written while in Iraq, after encounters with Iraqi people, in a wide-range of settings –– from hospitals to homes to bomb sites. The remaining poems have been written since, during the escalating terror and insanity of the current war and occupation. Marcia Gagliardi, the publisher at Haley’s, is generously donating her proceeds from the sale of this book. And Smith-Ferri’s partner has generously agreed to match Marcia’s donation, so that for every $14 book that is sold, $12 will go into a fund for Iraqi victims of this war. Here is one of the poems from the Battlefield Without Borders:

The Unmistakable Imprint of Love

(Read on …)

What are your top 3 favorite Arabic names for boys? Arab-Brazilian-American boys, to be specific:D

So far on the list:

Adam

Dean

Please share, as baby is on his way and we (I am part of ‘we’ as I am the sister wife) are no where close to agreeing on a name! So Your help is greatly appreciated.

Hundreds of Children in Gaza start the new year by forming a human chain calling for ending the siege…

Yes…

End the siege of Gaza from both israel and Hamas!