Not What We Ought to Say

Meme Histoire...

2010-04-11T09:16:00.000-04:00

"On regarde
On verse une larme sincère, on repart
On compatit, on le pense sans y croire
On regrette, on répète nos histoires
Jusqu'à ce qu'il soit trop tard
On regarde"

Cesses!

For All us movie snobs out there...

2009-05-08T08:33:00.003-04:00

and the ones in here...

Although "The Wedding Date" is prone to be quickly dismissed by movie snobs as a Hollywood scam, I beg to differ.

Being a movie snob myself I am almost ashamed writing this blog entry. But The Wedding Date somehow got through to me...through layers and layers of Hollywood resentment!
It seems that the whole reason this film hit home with me was two main scenes...and of course Debra Messing of Will and Grace for once proved to me that she can in fact act...

The first scene that kinda hit me, was after Kat Ellis (ironically) goes to Nick totally drunk and sleeps with him...wakes up the next morning not sure what happened...and when Nick sees that he tells her that nothing did happen...which was a lie. What got me was, opposite to common stereotype of men being insensitive about sex, Nick was hurt by Kat's concern and therefore said that they had done nothing the night before.

Sadly though, Hollywood has simply reversed the stereotype, and stayed true to the crass fixation on meat! The women in the film simply turn Nick into an object of sexual desire...just when I was thinking Hollywood was changing...alas!

None the less, later in the closing, the time from Nick finding out that Kat's sister slept with her ex. up to the last scene of the movie, Messing delivers great acting and Nick's character breaks the stereotypes that we're so used to in Hollywood.

Critical people such as myself would argue that Kat simply changed her mind after a brief pep talk with daddy and Eddie simply forgave too soon...but the whole point it seems that nothing is worth it...Coming from an escort service...last person one would expect to have such wisdom...I'll leave you with these words:

The hardest thing's loving someone and then having the courage
to let them love you back.

But if you know her shit
and she knows yours

and at the end of the day,
you still would rather give up than try...
nothing's ever gonna be worth it.

Maybe think about it this way.

You go back,

you get to spend the rest of your llfe
having really great makeup sex.

and of course the very next cut is Eddie running back into the church...to enjoy makeup sex for the rest of his life... :D

great discussion starter! I highly recommend it for your weekend...

The Wedding Date...

Dye My Eyes and Call Me Pretty

2009-04-26T02:24:00.004-04:00

Alright so its a bit different from posting a prayer, but who said I'm perfect! right now, this is the one thing that gets my mind off of the stress.....

eeeeeeeeyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh

LAID
By James

This bed is on fire
With passionate love
The neighbours complain about the noises above
But she only comes when she's on top

My therapist said not to see you no more
She said you're like a disease without any cure
She said I'm so obsessed that I'm becoming a bore, oh no
Ah, you think you're so pretty

Caught your hand inside the till
Slammed your fingers in the door
Fought with kitchen knives and skewers
Dressed me up in women' s clothes
Messed around with gender roles
Dye my eyes and call me pretty

Moved out of the house, so you moved next door
I locked you out, you cut a hole in the wall
I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone
You're driving me crazy, when are you coming home

JAMES.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Uz-CC_9vw&feature=related

prayer from way back when...

2009-04-26T02:23:00.000-04:00

I want to sing but nothing could express how I feel
I looked through my tabs and its all so unreal
So here am I Lord making it up as I go...

Renew my love for you
tie my heart to yours
help me confess my sin
and walk through that door
I want to please you Father
I wanna make you smile
but then my humanity kicks in
and my anger goes on fire

would you heal me from my weakness?
would you make me new?
I'm tired of the disappointment
yet I'm disappointing you
Take my hand Lord and help to stand
to be calm when angry
to extend love when I'm wronged
to respect when I'm disrespected
to sooth when I'm being hurt
to take it in and give it up
and let the wind blow as it may

Coz I stand on a solid rock.

Jan 10, 2004.

I Hope I Pray

2009-04-20T04:03:00.002-04:00

This morning I wake up with heaviness of heart. A feeling I haven't experienced in a long time...its almost as if someone ripped out a piece of my chest and left it empty. I look around my room...my luggage are still on the floor...and my dressy outfit still lying on the bed...a part of me is refusing to move on with life...refusing to put away the cloths, to unpack the suitcases...to send the outfits to the cleaners...It feels as though I'd be wiping all the memories...sanitizing my space from any traces...

Yesterday the flower wilted terribly...in only one hour its blooming pedals dried up and shrunk...the only way I could save it was to gentle pluck the pedals and put them in a keep sake...the stem still sits on my dashboard...naked of any pedals or green papers...just a long stick seemingly ready to be tossed...

The separation is only temporary yet my heart seems to struggle this morning...I have many beautiful memories and gifts, I am blessed with much love and so many things to keep me company...yet I am holding my breath...hoping to get a chance to reach surface and breath.

If I hadn’t seen such riches
I could live with being poor

Under the Sea

2009-03-14T10:00:00.001-04:00

Last time I was here I took a deep breath of fresh air.I had been holding my breath for 6 months, and coming back was like a fish back in its nice little bowl of pre-planned surroundings.

Only this time, i didn't reach for the fresh air.

It seems I had found an oxygen mask...grabbed on to it tight...

I have learned to breath.

Only a while after, I think I'm let go to that oxygen mask and learned to breath water.

The once dangerous surrounding revealed their inner beauty and I find myself having become one with the water. It could be that I've developed fins of sorts, purifying what comes in.

It could be that I simply let the water flow into me and stopped fighting it, stopped searching for air...and what seemed at first to be drowning, was only the beginning of a new kind of breathing.

thank you for being my oxygen...

a fish in a bowl of safe surrounds

thrown in the deep blue ocean

along with its toxic waste and hungry sharks

learns to breath the new water in and see the beauty as it glow in the dark

the corals glow did you know

but it must be dark for us to see the beauty that's to be found deep under the sea.

Finding Nemo...Finding Nina.

Past - Present-Continuous

2008-05-09T16:05:00.005-04:00

The weather is beautiful these days. In the evening there is a sweet chill that calms your senses. I put on my pink blouse and lime-green scarf and went out, right while the sun was getting ready to say goodbye. I walked the streets of Zamalek leisurely, bought a bag of Maltesers…and as I walked around I looked up and there they were, two ladies having afternoon tea in their balcony. I paused, I was once that girl, sitting with her grandmother in the cool afternoon, chatting about those coming and going and reminiscing about the good old days.

I used to be that girl. I used to be too many things.

Then I walked over to church, there is yet another wedding. The surprise was, the groom was my friend. I thought he had already gotten married…I guess they were only engaged. The vibrant young couple came down the stairs, making their way through hundreds of congratulations. I saw so many college friends by the door, it truly was some sort of divine appointment.

and I thought about the years I spent in college in the States...and how I am left with one friend, only one true friend. I wonder if I wasted the best moments, the joys, the laughs, the tears, the exams, the proms, the breakups, the get togethers, the weddings...

I had been at another wedding last weekend...I ran into almost about everyone I've know in Cairo before I left...and I wondered how funny life is... Funny how some things don't work out...and funny how they do! I've seen couples we're known all through teenage and college years, after they've split up, and both seem happily married to other people...and I've seen the bride and groom who've been high school and college sweet hearts and here they are tying the knot!

I enjoyed the wedding and enjoyed seeing all the people I had missed so much...and I wondered if I'd get invited to such a nice wedding anytime soon...Those who were my close friends are already married, and those new friends are not that close, and those I used to care about are not part of my life anymore...

Funny how some things don't work out, and yet some do.

Last Sunday was the second strike, and I went to work as usual. We were having a performance that evening, at the Diplomatic Club in downtown, where Mohamed Ali Pasha used to have all his cabinet meetings. That morning, I must’ve hailed at least 10 cabs in those 5 minutes, and no one would head out to Dokki. The cabby would raise his hand and shake his head No, as though he was asking God forgiveness for even considering going to Dokki. I could hear him in my head going “astakhfor allah, Dokki?!” I called my co-worker: “is Dokki on fire? Are there National Guards and Demonstrations? I mean what in God’s name is going on? We’re talking about a 6 km distance!”

Finally one of those 1970’s Lada came by, two Hollakos were riding in the front, but no matter, I am at point of desperation. Thankfully, the driver said “etfadaly yea fandem”

As soon as I got in I reached for my iPod but something about the ongoing conversation pulled me in. The way the man sitting next to the driver was magical, his pronunciation was music to my ears. I had not heard Arabic spoken with such elegance for a long time. I could care less about the sick wife and the retired neighbor, after all I don’t know these people. But the conversation got really interesting when they starting discussing Metro rails in China, and their “troupe’s “ visit and how it went. My curiosity wagged its tiny tail…give me more. Despite my policy of not engaging with strangers, I decided I must ask. “Sir, what is it that you used to do before you retired.” The man gently turns and says “I was the Maestro for the Reda Dance Troupe, and Mr…(and he points at the driver) was a chareographer.”

My jaw dropped. Reda Dance Troupe! This guy has got to be playin’ me! I love the troupe, I know all their dances and memorize their songs and their moves! I was in state of permanent shock. After expressing my adoration, I invited them to our upcoming concert on May 15th.

A few hours later, I stood in front of many suits, in the presence of over a hundred years of grande history. At first it was amazing, I felt great. Yet as the night progressed, I found that my inspiration came from the waiters, who were dressed the same way waiters were dressed a hundred years ago. Scenes from Roda Kalby kept coming to my mind, and I wondered, if we were standing here 100 years ago, which costume would my closest friends be wearing? And would they have liked it?

Perhaps I do like the revolution after all.

Walk Like an Egyptian is More Than Just a Song...

2008-03-09T11:19:00.003-04:00

Tonight I saw a man lying down the sidewalk in the street keda...not any sidewalk...one of the most disgusting sidewalks in Egypt...but the man was in a different world..traffic was jammed, people filled the street, but he was in a different world...he was gazing at the sky as if he was laying down at Central Park...he was probably searching for the stars in the middle of the coulds of polution that hover over Cairo....

but he was in another world...he looked peaceful...

and I saw a man carrying his toddler on his arm and holding on to bars in the bus, while telling his wife to follow him...he looked peaceful...

I saw a whole bunch of girls riding buses in the middle of the night...they seemed peaceful...they just watched people around them...I saw at least 8 full size grown ups get in a 5 passenger car, other than their children trying to fit on their laps...I dont know if they ever made it in!

I saw an old man selling snacks sitting on the bridge with another old man chatting...they seemed peaceful...

I saw these girls walking around in the mad medan el giza, they laughed and talked and didn't seem to mind the madness around them...they were peaceful...

and I saw me...in a nice car...with a driver and AC and music...and I was not peaceful...
I was struggling to accept the madness...and I wanted the peace that others seem to have in the middle of madness...

I know that I can handle chaos...others used to tell me that I handle chaos well...at least other Americans used to tell me that I handle chaos better than them...Well I guess I handle chaos better than an average American...but to handle choas like an Egyptian...that's a whole other game!

This is Egypt...everyone complains, everyone wants to leave...everyone blames their misery on someone else... but in the end...This is Egypt...it is traffic, its noisy, its chaotic...it makes no sense, there is no rhythm nor reason... but I look around and people look like me...they sound like me... I understand where they come from, where they hope to go...and I understand they are told there is no hope...

I understand the young guys standing at the bridge in the middle of the night because its too hot at home...and their father will nag them about getting a job, and when they look for a job they tell them you are not qualified....
I know the janitor, the busboy, the waiter, the office boy...
I know the bus driver, the maid and the guy at the market...
I know where they come from and I know they have no idea where they are headed...
Some want to do something with their lives and they are faced with one obstacle after another...

Some gave up and are happy with any small job...
Some had no hope to begin with...

But they live...they take walks in the middle of the night, they stand at the bridge...they sit around at the coffee shop and smoke shisha... they idle...Their lives suck...but they walk in the middle of madness, they enjoy the breeze at the bridge...they sit on two small chairs and talk of how the years have gone by... they try to all fit in a small car...they take the bus and enjoy it...

They are Egyptian.

وا حصرتا

2007-09-27T09:56:00.000-04:00

People often ask me why I stopped reading Egyptian newspapers...well the reason I stopped is because in order to find out the news, I'd have to get El Ahram, skim through the titles to find out what they'd like me to think is happening, then skim through headlines in a couple of other newspapers..then fact check BBC to see if any of the major headlines is even factual.

and hence, I do not read newspapers...

Today my co-worker brought to my attention this article, written by an editor in chief of a major newspaper...
http://www.elosboa.com/elosboa/issues/547/01001.asp

I was enraged, not at the content of article, nor at the writer's case, but rather by the disgusting lack of professionalism in this piece. This man has broken every journalism rule known to mankind.
1- he has no facts.
2- He is labeling people and calling them killers. This man, according to media law, should be charged with libel and false reporting, and he will be convicted on all fronts!
3- Not only was he accusing people, he draggs the name of the Washing Instition for Middle East Policy in the middle of all this, presenting it as a Jewish lobby. Regardless of one's opinion in the role that the institute plays, it is a research institute, its main concern is academic. For a man of academia to visit it and have a discussion of middle eastern affairs is perfectly normal.

I am really enraged! Even though I slightly agree with the writer's theory, it is a theory. WE DO NOT REPORT THEORIES IN JOURNALISM. WE ONLY REPORT FACTS.

It is a crime for such a person to be an editor in chief.

When you need a familiar....

2007-09-09T19:10:00.000-04:00

Somedays you just feel exhausted of all the stress and the weight that never seems to get off your shoulders. You seem to be always dragging your feet, struggling under a heavy load that you logg around endlessly... You start to think it's time for a break, only to find your load getting heavier and heavier...
In the middle of all this, you just wish you could rest your head on some else's shoulder. The night so pretty, the weather so sweet, but all you do is sit and remember...remember the- once upon -a -time- embrace that you found safety in. Something just doesn't feel right...not all shoulders are the same...not all make you feel safe, none seem to give you rest...Is it because your first love is done and gone that you fail to find rest in others? Did your sense of safety come from the love? the person? the naive illusion?
Are we ever able to completely bond with a person the same way we bonded with a true love in the past?

Someone yesterday said, the people of Israel were lost in the Sinai desert for 40 years, even though the trip itself is only 11 days (on foot.) They were lost because they kept thinking of Egypt, of the riches of Egypt, of the spices and meat they were used to eating...even though they were slaves... However, God's promised land for them would overflow with milk and honey....very different from the meat and spices they were craving....

Therefore, it was necessary for them to stay lost in the desert until they forgot the taste of meat and spices...

Sometimes I wonder if God has me chasing my tail to get me to forget everything I was used to the past 7 years, all the plans I made, all the ways I imagined my life, career, relationships and future to be.

سندبادي الحزين

2007-07-19T05:27:00.000-04:00

قف ترجل..
وانظر هناك.. خلف الغيم..
سندباد حزين..
يشاكس الغيم..
يغتسل بأمواج الحنين..
يعتصر فؤادي..
ليفرغه عشقاً.. ولحظات أنين..

سندبادي الحزين..
فداك النفس والروح..
حولك.. هناك تحلِّق الياسمينة..
ترعاك دون بوح..
طائرك الصبور يضمك بحنان..
يرفعك بلمح البصر للجنان..

قف ترجل..
وانظر هناك..
فالشمس تغزل لك من ذهبها صولجاناً..
والقمر..
ينسج من خيوطه سريراً لترتاح..
قم.. تدثَّر بوشاحها سيدة الأقمار..
ربيبة النجوم..
تنشق عطرها.. ترياق السموم..
لا تحزن..
ففي قلبها جعلتك أمير البحار..
ومن حبِّها رسمت حولك
هالةً تخطف الأبصار..

سندبادي الحزين..
تسلق ألمك..
وارتفع نغماً للسماء..
.. بعيداً هناك..
حيث يلتقي النبلاء..
حيث يخاصم الندم طيف الحكايات..

سندبادي الحزين..
اغسل عينيك بحب الياسمينة الحلم..
جفّفّ حزنك بشعاع ابتسامتها..

قف..
ترجَّل..
وانظر هناك..
هناك خلف الأفق ترنو الطيور..
تستعير من الفضاء معطفاً يلفُّك..
تغرّد لك الياسمينة..
سيمفونية العشق محمولا على الغيمات..
مرصوفا بعرق الأرْزِ والزنبق..

هناك خلف الأفق..
بيت حنون..
ترنيمة وَلَهٍ تدثرك بأنفاسها..

سندبادي الحزين..
لا تخف السفر..
أغمض عينيك..
اتبع قلبك..
ترجّل عن حصان الخوف.. وسافر
ففي حنايا القلب..
زَرَعَتْكَ الياسمينة الحسناء سنبلة عشق..
وأطلقتك.. أسراب حمام..

تأليف: تغريد فياض

Boredom

2006-11-30T09:34:00.000-05:00

I'm bored to tears.
Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of good stuff going on, but right now I'm bored to tears.

So this is it. I'm here. Now what?

Just to get you up to speed...Many of the old friends have withered...Not because they are evil...just life responsibilities I suppose. A handful of them are in touch, they make the effort and it means a lot to me...Some of them make the effort but we don't connect anymore...and some of them decided to pretend that I will be in the States forever...

Life is odd. I'm generally chasing my tail trying to get school work done. A friend of mine tries to help me, which is a great relief. Now I'm almost done w/school work...and I don't know what will happen next. Applying for jobs but I'm not really interested in any of them...but something...gotta have something to give you a system and so on...

I can't go for a walk because the whole time I'm being herrassed
can't go for a drive coz ain't got a car yet
I'm tired of Cilantro among many other coffeeshops
My friend goes back to the States tomorrow...
Finals will be done soon
too soon I suppose

When I felt like this in the usa I used to drive to downtown and just walk around...listen to music...take myself out to a good movie...that's when no one is available...just like now. Every single day I had a million things to do and a group of 4 precious girls who were always calling me or getting together. Then another huge group of teenagers who are simply a treat to hang out with....Then a whole bunch of random friends who share things in my life: activities, BBQ, trips, life events, work...

Would you believe me if I told you people (my people anyways) in the usa seemed closer to each other than they are here?

Adjusting is proving a tad bit challenging.

Critical D.

Peace

2006-09-14T14:07:00.000-04:00

The question has finally been answered...

Saying goodbye to 6 years is not easy...

but I know what I need to do.

peace.

Sweet White Mocha

2006-05-17T15:34:00.000-04:00

I hold my drink with both hands, it's keeping me warm. I hold it closer and closer to my chest, as though wanting to hug it. I sip on the sweet warmth and remember a morning, a hopeful morning many sunrises ago, when we shared a table, drinks and breakfast, and a hope of a brighter tomorrow.

Why am I always remembering the past with every thing that touchs me deep? Why do I tear up when I see my friends' pictures, all together all having a good time? Why is it that everything that is past, people I can not see anymore, are always on my mind?

You might think I live my day through a series of flashbacks...perhaps I do...
It's the sweetness of those flashbacks, of those magical transports into my memories that keep me going in a dry and weary journey....

Find those special moments in your life and allow yourself to enjoy them anew...in your secret garden, inside the jungle of your mind, where your imagination knows no boundaries and your soul has not experienced the pain of lost love...

Sip on the sweet memories
Sip slow
Hold them close, let them keep you warm

No one can take that away...Don't let them....my sweet white mocha.

Me.

Saferty? Tab Eshrabee yea khty eshrabeeeeee

2006-05-15T14:02:00.000-04:00

So...I took a break from composites and alpha channels and masks and sat down to have some lunch -brown rice with broccoli and alfredo sauce- and hoping watch something good...and as I flipped the channels I was greeted by a familiar face, Amr Diab and Ashraf 3abdel Ba'ey. You guessed! Ice Cream Fee Gleem was playing, towards the end (right before zeryab dies)
and tears came to my eyes...I was taken back 10 years ago when I watched this movie for the first time. It was showing on tv, on a friday, i think channel two...and I was waiting for it because my mum did not take me to the cinema to see it...
I was in 1ere secandaire...and I was feeling really down because of this guy I liked...I remember very clearly standing in my grandma's balcony looking towards the pyramids and sipping on diet Coke as if it was mayet nar! Drink drink to forget! haha

I remembered my grandma (alah yer7amha), my teenage years, el zeft el 7ob, elzefta el madrasa wel elmta7anat wel tatbey', eftakart 7agat keteer...

we eftakart baladi

we mara tani sa'alt nafsi, hatnayel arga3 wala eeh ?? we leghayet delwa'ty lesa mesh 3arfa el egaba

shorni yea wazir...

يا علاءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءءء

2006-05-11T14:17:00.000-04:00

(New York, May 10, 2006) – Egyptian security officials arrested 11 more political reform activists, including an award-winning blogger, Alaa Ahmed Seif al-Islam, Human Rights Watch said today. This brings to more than 100 the number of people detained over the past two weeks for exercising their rights to freedom of assembly and expression.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/05/09/egypt13337.htm

حسبي الله و نعم الوكيل

2006-04-27T20:11:00.000-04:00

A year later

2006-04-18T11:37:00.000-04:00

funny enough...what I wrote in my blog a year ago (Serendipity) just happened today

I'm sitting at my usual hang out, working on my final exam...when this totally cute guy (zay el amar yea morsi) who was sitting close by gets up and comes to ask me my name and shake hands with me...and I'm like excuse me do I know you...
and he's like, how old are you? and I'm like why do you ask??
then I told him I'm ....
and he's like are you single?
and I am like yeah?
so he said, didn't mean to freak you out I just think you're a really attractive!!

well...I didn' t know if he meant single yea3ni mesh mezabata, wala single yea3ni mesh mesa7ba wala single yea3ni mesh makhtooba?? eeh yea3ni? single deeh vague awee...

faaa 'oult its none of his business and I said I'm single 3ashan 'asar yea3ni

bas howa ana mezabata yea3ni...faa el mafroud 'a'oulo eeh?

and he asked whether I was studying or working and clearly I said I"m studying
and he went on his mery way

weird, but nice every once in a while...especially that after months of studying and being stuck indoors I do not necessarily feel good about how I look... believe me I've had better days!!

Nice...

of course, I am glad that was the end of this conversation, because if he had said one more word I would have been totally freaked out and would have to find a new place to study!!

eeeh dah film aweee yea Morsi :) I think maybe he just watched Hitch and was practicing? LOL

:'( عودة إلي الجاهلية و لا حول للة

2006-04-14T17:32:00.000-04:00

...استشهاد نصحي عطا جرس فى اعتداءات الأسكندرية

on the website of copts united they said:

الأقباط متحدون يوجهون عناية القيادات الرسمية أنه لا داعي أن تتعبوا أنفسكم بالذهاب إلي الكنائس لتقديم تهاني العيد وخاصة أن تهنئتكم وصلت لنا على يد الإرهاببين القتلة المرسلين من قبلكم تحت رعاية واشراف رئيس الجمهورية ووزير الداخلية وزكريا عزمي رئيس الديوان وعلى الكنائس داخل مصر وخارجها الالتزام بهذا البيان ومن ناحية أخري سوف يقوم الأقباط متحدون برفع دعوى قضائية ضد وزير الداخلية.
الأقباط متحدون يوجهون عناية الكنيسة الأم باتخاذ هذا البيان موضع التنفيذ.

yea3ni ana shayfa enoh lesa badry 3ala el ta3leekat el baykha deeh yea gama3a. Can we please wait until they figure out what happened aslan before we assume things? yea3ni I know we have been attacked many many times before. Bas lets not jump to conclusion. We ba3deen only the POPE can make such decisions, NOT YOU!!!

I am sad too and my own family goes to sporting (*mary gerguis yea3ni) and I still until now don't know how they are!! Bas lets be a little reasonable. They are saying that one of those people was psychologically disturbed and escaped from mostafa elmagazeeb. Tab3an ay 7ad motakhlef who attacks people like that is magnoun, what else?!!

eeh yea gama3a ra'yokom :( ??

UPDATE:
http://www.alarabiya.net/Articles/2006/04/14/22846.htm

:''''''''(

Togetherness...

2006-04-14T13:16:00.000-04:00

I am sitting at Panera working on my new paper about female directors. As I type away, I see a whole family trying to fit into this little tiny space next to me. First it was grandpa and grandma who sat down on the bit comfortable chairs. Then one grandson after granddaughter started filing in. Then the mum and dads and aunts and uncles showed up. It is an amazing sight, rare in both america and egypt. They are having a good time, no one is crying, no one is fighting, no one is rolling their eyes. Everyone is eating away and grandpa checks on grandkids every once in a while. It is a really nice thing to watch...

Me.

صباح الخير

2006-03-17T08:07:00.000-05:00

صباح الخير يا بلد...

وحشتيني

بجد وحشتيني...

وحشوني الناس و الجيران و الأصحاب...

وحشتني ماجده بنت البواب (بجد)

زمنها دلوقتي في إعدادي...

كنت ديما أقولها تذاكر كويس علشان تغير حياتها...

يا ترى يا ماجده عملتي إيه؟

جوزوكي أول لما تميتي ال16؟

أولتلي يا سيدي...إتفضل الرد

2006-03-15T13:35:00.000-05:00

ما هو رأي الكنيسة القبطية حول الرسومات المسيئة للرسول محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم، والتي نشرتها إحدى الجرائد الدنماركية؟!

الإجابة:

أدان قداسة البابا شنوده الثالث ورؤساء مجلس كنائس الشرق الأوسط نشر صحف دنماركية وأوروبية رسوماً مسيئة الى النبي محمد (ص) واصفاً هذا السلوك بأنه اعتداء صارخ على معتقدات المسلمين وانتهاك واستفزاز لمشاعرهم الدينية.

كما أدان الاعتداءات الآثمة والمتعاظمة التي ما زالت تستهدف الكنائس في العراق، واعتبروها محاولات شريرة لبث الفرقة بين المسلمين والمسيحيين من أبناء الشعب العراقي الذين تربطهم الوطنية والتاريخ الواحد، والسعي الى التحرر من الاحتلال الأجنبي.

وأكد بيانان لمجلس كنائس الشرق الاوسط الذي يرأسه البابا وعدد من رؤساء الطوائف المسيحية، وقعهما الأمين العام للمجلس جرجس صالح و المنتدى الاسلامي العالمي للحوار برئاسة الشيخ حامد الرفاعي، أن نشر الرسوم انتهاكات حمقاء وممارسات شاذة تشكل مصدراً شريراً لتغذية الارهاب العالمي، وبوقاً ناعقاً لتأصيل الصراع بين أتباع الديانات والثقافات والحضارات، ودعوة منكرة الى غرس العداوة والبغضاء بين الناس، ما يتعارض مع السماحة المطلوبة بين أتباع الديانات بحسب الكتب السماوية.

ودعا البيان الحكومة الدنماركية إلى مساءلة الجهات التي أثارت هذه الفتنة الطائفية الهوجاء ومحاسبتها والتعهد بعدم العودة إلى تلك الممارسات.

في حين طالب البابا شنودة ورؤساء مجلس الكنائس بوأد الفتنة وقطع الطريق على محاولات الأيادي الشريرة ضرب الحياة المشتركة بين المسلمين والمسيحيين، مؤكداً تضامنه مع كنائس العراق، داعياً الى أن يتغمد الله الضحايا بغزير رحمته.

كل سنة و أنتو طيبين الصيام الكبير

2006-03-01T13:42:00.000-05:00

أتششششششششششششششششششششششوا

2006-02-20T18:22:00.000-05:00

Ashes Ashes They All Fall Down

2006-02-12T00:15:00.000-05:00

It’s here

and it's falling all around me

covering everything like a white sheet…

You can not ignore it

Some plan for it all day

Some dread it and try to hide away

But for me

It brings memories near.

Snow falling all around me

The trees, the streets, the backyards

Everything is white in the dead of night

Everything is sparkling bright…

I venture out despite the slid and slide

I pick up hot chocolate

And for a second

For a split second

I hear our laughter echoing

My empty finger rubs against the heavy basket

Reminding me

That it is just an echo

Past.

Snow falling all around me

Covering my night with feelings of

Warmth remembered,

Laughter echoing,

Of promises

Broken.

San Sebastian Film Festival

2006-02-10T23:33:00.000-05:00

Kiss Me Not Director Jocelyne Saab

I saw the movie in the "Arabian Knights" festival in America...I was blown away...I was obssessed with the movie for weeks and weeks later.

Did anyone else see the movie? what is your reaction?

The movie run in the "Sundance Film Festival 2006" which is big time... Check this link for more about the movie...http://www.indiewire.com/people/2006/01/park_city_06_jo_1.html

Shakhseya Efteradya

2006-02-10T22:56:00.000-05:00

أولاً أحب أن أعبر عن إحباطي الشديد من تجاهل المبلوجين (تقريبًا) لما حدث للمصريين الأقباط في الأقصر، وهو الحدث الذي كنت أعتبره من الأحداث المحتاجة تضامنكم، مثلما تضامنتم مع السودانيين

for more: BEASTBOY

مبروك مبروك مبروك مبروك مبروك

2006-02-10T14:47:00.000-05:00

و كسبنا الكاس و كسبناه

و كسبنا الكاس و كسبناه

و كسبنا الكاس و كسبناه

و كسبنا الكاس و كسبناه

و كسبنا الكاس و كسبناه

و كسبنا الكاس و كسبناه

سؤال غريييب

2006-02-07T10:17:00.000-05:00

قالوا بتحب مصر؟

قلت مش عارف...

أصل المحبة بسيطة

و مصر تركيبة

الشاعر الفلسطيني تمّيم البرغوثي

كيرياليسون

2006-02-03T14:59:00.000-05:00

Kyrialayson Kyrialayson Kyrialayson كيرياليسون كيرياليسون كيرياليسون
the pleas of mercy proceed the christian of the village of Odayssat as they walk their recent victims of religious fanaticism to their place of rest.

Kyrialayson Kyrialayson Kyrialayson كيرياليسون كيرياليسون كيرياليسون
A Cry of people persecuted in their own country, said with power and unity as the whole christian community of Odayssat take a very long journey through the village. The procession passes several mosques, is surrounded by policemen.

Kyrialayson Kyrialayson Kyrialayson كيرياليسون كيرياليسون كيرياليسون
A cry for mercy starts out with the steady rythm of the offering of the lamb and gains speed with every step they take becoming more and more like the 400 matanias that Copts do on Good Friday, an offering of repentence before the Lord...

Kyrialayson Kyrialayson Kyrialayson كيرياليسون كيرياليسون كيرياليسون

Kyrialayson Kyrialayson Kyrialayson كيرياليسون كيرياليسون كيرياليسون

One of the 99 names of God in Islam is "The Just."

Is this justice?

If you do not believe it is justice, but you do not try to stop it, you are equally guilty.

Do not stand back and watch! Speak up muslim Egyptian and defend your Christian brother!!

Beware the anger of a Just God. He is equally Just, just as He is Merciful.

The AntiSocialite: Inside Odaysat

2006-01-30T14:55:00.000-05:00

The AntiSocialite: Inside Odaysat
Everyday that goes by, the gape gets wider and wider and wider....

معسلة يا بطااااااااااااطه

2006-01-30T11:53:00.000-05:00

وحشتيني يا بلدي.

وحشتني زحمتك و ناسك و ترابك

وحشني صوت الجران و بياع البطاطا

معسلة يا بطااااااااااااطه

و أتنهد و أقول

نفسي أرجعلك يا بلدي

لكن...هتأبليني؟

و لا هتشوهيني؟

هتسبيني أحقق أحلامي؟

و لا هتقوللي...إنت بنت...معندناش بنات يعملوا كده...

هتحترميني و أنا ماشيه في الشارع؟

و لا هتقوليلي: "زي القمر بس خسارة مسيحية؟؟" و تسبيني باقذر الألفاظ رغم حشمتي؟

وحشتيني يا بلد

نفسي تقوللي المرة ده هتكون مختلفة

نفسي تقوليلي مش مهم إنك مسيحية و أنك بنت...ديه بلدك و مفيش فرق بين مسلم و مسيحي و لا بنت و ولد

وحشتيني يا بلد.

يا ليتَــكَ تـدري

2006-01-25T09:13:00.000-05:00

ظلامَ الليــلِ يا طــاويَ أحزانِ القلوبِ

أُنْظُرِ الآنَ فهذا شَبَحٌ بادي الشُحـــوبِ

جاء يَسْعَى ، تحتَ أستاركَ ، كالطيفِ الغريبِ

حاملاً في كفِّه العــودَ يُغنّـــي للغُيوبِ

ليس يَعْنيهِ سُكونُ الليـلِ في الوادي الكئيبِ

* * *

هو ، يا ليلُ ، فتاةٌ شهد الوادي سُـــرَاها

أقبلَ الليلُ عليهــا فأفاقتْ مُقْلتاهـــا

ومَضتْ تستقبلُ الوادي بألحــانِ أساهــا

ليتَ آفاقَكَ تــدري ما تُغنّـي شَفَتاهــا

آهِ يا ليلُ ويا ليتَــكَ تـدري ما مُنَاهــا

نازك الملائكة

Vision

2006-01-25T09:09:00.000-05:00

The pain subsides,

And I realize,

What I never thought could be.

My tears,

Cleansed my fears,

And gave way,

to the truth.

You see,

what's real,

& it feels,

heavy!

Critical D.

Egyptian Eye ... عين مصرية ... Œil Egyptien ...: March 2005

2006-01-24T16:42:00.000-05:00

Egyptian Eye ... عين مصرية ... Œil Egyptien ...: March 2005

إليك

2006-01-24T15:26:00.000-05:00

إليك يا من لا تفهمني
إليك يا من تتسائل من أكون و لمن أكتب
إليك
أكتب على أمل
أمل أن أجد نفسي في متاهة حياتي
أن أفهم مشاعري المتضاربة
و أفكاري الشاردة

على أمل أن يوماً أجد طريقي
أجد طريق الخروج من المتاهة

فسمعني
قد تنجح في أن تتعرف علي
لا على الخمار الذي أختبأ ورأه كلما رأيتك
و لكن علي الحقيقة الكامنة بين ضلوعي...بين تنهداتي
خلف ستار إحتجاجي

إليك
أكتب

End of the Spear

2006-01-23T15:46:00.000-05:00

I am so excited that "end of the spear" is out finally. I have long admired Jim Elliot and had long been in love with his widow's writings...Elizabeth Eliott...She only lives a few miles away and I have no way of meeting her...or even sending her a letter.

I'm gonna watch this movie first thing this weekend! Email me to join

http://www.endofthespear.com/

Love to all.

Digging It?

2006-01-23T13:45:00.000-05:00

well, absolutely NOTH-G!!

so you're minding your own business. You're not trying to get anyone's attention, you really just wanna have a good time and chill. Relationships are too much drama anyways. So you're chillin, you're jellin...you're cool...and you talk with everyone...you're having a great time...this guy- you know he strikes up a conversation that doesn't seem to end...you know...you're enjoying the discussion, you think his personality is cool...you're not really up for anything right now, you're just jellin right
But the dude for the next 3 days of your sad life is definitely definitely and clearly enjoying talking to you and well you gotta admit he's not such a bad fella himself...I mean he's intersting...
But you've been burned before, so you've learned not to make much of it and to hang and make *friendships.*

But to your surprise the guy, I mean he makes a point of spending about 4 hours talking to you and well, ok...I mean so you're gonna be friends I guess

He asks for your contact info coz he wants to keep intouch. Well, yeah heck why not - I mean you are not quite sure if he likes you or if he just wants to be friends- but either way you're game and time will tell. right? You figure, you have enough in common to be good buddies and if he likes you then > ok well what the heck> why not. right?

right.

Then the dude kinda - acts >> weird? he suddenly hits the brake on this one.

What happened to the potential friendship? no clue. What about the several days he spent grilling the girl, getting to know her and her getting to know him? no clue.

Suddenly, he avoids her eyes, slips away unnoticed.

This is the most standard story I can tell yeah. I will spare you the details that I know about the above scenario that would def.n.t.l.y show that the guy not only wanted to be buddies, he DIGGED HER YO! What is it? why do the guys rush in, show they like the girl, then suddenly freak out and hit them brakes ?! I'm really just very confused. The only answer that comes to mind is. The only answer is >

Well none actually!!

Any you gents care to enlighten the rest of us?!

:D

Sans rancune

2006-01-23T12:28:00.000-05:00

Tu aurais voulu écrire les vers de mon destin
Tu aurais voulu que tous mes rêves soient les tiens
Tu avais prévu que j'effacerai c'que tu regrettes
Que je reprenne tes batailles, les choses non faites
Seulement voilà, c'est à moi de faire ma vie
Ca te déçoit mais c'est comme ça
Seulement voilà, c'est moi qui vis mes choix
Que ce soient les bons ou pas

{Refrain:}
Sans rancune, la première étoile que je décroche, je te la donne, sans rancune
Sans rancune, la première place dans mon rêve je te la réserve, sans rancune
Sans rancune, la première étoile que je décroche, je te la donne, sans rancune
Sans rancune, la première place dans mon rêve je te la réserve, sans rancune

Aujourd'hui il faut que je devienne quelqu'un
Un docteur, un politicien, quelqu'un de bien
Tu as failli étouffer mes dons, mes rêves d'enfance (mes rêves)
Je suis désolé mais il faudrait que je prenne ma chance
Ne m'en veux pas, c'est à moi de faire ma vie
Ca te déçoit mais c'est comme ça
Ne m'en veux pas, c'est moi qui vis mes choix
Que ce soit les bons ou pas.

Mérchant de Rêve, Corneille

What happens when a Donkey brakes?

2006-01-18T09:58:00.000-05:00

Her shabby figure- inflated from a predominantly black beans diet- sat on the floor weeping and lamenting her enormos loss. All the pottery that was supposed to bring in the money for her family of 5, layed on the ground- broken. Her donkey and wooden flat top carriage stood empty on the road running by the Nile.

I knew her. I had just met her over the weekend at a sheshee restaurant where my mother took me to have dinner. She was making the bread in the old fashioned oven, replicated especially for the tourist guests. I spent a good portion of the evening with her and her daughters who were making the bread, until my mother called on me to go join her for dinner.

Something about her attracted me and made me feel close. Perhaps it was her homely Egyptian features. She is not made up in make up and expensive jewerly. She will not judge me. I found her intriguing, unthreatening... Or perhaps it is because she had nothing, something I could related to.

I am reminded of that morning so clearly. The woman lost a week's worth of her labor and income for her family, all because of a car that hit the brakes infront of the carriage, and the donkey stopped suddenly...and her pots were history.

What did the woman do? how did she feed her family that week? did she make enough money sitting in the glass bowl for everyone to admire the peasant to survive?

What were the chances that of all the restaurants we go to, I'd meet her. Then only a day later, I meet her again at the other end of town, at 630 in the morning...and why me? an 8 year old who didn't have a penny to give her...

Corneille: Parce qu'on vient de loin

2006-01-13T15:06:00.000-05:00

Nous sommes nos propres pères.
Si jeunes et pourtant si vieux, ça me fait penser, tu sais.
Nous sommes nos propres mères
Si jeunes et si sérieux, mais ça va changer.
On passe le temps, à faire des plans pour le lendemain.
Pendant que le beau temps, passe et nous laisse vide et incertain.
On perd trop de temps, à suer et s'écorcher les mains.
À quoi ça sert si on n'est pas sûr de voir demain. A rien.

Alors on vit, chaque jour comme le dernier.
Et vous feriez pareil, si seulement vous saviez.
Combien de fois, la fin du monde nous a frôlé.
Alors on vit, chaque jour comme le dernier.
Parce qu'on vient de loin.

Quand les temps sont durs,
On se dit : «Pire, que notre histoire n'existe pas».
Et quand l'hiver perdure...
On se dit, Simplement que la chaleur nous reviendra.
Et c'est facile comme ça.
Jour après jour,
On voit combien tout est éphémère.
Alors même en amour,
J'aimerai chaque reine comme si c'était la dernière.
L'air est trop lourd,
Quand on ne vit que de prières.
Moi je savoure chaque instant,
Bien avant, que s'éteigne la lumière.

Jour après jour,
On voit combien tout est éphémère
Alors vivons pendant qu'on peut encore le faire
Mes chers

Happy 2006

2005-12-31T12:41:00.000-05:00

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure,
measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you
measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love.
Seasons of love.

SOLOIST 1
525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan.
525,600 minutes - how can you measure
the life of a woman or man?

SOLOIST 2
In truths that she learned, or in times that he cried.
In bridges he burned, or
the way that she died.

COMPANY
It’s time now to sing out, tho the story never ends let's celebrate remember
a year in the life of friends.
Remember the love! Remember the love!
Remember the love! Measure in love.
Seasons of love!
Seasons of love.

Seasons of Love, RENT.

Forget Regret or Life is Yours to Miss

2005-12-19T10:33:00.000-05:00

Heading out to work the day after watching Rent, I looked at my gay co-worker with a new found meaning. It is not that she shares much with Angel, rather that Angel has left a lasting impression on me. I actually not only sympathized with Angel, I thought of him/her the next morning and for days to follow. When I saw Mimi on the cover of Marie Claire, I picked it up thinking “it’s her,” not really knowing who, except that it is Mimi, from Rent.

Rent the movie was an amazing adaptation of the Broadway show. Although I have not watched the Broadway musical, I feel I have gained so much prespective and enriched my musical experience by watching it. The acting was excellent. There was an assortment of roles of starving artists living la Vie Boheme, some infected by Aids, some infected by selfishness, some can not recognize love if it hits them between the eyes. The choreography of actors movement complimented with scarce camera movement was amazing, which placed a huge emphasis on the musical and theatrical origin of the play. The movie also used its liberty wisely in a way that adds to the play without changing its Broadway nature. Montage was used in a lot of areas to enrich the play. Footage of NYC was used to added the missing flavor of physically being at a Broadway show. The only reservation I have was the engagement scene. I am not certain that this scene was in the original musical, however at any rate, the scene was not realistic of the period (late 1980s) during which the events took place. The parents of the gay couple were far more understanding and cool about the whole event in a way that parents even till this day are not.

Rent succeeded in creating its own world, deep characters, amazing additional footage that complimented without crowding, exquisite score, excellent editing and choreography. All in all, a captivating experience.

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/rent/

Syriana, what does it mean anyways?!

2005-12-16T17:15:00.000-05:00

Syriana, despite its fragmented nature, held me by the neck and didn’t let me go hours after the movie was over. Once again, I ventured out, skidding over ice in below freezing temperature to watch this controversial movie that had only been showing in select cities.

Although I missed the first two or three scenes of the movie, I was able to jump in relatively fast. The acting was intriguing; everyone was true to his or her character to a great extent. The events jumped very fast which was hard to follow. Although I speak 3 out of the 4 languages spoken in that movie, I had a hard time following the dialogue and understanding what is happening. Such is the result of the fragmented nature of the script, which took you not only to the middle east and back but also to Spain and France. I believe these scenes in such location, although reflecting how filthy rich and well connected those Saudis are, only made the movie harder to follow. In addition, some of the Arabic speaking characters such as Bob (CIA) and the Saudi prince had very thick accents and I believe that did more harm than good. Having to make excuse for the actors’ bad Arabic took me out of the world of the play and broke the character. It brought me back to the reality that these are actors. The only two who spoke good Arabic were actually Arabic actors that I recognized (very very excitedly as you can imagine!)

Using the terrorist’s last words voice over Bob’s pictures with his family and loved ones drew a very subtle and deep parallel. All the scenes were right on, there was no wasted screen time. All the scenes were eventful and short. I don’t know if there is a better way of doing such a complicated story line, with so many countries involved, but there was definitely something missing. What was Bob’s motivation for trying to rescue the prince? Was he revenging the CIA backstabbing him? Or was a changed man?

I believe the one virtue that this movie has accomplished is that each character had very good reasons why he did what he did, and in their minds, they were all right. Bob had a failing marriage, and a miserable relationship with his son and a failed career that he was attempting to save. The Indian worker had no motivation other than what they taught him at the Islamic school, which remains a mystery, mainly because he didn’t know any better. The Americans wanted to manipulate everything to their favor to have the oil, money and powers. The Amir wanted to rebuild his country. Jimmy wanted to protect The Amir at all costs, even if it means de-clawing Bob. The American consultant wanted to forget his son’s death and achieve success as an economic advisor. It achieved what I hope my plays will always achieve: show how each person, in their own lives, has very good reason why they do what they do even if it is wrong in our minds. Watching Syriana, I knew why each character did what they did and I saw how for each of them, such was the logical thing to do. Therefore, overall, I would say Syriana had a powerful script and presentation.

(Despite the outrage I was experiencing upon watching the movie, I'm darn thankful to be living in a country where such a production is allowed!!)

Narnianism or lack there of...

2005-12-16T17:05:00.000-05:00

Despite the immense infatuation I have with C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, the sensational score of the movie and the promising young actors, Narnia the motion picture failed to emerge as its own self. The adaptation lacked spirit. I believe it stuck so close to the novel that it failed to be self contained, thus alienating the non-Narnia readers.

I approached the theater with heightening excitement; finally I will get to see Narnia, and Aslan. I will get to see what the characters I have long dreamed of look like, I will experience what it’s like when they talk, walk, roar, fight…

Narnia began with a scene from the war, planes dropping bombs and a family struggling to run to the underground shelter. I do not believe this introduction in available in the actual novel; however it is a very good addition. It successful sets the stage, the contrast that shows what the world was like, what the family was going through.
The score carried me high and low up the mountains and down the hills, on the train, across the plains and into the great mansion.

An outstanding performance by Lucy, played by the brilliant Georgie Henley, brought the sense of adventure of the original work to the screen. She truely captured different shades of all emotions possible for 5 year old and gave the movie an adventurous flavor.

Everything follows smoothly, until the brilliant little Lucy steps into the wardrobe. For us the faithful of C.S. Lewis, the sight of the carefully sculpted wardrobe brings memories of a great adventure, with a witch, a crazy uncle, and a new born Narnia, where everything, including a metal lamp stand, blossomed. However, for the regular moviegoer, the wardrobe meant nothing. There was no magic. There was no set up, no magical flashbacks upon touching the wardrobe. It would have been neat if Lucy got a strange flash of prior adventures as she touched the knob of the wardrobe, or had Mr. Thomas tell her a brilliant tale about Narnia’s beginnings and the tale of the lamp. However, none of that happened. The children went back and forth in front of the lamp, them along with the audience, had no clue what the lamp stood for or what it meant. No one knew the true power of Aslan as it has been established in the first part (magician’s nephew.)

These elements among others were missing for the audience who did not read the novel. Although some say that C.S. Lewis wrote the Magician’s Nephew after writing the Chronicle’s of Narnia, he obviously wrote it as part I for a good reason, there was a clear need to “set the stage” with some background information. The movie failed to establish the world of Narnia, what was the motivation for Narnia? Why should the characters care to save Narnia? Why should anyone care about Narnia?! The movie didn’t show that conflict. It all seemed too easy, so “planned,” so...

FAKE! there I said it!!

I also believe a lot more events should have been squeezed into this production, making it more intense, and raising the stakes for the characters. There was no motivation for the characters to go back to their world or stay in it. For the characters in the first part of Narnia “the Magacian’s Nephew” the children have really strong motivation, they had to go back to their parents, and the sick mother, and get her healed. In the movie, they had no reason, they accidentally stumbled upon the entrance, led by none other than Lucy! There was no manipulation of the fact that their uncle has been to Narnia and back. There was no set up of the magical world.

Had the movie borrowed from the entire Chronicles of Narnia, borrowing some information here and there, rearranging some events , the movie would have been a lot more intriguing and successful. However, with the current adaptation, Narnia has failed to capture the true greatness of the Chronicles.

Flash Back from 1997...

2005-11-25T09:24:00.000-05:00

Waking up is overrated.

After all what is the point of waking up from a dream to face my meaningless life. It just drags me along one morning after another, each time waking up to the truth of a life I loath. This morning my grandma had to tell me that the dog died. I thought she was lying at first, I told her you are saying that just to get me out of bed, which worked. Only it made me hate waking up even more.

The worst is when I wake up after dreaming that my father came back. I open my heavy eyes from a long dream only to find out that it was the maid’s voice, not my father’s, telling me to wake up and get ready for school. I drag my tail throughout the day drained by the betrayal of my silly imagination.

Recently, after 15 years of separation, my father shows up and spends ten days with me, ten whole days. He makes plans and promises: “I want to make up for lost time,” “I love you so much,” “I will never leave you again.” I live those ten days wondering if I will wake up to the maid’s voice as usual. Surely enough, when he got on his plane back to America, my heart was so heavy I could not speak. Once again a dream ends and I wake up in the same world I went to sleep in: enormous, empty and dark.

By Critical D.

Happy Eid Palestine…

2005-11-22T11:25:00.000-05:00

"12-year-old boy shot by Israeli soldiers for holding a toy gun

posted by Heyfa @ Thursday November 03rd 2005, 8:33 pm

Today is the first day of Eid Al Fitr. Palestinians hardly have a room for joy, when the IOF’s assaults never stop, the mourning never stops either.

One would ask how come after all these years they did not know that Palestinian kids buy such toys in Eid? And one would also wonder, if the child was walking with his parents down the street, normally carrying his riffle without being in a shooting position, what made them think he’s carrying a real gun and is attempting to shoot them?

On Thursday morning, IDF troops from the elite Maglan unit shot and seriously wounded in the Jenin refugee camp a 12-year-old Palestinian youth who was spotted carrying a toy rifle as the soldiers carried out arrests.

According to Palestinian sources, the youth, Ahmed Ismail Khatib, was shot after a gunbattle erupted between the troops and Palestinian gunmen. One of the soldiers then fired at Khatib, who was visiting Jenin with his parents for the Eid al Fitr holiday.

Troops shot at the boy because they thought he was armed, then discovered he was carrying a toy M-16 assault rifle, military sources said.

Palestinian witnesses confirmed the boy was carrying a toy gun. Palestinian children frequently buy toy guns and other gifts to celebrate Eid al Fitr.

IDF troops transported the youth to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. Hospital officials said he was on life support, with gunshot wounds to his head and stomach.

Soldiers were in the town at the time pursuing an Islamic Jihad fugitive, Husam Jarradat, who later escaped, Palestinian witnesses said.

Via Haaretz

The Child is clinically dead

Happy Eid Palestine…"

From: http://palestineblogs.com

NO COMMENT.

Pride & Prejudice

2005-11-12T02:49:00.000-05:00

What is it about the world of Jane Austen that sucks me in? if only life could be so simple and yet complex at the same time. If only men would so decidedly fall in love with the object of their affection and come to the decision, even if after much consideration, of defying all their fears for its sake.

It strikes me with beauty so stunning that it holds me captive and refuses to let me go. I walk out of the world of Jane Austen not wanting to talk, not wanting to walk in my world nor wanting to come back to my industrial reality. I desire to stay in a world so single tracked, so perfectly crafted and different that even the smallest details are beautiful and intriguing.

A world of perfect sculpture, manicured gardens, exquisite French architecture and landscaping, simply grand.

A world in which courtship was straightforward. A man was to ask a woman for a private talk only with the presumed intentions of asking for her hand in marriage. Engagement was a time of courtship and preparation for marriage. Today, even during engagement, which proceeds a long time of “courtship” a man still does not know what he wants. He can not defy the obstacles set forth by his circumstances, or the circumstances of the object of his affection. He has no desire, perhaps no ability to take a risk for what he wants the most. Or perhaps it is that he does not desire it with such furvence as to defy the obstacles. Perhaps us women trick ourselves into thinking it is the men who are incapable of taking risks, rather than realizing that perhaps the object of their affection is not deemed worthy of such measures.

I wish my world could be as simple, yet seeming complex, as that of Jane Austen’ s.

One must wonder however of the heroins of Austen’s masterpieces. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Ere etc. all present us with a homely heroine, not of good wealth nor beauty, but of great character, in conflict or love with a man rather pomposs and appearing difficult. In both novels, both men turn out to be sweet, tender and most affectionate souls hiding behind an arrogant indifference.

نزار قباني-لا تحسبين جميلة

2005-10-18T00:22:00.000-04:00

لا تحسبين جميلة جدا

إذا أُخِذت مقاييس الجمال

لا تحسبين مثيرة جدا

إذا دار الحديث عن الغاوية والوصال

لا تحسبين خطيرة جدا

إذا كان الهوى

معناه أن تتحكم امرأة بأقدار الرجال

لكن شيئا فيك سريا

وصوفيا . . وجنسيا .. وشعريا

يحرضني .ويقلقني . ويأخذني

إلى ألف احتمال واحتمال

لا تحسبين جميلة جدا

لكن شيئا فيك يخترق الرجولة

مثل رائحة النبيذ ، ومثل عطر البرتقال

شيئا يفاجئني ..

ويحرقني

ويغرقني

ويتركني بين الحقيقة والخيال

لا تحسبين جميلة

لكن شيئا فيك مائيا

طفوليا . . بدائيا . . حضاريا

عراقيا . . وشاميا ..

يكلمني

ويرفض أن يجيب على سؤالي

لا تحسبين جميلة

لكن شيئا فيك أقنعني

وعلمني القراءة ، والكتابة والحروف الأبجديه

فإذا بسنبلة تمشط شعرها في راحتيه

وإذا بعصفور صغير جاء يشرب من مياهي الداخليه

الله .. كم هو رائع ..

أن تصبح امرأة قضيه..
-----------
أشهدُ أن لا امرأةً إلا أنتِ- 1979
------------------
Thank you Alien for introducing me to this poem...7a'e'y gabara..

What's Behind you?

2005-10-01T10:19:00.000-04:00

I dreamed...

2005-09-15T16:48:00.000-04:00

I dreamed of Khaled Said
I dreamt that he did not die
that it was all a lie

I dreamed he was standing infront of a group of young people
talking to them about life and how feeble
our dreams can be

I dreamed I had no reason to be sad about my friend's brutal death

I dreamed...

IDIOCITY

2005-09-15T11:37:00.000-04:00

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/palestine/?id=14542

I am TIRED of this idiocity!!

"I know it was hard but I admire your courage," Bush told the Israeli leader at the outset of the meeting. "It is an opportunity that was created by a bold decision and we will work together to see the vision of peace come to be."

EXCUSE ME?!!!

I think our honorable president needs a reality check!! Maybe he should try to walk in the shoes of a Palestinian for a day? try getting through several check points, and being at the mercy of the hard hearted soldiers just to get a much needed medicine for your sick mother? or worse yet, for yourself!
Try being seperated from your family by only 8 km but not be able to see them because of the many check points seperating you...seperating you in your own lands, in your own country.
I don't think our president understands the humiliation involved in going through a check point where a soldier will make the decision whether or not you can proceed to enter your own land. Imagine a police car stopped infront of your huge Texas ranch, checking every single item in your car on your way in and on your way out every single time. Not just that, but those policeman, those hired hands, have the authority to stop you from going into your own home. Think about it! and on what basis? based on their whimpsy.
Until you've gone through it yourself, I don't wanna hear a word of protest out of your mouth.

Our American arrogance is going to ruin this country and continue to raise the levels of hatred towards America. I am so sick out it. I am sick of people who have never been outside their own State making grand political commentaries when they've never experiences the humiliation that those people are dealing with.

Why do you think would drive a young beautiful woman to end her life as a suicide bomber?? WHY? Can you plesae take a closer look WITH YOUR EYES OPEN!! This generation of Palestinian suicide bombers has been bred by the huminilation and inhuman treatment of the Israeli soldiers. Most soldiers, in most cases, change due to the nature of their jobs to become more harsh and hard hearted, we've all seen close friends go off to war in Iraq and become very different people...face it, it comes with the title!!

If you are in deed interested in forming a REALISTIC opinion that is fair, please look closer at the circumstances that the Palestinians have bared all these years, an entire generation. No one is benefiting, both Israelis and Palestinians are living in terror and they will continue to live in terror until each has been given their right.

Mr. president, get a grip!!

Sleepless...

2005-09-01T08:37:00.000-04:00

Another sleepless night held me in its grip. I rise to my feet at 5:30 am, wide awake and quite at loss. The night before I had literally passed out. I check my email, check the weather, decide to get out and have an early start.
By 6:20, I am already racing with a herd of professionals cramming Rt66. This is gonna be an interesting day. From highway, to parking lot, to metrorail, to finally my destination: Roslynn.

As my feet meets the ground with every step I take I gain more confidence. This is going to be a lovely day. I pause on the bridge...watching the skullists zipping underneath my feet. I remembered the glorious torture days of Rowing in Egypt...will I ever go back? I wonder.

As I walk through Georgetown, an intrusive smell overcomes my senses. It is a familiar stink, partaining only to city sidewalks in the street of NYC and Washington DC....TRASH REAK. Such was the odor of my mornings in NYC. As I headed to the explore the city bright and early, after having a poppy seed toasted bagel w/cream cheese at 101 & Broadway, the stink seems to welcome me along the road.

Now, I'm back to my headquarters at 17 & L, sipping on some juice they claim will strengthen my immunity system....

A tout a l'heure...

أراك فكيف لا تراني؟

2005-08-21T16:37:00.000-04:00

أراك
فكيف لا تراني؟

أراك صقر محلق لايعرف لعشقه حدود
و لا لطموحه قيود

أراني روح ذائبه
في أحلام كاذبة

أراك باحث عن الحياة
متمرد علي الوضع الحالي

أراني خاضعة
خانعة
لأيامي

أراك ابتسامة غدي
ففي ضحكتك تضحك الحياة
أراك حرية من قيود خوفي و ترددي
أراك ضمانا أن حياتي أبدا لن تكون رتيبة
وأبدا لن تسير علي وتيرة
"يبقي الحال على ما هو عليه"

أراني دافئه آمنه في حضنك...

فكيف لا تراني؟

كان اسمها جانين ...نزار قباني

2005-07-06T16:39:00.000-04:00

كان اسمها جانين
لقيتها - أذكر - فى باريس من سنين
أذكر فى مغارة التابو .
وهى فرنسية ..
فى عينها تبكى سماء باريس الرمادية
وهى وجودية
تعرفها من خفها الجميل
منه هسهسات الحلق الطويل
كأنه غرغرة الضوء بفسقية ..
تعرفها
من قصة الشعر الغلامية ..
من خصلة فى الليل مزروعة
و خصلة .. لله مرميه

كان اسمها جانين
بنطالها سحبة كبرياء
خيمة حسن تحتها.. يختبىء المساء
وتولد النجوم
و خفها المقطع الصغير
سفينة مجهولة المصير
تقول للجاز : ابتدىء ..
أريد أن أطير ..
مع العصافير الشتائية..
الى مسافات خرافية
أريد أن أصير
أغنية أو جرح أغنية
تمضى بلا اتجاه
تحت المصابيح المسائية
فى حارة ضيقة
فى ليل باريس الرمادية

كان اسمها جانين ..
وهى وجودية
تعيش فى التابو .. وللتابو
وليلها جاز وسرداب
صندلها المنسوج من رعود
يزيد من اغرائها
وكيسها الراقص من ورائها ..
صديقها فى رحلة الوجود
تقول للحن : انهمر
أريد أن أرود
جزائرا فى الأرض منسية
جزائرا مرسومة بأدمع الورود
ليس لها سور .. ولا باب .. ولا حدود

كانت وجودية
لأنها انسانة حية ..
تريد أن تختار ما تراه
تريد أن تمزق الحياة ..
من حبها للحياه ..
كانت فرنسية
فى عينها تبكى سماء باريس الرمادية

كان اسمها جانين

A Heart Warming Surprise

2005-06-30T14:16:00.000-04:00

I just got off the phone with a very dear childhood friend of mine who lives in UAE. I am really touched. It is such a nice feeling when a friend just remembers you, and picks up the phone, dials international, to say hi and see how you are doing. It was so good to hear your voice and know your news. It has been a very long time since I've heard from you. I am thankful to God for giving me friends who care about me. I am also very thankful that he blessed you with a happy marriage and a stable lifestyle. It really warms my heart.

Thank you for making my day !

قتلت الحب

2005-06-24T16:32:00.000-04:00

قتلت الحب ....
(منقول)

اليوم أكسِر قيودي
اليوم أتحررُ من كوني جارية ...
اليوم أخلعُ ملابسي
لأسبحَ في البحرِ حرةً عارية ...
واجتثُّ ضفائري من جذورها
بعد أن كانت عليك حانية ...
و أُبعدُ يدي عن يدك
بعد أن كانت منها دانية ...
اليوم أتوقفُ عن حبكَ
و أُلقي بذكرياتي من شُرفتي العالية ...
اليوم قتلتُ حبنا بيدي
و سفكتُ دماءهُ القانية ...
اليوم يذهبُ كلٌ منا في طريقٍ
فتعود أنتَ لحضركَ
و أعودُ أنا للبادية ...
وأنسى كيف كدتَ تموت من أجلي
و تنسى كيف سرتُ من أجلكَ
على الزجاجِ حافية ...
و أتناسى صورتك في البيتِ في كُلِ ناحية ..
في البيتِ في كُل زاوية ...
صعبٌ الفراقُ لا أنكرُ ثقلهُ
و لكنه يبقى سهلاً أمامَ أن
تكسرَ مرّةً أخرى تلكَ الآنية ...
فما عادَ سهلاً عليَّ أن أشربَ
من زجاجةِ السُّمِ و بعد حينٍ من العافية ...
وما عدتُ قادرةً أن أراكَ
مرّةً حبيبي و مرّةً جلاديَ ....

اليومَ أبدأ من جديد
ناسيةً كل الليالي الباكية ...
فما عادَ كذبُكَ يقنعني
و ما عادت مشاعري نفسها هي َ ...
و ماتَ حُبُنا اليوم بعد أن
كانَ حيّاً منذ ثانية ...
و لستُ حزينةً عليهِ و إنما
سعيدةٌ لأني قتلتُ
تلكَ الكذبةَ الفانية ...
فمرّاتٍ عديدة في حٌبك كنتُ مجنياً عليها
و اليوم شرفٌ لي
أن أكون الجانية ...
رونــــي ..*

By Rouny (definitely not me)

The Boats

2005-06-23T23:45:00.000-04:00

I've been feeling down lately. I can't bring myself to take the guitar and sit out on the deck and play. The moon has been shining at the deck every night for the past week, as if calling me out to enjoy his company in the perfect weather ...my favorite chill that keeps me cold enough to be numb.
I glance outside and désolé...I head to bed in the basement, where the moonlight can not reach me. I'm far from the nights when the moon would light my room with its silver rays and ease me to sleep.

Earlier today I went for a walk after dinner with my friend who lives a few blocks from here. I say blocks like a city girl, although I live in the suburbs now. We went for a walk, with a twist of nostalgic stories about Egypt, AUC and all my good memories back there. Those stories have become something of a salt and pepper to our walks. By the time we had walked enough to burn our Italian dinner, the air had gotten colder...like that nice cool air you get when you stand infront of open door of the fridge on a hot day.

We decided to hang out in her back yard...a few minutes later we decided I'll bring my guitar from my car...

As we sat there...finally me and my guitar and an audience sitting in the back yard struggling to find songs that we both know...I finally just play her a song that I wrote before I left home...she asked me afterwards: you wrote this?? both words and music? I guess she never gets to see that side of me...

What's the point of me telling you about my evening?

the point is that tonight was different, there was a bit of 7alawet ro7... I was in the mood...its almost as though watching some arabic video clips and telling my friend my Egypt stories put me in the mood to have some good time...

I probably suck as a writer, don't I?! LOL you're still reading though ;)

Sitting in my friend's backyard and relaxing we were able to see some stars...this brought to my mind my uncle...my favorite guy...khalo.

I used to spend my summers with my Grandma in Alex, with whom Khalo and his family lived till she passed away. She was paralized...I used to sleep with my grandma in her room...while my cousins slept in their room w/the baby sitter and then my uncle and his wife in another room.

Both my mum and my uncle worked in Cairo...Khalo used to drive up on thursday nights and spend the weekends with us. Then drive back to cairo by Sundays....those 3 days were my favorite...I dreamed about them all week long.

Before my uncle got married, I used to spend the evening with him when he arrived from Cairo. We would sit in the balcony overlooking the beach about 100 meters away...He had those funny binoculars (sp?) and he taught me how to hold them and watch the merchants' ships traveling at night...miles and miles away.
I still remember sitting with him at night in the open balcony just watching the boats as he eats cheese. Then my uncle would sleep on the couch in the balcony in the open air...that was my favorite thing...Something about the fresh air was comforting...

I hated and still hate AC...its fake, fabricated, preserved...

Years later...we put up glass windows that now closed the balcony...it is no longer open space w/fresh air...The weather got too cold and stormy ...it was no longer safe to let your guard down and let the air carress your cheeks...

Tonight, I am at peace in my heart...because I remember vividely those precious moments and it gives me a sense that everything will be ok.

People we love forever live in our hearts, memories and somewhere in our soul. There are tough times when all is dark and I lose my way...I lose my creativity, sensitivity...desire to even sit down and enjoy anything that I used to enjoy before....

then on a night like that I am forced...I am forced to smile quietly...to sit with those memories and let them fill me with new unspeakable unexplainable hopes...

cheers fellas.

Egyptian Women Speak Up

2005-06-01T15:45:00.000-04:00

القاهرة - تظاهر المئات من النساء المتشحات بالسواد ومعهم مئات الرجال الاربعاء للدفاع عن "عرض الوطن المنتهك" بعد التحرشات الجنسية التي تعرضت لها صحفيات ومتظاهرات الاسبوع الماضي مرددين هتافات مناهضة لنظام الرئيس حسني مبارك.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/?id=31196

and in English:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4600133.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4586295.stm
this is really Preposterous!!

Blast From a the 1930's...

2005-05-27T10:22:00.000-04:00

"Baklava is not what it sounds like, the name of a central European village where a war broke out at one time or another, but a Syrian pastry, which - if it could be distributed to the armies of the world - would probably end war all together. "

"Memoir Of Arab-American Life In The 1930s

Let Them Eat Bread" By Fred M. Saidy http://www.aljadid.com/features/MemoirOfArab-AmericanLifeInThe1930s.html

The piece is truely humorous...I am surprised that it is only his memoir...Now I am intrigued to find out out more about him.

This piece is beautiful. It really drew a smile on my face, taking me to a time we all long for...Enjoy!

Merryland picnics and Groppi ice-cream

2005-05-17T16:00:00.000-04:00

"Every time I visit Heliopolis," reports Sawsan Nuweir, urban studies professor at the Ecole d'Archetecture de Versailles and researcher at the Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement (IRD), Cairo, "a villa has been torn down, its garden razed, and a high-rise taking its place. It feels like part of my memory is being wrenched away from me -- terribly frustrating." A resident of France for the last 30 years, Nuweir spent her childhood and early adulthood in Heliopolis, and her reminiscences about "summer nights spent strolling the boulevards, the pure cool breeze and the scent of jasmine rising from the gardens of beautiful villas that flanked the streets of a predominantly green environment" sound more in line with the Baron's idea of the greatest project of his life. For Nuweir and others, open-air movie theatres were "a special treat", so were Merryland picnics and Groppi ice-cream -- family pastimes seldom available elsewhere in Cairo. By these and other signs, the neighbourhood's status was quickly established through the first half of the 20th century; and in fact it was meant to be different from the day it was conceived. A sprawling plot of land 10km northeast of Cairo, Baron Empain envisaged Heliopolis as a self-contained, cosmopolitan "garden city" with a low population density; he sought to build it up with the help of the Heliopolis Oasis Company, and to connect it to the metropolis using the new Cairo Electric Railway." quoted from: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/742/fe1.htm

Aaaaah many nights I sat in our balcony, overlooking ugly streets, ugly cars, ugly buses....and I wondered with my grandmother, V.1924, what happened to the country. Where did all the beautiful villas and fancy automobiles go? My grandmother refused to say car, till the day she died she called it automobile, and no nail polish, it' s eclat d'or...

I used to sit with her, listening to Strauss Waltz and imagining all the stories she told me about learning Waltz at school from her Jewish teachers. I dreamed up a world that resembled that of black and white movies. I tried to turn a blind eye at the hideous slaps of cement directly across from me.

more to come when I have a chance to edit...

Do You Love Egypt?

2005-05-11T10:52:00.000-04:00

" When the hall was half full Al-Barghouti went on stage: his voice is deep, sonorous, clear. Applause as the impact of his last words lingered: "Love is simple, but Egypt is a complex of many things. It is pretty, bitter, chirpy and depressing. I can sum up the sun and say 'candle', I cannot sum up Egypt and call it my love. People of Egypt, hear me out: they asked me do you love Egypt. I said I didn't know. Go ask Egypt, for she has the answers." "

Quoted from: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/741/cu2.htm

A Brisk Morning

2005-05-11T09:37:00.000-04:00

I get on the escalator and as I climb up from the metro station I am greeted by many med students running around like bees. I walk uphill away from the young vibrant energy and into the world of professionals - boring professionals. In an attempt to add energy to my morning walk I put on some Stacey Orrico. I must admit, the girl 's got a beat. The air is fresh and brisk, chilly for a May morning but perfectly crisp like brand new gift wrap. My day is only starting and I have a choice, will I slow down and take it one moment at a time? or will I waste my energy worrying about things I do not control ?
The sidewalk meets my feet with every step I take pulling me closer to my destination. I do not want to reach it, I just want to keep walking. My mind is at peace this morning. Although tired and distracted, I am perfectly happy walking a long L street in my flower print dress and comfortable slippers. My warm scarf makes me at ease, I have warmth near my heart.

The air with its freshness and touch of chill reminds me of one morning in Egypt, May 1999. As I walked along the streets of downtown Cairo headed towards AUC, I absorbed the sensuality of it all like a sponge and cherish it till today. The air was brisk like it is this morning, the streets were empty, the shops were starting to lift up their metal gates, the owners were spraying water in front of their stores. The old doormen were picking up the newspapers for his patrons, the milkman was going around calling out on his faithful customers, who are decreasing everyday. I remember this old man who was sitting peacefully on his chair infront of his shop. He looked safe...I smiled at him and said "saba7 el kheir." It was the warmst interaction I've had with a stranger my whole life. This kind old man smiled back and wished me a beautiful day. In him I saw the faithful Egyptian father, the fala7 with a khamry complexion, the worker with a strong build...something about him spelled out: tenderness and strength.

He was Egypt.

I'm thinking of him as I walk along the streets of Washington D.C. I do not see his face, but I search for it. I am constantly on the look out for anyone who looks Egyptian or close. When I make that connection, I feel at home. I walk with my head held high, as a woman, as an Egyptian Christian woman. I no longer hide my femininity in fear of criticism or herrassment. I am free to be who God created me to be, and to be safe while I'm at it.

May your day be tenderly refreshing.

Seeking Serenity

2005-05-10T15:11:00.000-04:00

My eyes slowly climb the richly decorated wall till I reach the top, where all the angels where looking and the trumpets are pointed, towards the slained lamb sitting on an altar, as though it was His throne.

My visit to St. Mathew's Cathedral today carries a pleasant surprise: a choir of nuns rehearsing. The nuns' voices ricochet in the silence of the vast space and excellent acoustics of the Cathedral. I came here to clear my mind, I'm sure to clear it now.

The walls of the cathedral glow as the indirect sunlight reflects off the golden ceramic drawings. St. Mathew, St. Luke, St. Mark...I can't see John...they all look so glamorous and strong as I slide down on the bench leaning my head back and staring at the ceiling. The voices of the nuns dressed in white robes with blue trimming fill my mind with new peace. The coolness of ceramic walls and granite floors appeases my body and lulls my sense. I am successfully stealing away some peace from my busy day.

I am suddenly aware of the time. I get to my feet, pray "Our Father" and head towards the door. As I turn around to take a last peak at the church, my whole body is paralyzed. I do not want to walk out that door. With my back leaning against the hot glass I take in one last deep breath, take one last glimpse of the glamorous walls, hear the Choir one last time, then I turn around and push the heavy glass door open...I try desperately to keep that peace in my heart. Within minutes the ambulance sirens go off, the traffic light turns red, people passing me tell a story about someone always being high...

and it hit me... the city hit me with its heavy fist...and knocks me back into my senseless anxious routine.

And I realize: "Now" is always the best moment.

I need to live TODAY- take it one day at a time...cherish serenity and seek after it...stress does not lie in what we are doing or how many responsibilities we have, rather in how we chose to face our day...

Face it one day at a time.

مرارا و مرارا و مرارا

2005-05-10T09:16:00.000-04:00

ماذا أقول عند إنتهاء الأحلام؟

عندما ينفذ الصبر و يتنهد القلب

و عندما أحاول التنفس و لا أجد الهواء؟

قلبي مثل حجر صلب قاسي

لم يعد يبغى الحب

أو التنازل

كفي يا نفسي عن عشقه!

لقد أسدل الستار

إنتهي الدور

قلبي مقبوض كأنما شيئا مخيفا

قميئا

يعصره مرارا و مرارا و مرارا!!!

و يرفض أن يطلقه حر! يرفض أن يتركه يحلق ثانيا

و يحلم

قلبي المترمرد سجين أحلامه المجهضة!

سجين الأحلام الضائعة و الكلمات الناعمة

الحالمة

الكاذبة!!

سجين حضنه الدافئ

الخائن!

يتذوق طعم الحزن في يوم جديد

وحيد.

Serendipity

2005-05-09T15:11:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered what happens if you ask that cute guy you who just passed you to join you for a cup of coffee? what happens if he asks you to join him for a cup of coffee? would you agree?
The idea of lives crossing fascinates me. You could be crossing the most interesting or the most dangerous person among all the hundreds of people you cross on your lunch break every day.
His eyes are pretty, her skirt is cute, his face simply pulls you in, her hair is disgusting...and you? what do they think when they cross you? Do they like you? Do they admire you? Do they think you're an absolute slob?

We'll never know, until one time we take a chance to give the stranger a peak into our lives...

Whimsical Solitude..."Best of Times"

2005-05-08T19:00:00.000-04:00

The new Arabic movie "best of times" staring Hanan Turk, Hend Sabry and many other up and coming stars evokes a magical feeling that is hard to describe.

The score was a mix of a longing for a time long since past and a modern beat. I left the DVD menu on for a couple of hours just to get to listen to the musical theme over and over again.

Hanan Turk brought back a feeling of Faten Hamam

Hend Sabry, in the role of Yosreya, brought to mind my best friend from school, real, down to earth and a mother, even among her friends, she's the grown up.

As for the third girl (don't remember name) she represents a part of me that is always searching for a purpose in life, always wondering if there is a bigger reason for my life that I am missing out on.

Rodrigo: the blind music genius

2005-05-06T14:08:00.000-04:00

"What does the Concierto de Aranjuez represent?" he wrote shortly before his death in a booklet on his work.

"Whatever each one of us wants it to mean," he added. "It could evoke times past, or the beautiful gardens of Aranjuez with its fountains, its trees and its birds."

From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/388263.stm

Aranjuez...Songs that hunt you...

2005-05-06T14:04:00.000-04:00

Mon amour
Sur l'eau des fontaines
Mon amour
Où le vent les emmène
Mon amour
Le soir tombé
On voit flotter
Des pétales de roses

Mon amour
Et les murs se cherchent
Mon amour
Au soleil, au vent à l'averse
Et aux années qui vont passant
Depuis le matin de mai
Qu'ils sont venus
Et qu'en chantant
Soudain ils ont écrit
Sur les murs du bout de leurs fusils
De bien étranges choses

Mon amour
Le rosier suit les traces
Mon amour
Sur le mur il lace
Mon amour
Leurs noms gravés et chaque été
D'un beau rouge sont les roses

Mon amour
Sèche les fontaines
Mon amour
Au soleil, au vent de la plaine
Aux années qui vont passant
Depuis le matin de mai
Qu'ils sont venus
La fleur au cœur les pieds nus le palan
Et les yeux éclaires d'un étrange sourire

Et sur ce mur
Lorsque le soir descend
On croirait voir des taches de sang
Ce ne sont que des roses

Aranjuez mon amour

Arc De Triumph

2005-05-01T23:11:00.000-04:00

Arc De Triumph

2005-05-01T22:57:00.000-04:00

Miss Congeniality 2

2005-04-11T15:48:00.000-04:00

The best thing about Miss Congeniality 2 was spending time with Sandra at the movies.

As a faithful admirer of Sandra Bullock, I enjoyed seeing her face on the screen, and watching her act once again after a while of no action. However, I was disappointed. Just when you think the plot is gonna get better, the conflict will develop, rise and resolve, the movie just stays flat the whole time. The plan of action for the kidnappers is way too easy, as the writer doesn't wanna make things too hard for Gracie.

The characters are flat, the tomb boy duo has huge potential, there are many opportuinities to unvail the deep secrets of the soul that the writer skips over. After watching Hope Floats, 28 days, Murder by numbers and Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood, one can not watch a Bullock movie without expecting a revelation of deep conflict that we can all identify with. Miss Congeniality was more than just a hilarious movie with a great plot, it was also a chance for all to see the reality behind all the ladies who walk around and do not look the part.

Miss Congeniality 2 had very little to offer. However, I still enjoyed watching Bullock in action.

Guess Who

2005-04-05T17:28:00.000-04:00

Guess Who, the much talked about and anticipated movie is finally out. I was there to watch it fresh out of the box on April 1st.

The movie starts off with a story line full of potential for conflict: Black girl dating white guy, got engaged, did not tell the parents yet and will tell them this weekend during her parents 25th year anniversary party.

Simon, played by the adorable Ashton Kutcher, is a successful up and coming stud who works on Wall Street and who mysteriously quits his job the same day he is supposed to meet his fiance's family and her very intimadating father. Theresa his fiance, played by Zoý Saldaýa, fails to tell her parents about Simon being white.

The weekend starts with a ticking bomb: his fiance head off to her family's house without a)her knowledge that Simon quit his job and b) her family's knowledge that Simon is a white guy.

A promising story line, full of complexities that should make for great dialogue, with depth...and perhaps even some dark humor...or what is called in the Egyptian Theater Black Comedy...a joke that makes you laugh and cry at the same time...something masterd by Mohamed Sobhey. However, this does not even come close. Guess Who misses out on a great opportuinity to make a mark on the American Cinema.

Percy, the father in law to be played by Bernie Mac, consistantly attacks Ashton's character, questions his menhood, ridicules him infront of others and unjustly calls him racist. All the while, Ashton remains this perfect human being who will bear anything in the world for his fiance. Ashton never once utters a word of disrespect to the father, or complaint to the daughter. He is a perfect gentleman.

Not only was Ashton's character superficial, his history was undeveloped. We hear,en passant, that Ashton's father left him and his mother when Ashton was only two. How did Ashton grow up? did he feel insecure? how did he become so successful in life? it remains a mystery! Did he repay his student loans? did he go straight to Wall Street skipping college as we all know is possible? How can he afford to live in that expensive apartment we see at the begining of the movie?? We have no idea!

How come Ashton and his fiance live together, yet her father wont let them sleep in the same room when they visit him? Does her father know that they live together? are they lieing to the parents? Again, we're left in the dark.

What does Theresa do? we don't know! We only hear that she is an artist!! How old is she? did she go to college? When did she move away from home? does she have a close relationship with her parents? No idea!!!

Much later in the movie, the father and the son in law mess up and upset the ladies, who storm out of the house, not answering their cell phones. We later find out that they went to Auntie's house, and were having a party with a whole bunch of- as Percy later calls them - Angry Black Women. What did these other women have to be mad about? we don't know!! is it a club for husband hatters? is it a group of cousins and neighbors who just enjoy getting together and having drinks? we dont' know!! for the umpteenth time, we are left in the dark!!

Finally, the last ten minutes of the movie provide some air for the suffocating-truth-seeking audience. After Simon and his Fiance break up in the heat of the moment, Percy has a hearty talk with his daughter with real lines and an actual dialogue. We hear for the first time a hearty but still superficial dialogue about the society and how it will view them bla bla bla...and how Simon cares so much about Theresa. Percy - magically - had a change of heart !

Finally, Ashton and his fiance are reunited in the in laws anniversay party, the pathetic epic of this superficial extended sitcom.

Guess Who should not be classified as a movie. It is a combination of Ashton's sitcom along with Bernie Mac's, a charade in which superficial stick figure go around with 5 year old vocabular and lines attempting to get some laughter out of the audience...but to no avail.