Sunday...

[polarbear 0]

Happy Sunday MENA!

I've been trying to post for 3 hrs, but I'm actually too busy at work today Ahh, the holiday season in Miami

Jackie - Glad you are doing so well ((hugs))

wiseduptoolate - I hope 2008 turns out to be a good year but in the meantime, chin up and hope things get better.

On a side note: Anyone ever get irritated that you are expected to speak Spanish and are actually at a disadvantage if you don't? We're going to try again tomorrow to get a SSN for my husband, but last time we were there he was really thrown off by the fact that we were asked questions in spanish before they tried english. When I assured him that was normal, he just gave me that look and asked "so I need to learn TWO languages?" They even call out the numbers in spanish first, and then if no one responds, english....

[kerewin21 2]

Happy Sunday MENA!

I've been trying to post for 3 hrs, but I'm actually too busy at work today Ahh, the holiday season in Miami

Jackie - Glad you are doing so well ((hugs))

wiseduptoolate - I hope 2008 turns out to be a good year but in the meantime, chin up and hope things get better.

On a side note: Anyone ever get irritated that you are expected to speak Spanish and are actually at a disadvantage if you don't? We're going to try again tomorrow to get a SSN for my husband, but last time we were there he was really thrown off by the fact that we were asked questions in spanish before they tried english. When I assured him that was normal, he just gave me that look and asked "so I need to learn TWO languages?" They even call out the numbers in spanish first, and then if no one responds, english....

I guess in Miami the clients are more likely to speak spanish than english, statistically. They're probably just trying to make life easier for themselves.

I'm going to try to go to Times Square for New Year's this year... any other New Yorkers going???

[polarbear 0]

I guess in Miami the clients are more likely to speak spanish than english, statistically. They're probably just trying to make life easier for themselves.

Very true, but the fact is that he WILL have to learn spanish and no way around it really. He wants to learn my native language and be able to speak to my family ect. but will need spanish for work. He has always done construction or repair type jobs and is used to being a foreman (leads and directs the work of the team). This is not possible in the US without being able to comunicate at least the basics in Spanish. We both know that, but are not too happy about it ((shrug)) Here in the south it's just a fact of life. I've done it for my work in the kitchen, and he will have to as well.

[Ban Hammer 13,481]

On a side note: Anyone ever get irritated that you are expected to speak Spanish and are actually at a disadvantage if you don't?

[Nasturtium 500]

Day 1 of project: did cutweork and am not ready to poke out my eyes. Eye on the prize, eye on the prize, eye on the prize. Saving money.

Here's a blurry orchid that smells like jasmin in my kitchen. Ahhh.

As fas as having spanish spoken to Dh, that's common. Most of those of Arabian decent we've spoken to say the same thing-- it's because people mistake them for hispanic and not Arab. I get needing it for work, etc... but there is this little side problem of being mistaken for a spanish speaker. My fav is that they'll give Ammar forms to fill out in spanish and he's all, "I can't read this." Then they usually ask him if he needs someone to read it to him. He'll say "yes, in English."

Edited December 30, 2007 by julianna

[patiently_waiting 0]

On a side note: Anyone ever get irritated that you are expected to speak Spanish and are actually at a disadvantage if you don't? We're going to try again tomorrow to get a SSN for my husband, but last time we were there he was really thrown off by the fact that we were asked questions in spanish before they tried english. When I assured him that was normal, he just gave me that look and asked "so I need to learn TWO languages?" They even call out the numbers in spanish first, and then if no one responds, english....

had to lol when i read the side note. born and raised in miami and know how he feels. it does get frustrating when u r expected to speak another language that isnt the original language. he will pick spanish up very easy and become fluent in spanglish in no time at all. which part of miami are u in? i know that the ssn office in s. miami near s. miami hospital was always quick when i needed to go. i was in miami for Christmas and was delightfully surprised that i enjoyed it for once. u have to remember that there it an entire country in and of itself. Que Vida!

Guess u shouldnt tell him that creole is very popular there too...

Edited December 30, 2007 by wised up too late

[MelindaandTarek 0]

Hello everyone...I hope everyone had a great day

wiseduptoolate - big hugs to you - - i hope 2008 brings you less stress and more joy

cant believe its almost 2008 - oh my - having a girls night out tomorrow night which should be nice....

hope everyone has a great night. Melinda

[sereia 0]

top of the morning to you all. going to put the Christmas decorations away today after church. other than that, another day of misery missing my husband who has listened to his parent and left, yet again. i didn't realize how much they controlled my marriage. is that a MENA thing? i can't wait for this year to be over bc next year has got to be better.

Your MIL or FIL keeps telling your husband to leave? May I ask why?

Sorry you have to go through this. Pregnant women shouldn't have to deal with so much stress.

i wish i had the complete answer for that, but i dont know what they say bc they speak in arabic. he says that they dont want anymore damage between us. its not easy to come and adjust, have a step child to deal with, a new marriage, cultural difference, religious differences, an extremely hard pregnancy and minimal employment opportunities bc we cant verify his education. our start has not been the most blissful as one could hope for.

i feel for you!!! i can't imagine being pregnant on top of all that we are already going through. i wish you all the best, mona. i don't understand why his parents think he should leave you (especially pregnant!!!).

[~Jackie~ 30]

ahhhhh Sunday night. sigh.

J

[patiently_waiting 0]

I feel ya jackie! I am bored and not much in tv. think i will watch a movie.

[chaishai 1]

I guess in Miami the clients are more likely to speak spanish than english, statistically. They're probably just trying to make life easier for themselves.

Very true, but the fact is that he WILL have to learn spanish and no way around it really. He wants to learn my native language and be able to speak to my family ect. but will need spanish for work. He has always done construction or repair type jobs and is used to being a foreman (leads and directs the work of the team). This is not possible in the US without being able to comunicate at least the basics in Spanish. We both know that, but are not too happy about it ((shrug)) Here in the south it's just a fact of life. I've done it for my work in the kitchen, and he will have to as well.

Why not happy about it? I think its great to learn lots of languages. My husband's (israeli) native tongue is hebrew. He speaks arabic and some french because his parents are from north africa. He learned fluent english growing up in school and since he came here he has a business where he employs lots of latin americans and he now speaks fluent spanish. Being able to communicate in so many languages is awesome! we went on vacation to mexico and it was great to be with a fluent speaker!

Besides you cant have your cake and eat it too, if you are living in that beautiful weather year round you need to take everything that comes with it

[chaishai 1]

Day 1 of project: did cutweork and am not ready to poke out my eyes. Eye on the prize, eye on the prize, eye on the prize. Saving money.

Here's a blurry orchid that smells like jasmin in my kitchen. Ahhh.

As fas as having spanish spoken to Dh, that's common. Most of those of Arabian decent we've spoken to say the same thing-- it's because people mistake them for hispanic and not Arab. I get needing it for work, etc... but there is this little side problem of being mistaken for a spanish speaker. My fav is that they'll give Ammar forms to fill out in spanish and he's all, "I can't read this." Then they usually ask him if he needs someone to read it to him. He'll say "yes, in English."

julianna where did you get that orchid? i LOVE orchids, and one that smells like jasmine, well that sounds amazing

[Nasturtium 500]

julianna where did you get that orchid? i LOVE orchids, and one that smells like jasmine, well that sounds amazing

Hey! It's Pot. Harng Tay 'No-1,' And there is not a single photo of it on the internet which was really annoying-- I didn't know what I was getting! I got this last year from Home Depot as one of those odd and interesting finds.

What kinds of orchids do you keep? I have mostly phals, and I just gave away several to a coworker-- dends and oncs which I wasn't into doing the work for... I'm sort of a "stick it in the window and make it bloom by sheer will" kind of person. I have an Iwanagara Apple blossom which has never rebloomed for me-- but I figure if I got this Pot. to rebloom, I probably just have the Iwangara in too shady a spot and in the wrong pot-- I'm a chronic underwaterer, and I bet it's too dry in it's pot with holes. I also have this one orange dendrobium that hasn't rebloomed, and I wish I could remember it's name (I'm at work).. it's about the 4" across and it's leaves are arranged just like a vanda. I have a vanda which I accidentally got to bloom this past summer (I left it in teh shower in teh dark for over a week and I guess it thought it was winter). No signs of life yet on it as far as a bloom so I may have disrupted its cycle. All my phals are budding up right now. I have one in bloom Dtps. Newberry Parfait 'Picotee', and I figure it is going to stay that way for the next year almost. i got it last year on clearance and it had this huge bloom spike-- about 24" across and long, very branched, and it bloomed forever-- this year is my first home grown spike, and it's not as spectacular (I never fertilize anything, I know, I'm bad) but it's more compact (and the colors are clearer) and I like that.

[chaishai 1]

julianna where did you get that orchid? i LOVE orchids, and one that smells like jasmine, well that sounds amazing

Hey! It's Pot. Harng Tay 'No-1,' And there is not a single photo of it on the internet which was really annoying-- I didn't know what I was getting! I got this last year from Home Depot as one of those odd and interesting finds.

What kinds of orchids do you keep? I have mostly phals, and I just gave away several to a coworker-- dends and oncs which I wasn't into doing the work for... I'm sort of a "stick it in the window and make it bloom by sheer will" kind of person. I have an Iwanagara Apple blossom which has never rebloomed for me-- but I figure if I got this Pot. to rebloom, I probably just have the Iwangara in too shady a spot and in the wrong pot-- I'm a chronic underwaterer, and I bet it's too dry in it's pot with holes. I also have this one orange dendrobium that hasn't rebloomed, and I wish I could remember it's name (I'm at work).. it's about the 4" across and it's leaves are arranged just like a vanda. I have a vanda which I accidentally got to bloom this past summer (I left it in teh shower in teh dark for over a week and I guess it thought it was winter). No signs of life yet on it as far as a bloom so I may have disrupted its cycle. All my phals are budding up right now. I have one in bloom Dtps. Newberry Parfait 'Picotee', and I figure it is going to stay that way for the next year almost. i got it last year on clearance and it had this huge bloom spike-- about 24" across and long, very branched, and it bloomed forever-- this year is my first home grown spike, and it's not as spectacular (I never fertilize anything, I know, I'm bad) but it's more compact (and the colors are clearer) and I like that.

I buy them if they are nice, I never look at the tag, I put them in the window and thats it! After they died I would snip them and put them in a window in a room that we dont use, and they would bloom again after a year. Then they sorta stopped doing that so I started throwing them out. I usually buy like 6-8 a year and put throughout house I love them but i am COMPLETELY black thumbed and horrible with plants. I would love to find that one in your picture thought.

[Nasturtium 500]

I buy them if they are nice, I never look at the tag, I put them in the window and thats it! After they died I would snip them and put them in a window in a room that we dont use, and they would bloom again after a year. Then they sorta stopped doing that so I started throwing them out. I usually buy like 6-8 a year and put throughout house I love them but i am COMPLETELY black thumbed and horrible with plants. I would love to find that one in your picture thought.

It just sounds like yours needed fertilizing and repotting. If they are too cramped, they will stop blooming. Yep! just try HD