Thursday

[~*Dorothy*~ 2]

hello MENA peeps - hope every one is doing well...

Tasha *hugs* keeping you in my thoughts...hope that things will get better - keep the faith...

As for me - just got back from my 6th week weight in at Weight Watchers and I'm so pleased with my results....11.8 LB down - 88.2 to go LOL :dance:

I love WW

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Way to go Dorothy!!

[Muh and me 18]

Hi!

[Sandrila 1]

Good Afternoon MENA Members!

It is hot here today, but not too bad. I like it actually.

I know I need to start thinking about an AC unit that I dont have yet but will need.

Tasha....you and me gotta stick like glue...k this is pour vous

Somedays you just wanna throw da towel in

Maureen my son has been buggin about his permit (he was 16 in Feb) but whatever I say the other side just goes over my head.

I think the permit is fine if you are keeping up your grades and being respectful at home and showing responsibility. My son is not.

His grandfather already gave him his test run out in Wyoming in March. I dont mind him letting him test run, the man is like his father, but, when the a..hole took my son behind my back to get his permit trying to forge signatures and #######...well that is taking things a bit too far.

May you rest well and know the time when you are ready to let your son drive. I dont think even 18 year olds are quite ready to drive....nerve wracking for sure

Staashi....how's motherhood and how are you guys and Enzo adjusting to the working life of mama?

Dorothy CONGRATULATIONS what great progress KEEP IT UP GIRL, YOU CAN DO IT!

I wish I could get my butt in gear

Tamara....I know that really sucks for you, even though I have my 3 day weekend (which I need) believe me it is going to BORING...I have nothing to do ...hubby works all day and night Sat/Sun, my best gal pal is outta town and my sister is working all weekend

I dont even have a small grill to cook out

I hate missing out on all the excitement and now that hubby is here I wanted him to have a taste of what the first "unofficial" summer holiday weekend would be like.

Monday looks ify for our beach plan....have to wait and see

IDOL WAS A BUMMER!

I CAN'T BELIEVE ADAM LOST He is an IDOL

[Staashi 371]

Lisa, we're good - my MIL is taking care of Enzo and work is going well...just far too many things on my plate.

[Nothing1234 2]

Happy Thursday MENA

Maureen....EWWW! LOL Sorry that happened to you but that is very good advice. I would have been seriouly vomiting while trying to clean myself up...I have the weakest stomach. (you should see me changing diapers...its quite comical)

Tasha babes...you guys are always in my prayers and on my mind!! Wish you guys were closer!

OLIVIA!!!! I'm so excited for you...can't wait for pics and updates!

Staashiiii!! I miss you girl!

Dorothy...congrats sweets!! What an awesome job!

I hope everyone has an amazing evening!!

Edited May 21, 2009 by Nawal

[doodlebugg 10]

Nagi I have a tummy bug too today. Started yesterday but I didn't realize it would get this bad today. Had to take the day off from work.

Dorothy yay you!!!! I'm starting week 5 and am doing fine on it. Last night I pigged out a little by eating too many pretzel sticks and then i really blew it by eating just two of those cookies that you get at the bakery of your local market. TWO of those were 8 points total and they didn't even taste that great!!!!! Anyway I was down on myself this afternoon about it but when I logged it all in I'm still ok due to my weekly extra points. Of course now I don't have many of those left but it's a nice feeling that I'm still on track!!! I really hope I can keep this pace up at least until Ramadan starts. Then I don't know what I'll do since dieting is near impossible when you have to fast.

Tasha sending duas your way girl!!!

Maureen I've landed butt down in puke twice in my life. Once when my oldest daughter threw up in front of the bathroom door (she at least tried to make it) and didn't tell anyone in the middle of the night and I woke up first and tried to go to the bathroom and whammo....right in the middle of the puddle. The second time was actually a couple of weeks ago but it was a hurled up hairball. Hey maybe I'll read this thread whenever I'm tempted to veer off my diet! lol.

Melly I remember Usama telling me about those plug in things that ward off the mosquitos. I never experienced bugs when I went there in the summer. Only stifling heat and food poisoning. In the winter we had roaches galore though. We ended up naming a few of them I think I'm very sensitive to heat because I'm from up North. Today is 96 degrees and I have the a/c on full blast at 68 and I'm still a little uncomfortable.

Tamara I'm so sorry you have to work through the long weekend. This will be our first kid free weekend together in a while and although he has to work a double sat, sun and mon he does have tomorrow off. First time in a long time that he gets Friday off!!! We're going to celebrate by bringing the push lawn mower to the hardware store together on my lunch break (i work from home fridays). woot woot. Probably will see Angels and Demons too. I want to see Star Treck but we'll see what the movie times are and if we can catch both in. I'm doing a reading marathon tonight to finish the book. I'm half way through so we'll see how it goes.

Jeanne I love that lolcat pic! lol

OK everyone else, have a good one!! Staashi I'm sure you're looking forward to three nonworking days with the bambino! I used to love long weekends with the babies especially once I went back to work.

[Nagishkaw 510]

I wonder what we have??? I just took my temp....101. It is over 80 degrees here and Im freezing with body aches. Did you have those symptoms? Were you nauseated?

[brnidokiegurl 0]

Nagi be careful is it that flu? dont wait to long to get help

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Melly is getting eaten by squitos and I'm getting eaten by sugar ants. Also on the ankles where the sweet meat is. It's early Friday morning here which is the holy day or weekend. The family is going to the Mosque today. I can go also but I would just be watching. We ran errands yesterday to the medical syndicate. Waleed got his ID but it is smeared again. I guess their machine is broken. He also picked up a book for his Sister and her Husband giving all the prices of the procedures though I can't read it as it's in Arabic. I discovered this lemon drink I love. I also keep forget they don't use tea bags here so I drink to the bottom of my cup and have to spit out tea.

The family is taking good care of me with lots of fresh foods and vegtables and traditional dishes. The food is so good. It seems like so much food but unlike Grandma's I don't have to eat it all. Last night I spent time with the family chatting with the Dad and he was very interested in my achivement book. He looked through all my wedding cards from 2.5 years ago and wedding annoucements and Dean's list letters and Honors Convocations booklet and my graduation annoucement I sent out and our commencement booklet. He also looked at all our immigration paper work. All these years I just thought my father in law was a teacher but it turns out he did teach in Saudi Arabia but really he is a lawyer here in Egypt and he is still a practicing lawyer. The Mom and him have this old quarrel going of why does he practice law for free and not for money. He is having his office at their house in the 6th of October. All this is new news to me. I also learned they haven't moved to their new house in 6th of October yet because of some conditions such as the Mom wants a car. They used to have one but it was in an accident so now they stay here till he gets a new one.

I learned my sister in law is a cardiologist but she specializes in the electricity of it. I told her good she can work on my heart and he eyes got big and said no I hope not. lolz. She also showed my her wedding pix last night and talked some about her time in Baltimore while her Husband worked on his PhD there and their plan to go back this October for her PhD. She said Friday we would go to the alteration place and check on the fit of the dress. All the girls in the family are very interested in that. Last night they went out and bought lots and lots of soda for the wedding celebration on Saturday. Waleed seems very at peace and smitten I am here. I must admit I am smitten too and it's all like a dream. He is spending a lot of attention on me and tells me this is the advice he has taken from my brothers about me.

One this that impressed me is one of my neices the one that is four can recite the Quran from memory. My father in law last night put a small quran in her hand that had english and arabic version. He asked me to recited the english version so I did and then he asked her to read the arabic version and I asked Waleed "she can read already"? He said no she can recite from memory. So while sitting in my lap she recited the verses rocking back and forth and if she made a mistake grandpa would correct her. I would pet her hair and when she was done I would tell her good job. She goes back and forth speaking english and arabic to me. The younger one Sarah they say is the mean one because when her sister got hurt crying Sarah comes out and says to us all, "Good. She deserved it." The whole family started cracking up at this adorable 2 year old saying that to them all. The whole family is so loving and connected it is really wonderful to see and they are making me very welcome.

I like it here even though the streets are filled with trash and it can get hot and there are beggars that may break your heart and you would go poor giving them all your money and the buildings are falling into disrepare. There is this charm about it's people and this ancient world. It is my Husband's home and his families home and I appriciate that. Each day they are giving me some present like tooth paste, or a long yellow house dress with flower embrodiery, or a long sleeve t-shirt. The women do this and the men like it. I guess my modest clothes are still not modest enough. Though in the streets I see the female youth dressing head to toe covered in tight stylish clothes and I think it is a bit of a hypocricy. I feel sorry for all these women having to cover themselves and sweat in this hot Egyptian sun like this but I can see the benefit of not having to do your hair everyday. I also observed that if the doors to the balcony are open or a window open the women in the house will cover their heads but when the doors are closed they don't wear a head thing even in front of the male family memebers.

I better go now not to hog all the dial up. I can hear the family getting up now.

[Amoon 0]

Awww...Olivia...that is so great! Its good to hear from you. I'm glad things are going well (except for the sugar ants). It sounds like you are having fun. It makes me remember the time I was with my hubby, Raad, in Jordan and the times we were surrounded by his family...its such a wonderful feeling! I hope things continue to go really well for you and you have lots of fun! Please send us some pictures!