Well it's Monday and I don't know about you guys but I am not working.

Hicham and I watched Napoleon Dynamite on Comedy Central. It's one of my favorite movies.

Tomorrow we're going to go shopping and maybe drive up the coast some.

Have a good day!

Yes work. But first the torture of exercise at 6 a.m. Wheee!!

It's 25 degrees out. I really wish it would warm up some.

Happy Monday everyone and for those with the day off, enjoy.

I just woke up and for some reason I'm paranoid that I might *not* have had the day off. Oh well, too late now!

Lots of snow last night, lots of accidents this morning. I've been driving to work since the east side rapist is still on the loose, but I figured he wouldn't be out in action today in the snow and cold, and it would be more dangerous to drive. So, I took the bus. Brrr.

It would have been fortuitous if our office were closed today, but alas. However, I did look at my time off for this year, and I have 28 days! wooooooooo!

My usual Monday off... I never benefit from Monday holidays b/c I don't usually take appts anyway on Monday. However, I will still be teaching my classes tonite.

I couldn't tolerate the seeming idiocy of Napoleon Dynamite when I tried to watch it... I also couldn't handle "Something about Mary" - had to walk out of the theatre on that one. Guess it's just not my kind of comedy. Oh well. Maybe I should try to watch ND again, but I fear it will be a huge waste of my precious time!

Rahma, be careful out there in that snow... it's balmy here, but temps will be dropping soon. Better go walk the dogs now!

Let me guess...you're more of a "Best in Show/Waiting for Guffman" kind of gal? I wasn't a huge fan of Napoleon D either, but definitely Mary. I love all of Ben Stiller's movies!

I did like Best in Show - didn't see Guffman. I usually like Ben Stiller, couldn't stand that one. I really also dig adventure/mystery - and flicks w/ chicks looking hot while kicking arse! Charlie's Angels and that Uma Thurman movie (I'm horrible w/ names).... You almost nailed me, Jenn! Good try!

I know what you mean about the hot chicks kicking ### movies! After I saw Charlie's Angels for the first time, I walked around for days singing "Independant Women". LOL

I guess technically I have the "day off" today but my 9 yr old has been poking me since 9am asking when I'm gonna wake up and play Scrabble with her. I keep saying when I'm done with my coffee so she's like, "are you done "YET"????????".


Oil guy's coming today to see what's wrong with my burner. Each day it shuts off ... usually during the night, and I have to march down cellar to press the big red button to get it going again. Pain in the behind I tell ya.

I'm cranky today. I'd best snap out of it!!!!!!!


I don't like comedys. I don't like chicks kickin azz either though. I prefer intense action movies. Loved the Die Hard series and movies like Armeggedan (sp?), etc. I guess I'm a guy in disguise. lol

28 days!?!??! Wow, you're so lucky! Is that including federal holidays? Still, that's a lot.

Working as usual today. The weather here is nuts. We took a walk last night around 8 pm and didn't even need coats. It rained all night and so far all day again. Mohammed rode to work with me again and he's busy perusing Borders. Its really nice to have company for the drive. All that rush hour craziness loses its edge.

Noura, do you mean the Kill Bill movies? Oddly (for me) I loved those. We watched Dances With Wolves yesterday.

All those movies are all right with me.

Except for some reason I've never been able to stand Kevin Costner. Every time he comes on screen I feel slightly nauseated.

im working, 12-8 but that goes without saying, the bank i work for only closes christmas day!

Me too! I think it goes back to sixth grade when my teacher had a crush on him and talked about him incessantly. Ewww.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" Martin Luther King Jr.

sarah.....napoleon dynamite was the first movie sofyan and i watched together and i swear....one year later....he is always saying...GOSSHHHH!!!!

yep, that's them! I'm having major cramps today - feel like crud, meanwhile, Said is outside cleaning the laundry room . I wish I felt like doing something w/ him - I hate having a day off where we could do something together and I feel like poop!

No work today, wouldnt matter anyway, cant move around much with the ice. Power did finally go off few hours earlier this morning but sun out now, but still pretty much confined.

Well out of town guests are all gone, gotta get back to real work this week, interview in Casa tomorrow, need to do laundry and clean in general and the temperatures are dropping like crazy outside. All week it was balmy and warm but tonight execting freezing temps and sleet. Everyone is wishing for a day off tomorrow. And somehow I need to fit in a nap today!

Hope everyone is well...so much to catch up on VJ...i hate it when i get behind!

Some are left over from last year. Counting days the office is closed, I think I have 35 days off this year. I *heart* my job!

So jealous of you! I don't get to carry over any unused days. We might go to Morocco this summer, so I took an extra week unpaid (we have to decide if we want to do that at the beginning of the year) to give me a total of 15 days. I so miss Europe!

Who was wanting the restaurants in Austin? how did that turn out? im thinking i heard Austin had alot of rain like 5/6 rain with flooding, havent talked to my friend that lives there yet to know for sure

I have today off I have been treating myself real good in the third trimester. Today I woke up and made myself hasbrowns and eggs. I ate the whole plate. My next task is to gett off the computer, take a shower and get dressed and then go grocery shopping. We'll see what time that happens

Yesterday my diaper bag came in and I swear I was soooo excited I started jumping up and down. I packed it right away and it's all ready for the hospital (I know way too early ... but when your pregnant with your first baby you tend to get a little OCD). I wore the bag to my mom's house and showed it off. Everyone was laughing at me saying they have never seen a pregnant lady with no kids toting around a diaper bag when she is 7 months

OOOOOOOOOHHH and I will be getting a hair cut this week !!! Any suggestions ?? My hair is really long and I want sometime short. I have my graduation pictures on Saturday so I will get the hair cut Saturday morning. I want short hair for when I give brth and be a mommy. I have been with Ali for 4 years and have never gotten a hair cut (just a trime once a year) and he's finally agreeing that I need a hair cut.

So if any of you see anything that would look good for a 22 year old Lebanese mommy post the pics

Argh it snowed last night! Woke up and took the 3 year old to school on the icy roads, then made a stop at Wal-Mart for a shovel and baby formula - thrilling i know. Got home, shoveled the driveway and sidewalk while Youssef was inside in bed cuddling with the baby - yes I'm a little ticked at this. This is just a general question/comment/complaint - but is it a ME tendency or maybe Moroccan to be very private with people and your life. Youssef doesn't understand why people ask him questions and I think it's just a way of having a conversation being polite etc. He hasn't even told his friends that we had the baby yet and I think it's kind of weird and in a way hurts me..

LM you're just 22 too??!?!? Wow I thought I was the only baby here!

We are babies with babies .... seriously though 22 is not that young. It took me forever to get here and I'd hate to think I was still a baby. I have PG horomones Amera .. don't make me cry. Just kidding ... Anyone else wanna join the babies with babies club ? I know you are all dying to join !

My husband's friends do not announce their wives pregancies until they are almost due, but once the babies are born they are proud fathers, sending pictures and showing the babies on webcam.

Ok that would have pissed me off!

As far as privacy, I don't think its a Mena thing but I'm not sure if its a Moroccan thing. I have always seen it the opposite, there is absoulutly no privacy and everyone knows everything! I am a rather private person myself, but people in Jordan are not. It was not uncommon to have my personal business discussed among 30 family members on a daily basis, ughhhhhhhhhh!!!! As a matter of fact after we booked our tickets to go to Jordan, I was already getting calls congratulating me on my engagement

I can understand you'd be hurt, that is a huge insult, IMO. There is a difference between privacy in say, financial matters, but babies' births are a huge deal in MENA families, meant to be proudly celebrated.


I'd say this is similar in Morocco, too, which is why many people try really hard to keep things private, however, a baby isn't one of those things.

I am off today.. I took off coz its my B day. I have some un written rule.. i never WORK on my birthday. Birthdays are for being lazy...with that said its also a paid day off..

good morning.

Well I loved ND and Little Miss Sunshine and Best in Show is one of my favorites along with Waiting for Guffman... I love all of those movies!

Have a good day,
Sarah

Please remain on hold and the next visa specialist will assist you...thank you for your patience.

Maybe my deal is the post-pregnancy hormones too! Too frustrating to deal with now. My favorite line recently has been "You need to make sure you are taking care of yourself." HELLO!?!? How am I supposed to do that when I'm trying to take care of 2 kids and you? I think I got spoiled at first, when he was helping out all the time, but now it's sort of disappeared. Or this could all be my hormones getting the best of me.

Last week I went for an interview as a legal assistant and I'm really hoping that I get called back soon. I wasn't getting the best vibes but who knows maybe I'll be surprised.

Lebanesemama - It makes me feel a whole lot better to know there are other married 22 year old moms out there. A lot of times I feel really stuck between my friends who are mostly still in college and doing that lifestyle and the older married people with kids - 'cus I don't feel like I fit in with either one!

me, too, Sarah.

Then tell him to go out and shovel the snow!

kill bill movies are ok,..
but, last night I was subjected to watching SNAKES ON THE PLANE. that movie was pretty stupid. the logic behind the movie was retarded.
sooooo if any one has a recommendation on a good movie tonight - I am all ears..

That's what I was thinking!

Oh...and it's not hormones!!!

hahahhahahha - never want to hear those words NO more..lol

Happy Birthday Shon!

I heard this was really good and I needed to check it out - making mental note!

So what's the update Shon? Has the embassy contacted him?

LOL thanks for re-assuring me JP

How can someone not love that movie. Well I made Hicham watch it finally but I think he was more interested as to when it would be over than any of the dialogue.

"Napoleon, you're just jelaous that I've been sitting at home chatting with babes alllll day"

The ISL Embassy said they are sending Javed with a letter of the 3 requested items.
so we are still waiting. I can understand the embasy closed on my Birthday. but, dog gone it- they better step it up and give my bingo his letter and the VISA.

btw, I am starving...what are you all having for Lunch??????????

I could *not* bring myself to waste $$ on that movie - it looked stupid from the previews! We watched "The Terminal" a couple of days ago on tv - I had never seen it - it was soooooooooo funny! Tom Hanks was excellent in it!

You are welcome...one thing I can't stand is when men try to use that hormone - pms card on us. How they innocently say.."are you on your period?" I think you need to give you hunny a reality check!

I think Americans ask way too many personal question but in an innocent way to "get to know you" Americans seem to have much less concern about their private/public boundries- even asking what kind of work do you do as the first or second question after hello how are you is considered rude by other cultures. I think there is in Morocco and much of MENA world a sense of privacy about family to casual acquaintances and people you just meet, but once a person is a close friend, they are like family and it is not strange to share information.