Morning everyone! Yesterday Reda went and filled out his paperwork for work and today he is starting training. For me, it's off to work as usual. I have both jobs today so I will be dead tired by night time. Hope everyone has a great day!

Good Morning!!!! This is a day where I think I could sleep the day away.

Hubby is REALLY wanting to drive and he's making me a nervous wreck! He never drove in Egypt and he has this crazy idea that he can just jump in a car and drive!!! He says driving is easy! When he puts on the breaks.....he wants to look for them, and for some reason he thinks the "Nissan" symbol on the steering wheel should be even at all times. Now I will ONLY let him drive in a school parking lot right now....I'm scared $hitless to have him on the road right now. Oh....and he's convinced he has to have a NEW car to learn to drive in.....a new car for him. I just got a new car last month and I see visions of major dents in the future. I'm checking into driving lessons for him today so he can stress someone else out while learning to drive. Tonight I'm taking him to the go-cart track!!!!

That is so Cute. LOL
When I was in Jordan, I was amazed at the way they drive there. Like a cross between the Indy 500 and bumper cars!! Now, when I tell my husband that I have to drive somewhere, he tells me to drive very, very slow, not fast like me, and to be very carefull.

Happy Tuesday everybody

Mohammed is liking his new job. I hate it cuz I miss all the KFC he used to bring home My work has tripled, and I was working alot, now even more. In May, I broke a personal record and wrote $103,000 of business. And in June, I ended the month with $126,000 and that broke a company record. So needless to say, in July, I am trying to take a little break and chill a bit. My desk is covered with papers and it will take hours to file them away. (so can't wait till those commission checks come! i see major shopping in August!)

Driving, oh my. Mohammed had his first car about a month, and I got that dreaded call. 'habibi, i am in an accident' he was hit by a hit & run driver and learned quick about deductables and why full coverage does not mean full. The first time he drove home from work, he called and said, habibi I think I am lost. I am like, uh...what signs do you see? Welcome to Wisconsin. (we live south of Chicago )

Jackie

is it friday yet?

*waves* to the MENA chicas! We have finally gotten busy around here - hubby has been home for 2 weeks straight! something that hasnt happened for months now.

we closed last week on our cash out refi to do the major overhaul on our little ranch - ooooh i can see the money flying out the door already! I feel like a project manager - people are in and out all the time, appointments for measuring, quotes, etc etc. we had a kitchen remodel consult last night. I think hubster was scared stiff . i hope i hope we make it through this summer!

i don't envy you guys & the driving learnin'... lucky for me Del did drive in Egypt and in Canada and is much better than me. Especially when I am upset about the rediculous Tampa traffic he always has lovely Cairo streets stories

usama has no desire to drive so I have the opposite problem trying to convince him to learn!!! He's never had a reason to drive since he has the busses, subway, etc right there. I mean we have the train and the T and busses right here too so sure he doesn't REALLY need to drive but it'd be nice if he could pick the kids up once in a while or take them shopping for food, etc.

Still no flat but inchalla he'll be going tonight to search again. Everyone keeps telling him just go there and get one when she's here. I"m like who are these people that do things so last minute!!!!!

Four more days to the weekend and seven more days to vacation

Mornin all. Hahahhha y'all's driving stories are hilarious ! Thanks God I didn't have to deal with that so much... Mahmoud already knew how to drive and had long experience at it. The written test at the DMV was rather challenging for him -- all those technical terms, and the sentences are so convoluted. (Geez you'd think they'd hire some actual writers instead of letting engineering nerds try to communicate to the masses -- trying to figure out some of the sentences was like deciphering a mile-long algebra equation !) But.... he managed to pass. And he was almost "too" careful when he hit the roads here. Just the traffic signs were a bit confusing to him..... he would see a sign indicating an upcoming turnoff -- like "410 South" with an arrow -- and think it meant he was already *ON* 410 South.

Wow Jackie -- a new company record !! That is very impressive -- congrats on your success !! (And gotta LOVE those commissions !)

And Laura -- it sounds like you're really revamping the place -- I wanna see before and after pics ! Meanwhile... isn't it lovely living in a construction site



-MK

Well the driving thing is something to keep your heart racing.He does good except at stop signs, he wants to just stop and go not really pay attention to who's turn it is. We spent hours at the DMV yesterday so that he could take the test, well he didn't pass, his reply was I just wanted to see what it was like, in Jordan they also have pictures next to the question I was so mad. I have been telling him that on the DMV website in California they have practice tests, he kept telling me I know so me being the person who thinks oh he knows he must have tried them and done well. NOT
He is doing better and I let him take the car alone when he goes to the Mosque on Friday.

We are going to create a resume so that he can have a better chance at a good job. He seen mine and I asked him if would like to make one for him and he was excited that he would be able to explain everything that he knows how to do. Yes I will be putting it together along with creating his cover page. Tomorrow he will go to be tested to see what level he needs to be started in ESL, he is very happy to be doing this. He is really getting anxious not having much to do so I pray that a job and school start soon.

at this point we are still in the "excitement" phase... but soon that will pass . we even watched the news article "how to make your marriage last through a renovation"

Hahahahha it can certainly be a challenge ! Mahmoud has been remodeling since he got here. Right now I have a large hole in the backyard just off the back porch where he is replacing a troublesome part of an old sewer line and connecting it to a new laundry room (the hole is ingeniously located to prevent you from walking out into the backyard unless you climb over a low wall.) This hole has been sitting there with about 3 feet of water in it from all the rain over the last 2 weeks -- there is now about 1 foot of mud in the bottom -- waiting to dry out so the work can proceed. Meanwhile the kitchen sink drain/dishwasher (on the same line) are pretty much inoperable, so I'm washing dishes in a big tub and lugging it elsewhere to empty the water. The patio is about halfway done (work had to stop there as well becaues of the continuing rain) so half of it is a mud swamp as well, with little "stepping stones" in case you need to attend to things in the yard, haul out the trash, etc.

Ahhhhhh don't get me started on the rest....

Al7amdulillah for everything

Oh man...can you get a padded car or something?

When my husband drives either here in the States or in Morocco, he drives very, very slow. I'm always afraid we're going to be run over.

Man, i don't know if i could handle teaching my husband to drive, i'm glad he already knew how! in fact, he's a valet here

One thing i was really surprised about though, when my husband went to take his drivers test, he decided to take it in french and it was a realllllllllllly old photocopy of a test that looked like it was from the 80's! remember when xerox machines used to print in that awful chunky purple ink?? it looked like that! so not only was it hard to read, but all the questions were about cars with manual transmissions. of course, he had only ever driven stick, but there were still some questions that really had him stumped. luckily the woman that was monitoring him was really busy and didn't notice that he went about 25 minutes over the time limit for the test or else he would have failed. and we would have had to pay the fees again!

Also, his driving test was really funny. it was pretty easy, but at one point the police officer in the passengers seat yells "STOP THE CAR!!!" he scared the sh!t out of me and my husband. i guess he had seen someone driving a car that he had FAILED earlier that day (imagine failing your driving test and then driving past the RMV later?? ballsy). he gets out of the car and makes the man call someone to come pick him up. the police man gets back in our car and rants about it the whole way back to the RMV, but thankfully passed my husband...

My husband drives slow, too. I keep telling him, little faster, little faster. His other problem is braking. He brakes too hard. So far he's only driven about a mile up the road and back. I think I make him nervous when he's driving. I know he makes me nervous when he's driving. He didn't really drive back home. A couple weeks before coming here his friend would take him to Alex to practice driving. I woulda been a nervous wreck with him behind the wheel in Egypt. Thank God it was his friend with him and not me.

I'm starting to want to throw up thinking about flying again. I dont' know why but I just looked at recent reviews of Alitalia and they all sucked.

My biggest fear, aside from crashing and dying, is that I'll miss my connecting flight home. I"m not scared about going there but coming home I know I'll be soooooo stressed out to see my kids and I don't know what to do if I miss my flight. Didn't have to worry the last time since my layover was 8 hours and plus it was British Air which I felt safe with. This time the layovers are 3 1/2 hours but I have been reading that they cancel trips willy nilly and that they're usually an hour late or so taking off.



The other reviews I can deal with like poor food, poor service, old seats, etc. Just get me there in one piece and on time is all I ask.

I actually don't envy you! I did a kitchen remodel myself with the help of some of my uncle's subcontractors. We gutted out the kitchen and I sanded down the cabinets (they were a dark color and I was going to paint them a creme color. I was blowing saw dust out of my nose for at least two weeks. We retiled the counters and then had to seal them and cover them in plastic for about 2-3 weeks. I stepped on nails and had to step over cans of paint. At lots of takeout during those three weeks. I still remember getting dinner from KFC and they forgot the "spork" so I had nothing to eat my mashed potatos with...so I grabbed a paint stirrer and ate them with that.

I wish you all the best....here's hoping it's as quick and painless as possible.

But when it's all done, I'm sure it will be fantastic!!!

My best advice to you (wish I would have done this sooner during my remodel) was to get a box and keep paper plates, cups and plastic eating utensils. Oh....and a candy dish filled with Valium! You should be set!!!!

AGH!!!! How are you keeping your sanity???

I have sworn a promise that if I were to EVER buy a house that needed remodeling, it would a) be done before I moved in or I would go on vacation or something until it was done.

I've been relandscaping my front yard, but I can just go in and leave it at night. I feel for you...I REALLY do!!!!

that is TOOOO FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!

When I first met Hicham, he had this Nissan Sentra. I mean to tell you there wasn't a place on that car that DIDN'T have a dent. After reading some of your comments about how your SO's drive...I think I'm beginning to understand. Oh, I hated that car. Talk about a piece of crap car! Anytime we went anywhere, I always offered to drive!!!

That one pretty much takes the cake as BEST NEW DRIVER STORY EVER !!!!

I've flown so much in my life, but still get a little apprehensive when the time comes to make the "big" trip over again. I always try and keep in mind that thousands and thousands of planes take off everyday and they get safely to their destination. You actually have more of chance of being killed in a car wreck than a plane crash... That's real encouraging, huh?

Just think how WONDERFUL it will be to be with you LOVE!!!!!!!! That always get's me through!

well I want to teach my husband how to drive... I remember my first trip to egypt.. We had a rental- stick shift.. He tried to move the car down the street.. lol... we were jerking back and forth.. jamming on the breaks.. LOL.. I was sooo scared.. SO i drove after that ... and yes my driving skills fit right in . BUT i will need him to help.. and especially if we take a long road trip.. I'd love for him to help

He had a car maybe 10+ ago... but ever since he had the buses and etc

I'm sure your Boston driving fit right in!!!! I swear you took 10 years off my life!!! lol


So tell me again how Alitalia is safe and reliable.....

driving is necessary in southern california. once its time for my fiance to drive on his own i will go to costco and buy him a GPS! well worth the $350! its soooo easy to get lost here, i don't want to hear a "welcome to nevada" phone call! lol

hahaa.. well I have Never had a problem with alitalia.. the plane from italy to cairo was on the slightly older side.. but it was fine.. It seemed like every meal I had was the same - but then again.. I got a vegetarian meal. The first time home I was pulled aside with security and Grilled in Rome (so now I only fly out of Milan) they "detained" my bags and had to confiscate that big, bad box of chocolates my inlaws were sending for the kids.. the couple hour layover was prefect.. never a problem.. and getting a snack in Milan was EXCELLENT... the best cannoli's.. I WAS trying to save one for my mom on the way home.. but it seemed to disappear



edit
HEY!!! i just noticed this

"I'm sure your Boston driving fit right in!!!! I swear you took 10 years off my life!!! lol "

I was That bad??!!!

nah, I'm definitely worse. Wanna see my insurance premium???!!!


leave the gun and take the cannoli!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

*drool*. did any of you see that contest on foodtv for people to come up with a new ice cream flavor? one of the finalists was cannoli flavor! YuM!!!

Have you ever tasted Ben and Jerry's Holy Cannoli? Yumm! I dunno if they still make that flavor or not as it's been a few years since I've eaten it.

I'm still looking for this is "so yummy but won't make your a$$ big" flavor!!!!

Looks like Holy Cannoli is in the Ben and Jerry's flavor graveyard

http://www.benjerry.com/our_products/flavor_graveyard/

They have some other yummy looking flavors in there... i wonder if they'll ever bring them back from the dead

They've got some good ones out there still though! Brownie Batter, yummmmmmm..... their flavor generator is fun too!!!

anyone have a cold stone creamery near them?

Apple Pie a la Coldstone is BETTER THAN SEX!!!!

http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/icecream/..._creations.html

oh man... i have purposely never been to a cold stone because i know that i would never be able to stop.

each year i get closer and closer to caving in...

we have one right near my office at work!

Thankfully I don't go that often.

I have a Coldstone near me but have never been. I do have a bogo coupon for there so I may be going in the near future. Everyone I know raves about it.

I never noticed chocolate peanut butter cookies dough was GONE!!!!!!!!

they used to have a chocolate shorbet.. very good.. they killed that too.. it was heavenly for the Vegans!

I have a coldstone near me... I was there once... but i was overwhelmed by the options...

a friend said the brithday cake one was great too

i hate coldstone!! not because of the combos ( LOVE that mix-in idea!)but the texture of the ice cream isn't nearly as good as haagen daaz and ben and jerrys! its kinda gummy, imho!

doodle- i flew with alitalia in dec from beirut to toronto.....i had a 5hr layover, turned into a 6hr layover..it was dec tho. i made it safely. the bags took forever coming out in toronto tho. the planes indeed are old, and the seats and all that, and i didnt like the service...but the take off and landing were nice...good pilot i guess thats all that matters......and well a good plane lol..


i am flying Royal Jordanian again...i like them, the entertainment sucks, and i got sick on the food, but its a semi direct flight for me and the price was right. plus the airport in amman is smaller so i wont get lost lol. 7 more days til i leave!!!

didn't you puke your guts out that whole flight w/ alitalia???

Happy Tuesday...

I miss Ben & Jerry's Bovinity Divinity. It was my favorite I try not to eat ice cream much though, it's my vice. When I succumb, I go for sorbet. Haagen Dasz raspberry sorbet is really good. But it's not ice cream.

If anyone has read about my fly saga on OT, it's driving me BONKERS!!!! I don't understand how it's survived multiple spritzings with bleach, ammonia, and even EZ-Off-Bam

those damn NY flies are mutants of some kind!!! lol

ice cream is my vice too... i've learned to love non-fat versions, even splenda versions are not bad in a dire need for ice cream!
you should try the haagen daaz raspberry sorbet/vanilla yogurt swirl. its awesome!!!

are you seriously gonna have to wear abaya's / hijab out there??? your not even muslim. Is it really a requirement? (why does the spelling of that word not look right....)

Ive seen pictures with non covered woman in Saudi


MmmmmmmmmMMMMMM.. I have the most fantasic Haagen Daaz chocolate shake when I was in Amsterdam!!!!

I think Cold Stone is the bomb!

Monkey Bites - yeah baby!

i hope ur travel is hassle free...made me chuckle though and recall my trip back from Egypt, first I didnt factor in that I needed to recheck my baggage in NY so I only had 1 hour when I got to NY for my connecting flight..so picture this...it is so hot no a/c...I have all my bags and all the things I am carrying on - - I am running like a mad woman to catch my flight almost colliding w/ppl my bags are turning over and flipping...I get to the check on and finally get my bags back on..they let me through security fast (15 min to flight and counting) I stupidly wear a belt so I have to take this off (pants are a lil on the big size) so of course I have cool sandals that I need to untie to take off and retie tham half-assed becuase i dont want to miss my flight..so i forget my belt i am running to my gate, my shoes are not on tight they are slipping, my pants are falling so I am holding them..I am sweating like a stuffed pig because it is so hot...and I am moving like a bat out of hell...and get to my gate and they say, ur flight is not boarding yet...What?? OK - so after all that i wait 5 hrs in NY and I am freaking out because my car is at the bus station, the last bus out of Boston leaves at 915 and my flight is delayed until 9pm..it has been almost 24 hrs since I left Cairo and I am thinking no way am I sleeping at the airport - - I will pay whatever I have to get out of there..so long long story...we finally board the plane I am biting my nails wondering if I will make it to Boston in time (we board at 7pm I think) of course we wait to be taxi to run way forever...when i finally get to Boston and get off plane, i have exactly 30 minutes to catch the bus...i run again like mad woman...find my bags...cant believe it...walk outside just as the bus is pulling in ....i was never so happy to see a bus driver in my life..i could have hugged the man...needless to say i made it home in about 27 hours (factoring in the time difference)..but i made it...hahaaaaa thought this could get a few laughs for everyone...hahaaaaa

dang! lol

Yeah i'm glad that the last leg of my flight is always a direct hit to Boston. I could never deal with transfering in NY. No way jose!!!!! I haven't even looked to see how long the flight is from Milan to Boston. I think it was only like 6 or 7 hours when i went to london but this must be a bit longer. At least it's overnight though. I'll just do some word puzzles until like 10, pop a few advan and then cork off until the morning. I'm going to beg for a discounted upgrade, though I don't know how often Alitalia does those.

yup 7 hours to milan... then 5 hours to cairo

We've got "mutant" crickets here in NC. I think some people call them spider crickets or camel crickets. They've got these huge legs that make them look like spiders. I live in an older house and when I moved in, a developer had just cleared a bunch of land behind the house to put in a new development. WELL, that apparently opened up the seventh hell portal of these dayum crickets. I was killing up to six a day. Even my neighbors said they had the same problem. I was the first to call Orkin...that was after I was laying in the bed one night and one started crawling up the wall behind my head. Needless to say...Orkin is still on my speed dial...but no more crickets.

I feel for ya.....I HATE BUGS!!!!