sara535

Congratulations on the job Olivia - a foot in the door is always a great step!

Happy Hump Day all.

I have become a slacker extraordinaire...... you know its bad when I dont even make the cookies LOL. we've all had a cold and I just cant seem to shake it, all I want to do is lounge. and drink tea. and watch cheesy reality tv.

I hope everyone is doing well and having a great day!

No, that's Booyah a.k.a. Heracles, and he doesn't have everyone, just everyone who isn't white.

Eric is the guy who talks about gay sex and his ####### a bit too much.

a bit??!

Welcome aboard, Amber

Good morning/afternoon/whatever everyone.

just hanging out with the kiddo today, hoping if I ignore that giant pile of laundry long enough it will just disappear. I'll let you know how that works out...

considering making some cookies this afternoon.

I don't think I've changed very much. I'm a better cook than I used to be. I'm no longer intimidated by spices. But I'm sure there are some changes I'm unaware of. I hope I have a broader understanding of many subjects than I used to, religious and otherwise.

that made me laugh. I totally hear ya on that!

My take on the whole thing is, any marriage or long term relationship leads to the lines 'blurring'. its inescapable that each of us are going to absorb things from each other - I guess thats been one of my favorite things about being in a crosscultural marriage. I've learned about and been exposed to an entire new world that in all likelihood I would never have been immersed in if it werent for my husband. I dont think thats a bad thing....

Of course there are some who take it too far and lose themselves in the mix but I hardly think thats exclusive to MENA relationships. I've had several friends over the years who 'became' their boyfriend-du-jour. My sister and I called them girlfriend chameleons.

(((Kelly)))

good afternoon all

quiet day here, the kids have some summer colds so taking it easy.

I have some old bananas so I think I will make a quick banana bread...

nothing else to report

Yes, of course it is. Christians have a history as bloody as the Muslims. There was a time when Christian leaders believed that God called them to war against "heathens". Christians have largely been able to come out of the dark ages and adapt to more humanist thinking by reinterpreting their scriptures. Most Muslims in the modern world are trying to do the same with the Quran. The problem lies with Muslims in predominantly Islamic countries who are forced by fundamentalist religious leaders to adopt a literal interpretation of the Quran. The seriously dangerous ones are the those who feel compelled to act on that literal interpretation. These are the guys, like OBL, who can commit the most heinous acts and quote Quranic verses that justify them. No doubt there are Christians who also quote the Bible for their behavior, like the nut job in Florida, but these Christians don't constitute more than a tiny minority in any predominantly Christian country. That's why a handful of people in a church in Florida can threaten to burn a Quran, or why a fringe Baptist group can stage protests at the funerals of US soldiers, and the majority of Christians think they're fruit cakes.

Guys like Jim Jones and David Koresh have a hard time recruiting followers who buy into their interpretation because a rational person could just as easily interpret the Bible the way most Christians do. Guys like OBL have it easier because of the way the Quran is written. Because many of the directives were contemporary at the time Muhammad received them, there is a lot less "he did" and "they did", and a lot more "you shall".

I agree.

I would just point out my own personal theory, in that I am not at all convinced that a lot of these 'leaders' even beleive what they say from a religious standpoint. Its all about the power, baby, and whatever it takes to stay on top...

and the closed nature of many of these countries, particularly in regard to freedom of information and differing opinons, just helps to further their cause.

Well it sounds like you know what you need to do.

I'm sorry things are working out like this for you but its probably better to take action now before he escalates it to violence against you ( or kills the cat..)

Tolerance is a two-way street. It can't be practiced on a single lane road. Muslims who live in the west are largely tolerant of other religions. The overwhelming majority WANT to live in peace with their neighbors. The relatively few "radicals" don't have any choice because they are bound by western secular law. Muslims who live in Islamic countries do not have this luxury. Intolerance is mandatory. The Quran requires it. Christians and Jews don't have to convert, provided they accept dhimmi status and pay the jizzyah tax. Polytheists and atheists have no choice but to convert or die.

so arent you saying right there that the intolerance is in fact influenced by culture and political ideology? if the Muslims in the west are tolerant and want to live in peace??

I'm sorry for getting so upset, I'm not saying that Lisa made a wrong decision or staashi for that matter. I don't even think I made a bad decision. It was everything that happened BEFORE that upsets me so much. The constant lying down. I got up for maybe TWO minutes, when I begged one of the nurses. That was on February 28, in the morning. Adam was born more than 16 hours after that and I was induced on the 27th at 6pm so I already had been lying down for about 12 hours. All I did was lay on my back. The whole c/s discussion hits home with me, maybe because I wish I could just brush it off like all the other moms and maybe because I wish I could say "I don't care how my baby was born, as long as baby is healthy". For me it needs a healthy mother to take care of a healthy baby. If mom ends up with depression or tries to figure out who to give the baby to cause she just doesn't want it right now then that's just not right in my opinion. I'm sorry for getting upset and maybe even stepping on other people's feet.

Eveline I dont think you are stepping on anyone's toes, we are all just sharing opinions and experiences in a very emotional subject. no mother is neutral about the birth of her child and if it makes you feel any better, when I delivered my son vaginally after 2 and a half days of labor, I had him at 1 pm and didnt even ask for him from the nursery until 11 pm. During the actual delivery I had two nurses leaning on my belly with their arms trying to push him from above, while I was throwing up off the side of the table. I BEGGED them for a C-section.

Needless to say, when it was over I felt like a truck ran over me. I couldnt sit without back spasms until he was 4 months old. So, yeah, I agree with what you are saying about a mom not feeling well, but it can happen under any circumstances. I used to cry when I heard my son crying because he was so big and my back hurt so bad sometimes I just dreaded picking him up (oh yeah, and I was a single mother from before the time he was born including during that awful labor).

well, I've done both C-section and vaginal delivery and I can say, being in labor for 55 hours and then having a huge baby pulled out with forceps was no picnic. I thought the recovery from both of them was difficult.

I've said this before and I'll say it again, its not that I am naive to the idea that some docs really do push unnecessary surgeries. however, until just a few decades ago, throughout history the number one far and away cause of death for women was complications in childbirth. Its just false to think nature knows best and all that 'you wont grow a baby thats too big for your body' etc. I know personally that a hundred years ago I would have died in childbirth with either or both of my kids. Sometimes medical intervention really is 100% called for, and I am grateful for it.

yes the travelling consulate has been here to CA a few times, and I know its been to dallas and to houston so for sure check out the schedule...

I'm a cooking/food blog addict

some of my current faves:

travelers lunchbox

good international recipes

pioneer woman cooks

some pretty basic stuff but shes super funny

desert candy

middle eastern stuff

Lisa I had a C-section too with my second baby and I thought the recovery totally sucked. I popped those pain pills like they were jelly beans LOL. but I agree, as painful as it is the best thing is to walk, or at least move around as much as you can so the gas bubbles have a chance to work themselves out.

the first week or so is hellish but it does pass, and hey, at least you have the baby to keep your mind occupied!

hes super super cute. I love the pic in the yellow blanket

5 sleeps til AOS interview ....something new, they are asking for 4 months of cell phone records. I use Cricket and he also has a pay-as-we go phone....grrrr it's always something to worry about. I will be so glad when this is over. My roller coaster ride has gone on for almost 3 years and I'm ready to get off and be done. Pretty cool Olivia and I will be 'done' on the same day

Jax

(Happy Eid~Ramadan is Rama-done!)

wow. thats kind of scary!

good luck, Jackie!

having a continual running thread is a good idea, as long as there's no bickering.

right

hi everyone!

welcome to the adjustment phase.

It does get better with time

I dont think Eric is going to die.

My husband got one from his local police office which covered all the cities he had lived in inside Morocco. I think the other localities thing is in reference to other countries of residence.

I know Jenn. I want to learn but time is now the real issue.

The words I know are exceptionally funny. I do know what my husband talks about with his family. I pretty good at guessing from intonation, etc. He is always amazed.

hahahah I do the same thing. sometimes Adnan says, "are you SURE you dont know arabic and you've just been hiding it all the time?"

happy Saturday all, its Caturday everyday at my house....

we've gotten a break this weekend from the hellish heat so I am actually not afraid to turn on the oven, I think I'll do some baking. or at least have a nap without being drenched in sweat

Hope its a great day for everyone !

Jeanne I love that mountain pic - I lived for years in NM and UT and I sure miss those mountains....

happy Thursday all

so, its been 105-108 here for like the past 3 or 4 days and then its supposed to be 80 this weekend? I'm certainly not complaining but doesnt that seem like drastic differences for August? oh well, I guess it means a good trip to the dog park for the beast, without fear of melting.

((((Kelly))))

Pregnancy hormones are a B**ch, its true. Hang in there.

I TOTALLY agree about the pampers smell, I thought I was the only one who ever noticed it. It almost makes me nauseous. Huggies all the way here....

Happy Birthday Mandy