Experiencing......déjà vu?
I get the uncanny feeling, I know you from somewhere.
Your voice sounds so familiar and I am so much at ease with you.
You know what I feel and you know what I like.
You complete my thoughts before I can put it into words.
Now that you are here, I want you to know everything about me.
Ooooh Baby! One night is all it took.
One click and I was hooked!
One call for me to see that
You're easily the one for me.
The One for me!
It is said that the feeling that one has been there before is often due to the fact that one has been there before. In our past lives did we know each other?!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
My Whirlwind Europe Tour -10th to 20th Aug (Copenhagen)
Continuing with my recent trip to Europe....
Next it was to Copenhagen that we went. Took the flight from the Schipol Airport which was about less than an hour and a half.
Copenhagen...beautiful city. As it was a whirlwind business trip didn't see much but what I saw...the pictures speaks of themselves.
The Harbour
The Palace Grounds
The Canal
An Anglican Church
Inside of the Church
The View......beautiful!
Next it was to Copenhagen that we went. Took the flight from the Schipol Airport which was about less than an hour and a half.
Copenhagen...beautiful city. As it was a whirlwind business trip didn't see much but what I saw...the pictures speaks of themselves.
The Harbour
The Palace Grounds
The Canal
An Anglican Church
Inside of the Church
The View......beautiful!Wednesday, August 27, 2008
My Whirlwind Europe Tour -10th to 20th Aug (Antwerp)
Continuing with my recent trip to Europe....
My colleagues and myself took the train to Antwerp....after a morning of hectic Buying. Another Supplier....another Buy for the next season. The train ride was uneventful with one colleague busy on his phone and the other reading a book and listening to some music on her ipod. I was more engrossed in the passing towns....countryside flashing past. The journey was about 2 hours from Amsterdam Central Station to the Antwerp Central Station.
Antwerp Central Station
Reaching Antwerp......tired, cold, sleepy.....we checked into "Crowne Plaza". For food we decided to go out of the hotel. There were a couple of suggestions for a nice restaurant......but we decided to go to the place which was a touristic favorite...."Shadow of the Cathedral". I guess the association with the majestic Cathedral that was there holds a fascination with all tourists hence the popularity. Unfortunately for us we were a little too late and the Chef refused to entertain us. We had to make do for our dinner that night in another restaurant in the same vicinity. The Tuna Salad with the French Fries on the side was awesome! The Cathedral looked real majestic in the night all lighted up. Unfortunately, my phone camera seems to have only captured my dinner! No photographs of the Cathedral!
It sure had a fancy sounding name in the local language for the "Tuna Salad"!
Due to our busy schedule, didn't see much of the city except the market when we were visiting stores. The old horse drawn carriage was a sight to see. Cheap and smoke free mode of transportation!
My colleagues and myself took the train to Antwerp....after a morning of hectic Buying. Another Supplier....another Buy for the next season. The train ride was uneventful with one colleague busy on his phone and the other reading a book and listening to some music on her ipod. I was more engrossed in the passing towns....countryside flashing past. The journey was about 2 hours from Amsterdam Central Station to the Antwerp Central Station.
Antwerp Central Station
It sure had a fancy sounding name in the local language for the "Tuna Salad"!Due to our busy schedule, didn't see much of the city except the market when we were visiting stores. The old horse drawn carriage was a sight to see. Cheap and smoke free mode of transportation!
Monday, August 25, 2008
A day from the pages of My European Buying Trip
Over wine and chocolates, we had the House Model try out clothes for us from the ones which we had selected. We sipped the delicious white and red wine and pondered over what styles would be right for our Middle East market. It was indeed a whole lot of hard work!
Spy me on the right hand corner in the above photo......working hard as always!
Spy me on the right hand corner in the above photo......working hard as always!
Friday, August 22, 2008
My Whirlwind Europe Tour -10th to 20th Aug (Amsterdam)
I arrived to a cold wet day...in Amsterdam. What a change from the hot and humid climate so prevalent at this time of the year....in this part of the Middle East....where I live currently. It was drizzling....I loved the wetness on my face.... hands, where the skin was exposed.
The Hotel where my company had booked in was lovely...centrally located and it overlooked the canal! The view from my hotel room window was breath taking! The sight of the water and the boats always does something to my sensibilities!
This was my second visit to the city.....once again a Business visit but this time I intended to see a little more of the city. The museums were a good place to start with!
The Van Gogh Museum was incredible. How can a painting move so much? Alone I listened to the audio guide as I did the rounds of the paintings. I wish I could just leave my job and paint whole day long. I finally got down to seeing Van Gogh's self portrait and his famous sunflowers.
The Hotel where my company had booked in was lovely...centrally located and it overlooked the canal! The view from my hotel room window was breath taking! The sight of the water and the boats always does something to my sensibilities!
This was my second visit to the city.....once again a Business visit but this time I intended to see a little more of the city. The museums were a good place to start with!The Van Gogh Museum was incredible. How can a painting move so much? Alone I listened to the audio guide as I did the rounds of the paintings. I wish I could just leave my job and paint whole day long. I finally got down to seeing Van Gogh's self portrait and his famous sunflowers.
The Rijkmuseum was another place that I had to visit! Amongst other artists it was Rembrandt that I was fascinated with.
Amsterdam....a city of canals! I just love being here!
Amsterdam....a city of canals! I just love being here!
Monday, August 11, 2008
My Palestinian Mama!
I had the window seat…. as always. Am off to Europe for nearly 2 weeks on a Business Trip. Looking forward to the trip? Yes and No. Yes, as Europe is beautiful! No, because I don’t know what would happen in my absence! Just worried… though I know the company will continue functioning! Silly me! That’s me!
It’s an 8 hrs flight to Amsterdam….it would be nice to have an interesting person sitting beside me…I thought to myself as I settled into my seat. The minutes ticked. Then an old woman was shown to the seat beside me by the Hostesses. She wore an “abaya” and had a blue headscarf on her head. She settled in....with not even a glance at me. Oh No! It’s going to be a long flight....I thought
The Captain announced the flight, their names and gave the usual basic information. We were going to fly via Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Some passengers would disembark while others would board. I wondered if the old woman was going to Dammam…..I asked her. No, she replied. She was going to "Amreeka".
Meet Mama Um Hadil. Mama is a Palestinian living here in this country where I am currently based, for more than 45 years. She has 5 sons and 2 daughters. Three of her sons and a daughter are in "Amreeka". She was going to visit them in St. Louis.
In her broken English and me with my "shoiya" Arabic (shoiya = little) we learnt more of each other....as we flew in the open skies. Mama's husband was a Teacher. Her youngest...a son just finished his College. She is a Sunni Muslim. No she does not want to go to Palestine as it is not nice. She likes the country she has unofficially adopted. Its been good to her.
She learnt a bit of me....where I worked and what I do. She wants me to come over to her place and spend time with her family. She took my number and said she would call once when she returns. She also took a small passport photograph of me! She is now my Mama....my Palestinian Mama!
# To Amsterdam 2305hrs, Sun 10th Aug
It’s an 8 hrs flight to Amsterdam….it would be nice to have an interesting person sitting beside me…I thought to myself as I settled into my seat. The minutes ticked. Then an old woman was shown to the seat beside me by the Hostesses. She wore an “abaya” and had a blue headscarf on her head. She settled in....with not even a glance at me. Oh No! It’s going to be a long flight....I thought
The Captain announced the flight, their names and gave the usual basic information. We were going to fly via Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Some passengers would disembark while others would board. I wondered if the old woman was going to Dammam…..I asked her. No, she replied. She was going to "Amreeka".
Meet Mama Um Hadil. Mama is a Palestinian living here in this country where I am currently based, for more than 45 years. She has 5 sons and 2 daughters. Three of her sons and a daughter are in "Amreeka". She was going to visit them in St. Louis.
In her broken English and me with my "shoiya" Arabic (shoiya = little) we learnt more of each other....as we flew in the open skies. Mama's husband was a Teacher. Her youngest...a son just finished his College. She is a Sunni Muslim. No she does not want to go to Palestine as it is not nice. She likes the country she has unofficially adopted. Its been good to her.
She learnt a bit of me....where I worked and what I do. She wants me to come over to her place and spend time with her family. She took my number and said she would call once when she returns. She also took a small passport photograph of me! She is now my Mama....my Palestinian Mama!
# To Amsterdam 2305hrs, Sun 10th Aug
Thursday, August 7, 2008
My Lebanese "Waasta"
My Lebanese "waasta"......"connection" in Arabic. Nay, my friend, sister and a colleague. C writes to me as she leaves for a short trip to Lebanon.
M,
I'm gonna really miss u, will think of you all the time I promise that I'll take you with me soon to visit lebanon. I'm happy coz u r there as a friend, a sister and a colleague.
I know that I'm not always the nice person but I'm sure that u know that deep inside i have a good heart and I love you.
Take care don't let others upset u whatever happened count on my support to you always.
Will keep in touch
Kisses
Good night
PS:- C got me this Band from her trip to her homeland. She got one for herself too!
M,
I'm gonna really miss u, will think of you all the time I promise that I'll take you with me soon to visit lebanon. I'm happy coz u r there as a friend, a sister and a colleague.
I know that I'm not always the nice person but I'm sure that u know that deep inside i have a good heart and I love you.
Take care don't let others upset u whatever happened count on my support to you always.
Will keep in touch
Kisses
Good night
PS:- C got me this Band from her trip to her homeland. She got one for herself too!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Long locks gone!
Feeling a little blue these past few days.....and having had a very expensive haircut...albeit a very nice cut I am told, has not cheered me up. The new cut I am told makes me look very stylish & sophisticated....but I am in no mood to look sophisticated....in fact I look anything but sophisticated. If you ask me, I feel I look a little lost...a little blue...and a little confused.
Well coming to my haircut....I never thought I would be getting a hair cut....it just happened. The young handsome Lebanese Hairdresser in Ritz Carlton was pretty charming and before I knew my long locks went under his scissors...snip...snip.. .snip and Voila!
Now here is a picture of me with my not so long locks but sort of long locks....before the haircut. This picture was taken just 19 days before my haircut! People did like my long hair....they really did. I even had strangers complimenting on it!
And here is the longest length that I have ever had so far in my life. This was just before I came to the Middle East.
I want long hair...I really, really do. Being an Air Force Brat, I have always had a short haircut! I have been trying to grow it...but on days when I feel I look totally from the country....I head straight to the salon! I need to look nice! I want to look nice! I wonder if I will ever have long, long hair as I have always wished....the length of my hair keeps fluctuating from just below my shoulders to mid waist...to waist....and back to below shoulders....and then growing it back!
Well coming to my haircut....I never thought I would be getting a hair cut....it just happened. The young handsome Lebanese Hairdresser in Ritz Carlton was pretty charming and before I knew my long locks went under his scissors...snip...snip.. .snip and Voila!
Now here is a picture of me with my not so long locks but sort of long locks....before the haircut. This picture was taken just 19 days before my haircut! People did like my long hair....they really did. I even had strangers complimenting on it!
And here is the longest length that I have ever had so far in my life. This was just before I came to the Middle East.
I want long hair...I really, really do. Being an Air Force Brat, I have always had a short haircut! I have been trying to grow it...but on days when I feel I look totally from the country....I head straight to the salon! I need to look nice! I want to look nice! I wonder if I will ever have long, long hair as I have always wished....the length of my hair keeps fluctuating from just below my shoulders to mid waist...to waist....and back to below shoulders....and then growing it back!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Craig's List?!
For want of doing anything better...a choice between watching the "Chipmunks" (DVD) and surfing the net after my daily dose of some news/views and stray mails...I chose the latter and here I am at.....craigslist
A great site for local classifieds, for jobs, housing, personals, community, services, events, etc. The discussion forums too are quite interesting....provided you choose the right topic! Yes, one would need to choose the correct topic but as we do not know what is right/appropriate for us (so it seems!), we have many of the topics including the Personals blocked....in the country where I live currently. Nevertheless it is still very interesting! And if you really, really had time to kill and needed a bit of ha-ha-hee-hee...there's the jokes section that you could go to!
Check it out for yourself!
A great site for local classifieds, for jobs, housing, personals, community, services, events, etc. The discussion forums too are quite interesting....provided you choose the right topic! Yes, one would need to choose the correct topic but as we do not know what is right/appropriate for us (so it seems!), we have many of the topics including the Personals blocked....in the country where I live currently. Nevertheless it is still very interesting! And if you really, really had time to kill and needed a bit of ha-ha-hee-hee...there's the jokes section that you could go to!
Check it out for yourself!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
If you love something....
Yes, I truly believe in...
If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was. We do not possess anything in this world, least of all other people. We only imagine that we do. Our friends, our lovers, our spouses, even our children are not ours; they belong only to themselves. Possessive and controlling friendships and relationships can be as harmful as neglect.
The other night, I was chatting....chatting with a friend....having a rambling discussion about this and that. It would be nice to have someone who would be there for you....to ask how you were doing....and reassuring that everything was going to be alright....when things look bleak and my rose tinted glasses gets blurry. Yes, it would be nice....real nice.
However, I am never ever going to compel anyone into doing anything for me...being there for me....nor am I going to ask, ever. This should be because they want to....not because they have to. I am the kind who knowing a friend is torn between me and another would move away so that he can make his choice....without having him feel guilty.....
Yes, if you love...like...care....set it free....
If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was. We do not possess anything in this world, least of all other people. We only imagine that we do. Our friends, our lovers, our spouses, even our children are not ours; they belong only to themselves. Possessive and controlling friendships and relationships can be as harmful as neglect.
The other night, I was chatting....chatting with a friend....having a rambling discussion about this and that. It would be nice to have someone who would be there for you....to ask how you were doing....and reassuring that everything was going to be alright....when things look bleak and my rose tinted glasses gets blurry. Yes, it would be nice....real nice.
However, I am never ever going to compel anyone into doing anything for me...being there for me....nor am I going to ask, ever. This should be because they want to....not because they have to. I am the kind who knowing a friend is torn between me and another would move away so that he can make his choice....without having him feel guilty.....
Yes, if you love...like...care....set it free....
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