Cocoz NotSoPrivate Thoughts

From Mother Theresa

2010-01-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

People are often unreasonable, Illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some trueenemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Written By Mother Teresa

Undelivered Letter

2009-12-22T18:09:00.003-05:00

I’ve been thinking of you lately so strongly and how I wish I could call or see you and know why.

A few days ago while sitting to watch TV, you came to my mind and my tears fell alone when I remembered. Saturday evenings used to be fun from the moment we’d start helping mom in the kitchen preparing for dinner and waiting impatiently for the others to arrive. And the few words I always loved to hear “go call Ammo Jihad and tell him not to forget the small koussa” or “… tell him not to bother with the koussa, I got them here” or “… ask him when he’ll be here” This meant that our evening is going to be happy and fun. I loved your smile, the sparkle in your eyes when you greet us, your sweetness, your jokes even those I didn’t understand at the time. I loved the look on your face when making fun of someone. You were a real personable person, a true friend and one of the family that we hold close to our hearts forever.

Tonight at Our Lady of Assistance, listening to a Christmas recital, the thought of you came as real as feeling you next to me. Christmas is here, and I’m oceans away from my family, yet the only one I’m missing the most this year is you. Or maybe I feel you so close that you are in my mind front and center? Is there something you wish to tell me by being so close these days? Or do I need you that much that I’m thinking of you more than ever? Or is your ghost living in this house and this is how I know you’re here?

I’m writing this and I know you are not “alive” to read it like people do, but I sure hope you can read my heart from wherever you are, and I hope you know that I miss you soooooooooo much and that I love you… always did and always will. There is no way you can be forgotten, MY Khalo by heart, not by blood.

Merry Christmas Ammo Jihad. I am so sorry for Anastasia who will not get to know the wonderful person that you (were) are.

My daughter the singer

2009-07-22T14:53:00.001-05:00

My baby has got taste in music and she has a bright future ;)

June 7, 2009

2009-06-03T04:40:00.006-05:00

It's a big thing after all! It is every adult citizen's right and duty.

This is the first time I experience it here in Lebanon and frankly I'm kind of getting annoyed by it. I cannot wait for June 7th to come to stop hearing about it.

I don't understand masalan, how a visit to congratulate new parents on the arrival of their daughter triggers a political conversation about voting, who said what and who is better than whom, and who we SHOULD vote for.

It feels like the huge billboards on the roads got even bigger with the campaign ads. Some of them don't make sense, and the best are the ones copied from an opponent's idea. No thinking required. That shouldn't have required a huge budget for marketing and advertising. Bravo! What a great money saving strategy! Money spent otherwise on other unthinkable actions like more billboards or paying voters or whatever annoying and disturbing action.

Radio and TV ads (at least the one I heard and saw) are a bit more conservative and targeted to the general public. They sound like they are made to encourage people to vote in general, no matter who they would vote for. That's great! The real funny one is that Xtra radio ad campaign... Only in Lebanon a beverage becomes a candidate in the governmental elections! I would maybe vote for it, if I know what it is made of :)

What are really annoying are two things actually.
First, people who try to TELL you who you SHOULD vote for. I might be of the same opinion, I may be voting for the same party but it is no one's business. Why otherwise would the voting experience be secretive and made behind closed curtains? Save the trouble of creating appropriate voting locations and do it by the raise of a hand, what's the big deal? Eh?

Second, some parties are paying money to Lebanese working and living abroad to come and vote for them. Where's the democracy in that? Why do some IMPORTANT people and parties have enough money to bring in people to vote and not spend it on Lebanon? Why do Lebanese in Lebanon have to pay an arm and a leg to have clean water, electricity and other necessities, drive on streets more like dirt roads, and sell their kidney to put their kids in schools, and be told that the national deficit is such, when there are IMPORTANT people with ENOUGH money to cover the national deficit and make life easier on EVERYONE? Wouldn't they earn enough votes had they done some good on the ground instead of having to beg people abroad to come and vote for them? Did these political figures with big money want justice and democracy in the election exercise; they would have worked on allowing the Lebanese living abroad to vote from outside the country. What is a better reason to have an embassy or a consulate than to facilitate the practice of ones duty towards their country? Just an opinion.

Looking forward to June 7, 2009; and see what happens after...

Welcome

2009-04-07T13:46:00.009-05:00

Saturday March 21, 2009

5:00 am, the water broke

9:00 am, we - mom, my best friend Jako, and I - went to hospital to check the situation

9:30 am, it was confirmed that the water broke and that we're going to have the baby "today", but the passage was not open enough yet

10:00 am, I was induced to see if I can still have a natural birth

10:30 am, Karam joined us in the hospital, back from a shorter half day work

11:30 am, the c-section was decided

12:30 pm, I was half frozen, in the OR, ready to get baby out into this world

12:45 pm, I saw this little thing held by the legs and minutes later I heard her first cry

3:00 pm, I saw my baby girl for the first time and fed her

Baby Anastasia is here!! She's healthy and ever so adorable!

What better gift can a woman ask for on Mother's Day than to become a mom to a beautiful gift from Heaven?

35 weeks

2009-02-14T04:39:00.004-05:00

As I feel her movements in my tummy throughout the day, I know that this is the point of no return. In just a few weeks, I will no longer be responsible for myself alone. My social status, responsibilities and priorities are changing forever. I will be called mom and will have someone to attend to, to care for and to love as much as there is love in me to give. Someone is coming to stay forever in my life and Karam’s.

This makes me feel so special and blessed, and at the same time scared to death. How will she be like? What will she look like? Will she like me and Karam? Will we be good parents to her? Will we know how to treat her the way she should to be treated? Will we give her enough love and attention, no matter what she does or says?

I see my belly sticking out, and I have images flashing in my mind of a baby learning to walk and trying to imitate what I say and do, or a little girl doing her homework or playing with her legos, or a young person asking permission to take the car to go out with her friends… It’s a long term relationship that will start in a few weeks with a crying baby so fragile and precious... and I only hope it will be a successful and loving journey.

It's been a while...

2009-01-30T09:23:00.006-05:00

Seriously, that long without blogging? And almost as much time without even reading blogs??? Shame on me!!!

Life has been on the move more than I would have imagined it to be. I don't know what to write about, or rather, I have nothing new to blog about. Life is the same here since July, except for my growing battoun, and I'm enjoying it most of the time, especially when I'm not at work and when I'm not driving.

Speaking of driving, I see this ad every morning on my way to work and it puts a smile on my face. There's nothing to it, but it shows how witty and smart those damn Lebanese people are :)))

Bilan 2008

2008-12-17T09:23:00.006-05:00

New Year’s in Montreal, with parents and family, covered with lots of snow.
Back to Toronto by Via train, I love the train ride, especially in the snow season!
Packed and shipped 19 boxes, or 2.2 cubic meters of the stuff I didn’t want to leave behind
Removed the braces on February 14
Left work at Dell in mid February. This was very hard…
Sold my furniture on Kijiji and through a house sale
Sold my car and what a pain it was to get rid of my Canadian freedom!
Almost got a nervous breakdown from all the stress of moving and leaving
Tante Mado had a family goodbye gathering at her house for me
Slept in my empty apartment for the last few days before I left it for good
Left Canada on February 28 to Beirut. One way, via Frankfurt on Lufthanza with 4 suitcases of 32 kilos each, along with a wedding dress and a handbag of 10 kilos
Landed in Beirut on February 29 in the afternoon, to be greeted by Karam, Khalo Georges, and Karam’s cousin Fadi. Karam’s mom was also there, waiting in the car outside.
Spent a month and a half trying to set up the old apartment in preparation for the family’s arrival for the wedding, looking for wedding related stuff, putting up with bullshit from future-mother-in-law and uncle’s wife
Big thanks especially to Gisèle, Simo and Thérèse, for their presence and their help. It kept me sane and composed...
Jano Habbouche, our next door neighbor, passed away 17 days before the wedding
Parents, brother, uncles, aunts, and cousins arrived for the wedding and vacation, one after the other.
Abdallah Tohme, my dearest non-family uncle, passed away 10 days before the wedding
Almost had another breakdown and almost broke off the wedding, if it wasn’t for the family support around me.
Had to change my Maid of Honor, who is Ammo Abdallah’s niece. So in 10 days my cousin Hyame had to have a Maid of Honor dress made and stand by me, as she always do
Had to change the bride's house, and get the party going at Tante Mado's house instead of the family house
Had the wedding, mine and Karam’s, on Saturday May 3rd
Huge thanks for Khalo Maroun's support, for his help and for running around with me to finalize the last details of the wedding.
Huge thanks to all my family who are always supportive and ready to do the impossible to get things done the right way
Claude Farah, Père Jean Farah’s mother, passed away in May
Nada Khoury’s father passed away in May
Bought a car in late May; a nice Kia Rio sedan.
Georgette Achkouty, my original Maid of Honor’s mother, passed away on June 12
Started a job on June 26, at Al Waseet, in the online business
Karam and I established residency in Zouk instead of Harissa, in the same house where I grew up
Got pregnant at the beginning of July. We confirmed it for the first time on July 19.
Luke Nabil Antoine Bakhache was born on October 17, and I became “3amto Coco”!
Bought furniture and made curtains for the house, so it started to feel like home
Learned that the baby I am carrying is a girl, on November 10. Waiting for Anastasia in late March inshalla
3 more people in the neighborhood passed away in November and early December...
The real highlights of the year are:
1. seeing my daughter move and grow at every doctor's appointment, and feeling her movements in me,
2. marrying Karam, the best husband I could have ever asked for,
3. being back in my beloved homeland, Lebanon.
And as an added bonus, I got to live again in the house I grew up in.

Quote of the Day

2008-12-03T06:25:00.006-05:00

A baby will make love stronger,
days shorter, nights longer,
bankroll smaller, home happier,
clothes shabbier, the past forgotten,
and the future worth living for.

- Author Unknown

Happy Independence Day, Lebanon!

2008-11-22T03:26:00.003-05:00

على حبك ما في حبيب

Anastasia

2008-11-11T15:16:00.008-05:00

Here's her pretty face as she moves
under the pressure of the Ultrasound machine

She's probably laughing at us because
thus far we thought she was a boy

She's waving to mom & dad who can't wait
for her to grow full so they can see
her pretty face and hold her tight.

On the road, here and there

2008-10-26T09:53:00.006-05:00

HWY in Lebanon

vs.

HWY in Canada

Of Canada

2008-10-23T04:32:00.008-05:00

Ok, so it is weird that I don't miss Canada at all. But before you get too excited, let me tell you that this doesn't mean that I will pick up and move back at any given time, or that I'm nagging about the life there vs. here, even if there's a lot to say when one wants to compare.

I definitely miss my parents, my family and my dear friends there. Thank God for the Internet that keeps us virtually close and in touch!

But of the things in Canada that I miss, here's my list:

IKEA stores, their furniture, their $1 breakfast, and their Swedish meatballs lunch
Niagara Falls, one of the most beautiful places in Canada that I have visited
Long distance driving, between TO and Mtl, or up north on HWY 400 or the 404
SPACE between cars on streets and highways, BIG TIME!!!
My job at Dell, and the team of wonderful funny people I worked with :)
Warehouse stores, especially the ones in Cookstown, Vaughan Mills, and on Eglinton Street
Roots warehouse stores and their comfy cotton clothes
Pumpernickel and Rye breads (I can't believe I can't find that in Lebanon!)
Update: Karam found it today (28/10/08) in a Russian store, and it's called Russian bread LOL
Authentic Indian food, especially that little store beside the Dell office
Downtown Montreal and Old Montreal in the summer time; walking there is great, day & night

I can definitely live without these things and places, but can't help but miss having them close by, from time to time, that's all :)

Life here

2008-10-08T13:46:00.004-05:00

I came to realize that we, the people of Lebanon, are being spoiled el maximum!!
We cannot live without AC if it's a bit warmer outside,
we cannot live without electricity for a few hours,
we cannot manage without water for a day or two.
We cannot clean the house ourselves,
we can definitely not raise our kids alone.
We cannot live a minute without a missed call, a phone call or an sms,
we cannot pack lunch to work, or cook a decent meal like our mothers used to.

We now have the water truck, the electricity generator, the live-in maid, the cleaning lady, the delivery even for the simple morning man'ousheh and the arguileh, the satellite dish that brings us channels from everywhere else.

True water and electricity are the basics of life, but by paying for extra help in these areas, we are definitely not helping solve the problem of being strangled by such mafias.

We pay an arm and a leg for cell phones and units, yet we cannot be separated from this nasty machine, and for what? Which emergency makes it so important to carry it so preciously?

A nanny to take care of our kids? Are we for real? How do mothers have the heart to give away that special love and bonding to a foreigner?

We cannot clean our own houses anymore? Why? Do we live in palaces all of a sudden that we need help cleaning the 38 bedrooms, 42 bathrooms, 14 salons, 9 living areas, 5 play areas, not to mention the 4 kitchens? Give me a break! The apartments are much smaller than the houses our mothers and their mothers used to care for.

All these things, except for water and electricity, are considered luxury, even in the developed countries, where the economy is 99% better than here and where the government, even if spoiled, gives the citizens their rights to the fullest.

I mean, how come we accept to live sucking pollution in our lungs from water generators, trucks, and old cars, day in day out? How come we accept that we are not covered by any basic insurance for dental care yet it's ok to have loans for plastic surgeries? How come we drive nice imported cars so proudly yet we accept that our gasoline is still not clean enough not to ruin these babies? How come we allow ourselves to drive like animals in the fields - without rules - when we are so careful about following and applying foreign fashion and "savoir vivre" (men gheyr sharr) so religiously? How come we allow ourselves to wear, eat, use imported goods and talk about the bad economy of our country?

I have more but I am tired... Just worried about my kids' future in this polluted atmosphere. Pollution in their lungs, in their ears, in their eyes, in their attitude...

Was it a curse to have lived abroad or a blessing to have known the difference between what's right and what's wrong? In any case, I'm staying, even if I keep nagging :)

Familiarity is good

2008-09-26T05:51:00.005-05:00

The best feeling in the world is when I see and hear things that look and sound friendly, like

the mountains of Lebanon peeking at me from behind the buildings on my way out of the office building
driving by the sea side and seeing the excitement or calm of its water
Our Lady of Lebanon looking at me from the mountain top when I’m driving home from work
Jesus the King greeting me with open arms either before I take the tunnel to work, or on my way back home after a hectic day and traffic jam
majestic mountains and valleys that go along the way when we drive anywhere beyond the seashore
old Lebanese stone houses, with or without red rooftops, deserted or still well maintained
older city buildings with old wooden window shades and large windows and balconies
church bells at sunrise, noon, sunset, and on Sundays
the full moon over the mountains. It is surely closer and brighter here, no exaggeration
the little lights in the dark sea at night, fishermen at work
Sunrise over the mountains and sunset in the sea...

All these scenery remind me why I am attached that much to my country and why I decided to came back without even thinking of a plan B.

Thank Heavens for Lebanon, for being Lebanese, and for returning back Home! :) (do I sound like a broken record yet? ;) )

يا لطيف الأدب العربي شو عويص

2008-09-22T07:40:00.006-05:00

The company is legitimate, and so is the ad...
But the Arabic language is NASTY!!
This ad made me laugh with tears this morning...
Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame on me!! :)

What color is it gonna be?

2008-09-15T05:08:00.001-05:00

Two visits to the doctor's office now, the first one was to confirm that YES, there is something and here it is as big as a snow flake, white and attached at the side of a black hole, and vibrating. It’s been alive for approximately 4 weeks.

A month later, second visit to the doctor, the thing grew even more and is confirmed to be alive for 10 weeks now. And then there was a heartbeat; it is in my body but this time it is not mine. WOW, the thing is not only alive now but also has a heart of its own beating like crazy.

Of course I also have a lot of the known symptoms that tell me and remind me of the changes happening and that I’m not alone in this body anymore!

What an amazing feeling to know that there’s something alive and growing in my insides.
My whole life suddenly evolves around that, my diet, my health, my activities, etc. it is all in the first place for this new life’s benefit, way before it even pops out and shouts its first cry into this world.

"صبي ولّا بنت، شو أولك يا ربّي؟ حلوي كتير البنت والأحلى الصبي"

The New Wonder of the World

2008-08-25T04:11:00.001-05:00

Vote for Jeita Grotto as one of the new 7 Wonders of the World

Google at its best :)

2008-08-19T04:44:00.004-05:00

[12:28] C0C0: shou el ghada?
[12:28] MMMMMMMMM: bazella w rizz
[12:28] C0C0: yumm, betmarre2leh sa7en please?
[12:29] MMMMMMMMM: inteh shou ghadekeh?
[12:29] C0C0: sa7en salata khodra maslou2a w nayyen w sandwish labneh w za3tar taba3 el terwi2a
[12:29] MMMMMMMMM: ma byeshkeh min shi
[12:30] C0C0: no ca va.
[12:30] C0C0: balkeh ba3mil bazella w rezz bass oussal 3al bayt
[12:33] MMMMMMMMM: leish la2, bi 7ebba karroum?
[12:33] C0C0: eh akidement
[12:33] C0C0: unless it doesn't turn out right hahahahahah

So I went on Google to find a recipe and make sure my meal turns out yummy the way Karam and I love it. And guess what!
Better yet, try it for yourselves: Go to Google, type "bazella w rezz" in the search field, and check the first two results :))))

The only thing I'm missing is the spices that I should add. Going simply with salt and pepper.

ضجة ضجة ضجة

2008-07-25T08:26:00.006-05:00

عن جد كتير ضجّة بهالبلد!
هلّأ مثلاً بالشغل الموتير صرعلي راسي بهديرو،
وبالليل بصلّي تنقطع الكهربا تا ما يدور مكيّف الجيران، عا أساس الموتير بالحي أبعد شوي.
وعالطريق ما حدا بيريّح زمّورو...
ايه، مش بس عالطريق، بالحيّ كمان بيوصلو وببشرو الحي كلّو برجعتن السليمي عالبيت بالزمّور!
وعندكن أصحاب سيّارات الديسكو المتنقّلة يلّي بحبّو الحيّ كلّو يسمع جورج وسّوف معن، أو هيديك يلّي مش أنانيّة...
وفي الموبيليت تبع الديليفري يلّي صوتا بيوصل قبل منّا، وشو؟ انجأ مبيّنة بس تبيّن!
وبيجيه ليالي بيكونو شباب أو صبايا الحي حابّين يسهرو على باب البناية تا ما يبعّدو ويشغلو بال المُمّا والبُبّا وبيسهّرونا معن يا على أصواتن وقهقهاتن، يا على صوت الخليوي يلّي صار بيغنّي...

متل ما قالت صديقتي ماريلين هداك النهار: "تلوّث ضوضائي" وبالفعل لقيت معا حق!
إنّو لو بيتعذّبو وبيشغّلو فكرن نتّوفي، كانو بيوفّرو عاحالن مسبّات وعلى غيرن حرق أعصاب...
بس أهم شي المسبّات عا حالن...

Children without childhood

2008-06-28T16:19:00.008-05:00

I can tolerate power outages, lack of water, not having a decent Internet connection, gas and food prices going up, even clashes and explosions if this should happen again GOD FORBID! I can live with crazy stupid drivers on the roads, and people who take advantage of my ignorance of the "Lebanese way", thieves and liars. I will eventually get used to all the plastic and fake people, the nannies playing with the babies while mommies are home doing absolutely nothing more important. But there's one thing that I cannot accept, will not get used to and will never tolerate.

Most of you who live in Lebanon have surely been on the busy streets of Beirut and its suburbs and been approached by kids who want to sell stuff or simply beg for some loose change. Little kids of 6 years and up (I pray they are not any younger even). It really breaks my heart to see these little people with dark like dirt faces coming to the cars' windows and sticking themselves there trying to get money. This is simply NOT HUMAN, no matter where they come from and who they are.

These kids are innocent. I tried once to ask a kid to put a hat so the sun won't hit him, I don't think he understood what I was talking about, as if programmed to say certain sentences only or taught the ways of begging/selling and nothing else. Last week I offered a kid beggar a candy instead, he was no taller than the window of the car. How I wished if I could just hold him, hug him and take him to a safe and happy place.

Why are these kids on the streets? Why isn't anyone taking care of them? Where are the children's organizations and why aren't they doing something to spare these kids from the animals who are stealing their innocence and their childhood from them? What will become of these children when they become men and women of the world? Will they ever grow up to be any better? Will they know how to have friends, how to laugh, how to love and be happy?

Kids are supposed to be at home, cleaned up, well fed, educated and they are supposed to play, smile, and enjoy their childhood, not begging for money and put in the danger of busy streets. Something should be done about that, it is seriously very disturbing, to the point that it can be a good deed to steal these kids and take them home!!!

This is Life

2008-06-23T14:52:00.007-05:00

I've been here for 4 months that felt more like 4 years with all that happened in this very short period of time. From moving back home, to preparing my wedding and all the roadblocks and the stress involved in such a task, to getting the house ready for the arrival of my parents and the family visiting from North America. Add to those 2 funerals of people I know and love right before the wedding, which changed a few aspects of the wedding including the bride’s house and the maid of honor. Then our wedding came along and it was a beautiful day - Thanks to God. The honeymoon was caught short due to the troubles that broke out in different areas of the country. Thankfully the airport closure didn’t affect us much. And then came 3 more death of people I know in my hometown after the wedding, 2 major accidents of the neighbors - he heavily burnt his hand and slightly his face with electricity, and she broke her arms and ribs on an ATV ride that went wrong. On a brighter side, we bought a new car, and I found a job in my field, starting tomorrow...

I have never thought that life can be so unpredictable, precious, happy, bittersweet, sad, lucky, unlucky, and challenging all at once and is such a short time. If there is a word that describes best my feelings, it’s overwhelming!

But all in all, I am loving life in Lebanon. Every day brings a new surprise. Along with its power outages, its lack of water, its political chaos, its people’s crazy behavior - especially on the roads, and its economical problems, faith still exists in all religions and all people even the ones that don’t know it, we're having more Lebanese Saints, Our Lady has always Her Hands and Her Heart open for us at any given day, neighbors genuinely care and they are there for you when you need them most, the sun still shines every day, the birds sing every morning, the majestic mountains talk, and the moon is definitely closer here. 7amdella.

A New Beginning

2008-05-25T03:18:00.005-05:00

From Saturday May 3rd 2008, 9:00 a.m. until now, it has only been a blessing after another! All the heartaches and obstacles of the days before were all gone the minute I woke up on that morning, and hopefully it will only be bright skies from now on.

I still giggle sometimes when someone calls me “Madame” and even more “Madame Karam” but I love it. Karam is a wonderful man and I am very lucky. Lebanon is a great place to be and I am thankful to Our Lady of Lebanon and to God for it all!

Goodbye

2008-04-26T06:34:00.007-05:00

"Alla ma3ak 3abdalla" said Tante Mountaha yesterday right before they closed the box again and took her husband's body to his last place. I am sure that God is indeed with this wonderful loving caring man. A lot of people are going to miss his smiling eyes and his fresh and young spirit. I already miss him myself. At least I got to see him before he left this world and I had the chance to tell him that I am back for good to marry and live in Lebanon and god his blessings.

To his memory, I am posting again what I posted earlier... Goodbye Ammo Abdallah!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Abdallah Tohmé is a personality I grew to know and love in Zouk Mikael.

Abdallah Tohmé, husband of Mountaha and father to Najwa, Father Joseph, and Tony, is a handyman and a mechanic by profession. After his retirement, he worked the Nawl (weaving) and the Marsaben (marzipan), two of Zouk's famous handicrafts; and all through his life he had the hobby and talent of writing and saying Lebanese poems (asayid).

Abdallah Tohmé cared for me like one of his own children. As I wasn't dating any of his sons yet was always around his children, he gave me the nickname of seasonal-daughter-in-law (kennetna el mawsamiyyi). His smile was filled with a fatherly love and an affection that I have not seen in any other smile. He always had time to chat and hang out and have fun with me and his children. I dont remember ever seeing him angry or grumpy.

Abdalla Tohmé has been suffering from Multiple Myeloma for 3 years now and with God's will, he is still hanging on to life. I saw him last when I visited Lebanon in 2006 and I had no idea about his medical state. I saw a weak man, size less than half of the man I used to know, barely breathing and moving. Yet, when he saw me, his eyes were the same glowing loving eyes and his words, the few he could say were to tell me that "lots of people came to the Tohmé's lives and home, and that only very few left a trace, and that I was one of these very few people who will never be forgotten in this house".

On Thursday July 5/07, Abdallah Tohmé's family and friends are commemorating his poems in a book. Along with over 400 people of his closest friends and fans, Abdallah Tohmé's life is being celebrated.

This is a poem that Ammo Abdallah sent me in a voice letter (cassette) back in 1988, a year after I left for Canada. It's a poem he had written in his first letter to his family when he was working in Kuwait in 1956.

تركنا الأوطان وجينا بلكي الغربي تواسينا

تاري من جور الفرقة حملنا أكتر ما فينا

تاري من جور الفرقة

صرنا متل الشمعة ندوب
وزدنا عالحرقة حرقة

وغطّينا مصيبة أيوب
وساعات العمل غرقة

وبالليالي عيوني تجوب
تا تناجي النجوم الزرقة

الما في غيرا يناجينا
تركنا الأوطان وجينا

بلكي الغربي تواسينا
تاري من جور الفرقة

حملنا أكتر ما فينا

تركت الزهوة تركت الحيّ

والحب الكلّف بنيان
تركت الإم تركت البيّ

والإخوة وكل الخلاّن
عا صحرة ما فيها فيّ ولا شلاّل ولا غدران
يرطّب قلبي بنقطة ميّ ويغيّر طعم الكينا
تركنا الأوطان وجينا بلكي الغربي تواسينا
تاري من جور الفرقة حملنا أكتر ما فينا

قضّينا العيشة تفكير بين الصّالح والطالح
ما وجدنا باب التيسير ولا أشغال ولا مصالح
هجرنا ولبيصير يصير ولو دقنا السكر مالح
وعنا عزم وقلب كبير لفوق القمّة يعلينا
تركنا الأوطان وجينا بلكي الغربي تواسينا
تاري من جور الفرقة حملنا أكتر ما فينا

ربّي خالق للإنسان

فكر وقوّة وحرّيي
وخالقلو الكون العمران

والأشغال المسميي
مش لازم يبقى نعسان

يطمح ويحطّ النيي
ويجوب ببعض البلدان

البتحقّق أمانينا
تركنا الأوطان وجينا

بلكي الغربي تواسينا
تاري من جور الفرقة

حملنا أكتر ما فينا

ما هجرنا تا نجمع مال

حيث المدّة محدودة
هجرنا تا يرتاح البال

من هالفوضى الموجودة
ومتل غيري من العمّال بس حقوقي مفقودة
صعبان عليّ محتال بعد الشيبة يربّينا
تركنا الأوطان وجينا بلكي الغربي تواسينا
تاري من جور الفرقة حملنا أكتر ما فينا

واللّبناني بلبنانو يئسان ملبّك أفكار
عافل أهلو وخلاّنو وداشر بالأربع أقطار
وحكومتنا وأعوانو علينا لو كانت بتغار
ما بتخلّي سكّانو بالمطر يودّع قسم وقسم يودّع عالمينا
تركنا الأوطان وجينا بلكي الغربي تواسينا
تاري من جور الفرقة حملنا أكتر ما فينا

عبدالله طعمه - قصيدة كتبها في أول رسالة إلى الأهل سنة 1956 من الكويت

Mirror of my past

2008-03-27T17:08:00.007-05:00

Our neighbor Rita used to paint and do all sort of art work. One day, seeing the mirror she painted in her bedroom I asked her to paint mine. So she came and painted it while I pretended to study so Mom won’t shout at me.

On Friday March 27, 1987, before we left to take the boat out of Lebanon, I took a lipstick and added my personal touch to the mirror, leaving my trace.

21 years later, the mirror is still here waiting for me, just the way I left it!

"Good bye", a big smiley face (since I belong to Zouk Mikael), my signature “Clothilde Bakhache” with the date “27-3-87” and a few hearts. Some of these hearts had initials of people I ached the most for leaving. One of these intials is still clear, the one of the one who meant the most to my heart and who still does :)

كل حبة من ترابك قلب ولهفة ام تنادينا

2008-03-21T18:42:00.010-05:00

I wanted to write this post in Arabic bass the Arabic keyboard is still on its way to me, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

I have been in Lebanon for 21 days so far and it has been an amazing time, especially lately with the Holy week celebrations. Erba3it Yaacoub, Khamiss el Asrar, Ziyarit 7 kneyis, Samd el Erben, Darb el Salib in the village streets, Dafn el Massi7, Sabt el Nour and the church bells at noon then the Midnight Easter Mass, and Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. 21 years have passed since I last celebrated this Holy occasion in my hometown, the way I know it, the way I love it and the way I missed it…

During all these celebrations, I have seen most of my old friends and neighbors. 21 years passed since I have seen most of these people, and in these past few days, every time I smiled at someone and said “Mar7aba”, seeing their eyes open wide, calling my name “Clothilde?” or “Coco?”, smiling at me and hugging, was seriously the most amazing feeling in the world. Seeing them again, feeling the honesty in the way they greeted me erased all my years away, all my aches of exile and gave me back the love I was missing in my life... Today I am complete! I am back, as if I have never left!

Everything is back to normal, the mountain view from everywhere I look, the sea at the side of the highway just as it should be, the lights of the cities and villages in the hills at night, the snow on the far away mountain tops, the smell of nature, the taste of vegetables and fruits, and most importantly the good people of Lebanon. How did I survive without all that for so long?

How can one stand to be so far away from all these blessings? Did I mention the weather? The way it warms up to the sun, the blooming trees, the wild flowers filling the fields, the calm sea, the sun rising from behind the mountains and sleeping in the sea, the sound of the birds, the church bells and the prayers in the mosques? Even the honking passing cars, the neighbors calling each others from one house to the other as if there’s no one else between them, the kids playing and shouting in the streets… It’s all part of normal Lebanon. Lebanon is normal, Lebanon is beautiful just the way it is, Lebanon is my country, Lebanon is where I belong.

Today, March 21st, spring started with its sun hugging us with its warmth and comfort. Today I am blooming with the wild flowers in the fields. Today I am complete…

* Post number 100 *

2008-03-12T17:47:00.009-05:00

What better number to start posting about my new life than 100!
So let me start from the very beginning.

Thursday February 28, 2008, Lufthansa left Toronto Pearson Airport at 5:30 pm en route to Beirut via Frankfurt. It was one of the coldest days this year in TO. I didn't have any feelings really, even when I tried to think hard and reflect, nothing... maybe because I was exhausted and stressed for the past two months that my mind and body had no room for anything else. Snow over the CN Tower and Toronto with temperature of -21C degrees

It was still dark at 7:00 am when we reached Frankfurt. The stop there was short and sweet.
By the way, the plane from Canada wasn't the best, no individual screens, and by the time dinner reached my seat at 39A, I got pasta :( But the availability of scotch whisky made up to the lack of entertainment and food choices ;)

From Frankfurt to Beirut, seat 4A, first line in the economy section. We had to wait in the bus that took us from the airport to the plane, some hot shot needed to get in before us peasants. It was raining that day but temperatures much milder than what I left behind 8 hours before. The trip was more fun that the previous one and we were served tasty hot breakfast although the trip was only 3:30 hours. All Lebs in one plane = conversations and fun! We were like kids, knees on the seats and looking to the people in the back to talk and pass the time :)

Friday February 29, 2008, around 1:40 pmBeirut, the capital of Lebanon, in a warm sunny 21C degrees

Here comes Beirut, everyone was eagerly waiting to see this sight and get HOME. What a sweet feeling of truly belonging to one place, seeing familiar shapes and sceneries. I don't understand it sometimes; maybe I don't even need to.

At the airport, no questions asked at the customs, then another control of passports as a quick glance. I waited with a porter for 4 suitcases to show up. Hamdella, they all made it with me. A bit dirty a bit wet but all there.

Another control of passports and suitcases now lead me to the "teftish". What do you expect, a lady with 4 suitcases of 32 kilos each, claiming that they're all mine.

The "teftish" guy asked if they were all mine. "Yes" I answered, "I'm back to get married and stay here for good". His eyes open wide "For good" with a suspect look. "Yes" I replied with a nice straight teeth smile. "Do you mind if we open a suitcase?" he asked. "Not at all, which would you like to open?" And there goes one suitcase on the table, opened, checked. "Do you have new cloths", "Yes, jhezeh akid", "Any price tags on them?", "Shouldn't be, but maybe a few, I don't know". "Can we open another suitcase?" "Sure"... Same questions for the other suitcase. He reached a makeup case filled and heavy, "what's in this?", "my make up stuff" and I opened and showed him. He reached my new coat which still had a price tag. "I bought this one last week, didn't take the tag off it yet". Then he ordered the porter to help me close the suitcase and said "ma twekhzina". "No problem, God bless you for doing your job." :) I was really happy that my suitcases were opened. My country is safe!

Outside, Khalo and Karam were there. I kissed Karam but was too anxious to hug my Khalo. Couldn't hold back my tears! "I am finally home, not leaving you every again!!" Karam came with a lovely bouquet of red roses, and another good looking guy was smiling at me, turned out he's Fadi, Karam's cousin who was holding a bouquet of white flowers from Nohad, Karam's mom, who was in the car outside waiting to pick us up.

Beirut is crowded, driving is a chaos, the smell of pollution is very apparent, one could even see it at the horizon; something that needs some getting used to.

After a quick stop in Ain el Remmeneh at the Karam's for a quick lunch, we finally made it to Zouk Mikael.
HOME AT LAST!

Goodbye Canada

2008-02-27T23:37:00.000-05:00

Suitcases packed, apartment emptied. All set to go back home.

حب وابتسامة

2008-02-13T23:26:00.009-05:00

أنا وعم ضبضب أغراضي لقيت ورقة كنت كاتبة عليها هالكم جملة، كأنو إجوا بوقتن اليوم بأربعتعش شباط.

"جميعهم مرّوا وأنت بقيت..."

منذ عقدين ونيف كانت تلك العبارة حبر على ورق
وأمنية مراهقة لمستقبل أقرب هو إلى الخيال والحلم.
وها أنا أنظر إليك اليوم بعد فراق طويل،
وأشعر بالحنان والطمأنينة في عيناك.
هذا الشعور الذي طالما بحثت عنه في عيون الناس
ولم أجد سوى حنان مصطنع وطمأنينة مزيّفة
تناشد بحبّ الذات واستعباد الآخر...

آه كم اشتقت لتلك الإبتسامة البريئة الدافئة الحنونة!
تلك الإبتسامة التي ضمّمت جروح فلبي السقيم
وغمرتني بمحبّة لا حدود لها،
ما ذقت مثلها قط على غير شفاه...

جميعهم مرّوا وما خلّفوا وراءهم سوى الأسف والعار والألم...
وأنت الغريب الذي دخل قلبي صدفة منذ زمن بعيد
حوّلت حياتي إلى جنّة في حين كنت أتوجّه بها نحو هاوية الضياع!

من تراك تكون يا أيها الغريب الحبيب؟

NO WAY!

2008-01-27T22:49:00.000-05:00

I refuse for my children to grow up knowing
bombs, explosions, snipers, "khtout tamess",
tanks, road blocks, killing and war.

I refuse to have to get them out of harms way
into a strange land where they will either be miserable
or forget about their Lebanon.

But most importantly,
I refuse to give up on MY COUNTRY!!

32 days and we will meet again, my beloved Lebnen!

remember this?

2008-01-13T01:16:00.000-05:00

After a long day of packing my life in boxes, this old poem of Elia Abou Madi that we learned back in school came to my mind.

وطن النجوم ... أنا هنا
حدّق ... أتذكر من أنا ؟
ألمحت في الماضي البيعيد
فتى غريرا أرعنا ؟
جذلان يمرح في حقولك
كالنسيم مدندنا
ألمقتني المملوك ملعبة
و غير المقتنى !
يتسلّق الأشجار لا ضجرا
يحسّ و لا ونى
و يعود بالأعصان يبريها
سيوفا أو قنا
و يخوض في وحل الشّتا
متهلّلا متيمّنا
لا يتّقي شرّ العيون
و لا يخاف الألسنا
و لكم تشيطن كي يقول
الناس عنه " تشيطنا "
*
أنا ذلك الولد الذي
دنياه كانت ههنا !
أنا من مياهك قطرة
فاضت جداول من سنا
أنا من ترابك ذرّة
ماجت مواكب من منى
أنا من طيورك بلبل
غنّى بمجدك فاغتنى
حمل الطّلاقة و البشاشة
من ربوعك للدّنى
كم عانقت روحي رباك
وصفّقت في المنحنى ؟
للأرز يهزأ بالرياح
و بالدهور و بالفنا
للبحر ينشره بنوك
حضارة و تمدّنا
لليل فيك مصلّيا
للصبح فيك مؤذّنا
للشمس تبطيء في وداع
ذراك كيلا تحزنا
للبدر في نيسان يكحّل
بالضّياء الأعينا
فيذوب في حدق المهى
سحرا لطيفا ليّنا
للحقل يرتجل الرّوائع
زنبقا أو سوسنا
للعشب أثقله النّدى ،
للغصن أثقله الجنى
عاش الجمال متشرّدا
في الأرض ينشد مسكنا
حتّى انكشفت له فألقى
رحلة و توطّنا
واستعرض الفنّ الجبال
فكنت أنت الأحسنا
لله سرّ فيك ، يا
لبنان ، لم يعلن لنا
خلق النجوم و خاف أن
تغوي العقول و تفتنا
فأعار أرزك مجده
و جلاله كي نؤمنا
زعموا سلوتك ... ليتهم
نسبوا إليّ الممكنا
فالمرء قد ينسى المسيء
المفترى ، و المحسنا
و الخمر ، و الحسناء ، و الوتر
المرنّح ، و الغنا
و مرارة الفقر المذلّ
بل ، و لذّات الغنى
لكنّه مهما سلا
هيهات يسلو الموطنا

New Year’s Resolution

2007-12-30T14:30:00.000-05:00

I never understood the meaning or the use of it really. Aslan what does "resolution" mean? Wikipedia, help please!
“A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until the set goal has been achieved, although many resolutions go unachieved and are often broken fairly shortly after they are set.” For more, please visit this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_resolution

Ok so it’s a commitment that is often and quickly broken. So basically it’s not even a commitment. Could it be a wish, a piece of hope, a wishful thinking? I don’t know but to me it seems that I’m not missing much by not having a “New Year’s Resolution”. I mean it’s not making me any less of a woman . Ok good, I feel better now!

Frankly, I never knew what to think of it, and of course every year I’m asked the same question “What is your New Year’s Resolution, Coco?”
- “hmmm… be good, loose weight, drink less, be less bitchy, love people more, be more friendly, study, work well, find a new job, hate Canada’s winter less…” anything that pleases the audience's ears, but I never meant any of it nor did I work on resolving any of these commitments. Ok maybe the loosing weight sometimes, but only because I eat too much and carelessly during the depressing cold boring winter holidays season that I need to clean my system again.

2008, so many things happening this year that I don’t even need a New Year’s Resolution to occupy me with commitments. Let’s call these things New Year’s Resolutions for the fun of it, shall we?

Move:

Book my one-way flight back Home
Sell my belongings that are not going with me, including my ZEE70
Give away the things that are not worth selling
Pack and ship the stuff I cannot part without
Get back on the healthy track because I’m starting to feel the pain of junk in my system
Find a good replacement for me at work. I’m gonna miss working for Dell! :(
Do my taxes for 2007 before I leave Canadialand

Get Married:

Prepare the house in Zouk for the familia that is coming to the wedding
Help Karam in preparing our house for after the wedding
Help in preparing the wedding in May (the honeymoon not my problem)
Make sure the dress fits (maybe some loosing weight will be needed, we’ll see about that)

Start a New Life:

Get the official papers I need for my new life: ID card, driver’s license, etc.
Get a car and learn how to drive in Lebanon (or learn before buying a car, we’ll see)
Find a job, hopefully a good one and not in Beirut
Have kids or work on it at least :)

Live happily ever after:

This one is fiction, but fact remains that I’ll try to [live happily ever after] as much as possible. But most importantly work on not having to immigrate ever again in my life; and this is a damn good resolution I’d love to stick to more that any other.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 EVERYONE!

May you stick to your New Year’s Resolutions, fulfill your dreams and hopes and have a wonderful year that you deserve, with all the success and the love in the world. Remember that happiness is in your own hands and it can be found in front of your nose. Be happy and focus on the good things in life!

HAPPY PEACEFUL 2008 DEAR LEBANON!

يا يسوع

2007-12-24T16:51:00.000-05:00

يا طفل المغارة
وسع المغارة،

وطني بردان،
رجعلو الطهارة

تا يرجع منارة
بعتم الزمان،

ومن دفا عينيك
مسحو بالإيمان،

وبشر أهالينا
بميلاد الأمان

We Wish You

2007-12-22T15:59:00.000-05:00

Toronto 2007

May God Almighty bless you all and your families
with good health, happiness, prosperity,
and lots of friends and love,
during this Holy season and throughout 2008.

>>

2007-12-14T00:39:00.000-05:00

يا بلادنا مهما نسينا بربوعك نحنا ربينا

كل حبة من ترابك قلب ولهفة ام تنادينا

*******************

أيّ بذلٍ كان أعظم من عطاء الروح والدم

وشهيدٍ مات

إن تسأل لماذا مات، فاعلم

مات من أجلك يا لبنان، كي تبقي وتسلم

dead and deadline

2007-12-11T00:24:00.000-05:00

I started to write thoughts in a document a week ago and none of them made enough sense to be transferred here. However I feel like I need to write something ma ba3rif leych. So here I am, as I always do, after writing on the "brouillon" so carefully, I end up "copying" on "propre" something totally different.

Life here is very interesting these days. Everything has a deadline now.
I work with a deadline, pack my personal belonging with a deadline, go shopping with a deadline... A deadline to sell my stuff, a deadline to book my flight, a deadline to ship my cargo...

So far, I packed 2 suitcases of cloths and 9 storage bins of the personal stuff that I cannot leave behind. There's about 5 more suitcases to pack and another 9 bins maybe. I made a list of the things that need to be sold before the deadline. So things are rolling.

I still need to buy my one-way ticket home, and get a shipping quote and make all the necessary arrangements and paperwork related to that. Not to forget all the official stuff that needs taking care of like medical care, driver's licensing, tax returns... And finishing off bills, cancelling accounts and memberships, closing bank accounts, address change....

So far I've been very cheerful and happy about all this, because I'm looking forward to my new life and to being with Karam for the rest of my life, but goddamit I am getting tired, sleepless, with no time to exercise and eat right. Literally freaking dead.

Forty Six more days of work. Eighty One more days in Canada. And then I can enjoy thinking and preparing for my wedding and my life with Karam.

For now, sweet dreams Canada, good night North America, good morning Middle East, Have a wonderful day Lebanon!

p.s. [Dec 12/07] I didn't mean to jinx Lebanon. I was really wishing my country and countrymen a wonderful day and hoping for one :(

Welcome back Clo :)

2007-11-22T20:11:00.000-05:00

This is what happens when you go on vacation for too long in my office

chair, keyboard, mouse, phone hand set and base...

Aww! They miss me! :)

So I spent my first day back working in the coolest cubicle ever! ;)

One of the many reasons I love my job and my team...

Vacation 2007 and more

2007-11-09T12:36:00.000-05:00

21 magical days, 5 Canadian Provinces, and 2 major events :)

Vieux Québec, Quebec

Saint John, New Brunswick

Charlottetown, PEI

Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia

Coco, Koko and "Coco" the dog
at Chocolate Lake Hotel, Halifax, NS

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Official Engagement, Thursday October 25, 2007

Fairy Tale Wedding, Saturday October 27, 2007

The song of Life

2007-10-03T23:13:00.000-05:00

I’ve been lately beating myself over making the right choices. Especially about moving back home; the quality of life here compared to there. Child care, free medical care, free schools, safety, the activities and the adventures, the numerous possibilities here… The explosive situation there, the daily struggle to get things done, electricity, water, bills, schooling, doctors, the future that my kids will be doomed to have if things don’t change in their lifetime there, human and citizens’ rights, etc… Leaving a great job that pays great money here, which I’m never going to be making there…… YA ALLAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Add to this all this talking about fears and happiness and weird dreams, made me listen too deeply into my music tonight. Of course it was Fayrouz who talked to me. It’s always Fayrouz who says the best lyrics in the most soothing voice at the perfect timing. Her songs have been the best antibiotics to all the invisible and powerful aches and pains that I’ve been suffering these past 20 years, 6 months and 5 days (give or take).

She says:
Beshta2lak la be2dir shoufak wala be2dir e7kik
(I miss you; I can’t see you or talk to you)
Bendahlak khalf ettor2at w khalf el shababik
(I call you from behind the streets and the windows)
Bjarrib enni ensa, btesrou2 ennesyan
(I try to forget and you don’t let me do so)
W beftekir la2aytak, reje3li elli kan
(I feel that I found you, and I got everything back)
W tdi3 menni kell ma la2aytak…
(but I lose you every time I find you)

And I remember how many times I have had this same dream, nightmare rather, where I’m in Zouk, enjoying an activity with my friends, a stroll on the narrow quiet streets, checking the old school, or visiting the neighbors… And I know, in my dreams, that I am in fact dreaming; and pray and shout to PLEASE LET IT NOT BE A DREAM THIS TIME, PLEASE LET ME STAY HERE, but… I kept waking up because that’s all it was: a dream.

And then she says:
Ya khawfi eb2a 7ebak bel iyyam elli jayi
(I’m afraid to keep loving you for the days to come)
Et-harrab men nesyanak, ma ettala3 bi mrayi
(I avoid forgetting you, so I don’t look even in the mirror)
7absi ent, ent 7absi w 7orriyti ent
(you’re my prison and you’re my freedom)
W ent yalli bekrahou w yalli b7ebbou ent
(you’re the one I hate, you’re the one I love)

At some point in time, I told these words to a guy, but with time I quickly realized that although I loved that man, the words were not meant to be addressed to him. I just got confused I guess, preuve en est he’s not the guy I’m gonna marry soon. But the fact of the matter is that the one I think of when I hear Fayrouz sing is bigger than any man; and our relationship is much more complicated and deep than any normal couple’s relationship. You know now why I got confused, eh?

In a way, yes, life here is better and more comfortable and safe, and there are a lot of benefits that make it easy to raise a family and the children will have a better life, and no I don’t want to be selfish but tonight I have an answer and this answer erases all my worries.

Listen to this song, and tell me; if you feel that deeply about someone, and you know that they’ve been deeply engraved in your heart for that long, what are the chances that if you follow this love it’s not going to work out? I highly doubt it. Impossible. And the biggest revelation of the night, thanks to Fayrouz, is to have finally found the answer to “Why don’t you feel at home in Canada ya Coco, although you’ve been living here all these years?”

7absi ent, ent 7absi w 7orriyti ent
(you’re my prison and you’re my freedom)
W ent yalli bekrahou w yalli b7ebbou ent
(you’re the one I hate, you’re the one I love)

Because there’s a little dot on the map somewhere between Europe, Asia and Africa that heard my first cry, felt my first walk, tasted my first fall… A place that is bigger than any other in my heart and my soul, a country that gave me my blood type, my black hair, my dark eyes and my stubborn head. LEBNEN… This is the one I love, my first love and my last love.

Ana 7abbaytak 7abbaytak… Ana 7abbaytak 7abbaytak!
(I love you… I love you!)

So what about the quality of life? My kids future? My excellent job?

My countrymen who stayed and raised doctors, engineers, journalists, politicians, artists, shepherds, dressmakers, salespeople, policemen, soldiers, teachers, caregivers, mechanics, etc. are not any less important than I am. As long as we keep looking for happiness in the things we have, my family and I will have a great life. When Lebanon is the only “personage” that I see myself singing these love songs to, I don’t see why I should be miserable living the Lebanon life.

There is a reason God decided I should be born Lebanese …

Not suitable for children

2007-09-19T20:50:00.001-05:00

So in July 2006, my friend Elie visited from the US for a long weekend.
We celebrated Canada Day with the entire downtown Toronto population at the harbourfront and watched the fireworks, we toured Toronto and dawa7iha, and we made it to Niagara Falls; a trip that took 4 hours. It's usually a 1:30 hr trip, but it was the first long weekend of the summer, AND it was the Canada Day & 4th of July weekend!!

So anyways, we had a great day at the Falls. We got on the Maid of the Mist under the falls (my favorite part of the Niagara Falls experience), we walked and walked and rested on the grass, we watched a free concert in the park and walked some more until we were dead tired...

And then, on the way back, late at night, we drove by this big coach line, and then another one similar, wa iz we noticed something on the buses and we started laughing and laughing and making stories up.. we were definitely wide awake until we reached home !! :)

Ok, enough with my babling and this long useless prelude, take a closer look and you'll know what we were laughing about:

I'm not making this up walla! If you don't believe me click here.

"All rides are not created equal"
hmmmmmm, I guess I'll have to take their word for it!

???

2007-09-18T21:21:00.000-05:00

Life is on the fast track here these days; so many things, unusual things happening, all at once. Special visit, a wedding, an engagement, changing career path, and packing, moving, new lifestyle… It’s all exciting, overwhelming, charming, and somewhat scary.

Life that has been comfortable, well planned, and certain for so many years is about to change. A kind of change I was always hoping for and now that it’s here, I don’t seem to know what to do with it.

How?

When?

Why?

What if?

What if?

What if?

What if?

What if?

What if?

What if?

...........................

Bye Bye Summer

2007-09-09T22:25:00.001-05:00

Bye Bye MontréalSeptember 8, 2007

Georgian Bay Getaway

2007-08-28T22:16:00.000-05:00

So this summer, I decided that every sunny weekend I should be out, doing something different, relaxing and/or useful, and most importantly to be away from the computer screen and into the heat and sun. After all, this is probably my last Canadian summer (inshalla).

This is one of my getaways: Parry Sound.

August 7th

2007-08-07T10:54:00.000-05:00

Thank you!

2007-07-27T17:55:00.000-05:00

This is the kind of mail we lack of here in Canada, personal mail.

And this postcard is simply the best kind I can ever wish to receive.

Thank you to the so-far-anonymous sender!

Homage à Abdallah Tohmé

2007-07-04T18:23:00.000-05:00

Abdallah Tohmé is a personality I grew to know and love in Zouk Mikael.

Abdallah Tohmé, husband of Mountaha and father to Najwa, Father Joseph, and Tony, is a handyman and a mechanic by profession. After his retirement, he worked the Nawl (weaving) and the Marsaben (marzipan), two of Zouk's famous handicrafts; and all through his life he had the hobby and talent of writing and saying Lebanese poems (asayid).

تركنا الأوطان وجينا بلكي الغربي تواسينا

تاري من جور الفرقة حملنا أكتر ما فينا

تاري من جور الفرقة

صرنا متل الشمعة ندوب
وزدنا عالحرقة حرقة

وغطّينا مصيبة أيوب
وساعات العمل غرقة

وبالليالي عيوني تجوب
تا تناجي النجوم الزرقة

الما في غيرا يناجينا
تركنا الأوطان وجينا

بلكي الغربي تواسينا
تاري من جور الفرقة

حملنا أكتر ما فينا

تركت الزهوة تركت الحيّ

والحب الكلّف بنيان
تركت الإم تركت البيّ

فكر وقوّة وحرّيي
وخالقلو الكون العمران

والأشغال المسميي
مش لازم يبقى نعسان

يطمح ويحطّ النيي
ويجوب ببعض البلدان

البتحقّق أمانينا
تركنا الأوطان وجينا

بلكي الغربي تواسينا
تاري من جور الفرقة

حملنا أكتر ما فينا

ما هجرنا تا نجمع مال

حيث المدّة محدودة
هجرنا تا يرتاح البال

Mon "Chez Nous"

2007-06-26T13:42:00.000-05:00

Bonjour Toronto!

2007-06-26T05:08:00.001-05:00

After the longest day of work this quarter, a day that started at 9:00 am on Monday morning, and ended at 5:00 am Tuesday morning, and after a successful launch of new products, I drove back home as the light was coming back to town for a new day.

It's a beautiful warm summer day. A perfect summer morning actually.

After a small kazdoura in the car and a stop by McDo for an Egg & Saussage McMuffin, I came home to my computer to check on my virtual real life, after 20 hours of separation.

Best sob7iyyeh with MMMMMMMMM in one window, Delirious in another and my friend Christiane on the third. WinAmp is playing the best of Fayrouz from Radio Moyen Orient Montreal.

Wa izz MMMMMMMMM says: "u should take a pic of the sun coming up and toronto asleep"

And C0C0 says: "fekra"

if you click, the images open in a separate window, much larger :)

Taken around 5:30 am on Tuesday June 26/06

Seasons Outside My Windows

2007-06-16T21:33:00.000-05:00

Only 3 months between the freezing cold white

and the warm sunny green scenaries.

LebaneseWebsite.com

2007-06-05T08:08:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been asked what you want in a Lebanese web site?

Now is your chance to make your mark, and also have a chance of winning an amazing Lebanese gift prize (valued at $420)!

The Lebanese Website is a web site about Lebanon!

You say what this Lebanese web site should be, for a chance to win a $420 Lebanese gift package.

---------- Forward this message to all the Lebanese you know ----------

one more

2007-06-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Pourquoi aussi tôt que ça?

2007-05-29T22:53:00.000-05:00

Je voulais tant que tu sois là lors de mon retour au pays, toi qui m’as aidé à quitter avec le moins de peine possible.

Je voulais tant que tu sois là le jour de mon mariage, toi que je connais et que j’aime autant que mes oncles les plus proches.

Je voulais tant que je te raconte tout sur ma vie au Canada, ce que je t’avais écrit dans les lettres et ce que je ne pouvais pas exprimer.

Je voulais tant te voir avec ta femme et tes enfants, toi qui as fait partie de ma famille tout le long de ma jeunesse et m’a comblé d’un amour paternel sans limites.

Je voulais tant rattraper tout le temps perdu et retrouver un peu de souvenirs, les soirées du samedi, les visites inattendues et toujours agréables, les promenades, les conversations, les rires fous…

Mais voilà que tu es parti, un peu trop tôt, à l’imprévu, sans même que j’aie la chance ni le temps de te dire au revoir!

Bye bye Ammo Jihad… Khalo Jihad…

Rest in Peace, et veille sur nous de là-haut.

Prière

2007-05-25T20:24:00.000-05:00

Pour Mon pays, Seigneur,

A tes pieds je prie.

Regarde avec ardeur

Bénis ma patrie.

Sur elle avec amour,

Jette un regard toujours.

Pour le Liban, Seigneur,

Je fais ma prière.

On a lighter note

2007-05-05T15:36:00.000-05:00

Anjelah Johnson - Nail Salon 4 min 21 sec - 8-Dec-2006
*** the video will open in a separate window ***

Comedy Time Latino: Anjelah Johnson talks about a recent visit to a Nail Salon.

Fairuz - Petra & Kuwait 1966 Concert with Nasri

2007-04-26T22:27:00.000-05:00

After hearing and reading about the murder of the kidnapped kids in Lebanon, a clip from Petra came to my mind. In particular these couple of lines from the "Roma" song where Fayrouz says "Bi 7arb el kbar, shou zanb ettoufouli, bi 7arb el kbar shou zanb edda7kat el khajouli".

I started my quest on You Tube and found the song.
Lel assaf angryleb doesn't allow embedding, so this is the link to the clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N9pV8bdbVk

I ended up spending the rest of the evening on You Tube
and came across a very old clip which I'm sharing with you tonight.

Dear Sayf el Ba7r,
With this clip I thought of your "مقاومة الإنحلال" idea,
so I guess I'm kinda joining the group; men ba3ed eznak :)

Love

2007-04-22T00:37:00.000-05:00

No one falls in love by choice,

it is by CHANCE.

No one stays in love by chance,

it is by WORK.

And no one falls out of love by chance,

it is by CHOICE.

The man

2007-04-09T01:23:00.000-05:00

May 2006 we met again. He opened his arms and hugged me tight. We’ve known each other for years and years and we met every time I went back home, but this time something was different. This time my heart sang a different tune when my eyes met his eyes. My heart danced a “valse” that it never danced before...

The evening in Amchit was magical, the moon was smiling and the sea was calmly listening in the darkness of the peaceful night. I didn’t want it to end, I wanted so much to tell him that but words wouldn’t come out of my mouth…

On that last morning when he woke me up to say goodbye, I didn’t want to let him go, I didn’t want to leave yet again. Lebanon now has yet another meaning to me. It is not only the land, the memories, my childhood anymore. Lebanon now is a man too, my man! Can my heart love more than it already does? And I left, again, the country, and this time the man...

“Je t’aime” he said the other day… For the first time these words sounded right, they sounded true and complete. Little words that came from a distance and meant the world to me. Little words, powerful words that mean endless evenings together, endless mornings together, loving one another for an eternity.

I can't wait to start the rest of my life with you... my man, my soul mate, my love, my country.

Je t'aime!

Update: April 15/07

Nado, thank you very much for your poem. You know how to put feelings into words that go straight to the heart. Karam and I are grateful and we both thank you very much. Alla yhanniki w ya3tikeh iyyem fara7 w y7a22e2lik kell oumniyetik!

Najwa Karam - نجوى كرم - عتب لبنان

2007-03-31T15:45:00.000-05:00

Food? I tell you something about food!

2007-03-31T13:07:00.000-05:00

Can you smell it?
Can you hear it?

Can you almost taste it?

Yumm Yumm... Tfaddalo Sherkouna :)

Special dedication to my bloggerfriend _z.
who has been opening "bweb mghalla'a" lately.

Twenty years ago

2007-03-27T20:46:00.001-05:00

It was a nice day at the end of March, the almond trees were heavy by the tastiest green almonds you can even taste. The sun was shining with a cold breeze. I remember Layla (my Khalo's wife) being preoccupied with packing the cookies she made for us. Ammo Jihad came, he's the one who drove us to the port. Also Layla's parents were there. I remember my friends writing to me words of memories and encouragement in this heart-shaped “souvenirs” booklet that my mom had given me as a gift earlier at Christmas. the kitchen was filled with friends, Najwa was the loudest of them all, expressing how much she's going to miss me. I remember neighbours and friends coming and going, some of them many times in the same day. I hadn't seen so much movement in the house since jeddo Barakat died in 1979. It was weird. I had a beautiful antique mirror in my bedroom that my neighbour Rita had painted a frame of flowers on it. I took a lipstick and wrote on it "Good Bye" and signed it, to wait for me. It was the only thing I could express... I can't describe my feelings that day. It was mostly a general feeling of numbness. I could hear the beats of my heart more than any other sound. I could feel that my mom was as numb but not showing it; or maybe it was obvious but I was too busy with my own shit. I was leaving my home, my village, a life I grew to love and cherish, friends who mean the world to me...

We needed to be at the port of Jounieh for 8pm. I insisted on going with Zouzou, and on the way, I insisted we pass by the club “nedeh el e7ya” to say goodbye to Tony who didn't bother coming over. On the way, Najwa wanted to pass by the house to get me something. So we stopped by the Tohme house, only she went up. I had already said goodbye to Tante Mountaha and Ammo Abdalla. I remember Ammo Abdalla meeting me on the road above my house, on his way up to Hrajel. He said goodbye and shook my hand. He didn't want to kiss me, he said “khalli el wada3 men doun koubal, 3alashan yekoun 3endi amal enno terja3eh”. I called him and Tante Mountaha my parents-in-law, ever since he gave me the nickname of seasonal daughter-in-law “kennetna el mawsamiyyeh” as much as I was part of their lives.... So Najwa came back with a cute tiny yellow teddy bear, the one that has springs in the hands to attach to jackets or book covers or something.

By the time we reached Port Jounieh it was night. I see mom, khalo, Layla, khalo's in-laws. I don't remember seeing Jacko and Nano, I think they were busy that night in some event. Ammo Jihad was organizing everything as he was in the Navy and knew Port Jounieh better than anyone. There, we met Teta Cloto, Tante Etta, and Christian (dad's mother, sister and kid), and I remember feeling a knife go through my heart and suffocating the minute I laid eyes on the stack of suitcases that were to our name. Imagine, 3 adults, a teenager and a kid (the only boy in the bunch) leaving Lebanon for good. FOOR GOOD! FUCK!! (I didn't swear back then, but it felt like that). I can still see the stack laid on the side of the wall, a multicoloured selection of 9 or 11 jumbo suitcases... This is when it hit me hard, and when my long depression started.

Ammo Jihad kept begging me to say goodbye and move. I finally did. I remember the hardest was leaving Zouzou. I think I was holding his hand like a kid at my first day of school, not sure though. He was my older brother, my best friend, my teacher, my secret keeper, my voice of reason, the person who helped me live through my teen years, he was everything! I can still hear Ammo Jihad telling me not to look back, to keep moving toward the boat, even after he left us at the boat, he kept telling me to keep moving and not look back. Such a wise man, I love him for it. (I still cry every time I think of that night, what a nightmare it was).

"Mais du bord du bateau qui m'eloignait du quai, une chaine dans l'eau a claqué comme un fouet"

On the boat, after carrying the ten thousands luggages that we had with us to the cabine assigned to the 5 of us, I went straight to the upper deck to see Lebanon before it goes away and I loose it forever. Sorry Ammo Jihad, but at this point of no return, it is safe to look back. I won't swim to shore in this cold. I kept staring at the familiar shore and mountains until the last light from the shore vanished in the dark horizon... Mom was there too at some point and then we went down together. She was worried we would catch a cold, after only a few days of getting rid of one.

"Je revois son sourire si près de mon visage, il faisait resplendir les soirs de mon village"

The cabine was narrow, with bunk beds, too narrow too uncomfortable. I decided that sitting on the long chair outside the cabine was much better. I didn't sleep that night. I couldn't! I walked and looked at people shift from side to side with the boat. I made my way back to the deck eventually hoping that the boat will be on its way back for some reason. And a guy in a white uniform joined me, introduced himself as captain. We talked. My English wasn't that good, he was Greek or Cypriot Greek rather. He offered to show me the boat and took me on a tour ending at his cabine. I was going to throw up the minute I saw the pictures of the naked women on the walls of his pad and excused myself to go back and join my mother. In my mind I was like “iza ba3d ma wsolet 3al Kanada w heyk?” I made it safely back into the cabine. They had provided us with another one so we had one for mom and me, and one for my aunt, teta and my cousin. In the morning before we got to shore, the captain came back to check on me and gave me a straw hat as a souvenir, which I kept until this day. Not as a souvenir from him, but as a hostage that I will get rid off once I make it back home for good.

Cyprus was ok. It was weird to see the sun rise from the other side of the water. Doesn't the sun rise from behind the mountains? I was wearing home-style bleached jeans, and in the back pocket I had a letter that Zouzou gave me before I left and made me promise to open only when I reach Canada and get settled. For sure I read it on the boat the minute Lebanon vanished. Did you think I could wait? Although it wasn't the romantic letter that every 17-year-old girl dream to read, it was the most beautiful sincere and caring letter. One day I shall type it up and post it. Now I'm sorry that my life here turned out different from what he wished I do with it. I didn't stand up to what he believed me to be capable of, bass I know he forgave me already :)

Yes ok, so once we were at customs in Larnaka, the woman asked us where we were coming from and when we said “Lebanon” she went behind the security arch and did something. The precious arch buzzed at each of us the minute we went under it, even my poor Teta. I had my jeans on, a t-shirt, no belt, regular comfy shoes, nothing to make the machine buzz except for the Lebanese blood in our veins. My turn to make the machine go nuts, the lady took me into the “changing room” where I was asked to remove my shoes and socks. She touched me everywhere and stopped at the back pocket of my jeans. “What is this”, she asked. I took the letter out, and said “Letter” She took it, opened the envelop unfolded the paper and gave it back to me, and let me go... See??? I had to open the letter before a stranger does that!

On our way to the hotel, I had fun reading the signs with the little Greek I knew (I could read the capital letters not knowing what words they make up), which gave the taxi driver the impression that I knew Greek and started a conversation... with himself LOL I was out most of the day on Saturday, walking and looking behind the horizon maybe I could see something familiar out there. It was weird walking on the road side seeing the cars coming my way. They drive on the wrong side of the road! I remembered Jeddo Barakat so much that day when he used to say that the greeks are born upside down. Alla yer7amak ya Jeddo! The shore was covered with some sort of fine leaves, it smelled awful. The song “rouddani ila biladi” wouldn't stop playing in my head and on my lips all day, like a broken record.

Sunday early morning, we left to the airport. The phone rang to wake us up, Mom had asked for a wake up call. I was impressed, having never been in a hotel in my life before (Dweyk here lol). The flight in Sabena was pleasant and eating meat was the highlight of the trip out of Cyprus. I remember writing about that in my first letter to Zouk. In Europe, the stop over was a nightmare! I had to carry my bag, my cousin's bag and my teta's and run from one side of the airport to the other following Teta and the woman who was pushing her wheelchair. We had too little time between planes to the point that I don't even remember in which country of Europe we were.

Sunday March 29, 1987, sometime early afternoon local time, the captain announced that we were close to Montreal, the weather was 17 degrees and sunny. he said that we were lucky because it was freezing the days before. I looked outside and there was a lot of white. Before we left Cyprus, I prepared myself with wool tights under my corduroy thick pants, three layers of shirts and sweater, and a heavy jacket... all prepared for the winter of the eskimos. The officer at the customs, when we landed, took me and mom alone in one office. My aunt her son and teta were taken separately. The man was nice, a bit older, a bit round, always smiling. I was relaxed. His French was weird, and his english, or actually mine wasn't that good so I was embarrassed to have him repeat himself in both languages every time he's addressing the questions to me, and mom helped on top of that. I remember him telling me that since I am not 18 years old yet (2 months and 3 days shy), I can renounce to my Lebanese identity and adopt the Canadian one, becoming automatically Canadian. SHOU????????? Is he out of his mind? I'm staying here for ONLY 5 years mister, not one day more... SHOU FHEMNA? Thank God this came out of my mouth in this form “No thank you, I wait with my family”.

Every one was at the airport. Uncle Loucy and his family, cousin Gigi and her husband and 6 months old first born, uncle Adi and his family, and some other people I don't know. The big hype was Teta's arrival and meeting her sons and grandchildren that she hasn't seen in a very very long time. And there was Papy, and Tony who grew up so much since I last saw him, he became taller too. Dad and my brother left in December '86, a few months before mom and I did. Dad found a job, put Tony (13 at the time) in school, and prepared everything before us. He even bought a car, a white Phoenix, not sure which company used to make this car, some American company akeed. So we left Mirabelle Airport with him...

So much to talk about, 4 months we've been apart. Tony had a million new things to tell me about the new life in Canada. I was amazed at how freaken flat the country was, all white and ugly naked trees on the side of the road. But the road itself was huge. Dad has stories about missing exits on the highway and having to tour the globe before he finds his was back LOL The trip was long from Mirabelle Airport to 212 Anselme Lavigne, Pierrefonds... I was suffocating in all the layers I had on and couldn't wait to remove a few. It was warmer in Canada that day than the night we left Home.

Uncle Loucy had a beautiful house, with a pool in the backyard, and a huge dog that occupied the garage. I hate dogs and this one was simply scary. Everyone was there, a lot of movement in the house, a lot of new faces, familiar faces that I haven't seen in a long time or have seen only in pictures... Too much to take in after an already heavy weekend. I was still numb but a different kind of numbness. In my head I was reciting the letter that I had already memorized, my heart was trying to beat normal but it felt that it was skipping a few beats here and there. I think I managed that day to hide any emotions and put on a face that was happy to see my uncles and cousins (from my father's side), some of them whom I was meeting for the first time...

At the end of the day, we left with dad to "a hotel" where we were supposed to stay until we find an apartment, because my uncle's house was already full with his own family, his father who has been living with him for some years, and now his mother, sister and son. Dad drove us to a bulky rectangular brown huge building of 4 floors, not far from my uncle's house. It looked like a warehouse from the outside but it had lots of windows and tiny balconies. He parked the car underground, and we went up in the elevator to the third floor. Ok so this is how hotels look like in Canada, the only other I have been in was the one in Cyprus, what do I know! He opened the door to what was our first apartment in Canada, for two years. He had found this apartment and furnished it with the help of his bother and sister-in-law before we came, so mom won't need to worry about a thing. It wasn't ya latif, but mom, being the humble woman that she is, didn't complain about anything. I shared a bedroom with my brother, it was half the size of the room we had in Zouk. Mom and I stayed home for the first 3 months getting rid of a nasty cold. That night on the deck in the sea breeze was not good after all, but what would have you done if you were in our shoes? Eh?

Life in Canada has been interesting to say the least. A lot to tell but it'll be longer than the 7 books of Harry Potter. A lot learned, a lot lost, a lot of happiness and a lot of grief, lots of experiences, lots of pain, lots of friendships gained and lost, lots of failures and lots of successes. Look at me now writing English and practically living in the Internet world, 20 years later masalan :) What is interesting and what amazes me as much as all the people who know me is my utmost love to my Lebanon that grew with me a bit each day. Nothing else mattered, nothing else matters.

20 years later.. I survived... Canada gave me too many things, bad and good, and I appreciate all of it because it shaped me into the woman that I am today. The hard working sincere woman who knows what she wants and what makes sense to her; a woman who can make her life a happy one against all odds.

This anniversary is a bit different than the 19 that preceded. It's a happy one for a change, although the memory of that weekend still brings tears to my eyes. I now see the light at the end of the tunnel. I see myself growing old in my beloved country with a man I respect and cherish, and hopefully children. I see the real happiness that I have been longing for all my life. Call me crazy, but I see this happening; I just have to go get it.

Thank you Canada for an interesting 20 years and for the woman I have become.

19.. 20.. 21

2007-03-26T20:04:00.000-05:00

(left: from my balcony in Toronto - right: from Mar Doumit in Zouk Mikael)

I don't know about you, but isn't the view to the right much nicer?

But it's not about the view or the weather or the mountain or the sea.

Moving back home?

What should I expect? Will I be happy? Will I be shocked?

Will I be able to cope with the new Lebanon?

Will I miss what I have been taking for granted here? And how much?

Will I be lucky and live happily ever after? Under which circumstances?

Fellow bloggers in Lebanon, help me out here... wa shoukran

March 19

2007-03-19T09:24:00.000-05:00

Happy St Joseph's Day!

...

2007-03-17T22:09:00.000-05:00

I HATE GOODBYES

March 11

2007-03-11T09:17:00.000-05:00

March 5, 2007...

2007-03-06T00:43:00.000-05:00

... at Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada

JOSH GROBAN

A concert out of this world! Sob7an Alla 3ala hal sawt.
W not only voice, great pianist, funky drummer too;
with a fun and lively stage presence, humor and wit.
All this in a 26 years old creation of God.

I really REALLY encourage those of you who don't know this voice yet
to try JoshGroban.com

February 22

2007-02-22T20:53:00.000-05:00

So February IS an important month after all...

To each their own reasons and occasions to celebrate. Do I envy the employees of Google?

Nah! :P

February 21st

2007-02-21T00:04:00.001-05:00

10 years ago, Tony Berbari, one of my first virtual friends surprised me, all the way from Lebanon, with this beautiful yellow one-rose bouquet as a sign of our friendship. I still remember that day vividly; how depressed I was entering the house and how different I became after I knew that the lovely package was mine, all the way from Lebanon, from a thoughtful sweet friend I never met!

Until today, for me February 21 is Friendship Day and a day to remember Tony Berbari and reflect on and be thankful for all the virtual friends that came into my life since 1997.

Tony and I lost touch a few years ago but he is still on my mind and in my thoughts. I imagine him now with a successful career, a lovely wife and at least 3 kids, and hopefully still in Lebanon.

To Tony, my sweet friend, kell 21 February w enta b kheyr.

Happy Friendship Day to you all out there! :)

World Press Photo of the Year 2006

2007-02-18T10:12:00.000-05:00

World Press Photo, an independent non-profit organization founded in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1955, organizes the world's largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest. Prizewinning photographs are assembled into a traveling exhibition that is visited by over two million people in some 45 countries worldwide.

This picture of US photographer Spencer Platt of Getty Images

has been selected World Press Photo of the Year 2006.
Young Lebanese drive through devastated neighborhood of South Beirut, 15 August

Jury chair Michele McNally of The New York Times says: "This photograph makes you look beyond the obvious." >More

Toz = Salt???

2007-02-17T16:54:00.000-05:00

Today, I received an email containing the following very interesting information:

طز (tuz) = كلمة تركية و معناها الملح!
و يروى أن الحكومة العثمانية كانت تفرض ضرائب على التجار على جميع البضائع باستثناء الملح.
فكان التجار العرب إذا مرّوا من عند المفتشين الأتراك يقولون لهم طـز، أي لا يوجد معنا إلا ملح (وإذ لاضرائب)

وشيئا فشيئا صار التجار يقولونها بهدف السخرية من المفتشين الأتراك...

وهكذا أصبحت هذه الكلمة تعني معنى سيئاً، بينما هي في الأصل ليست إلا بمعنى ملح !!!

The Ottoman government had imposed taxes on merchants on all goods except salt. Arab merchants would pass the inspectors and say “Tuz”, meaning they’re only carrying salt (no taxes to be paid). With time, this word became an ironic term used by these merchants to laugh at the Turkish inspectors... Thus, the meaning of this word became a bad word, while originally it only meant “salt”!

Being the "Touma" that I am sometimes and the "Googler" that I became, I had to confirm the truthfulness of the message, so I went to this site and got the proof ;)

So it's all about the salt and the Ottomans! Alileh?

I learned something new today. Je dormirai moins niaiseuse ce soir, as they say in Québec!

Thank you ShooFiMaFi.com!

2007-02-15T23:16:00.000-05:00

ShooFiMaFi.com had a cool contest back in November 2006. Contestants were asked to each submit up to 3 photos that they've taken themselves in Lebanon, for a chance to win 1 of 12 amazing prizes, including an iPod nano; and a panel of judges were to select the 12 winning photos which created the ShooFiMafi 2007 Lebanon Calendar.

My Seashore and Sunset picture taken back in May 2006, when I was with AM and her mother having dinner in Jounieh, won the September 2007 spot, and I won a useful and funky new arguileh in a cool color that "attire les zo3rans" as my friend Sayf el Ba7r said once. Bass shou arguileh? It works the best in my collection so far.

Thank you ShooFiMaFi.com and Arguily.com!

Updates: My collection so far - The winning picture
Click for the picture in a separate browser window

وطن، هجرة وإنتماء

2007-02-09T12:16:00.000-05:00

مرحبا
نزولاَ عند طلب صديقتي نادو، ها أنا أردّ على مجموعة اسئلة طرحتها علينا في مدوّنتها "عبّر". أرجو من القرّاء الكرام قراءة الأجوبة باللبناني يعني بالدارج... شكراً جدّاً جزيلاً ... وإليكم التفاصيل...

1- ما السبب الأساسي الذي دفعكم للهجرة وترك وطنكم؟
كان القرار لأهلي بما إنّو أنا وخيّي كنا بعدنا قاصرين. بهديك الإيّام كان بيّي يشتغل بحيّ السلّم ونحنا سكّان زوق مكايل. بالوضع يلّي كان مارق عا لبنان بالتمانينات، ما كنّا نعرف كيف رح تطّور الأمور بخلال النهار الواحد وبيّي كان يخلّي معو شنطة فيها غيارات بحال تطّورت الأمور نحو الأسوأ وما سمحتلو حالة الطرقات (أكيد ما خصّا بالتلج) إنو يرجع عالبيت. عمومتي كان صارلهن من أوّل الحرب الأهليّة بكندا وعلى طول بينقّوا على بيّي تيقبل إنّو يكفلوه وننقل نحنا كمان عا كندا، بسّ بيّي ما كان يقبل. وبقينا عايشين متل كل هاللبنانيّي ببلدنا وما كان يفضى البيت من القرايب يلّي بيتهجّروا من بيروت والجنوب ومن القرايب يلّي عم يخدموا بالجيش اللبناني والصليب الأحمر... بسّ بال86 مع حرب الأحزاب يلّي قرّبت عالمنطقة الآمنة يلّي كنّا فيها، وإندفاع الشباب الصغار يلّي من عمر خيّي للأحزاب والسلاح والحواجز، طلع القرار الأهل إنو صار فيهن عمومتي يكفلوا بقيّة العيلة وننضم للشعب الكادح بكندا...
أما بالنسبة لإلي شخصيّاًً، ما كان بدّي بولا أيّ شكل إترك حياتي وإخواتي وأصحابي وقلبي وغرامي بالزوق تإجي على بلد في قرايب ما بعرفهن وما بيجمعني فيهن إلاّّ إسم العيلة... بس ألّله ما كان رأيو على رأيي وجينا... على كندا...

2- هل تفكرون بالعودة؟ ولماذا؟ إذا كان الجواب نعم فمتى؟ وإذا كان الجواب لا ما الذي يمنع من حدوث ذلك؟
هل أفكّر بالعودة... إذا مش مع كل نفس باخدو ومع كلّ رفّة جفن، أكيد بفكّر بالرجعة عالبيت مع كل خفقة قلب. صارلي عشرين سنة إلاّ سبع أسابيع بكندا وبعدني عايشة حياتي هون على أساس إنّي مش مطوّلة. ما اشتريت بيت حتّى ما ركّب عليّ دين يربطني هون. ما تجوزت وخلّفت تا ما تصير صعبة ومكلفة ماديّاً ومعنويّاً الرجعة. والله يستر وقتا تركب براسي الأفكار السيّئة متل مثلاً ختير و-لا سمح الله – موت هون!
لماذا... لأنو يلّي ربي وعاش بلبنان على الإيمان بألله وحب الوطن والمساعدة والإنتماء والأخوّة، بجو عيلة محافظة وبعيدة عن الأحزاب والسلاح برّت إطار الجيش الشرعي، ضدّ تبويس الأيادي وإستثمار الحرب والمعتّرين، ما في ينبسط بغير بلد وينتمي إلو بهالسهولة.
ما الذي يمنع العودة... متل ما سبق وقلت بأوّل سؤال، كل العيلة هجرت لبنان، يعني الرابط والحجّة الأهين للرجعة صارت مش كتير مهمّة ومش أساسيّة. إنو بيتنا بعدو -هوّي بالأساس بيت جدّي الله يرحمو، وخالي وعيلتو هلأ عايشين بالبيت، وفي الجيران والأصحاب يلّي ربينا سوى... بسّ ما زال الإم والبيّ مش بلبنان، بتصسر الزيارة أو الرجعة مش إضطراريّة. وبعدين في غير ظروف بتزيد الطين بلّة... مثلاً أوّل ما جينا، إضطرّيت إشتغل لساعد بمصروف البيت وطلّع مصروفي للشغل والدرس والتسلاية، فالعين بصيرة واليد قصيرة. وبعدين، خصوصي لمّا نقلت لغير منطقة كرمال شغل أحسن، صارت الفرص والأعياد مكرّسة لزيارة الأهل بقلب كندا، والفرص هون جمعتين بالسنة فقط لا غير، "سو" كلّفنا خاطركن! بهالعشرين سنة صارلي مجال زور لبنان أربع مرّات الحمد لله أحسن من بلاش. أمّا بالنسبة للعوامل يلّي منعت العودة النهاءيّة لحدّ هلأ، هيدي بتتوقّف على كذا سبب، منبقى منرجعلن بعدين بلكي.

3- في فترة الأعياد كثير من المدونين اللبنانين عادوا الى لبنان للقاء الأهل والأصحاب للإحتفال معهم بالأعياد وفور رجوعهم، رأينا أول بوست يكتبونه هو الكلام عن الفترة التي أمضوها هناك. والجملة الأخيرة تكون "I miss home". فسؤالي لهم لماذا هذا الشوق لا يُستثمر في العودة والبقاء في لبنان؟
بشتاق للبنان أوّل ما بلّش ضبّ الشنط وفكّر إنو لازم ودّع وروح عالمطار تإرجع لحياة مش إلي، وكل مرّة أصعب من يلّي قبلا. بشتاق للبنان هون كل صباح وكل مسا وبكل ضهرة ومشوار وكزدورة لأنو مش بلبنان، وبكل زيارة لعند أهلي على مونتريال، لأنو مش على لبنان، ومع كل غنيّة لفيروز وزكي ناصيف وكل الأغاني يلي ربينا عم نسمعا على صوت لبنان ولبنان الحر وغيرهن...
لماذا لا يُستثمر هذا الشوق في العودة والبقاء في لبنان... السبب الأكبر هوّي الأهل يلّي بلّشو يكبروا وصار لازم كون قريبة منهن، وتاني سبب قلّة الشغل بلبنان يلّي بيسمحلي إرجع على طول وكفّي حاجاتي ومصاريفي وإقدر خلّي كم قرش على جنب كرمال زيارة الأهل بكندا خصوصة بحالة طوارئ لا سمح الله أو إقدر رجّعهن معي على لبنان وإهتم فيهن.

4-ما هي الأشياء التى وجدتموها وتعتبرونها في بلاد الأغتراب أفضل ممن هي عليه في لبنان؟
الحلو هون إنو كل شي متوفّر، خصوصة الإحترام وحرّية الخيار والكلمة والفعل. وبس يعرف الإنسان يحكي ويشارع بالوقت المناسب وللأشخاص المعنيّين بالأمر ويفهم القوانين الغير معلنة بيصير يوصلّو حقّو كامل. الطبابة المجانية حتى ولو مش كلّ هالقد كمان مهمّة خصوصي للمسنّين. وطبعاً الإنترنت يلّي ما بينقطع وبسعر معقول جدّاً أهم شغلة هون أفضل من لبنان.

5- هل أنتم سعيدون هناك؟
من بعد كل يلّي كتبتو هالسؤال صار جوابو منّو وفيه... نشكر الله ربّنا ما تركني ولا تكّي حتّى لمّا كنت عم لومو على تعاستي وحظّي العاطل ببعدي عن كل شي حبّيتو بحياتي. وهلاّ الإشيا أوضح بكتير وأهين ومقبولة أكتر.

6-هل تعتبر نفسك كفرد تستطيع المساعدة لنهوض لبنان إقتصادياً, ثقافياً وإجتماعياً؟ وكيف؟
إيه أكيد بقدر ساعد. انشاألله ردّ على تلفون بمكتب أو بشركة أو بمنظّمة عم تشتغل جدّيّاً على رفع أقتصاد وبنيان بلد وشعب على مستوى بقيّة دول العالم. صحيح ما صارلي إتعلّم كتير وآخد شهادات عالية بس أكيد في كتير مجالات عايزها لبنان غير دكاترة ومهندسين ورجال أعمال وإقتصاد، مجالات مهمّة حتّى ولوّ برستيجا مش يا لطيف، هيك أشغال ومساعدات ما بيصير تنعطى لغير اللبنانيّين وأصلاَ برستيجي ما بخاف شوّهو إذا اشتغلت أقل من غيري كرمال بلدي.
حلمي علّم ولاد صغار بس إرجع عا لبنان. حلمي علّمهن قدّيش حلو لبنان وقدّيشو مهمّ وغالي وقدّيش حلو نكون فرد قلب وإيد بالإيد حتّى تاريخنا التعيس ما يتكرّر على إيّامهن هنّي كمان.

7-الى من توجه إصبع الإتهام بالنسبة للوضع الحالي في لبنان؟
إلى الشعب اللبناني يلّي شاغل حياتو يوجّه اصابيع الإتّهام بدال ما يشتغل عالحلّ ويطحش لقدّام، مع إحترامي للكل أكيد :)

8-هل تضع لبنان على سلم أولويتك واهتمامتك؟
أكيد ومن كل بدّ

9-فرص العمل في لبنان قليلة وهذا ما يؤدي بالشباب اللبناني للهجرة وترك الوطن؟ كيف بإمكاننا نحن الشعب (المواطنين) على تخطي مشكلة كهذه؟

الجواب المتوفّر عندي كتبتو بالسؤال 6. أكتر من هيك، بعتقد الجواب مع الوزير السابق دميانوس قطّار ويا ريت بيصيرلي مجال إسألو وأعرف رأيو والحل يلّي بيعتقد إنو بينفع لبنان.

10-أريد من كل شخص أن يقدم فكرة برأيه من الممكن أن تساعد على تحسن الوضع الإقتصادي في لبنان.
زيادة الضرايب على الناس يلّي معاشاتهن عالية و عم يسرقوا اللقمة من تمّ الفقير وخفض الضرايب عن الناس يلّي معاشاتهن أضرب من أضرب حدّ أدنى بالعالم.

11-السؤال الأخير، بالنسبة لكم، ما هو الوطن؟ هل المكان الذي ولد فيه الفرد، أم المكان الذي يجد نفسه به أم المكان الذي يؤمن له الوسائل الأساسية للعيش الكريم (العمل الراحة الأمان)؟؟
المكان الذي ولد فيه الفرد ووجد نفسه به وهو نفسه المكان الذي يؤمّن له الوسائل الأساسية للعيش الكريم. الوطن هوّي كلهن يلّي بالسؤال. إنّو مثلا ليش الكنديّين بحقّلهن يكون عندن هيك بلد ومش نحنا؟ ليش تا أنا بدّي إجي عيش حياة غيري ببلد مش بلدي الأصلي وإتبنّى عادات وتقاليد ونمط حياة مختلف كلّياَ عن تبعول بلدي الأصلي وشعبي كرمال تا عيش حياة "طبيعيّة"؟
والله بغار وبنقهر كمان لمّا زمايلي بالشغل بيحكوا عن ذكرياتهن يلّي ما فيها قصف وضرب وحواجز، وقطع كهربا وماي وطرقات، وناس ماتت بقظايف أو على إيد واحد أخو شو-إسما-هيدي أجنبي مسلّح طلع عابالو يفشّ خلقو بأهل البلد، وهجرة وتأقلم ببلد جديد مختلف كلّياَ عن الحضارة يلّي بينتمي إلها...

لأجل الشانس حطّوا هالغنيّة عالراديو هلأ:
"وطني بيعرفني وأنا بعرف وطني
هوّي اغتنى فيّي وأنا بوطني غني
زرعني بقلبو أنا زرعتو بكل الدني"
ما بعرفا للغنيّة بس بتصوّر هيدا صوت غسّان صليبا إذا مش غلطانة.

...

2007-02-01T10:54:00.000-05:00

My sister's carJanuary 23, 2007

Welcome to civilisation, democracy, tolerance, unity, freedom and Independence!

Ironically, the Lebanese flag sticker on her windshield said:
بالإيمان نبني لبنان

Ziyara

2007-01-30T14:55:00.000-05:00

I haven’t seen you in years, yet you always show up when I need you the most!

I never remember what we talk about really but I can feel it all inside... and I think of you and see your peaceful face and your smile… oh that smile! So warm, so loving, so sweet!

You know, your brief visits make all the difference. And when I wake up, my mood is happier, my mind and soul are calmer, and my day is brighter.

And I know that I will be fine, that Lebanon is still alive, that God exists, and that the sun is still shining.

Please come back soon.

Anybody home?

2007-01-27T17:58:00.000-05:00

A political documentary covering 30 years of war and post war in Lebanon.
It highlights the real mistakes by the lebanese people
throughout the Syrian and Israeli occupations.
War footage, drama and graphics.

Pierre Dawaliby - 13 min 41 sec - May 1, 2005

"centrale"

2007-01-27T06:27:00.000-05:00

A messy desk maybe,

but without it, life would be really boring and insignificant

15/01/07

2007-01-12T10:15:00.000-05:00

So we finally get the white stuff today.

It's not fluffy, it's not soft, it's not light...

And it didn't come alone; freezing rain and cold came along.

So for all those who have been complaining about
the unusual NICE & WARM winter, ENJOY!

As for me, and thanks to my cool manager and job,

I'm enjoying the view from the comfort of my warm home.
No car skating, no traffic, no crazy drivers, no swearing at stupid crazy drivers... No coat, hat, gloves, scarf, boots and no worries of making it from the car to the office in one piece! At least for today :)

Is it summer yet? [I couldn't help it ;)]

نحو خطة اقتصادية ‏تشجع استثمارات الشباب

2007-01-05T17:59:00.000-05:00

5 كانون ثاني 2007
حاضر في «الانطونية» عن دور «الشباب في تفعيل الاقتصاد»‏ ، قطّار : ارفض زيادة الضريبة و«باريس 3»

‏
في اطار سلسلة الندوات بعنوان «متى يصبح لبنان وطنا للشباب» والتي تقيمها الجامعة ‏الانطونية للعام الجامعي 2006 - 2007، نظمت الجامعة محاضرة بعنوان «نحو خطة اقتصادية ‏تشجع استثمارات الشباب» القاها العميد المؤسس لكلية ادارة الأعمال في الجامعة الانطونية ‏الوزير السابق ديميانوس قطّار وحاورته الزميلة فيوليت بلعة.

حضر اللقاء في قاعة كلية ‏الهندسة في حرم الجامعة الرئيسي في الحدث - بعبدا راعي ابرشية بعلبك ودير الاحمر للموارنة ‏المطران سمعان عطالله والرئيسة العامة لراهبات القلبين الاقدسين الأم دانيال حروق وسفيرة ‏بريطانيا في لبنان فرنسيس غاي وحكمت ديب ممثلا رئيس كتلة الاصلاح والتغيير النيابية ‏النائب ميشال عون ورئيس الجامعة الانطونية الأب انطوان راجح والامين العام للجامعة الأب ‏فادي فاضل وعمداء الكليات وطلابها.‏

النشيد الوطني افتتاحا فكلمة تقديم للمحاضرة القتها منسقة سلسلة «متى يصبح لبنان وطنا ‏للشباب؟» في الجامعة الانطونية بسكال لحود وتلتها مديرة اللقاء الزميلة فيوليت بلعة التي ‏قدمت فيها المحاضر.‏ وضع القطّار محاضرته في اطار اكاديمي، بعد ان اعتبر ان اية خطة تتطلب رؤية محددة لمسارها، ‏واكد ان اللبنانيين يخطئون عندما يراهنون على المال لنجاح خططهم العملية لان اطلاق الخطة ‏وبرمجتها يرتبط بحسن استثمار الوقت والطاقة والعقل عند الانسان عموماً والشباب خصوصاً.‏ وشدد على ان الاقتصاد لا يرتبط بسندات الخزينة بل يرتكز على التفوق العلمي وحسن ‏المبادرة.‏

من جهة اخرى، توقف القطّار عند الانعكاسات السلبية التي تسيء الى الشباب في العالم وابرزها ‏ان الشباب اصبح اليوم يصطدم بواقع تضارب القيم في العالم فضلا انه يعاني من عدم ‏استقرار نفسي وسوء تغذية وخوف من تطلعات المستقبل. كما خصص قطّار محاضرته لعرض تحديات ‏الشباب في العالم ومنها قدرة الشباب على تكوين شخصية ترتكز على القيم والثقة والقدرة ‏على مواجهة التحديات بمرونة وقدرة على التأقلم مع مجريات الامور ومقاومة مبدأ العزل ‏الذي يواجهه الشباب في محيطهم.‏
على صعيد اخر، رأى قطّار ان لبنان يعاني من تراجع خطير على مستوى التفاعل والتفوق ‏التربوي اذا ما قارن الحال مع ما كان عليه لبنان في السابق. وانتقد البيان الوزاري ‏الاخير للحكومة اللبنانية الذي خصصت فيه 6 اسطر عن الشباب في لبنان علما ان نسبة ‏الشباب دون 25 سنة تصل الى 40 في المئة من سكان بلدنا. ورأى قطّار ان الدولة انفقت في ‏مجموعة موازنتها من العام 1993 الى العام 2005، 78 مليار دولار دون ان تلحظ اية موازنة ‏منها للشباب.‏

واكد قطّار ان الدولة اكتفت بانشاء وزارة للشباب والرياضة التي تتنافس فيها بعض ‏الوفود المشاركة في بعض النشاطات على تمثيل لبنان في الخارج. وتساءل عن الأسباب التي تمنع ‏الدولة من رصد بطاقات خاصة لتخفيض اسعار بعض المطاعم التي يرتادها الشباب او حتى خفض ‏اسعار بعض الكتب لتشجيع الشباب على القراءة. كما تمنى قطّار لو تسهل الدولة على الشباب ‏مراجعة معاملاتهم في الدوائر الرسمية احتراماً لوقتهم والتزامهم الجامعي.‏ وتمنى قطّار ان تتبنى الدولة مشروع تأسيس مناطق حرة في لبنان لاستثمارات الشباب على ان لا ‏تخضع لنظام الضريبة القانونية لان هذا يشجع على تدني نسبة البطالة التي تصل في العالم ‏العربي الى 25 في المئة.‏

ودعا اخيراً الى سياسة شبابية وطنية تبدأ في مبادرة تؤسس فيها الدولة قناة شبابية تفعل ‏التوصل بين الشباب انفسهم وفئات المجتمع. كما يجب على الدول ان تشكل برلماناً للشباب من ‏‏18 الى 21 ليكون منبرا للتعبير عن ارائهم لأن هذه الفئة مهمشة اليوم في السياسة. كما شدد ‏على اهمية رصد موازنة للمبادرات الشباب لتسهيل الاستثمارات عند الشباب اللبناني.‏ ورفض قطّار ورقة باريس 3 لأنها لا تلحظ اية خطة للشباب فضلاً انها تفتقر الى خطط لتشجيع ‏الاقتصاد القروي والعائلي. كما رفض ايضا زيادة الضريبة التي تلحظها ورقة باريس 3 لأن ‏هذا الاجراء لا يتناسب مع واقع بلد يعاني من الانكماش كما الحال في لبنان.‏

from tayyar.org - from Al Diyar newspaper

January 1st

2007-01-01T00:35:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Ziad Rahbani!

There isn't enough and/or good enough words to describe
the man, the artist, the composer, the genius.
I better not even try, and instead let me share with you a few of his work.

The genius at work

Rou7 Khabber

Bala Wala Shi

Kiriyalayson

Happy Old 2006, Happy New 2007

2006-12-31T04:20:00.000-05:00

Another year is ending. It feels like only yesterday we were saying Happy New 2006, doesn't it? Nevertheless, it went well for me all in all, neshkour Allah.

January: Last few weeks at a one-year contract job for MSN Canada. It was a great experience and it felt good to quit for another job at another good company.
February: Started my new full time job at Dell Canada. The 10-minute driving in traffic to work was a welcomed change after the year of 2-hr daily commute to downtown. A weekend with family in Ottawa.
March: Prepared for a trip to the Middle East, enjoyed the new job, new colleagues and friends. Started blogging, thanks to AM :) - March 29: 19 years in Canada!
April: Gone to Dubai for the first time, where I met my friend AM face to face for the first time after years of a virtual friendship. Also met an old friend from back home, whom I haven't seen in 10 years. The heat and the beach in April were a great treat. Finally made it back to Lebanon after 10 years of absence. It felt good to be back Home with my dear khalo, my now grown-up cousins, and all my good old friends.
May: More good and precious times in Lebanon with people dear to my heart. I even made it back to Jezzine after 23 years! :) I aslo met Mr Munir Khauli who is super nice. More good times in Dubai, gone on a Safari Experience, visited Burj El Arab thanks to AM, a trip to Abu Dhabi, more beach and heat...
June: Candles on my birthday cake (doesn't happen every year that I have a cake and candles for my Bday), got a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses (kamen something not too common) from my dear friend Hashem. A weekend in Montréal with friends for more birthday celebrations for both me and mom.
July: Canada Day celebrations in downtown Toronto with a friend visiting from the US. Another weekend in Montreal, this time my brother was there too.
The war in Lebanon was the most depressing and hurtful part of the year; inshalla we'll see better days in 2007 for my beloved and only country.
August: Made it finally to Québec City (an 8-hr drive from here) to spend some time with a dear friend, then to Montréal for more good times with mom & dad, and friends I haven't seen in years. Ottawa Lebanese festival where I had the pleasure to meet Jooj.
September: Mom & dad in Toronto for a couple of weeks. Cousins visiting from Denmark. Participated in the Walk for the Heart of the Heart & Stroke Foundation
October: Participated in the Run for the Cure for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Finally started the long journey to a great smile, finally the braces are on :)
November: Extracted 3 teeth in one session (a nightmare, but it passed). Shed the weight I had gained on vacation and during the summer. Niagara Falls weekend for a friend's 50th Birthday. A dear friend visiting from Belgium.
December: Mild weather, no snow (YOUPI!). Still loosing weight (orthodontics is the best diet apparently lol). My brother in town for 24 hours (best Christmas gift) and news that he's getting married next October, iza Alla rad.

My years haven't been that exciting in a very long time. I even ventured into activities that I haven't ever thought of before. There's more but at 37 I'm starting to forget a lot, and frankly I think I bored you enough - if you actually read that far, 7aram ento lol. Thank you for reading ;)

Seriously though, thank God for Lebanon, for family here and back Home, for friends far and near, for good jobs, for success, for good health and for happiness. Thank God for all His Unconditional Love and His Generous Giving, which made my 2006 a happy year. Last but not least, thank God for Fayrouz - and for her genius son 7abib albeh, who was born on the first day of the year.

Happy New Year 2007! Ready for another good one. Yalla, let's go!

Best Lebanese 2006 Video Clip

2006-12-29T15:01:00.000-05:00

Carole Samaha - Esma3ny

I heard this song and saw the video clip many times when I was Home last spring.

Great song/video clip because: The lyrics are Lebanese, the music is Lebanese, the clip atmosphere is of any regular group of friends having fun, and Carol's looks and voice ma biyeshko men shi abadan (very good)! Ma fi istina3 aw maskhara (simple and clean).

It may not be the very VERY best of 2006 Lebanese video clips as I haven't seen many, bass enno this one caught my attention and stayed with me the most.

Only today did I know the name of the song and who sings it (thanks to Karam) and was able to find and share the video clip with you. At last! :)

If you have a favourite/best 2006 Lebanese video clip, please share and say why it's your favourite.

Happy Birthday Denzel!

2006-12-28T17:25:00.000-05:00

My favourite good looking actor is celebrating his 52nd birthday today.

Not only is he a good actor, he's also a great human being, humble and grounded. I love listening to him in talk shows, on the red carpet and in any other occasion.

Ba3den, check out this smile. I have a weakeness to this :)

meltinnnnnnnnnnnngggggg smile!!!

I saw Mississippi Masala, Pelican Brief, Philadelphia, Devil in a Blue Dress, Courage Under Fire, The Preacher's Wife, The Hurricane, Antwone Fisher, Inside Man. I gotta see Déjà Vu soon, and buy his new book "A Hand To Guide Me"

For his biography and more info about Denzel Washington, click here or here

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-24T01:40:00.000-05:00

Wishing you a Holy Merry Peaceful Christmas!

Josh Groban singing

Ana shou?

2006-12-19T21:59:00.000-05:00

Add to that:

أنا قوّات... أنا تيّار... أنا حزبلاّ... أنا أمل... أنا مستقبل.... أنا 14 آذار... أنا أحرار...أنا مردة... أنا إشتراكي... أنا خرى حمار (حزب قديم بس كان مجهول الهويّة حتى الآن ممكن يشمل كلّ البقوي)... أنا ... أنا... أنا سخيف وسافل... أنا ضيعان لبنان فييّ

و آل شو؟ عشنا وعاش لبنان، سيّداً حرّاَ مستقلاَّ
إييييييييييييه! خرجنا

Joseph Barbera

2006-12-18T23:25:00.000-05:00

Born March 24, 1911 in New York City, New York
Died December 18, 2006 in Los Angeles, California

Joseph Roland "Joe" Barbera was an American animator, cartoon artist, storyboard artist, director, producer and co-founder, together with William Hanna (who died in 2001) , of Hanna-Barbera. The studio produced well-known cartoons such as Tom and Jerry, Yogi Bear, The Huckleberry Hound Show, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo as well as the musical film, Charlotte's Web.

You gave us a happy and healthy childhood,

lots of laughter and great memories that will live in our hearts forever.

May your soul rest in peace.

Wikipedia - IMDB - Tom & Jerry Online

سؤال بلا جواب

2006-12-16T14:01:00.000-05:00

طيّب بليز حدا يفسّرلي ليش إذا اللبناني حكي بمصلحة وطنو صار أوتوماتيكـلي تابع لبلد تاني، صديق أو شقيق أو عدو؟

وإذا كلّنا كلبنانيّين بدنا ذات النتيجة ليش عم نختلف على إشيا سخيفة وتافهة ومش وقتا نختلف عليها أصلاً وبلدنا واقف على سوس ونقطة؟

إنو عن جدّ بدنا سيادة وحرّية وإستقلال و.... شو إسمو هيدا يلّي دارج هلأ؟ إيه مظبوط، "تعايش مشترك" وأكيد ما بستثني الوحدة الوطنيّة... ولاّ مبسوطين نلفظن كلمات كبيرة عالرّايح والجايي تنحسّ حالنا مهمّين و منفهم؟

معقول يكون دم شهدا اللإستقلال الأصلي راح هدر ودعس تحت إجرين زعما هالعصر؟
ويكون تمثالهن بالبلد صار محطّة تعبير عن إختلافاتنا التافهة من بعد ما عملنا منّو حصن ورمز لوحدتنا ضد الإضطهاد والوصاية مش من زمان كتير؟

معقول يكون كل شغل وتعب الألفين وخمسة انتسى بهالسرعة، وأرواح اللي ماتو ما إلها معنى ولا قيمة؟

ذكرى ولادة رب الأكوان المبشر بالحب والسلام جايي بعد كمّ يوم، بسّ مدري ليش الجو بيوحي بالجمعة العظيمة وخيانة يهوّذا والهلاك... وهيهات نشوف سبت النور وأحد القيامة عن قريب

tawiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil

2006-12-05T19:54:00.000-05:00

- tmenin w tmenin?… tfaddal la shouf, tmenin w tmenin?
- miyyeh w settin
- miyyeh…?
- w settin
- miyyeh w settin… eh ma btozbat miyyeh w settin... shefet kif? shou 7ayalla 7kina ya3ne miyyeh w settin?
- kif, shou hiyyeh elli ma btozbat?
- ma btozbat miyyeh w settin… ma fi, bel miyyeh aktar shi miyyeh... ma fi miyyeh w settin bel miyyeh, ma miyyeh esma, kif miyyeh w settin bel miyyeh?
- lah kif miyyeh w settin bel miyyeh?
- ra7it 3leyk, ra7it 3leyk khalass.. forsa dayya3ta…ma ana 3am ellak!! forsa dayya3ta, ra7it men idak
- shou dayya3ta ya Rashid? Shou miyyeh w settin bel miyyeh?
- ma fi… tmenin bel miyyeh w tmenin bel miyyeh
- miyyeh w settin… ma eltellak!
- miyyeh w settin.. eh… bel miteyn walla bel miyyeh?
- ma fi bel miteyn
- ma fi bel miteyn
- lah
- eh mesh mawjoudeh
- eh
- w bel miyyeh?… hal youjad miyyeh w settin bel miyyeh?…ma ma3ak wa2t, e7keh deghreh
- lah ya Rashid, ma fi
- ma fi miyyeh w settin bel miyyeh.. eh ya3ne, shou ya3ne? ya3neh kezeb! ya3ne hawdeh fard tmenin… ma fi tmenin w tmenin.. hawdeh fard tmenin, nafs el jame3a... ana fakkartoun honik ghayroun... nafs el tmenin
- tmenin shou? 3an ayya tmenin 3am te7keh?
- 3am be7keh tmenin 3alam... tmenin bel miyyeh mnel 3alam
- eh… shou behoun?
- tmenin bel miyyeh mnel 3alam badda lebnen jdid... mazbout?
- mazbout
- aaaaaaah mazbout! eddey be2eh mnel miyyeh?
- 3eshrin bel miyyeh
- eh, 3eshrin mesh tmenin!! mneyn ijit el tmenin?
- aaaaaaah enno fi tmenin ghayroun ya3ne?
- wlak eeeeeeeeeeh!! fi tmenin ba3d… weyn betrou7 fiyoun? fi tmenin bel miyyeh baddoun lebnen jdid, fi tmenin bel miyyeh gheyr holik, halla2 shou baddoun? ma baddoun la lebnen jdid, la adim, wala shi.. baddoun el sarfeh… kif ba2a? weynenneh? fazzo 3al miyyeh.. fazzo 3al miyyeh walla fazzo 3al miyyeh?
- fazzo 3al miyyeh
- izan ma btozbat ya3ne… hawdeh fard tmenin jame3a, bass kell se3a biye7ko shekel…. 7ekyin heyk w 7ekyin heyk.. mazbout ya 7akim?
- mazbout
- keno rawwa7ouna… jame3a bi hal tale3ob hayda keno rawwa7ouna!
- eh mazbout ya Rashid bi 7sebetak, bass enno enta baddak te23oud t7essib ya3ne
- baddeh 7essib ya 7akim
- lah ya Rashid, 7abibi ma el 3alam badda t3ish!
- ma 7ada bi 3ish, shou bi 3isho 3ala dahreh? ou3ak!!! ou3ak 7akim! enta 3am t7ddasneh 3an masla7it nafsak 7atta ma et3aradak w et3arad abouk.. ana ba3erfak!!! 7atta Rashid ma yerja3 el nazar la wejjo w yshouf el nour bi tari2o
- la la ya Rashid, ana 3am be7kik el mazbout wa7yetak
- la khayyeh, enta bte7keh shi biyetla3 mazbout ya 7akim?

What ever happens....

2006-11-23T02:34:00.001-05:00

ليك... مش بسّ أنا... نحنا كتار
و يا ريت محبّتنا بتعدي حكّامنا شي مرّة

Pause

2006-11-10T23:12:00.000-05:00

My thoughts are too crowded to write them down in a meaningful post.
Meanwhile, I share with you a view I enjoyed last weekend.

Canadian Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls - November 4, 2006 - from the Skylon Tower

A Memory, a Prayer, and Hope

2006-10-28T19:10:00.000-05:00

خدني على الأرض اللّي ربّتنا

اشلحني على ترابات ضيعتنا

بالبيت يلّي ناطر التلّي

وإركع تحت أحلى سما وصلّي

خدني على تلاّتها الحلوين

انساني على حفاف العنب والتين

خدني ازرعني بأرض لبنان

إفتح الباب وبوّس الحيطان

My Canadian Hobby

2006-10-17T13:13:00.000-05:00

And for company (most of the time): water and my Arabic CDs.

Of course, the camera too :)

*Picture: On my way to Quebec City, August 12, 2006

This evening's outloud thoughts

2006-10-11T23:12:00.000-05:00

As every evening, I wait for the 11:00pm news to know what's happening in Canada. Tonight, the Lebanese flag appears again in the background behind Lloyd with this piece of news: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061011/ignatieff_comments_061011/20061011/
So this man, Michael Ignatieff, firstly offends Muslims by saying that he wasn't loosing any sleep over what's happening in Lebanon. And indeed he didn't loose any sleep. But then, he goes on accusing Israel of war crimes for what happened in Qana. But this time, he looses more than sleep, he looses his job as he was forced to resign.

Before Mr Ignatieff, other members of parliament expressed their concern about the offence of Israel on Lebanon and its civilians. Some of these people found themselves having to step down or resign as well. All had to fix their mistake by correcting their statements by something less hurtful to the State of Israel. Sob7an Allah, no pressure what so ever.

One of the people who was offended by Ignatieff's statement, the chief executive of the Canada-Israel Committee, Mr Shimon Fogel (or Sem3en Fejel bel 3arabeh), wants Ignatieff to declare "in both official languages that Israel is not guilty of war crimes".

I particularly love the fair play and the equal interest and respect to all individuals and groups equally (eh I know I said it already, ma2soudeh) as it is stated in the constitution and taught to kids in school. No discrimination, no racism, no this and no that, and most certainly, no one dares say anything bad about these people even if what's said is absolutely true.

On the other hand, the daily crimes on the streets, the guns that find themselves in the hands of youngsters and gangsters day after day are not accountable for. No one feels that they need to resign or retire early for not bringing safety to the streets and the citizens. No one aslan cares for the safety of people and you know how they justify it? Statistics. Yes, it is unlikely to have someone killed on a busy street in Toronto on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas 2005) than hit by lightening, and the percentage of a stray bullet hitting an innocent kid on a bus is very minimal compared to cars skidding off the road in winter. And although there has been many school shootings, there are still much more safe schools around the world of freedom.

Weynak ya Ziad? This country needs you too. How can you please translate "Oum fout nam w seer 7lam, enno baladna a7la balad"? Baddkoun t'oulo here too people 3eyshin bel a7lem, bass gheyr no3 a7lem ;)

Tayib, 3awefeh....

الغريب القريب

2006-10-07T20:12:00.000-05:00

من انت ايها الغريب؟
ما اسمك؟ ماذا تريد؟
لماذا انت دائما امامي؟
جميعهم مرّوا وانت بقيت
اراك في كل تصرّفاتي
اسمعك في كل افكاري
احس بك في جميع افعالي
انك لست بأخ لي
ألست بعشيق؟...ألست بحبيب؟
لا ادري... لا ادري من انت
لقد سلبتني كل حواسي... ولست بسارق
اصبتني في صميم عقلي وقلبي ... ولست بقاتل
يا إلهي ساعدني... انني اذوب فيه ولا اعرفه!

SWEET!

2006-09-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

*pictures taken from the FPM photo album. September 7, 2006

A good Lebanese smile

2006-09-07T22:27:00.000-05:00

Jokes I heard on ChakoMako the other day:

Q. What does a Homsi bee do?
A. Jam!

الحبلة بتجرّ حمار
وال"سترنغ" بيجرّ ألف حمار

Yalla, a little laughter is always a good thing! ;)

يا طير فيروز... اسمع شو بدّي قلّك

2006-09-03T01:16:00.000-05:00

اليوم، للمرّة المليونين وأربعتلاف وتمانميّة وسبعة وتسعين يمكن، كنت عم بتسمّع على غنيّة "يا طير"، إيه، تبعيت السيّدة فيروز والأخوين رحباني ما غيرا. ياما هالغنّية فشّتلي خلقي بايّام غربتي يلّي مش عارفة تخلص، وياما ترجيّت هالطّير يسمع فيروز ويسمعني ويردّ أو بسّ عن جدّ يروح ويقلّن شي للأصحاب والقرايب يلّي مش قادرة ولا قلّن ولا شوفن ولا خبّرن قدّيش البعد زنخ و قدّيشني مشتاقة إرجع شوفن عن جديد ولنّو شي دقيقة... بس اليوم قهرتني بصراحة هالغنيّة الرّائعة! لأ عن جدّ قهرتني كتير، لدرجة انّو اضطرّيت إرجع عالبيت قبل ما كفّي مشاويري، وحطّ راسي براس هالكيبورد العربي تا خبّركن عن قهري الشديد!

إنّو بشرفكن هلّق معقول يعني يكون الإنسان العاقل ويلّي بيسمّي حالو لبناني أصيل ومقبور قاعد ببلد مش لبنان ومشتاق للبنان كتير، يعني لدرجة إنّو صفّا عم يحكي مع طير السما ويترجّاه تياخدو على لبنان، معقول هالمخلوق يكون عن جدّ مكتفي ب "ولنّو شي دقيقة"؟؟؟ طيّب ما ختلفنا كلمة "ولنّو" يعني عالقليلة ويعني انشالله تكون أطول من "دقيقة" بكتير... بسّ "وردّني"؟؟؟؟ "ردّني لوين يا عيني؟ ردّني عالغربة؟ شو صاير عليك... وعليّ؟ يلعن حظّي إذا بحقّق هالحلم وبلاقي هالطيريلّي بيسمع فيروزة لبنان وبياخدني فعلا ًعا بلدي... ويرجع يردّني!!! لشو؟ لآ... ما بدّي إرجع عالغربة، لا بعد دقيقة ولا بعد ساعة ولا سنة ولا أبداً! اليوم ما تقبّلتا أبداً هالفكرة وأصلاً مش عارفة كيف قبلتا كلّ هالسنين!

لحقت ورحت عا لبنان، وحتّى تكون الغنّية عن جدّ شي غير شكل وشي قوي، بدو ياخدني هالطير ويقلّي "خليكي... حاج تضلّك تفلّي ولي (إيه ما عليه شي، بسمحلو يقلّي "ولي" بهالموقف) ما بقى تبعدي وتغنّي، بيكفّي حكي مع طيوربيكفّي غِنا ونوستالجيا وبلّوط. روحي حكي مع أصحابك وأحبابك وعمليلك شي شغلة تنفعك وتنفعن... حاجك تزوري بلدك بقآ... حدا بيزور بلدو يا بنت؟ خلص خلّيكي لحقتي ورجعتي... ما هيدا بلدك حبيبك"

يا ريت بعرف إكتب شعر يليق بغنّية تقول هودي يلّي كتبتن هلّق فوق، ويليق بغنّة كبيرة متل غنّية فيروزتنا والرحابنة ويسمعوها الناس ويتأسّروا فيا وتأسّر فيهن ويروحوا وما بقى يرجعوا عالغربة! جَدّ! إذا الغربة صعبة والغربة عذاب، مش أشرفلو الإنسان يتعذّب ببلدو؟ وبين أهلو وأصحابو وأحبابو؟

يا طير يا طاير على طراف الدني، إنت وراجع، مروق من هون ومعك عا لبنان ردّني،
ز...عن جدّ بزعل إذا خلّيتني إرجع فِلّ!ز

Alive... Forever

2006-08-14T23:59:00.000-05:00

Pourquoi faut-il toujours la guerre ?

2006-08-11T00:28:00.000-05:00

Il est inadmissible, de nos jours, de penser que la guerre soit « le prolongement obligé et inéluctable et quasi naturel d’un conflit politique. » Une violence ne peut pas être légitimée, ni banalisée.

Mettons un coup d’arrêt à cette guerre avant qu’elle devienne de nouveau « une forme familière » dans une région qui s’est fragilisée par la violence.

Cela fait 16 ans que le Liban essaye de panser et penser ces blessures.
Entre 1975 et 1990, 900.000 libanais ont quitté le pays pendant cette période.
16 ans après entre le 12 juillet et le 05 août 2006, nous assistons à 900.000 libanais déplacés. (Un tiers de la population).
Beaucoup d’entre nous ont connu la guerre.
Si je te demande, pour toi c’est quoi la guerre, que dis-tu ?
LA GUERRE
« C’est l’expérience de crise
C’est la rupture, la séparation, l’arrachement
C’est des enfants traumatisés par elle, confrontés à l’inexprimable
C’est des parents en difficulté de parler ou d’exercer leur rôle d’étayage
C’est la mise en danger de la survie psychique et réelle du Sujet
C’est des enfants confrontés à l’horreur où ils perdent leur capacité à jouer
C’est la menace mortifière
C’est cette expérience de rupture qui vient bouleverser la vie des parents, des adolescents et des enfants et met en cause leurs identifications, leur mode de pensée et d’agir
C’est les parents qui se sentent dépasser par ces situations stressantes et n’arrivent plus à créer les conditions favorables à contenir face à l’intensité de la souffrance
C’est réveiller des affects intolérables
C’est une fracture, un lien qui s’est brisé… »

Mettons un coup d’arrêt à cette destruction systématique et effroyable du Liban.

Et ensuite pensons ensemble cet événement traumatique, « une expérience vécue de bouleversement intense ».
Préparons nous pour aller voir comment ces enfants vivent-ils l’horreur ? Comment peut-on engager avec ces enfants, adolescents et parents un travail de construction et de reconstruction, une mise en paroles, en sens ?
Allons voir comment peut-on instaurer un « contenant » pour assurer à ces enfants, adolescents et parents déplacés une continuité à leur existence ?

Si ce texte résonne en vous, Réagissez….

Dîtes nous c’est quoi cette guerre, pour vous ?

Envoyez-nous mots, phrases, textes, ou autres supports, nous travaillerons à les faire fructifier dans les prochains ateliers d’écriture pour aider à reconstruire ce qui risque d’être dans l’oubli, le déni ou demeurer dans le silence .

Si vous êtes intéressés pour construire des actions d’accompagnement et de soutien auprès des enfants, adolescents et parents déplacés, manifestez votre souhait pour créer ensemble un réseau d’intervention de praticiens et de professionnels en collaboration avec d’autres organisations et structures sociales existantes.

Ecrivez nous à akattar@wanadoo.fr
Antoine KATTAR
Psychosociologue, Directeur/Associé du Cabinet PLURALITE Consultants
Chargé de Cours à Paris X et à Paris XIII.

--- Ceci est un message à large diffusion, merci de le relayer

Help Stop the Bloodshed in the Middle East

2006-08-10T20:06:00.000-05:00

Dear friends,

Regional and global leaders continue to fail to come up with a workableplan to stop the violence in the Middle East. Our friends at the Ceasefire Campaign are urging people around the world to pressure the Security Council to come up with a real plan to get an immediate ceasefire and international peacekeepers. This is a sensible call that would curb the bloodshed while laying the groundwork for a more enduring peace.

The Ceasefire Campaign is looking for 1 million co-sponsors to delivertheir petition to the Security Council this week. Can you join them?

Sign here: http://www.ceasefirecampaign.org/mo/en.html

Sincerely,
-Eli Pariser

P.S. Here's a message from the Ceasefire Campaign with some more detail:
Dear friends,

For more than three weeks now we've watched the bloodshed in the MiddleEast with horror. All the while, global and regional leaders have stood by and failed to take the necessary action to stop the violence. Finally, this weekend, the US and France reached agreement on a plan. But this compromise plan fails to call for a full ceasefire and is so weak that the violence has not - and will not - stop.

http://www.ceasefirecampaign.org/mo/en.html

This is unacceptable. Hundreds of innocent civilians have already been killed, thousands have been wounded, and almost a million people have been made homeless. The UN Security Council will be meeting early this week to try to resolve the crisis. They need to know that the world is watching them, and that anything less than an immediate ceasefire is not good enough. Click here to sign this petition demanding that the members of the UN SecurityCouncil take immediate action to end this bloodshed.

http://www.ceasefirecampaign.org/mo/en.html

Please sign the petition today, and then spread the word by forwarding this message on to all your friends and family. Our goal is to deliver a petition to the Security Council with 1 million signatures this week, and to publicize the petition in major newspapers in the capitals of the US, UK, France and other Security Council members.

Thanks so much for your help,
Ricken Patel
CeasefireCampaign.org

P.S. Groups and leaders from across the world and from diverse perspectives agree that an urgent ceasefire is an important part of resolving this crisis. Most countries of the world, from Lebanon toTanzania to India, have called for a ceasefire, and have been joined by major international NGOs such as Oxfam and Amnesty International. Christian leaders such as Pope Benedict XVI, and the World Council of Churches have also called for a ceasefire. Arab and Muslim organizations such as the Organization of the Islamic Conference have also been joined by Israeli and Jewish groups such as Meretz Israel, Degel HaTorah, and Brit Tzedek v'Shalom in calling for a ceasefire.

HELP!

2006-08-10T19:58:00.000-05:00

AUB Medical Center and all Hospitals in Lebanon need help

The fuel in Lebanon is running out and American University of Beirut Medical Center has only enough reserves to last a week. Seeing that electricity is barely available, soon the elderly, new-born, injured and sick - including the St Judes Cancer Children Center - will be in total darkness because of the Israeli blockade on Lebanon. No electricity means no more life support, no more medical machines, no more ER, no more hospital communication and no more health system in Lebanon's biggest hospital.

It is everyone's duty to help. By simply clicking on the link below, and posting a message on the ABC News blog site , ABC Television can feel that the story has enough interest in order to do a news report on it. This news report would in turn be seen by millions around the world which would hopefully allow for fuel to be brought into Lebanon solely for the hospitals. The more "clicks" and message postings the article gets on ABC's website, the more leverage and impact it gives to get the story on TV http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/07/beirut_er_times.html

You can also help by passing this message to all your contacts so that the word can be spread across the globe and reach the largest number of people.

From Beirut to ... those who love us

2006-08-08T20:03:00.000-05:00

I came across this video today. A powerful letter from a great people who will not die!

www.beirutletters.org

About the Video: This video letter was made on July 21, 2006 at the studios of Beirut DC, a film and cinema collective which runs the yearly Ayam Beirut Al Cinema'iya Film Festival. This video letter was produced in collaboration with www.Samidoun.org , a grassroots gathering of various organizations and individuals who were involved in relief and media effortsfrom the first day of the Israeli attack on Lebanon. It was also broadcasted at theBiennial of Arab Cinema, organized by the Arab World Institute in Paris. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works 2.5 License .

We encourage people to rebroadcast and share this video under this license. If you would like a broadcast version of this video, or for any otherquestions or comments, please send an email to: info@beirutletters.org

Cocoz NotSoPrivate Thoughts

From Mother Theresa

Undelivered Letter

My daughter the singer

June 7, 2009

Welcome

35 weeks

It's been a while...

Bilan 2008

Quote of the Day

Happy Independence Day, Lebanon!

Anastasia

On the road, here and there

Of Canada

Life here

Familiarity is good

يا لطيف الأدب العربي شو عويص

What color is it gonna be?

The New Wonder of the World

Google at its best :)

ضجة ضجة ضجة

Children without childhood

This is Life

A New Beginning

Goodbye

Mirror of my past

كل حبة من ترابك قلب ولهفة ام تنادينا

*** Post number 100 ***

Goodbye Canada

حب وابتسامة

NO WAY!

remember this?

New Year’s Resolution

يا يسوع

We Wish You

>>

dead and deadline

Welcome back Clo :)

Vacation 2007 and more

The song of Life

Not suitable for children

???

Bye Bye Summer

Georgian Bay Getaway

August 7th

Thank you!

Homage à Abdallah Tohmé

Mon "Chez Nous"

Bonjour Toronto!

Seasons Outside My Windows

LebaneseWebsite.com

one more

Pourquoi aussi tôt que ça?

Prière

On a lighter note

Fairuz - Petra & Kuwait 1966 Concert with Nasri

Love

The man

Najwa Karam - نجوى كرم - عتب لبنان

Food? I tell you something about food!

Twenty years ago

19.. 20.. 21

March 19

...

March 11

March 5, 2007...

February 22

February 21st

World Press Photo of the Year 2006

Toz = Salt???

Thank you ShooFiMaFi.com!

وطن، هجرة وإنتماء

...

Ziyara

Anybody home?

"centrale"

15/01/07

نحو خطة اقتصادية ‏تشجع استثمارات الشباب

January 1st

Happy Old 2006, Happy New 2007

* Post number 100 *