On August 24, 2007, I was taking advantage of PH's handy dandy Libyan Bloggerator and saw a subject on KhadijaTeri's blog that caught my eye entitled "He's back". From the tone in the post I could tell she was less than pleased with "Mr.”. As many of us do, we can't help but offer our support, advice and/or humor in an attempt to relate, commiserate and/or empathize with our blog family members. So in keeping with tradition and receiving this little tidbit earlier today, I thought I'd share the latest technique in handling Anger Management to both KhadijaTeri as well as the rest of the blog family.
Anger Management:
One day the wife and I were discussing anger management and I asked her, "When I get mad at you, you never fight back. How do you control your anger?"
She said, "I clean the toilet bowl."
I asked, "How does that help?"
She said, "I use your toothbrush."
UPDATE!
In acknowledgement of our first attendee to pass the course!
For many the weather has a big impact on their emotional state of mind, and can even cause mild to severe depression. I know I struggle with the winter months-----can't stand it, and try so hard not to complain because most of the people I'm around prefer the cold over the heat, but nonetheless I can still be like a grumpy grizzly bear.
Anyway, it has once again turned hot here (104 Fahrenheit/40 Celsius) and people are suffering (although I'm probably one of the only few that doesn't mind entirely). So in an attempt to pose a distraction as well as a cure for the blues I thought these pictures would help. :-)
Well Amira and I have been quit busy the last couple of weeks going back and forth between our house and the dance studio, as my group is preparing for a performance at the State Fair on Labor Day.
Anyway, on our route to and from our house out of the corner of my eye one day I spotted this little pink building that looked like a dollhouse. So, last Saturday as we drove by we spotted not only the pink building but the cutest little pink VW bug we’ve ever seen. Of course, we had to capture a picture for our blog family. After doing some research, I learned this facility was actually a tearoom where they hold private tea parties for all ages. In fact, this Sunday we are going to a tearoom (different than this one) for my best friend Mindy’s birthday. We will be seated, asked to place our tea order (teas from all around the globe) then we get to go to the "Vanity Closet" while tea is being prepared. The "Vanity Closet" is a room filled with all sorts of girlie items, from hats, gloves, tiaras, boas, glasses, etc. Once we are all dazzled up in our outfits we return to our table where our tea as well as an assortment of finger foods will be served. We are all so excited to go and get in touch with our "inner child" our "hidden diva" or just plain "silliness" for an afternoon of good company and laughter.
In the meantime, I’ve been trying to figure out how to get what’s on top of the pink VW onto my car….LOL
Well in defense of Miss Teen USA South Carolina, I have to give her a little bit of reprieve for merely being nervous standing in front of a huge audience. HOWEVER, what a fine reflection her answer gives to our educational system. Are we not a proud nation?
Today the world was blessed with the entrance of Princess Mixed Up Me. :-) She is one of the most giving, selfless, bright person I know, and am honored to call my friend.
May God bless you always and reward you for the years you've placed your life on hold for the well-being of others. May you know the true beauty, strength, and wisdom you have within you to make a difference for others as well as yourself. Happy Birthday! I love you!
Anyone that has ever been in the U.S. and had some sort of manicure/pedicure/nail treatment will appreciate this girl's stand-up act. I laugh so hard every time I watch it.
A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add emphasis to his Sunday sermon.Four worms were placed into four separate jars.The first worm was put into a container of alcohol. The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke. The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup.The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil. At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the following results:
The first worm in alcohol - Dead. The second worm in cigarette smoke - Dead
Third worm in chocolate syrup – Dead
Fourth worm in good clean soil - Alive.
So the Minister asked the congregation - What can you learn from this demonstration?
Maxine was setting in the back, quickly raised her hand and said,
"As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!"
Law of Mechanical Repair After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee.
Law of the Workshop Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
Law of Probability The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.
Law of the Telephone If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal.
Law of the Alibi If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire.
Variation Law If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in, will start to move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).
Law of the Bath When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings.
Law of Close Encounters The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with.
Law of the Result When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will.
Law of Biomechanics The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.
Law of the Theater At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last.
Law of Coffee As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.
Murphy'sLaw of Lockers If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.
Law of Rugs/Carpets The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug.
Law of Location No matter where you go, there you are.
Law of LogicalArgument Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
Brown's Law If the shoe fits, it's ugly.
Oliver's Law A closed mouth gathers no feet.
Wilson's Law As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it. (this one is true every time!)
Doctors' Law If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. Don't make an appointment and you'll stay sick.
My latest read is Lipstick Jihad, which I’ve had for a bit but recently just picked up to continue reading.
It’s about an Iranian raised in America who returns to Iran as an American. An interesting read because the time period and location are things I can relate to; however, I struggle with the identity crisis. The more and more I learn the more I realize how important identity whether it’s religious, ethnical, cultural or otherwise is to people. I’m not entirely sure why that’s important. I suppose if I have to identify myself, I’d say that I am a creation of the greatest Creator……..I am a human.
I wonder in the big scheme of things what does it matter where I come from (cultural background), what does it matter what my religious affiliation, what does it matter where my ancestors derived from, what does it matter my gender, what does any of this matter? Why is so much in this life weighed on some if not all these factors?
I love this snippet from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?” I pull these specific words because I think they ring true for all humans. I don’t think one nation, culture, religion, ethnicity, gender, etc., is except from these very real words. More importantly, being human is so beautifully simple, but as humans we make our lives so incredibly difficult. Why?
Saudi Arabia Makes First Music Video By DONNA ABU-NASR
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The Arab world's hugely popular music video industry often features sexy performers in revealing clothes crooning about love.
But the first clip to be fully produced in Saudi Arabia has a message of a different kind: You can be cool and devout.
The video is unusual because it was made in a country where the religious establishment considers music un-Islamic and bans it in public places. And the main cast includes a Saudi woman, something rare in a work produced inside the kingdom.
But in a sign of Saudi impatience with the restrictions, ``Malak Ghair Allah'' or ``You Only Have God to Count On'' was a hit when it was launched at a popular mall in the western seaport of Jiddah last week. Hundreds of people showed up to watch it on a giant screen in the mall's main hall.
``People didn't stop clapping. Some had tears in their eyes,'' Kaswara al-Khatib, the video's director, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
The video is expected to air on most of the Middle East's more than 30 music satellite TV channels this week. Despite fears among the Saudi clergy over the corrupting influence of music videos, the clip had implicit government approval. The credits thank ``those who helped make this work a success,'' including the Information Ministry.
``You Only Have God to Count On'' uses upbeat music to tell the story of a successful man who had strayed from the path of true Islam. He smokes, flirts with women even though he's engaged and doesn't join his colleagues at work in performing the five daily Muslim prayers.
Things slowly start to go bad: He has a flat tire and problems at work and his fiancee leaves him when she sees him talking to another woman. He then has a serious accident while recklessly driving his motorcycle. After he recovers, the man starts to pray, stops smoking, wins back his fiancee and excels at work.
Significantly, the man sports a hip goatee and doesn't grow the big, bushy beard favored by fundamentalist Muslims. He still wears T-shirts and jeans and sticks to his old friends, including a man who favors the much-frowned-upon ponytails.
``I wanted the youths to understand that it's not the looks that count. It's what inside that matters,'' al-Khatib said.
``The video also has this message: Don't give up and think, 'I sinned, therefore I'm going to hell,''' the director added. ``Think that there's a God and he is always there to help you.''
While there's no lack of production crews, dancers and singers in Lebanon, Egypt and other Arab countries that produce music videos, things are different in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom follows the strictest school of Islam that bans the mixing of the sexes and all forms of entertainment, including music in restaurants, concerts and movie theaters.
Al-Khatib, 37, who heads an advertising agency, has previously produced music videos, but this is the first that is an all-Saudi work. It was filmed along Jiddah's boardwalk on the Red Sea, a popular hangout for youths.
The lyrics of the song, performed by Muhammed al-Haddad, say in part: ``If things go bad ... if your dreams have been lost ... you only have God to count on.''
Al-Khatib said that for the lead female part, he had to get permission from the parents of Ruwaina al-Jihani before he could cast her in the role of the fiancee.
``They consulted with the extended family before giving their consent,'' said al-Khatib.
Al-Jihani appeared covered in the traditional black cloak and headcover, with only her face showing. One shot showed her all in white at her engagement.
Al-Khatib said that while music is controversial in Saudi Arabia, he has heard fatwas (religious edicts) from non-Saudi clerics who say music for a good cause should not be illegal.
Plus, al-Khatib said he wanted to give Saudi youths an alternative to music videos produced abroad but popular on satellite TV.
``The problem is not the music. It's how you utilize it,'' said the director.
``We wanted to talk to them in their own language,'' he added. ``Instead of saying, 'Don't listen to music,' we're saying, 'Listen to music that's good for you.''
These days I'm finding myself more and more feeling like Chicken Little with his infamous quote "the sky is falling".
As some, all or none may know I'm an independent loan processor for a mortgage broker in California, and as of lately we have been receiving notice after notice that Lenders are going out of business. I'm being told through my work that this doesn't necessarily effect my position with the exception of we have to go out and find other Lenders that will loan our clients money for their homes. Thankfully the clients we work with all have exception credit, so resources although a little more hectic to find are still available for them. However, due to so many people in the U.S. letting their homes go into foreclosure because they can no longer afford their mortgage as well as so many people being out of work because of the recent closing of financial lending institutions it causes me great concern for my own well-being. After all isn't it a dog-eat-dog world out there-----everyone must look out for themsevesf?
I purposely do not watch the news or read it (perhaps not the wisest thing to do) because it causes me such stress. I'm so extremely sensitive that I take all of this stuff personally and let it eat at me until I'm nearly physically sick. A gene (probably not genetically authentic) passed on from my father called "worrying" was certainly one I inherited.
I realize that there's an ebb and flow to everything in life. I can logically rationalize that over centuries the financial market is strong and weak. There's countless documents of historical data that will show that there are good times financially as well as hard times financially, and somehow in the end it all balances out.
I've seem to have been a blessed being in somehow always managing to get by. I've never been what one would consider financially successful, and yet I've never required applying for unemployment income from the government because of always being gainfully employed.
Nonetheless, the current state of affairs still worries me. Eventhough, logically and emotionally I need to not worry about it as that's showing a lack of faith, in my humanness I still do. I've been on this planet for quite some time now and have weathered many storms, but for some reason this particular storm has me gravely concerned for some reason.
Ugh! Sometimes it just stinks being a grown-up. LOL And if I'm completely being honest as well as stereotypical, I hate being the man of the family worrying about this kind of stuff.
Mashallah, my baby – the dancing princess. The ballerina of Swan Lake.
Last Friday was an introductory ballet and tap class for kids from 4 to 5 years old at a gymnastic/dance studio near our house. Amira was so thrilled to be going to her own dance class because she sees me going to mine once a week. When we got to the studio and she realized they were kids her age, she was even more thrilled. So after trying the class she decided she wanted to do it again and again.
I nervously inquired as to the cost of the dance class and all the paraphernalia that goes along with taking classes (i.e., unitard, tights, ballet shoes, tap shoes, and lord knows what else they’ll want from you besides your two front teeth). I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t going to cost me my one good shimmying hip. I was informed we could purchase the clothes and shoes at our local retailers, Target, Wal-Mart and Payless Shoe Source, which I was thrilled to learn. However, I just know this isn’t the end----they will sucker me somehow as it seems to happen with my own classes. It seems I’m always buying a new outfit for any of our performances. Nonetheless, as long as she’s having a good time that’s all that matters to me.
So here are a few photos for this morning's class.
Getting ready to begin class
First one in class
Class begins
Stretching
Tap stepping across line Hugging teacher at the end of class
The second worm in cigarette smoke - Dead
Fourth worm in good clean soil - Alive.
"As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate, you won't have worms!"
Tap stepping across line
Hugging teacher at the end of class
