Jukebox Friday - Nerds are all around us...

I should start out by saying that I don't like seeing that my last post was last Jukebox Friday. This week I turned 27 and I have a lot to blog about, but I think I fell into a writer's depression this week. OK, so maybe it was just a big pit of lime vodka, cherry schnapps, and tequila. I can comment that I had a fantastical birthday and everything should be great, but I finally admitted this week that I need a job. Y'all are groaning and throwing things at me, but this seriously should be a time for me to make money. Before the big expensical items come along like houses and babies.

ANYWHOO. This song we heard in Lebanon and it is very nerdy, trust...BUT it gets in your head and has quirky lyrics about cake and science and my favorite lyrics:

I'm not even angry.
I'm being so sincere right now.
Even though you broke my heart.
And killed me.
And tore me to pieces.
And threw every piece into a fire.
As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you!

The song is from the end-credits for a nerdy game called "Portal" and it was composed by Jonathan Coulton. Jonathan Coulton is the genius behind "Code Monkey" and "Tom Cruise Crazy" and other fantastical songs you can hear HERE. (seriously listen to Tom Cruise Crazy. Skullcrusher Mountain and the melodic cover of Baby Got Back are great too.)

Enjoy all this nerdiness kids.

Poetically perfect.

I've found myself waxing poetically in my head on this vacation. Sitting on a beach I sigh to myself knowing that it is (really really) poetically perfect. The sun melts away anything else I try to summon to trump the perfectness. Even going to the grocery store produces a wisp of amusement and something to learn. I store away these days of my brain being challenged by language and culture. Sitting in the garden on yet another sunny morning gives me the simplest vacation pleausure. I like the combo of tea and roses. There is even a term for the morning sitting and drinking of coffee(tea)..but I can't even begin to spell it here!!


(the last beach we went to...I took this pic!)

So, oh yeah, tomorrow I'm going to be hauled off to another amazing beach...oh poo, huh?

There are the tiny things too...I get to receive sneaked eye winks from my husband and focus on the cutest little things that make me remember back to the first time I really knew I loved him (it was on vacation in New Orleans!) These little things and the overall comfortableness of vacation fills some gaps in the relationship with happy memories.

Yes, we will be returning to the states....but not until I get to fill my brain with tons more poetically perfect moments.

_______________________________________________________________
more observed things:

- 3 huge bags with tons of fresh (field->truck->store shelf) vegetables and fruits only cost $15. I AM LOVING IT.
- My man2ousheh quest (man2ousheh cup 2008?) is continuing and so far the local shop is winning like 6-0
- Every third car here is a BMW or a Mercedes.
- Every third car here contains a majority of the assholes on the roads
- Clothing is expensive here, but you can find really unique pieces
- I didn't bring enough dress clothes. In fact, I'm at the point where I'm sick of every single piece of limited clothing I brought and now my jeans don't fit (in a fresh vegetable awesome way!).
- The Frenchy types of people here have just the right amount of Lebanese with still the hint of pretentiousness. I'm more amused than offended :D
- Hearing the song "Jump" by Kriss Kross sung in French was so hilarious. (hearing the song come on the very next day the very first time I hit play was destiny?)
- I say in my brain the French word, but all that comes out is gooooooo
(remember the episode of Friends where Phoebe was trying to teach Joey? I feel like Joey!)
- We are really getting blessed with all the kind wishes from people
- Knowing how many times to kiss a person hello can never be learned...unless you vocally state your intentions. (it's usually three kisses hello and one goodbye?)
- I fully apologize to any shop owners yesterday and today who jabbered away at me in Arabic and I couldn't even guess at what they were saying. I mumbled stuff and walked away - they must have thought horrible things!
- I don't think my adorable red manicured nails will last another day
- I almost got an adorable kitty caught for me...poor thing was trapped under a car but remained just out of reach
- Within the group of friends nothing can get planned more than 15 mins in advance. Except designated BEACH DAYS.
- Networking ("friend of friend" / "second cousin thrice removed") is an art form here. I swear everyone is only 3 degrees away from each other in this country.
- I've obtained acceptable accent status. woo hoo!

Things that amuse/interest me here

* Hawa Chicken shops (I say it like a ninja...HAWA!)
* The people who have lived here a long time but don't really know Arabic. They can get away with only speaking French and this amazes me
* The signs / tv or movie captions / instructions all in three languages
* My poor poor butchered French pronunciations
* Huge Jesus on wheels (he moves around a certain street we drive through...it's like "FIND THE JESUS!")
* The freedoms here that I can't decide if they are good or bad (eg: drinking alcohol in cars)
* The traditions (eg: there is a specific kind of rice pudding you serve to all the visiting guests after you have a baby)
* Lizards in the garden
* My "quest" to try all different kinds of man2ousheh to see if the man2ousheh here in Brummana is really the best in all the land
* The old old old buildings that are so pretty in their ancient-ness
* The religious shrines that dot the sides of the roads
* The veiled women walking with their skimpy dressed friends
* The staring....everyone stares at everyone else in cars. (Not just because I'm the blondie.)
* The millions of flower boxes put up along fences in the villages
* The kindness of a total stranger to take off her bracelet and give it to me after I only commented that it was pretty. (this kindness is very common in the older generations, but you don't apparently find it in the younger generations. the girl, Issan, who gave me the bracelet will always be remembered when I put on the bracelet!)
* When going to the movies you sign up where you will be sitting in the theater
* The ability to find a full dinner for $2
* Paying for things in US dollars
* Planning out our perfect beach day for tomorrow
* How cheap it is to get a manicure, pedicure, and eyebrows done ($30 dollars and they do such a good job!!)
* Sitting at a restaurant by the sea with the breezes hitting my face
* Picking out the girls who had nose jobs
* Learning tons of Arabic in only the week I've been here
* Truly amused by the fact that so many things simply don't have a system here (especially traffic. and the fact that I didn't even need a visa when I entered at the airport. we decided it was probably because it was 430am and the guy didn't feel like filling it out!)
* All the flags flying around here due to the soccer Eurocup that is happening. People take soccer here very seriously! (go Germany!)
* Burger King and almost every place delivers here. Oh, and you can tell the guy to pick up something from the store along the way...
* Around every corner is an amazing view

I'm sure I'll keep thinking of more.

Flash Mob

I might have just done the coolest thing EVER. We all participated in something called a "flash mob"....Nothing dangerous...a mere artistic gathering of people doing something(s) quirky. Today we gathered in martyr's square, listened to directions on the i-pods. first it instructed us to walk towards the clock tower square in downtown beirut waving and high-fiving everyone we see (in cars, standing outside buildings, etc). We get to the clock tower square and were instructed to find a unique position that we wish to freeze in. Then, the whole mob of random people froze in positions for five minutes. N& I chose to hold hands. I was looking up at the clock tower and N got to look around. After five minutes, we all walked away as normal. It was so much fun!!! If I see any pictures posted with us in them, I'll throw it up here.

I've seen it done around the world, but I never thought I'd have the chance to participate! That's all the time I have to write....off to do something?

Photos

Photos are up on my photo album site from the first few days here. In the middle of loading them onto facebook the power cut, so now facebook is giving me problems. Power cuts are very common here and usually the generators kick in pretty instantly...last night it took the systems about 10 minutes to kick in though. One of the quirks of this place. :)

We've done a lot of recovering from jet lag around home here, but yesterday we did get out to Bsous to the silk factory museum there. It was super interesting and the gardens there were amazing. I'm really glad we went!

As some of you may have gathered, yes, a frickin spider (we think) bit MY EYE. It happened in the middle of the night and was really painful. It is still tender today, but not too bad. Luckily it was my upper eyelid area and, oh yeah, WASN'T POISONOUS. I was pretty traumatized! Everyone polled here claims to never even heard of anyone getting bitten by a spider or even stung by a bee here. How (un)lucky am I?!?!

Today dad A. will fly in to Lebanon from Dubai and we'll all get to be together on one continent finally. Other than that, we're playing it by ear. Like now I'm going to have tea and biscuits outside in the gorgeous weather. Ummmm, it's been gorgeous every day...300 days of sunshine this lovely place has. Enjoy the pictures!

I hate you Jet Lag....

I'm not really sure why, but I didnt' sleep on any of the plane rides to here at all. I napped in Heathrow a teensy bit, but either security alarms or passengers headed to Hong Kong interrupted. 10 hours in Heathrow was a bit much. Our sensibilites wore out in the last 1/2 hour we were there (sooo close!!) and we ended up changing dollars to pounds. Had some great italian sandwiches and beer though...
So far I've noticed Lebanon is much more vibrant in the summer. The last time I was here was November, which, in all honesty, wasn't a bad time to be here either! The grape vines overhead the porch are full of grapes and the flower vines are all in bloom up the trees & fences. Today was great hanging out in Broumanna and around the house as I was not up to much of anything else. Having tea in a lush summer garden is a pretty amazing thing. Momma (Mom A.) fusses enough about that I feel very well taken care of.
Tomorrow morning I am promised my favorite food manousheh jibne for breakfast and we'll go from there. Yalla, I'm headed back to sleep off a groggy head. Just popped in to let you know I'm safe and sound.

Oh Happy Day!!!

For those wanting an update...

Downtown Beirut had become "tentown" with people setting up tents and constricting downtown travel/business to oppose and protest the government.

As of today in Beirut, the tents are being dismantled and people/press have gathered to watch it....ummm peacefully! Finally, and most importantly, preparations are being executed at the parlimant for the "elections" on Sunday.

So according to the news, the agreement was reached around midnight last night as follows:
- Current government resigns
- "Election" of the new President on Sunday apparently
- Dismantlement of the tents in downtown
- Creation of a National Unity Government
- Session by Parliamant to approve the new Election Law to the election of parliamant members

Cross your fingers, but it appears we will be able to go to Lebanon!

Jukebox Friday....A greeting from my heart

This is a strange day....this entry won't have the usual overtones "le blog sfoof" normally has. As bad as things seem in Lebanon, it could all just turn around and be ok in a few days. It is very interesting the balance an entire country is in. Well, I'm not going to analyze it poorly here... just know the family is fine up in the mountains. That doesn't mean we don't worry. It's like sitting down in the most beautiful restaurant, everyone is laughing, and two of us get served something completely unsavory. Yet, everyone else is still completely enjoying the party. What do you do? Do you drag it all down, switch out dishes and pretend the unsavory parts away, or cautiously take it all in? I will be at a sort-of standstill.

Fairouz, Li Beirut



Translated
Li Beirut - To Beirut

A greeting from my heart to Beirut
kisses to the sea and to the houses
to a rock, which is like an old sailor’s face
She is made from the people’s soul..from wine
She is from his sweat…of bread and Jasmines
So how does her taste become? A taste of fire and smoke

Glory from the ashes to Beirut
My city has turned out her lamp
From the blood of a child carried upon her hand
She shut her door, and became alone in the sky
Alone with the night
You are mine, you are mine
Ah Hug me you are mine
You are my flag, tomorrow stone
And a travel’s waves
The wounds of my people have blossomed
And mothers tear
You are mine, you are mine
Ah Hug me