STORIES, STORIES

UNorganizing the GeekFest. Which, by the way, has been postponed until further notice. Check updates at the website: GeekFestJeddah.com . Sniff.

My mom's trying something new. When's the last time you did?

The view from our smoking spot in the new office building. Not bad. We can enjoy this lovely, cool weather. But only because it's November. Can you spot the 4 giants smoking cigarettes while lying down?

You always gotta be careful at birthdays of the first kind, because there are so many pictures taken, and you know that sometime in the future, when the birthday girl's a grownup, she and her friends will look at these pictures and laugh at that weird lady in the background with the stupid outfit. That will be you. (Me.)

GeekFest has come to Jeddah, and it's about frakking time! Exciting Stuff The best thing about GeekFest Jeddah is the chance to meet the geeks you've only ever interacted with online, IRL! I think living in Jeddah restricts one's socializing to only the people in close proximity. Thanks to the intertubules, we're able to meet like-minded people with whom we can geek out about our interests. What Makes a Geek? Let's not get into this discussion here. Geeks are people who are so interested in something that they seek out every little tiny detail about it. It doesn't matter what it is. If you think it's something else, come to the GeekFest and discuss with us! UNorganized This is supposed to be a very chill event, where people just show up, meet other people and start conversations. Minimal organization went on for this to come together, and for that, here's the person responsible: Khayra Bundakji I first met Khayra online, even th...

I have cheat days. Days when I eat whatever I want and not care whether I'm going over my calories or whatever. Problem is, that seems to be every friggin day. This plant bore witness to a cheat meal in progress.

This is the locker room at the spa floor of the gym I go to.  I've been working out for about 2 years now, almost half of that time at the gym. You know how fitness geeks are always talking about that adrenaline rush you get when you work out, how your body CRAVES exercise, and how you REALLY REALLY feel good after an especially difficult workout that you somehow survived?  That doesn't really happen until after you've been working out for a while. The first year will be full of being lazy and practically bribing yourself (with food and/or money) to go to the gym/exercise. But soldier on. By the second year, working out will be such a part of your routine that no amount of excuses (coming from yourself or the people around you) can stop you from getting your daily workout. Trust.

We have officially moved to a new location at work. Good-bye Rawdah Street. Hello, Tahlia Street (which is, incidentally, Rawdah Street's slutty sister).  This place was "ours" for a good 6 years almost.  But it's time to move on and make changes. There will be blood bad things, I'm sure, but like all other instances of moving on, we must always, always remember the good. P.S. I've been working here for almost 7 years! OMG. a) I'm obviously old. b) I'm practically married to this place. c) I haven't exactly been a faithful spouse to it. 

One of the best books I've read this year, Dune by Frank Herbert. A friend and I were just discussing how true that saying is, about not judging a book by its cover, because this book looks dreadful on the outside. "Just the word Dune makes me feel sleepy."  The book is anything but boring.  I've read this book twice, I discovered. I got it as a birthday present 3 years ago from Hattan, and read it apparently, because I'd written notes inside. The second time I read it, it was as if I never did. So strange. Also, yay Book 29! I originally set my Reading Challenge 2011 to 30 books, but last month, in a moment of overconfidence, I upped it to 50 books. I totally set myself up for failure. I read a lot of books, and I'm almost always reading, so I'm pretty surprised that I barely make it to 30 books a year. I thought the figure would be something like 300. Hah. I still have more than a hundred unread books on my bookshelves. It's gon...

After work, Summer and I were treated to a joyride in her dad's new car. I've never known what it's like to own a brand new car, but I'm pretty sure it's awesome.

Like, I really need a break from coffee. I'm averaging two a day.

Got together with friends after they poured back in from other countries, one after another.

I do not know how I survived years of coffee consumption without these two bebis. I got them as a birthday gift from Summer, and I love them to pieces. Makes me feel so Adama, dunno why.

(... as opposed to feet porn.) These have been my favorite pair of shoes for the past few months. I live in them. When I bought them (Topshop, I think?), one of my friends was like "I saw those shoes a few weeks ago and I KNEW you would get them." Whaddaya know, I'm predictable.

My dad's at hospital (again) for minor surgery. Every time we go to the University Hospital, I'm treated to the story (for the millionth time) of how I was born in this very same hospital.  I'm pretty sure I do repeats of stories to my friends, my students, and in this blog, so I'm gonna let this one slide. He's bored out of his mind, just sitting around waiting for results and doctors and stuff. Faisal promptly suggests I get him an iPad. I lol-ed.

This is how I make lesson plans. Notice I got new headphones . These were the ones Suzann had that I thought was really cute!

I like that Italian place Rossopomodoro coz it's pretty and they have vegetarian-friendly foods (I'm not vegetarian, I just need to watch my calories for now). But you know what would be more awesome?  If they called it ROSSOPOMODORODOMOPOSSOR instead. Palindrome WIN WIN WIN. -- Here's what I like about shopping at Ikea. My brother and I can have conversations like: Me : "OMG, look! They have Bursjons." My Brother : "I know, right? I didn't know they sold Pappis here." BECAUSE THESE ARE NORMAL NAMES OF THINGS. Makes me feel like I'm in a Herbert or Tolkien novel. I also like how they explain what the items are in Arabic, but not in English (BECAUSE THE NAMES SUFFICE. Duh, it's a Pappis. *major eye-rolling*). I went to Ikea to get a digital weighing scale. It wasn't the most informed of trips, I tell you that much. I just really couldn't think of any other place that would have digital weighing scales...

I have temporarily switched to tea (from coffee) because it's at least 50% less calories. K?

Souma invited a bunch of Jeddah girls over to make ghrayiba and dinner, so I learned a few things while I was there that I would like to share. -- 1. Make audio and/or video notes like Khayra did if you want to re-imagine the recipe in future. -- 2. Make a contribution to the process. Like so. -- 3. Wear an awesome David Bowie shirt. Like so. -- 4. Take notes of the Arabic terms for food-making. Because I didn't. And now I don't remember any of them. -- 5. Assign roles appropriately, according to each person's skill level. (For example, I was assigned nothing, while Ghaidaa got infidibs on trolling.) -- 6. Take pictures of vegetables because they don't move, so you don't have to think about shutter speed. Much. -- 7. Don't forget to have your iPad ready with some recipes to follow. This is not the 20th century. -- As is Jeddah tradition, we had tea and cookies in the rooftop, with the light...

I find it's not as fascinating when my female friends from grade school get married as it is when the male ones do. Probably because for the most part of knowing the boys, we always thought: "WHO WOULD MARRY YOU, YOU DORK?" Who knew dorks would outgrow their dorkiness? Or at least that it will be muted? We're talking successful, smart, funny men. I'm not gonna lie. I get teary-eyed just looking at the wedding pictures. <3 -- Muneer's next. I wish I could be the photographer at their weddings. -- Alf mabrook the groom and his beautiful bride. <3

Here is more evidence of my getting older and older. Apart from Ayman being in his early 20s now, I have also become a part of that group of older people who do not understand nor find any purpose in skateboarding (or skating boards, according to my father). Sara Grace got Ayman this apparently awesome skateboard, complete with tools and thingamabobs that make up the awesomeness of said skateboard. -- Instead of a birthday cake, this.

A dead bug, even, according to Sara Grace.

A neutral good day for a swim.

There's a new game in town.  I'm buying this on Steam, unless it's on PS3, which I doubt.