Yesterday, I went out with a friend of mine to one of the prominent coffee shops in Mecca Mall. You see, we like going there because it has large windows and we can sit inside while breathing fresh air and they make great coffee, so there we were on one of our favorite tables and peacefully munching our dinner when a guy and two girls came in and sat right in front of us.

Now, there isn’t anything strange about this scene as many people go out in groups and eat or drink; this is really not the issue. What was really obvious is that the guy formed a couple with one of the girls and the other girl was there like a third wheel, but that also is normal … I mean you can go out with your girlfriend and her friend might/can tag along, so we are still OK …

Some time went by and then we noticed that the girl was all touchy feely with the guy; she would put her hand over his, or just makes sure that she touches all the skin on his arm when she extends her hand to get a tissue or whatever … it was too obvious that we could not NOT notice, but we brushed it off …

After a while, the guy started touching back, by pinching a cheek here or holding a hand there … then she would sneak her hand under his arm in an attempt to hold his other hand or just touch it lightly … but we said to ourselves, well; maybe we are just too old fashioned or maybe this is the new trend in dating in Amman … who knows?

Then we noticed that there was a whole other scene under the table … they were seriously all over each other … she would but her feet over his, or he would touch her leg, or she would cross her legs only to touch him on the knee with her foot … and I was “this” close to shouting: get a room, will ya?!!!

Not only is this action tasteless and shameless, but it is also strange to happen in a public place in a mall … I am not that naive and I know that there are places where such things happen but certainly not in a coffee shop in a mall with very clear sharp lights and while you are seated very close to the next table … I mean come on! When did we lose all manners and morals … will someone tell me: is this normal???

What is happening to this generation? Even if they were engaged or married, does this justify such behavior? Is flirtation a part of dating these days? Have we become like western countries where the date should end with a kiss at the door? If this girl was seen by her father, brother or even her cousin while she was all over that guy, would she continue what she was doing without even blinking or would she worry that there would be severe consequences? If that guy saw his sister or even cousin in the position of the girl who was with him, I wonder how he would react!!

In a community that is drowning in double standards and culture of shame, it comes as a shock that we see such behaviors in public places which makes me wonder, did people stop caring suddenly? Or did the standards change? Or are we getting into a new era that has no limits or boundaries???? :S

I could not believe it when I first read this ad, but there it was with all its glory staring me in the face …

so there you have it my friends, if you want a VAN … all you have to do is buy a TV

For those who cannot read Arabic; the ad says that you get a FAN if you buy a TV, but somehow the FAN turned into a VAN for my amusement

Enjoy!!

What is it about a sleepless night that turns us into grumpy upset people? Is it that our bodies and brains did not get enough rest or is it that we are lazy creatures that cannot function unless we take off periods that make at least one third of our lives??

You can tell that I had a really lousy night and that I did not get enough sleep, add that to a hectic day full of meetings, covering for absent employees (my staff), complaints and requests flying all over the place and your friends ditching you at lunch time … if that is not a fatal combination for a grumpy lousy bad crappy mood and attitude; I seriously don’t know what is!!!

I had a meeting after work last night and it was a bit past 10 when I headed home. I wanted to pass by the supermarket to buy something and withdraw some cash, so I stopped by Safeway on my way home. Not only was it full and the people were lined up in tens waiting for their turn to reach the cash register, but the place was so full of kids :S
Wherever I looked, there were kids … they were shouting, playing race with the shopping carts and screaming at their parents that they want to buy this or that; I guess that they must have mistaken the superstore to be the park, playground or even wonderland … My God!!! What is wrong with these people?? It is a school night and kids are still shopping at 11 in the night? Is this normal? Am I being too picky here? When we were young kids, we used to be in bed by 8 or 9 max, so what are these kids still doing or more importantly, what are the parents thinking???

I just left the place without buying anything because getting anything would have meant standing in line for 15 – 20 minutes and I was dead tired by then with a bad mood that wouldn’t have been able to handle the noise so I decided to head home for everyone’s benefit including mine.

When I reached home, it was almost 11:15 and what is that? More kids in the street!!! :S :S
How are they going to be disciplined? How are they going to respect time and commitments if they cannot be trained to sleep early in school nights? Call me nuts, but I really believe that these are related and teaching these behaviors to children (positive or negative) will alter and affect the outcome of their futures.

No wonder we have so many inconsiderate people, no wonder we suffer from lack or morals wherever we go, it is not shocking then that we see rudeness as the norm, not surprising at all that we look at the polite with an exclamation point written all over our faces. It is the upbringing and the way one was raised that determines what type of a person he/she might become in the future, so if the mother was careless enough and the father was absent minded enough to leave their kids without so much to train them how to be committed serious people, then the coming generation would be a lot worse and more lost than the ones we currently have!!

Maybe this is my sleep deprived brain talking, or my deeper subconscious trying to break free, but I do believe that with each passing day, the crisis is growing bigger and a lot of people are becoming parents without being prepared for the role so they learn as they go, but I wonder where they are getting their knowledge because what we are witnessing is not a nice result by a far shot.

Having children might be the biggest responsibility one can claim by choice because you will be bringing human beings into this world, and since they did not choose to come in the first place or choose you yourself as their parent, you are obliged to do your utmost best to make sure you prepare them for life and give them a good future that allows them to move on and create more generations. Parenthood is not a journey in the park nor is it a fairy tale; it is a lot of hard work, commitment and dedication with a mix of tender loving care (TLC), parenting means that you will give up your life willingly for 20 something years until your kids are well on their way in life and even then you will still give them a big part of your life because that’s what it is all about … it is for this purpose that God demands respect and care for the parents but parents have to earn that by doing their job properly!!

I think that having children is very beautiful yet very scary, it is miraculous but risky, it is something that must not be taken lightly and I never seize to be amazed how a lot of people do just that!!!

With each passing day, week, month or year, we all get our shares of good and bad news. Sometimes we are on the sad edge and other times we are on the happy one, some might argue that there is a little bit of both in each and every moment but why look for the drama when it is time to celebrate and party?

I have learned that it is best when we grasp the happy moment and enjoy it as much as we can because it does not last long, it passes us like a breeze, freshens our senses, makes us forget for a moment that life is full of worries and concerns and makes us see that with all these burdens, we still can enjoy a free minute of happiness that is well deserved.

Today; I would like to share my piece of happiness with all of you out there …
In our family; we are celebrating two different events, one that already passed and the other is about to take place at the end of the week inshallah …
As for the one that has passed; my sister has passed her comprehensive exam and ranked the first at kingdom level in her major which is marketing and she ranked the first on the 5% of students who get to continue their education at university. Now if this is not an achievement, I do not know what is!
In the period when she had her exams, she used to stay up at night to study the large number of books to be able to pass the exam. Although that I do not like the system of having to do one exam for 7 or 8 books at the same time, but I believe that she did a great job and I am so proud of her, so congratulations Nisreen

As for the event that is going to take place this weekend, it is my other sister getting married … you can imagine the amount of preparations that we are going through at this stage, be it her house and all the needed furniture, tidying up, buying accessories and new stuff … etc.

I am not much of a wedding person and people who have been following up on my blog know that I complained a few times about weddings’ atmospheres and how uninvited people show up from nowhere which reminds me of the famous movie “Wedding Crashers”, and all these ladies staring at the half dressed girls to pick brides for their sons who recently entered the marriage market, and those girls who compete on who dresses less and who dances best, and these old ladies wishing you to get married soon before you are expired and all these funny details that take place without any justifiable reason but hey; it is a wedding and that’s normal practice in our part of the world.

My sister decided not to make a big party in a hotel because she believes that this is a waste of money especially that the groom’s family insists on making a big traditional lunch (Mansaf) which will cost a lot more than a party in a 5 star hotel. I congratulate her on making this decision because all this wasted money does not make sense to me at all … but again; that’s just me.

Yesterday; I was in Mecca mall with a friend and as we were going out, I wanted to go take a look at jewelry. Damas has an outlet in the ground floor and so we entered and I told my friend that he better get some insight and practice because soon he will be here (or there) buying the ring and other stuff for the bride. We saw some wonderful diamond rings, really beautiful in cut, design and I might add price as well (pretty high) … so I was telling my friend that I don’t like the tradition of buying so many pieces of gold when you get married because in tradition, the bride’s family asks for gold in the range of 2000 or 3000 JD. This amount of money can easily get you a beautiful diamond ring that will live for generations but again; that’s only me!

Anyway; I just wanted to share the joy with you and wish my sister the best of what the world can offer in their future