I expect the Spanish Inquisition!

Bloggers everywhere are talking about John McCain's recent quote regarding a possible meet-up with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. 

Its important to discuss.

So, Zapatero is not a Zapatista. But if he was, I still think that McCain should talk to him. Emiliano Zapata, who's name the organization takes, heavily advocated that the people control their own land and resources. People with resources? That is definitely a threat to US interests. I wonder if McCain knew that Spain and Mexico weren't one in the same. That can get pretty confusing. 

And Zapatero's Spain didn't enter into the Iraq war back in 2003 just like a lot of other nations didn't. In fact, the forces were primarily the US and Britain. Austria and Poland were part of the team too. But that leaves another, 190 countries that "aren't friends with us." It would probably be a good idea to speak with all of those presidents and Prime Ministers. Especially since, according to John McCain, "there will be other wars." 

Wait, Zapatero? Do we know who this dude is? He might not be that important. But maybe it would have been better to say "yes" I will talk to him at least to save face and not risk this sort of embarrassment. But then again there is always that risk of him being a terrorist. And we definitely don't want to partake in foolish delusions like negotiating with terrorists. 

But its more likely that Zapatero could have been confused for musician activist Frank Zappa. And since Zappa has been dead for 15 years almost, I can see why he would be hesitant to talk to him. And since Zappa once sang about a guy named Sheik Yerbouti, its obvious McCain had valid fears.

Its good that the Republican Presidential nominee doesn't talk to anarchists, non-coalition countries, potential terrorists and dead musicians. 

Over and Out.

Ramadan Fever

Growing up in a country where my holiday was always a side note, its strange to turn on the TV and see advertisements geared towards me. The ads promote new drinks, snacks, religious books, etc. And then a shopping trip that would be menial and annoying on any other hot, sweaty August afternoon became... so refreshing to experience. The hustle and bustle of getting ready for the holiday season is very exciting for me. 

I've always been an extreme participant in the Christmas season working in retail. I was there Thanksgiving night preparing for the mad sales. I usually didn't get to experience a day off until ten days after Christmas. But this is my first time to be really a part of the holiday season.

For once I don't need to request off to celebrate my holiday. 

The market today was packed. Everyone was stocking up on suhur (before fast meal) items and iftar (after fast meal) treats. After hitting up three spice shops we finally made it through a crowd to buy black pepper. And hailing a taxi was a feat today. Every single one was busy taking somebody who bought something somewhere. Two days ago I bought 3 pairs of shoes and 2 cute tops for very cheap. The before Ramadan Sales here are great. I'm told the Eid sales will be even better. 

But the shoppers here aren't consumerist enough for me. They buy essentials for the holiday season. I'm more interested in the fun things that make it a festive holiday. So I bought string lights and hung them in the living room. My two-year old cousin is estatic. And around the outside of the house I am hanging colorful streamers, from our balcony to the neighbor's. We never got around to these types of decorations in the states. Hanging lights in the off-season is definitely inexcusable and probably a violation of some city ordinance. 

I'm sure that I'm feeling a little nostalgia for the Ramadans of America I am accustomed to. No one has called me yet to say "Did you see the moon?" or "Will you be at the mosque tonight?" or "Will you break your fast here or there?" I haven't had the chance to be super excited internally. I haven't had an opportunity to plan how I will celebrate, fast, repent and purify while outwardly appearing the same to my coworkers and neighbors. 

Instead I'm outlining my spiritual plan for the month. This month will be the first in almost 10 years when I want to finish reading the Quran cover to cover. This year I won't break my fast on the run via a frozen TV dinner at work or a Snickers bar during class. (I will, however, miss the PF Changs and Buca di Bepo deliveries.) This year I want to breath in all there is to breath in around this holiday. Every aspect of being the majority faith is mine now to treasure. Everyone else around me seems to take this for granted because they have always had it.

I have a quarter century worth of lanterns to light, prayers to read, visiting, fasting, cooking, shopping, etc. to catch up on. I am going all out with Ramadan Fever, at least this once. 

Kitty Blog

My precious Nuqta won't eat. She hasn't in a few days. She hasn't eaten well in a few weeks. And today she won't drink water. 

I spent an hour online reading what everyone says about feline anorexia or other eating disorders related to feline illnesses. I'm not completely sure what to do. But I guess she really can't control her life lately, because I am barely in control of my own. I still am not in a place of my own and so Nuqta is always subject to a random kid petting her, which she hates but tolerates. And more terrible (to the cat) than her expanded social network is her choice of cuisine. She is usually so happy with Alley Cat or Friskies. But we don't have the luxury of cheapo catfoods. Instead she only gets tuna or sardines or some other assortment of fresh fish. 

But she doesn't want fresh fish. I can't blame her though I am the big fan of fish who now hates to smell them or eat them. So today I wanted to get a vet to look at her. Maybe she has worms (haven't seen any) or fleas (nope) or something else (please no). But whatever is wrong I want to fix it and I don't want my kitty wasting away. Her chubs have all melted and now you pet a boney spine when you want to cuddle. Yuck. But yeah, the vet no-called. And he's the only one in this town.

So I got a syringe and some gerber baby food and mom gave me advice over the net; and dad helped me squirt it down her throat. So she has 6mg of Gerber in her as of 1:45am and another 3mg of baby vitamin juice. Around 4am we'll try to get another 6mg of Gerber down.

So far so good. I will keep you posted. I'm sure everyone is on the edge of their seat and praying for my kitty to get well soon. Don't send flowers, send dry cat food. ;-)

Frankenstein Ouchie

Not that this merits a blog posting, but I figured I needed to update and say what I am up to. 

I have been swimming several times in the Sea. It seemed for a week I went every day challenging myself to go farther and farther. Sometimes the waves actually kind of suck you in and its scary for a second, but everyone should know I love the water. So, I finally got stung by a jellyfish.

It felt like all of the sudden I was stabbed with a butcher knife through my foot. Then I had to swim against the tide to the shore, which took forever, with this imaginary knife jutting out of the top of my foot. I limped across the hot sand to see what can simply be described as a red puffy line across my foot, maybe 4 inches long or so.

So this new thing on my foot is starting to look like a scar from getting a bunch of stitches, kind of frankenstein-ish. And its all I can think about right now because it itches so much.

Its kind of comedic because there are no jellyfish in the Sea right now supposedly. They all leave this area in late June early July. So I got stung by a lazy jellyfish who somehow didn't move with the migration. 

So the big joke is that the only jellyfish in the Sea came after me. Great.

Nothing to See Here, Move Along

Interesting day. I've of course put together a draft to talk about the protest and getting held by the police and making it out fine. But as of a few minutes ago I was informed I should erase anything and everything having to do with my attempted journalistic piece. The Egyptian National Security contacted my uncle and will be meeting with all of the men of the family here in the home tonight. Pray that nothing of interest happens. 

I'm going to go dye my hair now.

Peace.

Protest Breaks Out

I don't know if should be afraid or not to be a journalist in a country so near to war and so torn by political struggle. But I'm not. I only post this before I go so that everyone knows what I saw in case I'm not back to tell it. I also need to compose myself.

Women dressed in all black and covering their faces so that they can not be recognized took to the street today. It must have been at least 40 of them standing in front of the two semis. We went by slowly in the taxi but the police motioned for us and other cars to keep moving. I'm going back to see what happened.

What I saw were angry women bearing home-made signs and chanting. One sat cross-legged on the ground in front of the truck; and the truck blared its horn in return. She wagged her finger gently to say "no." The barrels that filled the trucks all had "Electrol" written on them. We speculated that it was some sort of petrol or olive oil or other supply in transit to Israel. 

Whatever it was, the locals were angry enough to risk their lives. Although I am genuinely not afraid of local military police, I do know that I am interested enough to risk mine. 

Be back soon.

Teen Shoka (Cactus Fruit)

My uncle has a farm where you can literally get lost. I know this because I got lost yesterday on it. I was in a state of panic because my family has ways of pranking each other. I was pretty sure that they left me behind. It was getting dark and the rows and rows of olive trees looked the same and so I wandered. I also had little hair-like thorns all over my hands and face and somehow on my tongue. I'm the silly bum who thought you could bite them off.

We were so careful when we pulled the thorny fruit off of its large cactus. Poking it with a stick and keeping a distance from the large thorns that protruded from the plants we thought we would have a nice little treat. So much for that idea. Apparently the little teeny tiny thorns aren't really visible to the human eye until they have gotten all over your clothes. 

Growing up in the midwest I definitely got to spend time on some farms and get lost picking apples at Stephenson's Apple Orchard. But this is a first. I actually did the thing you see in cartoons and old westerns. I got beat by a plant. I green thorny cactus plant that was angry I stole its fruit.

My family didn't leave me. They were waiting by the car and laughed hysterically at my painful mistake and the fact that I got lost. I guess it was a funny sight to see. Victoriously I showed off the fruit wrapped in paper. At the moment I was sure I wanted to eat it just to prove that I won. But, I probably won't even look at it again. Now that I have finally gotten all of the thorns out of my fingertips I am a little fearful of getting hurt again.