Happy New Year! Its 2006!

The year 2006 is almost here! It got me thinking about all that has happened in the past year and all that I wish to happen in the coming year. What can I say...thinking too much can be a pain! Hehe. But what I realized is all I really want for the coming year is comfort. I want to be more comfortable in my own skin. More comfortable in my job. More comfortable with my family and friends. The past year has been somewhat stressful...alot of questions about where I want to be, what I want to do, and who I really am. I want to be comfortable with the idea that these questions may never be answered, at least not at this very second. I want to be able to sleep at night looking forward to the next day just because I am comfortable with the idea that I dont know what will happen tomorrow! Who I'll meet, what I'll do. Instead of worrying about the unknown, I want to be comfortable and happy knowing that tomorrow is a mystery. A mystery that does not need to be solved at this very second. I want not only to believe in fate but to also understand it...to understand that I was meant to feel so lost now, to know that things are the way they should be, and that there will always be a tomorrow, and that there will always be change in my life...the ups and the downs. If this year had more downs than ups then next year will have more ups than downs.

Good Deeds: Nice Story

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life.

From that day he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all.

Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ..."Paid in full with one glass of milk"(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."

There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time.
If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

Alia's Engagement!

Our sweet friend Alia has gotten engaged! We all went to celebrate with her last night at a nice clubhouse in Kattamiyya. It was FREEZING outside so we all had our long black coats on, looking like the mob! But inside it was warm thank God, so we managed to ditch the coats and dance the night away. Alia was all smiles, and gave us a good show with her fiance spanish dancing! I was so happy for her. She's a pure soul whom we all adore. We laughed and had a great time. Then a group of us girls went to spend the night with one of our friends in Kattamiyya because we werent going to drive back to Mohandessen at 2am! That was fun too. We stayed up till 5am chatting and we did the same the next day over a very late breakfast! Alia, you deserve all the best babe! You are gorgeous inside and out!

Lin Lin's bday!!

The 18th of December is an important day! Its the day my close friend of 12 years was born! Happy Birthday Lina!!! We took her out to a place called Seqoia by the Nile and enjoyed the nice weather and the great company. Lina was happy to see so many people so that was a big plus. We laughed alot and also cried alot when we saw the bill! Hehehe but in a few weeks we'll look back on it and laugh...ha ha we are 200 LE short and everyone has left but us...ha ha...we are screwed! At least I hope we can laugh about it, hehe.

Lina, you have been like a sister to me for so many years and I don't know what my life would have been like without you since the past decade of my life has been shared with you. My whole adult life has had you in it and I am truely blessed to have that! We just know each other inside out. I dont think we can ever lie to each other coz the other would see right through it! I have alot of comfort knowing that there is someone who knows me that well that I never have to pretend! Love you sweety! And here's to many more bdays and memories to share with you!

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Today I did the unthinkable, I went to watch a horror movie in the cinema. I am a chicken! I dont like horror movies at all just because I have quite an imagination that keeps me up all night! So I went with my work colleagues on the condition that I sit in between them and that they forgive me if I hurt them when I am scared! The movie was the Exorcism of Emily Rose, which is based on a true story. I actually really liked it! Most of the movie was about the trial that followed the death of Emily Rose during her exorcism, and I LOVE courtroom stuff. I like to listen to the different arguments being made, and this trial was full of interesting arguments. The prosecution was trying to argue that Emily had a medical condition that could have been cured if she had continued her medication and had been hospitalized, while the defense team was trying to argue that Emily, her family, and her priest believed she really was possessed and that demonic possession is something that many people believe in so they didnt mean for her to die. The arguments were interesting and got me thinking about the spiritual world versus the scientific world. Alot of people nowadays refuse to link a certain event to the spiritual world so to keep their minds at ease they slap some scientific name onto it. I am not saying I believe in demonic possessions, but I like to believe that some things in life just cant be explained...that its a mystery...it keeps life interesting dont you think? I see the new scientology trend where people just believe in the existance of science rather than the existance of God or the supernatural. I think its because unexplainable events are becoming less and less accepted...EVERYTHING must be explained in a concrete way so people can be comfortable. So this movie was good in that sense, makes you think about your beliefs and about the struggle between science and the supernatural.

Merry Christmas!

Today I went to the Opera House to watch a Christmas Concert with 2 people from work. It took a while to convince me to go. Not because I wasn't interested but more like the tickets were too expensive to go to celebrate a holiday that I do not celebrate at home. I enjoy christmas carols and the like but for 120 or 100 LE no way! But Samer, my work colleague and good friend, finally convinced me. He goes every year so he knew it would be fun. So I decided to risk it and go with him. Eventually we convinced Diana and her brother to come as well. So we all got dressed up and went. There was an orchestra, a choir, and some amazing solo singers. It was really nice! I knew some of the songs so sang along, especially Santa's Coming to Town! Samer helped me in between with the other songs. It was nice to go out and do something new for a change besides going to cafes. Plus it was great to see all the different people that attended, kids, older people, young adults, and people of all religions. Samer was telling me how every year he comes to this concert and sees the exact same people! Its a nice tradition for them. Merry Christmas everyone!

Pure Exhaustion

Lately I come home from work and just collapse. I can barely move after sitting on my TV couch...can barely keep my eyes open. It's getting a little freaky coz I do sleep well and I mean sure the working hours are long but at the end of the day I am sitting in front of a PC screen so how tiring can it be? I thought maybe I needed to sleep more. But no matter how early I go to bed I still wake up tired...then I come home to more exhaustion! I hope my little vacation in New Years will cure whatever it is that I have! A little fresh air, and chatting and singing with close friends on an isolated beach would be heaven right now! Can't wait...not excited yet though...coz I am too TIRED to get excited!

Song: Cry - Faith Hill

It took me a long time to like this song but now I really like it. Its pretty emotional...and I seem to like songs that stir up feelings for some reason...I guess for my therapy as my friend says!

If I had just one tear running down your cheek
Maybe I could cope, maybe I'd get some sleep
If I had just one moment at your expense
Maybe all my misery would be well spent

Could you cry a little
Lie just a little
pretend that you're feeling a little more pain
I gave, now I'm wanting
Something in retrun
So cry just a little for me

If your love could be caged, honey I would hold the key
And conceal it underneath the pile of lies you handed me
And you'd hunt those lies, they'b be all you'd ever find
And that'd be all you'd have to know
For me to be fine

And you'd cry a little
Die just a little
And, baby, I would feel just a little less pain
I gave, now I'm wanting
Something in return
So cry just a little for me

Give it up, baby
I hear you're doing fine
Nothin's gonna save me
'Til I see it in your eyes
Some kind of heartache, honey
Give it a try

I don't want pity
I just want what is mine

Could you cry a little
Lie just a little
Pretend that you're feeling a little more pain
I gave, now I'm wanting
Something in return
So cry just a little for me

Cry just a little for me
Could you cry a little for me.

To the graduates of Fall 2006!

GO GO GRADUATES OF FALL 2006. I really enjoyed the graduate photos today with you guys! I loved seeing your bright smiles and the way you were all so hyper! I am so proud of all of you. I am looking forward to your cap and gown photos, and I will definately be there to dance the night away with you in your aftergrad party. Martha, I am so blessed to have you in my life. Your smile lights up any room. I have SO much fun with you, whether we are singing or just chatting. And I truely believe that you will move on after graduation to tackle big challenges and succeed! Askoura, you have great stamina. I mean you can stay up for days just so you dont lose precious time! Such a hardworker and such a laugh! I had a great time in NLDS so here's to many more after you graduate inshallah! Habya, what can I say about the girl who has known me for so long?! You have begad done so much in the last few years and I am so proud of you. You are a shining star babe! Sara Sami you are one of the sweetest girls I have ever met! I got used to you so quickly and I always have fun ma3aki. You are hysterically funny! LOL I enjoyed our lunch today geddan! Congrats to all the other grads as well! Dio, Abdel atti, Laila, Sarah, Maggie, and everyone else.

Check out the photos: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/daoudmai/album?.dir=d039&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

Planning, Planning, Planning...the thing we Egyptians SUCK at!

I just had to get my frustration out in my blog! I cant seem to plan a single thing for New Year's with my friends! I am way too organized for my own good which is why I get so frustrated! I want to book a place ahead of time, take a vacation from work ahead of time, do everything ahead of time basically. I am that loser who arrives to weddings on time instead of 2-3 hours late like everyone else. I am always the person to call people to a meeting at work even though it wasn't me who set up the meeting! I always arrive to outings early even though I know everyone else will be late. I always go to the movies early enough to watch the previews...I hate walking in 10 mins after the movie started! Am I living in the wrong country?? Or am I the crazy one?? But I promise you that I WILL spend new year's eve outside Cairo dammit! I will! I will!

True Story: I LOVE this!

This scene took place on a British Airways flight between Johannesburg and London.
A white woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a black man. Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess.

"Madam, what is the matter," the hostess asked.

"You obviously do not see it then?" she responded. "You placed me next to a black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat."

"Be calm please," the hostess replied. "Almost all the places on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another place is available."

The Hostess went away and then came back a few minutes later.
"Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in the economy class. I spoke to the captain and he informed me that there is also a seat in the business class. All the same, we still have one place in the first class."

Before the woman could say anything, the hostess continued: "It is not usual for our company to permit someone from the economy class to sit in the first class. However, given the circumstances, the captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting."

She turned to the black guy, and said,
"Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collect your hand luggage, a seat awaits you in first class."

At that moment, the other passengers who were shocked by what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded.

This is a true story!
Don't you just love it?!

My bro was honoured!

Today my youngest brother Hassan got honoured by the British Council for his excellent grades in GCSE last year. I was so proud of him. They had a small ceremony in the Four Seasons Hotel and my mum and I attended it. It was nice to see some of my old teachers. We talked about the teachers that are still teaching there and stuff. My only dissappointment of the evening was that the owner of dar il tarbiyya school was SO UNBELIEVABLY RUDE in the ceremony. She kept walking around talking to people while guest speakers were talking. PLUS, she gathered a whole group of teachers and students to take a huge group picture with her in the middle of the hall while the prizes were still being given out on stage! Have you ever seen anything like that? I couldn't believe my eyes...such an EGO! But anyway, my bro was great, cute in a suit LOL, and I am just so proud of him. Love you Sonson!