This is for Kelley. Had to share the gift:
http://www.buttafly.com/starbucks/index.php
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
I can’t remember which Google Search brought up Girls of Riyadh for me, but as soon as I saw it..and that it had been banned in Saudi, well, you know me, I totally HAD TO HAVE IT.
That and it was guaranteed to get a rise out of the Fella. I like piquing his interest, and my tendency to read what he might consider controversial literature seems to interest him.
Girls of Riyadh is written as a series of e-mails to a Yahoo! Groups listing that sends out weekly emails telling the stories of four young Saudi Women and the ups and downs of life, and love. Mostly love, and mostly downs.
It’s a fascinating story. The cultural differences are amazing, and to an American like me, raised liberally, and accustomed to making my own decisions, and not being restricted from seeing and talking to who I want when I want, the story of boys posting signs in their car windows with their phone numbers astounds me still. Or the idea of being arrested for wearing red on Valentine's day. Or Versace Shimaughs (The red and white checkered head covering that Saudi men wear).
Rajja Alsanea is the author, and is certainly still young, but impressive in her translated version of her first novel. It’s been compared to Sex and the City of Saudi; but it’s nowhere near as graphic. And the tragedies are pretty tragic. It’s a quick read, and a smart one.
And it sparked enough interest that the Fella is borrowing it now. I’ll be very interested to see what he thinks of it.
That and it was guaranteed to get a rise out of the Fella. I like piquing his interest, and my tendency to read what he might consider controversial literature seems to interest him.
Girls of Riyadh is written as a series of e-mails to a Yahoo! Groups listing that sends out weekly emails telling the stories of four young Saudi Women and the ups and downs of life, and love. Mostly love, and mostly downs.
It’s a fascinating story. The cultural differences are amazing, and to an American like me, raised liberally, and accustomed to making my own decisions, and not being restricted from seeing and talking to who I want when I want, the story of boys posting signs in their car windows with their phone numbers astounds me still. Or the idea of being arrested for wearing red on Valentine's day. Or Versace Shimaughs (The red and white checkered head covering that Saudi men wear).
Rajja Alsanea is the author, and is certainly still young, but impressive in her translated version of her first novel. It’s been compared to Sex and the City of Saudi; but it’s nowhere near as graphic. And the tragedies are pretty tragic. It’s a quick read, and a smart one.
And it sparked enough interest that the Fella is borrowing it now. I’ll be very interested to see what he thinks of it.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Wow.. we change so much...
So I found this: http://keeleywoods.livejournal.com/ .
I started it when I was married and we bought our house.
I was so.....different.
It's hard to tell now if I liked who I was then. I don't like who I was now. I mean..if I met me then on the street now, I probably wouldn't like the 27 year old version of me very much. I was a little dull.
I was trying to be dull though. I'm just not that way. I like domestic things too, but not enough to give up my need to travel and see and do and be. Smallville? Holy crap I watched Smallville and found it confusing? Ick ick ick ick.
I started it when I was married and we bought our house.
I was so.....different.
It's hard to tell now if I liked who I was then. I don't like who I was now. I mean..if I met me then on the street now, I probably wouldn't like the 27 year old version of me very much. I was a little dull.
I was trying to be dull though. I'm just not that way. I like domestic things too, but not enough to give up my need to travel and see and do and be. Smallville? Holy crap I watched Smallville and found it confusing? Ick ick ick ick.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
A funny thing happened at the Halal Market...
I love the Halal market here in Montgomery...called Bismillah. Everyone there is very gentle and helpful with me when I have questions about Islamis Dietary restrictions. There's SUCH a huge variety of people there. Lifelong Muslimas, converts (or reverts depending on who you talk to), women who cover and women who don’t, Americans and immigrants.
So I’m having it explained to me why Dove soap is not Halal by the store owner and am next to a nice lady in an Abaya and Chador who is horrified by the reasoning behind the Dove Soap problem..as she has been using it for some time. I'll admit to being grossed out as well.
These conversations usually end up including every woman in the store and here are some of my favorite quotes. These are not to diminish the faith and effort these women put into the practice of Islam each day. I just find them funny, and realistic, and definitely am glad to make the connection between us, as I have had thoughts or questions in these directions too:
"Oh dear, I hate to throw that away, it was expensive. Maybe I should just ask for forgiveness and never buy it again?"
"Oh yes, we try to make sure we use something before it winds up in the book. It's not Haram until someone says it is right? I mean remember Kraft cheese."
"Haha! I remember pulling the bacon off of Filet Mignon thinking that was halal." (This one just slayed me. I loved it because it sounds like something I would do.)
About her Hijab, "Are you kidding me? I love this thing. I never have bad hair days anymore."
These women have such an easy view on their faith, they remind you that women in hijab aren't oppressed.
So I’m having it explained to me why Dove soap is not Halal by the store owner and am next to a nice lady in an Abaya and Chador who is horrified by the reasoning behind the Dove Soap problem..as she has been using it for some time. I'll admit to being grossed out as well.
These conversations usually end up including every woman in the store and here are some of my favorite quotes. These are not to diminish the faith and effort these women put into the practice of Islam each day. I just find them funny, and realistic, and definitely am glad to make the connection between us, as I have had thoughts or questions in these directions too:
"Oh dear, I hate to throw that away, it was expensive. Maybe I should just ask for forgiveness and never buy it again?"
"Oh yes, we try to make sure we use something before it winds up in the book. It's not Haram until someone says it is right? I mean remember Kraft cheese."
"Haha! I remember pulling the bacon off of Filet Mignon thinking that was halal." (This one just slayed me. I loved it because it sounds like something I would do.)
About her Hijab, "Are you kidding me? I love this thing. I never have bad hair days anymore."
These women have such an easy view on their faith, they remind you that women in hijab aren't oppressed.
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