Friday Rambles - Your Sin Will Find You Out

I am not supposed to be blogging. I skipped baseball today as Lil Kinz’ team doesn’t have a game, and I have TONS of work to do. ALSO, because last week I was just trained to be a score-keeper. Do you know how hard it is for a social, talkative, ADD, non-detail oriented person to sit for kam innings, PAY ATTENTION to every move on every base, then TRANSCRIBE it? It is a set-up for humiliation, shame, and THE LOOK when all see who is keeping score. Do you know how much patience coaches, umpires, players and parents have with scorekeepers like I will be? NONE. And I am the only mom involved who can even remotely do it, since the others either speak no English, have no idea how baseball runs, or are sleeping and send their kids to the game with The Driver. Hee-hee, and it is a double-header today, so I really escaped.

I know this is a way God is going to deal with all those little weaknesses, and break down my people-pleasing addiction (sort of like He has through blogging, as a dear friend told me: “You actually present contrary opinions, you know, that is a big change. Remember when you never HAD an opinion so you wouldn’t offend anyone or avoid any conflict? Heh-heh”). She thinks blogging has been very good for me.

Anyway, that wasn’t the point of the post. The point is, I am getting summer clothes out and it is not a pretty sight. I sort of let go of my snacking moritorium this winter, stuffed my face with popcorn at every opportunity and visited Galler once a month religiously (that is my entertainment budget, btw) with friends. And dear readers, it shows. I know some of you are going “So what is she whining about?”. But, you know, it is great to be tall and hide the winter-weight well, but my sin of gluttony is finding me out. Funny how regular fasting makes you more mindful of eating for entertainment instead of hunger.

So I am trying on clothes, and discovering my apple shape has reached interesting proportions. I wear an 8 in one place, 10 in another, and 12 (gasp, even 14) in another. Long-waistedness is great for carrying babies, but not for finding pants that fit. I can usually buy one size of pants, and get them altered when the torso has just two size disparities, but not three. The fabric just isn’t there! Land’s End, where I could always count on a 12 Tall fitting well, betrayed me by going the way of designer labels; lowering the number to make us ALL feel better about extended girth. I also wondered who in the world can wear size 00, but when I wear an 8 in Jones New York, and my leg is the size of that of that Beckham woman’s waist, well, there you have it.

The bad news is, this is my summer to visit Aunt Jane’s, where there are always home- baked goods, candy of every assortment, where even the meat is honey-baked flavored, and Dollar General and Mac D’s are walking distance (think small town, mid-America). We go to Country Home Buffet and feel skinny next to all the morbidly obese white people, which makes us feel safe to eat more than we need to. It is too hot and humid to go out an exercise, so we OD on TV and eating. Uh oh. At least, summers in Jordan, it is bearable, and the yogurt and cucumbers taste good.

Back to closets. Maybe I’ll just have to hit the Mish Normal store at Duwwar Hawooz and see if I can find anything.

Birthday & Mother’s Day Celebrations Part I

The last three weeks have been FULL of birthday celebrations! First, Lil’ Kinz’s  party, which was a great success in spite of  ma fi svfeehah oo tabouleh.  Nine little girls  (+  one little boy Bean) came over for  the Kelly cake, then we  went to Bambolina for a  great big play date. This was Lil Kinz’ big EVENT party, the once-in-a-kounouz-childhood budget-blow-out. The little girls had a blast, and the mommies all thought it was a GREAT idea. As MommaBean pointed out, they were invited to another birthday party a bit later at the same place! I got to re-meet all the mommies I had spoken with at the Twin Bean Birthday Party just a few weeks before, and would meet again the next weekend at Butter Bean’s Birthday Party!

MommaBean comforted my heart no end when she told me that this other (Jordanian) mother had only cake and WATER for the little guests. She is the greater trendsetter, an Urdaniyya Mommy bucking the societal-expectation yoke of slavery for the simplicity of a child-centered event . Lil Kinz proclaimed it the best birthday ever, she know owns enough Barbies to marry all my sons GI Joes and Max Steeles. Even the dismembered and those with faces permanently camouflaged by Sharpie marker.

Spikekid’s big event was next, only a month late. Why, pray tell? Because Mr. New TeenAger now has a social life, and friends that have five different schooling options who also now have social lives. We are quite proud of him, it has been a year where we have seen real spiritual growth. He was never the kind begging to ‘invite Jesus into his heart’, and pray until the food got cold or I fell asleep for world problems, Aunt Denise’s horse or Grandpa not to be lonely. He was asking the Big Questions of Faith at stoplights on Wadi Saqra at four years old with no visible emotional response to my answers. The kid scared me, I was sure he was going to be an atheist. I have several golden bowls full of tearful prayers in heaven over him when he would just NOT confess his sin.

Bu this year, his Deen teacher took the 7th graders through Rick Warren’s book: “Purpose Driven Life”. What a difference it made to him, to see ways to apply faith to life aside from giving stuff to the poor. He discovered his spiritual gifts and is now confident in seeing where he can serve. He actually PRAYS now, volunteers at church and is in a boys bible study group led by older teens and goes to AIC youth group, which is approaching the size of church. He is taking about baptism now, (in the Jordan River, of course) which is a huge step.

For his party, we had eight of his closest pals over for a 007 XBox Tournament,  watching “Batman Returns”, Subway-style sandwiches, junk food and the biggest chocolate cake I have ever made, served in a mansaf pan. It was so easy, the boys were SO good and Spikekid says: best birthday party ever. He actually cleaned the whole house in preparation w/o being asked. Clean-up was a three day affair, bas hayk.

For me,  it was a low-key blast. Older friends had taken us to the Meridian for a sumptuous buffet, the kids all made cards, my in-box was flooded with good wishes and the phone rang incessantly (some even singing over the phone! The next day, hubby and I have a tradition of making a restaurant meal at home, so it was marinated steak, potatoes with green onions & butter, fresh broccoli, and ice cream for dessert.

Coolest gifts: a pink Starbucks water bottle (so I will be a cool baseball mom), a David Balducci book, and a mommy-styled key-chain Leatherman multi-tool ! I wonder if they will let me into the mall with it. I say, it was the best birthday ever!

Oops. Hot water is waiting. Bye!

Meeting Southern Muslimah

And Um Omar, and a non-blogging friend of theirs.

MommaBean connected me with her on & off-line friend Southern Muslimah (Umm Farouq) yesterday. Alabama seems to be US home-base for a disproportionate number of American ladies these days, although Um Omar and friend hail from California as I do.

Did we have a good time? AH SAYID, DID YA’LL HAVE A RIP ROARING GOOD OLE TIME? (Poor attempt to imitate ma aunt Betty from Montgom’reh. None of these ladies talk Southern anywho)

Did we eat? Oh my, like only Americans fixated on sweets and Mexi-stuff influenced by Jordanian proportions can!

Did we talk? My oh my, did it STOP? For hours!! We only stopped to get more food and coffee!

Did we talk about stuff we miss from the US? Without drooling or coveting, indeed we did.

Did we talk about stuff that drives us crazy and and we are crazy about in Jordan? Bistimraaaaar.

Did we identify EVERY social issue in need of change and begin to strategize how to make it happen? You Ain’t Seen Nuthin Yet (yea, we are the Bachman turner Overdrive and Journey generation. Did you know the new lead singer of Journey on tour is a Filipino!!!)

Watch Out World. We are Coming.

We are Mobilizing. We are Going to Rock this Country for Good.

Us American Messi7een and Muslimaat are going to do more than lighten up the gene pool, we are going to Facilitate Change.

Watch out Old Guard. In our our sweet, submitted and winsome way, we are going to take on the status quo.

And we will also eat and continue to remember lyrics of songs that inspire us to fight the good fight! Synergy, I felt it! Supermoms, unite!

Whew! I feel inspired to finish the mountain range of dishes on my counters AND go outside and pick up trash! but, I think I’ll blog instead.

Thanks ladies, for blessing my day. Can ya’ll give me a “Ma-sha’Allah”, a “Hallelujah” or an “Amen”?

(Calling ‘Bama-Mama, next time we work it around your schedule!!)

More on V-Day VIVA! Surprises!

I got the Feb issue today (thank you, distribution readers. How ’bout you, Q?) and discovered a couple more fun things! First, there are TWO male bloggers featured in “The Guys Have It” section.

Here are my favorite quotes when they were asked their favorite thing about women: “So many things, but the top would be the way they inspire me. Women give birth to life” and “Everything! They way they pay attention, the way they naturally do things nicer in a pretty, organized way”.

Gents, thanks for some creative points about aspects of our characters that are not related to body-parts. Guess you knew your moms would read it.

Secondly, Laura Haddad wrote a great article called: “That Lovin’ Feeling”. She sends out surveys periodically to get different opinions on topics she is covering, and she used some of my answers on this one. If you have the issue, I am “Sara”, and she quoted things my husband does for me under the Real-Life Romance” section. One part I wished had gotten in, but knew it wouldn’t, is the importance of spiritual connection. When I hear my husband lift my needs to God’s throne of grace, I know he will do all he can to be a part of the answer.

Chief Editress Eva seems to have caught that Galler bug…that gorgeous box of colorful chocolate hearts was one of her picks. Someone needs to tell her they have free wireless, tho.

More Galler news…check out the fashion shoot in this month’s Luxury Magazine, it’s ALL at Galler! I was there today. I finally had enough of this darn computer, chucked my deadlines and succumbed to the ‘hubby’s last day gone’ withdrawals. Mint hot chocolate with a home-schooling mommy equally in need of a break did the trick.

Oh, did I tell you I am now mom to a teenager? I think I will be spending a LOT of time at Galler now. When I am not on my knees begging God for patience and wisdom.

Real Snowfall!

OK, can’t resist yet another snow post. Especially since it is Still Coming Down at 10am!

Last night, I thought there was no way it would snow, pressure and tempurature were rising and the storm system on satellite showed us just in the bare fringes (ya muskeen, Armenia, what kind of snow did you get there!?). LOL, like Nas posted, even I have become Mrs. Junior Meteorologist. I grew up with a recording barograph, a contraption that measures and graphs the rise and fall of barometric pressure; it would always do this major dip when we would get Real Snowfall.

Musta dipped after we went to bed. I really didn’t think this would happen, since for the last three years it has been disappointment wara ba3d. The kids prayers are answered, and although I wasn’t going to pray for snow that would leave so many cold in their homes, God chose to do His winter thing. May He supernaturally warm Bedouins and those with no heat. But for my kounouz, I am thrilled that they are experiencing snow as I know it, measured not in slushy smoosh-smoosh millimeters but in crunch-crunch centimeters!

At 6:30am, you would have thought it was Christmas all over again. ProjectBoy woke everyone up with his chirpy “IT SNOWED!! HEAVY!! CAN’T SEE THE TILES!!!”. Then came the call, no school; then another, no work. Skeeter, ever kind, let me attempt to go back to sleep. Ever prepared, he had purchased lamb bones and beans to make a hearty winter soup just in case.

Who can sleep when the excitement is coursing through the house like electricity? When all the kounouz are bundling up, the dog is wild with excitement, the cat wants a turn in the house? How is it on school days it can take forever to get them out of bed and dressed, but with snow they have managed to get up, eat, find everything and even tie shoes w/o help?

The radiators are draped with every coat, sweatshirt, glove and hat we own (even tho they aren’t on!). Even I have been out in the stuff, only because they dragged me, but it was worth it to feel dry pellet-like snow flakes that stay on my nose and eye-lashes…silver white winters that melt into spring…oops. I’m thinking about The Sound of Music, as my bud Urdani Babe has a fun tradition with their best friends: every first snow of winter, no matter what, they get together for fasuulia and watching the Sound of Music together. they will walk the 2 ks if the road is closed..it’s tradition. TRADITION!!!….oops, I feel another musical coming on, but I will spare you.

The kids made me go inside when they realized the only dry winter clothes were mine, so they are now wearing my boots, coat, gloves and hat on their THIRD round of snow play. The dog wants to be anywhere the kids are, I wish I could have captured her face when she was beaned with a snowball.  Like every victim of abuse, she puts up with way more than she should from those she loves. The cat retreated to her little cat-house in the shed, as it is now too deep for her delicate taste. I made sure her little house was ready yesterday, as  the outside place she lives in is regularly invaded by fighting toms that mess everything up, knocking her house over or even squatting! I can see her looking very cozy from the window.

Maher wins the prize for first snow greeting…at 5:15am, he left a comment for the Kounouz! And yes, Maher, I promise not to be a Grinch and we will be making chocolate chip cookies with NESTLE chocolate chips (THANK YOU EMILY!!!) and the kids will have unlimited time.

I thought I was going to get off the work hook, too, but at 9am my editor called, cheerfully looking for that first blog column! AH, the joys of working from home.

My neighbor is off at work. That is what 4×4 SUVs are for, indeed. Not for posing in Sweifiyya, nor parking at the mall, but for the work of snowy travel. He MUST though, as last time there was a big snow his car-lot was damaged big time.

Well, back to work. I’m having fun going through all your archives for “I”’s first blog review. Muhahahahah…

Galler Opening & Blogger Meet Up!

Wow, Hala and the Khalaf clan sure know how to throw a party  (AND FREE WIRELESS). Last night, MommaBean and I attended the opening of Galler Chocolatier, and it was, on all fronts, a delightful and fun experience. Just so we are all clear, I DID NOT attend just for free chocolate, I had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Jean Galler beforehand and then just watch all the beautiful people walk in. (Now, when did the mag call and ask if I could interview him? At 4pm. Right. But for chocolate, I’ll do just about anything).

Hala was drop-dead gorgeous, and the perf hostess. She claims she was running around like a chicken on umm…well, something, bas au contraire, she was the image of controlled European chic. Mr. Khalaf was in his element, working the diplomatic crowd as well as the chocoholic strata of Amman’s elite (OK, I shouldn’t use that term so lightly when including Mayor Omar Maáni. How about chocolate connoisseur?), Yes, a chip off the old block (or whatever that metaphor is); I see where Hala gets some of her charisma. MB and I got to meet her mom (who I can just see now asking H about photos on Facebook) and younger bro Kareem (did I forget to say FREE WIRELESS?).

The chocolate. OH THE CHOCOLATE. I am finished, finito, fertig, khalas, with this place in town, I will be both fat and poor. I decided Galler’s arrival is just part of the vast VY conspiracy to insure new customers. They even make marzipan taste good, which is one of the few sweet things I don’t care for (but with FREE WIRELESS, I’ll eat marzipan all day long).

One fun surprise was the number of blogger-types in attendance, it was like an impromptu meet-up (yea, I think Galler will be the new venue of choice). MB and I were chatting away between trays of delicious small brown offerings, and lo and behold this smiling foreign guy walks up to the table and greets us. IT WAS DAVE THE AMERICAN BLOGGER! He is just as funny and interesting in real life **AND HE IS DROP DEAD CUTE, AS IS HIS WIFE. I ALREADY OFFERED THEM A MODELING CONTRACT. HE IS ALSO HUMBLE, AND DECLINED** . He called Jad to see if he was coming, then Jad arrived! Jad was a sight for sore eyes, it was a delight to talk to him again (and Jad will be back because of FREE WIRELESS).

Then we saw some tousled brunette heads brushing the ceiling and realized the Assi clan made an appearance. Roba and her entourage of tall brothers (they are SO tall I almost forget how many of them there are), and ta-da…drumroll…The MOOSE! Yes. Khateeb Roba, oo Um Moose kamaan (ma a7la eye-nha!). YES indeed, this man has a sense of humor worthy of her (well, he knew who Kinzi was, what more can I say?). PLUS, he also sweeps the ceiling in height. Tell ya, they are going to inject some very basketball-friendly DNA into Jordan’s future. Well, inshala’allah.

Hala then introduced me to new PrivAnon blogger-girl, very sweet and full of undiscovered mystery. Just a bit later Salam and hubby arrived and the conversation quickly turned to cookies and kids, favorite mommy blogger topics. Not to mention the FREE WIRELESS.

The generous Khalafs did not just serve us goodies all night, they sent us home with bags of it too! Now Momma Bean, I am NOT giving the cute cat-shaped chocolate pieces to the kounouz. THEY can have cheap Turkish chocolate, the European stuff is the exclusive domain of parents only for us, so PLEASE (since I KNOW you will share because you are such a nice mom) don’t mention them to my kids!

A delightful evening indeed. Here is the article I wrote about Galler for the December issue of Luxury (Hala edited, so you don’t have to worry about spelling errors):

GALLER CHOCOLAT – THE RESTAURANT AND TASTING HOUSE

Chocoholics take note: this month, Amman will join the ranks of world-class cities such as Brussels, Paris and London with the opening of Galler in Abdoun.

(AND, INTERNET-AHOLICS, THERE IS FREE WIRELESS)

This is not just another chocolate store, but a completely new experience in taste, form and presentation of one of our favorite vices. Warning: once you have tasted Galler chocolate, your average chocolate bar from your friendly, neighborhood grocer will never be more than just junk food.

It is obvious from the moment one walks in that this is a luxury establishment, stamped with old-world European balanced by EU inspired simplicity. The attention to detail is evident in every corner; a space of minimalist expression with maximum visual impact. The entry area downstairs has the all the types of chocolate that is for sale displayed, but the upstairs is an elegant retreat, inviting you in to sit and contemplate life. The calming autumnal orange theme is followed throughout: in the upholstery, lamps and even the Galler signature porcelain teapots and cups. The shop, described as Galler Chocolat-Thé, is a two-in-one kind of concept, because it is both a chocolatier where customers can buy the products, but is also a tea shop-style restaurant.

This is a place not just to eat, but to rest. “Galler will inspire generations of Jordanians to take ‘having a cup of something hot as a break’ to a whole other level,” said franchisee Ghazi Khalaf. One of those items included in “something hot” also contains a history lesson: there is an amazing ‘Hot Chocolate Through the Centuries’ option on the menu. The customer is served three small cups of hot chocolate, one from the 14th century, one from the 16th century and one from the 18th century, so he or she can both taste and understand how the changes in spices used in hot chocolate over the years has evolved.

Hot chocolate not your cup of tea? Choose from more than thirty flavors of premium quality tea served in the traditional manner. Coffee lovers are far from forgotten; Galler provides nine different original blends to enjoy alongside your chocolate confection of choice. And you’ll never be allowed to leave without a complimentary taste of their chocolate pralines.

The Amman Galler will be open all day long, for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between. The menu will include sandwiches, salads, foccacias, brioche, soups, pastries, ice cream and other deserts. What will set Galler apart from other cafés in Amman? The use of cacao as an ingredient in the dishes offered. (WHILE YOU USE OUR FREE WIRELESS)

Chocolate in food? Rather than chocolate, think cacao used as a condiment or spice. The result is astonishingly delicious, as evidenced in a most unique item: cacao soup. The culinary creative genius of founder Jean Galler was not an accidental discovery. He was born into a luxury dessert environment. He liked working in his grandfather’s 1930s era confectioner’s shop, and he hasn’t wavered in his passion since then. At only sixteen years old, young Jean was inspired by chocolate and began experimenting with it at as a material. He developed his talent and expanded his knowledge, studying in Basel, Switzerland, and later with Gaston Lenôtre in Paris. At twenty-one-years-old, he launched his own enterprise. Thirty years later, his foundational values remain the same: passion for chocolate, love of perfection, continual creativity. In 1994, the company was appointed the Belgian Royal Warrant Holder, a prestigious award presented to those who show exceptional passion, devotion and innovation in their work. Consequently, the Royal family of Belgium has selected Galler as the court’s exclusive provider of chocolate and chocolate gift items.

And the gift items, oh, the gift items! They carry beautifully designed gift boxes and leather trays holding any amount from 125gr for a mere taste to one kilogram for your favorite friend. The special Valentine’s chocolate heart is boxed in what looks like a laced-up corset. If you dare share these chocolates with your children, they will delight in the whimsically shaped and individually packaged Langues de Chat, or “Cat’s Tongue” collection, inspired by a Belgian cartoon character created by Philippe Geluck.

So that everyone can enjoy fine chocolate, regardless of any personal restriction, Galler presents a fine collection of sugar-free options, especially in their chocolate tablet range. In addition to more flavors and varieties of chocolate delicacies than could ever be listed, including pralines that contain everything from curry to seaweed, Jean Galler has created four chocolate spreads that will ensure the Nutella jar will start gathering dust in the cupboard. Imagine the taste of spread-able Caramel, Noisette, Noir or Café replacing frosting on your favorite baked confections. They are to live for delicious.

We were allowed the privilege of a sneak peek and taste preview, but Galler’s official opening to the public won’t be until mid-December. The grand opening will be attended by His Excellency Johan Indekeu, the Ambassador of Belgium to Jordan, and Mr. Jean Galler himself will be flying in to attend the gala event. There are even rumors that Mayor Omar Maani might stop by. And who can blame him? It’ll be a haven of free chocolate come opening day!

Since Galler will be open just in time for Eid Al Adha and Christmas, make sure you stop by and see how your holiday could be enhanced. I will be, as I use their FREE WIRELSS!.

“I imagined a place reminiscent of my childhood, tea-time at my grandmother’s, the air filled with the sweet scent of pie fresh from the oven. A place to see and find out everything about chocolate, a place where all its range of tastes, from restrained to unbelievable, can be discovered. Finally, a place where there is the ability to create, to dare and to share chocolate cuisine. From my chocolate-inspired dream, Chocolat-Thé was born.” Jean Galler

A chocolate connoisseur’s tips for MAXIMUM chocolate taste experience:

• Solid chocolate and filled chocolate should not be savored in the same way.
• Solid chocolate should be taken in small pieces, put on the tongue and left to melt. This allows the taster to experience the flavors’ release. Afterwards, the chocolate should be lightly passed between the tongue and the palate to enjoy the texture.
• In contrast, a filled chocolate should be bitten into several times, so that the chocolate shell is mixed with the interior filling, thus making it possible to appreciate the balance that the chocolate-maker has tried to create.
• Don’t forget, FREE WIRELESS enhances the flavor as well.