Warnings For Women

 

 

Sorry for the MESSY formatting (still have no

 

idea how to fix it), but I thought I’d risk the

ridicule with some important safety tips for

women that came my way. Some of it

was new to me.

YFA, blog resident Officer Friendly, maybe you

could verify if they are what you recommend.

1) Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the

 strongest point on your body. If you are close

enough to use it,  do!

2. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or

purse,DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.

Toss it away from you…. chances are  that he is

 more interested in your wallet and/or purse 

 than you, and he will go  for the wallet/purse.

 RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown  into the trunk of a

 car, kick out the back tail lights  and stick your

 arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.

 

The driver won’t see you, but everybody else

will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency  to get into their

 cars after shopping, eating, working, etc.,  and

 just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a

 list, etc. (DON’T DO THIS!)

The predator  will be watching you,  and this is

 

the perfect opportunity  for him to get in on the

 passenger side,  put a gun to your head, and

 tell you where to go.

AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR  , LOCK

THE DOORS AND LEAVE.  

 

 

 

 If someone is in the car with a gun to your head

 DO NOT DRIVE  OFF,

Instead gun the engine

 

and speed into anything,  wrecking the car.

 

Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in

 the back seat  they will get the worst of it. As

soon as the car crashes bail out and run.

It is better than having them  find your body in

 a remote location

 

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a

 parking lot, or parking garage:

B) Be aware: look around you, look into your

car, at the passenger side floor  , and in the back

 

seat.

C) If you are parked next to a big van,

enter your car from the passenger door.

Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling

 them into their vans  while the women are

attempting  to get into their cars.

C) Look at the car parked on the driver’s side 

 

 of your vehicle, and the passenger side.  If a

 

male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your

car,  you may want to walk back into the mall, or

 

work,  and get a guard/policeman  to walk you

back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE

THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6) ALWAYS  take the elevator instead of the

 stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places  to be

alone and the perfect crime spot. This is

especially true at NIGHT!)

7)  If the predator has a gun and you are not

 under his control, ALWAYS RUN!

The predator will only hit you  (a running

target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most

likely  WILL NOT  be a vital organ.

 RUN, Preferably  in a zig -zag pattern!

 

8. As women, we are always trying to

 be sympathetic: STOP It may get you raped

 or killed. Ted Bundy,  the serial killer,  was a

 

good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS

 played on the sympathies of unsuspecting

 

women.

He walked with a cane,  or a limp, and often

 

asked “for help”  into his vehicle  or with his

 vehicle, which is when he abducted  his next

 

victim.

Culture of Denial

One thing I do not like about Jordan is the denial of truth and fact. It IS a human condition, found worldwide, but it is done to a degree mish ma3uul here in Amman.

If the wrong people are harmed by the truth and the facts, then we deny the truth and the facts exist to protect them. This keeps people from owning their responsibility to correct errant behaviour, and encourages them to continue in it.

Remember the situation with Project Boy’s fingernails? The school doctor had taken him out of class for an hour because she felt he, his clothes and his fingernails were too dirty to be acceptable. I told her boys get dirty, he had had a bath the night before, and well, the fingernails were overdue. She continued to argue the subject, and I told her we are more concerned with character and creativity than the condition of his fingernails. Well, it has taken an interesting turn in the grand scheme of events.

While picking the kids up from school, an SUV/sedan came barreling toward our car; speeding, braking and skidding all over while there are children on both sides of the road. I honked at the driver as he zoomed by, and saw by the uniform he was a student at the school. He made a hard turn, then slammed on the brakes, skidded up an embankment and almost hit another car. The kids in the car identified the driver: ibn iddoctora.

I jumped out of my car and ran over, yelling and gesturing like an Urduniyya mommy done wrong. “Shu inta am be’suuq? Addesh umrak inta? Shu, majnuuneh, ma3 3indak rucksa oo ma pti3rif keef ptista3mal issaraya? Shu maaalak? Ma bitshuuf il awlad bi sharaia? Sim3at inno inta ibn iddoctora, oo ana ra7 a7ki ma3ha 3annak!” He was NOT laughing at my bad Arabic, he was scared. He apologized profusely, denied whose son he was, and slowly drove the wrong way down a one-way street in the other direction.

The kids were all wide-eyed (I am a bus-service, btw, another of my many jobs I don’t often write about), heard the kid deny who he was and confirmed it was him. I got out my mobile (which I had remembered to turn on AND charge, masha’allah!) and called the school to report his dangerous behaviour. They said they would look into it.

I found out yesterday that he denied it to his mother, and his mother denied he had her keys. It must have been someone else. It was her car, damaged right were he hit the embankment, there were six witnesses.

If he didn’t get the pants scared off of him this time by my tirade and exposure of his dangerous activity, he’ll probably go do it again. What good does it do to deny the fact and truth of her son’s errant behaviour? He has learned what he can get away with, but he may have also learned that God puts other mothers in hidden places.

But, one thing is sure: his fingernails must be immaculate. One must have priorities in life, you know.

I hope to God there is another side to this story, which I will gladly post about if there is. This hard reality is a truth I would rather deny.

Jesus Doesn’t Have a Middle Name

In light of the current climate of MOAUU, I’ve decided to vent a little religious indignation of my own.

Inspired by Hareega’s post and Ahmad’s comment, I’ve decided to make an announcement:

JESUS DOES NOT HAVE A MIDDLE NAME

In Jordan, I’ve heard it on the softball field, on loudly-proclaimed private mobile discussions, in taxis, by cute fafi girls at the mall and read it on blogs: all in the context of response to something surprising or unbelievable. It seems to be the most extreme-expletive than can be said:

JESUS “F******* ” CHRIST!

He doesn’t have a middle name beginning with “F”, like “John Q. Public” or something. “Christ” is a title, meaning Anointed One, Messiah. For Christians, he is a Saviour: Prophet, Priest and King. To put THAT word, between a name that is holy and a title that is our identity, is extremely offensive. Imagine if people said that word after Mohammad’s name. The image it paints is SO not what he is! Jesus was a virgin, anyway.

Now I know it’s learned habit from films, it’s a product of Western media which has no more respect for him than for the prophet of Islam. And since I hear in the conspiracy-theory circuit that Hollywood is run by ‘them’, why fall into another one of ‘their’ ploys to undermine faith? The “f-word” is a word not usually uttered by honorable, educated people; polite company. Somehow, Hollywood or whoever has taken it out of the trailer-dwelling/white/trash-talk and given it a place in common conversation.

But even Western media has gotten into the habit of using the title: “The Prophet Mohammad” and at times even adding (pbuh) as an extra measure of respect. That should encourage Muslims. I don’t mind as much when Western secularists use this offensive term, they have no tradition of honoring the sacred.

But I do mind when I hear Muslims saying it. Ahmad’s comment reminded me that there IS a standard to defend faith from insults in Islam, and Jesus Christ is considered a prophet. Mohammad is blessed with peace upon him; Jesus gets the ultimate dirty word between his prophesied given name and his title. It’s just not right.

So I appeal to honor, if the ‘f-word’ in set in stone in your vocab, please just say “WTF”? and leave Jesus Christ out of it. His name was meant to be used in prayer, not in common, sexually- charged expletives.

Rant off, and I thank you for your attention.

 

Celebrating Another Quitter ;)

Mude Sartawi, take a bow! After being banished to to the balcony to smoke after his lovely wife quit herself, Mude has done the deal and quit as well. Writer of the Amman Softball League Blog, Ruler of the League, and volunteer in countless charitable organizations, Mude has proven his energy comes from within.

I hear Mude may join the print publishing world, too. Here’s a guy who edits stuff in his sleep for fun (even MY grammar-deficient writing), and when bored, makes corrections on Google Earth. He is hilarious, snarky, brilliant yet grounded. Think Ramblin’ Hal/Hareega/Nas combined, and on…on…on…well, on something but NOT! I will be the first on his Facebook Fan Club when his first article comes out. Second, I guess, after Brooke. No, maybe 4th, after Schwa and ZIGGY*. Top ten, fer sure.

Good on ya, Mude. May the WHOLE league follow your good example in putting down the death stick. The whole blogging community, too

*Maher, thanks for remembering the name of that darling kitty-cat.

Wasted Days &…Red New Potatoes 650/kg!

Pseudo Snow Day. I could NOT believe it; MommaBean says they cancelled school because they were disappointed there was no snow. I was so NOT ready to have another ‘everyone home’ day.

Maybe it was wearing three layers of long sleeves again, but it has just been one itchy, yucky, foul-mooded day. Even Hershey’s dark chocolate kisses didn’t help, they gave me heartburn, as did the pizza for lunch.  Then I did something weird with formatting an article I was working on, and kept accidentally loosing big chunks of texts. I really need to learn how to use Word :).

There was The Big Event planned for tonight, and in addition to the admin I had to do, I had to arrange the coffee pot. But, with no school, I couldn’t get the key to the place the coffee pot is stored without a 45 minute drive. So I stewed and hoped against hope they would cancel the event. But the organizer is a die-hard American, and he wasn’t cancelling for nuthin’.

I just holed up in the office, let the kids play XBox with no boundaries, and I read every blog I’ve missed the last three weeks. Great mom! Then I got the answer to my prayers, and the event WAS postponed! Things just got better, too.

Hubby called to say Safeway has new potatoes for 650/kg! It is tenderly boiled potatoes, green onions and melted butter for dinner! Yum!
Also red peppers for 990/kg

Also broccoli for 1.1/kg

At least we’ll be eating well as we freeze.

Things are looking up :)   Thank You, Lord, I will now go ditch this itchy long underwear for a more comfy 3rd layer!

Fouad’s Week - Go See His Kid’s Faces

Hey yall, I only see Qwaider, Nas, me and MommaBean posting about fellow blogger Fouad Al Farhan’s imprisonment, and possible torture. This is hardly solidarity.

I didn’t see any names I recognized who sent letters. Maybe that means you used your real names. I’d like to think that we who share a border would be a little more concerned about what is happening. I’d like for him to get out and be able to say: “Thank you, Jordanian blogosphere, for not forgetting me.”

Please take five and do this thing. Go visit his blog and see the photos of two darling kids, who are going on 63 days without knowing where their daddy is. If I were his wife, I would be going berserk. She can’t, though, since she is in Saudi Arabia. Which is kind of the point of why we need to be her voice.

Yup, I’m nagging again. I don’t want to see anymore posts with jokes, mis-spellings or funny You Tube links until you have done something personally to stand with this guy.

Isn’t it the very least that you can do? It’s a ‘do unto others kindof thing’. So do it.

Fasting and Addictions

Fascinating, this study on fasting. The connection between physical appetites of all kinds, and levels of submission to God’s revealed will, is a little TOO much truth sometimes. Glaring truth, that highlights hidden places of soul I prefer to keep in the dark. Make sure you read this one until the end, there is link for personal application.

This week I looked at the only recorded seven day fast*, that of King David as he interceded for the life of his illegitimate child by Bathsheba. The child conceived the night David’s eyes wandered where they should not have been, although I doubt Bathsheba was unaware she was bathing in his line of vision. Knowledge of that same child’s existence inspired David’s murderous plan to put one of his most loyal soldiers on the front line of war to face certain death, right here in Amman. As king, it was a place he himself should have been, rather than lounging about the palace watching other men’s wives.

David’s heart, one that had been described as after God’s own, was divided in those days. He had let down his guard, decided he deserved more than God’s given share, that his power and authority would cover his indiscretion. His deception finally revealed by the prophet Nathan, David did awake from his stupor to return to his God in repentance. As recorded in II Samuel 12, verse 14 tells that the consequences of David’s sin would fall not only to him, but his unborn son as well. Because David had given the enemies of God great reason to blaspheme.

David went and laid on the ground, weeping and refusing to eat for seven days, interceding for the life of his son (vs. 22). Fasting to cast himself upon God’s mercy.

David’s unrestrained sexual appetite contributed to his downfall. As I wrote before, in the post about sexuality being like fire, it is a beautiful thing when set in God-given boundaries. But when unleashed, it is an unquenchable fire that wrecks untold havoc, sometimes for generations to come.

Ramadan is a time for fasting, for suppressing appetites, for sublimating desires in order to grow closer to God, to allow His power to reign over even that which we need for life.

I wonder how many hearts and minds are fasting from sexual expression as their bodies are from food and drink. I don’t want to think about it really, but my mother’s heart compels me to wonder how many fellow bloggers indulge in pornographic images regularly, and if they have even asked God if it is appropriate for them to partake in. I believe purity and virginity of mind is just as important to God, and to a future marriage, as physical purity and virginity. If so, I wonder if it might be time to ask God if such images are really what He wants for you, and if it might be time to ask for His power to stop.

I read a very interesting article in New York Times Magazine called “The Porn Myth”, a rather graphic look at how much relational damage is done to the most intimate aspect of human relationships when flesh and blood women can no longer compete with the woman on the screen. I encourage you to read it, let me know what you think. (hat-tip: Desert Mom)

http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/trends/n_9437/

*It isn’t the only recorded, I forgot to mention the other at the end of 1 Samuel, when King Saul’s soldiers found his body, and mourned his death for seven days by fasting.

Anti-Smoking Petition

After having a great discussion on this topic while BBQing at El 3atel & MommaBean’s yesterday, I wanted to link his petition so any of my readers who missed it can sign on and forward to others.

http://el3atal.blogspot.com/2007/08/enough-is-enough.html

For some great article on ADDITIONAL reasons to quit, (especially how it can make men impotent!!!) check out Shaden’s blog:

 http://thesugarcubes.net/category/health-and-science/smoking/

This is an especially heartfelt topic for me as both my parents died of smoking related cancers three years ago.   They both started smoking to be ‘cool’, before the dangers of smoking were known. My mom died at 69 years old, whereas she came from a very long-lived family, most of whom were active and independent into their 90’s.

It is expensive, slow suicide. It makes you ugly in a way plastic surgery can’t help. Everyone knows how bad it is for us, and dangerous for children around us also. For today’s young people, there is just no excuse to smoke. So, please sign the petition, and please stop!

Your Lack of Planning Is NOT My Emergency

I first heard these words from the smiling mouth of a calm mother to a child who routinely ‘forgot’ about homework assignments. From then on, I use it often; I have found it THE most effective tool in getting my kids to remember their daftaar il wajib, lunch, baseball mitt, water bottle, etc. So what, you miss your assignment? Take the sifr. Forget your lunch? Hunger will remind you next time. Forget your mit? Sit out that practice. It’s called taking responsibility, owning your mistakes, living in the real world. In two words: GROW UP!

Bas, yella, DURURI DURURI LLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZIM 3arif kiif bahki hi jumli bil 3arabi. Mish bas il kalimaat, il a7haam, il ma3na warai hadowl jumli. Matalan:

Yesterday, it took me three turns of the traffic light to cross  Mecca street  into Rabia.  Lay?  Ma3luum, because there are two  feeder side streets on either side that some people think should are a direct link to Mecca, hatta low fi shari3 rai’isa baynahum. Isma3u il’ussa:

Akhiran, sar doori. Talaat sayaraat udami ‘gable il isshara3. Bas, sudfaan, duxul min il yamin Ustaaz Muhimm, forcing his way in front of the man in front of me. Bi nafs il wagit, min isshemal, shab fi sayyara shi fakhmi 7ut munkharo ‘udam issit 3al shemali. Shyfeen ala3i? Shu sar? Gridlock, bagoolkum, gridlick mithl Southern California. Ma MNIGDAR nruu7, walla wahid minna. What makes people think they have the right to block traffic by turning left from far right lanes and turning right from far left lanes?  ESH? What about just owning the error and making a u-turn at the circle instead of making everyone pay for the mistake?

It took a full green light to get it sorted it out. I saw Mr. Ustaaz Muhimm pull up next to me and I rolled down the window. I said, sweetly: “Hey, there were a lot of people waiting that you cut in front of. Traffic flow works best for all when we FOLLOW THE RULES.”

He smiled sweetly back: “Oh, I am so sorry. It is the fault of the government, we need a bridge over this street”.  YYEEEEEE, Blameshifter! We can blame the gov for lots of things, but not this. Yabayay, ma’a'wa.

So, what I REALLY wanted to say was the title of this post.  How does one translate the meaning, the sarcasm, of this compact English truth into Arabic without profanity?

Fa…WAYN???? JB Meet-Up bil Arabish

Hubby’s at church, the kounouz are busy munching popcorn and watching “Narnia’ for the 20th time, and I am  LOVING the soundtrack as I get ready to tell you what a FUN a small number of us had last night!! Bas, yaani…

…wayn kuntu imbari7? Ana ijiit mitakkhri, ou Khalidah, il wahdi illi tasalat fiyyi li akidat inno ana ra7 aji (kunt biddi ashuuf lown sh3rha!!) tarkat il ijtima3 ashura dagaig gable ma ijiit! Ya Khalidah, habeebti, lay? Kunt biddi agazdar ma3ik!

Wedad, wayn ru7ti? Badayn sima3t ra7at 3ala malhal jadiid illi a3ta bouza bil bilash.

Abed, shu, inta ma pitishar? Ana il wahdi illi daymaan naymi at 9!

Kaan waqt fazeeeeeee3a!KAAAAYAFIT 3ala kulhuum illi kannu mawjuudiin. Hatta lo mish kull il blog community iju, kaan quality time jiddan  Khaled, ‘il chief’ taba3na hala, kaan mithilma huwwa 3ala blog Palforce. Ya rayt, marraljaaya, 3arrif 3ala zowjto kamaan.

Qabanni kaan badahukna ikteer…fakkaret marral maadi inno huwwi rajul haadi, bas hi marra adraket inno huwwi bizabt mithel il akkir post illi katab… bebayyan 3aly inno biddo yurgous, debka, shu. Bafham halla, ma 3arrifit inno huwwi min issham! Shukraan, ya akhoui, li i7-UP!

Jad daayman 3indo isshi laziiz. Oula 3allamatni kalamaat jadiid :0 . Dr. Dar saar zelemeh min il akkhar waqt ma3 ba3d, anjad, atwaal!

3adat janbi Shaden, wa hakayna shwiyi 3an mowadiyya mukhtalifa. Shu latiifa, hi binit.

Il meet-up hi marra kaan mithl ziyarra bil bayt, easy, friendly, relaxed, comfortable.

I just really enjoy bloggers! Next time, I’ll just nag people  and remind them how much fun it is, even if it is a little wierd to walk into a group you only know from a screen. Khaltos, you know, they are in your life to nag. I even made it a catagory, see? Ciao!