The First Book of the Year

I have finished my first book of the year. It wasn't a hard one. Spencer got it for me for Christmas (read: it was on my list of things I wanted). I gave him a list of possible options, all of which, with, I would be equally pleased. It is called "The Year of Living Biblically" by A.J. Jacobs. It's about an agnostic journalist that tries to live the Bible as literally as possible for one year. And might I say, it is a very enjoyable read. He describes himself as "Jewish - in the same way that the Olive Garden is an Italian restaurant." The book itself is arranged in chapters chronologically by month, his day to day journal entries composing each chapter. And each chapter is made up of small, palatable vignettes. Very easy to pick up and put down at a moments notice. (what's that? you need -- insert child's want/need --.) It was in the top picks of 2008 on Amazon.com. AND, my big thing when it comes to picking books, it was a best-selling title. Some people see a book with the author's name preceded by "New York Times bestselling author" and snatch it right up! So what? A bestselling author can write a book that is no good and still have bragging rights to that moniker. A bestselling TITLE, while not always a slam dunk in the literary sense, is a better bet when picking reading material. The TITLE has sold such-and-such amount. Anyway, it's a great book I can definitely recommend and endorse.

**This message has been approved by me.**

Word Wednesday

I don't have a single word for this week, more like a word thought. Here we have two words: dejected and rejected. I'm no English major (ask my SIL or Sara for that kind of info), but don't they have the same root? This "ject", what does it mean? I looked it up in the dictionary (online) and in Wikipedia. Nada. De- and re- are prefixes to this odd word "ject". There is reassigned, inappropriate, return, reverse, demote, promote, all of these words that can have the front part chopped off and still have a meaning. Why not these two little odd semantical abberations? I guess they would have the opposite meaning of their first incarnation.

"Gosh, I'm sure feeling jected! I could jump for joy!"

or

"He jected me! He jected me! We're going to the dance together!"

You see, as I mentioned before, I'm no genius of the English language, but this only seems to make sense. Although, English never does make much sense. Looking at it from a non-English speakers point of view, it is a dang hard language! I mean, take these words for instance: fish and phone. Why oh why do they make the same beginning sound but have different letters? I could pull out a dozen different examples, but then we would both be bored! Am I right? So, to wrap up this wordy Wednesday, the English language makes no sense, but gosh I'm glad I speak it!!

Happy Birthday, Eliza!

Wow, when did she get to be so old? 9 years old is hard to believe. At least for me. Eliza is such a joy in our life. She has always been a loving sister & daughter, willing to help and so caring. As I was hunting through pictures (mental note: organize non-digital pictures), I really couldn't believe how far she's come. One minute she's the same size as a Tickle-Me-Elmo and the next she's that angel in the top left of the collage.

A short narration of the above pictures; starting at the top row, left corner: This December in the Nativity as the angel Gabriel; (straw hat) 3 1/2 years old at Yellowstone; 3 days old; about 15 months old; bottom row, left: about 3-4 weeks old; almost 4 years old; with the straw, 10 months old; kindergarten picture, almost 6 years old.

Happy Birthday, my Eliza Claire! My oldest daughter and first joy!

Bye-bye

Hello hello. Goodbye, bye-bye, later, hasta la pasta, see you later, adios, ma'asalama, ciao! A despedida**, a farewell is something we say every day when we hang up the phone, close the door or leave a place a business. Here in Egypt, they have a special way of saying goodbye.

I should back up and let you know what "goodbye" is in Arabic. It is Ma'asalama. That is the best transliteration I know how to spell.

So, the unique way they say "Goodbye" on the phone . . . . how to put it? They don't quit. The goodbye-ing doesn't stop. And sometimes they do say, "bye-bye." A combination of it all. I was just on the phone with the Orbitz satellite guy and he didn't quit.

me: "Alright, ma'asalama."
him: Ma'asalama, bye-bye
me: bye
him: okay, bye-bye. bye-bye
me: ma'asalama
him: ma'asalama, okay, bye-bye, bye-bye

Onandonandonandon. After 4 years, you would think I'd get used to it. Nope. It still cracks me up! I can overhear my housekeeper's cell phone conversations and her trying to get off the phone with her sister, son, or pharmacist.

ReRe: Okay, bye-bye, bye-bye, yalla ma'asalama, bye-bye, okay, bye-bye.

And you just hang up. Mid-ma'asalama. The only way to get off the phone is just to hang up. You aren't offending them, it's just the way to say goodbye. Okay, bye-bye, adios, ciao, aurevoir, auf-wiederzein, domo arigato (mr. roboto) cheers, you can quit reading, see you later alligator, really, I won't be offended, goodbye, bye-bye, see you later . . . .




**isn't it frustrating when something is just better described in another language? Despedida or to despedir is a word to describe saying goodbye. I guess you could call it the equivalent of farewell. "He bade them a sorrowful farewell." also fitting in the category: semaforo, insha'allah, jalas But this is all good fodder for another post.

10 Years Ago . . .

The day has finally come. Spencer and I have been married 10 years. And it feels like it was just last week. Then I'm jolted back to reality by my 8 (almost 9) year old Eliza asking if she can play the Wii. And then Mairyn wanting to play, too. Grant running along throwing Legos and Jacqueline screaming, "Me too, me too!"

Who would have thought that 10 years from this day we would be in Cairo, Egypt sharing the adventure of our lives? I scoff a lot of people (when we go back to the states) that ooh and ahh about our "exotic" life.

"I never thought it would feel so . . . normal. School, clubs, errands and grocery shopping." I tell them.

But in some ways, it is a new adventure every week. Not necessarily one of my choosing, but still, not every day life in the States. And nonetheless, an adventure I get to share with my best friend and confidant, Spencer. Who knows what the next 10 years hold for us?

Christmas Photos

I figured I had better get some Christmas pictures up before the season passes. That and the fact that I have semi-decent Internet right now. Sheesh.

We made salt dough decorations for the Christmas tree this year. I didn't feel like getting out all the fancy, fragile ones and it suited us perfectly. Quite a few were broken, but no tears from Mommy.

We made lots of goodies.

Also, our family reenactment of the Nativity and dressing up went well this year. Jacqueline did not want to be dressed up she did her own thang.

The Christmas morning picture

Daddy's Birthday Greetings

This is Eliza's birthday card to Spencer. And he isn't sick. I asked Eliza why she put that and she said that this morning Daddy said his stomach hurt. "His stomach hurt?" "Yeah, he said he needed breakfast." Ok, well, alright, whatever. The joke at the bottom is a mortgage company magazine advertisement. She told me the joke last week when we were unloading groceries. I did the obligatory "ha-ha, that's funny" and asked her where she heard that. She said,

"Oh, I saw it in one of your magazines, Mommy. I think it was Time."

Good, good. Time magazine, the source of all jokes for birthday cards!