V-day

Today is a celebration of friendship.
I wish simply to say thanks
to you, my friend,
for all you are,
all the color
you bring
to my
life.

2011

Dear New Year,

You came so quickly I hardly had time to prepare for your coming.  But I guess that’s all right, I know you don’t mind.  Your arrival probably got more fanfare elsewhere than it did among us in Jerusalem this year, but I just wanted to say welcome.  Welcome, with all your surprises, challenges, vistas, growth, and travels.  I forgot to ask you to do away with the Finnish snow, but I figured it’s fine as long as somewhere up your sleeve you have a beautiful summer.  I will appreciate your wintery shawl as well as your summer sundress, your spring raincoat, and your autumnal partying.  I am happy you have come, and I leave our acquaintance and short 365.25-day journey together in the hands of the Creator who has allowed me to live long enough to meet you. 

Your friend,

Laila

...and counting

It's Friday. The sun is shining.
Four weeks and four days of thesis left.
Then I will need rehab for my hunchback posture.

making me think

"You don't have a soul, you are a soul that has a body."



"You have the right to feel. You have the right to be honest."



I have picked these phrases up, turned them upside down, shaken them a bit, put them in my pocket, and then decided to post them here. They just add a slight adjustment of perspective to the way I think about some things.

Living vicariously

"Guess where I am," he said over the phone.
"On top of a mountain?" I guessed, already having a vague idea of his plans.
"We're at the foot, getting ready to go on a three hour mule ride up the side!"

I love that my dad calls me from random and adventurous places way on the other side of the globe, this time from here. Having inherited a love of adventure from him, I'm sure he knows I would love to be there also. I am tickled pink that he thinks of me and shares the moments across the distances!

i is for india

i will be gone for a few weeks, seeing places and people that are now still unfamiliar.
can't wait.
bye!

Travel 1

Hi!
I have verz little time, and I am on a German computer, which means my ys are zs, so read it with the opposite letter....hehehe
I am enjozing mz time in Europe so far, and have spent a good few dazs in the Alps, wandering and getting verz wet. We have found the Spirit of the Leutasch gorge in our wanderings and enjozed just resting and relaxing.
Tomorrow the chapter of Egzptian adventures begin, when we meet mz sister and her tour group at the airport and flz to Cairo. I am looking forward to hearing the call to prazer and sitting with mz Egzptian familz.

With this brief greeting, Im sazing farewell!

Au revoir

I'm taking off to outdoorsy and cultural adventures in distant homey lands. Since I cannot send you any fresh mountain air in a jar, or an evening of tea-drinking and mangos in a box, I will attempt to update my blog if and when I get the chance, so that you may live vicariously through the things I see. But I offer no guarantees. Oh, but I do guarantee you, that I will have a good time! ;)
Ma'a Salama and auf Wiedersehen!

Reporting: when i write papers...

...my thoughts are like pingpong balls ricocheting wildly in a closed room, in constant motion spurred by curiosity and too much to do, making my inner world slightly chaotic and amnesic. I forget simple things, and remember complicated things. I wake up too early and go to bed too late. It is a strange state of being that will be over, I hope, by Friday. :-)

May your day be rosy!

on the first

Reporting the the general public: There are now 22 days left until the Winter Solstice, which is when the days will start to get longer! (See me grin and do a jig.)

There are plenty more days that I am counting down to during this month, including such key events as Christmas parties, finals, report deadlines, my sister's arrival and travel days! It promises to be busy in the coming weeks!

Wishing one and all a lovely weekend, wherever you are and whatever you're doing! May you drink plenty of hot chocolate and if there is snow, go play in it! :)