by Natasha Tynes | Apr 28, 2005 | Everyday me!
We are extremely busy nowadays, taking care of last-minute errands while packing, cleaning and trying to keep sane. I have to admit, I’m the one who is stressing out most of the time. That’s me: Natasha the neurotic. While Jeff keeps calm in the most stressful of situations, I’m the one who is losing it constantly. I mean, come on, what’s more stressful than changing continents. For the past two weeks or so I have been exhibiting every kind of stress symptom you can imagine: insomnia, stomachache, break-outs, short temper and an indefatigable craving for chocolates.
We have a few days left in this gulf emirate spent literally running all over the place taking care of a myriad of errands. I keep telling myself, "hanat," which is Arabic for "it is almost over." I tried all the tricks to calm myself down: taking deep breaths, thinking positively, listening to music and even getting my cavities fixed (finally!) but nothing seems to be working. I guess I will only relax when I’m finally at my parents’ dinner table eating Mansaf!
by Natasha Tynes | Apr 26, 2005 | Music
In a bid to share our favorite music with dear readers of this blog, we created Mental Mayhem Radio, which can be accessed from the top menu bar (or click here!). Click it and it will begin playing a random track. It has around 85 songs so far with more to come late tonight. If you are interested in being entertained while surfing the pages of Mental Mayhem, just press the radio button.
The player is fairly straight forward. There’s a scroll bar to move the list [it’s a bit slow]. The ‘Zap’ button takes you to the next track and there’s volume and pause button at the bottom. On board you’ll find hits by XTC, Fiona Apple, Cat Stevens, Jimmy Buffet, Chris Isaak, Alicia Keys, INXS, Counting Crows, Franz Ferdinand and many more. Just click and enjoy! Happy surfing!
by Natasha Tynes | Apr 25, 2005 | Jordan, my nation
I’ve got the plane tickets in hand for our much-awaited trip to Jordan, now just right around the corner. My excitement is overwhelming. I’m afraid I’m just gonna pop. Here is a list of things I hope to do when I get back to my lovely hometown:
- Spend 5 whole days playing with nieces Jessica and Amy and newborn nephew, Michael
- Spend at least one day at the Dead Sea
- Visit the baptism site on the Jordan River
- Have a seafood salad with Lana at Romero
- Eat as much mansaf as I can
- Eat as much Shawerma Reem as I can
- Eat as much Pizza Rimini as I can
- Read the daily newspapers
- Have coffee at Books@Cafe
- Have tea at the RSCN’s Wild Café
- Hang out with the girls on Lana’s porch
- Have lunch at Haret Jdoudna in Madaba
- Visit Auntie Lily
- Visit as many cousins as possible
- Go to Mecca Mall with Zeezo
- Try some of my dad’s homemade wine
- See as many friends as possible
- Meet up with the Jordanian bloggers
- Wake up to the musical masterpiece that is the Jordan gas vendor
- Take a drive in Jabal al-Webdeh.
As you can see, this list is mostly about eating. And you wonder why I never lose weight ;-). Jordan, Jordan, here we come!
by Natasha Tynes | Apr 25, 2005 | Everyday me!
Today is my last day at work and what better way to celebrate my exodus than getting a facial at the Ritz Carlton! I know, I’m splurging but damn it, I deserve it!
by Natasha Tynes | Apr 24, 2005 | Jordan, my nation, Media watch
I was alerted by a reader, Fred, to this article published in the Washington
Times:
Jordanian journalists Saturday demanded their Iraqi counterparts admit
their country is occupied, accusing them of promoting the U.S.
presence. The group of Jordanian journalists gathered signatures for
a petition to be presented to the president of the Jordan Press
Association, demanding to respond to Iraqi journalists’ accusations
that the Jordanian press was writing and instigating against the new
conditions in Iraq.
In their petition, the Jordanian journalists insisted Iraq is an Arab
country occupied by a foreign force and Iraqi journalists are
responsible for promoting and supporting that occupation.
If anyone cares to hear my humble opinion, I would say Jordanian
journalists should not meddle with Iraqi affairs in such a way. No
one wants good things for Iraq more than Iraqis themselves. If Iraqis
want to accept the status quo, then this should be respected. Arabs
should really stop meddling in Iraq’s affairs and let the people of Iraq decide
their own fate.
