Sea of Sweat

Oasis, the English rock band, has a song titled "Gas Panic", in which they sing: "Sailing on a sea of sweat on a stormy night..." The expression, "sea of sweat", is really interesting and is used in the song to express the exertion, the effort and the stress that the author was facing!

In a completely different context, a friend of mine used the same expression today to express much more happy feelings.

It seems also appropriate in this heat and humidity to talk about sweating, which is a daily nuisance in summer (yes, I know... I already wrote several times about the hot weather, and I still suffer from it.... So please bear with me).

All this made me so curious about this natural phenomenon and I went looking for some information about it on the Internet. Wikipedia, as usual, was my first stop. That's what it says: “In humans, sweating is primarily a means of temperature regulation... Evaporation of sweat from the skin surface has a cooling effect due to the latent heat of evaporation of water. Hence, in hot weather, or when the individual's muscles heat up due to exertion, more sweat is produced.”

Cool... so, it seems that swimming in a sea of sweat in beneficial to us after all. Mother nature is doing us a favor here. People go to the gym and to saunas and pay money in order to sweat and spend those extra grams they accumulated. Summer in Beirut is offering us this for free.

All we need is to drink a lot of liquids and... yes, of course... shower the sweat away.

So don't sweat it guys! Life is cool.

Ice Cream Saves the Evening

The temperatures are still very high.

Hot and humid weather.

Personally when it's like this, I feel drained and lazy.

Going out is a struggle and staying in (especially when the AC is not working) is like being in an oven.

I'm not complaining, really. I'm just stating the facts.

I gathered some energy this evening and went out to buy some ice cream.

It's amazing how a simple thing like Ice cream can refresh the body and the mood

and make it easier to bear the heat and go back to be productive.

After eating a generous and healthy cup, I feel energized and here I am writing about it.

Ok everybody... Have a scoop and enjoy the chill.

Cheers

To Correct or Not To Correct...

With the omnipresence of the communication tools, widespread and used by the majority of people, arises the question of how we're communicating. Very often, we just want to make ourselves understood, but because of the rush in which we all live, we're using more and more shorthand writings or acronyms, so we can say what we want quick, without losing much time. We're more and more familiar now with terms like: lol (laughing out loud) or brb (be right back) or gtg (got to go) and similar Internet and SMS acronyms.

A problem arising here is the grammatical errors found in our messages. I'm not talking about typos caused by the speed, but about real spelling errors and weak style and incorrect grammar...

Ok! my question is:
While chatting, is it wrong to correct someone's grammar? will it look like we're patronizing our conversational partner(s)? Will that offend them?
There are some clear situations where it's all right to correct someone's grammar without hesitation:
(1) when you're a teacher correcting a student,
(2) when you're coaching a non-native speaker who's asked for help,
(3) when someone has specifically asked for assistance...
But very often, the situation is not as clear of these mentioned above. Chatting is usually an informal conversation, but, at the same time, sometimes errors can be a source of misunderstandings.

What's the right thing to do here?
I guess that if you point out a language errors in the right way, no one has to get hurt or humiliated. It's important to make sure you don't talk down to someone while you're correcting their grammar or spelling. Besides, if one wants to correct "correctly," then one must do it in private.
Personally, I correct my friends much more easily than persons I barely know. Often I do it with a wink, or act like I misunderstood, so it'll be a hint to review what was written. I admit that some friends find this "habit" a little annoying, and they make so much fun of me when then find mistakes in my messages (yes, they do find mistakes, quite often I must say!)... They laugh and say "Mister know-it-all needs help!"

Yes, of course I need help... and all contributions are very much appreciated.

What would you do?

Black And White

Since yesterday, I have this nagging thought about "black and white".
I'm not sure what triggered it, maybe because, while driving to visit some friends, I turned the radio on and heard Michael Jackson's famous song: Black Or White. A sentence he repeats many times is "I said if you're thinkin' of being my brother it don't matter if you're Black Or White". Then he concludes: "I'm not going to spend my life being a Color!". Although it's kind of funny to know that Jacko went to many troubles to change his skin color!
Whoever Jackson is and no matter how he behaves, I like the song because it expresses in a way how we should accept each other even if we're different. No matter the color of our skin, our religion, our nationality, our language, our political affiliations... We should find a way to live peacefully together.

Still... There is something else that I wanted to write about in this blog.
"Black and White" is also a funny expression that I heard from a friend while he talked about anyone or anything old. He would say something like "this guy is quite old; he's from the black and white era...", referring to TV screens a few years back. We use it a lot since! Not in a derogatory way, just for fun. After all, I'm not a kid anymore ;-)

Of course the term is used to describe a number of forms of visual arts. And personally I like black and white photography very much. Maybe because the lack of colors make me able to concentrate more on the subjects in picture, on their expressions and the feelings they're trying to convey.
But, in this case, "Black and white" as a description is not very accurate, for in addition to black and white most of these media included varying shades of grey. This is for me the link with the first topic with which I started this post.

How can anyone just categorize people under one label or another. We forget that there are so many shades in life. Much more than the shades of grey. Even more than the millions of color existing in the nature. Each person is unique. Relating to people can't start with prefabricated thoughts.
Discovering a person is an exciting adventure that help widening my horizons, only if I begin this journey with an open mind and a wide spirit.

Social Networking

Recently, many sites started to populate the Internet, trying to create social ties between people. They're called "Social Networking Sites". Sites where you can have a profile, where you can add your pictures, some infos, your interests, your news... and where, of course, you can add a list of friends. Then soon later your friends' list grows exponentially. Because, very often, you'll connect to other people through your friends, or even you reunite with old friends that you lost contact with a longtime ago. I'm talking about sites like http://www.myspace.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/ or similar sites.

On the other hand, we can't forget Blog sites. These also can be tools to reach out for other people. A way to express ourselves. A way to meet people who have similar interests.
I must say that Blogger made me discover that I have a common friend with my long time best friend! After introducing my best friend to the world of blogs, and after illustrating my explanations with a visit to my blog and my friend's blog, we discovered that the latter is a common friend! The world is so small.
Maybe I should thank Blogger (or should I thank Google who's the owner??!!).

Most of all, I should be grateful to my friends for making my virtual visits much more beautiful because of what they post on their recently founded blogs.

Keep up the good work guys.
Long live our friendship!
.

Heat Wave

The weather forecast told us that the temperature will reach 40 degrees!
Well, it sure did. And what makes it worse is the humidity.
After a long but lovely lunch, I wanted to take a nap, the traditional siesta. But who was I kidding? I couldn't close my eyes. It's so hot out there that no air condition is good enough to make us feel better. A fan added to the equation still failed to do the job. After trying to stay in bed for half an hour, I gave up. Better do something more productive. So here I am writing about my discomfort in this major heat wave. Realistically, we'll have many more hot days like this. The summer is still young. I think I should think that we're still better than some places where the temperatures are even hotter.
Maybe... Just maybe...
If I try hard to imagine myself on a tropical island, under a coconut tree, a gentle breeze caressing my body, the sound of the sea soothing me, an ice cold drink in my hand...
Maybe... Just maybe... I'll feel better!

Keeping Promises

I finished reading "Promise Me", by Harlan Coben late this afternoon. I enjoyed this action-packed thriller book. Like the title suggests, it's about a promise made and the consequences of keeping it. Of course, it's developed in a form of high suspense and fast paced action.
The story is about a guy who promised 2 teen-aged girls to call him whenever then need him, anytime, 24/7, and the call for help came soon after in the middle of the night. To keep his promise, the hero becomes, first a suspect, then he does everything he can to rescue the girl who vanished almost before his own eyes... I won't reveal the ending, because it'll spoil your reading. I'll let you discover it by yourselves.

But I wanted to say a few things about making and keeping promises.
I think it's important to be aware of our limits when we make a promise. Never make a promise if we're not sure that we can keep it. Never make a promise that's above our capabilities. Never make a promise that's more a challenge than a rational commitment.
Of course, a promise shouldn't be made only for show-off. If we make a promise, we have to keep it.
Some promises are made to ourselves. We tend to neglect these easily, thinking: "who's going to care or notice?". But, we should be more attentive in keeping these self-promises, because they make us more prepared to deal with commitments made towards others.
I think the best promise we need to make, all of us, is to do our best to be decent human beings, to work honestly for the good of everyone. I don't want to sound like a Miss World contestant, who invariably promise to work for World Peace. Nevertheless, we should work tirelessly for inner peace. This way we can radiate peace around us. World peace becomes a real possibility!
That's my promise... What's yours?

Bride Wanted!

Not for me... ;-) Just to make things clear from the beginning.
Still, the annoucement stands.
I'm sure, especially in our middle-eastern traditions, many of you have heard some people, especially a mother, asking around to find a bride for her beloved son.
That's what happened with me this morning. A distant relative, a mother, was telling me about her son, 40 years old, smart, handsome, very well educated, working in France, very nice position... etc. etc...
That's great for now... Then, out of the blue, she asks me if I know any nice girl that could make her son happy and become his future bride.
I didn't know how to respond without offending her.
Here she was all serious and eager to arrange her son's marriage, and she's expecting me to find her future daughter-in-law. I couldn't tell her that if that was that easy I would have found a wife for me :-)
I couldn't tell her bluntly that this is a strictly personal question, and that only her son could find his other half.
I can't blame a mother for trying to think of the best for her son.
But at the same time, I think it's time we learn that each person needs to build his/her future with their hands, even if this will be at the cost of making mistakes or doing things differently from what we expect.
Anyway... If anyone of you knows a nice girl looking for a nice husband... Let me know :-)

Summer is Here

June 21st.
Officially summer starts today.
And to mark this day I went to the beach with 3 other friends and spent the time swimming, tanning, relaxing and walking. Well, of course we had lunch also ;-)
This is the first time for me this summer. I'm all red now. Hopefully I won't stay up all night trying to ease the burning. But hey... the sun was only doing its job.
Ah... And there was another first for me!
I did another thing I never did before:
I got a TATTOO...
Ok... Ok... I cheated! Because it's not a permanent tattoo, but one made with Henna. it's a Dolphin jumping and dripping water. I got it on my right shoulder. Very cute.
I did it for fun, and it'll last a couple weeks.
I can say now that I tried a tattoo on.
I think all this was enough excitement for one day to celebrate the beginning of summer.
ok... now when's the next visit to the beach???
I want to continue my tanning :-)

A Nightmarish Real Story

I was so shocked and enraged this morning when reading in today's newspaper this story:

Young Iraqi boys, some tied to their cribs, lie on the floor at a Baghdad orphanage on June 10, 2007, after they were discovered by U.S. and Iraqi soldiers. A total of 24 naked and abused boys, ages 3 to 15 years old, were found in a darkened room without any windows. Many of the children were too weak to stand once released. A locked room full of food and clothing was found nearby. It appears the orphanage director may have been selling the facility's supplies to local markets.

Wow... It's so horrible. War zone or not, don’t people have the slightest decency? I don’t even know what to say… No human and especially NO CHILD should ever go through this!

What's even more upsetting about this event depicted in these horrific photos is the fact that it is being used as propaganda: American soldiers rescued them... Hail the US... They're the good guys... Well.... thanks for doing the least any decent human being should do... But I believe you could do better than insisting on policing the whole world. Give the world a chance to evolve the way the citizens of every country want to do it... Not the American way!!!

I hope we open our eyes and try to look around us and do whatever in our power to help our brothers in need.

A Flag Dripping Blood

When I first saw this pic on the front page of a local newspaper I was so touched. seeing this brave soldier running to place the Lebanese flag on a destroyed building, liberated from those who were terrorizing the region.



After almost a month of fierce fighting in Nahr el Bared camp, after so many young lives sacrificed, it's a spectacle of destruction and apocalyptic scenery. So much blood to let the Lebanese flag fly high again in this place. Did we learn something from all this? Could our leaders find a way to end al this?

May those who gave their lives for our country be an example to us to let aside our differences and our egoistic thoughts and try to do what we can to make a difference in our daily lives, and make our country a better place.
Together we can.

Mabrook

Life is good.
Life is funny.

The day before yesterday I was presenting my condolences to a friend who lost her dad.
Today I went to congratulate a friend for his marriage.
And, another friend that I didn't see for about 6 months called today and announced that he got married also a month ago! I must say that this was a surprise but I was so glad for him.
It's true that love conquers everything. It's nice to know that many young people continue to date, to get married and to start new families. Everyone complain about the bad situation, but the yearning to "complete the circle" is stronger than all the obstacles.
Congratulations my friends. God bless you and give you a happy and prosperous life.

I guess it's normal for friends to share the good and the bad moments. Our experiences, happy or troubled, make us what we are now. All those that share those moments with us contribute to our growth.

Life is good.
Life is funny.

Let's Laugh Our Problems Away!

Lionel Richie used to sing "We'll dance the night away".
I say, let's "Laugh our problems away" ;-)
We wake up every morning and we try to figure out what new developments are waiting for us. Security issues, political crisis, economic difficulties, stress and so on...
We wonder what we can do to lighten the weight so we don't despair.
I think the best remedy is to smile and to laugh in order to brighten our lives. The laughter is contagious. Very soon, people will be looking at the future with more optimism.
I'm not naive and I know very well that this will not change the situation. But the positive attitude will change me. The "more relaxed me" will be living through the problems, acknowledging them, but still capable of leading my life where I want, not where it takes me.
So.... Let's laugh our problems away.

Life Goes On...

Today I went to pay my respects to a friend who recently lost her father. I feel always awkward when I'm offering my condolences to someone. I never know what to say, and when I do say a few words, they just sound inadequate.
But today was different. My friend was serene. Very sad of course but at peace. We had a chance to talk a little bit before other friends and family members came over. She told me she just feels at peace because her father passed away very peacefully, always with a smile, always reassuring. She felt confident that he'll be in a better place.
For once I wasn't searching for things to say in such an occasion. I was blessed to be there and learn from this friend. Thanks T. and God rest your dad's soul.

Wherever The Wind Blows... The Song

When I started my blog, I chose the title "Wherever the Wind Blows" because it inspired me freedom and flexibility. I didn't research it on the internet at the time, but curiosity made me look it up this morning and I found out that there is a song with the same title by a christian rock band called "Pillar".
I must say that I really like the lyrics, and I'd love to share them with my friends, so I'm posting the song on my blog.
Thanks Pillar... You express my feelings very well.

Wherever The Wind Blows

A song performed by "Pillar"

I hear a voice in the autumn breeze

Telling me that I need to leave

But I can't fly with these broken wings

The leaves they move like poetry

Its all still such a mystery

But I can finally hear the melody

I've been here for so long

I think its time I moved on

So tell me where it is that I need to be

Wherever the wind blows

You will find me there

Standing exactly where I wanna be

Wasting time here is killing me

Waiting here for the remedy

So I can hear the sound of angels sing

I need something to carry me

To a place that I've never seen

'Cause right here I've seen all there is to see

I've been waiting, waiting for the day

So can you carry me away

You elevate me

How far can you take me carry me away

Ghost Town

After a long working week, it feels good to do nothing.

Relax and get some much needed rest.

That's what I did today, read, slept, ate and napped...

Then in the evening I went out with some friends and ended up in Jounieh.

We parked the car and walked in the Old Souk.

We found a snack and had dinner quietly, enjoying the cool night.

But what shocked us was the unusual calm,

the deserted streets and the empty snacks or cafes...

After dinner we strolled along the streets,

remembering the loud laughter of patrons in pubs and restaurants,

imagining the kids running and playing,

expecting to see feisty guys and gals in bumper-to-bumper cars...

Then flashing back to reality,

looking all around us and feeling like we're walking in a ghost town.

A very weird sensation for a Saturday night.

But of course, the lack of security everywhere in Lebanon is scaring everybody,

so people prefer to stay in the relative security inside their homes.

Hopefully, happiness will refill these empty streets,
the Sun will chase away the threatening darkness.
Our people will live again!

The Forgotten Man

"The Forgotten Man" is the title of a novel I'm reading now, by Robert Crais. This story made me think of so many wonderful things we take for granted and we forget to be thankful for.
The story is quite interesting and well written. The plot can be summarized like this: One morning at four, a private detective, Elvis Cole, gets a call from the LAPD informing him that a murdered man has claimed, with his dying breath, to be Cole's father, a man Cole has never met. The detective had tried many times before to find his unknown father and failed. Now he tries harder to find his father's murderer, and at the same time, find his roots and others answers he searched for all his life.
How difficult it must be for someone to grow up without one or both parents. Missing so much love and care. I feel so blessed that I was raised by a loving family at the cost of so many sacrifices. I can't begin to fathom the emptiness that a lonely person can go through. I imagine that if someone has never felt the warmth of being loved, could never love truly.
I just hope that I can share some of the love I received with all those around me.

The Light Shines in the Darkness

Another bomb in Beirut...
More Victims... More Martyrs... More Blood!
More Threats... More Accusations... More Anger...
And... Desperation grows stronger in our hearts..

Evil strikes again, and tries to destroy what's left of our determination to live.
In spite of all this darkness, I refuse to give up hope.
I don't want to be a victim.

I want to enjoy the gift of life that God has given me.
I want to share this joy with everybody I meet.
I want to be part of the Light that still shines in this world.

The darkness won't prevail, it won't win.

Say NO to despair.
Say YES to Hope!

Can We...?!

Can we smell a rose and describe its perfume?
Can we listen to the music and let others vibrate to its rythm?
Can we taste honey and share its sweetness?
Can we see the light and invite a wanderer to follow it?
Can we touch a mystery and still not be lost?
... At least we can try!

The Gift

Yesterday night, the wind blew,
the way the wind blows in calm peaceful nights.
It blew softly, caressing me gently and whispering in my ears.

The wind blew again, and in a swift motion,
it deposited in my open hand a gift!
I looked at it. I stared. I smiled.

I was looking at a picture.
I knew right away that the wind just delivered it.
It just did a favor to a friend who was sent me this gift.

I looked at that serene face. I tried to read it.

It brought me happiness, seeing in the eyes so much hope.
It gave me courage, discovering in them so much determination.
I shivered, sensing that behind those dreamy eyes, there's a burden.
It made me sad, reminiscing how many times they cried.
The lips hesitate between a smile and an unwavering firmness.
But, in spite of all, this face still radiated joy.

THANK YOU J.
You made my night!
It's a thank you very different from what I say to the guy who brings me the newspaper in the morning ;-)
It's a THANK YOU from the heart.

God bless.

Where Are We Going?

It's so sad to follow the news. Every single minute there is a new development in the situation.
It's been a few day that fightings are going on in hte North of Lebanon in Nahr el Bared, and now it seems that more fights started near Saida in Ain El Helweh camp.
We're so fed up with all this. It's about time we lived in peace and harmony.
It can't go on like this. It's so frustrating.
Hopefully, our leaders will eventually come to their senses and do all they can to settle the situation.
Hope... hope... hope....