Tala's Soccer & Tea Party Surprise

Summer is around the corner and a lot of activities are winding down, as new ones are set to begin. This is the last week of classes for all four of us, believe it or not! Yesterday was Tala's soccer final, and she got her medal and (gigantic, Tim Horton) water bottle (more like a barrel). It was fun, we took some pics and had icecream afterward.

Lefty takes the field!

Today was Tala's Tea Party at school, so I stayed home in the AM and went there with Moody. She was thrilled to see us! We, the parents, joined their circle time, sitting behind them as their teacher read them stories and played some act-along music. They had a blast, then some nice snacks and juice. The surprise was a little artwork from Tala to Mom and Dad, a combined Mother's-Day-Father's-Day gift. Here they are below, and make sure to read the little interview below each one! I loughed so hard at mine!

Tala expresses Love in some sort of Tifinagh script!

Coffee and Ba-Zing! Tala sure knows her Dad, lol lol lol
(Good guess by the teacher for Bazeen!)

Singin' in the Rain... In Fort Wayne

Today, I started my assignment at GE. Not much to say about it yet, but so far so good. I'll be flying to Louisville, KY, next week for meetings with the CEO and CIO. All the interns will be there, forty two of us representing twenty one universities. Oh, my assignment leader is a guy called Hanu!

The drive to Fort Wayne took me less than three hours; it was nice and relaxing; farms, cows, lots of cows, and Amish warning signs! Ft. Wayne is shabby and has this old industrial aura to it. Brick square buildings with cobblestone roads. It seems like I have traveled back in time. The GE offices are on top of their manufacturing facility, and the shortest way to get to the offices is to walk through the factory.

That's Eli in the picture in GE's Ecomagination commercial Singin' in the Rain. It's my favorite, of course. Really, imagination at work! Click here to watch the video.

I miss the kids and Sol... did my share of weeping when I arrived at the empty apartment yesterday. The kids didn't care much that I was leaving; they probably think it's like my other "leavings." It will sink in eventually. Sol thinks it's the price for teaching them to be independent and have no preference to one parent, kind of go with the flow and whoever is watching them.

Friday, is Moody's graduation party... From preschool! I'll miss it. It's his birthday too, yeppie! I'm driving back on Friday, after work, and we're having the party on Saturday. I'm also taking my finals on Saturday morning and I better get some studies done!

Miss you, guys! xox

Recital 2006

Before the Friday Show

Last weekend was recitals for the kids, the result of months of preparation. Both had performances on Friday, hip-hop for Moody and something called creative movement for Tala. On Saturday Tala had another show. They did a terrific job, and it was a very nice experience for them and us!

The school is called Generations, and it is a non-profit started by two sisters who teach there, along with a daughter of one and a whole lot of other volunteers. It is in an old building in uptown Westerville, and whenever I go there, the place is like a beehive with kids running around peacefully to/from classes, and parents steering them through. Over time you get to know the kids' faces, some of the names, siblings and parents. But you don't really see them doing their drills, except on the designated Parent Observation day.

Orderly bees on the bleachers! All smiles before the show

Likes the flowers, but still pouting

Ahmed had been in a recital last year, but this was Tala's debut. The show was held at a nearby highschool theater, and Friday evening was standing room only! We had to sit all the way in the back, which meant the kids wouldn't be able to see us. Moody was just fine, and he actually did his finest performance, waving his arm in the air, sliding on his knees and all. But little Tala came out on stage, starting out OK, then she started looking for us in the audience. By the end she just froze in place, looking out with a major pout! I had been telling Hana about my stage fright experience in 5th grade, the only time I ever took part in a stage performance like that, unless you count lecturing and such! I was the youngest in the dance group, and I had the spotlight in one part, which I always did fine except when I had those preshow jitters. I ended up OK, after encouragement from teachers, but it sure helped me a heck of a lot to see my father and my brother in the audience. Poor Tala was really stressed on Friday night. She came back out onstage for the finale. But after the show, we went to get the kids from the gym, and Tala just unloaded! She cried hard for a while, just releasing the stress, then she was able to relax and enjoy her cute flowers.

Getting ready for Round 2

On Saturday, we knew to get there early and grab the best seats in the house: center front row. Moody was sitting with us, and as it happened, also next to one of his dancemates, Alex. This was Moody's first experience watching the performance by kids he knew in the trenches. He'd seen the rehearsal and that helped him a lot with concentration in his number, but watching the recital really made the whole idea sink in even more for him. This time, Tala came out and she greeted us right away with her beaming smile. She was much more relaxed, did a charming number with her group, and was throwing kisses by the end!

Before this experience, there was soccer, ice skating, swimming, etc., but somehow the performance arts are so different. I don't know what it is, maybe the lights, the special clothes, makeup, crowd, or maybe it is all of those things. There were skinny kids, chubby kids, tall, short, white, black, kids with round heads, square heads, glasses, just all sorts of kids... It all hit me in the middle of the first show that they all had one thing in common: Just working their little big hearts out, and I told Hana that the whole thing was all about doing their best. It really works, and it is such an impressive sight to see, especially when you know how hard they trained. The amount of self discipline is just amazing, even among the three-year olds! Of course, there were lots of moments when they just kinda forgot what was going on and the'd just chat on stage, etc. lol lol But as soon as someone backstage gets their attention, theyd go back to performing-- with a passion! I can't wait to get the video of the shows, so I can watch them all over again. It's tough to resist the human spirit at its purest.

My fifth-grade show was in 1969, in celebration of Libyan Unification Day (April 1964?) when the Federation of three Libyan provinces evolved peacefully into the Kingdom. We used to practice after school in the unfinished theater of the Secondary (high) school behind my elementary/middle school. That year, 1969, was the last time that Unification Day was celebrated. In the summer break that followed, I learned a new word: revolution! That year was the year the music died for Libya. By the time I got to high school, the theater in which we had practiced was being used by gangs to sell moonshine! I wish all kids in the world get the opportunity and encouragement to do their best, even if it happens once a year, or even once in a lifetime. And thanks to all who helped me; in particular, I remember Kamal Buhidma, who was just a highschool student and a boyscout at the time, and our dance instructor. Thanks also to Mr. Ibrahim Majdoub, the music teacher at Zawiet ad-Dahmani school, when the music was still alive there...

Shamsa, One More Time!

Moody lost his second tooth on Monday, May 15. That's exactly three weeks since the first tooth. Shamsa came that night, left him the globe he asked for, and lots and lots of fairy dust all over the house. And upon Moody's request, she also stopped by Tala's room and left her a pretty hair pin. Moody is sure that when Tala's toothfairy comes, she'll pay him a visit too.

Moody's phrase of the day is "The proclamation constipation!" And according to him, this is how you make macaroona, "First, you put the oil, then the onions, then the meat, and wait."

The Computerworks!

Got this from a colleague at work. It's interesting, captivating irony... like a digital rendition of an analog computer.

Gore on SNL, it could have been!

While at the computer lab--bored out of my mind, waiting for the data mining project files to download and unzip--I received an email from Dale with a link to Gore's feature on SNL.

Of course, it's good and worth watching... You gotta love the US! Their politicians are not only funny but they strive to entertain their people, and it works! lol

But, that's not the reason I'm posting this. Last Saturday, Sol and I went to the Shadow Box, a SNL-like experience, so they claim! ha! What a waste of time it was... and a headache medicine afterwards. Now, I feel even worse for having wasted Saturday night there instead on watching SNL. Click on the image and enjoy!

A Very Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day in the US. Happy day, Mothers! Moody and Tala made me a gift each, at school. Tala was so exited about it and kept telling me "I painted your flowerpot red!" days before the pot made it home. Moody is watching his gift and "can't wait to see the flower bloom!" Me too!

Sol treated me to his famous egg and harisa sandwich for lunch. Later, we all went to the mall to pick me a gift. I picked the "large size" wallet that I desperately needed as evidenced by my current over-bulged one. The kids and Sol picked me a keychain. While at the store, Moody said to Sol, "Let's look for something nice for Mom; she likes nice things." We stopped by the Discovery store to change the butterfly kite which didn't fly well at all--bad design. There, Moody picked a motorcycle with a remote and said it was what he wanted from the toothfairy for the coming visit. We stopped at the newly-opened Disney store, and there Moody said he wanted a snow globe instead from the toothfairy. He'll eventually make up his mind.

We're having such a busy time, with so many things to do, and so many things coming our way. Last Sunday, I published the results of the 2006 Tibra Awards; Monday, I received the Operations and Logistics Faculty Scholarship Award from Fisher. A very pleasant coincidence! To top it off, the same week, I received an offer from GE to join their Information Management Leadership Program. It is out of town! I will be gone for twelve weeks, but will drive back every weekend. Hopefully it will be four-hour driving at the most depending on where my placement will be. It'll be rough on everyone, but how could we turn it down--GE is as good as it gets!

Last week, or was it the one before, was dress rehearsal at generations. This Friday is the recital... We're all excited and looking forward to it.

Shamsa is on her way again... Moody has another loose tooth and one growing out behind it.

Moody's first tooth

O'Sun O'little Sun
O'Little Eye of the Bride
I Give You the Tooth of a Donkey
And You Give Me the Tooth of a Gazelle

We are way behind on updating the blog. A lot has been happening, but no time to write it all. Two WEEKS ago, Moody's first tooth fell out, and that was a biiiig experience for him. Of course he'd been waiting and excited about the whole thing. That morning, his tooth was too loose and he was bothered by it. I tried jiggling it a little but maybe just helped along... It just fell out a little later while he was going about his normal morning things, you know, standing on his head on the sofa or something similar. He just brought it to Hana, I believe.

We sang the Libyan tooth song/poem, with the lyrics translated above. I still vaguely remember when I first learned to face the sun and say those words very precisely, in Arabic of course, then throw the fallen tooth into the sun. So, Moody and I sat facing east and he repeated after me

يا شمس يا شموسة
يا عوينة العروسة
نعطيك سن حمار
وتعطيني سن غزال

Why the donkey and why the gazelle, I haven't a clue! We didn't throw away the fallen tooth, well, because of the whole toothfairy thing! So I kinda had to improvise, but it goes both ways, as you'll see.

We had read a book about losing teeth, supposedly written by the bald short guy on Seinfeld, for his son. The book is called, "Daddy, are you the toothfairy?" So it deals with both sides of the fantacy, which is good. Hana got Moody a little tooth-shaped, glow-in-the-dark box for his tooth. [You gotta love America!] Moody called it a dog bone! lol lol lol He put his fallen tooth inside it and put it on his window sill, that night, so She can see it. We wrapped a gift he'd asked for and sprinkled glitter around his room, including the window sill, did the silver dollar, the note, the whole nine and a half yards! Next morning, Moody was in heaven! He really appreciated the whole deal, and he wouldn't let anyone clean the fairy dust that day!

Moody's toothfairy is named Shamsa. She told him that she took his tooth to the Sun, to help keep it glowing. As I said, improvising works both ways!

A lot has been happening, and I guess a lot more is on the horizon. But since we're talking about the sun and son... One funny thing happened on tooth weekend when Ahmed decided I was 'uspended, just like that, from playing racquetball on sundays with my colleague Yunzhi. Moody and I always spend saturdays together, "pallzie walzie day," taking him to his ice skating class, soccer, swimming, etc. He said he'd call Yunzhi and tell him to find another partner for sundays. He added, "You're supposed to spend sunday with your son... that's why they call it sonday, get it?" lol lol lol I wanted so much to say to him that on some certain level he was right! In particular, given Sunday's importance as a day of worship for Christians, one might even say it is a day for them to devote to the Son. It is a little early, but I can't wait to discuss things with Moody on all levels!

Dregiyat!

"I have toe polish!" Tala is so exited to have polish on her toenails. She refuses to wear nothing but flipflops and sandals, even if it's cold for that, just so she could show off her "toe polish." First day she went to school with it, she was telling everyone to look at her toes. Later at home she told us that Mrs. Rochon had toe polish too, and Mrs. Parker needs to fix hers. Even days later, we don't seem to hear the end of it!

Apparently, Tala is going through some growth spurt or something in terms of identity and behavior. She'd be so whiny one minute, then apologizes so nicely the next. She sure has been testing her limits to the extreme. I hope to get the time during next break to have some girlie time with her soon and do lots of the girlie stuff.

Moody is growing, and growing, and growing! We turned in his registration this week for kindergarten--he's so elated. It works for us very well and we stress to him that Kindergarteners are mature and remind him he's a kindergartener now not a preschooler anymore.

Among the evaluation testing Moody had gone through was the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC-II), an equivalent of an IQ test. According to this test, his learning percentile rank is 97, and his F-C intelligence is 93! We were told that in reality his ranking is even higher than that and it would have shown if he cooperated more in the test.

The pictures above were taken last Friday at the school outing at Inniswood Gardens. There, we followed the maze to read the story of "The Lady who fell from the sky." It's a neat idea to lay the story on tiles on the ground and end it with the statue of the lady. Next time, I'll document the story in pictures.

Moody is developing an interest in fishing. So one Saturday--that seems a long time ago--we packed the fishing gear and rode the bikes to the park behind our home. Moody and Tala were interested only in reeling and throwing stones in the pond... still fun! Tala fell asleep in the trailer in the way back home--wouldn't you when somebody is paddlling away to drag you and you're just enjoying the ride!

To add to the joy of the outing, the garage got cleaned up that day! We got back, and it was obviously not easy getting the bikes back into the garage. So Sol rolled up his sleeves (umm he was wearing short sleeves!) and cleaned it up. Of course, I helped by dragging more things from way in the garage to th outer limits for him to deal with and went inside. I didn't know that side of the garage is so spacey and has floor!

There's more happening here with Moody and Tala. I feel bad that we haven't been able to document it all... Well, there's only so much time in the day.

Plans for this summer include developing Moody's writing skill, and taking the training wheels off his bike. Mexico is looming in the horizon--would it happen? I wish!

Happy Birthday, Oofey!

Alexandria, Egypt, 2005

Rahaf Kambaraki, my niece, Noha's daughter. Born in Benghazi, April 20, 1997.

I was in Lebanon when Noha was pregnant and was assigned the job of buying the baby stuff for her. I later met with Rahaf's Dad, Khaled, in Damascus and gave him that, a long with two cute dresses of Jenna. I had asked for the dresses back when Tala was born so she could have something of her sister's, and I'm still asking, or is it begging? Bottom line: Rahaf, you owe me, habooba!

Happy Birthday!

A Touch of Spring!

Franklin Park Conservatory

Blooms & Butterflies

Moody and Tala had their spring break this week. Back to school on Monday. It's been easier with them on break; less things to do--no packing school snack, no backpacks and folders to check, papers to sort, and no hurry to get them up and going! Milood has come and gone and I missed it--Happy Milood anyway!

The jrabee3 had a good week with Barbi; went to COSI, the Zoo, parks, many ice cream treats (for being good!) and many other places.

Yesterday, they went to Franklin Park Conservatory for the Blooms & Butterflies. Pictures show that they had fun. Later they stopped by Barbi's house, picked up Keith and went for ice cream together. Finally, Moody got to meet Keith--Barbi's boyfriend. There'd been an element of jealousy there. Last week Moody told Barbi that he doesn't like Keith because he has a gun and might kill him! Keith is in the army and Barbi a national guard; she was deployed in Iraq for a year. We explained to Moody that soldiers protect their people and go and fight for them, not kill them. Took some more explaining that Keith's people are not just Barbi, but all Americans including Moody.

On Tuesday, I woke up with a headache, but went to school thinking it'll go away. Apparently it was part of that flu I had for days. The headache got worse and turned into an upset stomach. I dropped my assignment, gave notice to the teachers and headed home. I was sleeping in the basement when the kids got home. Moody snuggled with me and then said, “You need a teddy bear to make you feel better.” He ran up to his room and got me Big Teddy! Both Moody and Tala stayed away from the basement to let me rest. When I woke up, Tala said, “Is your headache gone, Mom?” And then she said, “Because we made the puzzle, your headache will go away!” And then started throwing me kisses and said, “Kisses make headaches go away!” MY sweet guardian angels!

With spring come more activities for the kids and the yard. Sol has been taken care of that this year. The yard looks nice and things are blooming already. I love working in the yard and tending to my flowers, but I have lots of studies to do.

Tala and Moody started soccer. All of their activities are on the days I’m at school. The upside is I’m relieved from getting them and their bags ready, driving them around, but I really do miss being with them. I miss spring!

Hyacinths in our yard

Our Pansies

Growing Pains

This was a week of bodily transformations, some quite painful, unfortunately! The top event is Moody's getting his first set of glasses on Wednesday. This is not really painful to him, but to us the parents, the experience is a little unfamiliar. Both of us have very good vision, although my near sight has finally started to degrade, or is it my arms getting too short? Anyway, as of a few months ago, I started using reading glasses. Since both of us lack the experience of childhood glasses, the event was a little hard for us; I suppose, we thought of glasses as a limitation of sorts. But, it's actually not bad, and I think we're starting to see the benefits already. Moody did great in soccer yesterday. He saw a lot of action as goalie, letting in one goal but stopping two others. On the field, he mainly ran around tackling and trash-talking the other team players, which made them less of a threat. Yesterday, he also hit some baseballs in the yard and seemed really excited about it. He wants us to go to the park today and play more ball. Also, he has been quite accepting of the glasses, no complaints at all. Of course we have to thank the Harry Potter phenomenon for Moody's excitement. The first day, he would look at himself every time he passed by a mirror, and he would ask everyone he saw, "Do I look like Harry Potter?" Thanks, Harry.

On the dental front... We discovered on Tuesday that one of Moody's permanent teeth is coming up behind a baby tooth. Nothing is easy! I told him that had happened to me once, which is true, and he is taking it in stride.

The real pain, though, was Tala's share. The poor girl slipped on the driveway and scuffed up her chin and upper lip. The next morning she didn't want to go to school because her "lip is getting fat!" A similar thing happened to Moody last year at school. He was recalling to Tala how he got to go everywhere, "School nurse, children's hospital,..." Even in pain, there is competition.

A Day of Excursions

The kids paid Sol a visit at work this morning. They brought back "materials, atoms, and treasures," said Moody. When I picked them up, Moody's first comment (when Sol was not there to hear) was "Dad's office is messy!" Tala was quiet all the way to the mall.

The mall trip was supposed to be two stops for specific things and then home so I can do some studies before we head out again to meet Corey and Ann. Well, it didn't exactly turn that way. At the cosmetics counter, Tala, spent some time trying on makeup with Moody lending a hand and offering advice. She put loads of powder on her face that made her look dusty and ashy! Walking by CPK, Tala said, "I'm hungry for pizza." Moody seconded, "I'm starving for pizza." So I promised them we'll have lunch there if they were good shoppers. We troted from one store to the next, trying things and forgetting about time. I bought myself a nice everyday handbag, and I realized that I haven't had one for a long time since it was diaper bags and backpacks for years.

More trotting and some more buying, and then Moody realized that he left his coat at Macy's. So we walked back across the mall to get his coat when I realized I forgot a shopping bag at the handbag store at the other end of the mall... more trotting back with couple more stops. We finally made it to CPK and had a nice lunch as the picture proves. When we got to the car, Tala announced that she left her lunch tote somewhere in the mall. It was too late to walk back in, but I promised her to go back for it another time.

Next excursion was to meet Corey and Ann at the Recreation Outlet. Corey visits "Granny" from Indiana and we try to get him and Moody together when he does. The recreations Outlet is an interesting nice place. It is a showroom for playground equipment that later turned into a playplace and birthday-parties place for children. Smart idea. They charge $3 per kids and have rest rooms, water fountains, and benches for adults. A good place to go to in rainy or cold days. Apparently not many know about it; it wasn't crowded. Hush! Don't tell!

Last excursion of the day is taking Grandma Jazz et al out for dinner... Off we go!

Hanu in the news!

The MidEastConnect e-zine says it is "dedicated to young, driven, forward thinking and like-minded Middle Eastern professionals." They publish weekly features on individuals and organizations. This week, there's a feature on the Tibra Foundation; and the managing director, Hanu, is front-n-center! We can confirm the "long hours" part mentioned there, but we are also very supportive of the Tibra project and proud of Hanu, our own special Tibra. Way to go and keep up the hard work!

The Bird Curse!

I have posted the following as a comment in Highlander's blog, From the Rock, but then I thought I might as well document it here so my children would know what awaits them if they decide to adopt birds!

My family, Dad's side, believe that birds bring bad luck to whoever owns them in the family. It goes a long way back, when my father's uncle had hens and his house was burnt down. Another had hens, years later, and his son died. My family took in the neighbor's birds while our neighbors were out of town and I fell really sick (I was about 2!) My mother took the birds out of the house and put them on the roof; I got better, I was told! My cousin came from Uganda to Benghazi with that beautiful parrot. A caravan of cars headed to Derna with my cousin, parrot, and all. The car that had the bird started fuming... The elders in the family demanded the bird be released at once and so it was! There are many other ancient stories of the bird curse in my family but can't remember them all...

Back on track... My mother doesn't want any birds around our house (in Benghazi,) so my parents sprinkle bird poison on the roof so no birds would nest there. The other day, they found a dead pigeon, and guess what. Gloves and masks came out... "The bird flu is here," declared Dad. After consulting with the neighborhood "experts" and “dignitaries,” they opted to bury the bird instead of burning it, and to sanitize the whole roof. Now, everybody in the neighborhood is on alert for dead birds.

I looked for a bird's picture to add to this post, but then decided not to... Better safe than sorry!

Big Ohio News!

OK, our local news media in Columbus... hmm, how can I be diplomatic? Let's say, they work very hard to define mediocrity. Almost daily, Hana and I would make bets on the number of crime items that would lead the evening news. What do we have, two shootings and an armed robbery, any straight up murders? Sometimes when things are fairly peaceful in town, you can really see their desperation! They'll go for anything, cheap imports from other cities, weird animal births, you name it! Well, tonight, I think I already know what will lead the evining parade of News without Clues... It's from Athens, our Athens here in Ohio, not that other place!

Burglary suspect flags down wrong car
Friday, March 24, 2006
Randy Ludlow

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Two men driving the back roads of Athens County spied a muddied figure frantically motioning for them to stop. The man walked up to their pickup and asked for a ride, saying his car had broken down. They were more than glad to give the hitchhiker a lift — straight to jail. They were deputy sheriffs, and the man was the burglary suspect they were looking for.

and there's even more...

Hanu is 40!

Happy Birthday!

You look bossy, Mom-- Moody.

Make room for the birthday girl, y'all, it's the big Four-Oh for Han-nu today!

Welcome to the age of maturity, Hanu, we love you and look forward to keeping you forever.

Our friend Nadia made a wonderful 'Aseeda for Hana's breakfast today, with honey, date syrup and all the fixin's. It was really delicious, and I am not usually a big Aseeda fan. Interestingly, Aseeda is made on various special occasions, including the celebration when a newborn reaches 40 days old. Well, thanks, Nadia, for making Aseeda on my baby's 40th.

عصيدة الأربعين

Suisse Almond