For some reason, a lot of people don't like chewing gum.. they categorize it as unhealthy/waste of time/unprofessional.. mind you, i'm not talking about those people who chew gum with their mouth open or while giving a lecture (no comment)..
I read this today in Wrigley's website about the benefits of chewing gum...
- Improves Concentration: At work, chewing gum helps us concentrate on the task at hand. Many truck drivers find that chewing gum helps them stay alert at the wheel. (Tried and tested by me; chewing gum while studying is great!.. They should allow school students to chew gum, maybe that would\ve helped us stay awake during those boring classes)
- Eases Tension: As early as 1939, scientific studies showed how chewing reduces muscular tension and helps people feel more at ease. Because it is so well-recognized for helping stay alert at the same time it eases tension, the U.S. Armed Forces have supplied chewing gum to its soldiers ever since World War I. It is still included in field and combat rations today. (I found this in particular quite interesting.. u think it's true??)
- Freshens Breath (Self explanatory)
- Provides a Low-calorie Snack Chewing gum often satisfies the desire for a between-meals snack, yet each stick averages less than 10 calories. (I always do this when i want some sugar!)
- Helps Fight Tooth Decay After meals, it isn't always convenient to use a toothbrush. Chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which helps neutralize acids from foods that may cause tooth decay.
SO in conclusion --> chew gum!! (I LOVE making bubbles with it.. does anyone know the benefits of that?!)
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Eid Clothes!
Ever since we were kids, we would buy new clothes for Eid (the holiday after the last day of Ramadan).. It's a tradition that everyone did.. but some people, when they "grow up", the stop doing it.. i have no idea why!! It's just sooo much fun!
As for my wardrobe this year, I'm going with the casual look which i can actually get a lot of use out of later on..
so here we go..
- pair of super-skinny jeans --> check!
- some sort of shirt --> check!
- a couple of more tops --> check!
- ONE pair of shoes --> check!
- emergency options for unexpected family events --> check!
- golden bangles... *still looking*
- a watch --> check! (i took my dad's.. they're so gorgeous! lol)
---> I'm almost finished!! YAY!
At times like this, we remember the less fortunate, and would like to make these days as happy and festive for them as they are for us.. So:
- If you'd like to donate money, clothes or toys.. *
- If you know of Saudi families which need help..
- If you know of any bride-to-be who could use help in preparing her "jihaz"
then please contact me on this blog/email as soon as possible.. Thanks! :)
----------------------------
*: There are a group of girls who work in association with WAMY, they know of almost 70 families of different nationalities (the majority are non-Saudi) who live in Kilo 14 who could use our help. The girls personally know a lot of details about these families, including the number and ages of fmaily memebers, so you can rest assures that your donation reaches its correct place. I'll be there myself for some of the work. Ladies are welcome to join :)
-----------------------
Update:
If anyone's interested u can contact me on my email: daysofdidi@hotmail.com Jazakom Allah khair mo8addaman! :)
As for my wardrobe this year, I'm going with the casual look which i can actually get a lot of use out of later on..
so here we go..
- pair of super-skinny jeans --> check!
- some sort of shirt --> check!
- a couple of more tops --> check!
- ONE pair of shoes --> check!
- emergency options for unexpected family events --> check!
- golden bangles... *still looking*
- a watch --> check! (i took my dad's.. they're so gorgeous! lol)
---> I'm almost finished!! YAY!
At times like this, we remember the less fortunate, and would like to make these days as happy and festive for them as they are for us.. So:
- If you'd like to donate money, clothes or toys.. *
- If you know of Saudi families which need help..
- If you know of any bride-to-be who could use help in preparing her "jihaz"
then please contact me on this blog/email as soon as possible.. Thanks! :)
----------------------------
*: There are a group of girls who work in association with WAMY, they know of almost 70 families of different nationalities (the majority are non-Saudi) who live in Kilo 14 who could use our help. The girls personally know a lot of details about these families, including the number and ages of fmaily memebers, so you can rest assures that your donation reaches its correct place. I'll be there myself for some of the work. Ladies are welcome to join :)
-----------------------
Update:
If anyone's interested u can contact me on my email: daysofdidi@hotmail.com Jazakom Allah khair mo8addaman! :)
Monday, October 09, 2006
To Wait or Not to Wait?
If you go to a shoe store, and wait for more than 15 minutes for the salesperson to help you, and he's still not back..
would you wait?
or would you leave?
------------------------------------
If you go to the doctor's, and he's making you wait, for an hour and a half..
would you wait? (you've already waited for so long!)
or would you leave? (and have to come back again, and maybe wait, again!)
------------------------------------
If you're at a job, and you've been promised a promotion that you deserve, and it's been 3 years..
would you wait? (you've wasted all these years of your life)
or would you leave? (and have to start all over again somewhere else)
-----------------------------------
what is the smart answer?
does it make a difference where you are?
or how long you wait?
or is it just a concept?
what would you do?
would you wait?
or would you leave?
------------------------------------
If you go to the doctor's, and he's making you wait, for an hour and a half..
would you wait? (you've already waited for so long!)
or would you leave? (and have to come back again, and maybe wait, again!)
------------------------------------
If you're at a job, and you've been promised a promotion that you deserve, and it's been 3 years..
would you wait? (you've wasted all these years of your life)
or would you leave? (and have to start all over again somewhere else)
-----------------------------------
what is the smart answer?
does it make a difference where you are?
or how long you wait?
or is it just a concept?
what would you do?
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Some thoughts from the past couple of weeks.. :)
- Sorry i haven't been able to blog for the past couple of weeks.. I have no idea why.. sure, i've been "busy studying" (u know when ur studying all day but are absolutely not productive?.. yup!)
- I officially am not cut out for "thobes" (the traditional Saudi dress, which most women wear during the entire month of Ramadan).. I don't get them.. I can never buy them, hence i don't own any for going out.. mind you, i don't think that they're ugly; i just think that they're not for me.. last year White Witch helped me pick out a simple bright-yellow thobe, and this year, I'm making a blue one at the taylor's (yes, Ramadan is almost half-over, and it's still not finished)..
i just don't get people's obsession with it.. and i don't get why they "have" to wear them. I "Warned" my family this year; i wore one, which Shimozi helped me choose (yup, I can't buy them alone either!) on the first family function we had, and i announced that they won't be seeing me again in one.. i mean, what's wrong with flowy skirts and cute tops??
- TOO MANY TV SHOWS! not that i watch any, except Tash-Ma Tash (a saudi comedy show), and Kill-Yom-Shi (Which is the Ramadan daily version of La yomall, a Lebanese comedy show that has a funny political side to it).. other than that, between the Syrians and Egyptians and Khaleejis, you have like a million TV shows which star the exact same people from last year, and i doubt that the content is much different.. thank God i don't waste my time on them
- I started going to the gym again, coz mom is doing her yearly thing and making all the Arabic sweets on earth, including all my favorites; Kunafa with cheese, znood el-sitt (literally; wrists of the lady), Kishk El-fo'ara (some sort of pudding), Killej (fried pastry filled with cream) and so much more.. so i figured that if i don't work out hard, i'll balloon up again (even though i try not to eat much, but even tasting this stuff is like 1000 cals or something..
- my knee is getting better.. i might not need an MRI after all.. yay!
- for the first time in my life, i'm NOT happy about having a vacation! It's not that i don't want to have a vacation ( i will spend most of it studying anyway).. It's just that the "sudden" realization that the students want/deserve a vacation came a bit too late i think! didn't anyone notice this from the beginning of the year?.. or is it more "fun" this way?.. what irritated me the most were the announcements all over the place that this "will not affect the educational process".. really?! how about u ask the college students who have scheduled lectures during that time, and who now have to somehow invent some time to have them in? or how about u ask the students who were supposed to have a major quiz on the last day before the vacation and now have to take an entire week early?.. add to this, my utter amusement when i realized that this extra vacation also includes all governmental facilities! (have you ever seen a place on earth where people take more than 2 weeks off for one of their holidays?) I guess the reason is that it's better off to send all these people home and save up of the water and electricity usage they cause at work, since they're just as un-productive anyway (coz it's "Ramadan"!)
- I did this test to see how much of a nerd I am.. turns out.. 40% .. who could've known??.. or it it obvious to everyone but me?!
P.S. blogspot decided to delete the last part of my post, but i re-wrote it to the best of my memory.. :) sorry if anyone got confused!
- I officially am not cut out for "thobes" (the traditional Saudi dress, which most women wear during the entire month of Ramadan).. I don't get them.. I can never buy them, hence i don't own any for going out.. mind you, i don't think that they're ugly; i just think that they're not for me.. last year White Witch helped me pick out a simple bright-yellow thobe, and this year, I'm making a blue one at the taylor's (yes, Ramadan is almost half-over, and it's still not finished)..
i just don't get people's obsession with it.. and i don't get why they "have" to wear them. I "Warned" my family this year; i wore one, which Shimozi helped me choose (yup, I can't buy them alone either!) on the first family function we had, and i announced that they won't be seeing me again in one.. i mean, what's wrong with flowy skirts and cute tops??
- TOO MANY TV SHOWS! not that i watch any, except Tash-Ma Tash (a saudi comedy show), and Kill-Yom-Shi (Which is the Ramadan daily version of La yomall, a Lebanese comedy show that has a funny political side to it).. other than that, between the Syrians and Egyptians and Khaleejis, you have like a million TV shows which star the exact same people from last year, and i doubt that the content is much different.. thank God i don't waste my time on them
- I started going to the gym again, coz mom is doing her yearly thing and making all the Arabic sweets on earth, including all my favorites; Kunafa with cheese, znood el-sitt (literally; wrists of the lady), Kishk El-fo'ara (some sort of pudding), Killej (fried pastry filled with cream) and so much more.. so i figured that if i don't work out hard, i'll balloon up again (even though i try not to eat much, but even tasting this stuff is like 1000 cals or something..
- my knee is getting better.. i might not need an MRI after all.. yay!
- for the first time in my life, i'm NOT happy about having a vacation! It's not that i don't want to have a vacation ( i will spend most of it studying anyway).. It's just that the "sudden" realization that the students want/deserve a vacation came a bit too late i think! didn't anyone notice this from the beginning of the year?.. or is it more "fun" this way?.. what irritated me the most were the announcements all over the place that this "will not affect the educational process".. really?! how about u ask the college students who have scheduled lectures during that time, and who now have to somehow invent some time to have them in? or how about u ask the students who were supposed to have a major quiz on the last day before the vacation and now have to take an entire week early?.. add to this, my utter amusement when i realized that this extra vacation also includes all governmental facilities! (have you ever seen a place on earth where people take more than 2 weeks off for one of their holidays?) I guess the reason is that it's better off to send all these people home and save up of the water and electricity usage they cause at work, since they're just as un-productive anyway (coz it's "Ramadan"!)
- I did this test to see how much of a nerd I am.. turns out.. 40% .. who could've known??.. or it it obvious to everyone but me?!
P.S. blogspot decided to delete the last part of my post, but i re-wrote it to the best of my memory.. :) sorry if anyone got confused!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
Waiting for Ramadan
For the past couple of days, i've been going grocery shopping with mom.. and i noticed that there are soo many people who are buying HUGE amounts of food!.. the trolley(s) are filled to their brim with so many things it's as if they haven't had anything to eat for weeks!.. ofcourse, the "logical" explanation for this, is that the "Season" of ramadan starts next week.. Umm, as far as i know, people FAST in ramadan.. as in, they do not eat from dawn till dusk.. hence, the "consumption time" for food is cut to half, and people will eat less, more healthily and might even lose some weight in the process..
WRONG!
Apparently, most people tend to overeat in Ramadan, leading to quite a weight gain, and even some medical problems on the side. hmm, i think someone lost track of the concept here.
Someone might defend all this food buying by saying, "but there are so many feasts!". well, if some people are cooking for other people, that means the first group will overbuy, and the second will not buy anything.. hence, the total should remain the same!!
you might think i'm getting worked up over nothing, but a quick glance at the streets and malls might further explain why.. the SPAN crashed and is still not working due to the huge overload on it (because Ramadan apparently came as a surprise to the bank people this year or soemthing!).. any errand takes ages coz the streets are overcrowded.. making it the perfect environment for pick-pockets and motorcycle-mobile stealers.. my dad was (almost) a victim of one of those.. a guy on a motorcycle tried to snatch his mobile from his hand while he was talking on it.. thank God my dad was not hurt.. my dad held on to his phone and didn't let the guy flee with it.. and he was regretting that he didn't push the guy and give him a decent beating.. all this while no one around even gave him a second glance.. like it was the most normal thing in the world..
I have a question; what does ramadan mean to people? coz everybody seems to complain that they have school/college/work during Ramdan.. That it's just "too difficult" to wake up in the morning, even though we have shorter school/work days during this holy month.. then, they compensate for their fast by stuffing themselves into a heart attack.. and finally they put down a schedule for which tv program they will watch on which channel.. so that they would be sure that they don't miss a thing..
I am not saying that i have the best plans for this holy month, but at least, i try to keep away from these obvious pitfalls.. i hope you do too :) Happy Ramadan everyone!
----------------------------------------------------------
I finally bought the laptop... yaaaay!
WRONG!
Apparently, most people tend to overeat in Ramadan, leading to quite a weight gain, and even some medical problems on the side. hmm, i think someone lost track of the concept here.
Someone might defend all this food buying by saying, "but there are so many feasts!". well, if some people are cooking for other people, that means the first group will overbuy, and the second will not buy anything.. hence, the total should remain the same!!
you might think i'm getting worked up over nothing, but a quick glance at the streets and malls might further explain why.. the SPAN crashed and is still not working due to the huge overload on it (because Ramadan apparently came as a surprise to the bank people this year or soemthing!).. any errand takes ages coz the streets are overcrowded.. making it the perfect environment for pick-pockets and motorcycle-mobile stealers.. my dad was (almost) a victim of one of those.. a guy on a motorcycle tried to snatch his mobile from his hand while he was talking on it.. thank God my dad was not hurt.. my dad held on to his phone and didn't let the guy flee with it.. and he was regretting that he didn't push the guy and give him a decent beating.. all this while no one around even gave him a second glance.. like it was the most normal thing in the world..
I have a question; what does ramadan mean to people? coz everybody seems to complain that they have school/college/work during Ramdan.. That it's just "too difficult" to wake up in the morning, even though we have shorter school/work days during this holy month.. then, they compensate for their fast by stuffing themselves into a heart attack.. and finally they put down a schedule for which tv program they will watch on which channel.. so that they would be sure that they don't miss a thing..
I am not saying that i have the best plans for this holy month, but at least, i try to keep away from these obvious pitfalls.. i hope you do too :) Happy Ramadan everyone!
----------------------------------------------------------
I finally bought the laptop... yaaaay!
Friday, September 15, 2006
I'M BACK
finally.. I'm back..
I came back from my amazing trip a week ago.. but i've bee too.. i don't know what to blog..
First of all, i'd like to apologize for not giving anyone a warning that i'd stop blogging.. i mean.. i honestly thought that i would blog.. (If Mystique can do it, then so can I.. or so i thought!)
Anyhow.. I'm here now and that's all that matters!
so much happened in the past 3 weeks.. i don't know where to start..
- the most important was MY BIRTHDAY, which was 2 days ago.. yup.. i'm becoming OLD.. lool.. Shimozi made a wonderful dinner and invited all my friends.. and the home-made cheesecake made getting older worth it.. thanks Shimozi.. :)
- I went to Dubai for 7 days, Prague for 8, then Dubai again for 3 more.. YEAH BABY! (more on that later)..
- school started this saturday, but i skipped the first day coz i wanted to stay in Dubai even more.. thank God i did, coz even my professors decided to skip the first day and there were virtually no classes..
- I decided to stay in "vacation mode" until tomorrow, when i'll start studying with all my power.. i really have to do good this year.. please pray for me
- as for the "deal", despite my injury, I LOST the inch.. therefore, I WIN.. now, OT claims that he too lost 5 kgs.. so i'm not sure what this means.. i guess we both won.. hehe.. but the thing is, i like how i feel (and look!) so much that i want to keep going (but with a much slower pace indeed!)..
- I'm currently reading "How to have a beautiful mind".. amazing! thank you White Witch for bringing this book to my life :)
- I'm officially black with blonde-ish hair.. YAY!
- I'm gonna introduce a new technology to my life.. A LAPTOP! yes, yes.. i do NOT have a laptop.. loool (So far, I'm thinking Toshiba, either the A100-233 or m100-164.. i don't think i'll need anything more sophisticated.. any ideas, anyone?)
- Ramadan is in a week from today.. YAY!
- My girls (White witch and Sunshine) left/are leaving Jeddah.. :(
- OT has promised to give me a list of some songs to download.. (he has a great taste in music).. i'm WAITING
That's it for now.. I have to go "prepare" my room to be the "center" for my studying for the next year..
Then, I'll go read everyone's blogs! (It's been ages!) :)
I came back from my amazing trip a week ago.. but i've bee too.. i don't know what to blog..
First of all, i'd like to apologize for not giving anyone a warning that i'd stop blogging.. i mean.. i honestly thought that i would blog.. (If Mystique can do it, then so can I.. or so i thought!)
Anyhow.. I'm here now and that's all that matters!
so much happened in the past 3 weeks.. i don't know where to start..
- the most important was MY BIRTHDAY, which was 2 days ago.. yup.. i'm becoming OLD.. lool.. Shimozi made a wonderful dinner and invited all my friends.. and the home-made cheesecake made getting older worth it.. thanks Shimozi.. :)
- I went to Dubai for 7 days, Prague for 8, then Dubai again for 3 more.. YEAH BABY! (more on that later)..
- school started this saturday, but i skipped the first day coz i wanted to stay in Dubai even more.. thank God i did, coz even my professors decided to skip the first day and there were virtually no classes..
- I decided to stay in "vacation mode" until tomorrow, when i'll start studying with all my power.. i really have to do good this year.. please pray for me
- as for the "deal", despite my injury, I LOST the inch.. therefore, I WIN.. now, OT claims that he too lost 5 kgs.. so i'm not sure what this means.. i guess we both won.. hehe.. but the thing is, i like how i feel (and look!) so much that i want to keep going (but with a much slower pace indeed!)..
- I'm currently reading "How to have a beautiful mind".. amazing! thank you White Witch for bringing this book to my life :)
- I'm officially black with blonde-ish hair.. YAY!
- I'm gonna introduce a new technology to my life.. A LAPTOP! yes, yes.. i do NOT have a laptop.. loool (So far, I'm thinking Toshiba, either the A100-233 or m100-164.. i don't think i'll need anything more sophisticated.. any ideas, anyone?)
- Ramadan is in a week from today.. YAY!
- My girls (White witch and Sunshine) left/are leaving Jeddah.. :(
- OT has promised to give me a list of some songs to download.. (he has a great taste in music).. i'm WAITING
That's it for now.. I have to go "prepare" my room to be the "center" for my studying for the next year..
Then, I'll go read everyone's blogs! (It's been ages!) :)
Saturday, August 19, 2006
A Guy
Ok.. i know i promised u different posts, and i'm working on that.. but i have to share this with u!!
A guy called me last week on my mobile claiming to "not know me" and that he wants to get to know me, and to make a long story short, after a couple of days, a few un-answered phone calls, and a few messages, i concluded that he's a well-mannered boy, yet ther'es something fishy.. he said that he got my number from "the internet", but i was convinced that he was a hiding something, an alterior motive probably..
He called me again this morning at 3:20 am, so i decided to answer to put an end to it.. being the "nice" person that i am, i think i scared him into talking.. he said that he got my name and number from Ringo.. ofcourse, i didn't believe him coz i don't use Ringo, Hi5, or any of the other similar stuff.. anyhow, i decided to give him the benefit of a doubt, and while talking to him, i decided to search Ringo for my name.. I had to get a new password and stuff, and finally.. i was in.. i looked up my name, and to my absolute horror, i found out that i had an account with my full name, phone number and address!!
SHIT!
i remembered that i created this account a few years ago, and that the idea pissed me off, so i blocked their mail and that was the end of it.. i had no idea that all my info was posted for all to see, and apparently for some to assume that it is there for the purpose of "forming friends" or whatever the hell they want to call it..
Now the q, what do i do with the guy??!
A guy called me last week on my mobile claiming to "not know me" and that he wants to get to know me, and to make a long story short, after a couple of days, a few un-answered phone calls, and a few messages, i concluded that he's a well-mannered boy, yet ther'es something fishy.. he said that he got my number from "the internet", but i was convinced that he was a hiding something, an alterior motive probably..
He called me again this morning at 3:20 am, so i decided to answer to put an end to it.. being the "nice" person that i am, i think i scared him into talking.. he said that he got my name and number from Ringo.. ofcourse, i didn't believe him coz i don't use Ringo, Hi5, or any of the other similar stuff.. anyhow, i decided to give him the benefit of a doubt, and while talking to him, i decided to search Ringo for my name.. I had to get a new password and stuff, and finally.. i was in.. i looked up my name, and to my absolute horror, i found out that i had an account with my full name, phone number and address!!
SHIT!
i remembered that i created this account a few years ago, and that the idea pissed me off, so i blocked their mail and that was the end of it.. i had no idea that all my info was posted for all to see, and apparently for some to assume that it is there for the purpose of "forming friends" or whatever the hell they want to call it..
Now the q, what do i do with the guy??!
Friday, August 18, 2006
The Deal
Last monday, OT and I were chatting, and i happened to mention something about my "exam's-weight" and how I was trying to get rid of it, and he told me that he too still has some kgs that he'd like to get rid of.. So I came up with an idea: Him and i would make a deal!
The deal is the following: "In 4 weeks we have to reach our goal, and he who loses should invite she who wins to a fancy retsaurant where she can eat all the yummy stuff she wants, whereas the one who loses should continue till he reaches his goal" <-- I added the last part without OT knowing.. hehehehe
time frame: starting Wednesday (Aug 16) and ending Wednesday (Sep 13, My Birthday!), ofcourse I offered that we start on Tuesday and gain more time, but OT refused, so i started on my own and gained a whole day for meee! :D
goal: OT's: to lose 5 kgs
mine: 1. to lose an inch (literally) from my thighs and from my tummy
2. to get my old pretty tummy back
3. my weight does NOT matter! :)
Plan: OT's: let him tell you, I have no idea.. though i think he wants to starve himself :P
mine: are you ready for this? It's long!! (OT: feel free to steal my plan :P )
part 1: exercise:
1. cardio: for the first week, i'll jog for 30 minutes 6 days a week, challenging myself to cross more distance each time. After that, I'll travel, so i'll have to figure out what i could do.
2. toning exrcises: concentrating on my problem areas.. this link is great (although i do other stuff too!)
http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100142035>1=8404
3. stretching: a major fault in my regular work out plan. I hope i'll do more of it now, especially after i took a great book from my brother; "Stretching by Bob Anderson"
part 2: "diet":
1. increase my protein intake
2. eat less fat and sugar (key word: less not no)
3. no eating after 9.30 pm unless there really is no other choice.
progress: OT: he decided to start on Saturday Aug 19, no updates form him yet
mine: i'm roughly sticking to the plan, jogging around 3.3 - 3.6 km every day (I'm so proud of me!!)
Wish us luck :)
The deal is the following: "In 4 weeks we have to reach our goal, and he who loses should invite she who wins to a fancy retsaurant where she can eat all the yummy stuff she wants, whereas the one who loses should continue till he reaches his goal" <-- I added the last part without OT knowing.. hehehehe
time frame: starting Wednesday (Aug 16) and ending Wednesday (Sep 13, My Birthday!), ofcourse I offered that we start on Tuesday and gain more time, but OT refused, so i started on my own and gained a whole day for meee! :D
goal: OT's: to lose 5 kgs
mine: 1. to lose an inch (literally) from my thighs and from my tummy
2. to get my old pretty tummy back
3. my weight does NOT matter! :)
Plan: OT's: let him tell you, I have no idea.. though i think he wants to starve himself :P
mine: are you ready for this? It's long!! (OT: feel free to steal my plan :P )
part 1: exercise:
1. cardio: for the first week, i'll jog for 30 minutes 6 days a week, challenging myself to cross more distance each time. After that, I'll travel, so i'll have to figure out what i could do.
2. toning exrcises: concentrating on my problem areas.. this link is great (although i do other stuff too!)
http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100142035>1=8404
3. stretching: a major fault in my regular work out plan. I hope i'll do more of it now, especially after i took a great book from my brother; "Stretching by Bob Anderson"
part 2: "diet":
1. increase my protein intake
2. eat less fat and sugar (key word: less not no)
3. no eating after 9.30 pm unless there really is no other choice.
progress: OT: he decided to start on Saturday Aug 19, no updates form him yet
mine: i'm roughly sticking to the plan, jogging around 3.3 - 3.6 km every day (I'm so proud of me!!)
Wish us luck :)
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Update on My Summer Plans
Well.. Summer is more than half over, so i decided to go over my plans and see what i haven't done yet to "catch up"..
here' what i accomplished..
1. I know how to link to stuff, e.g. my original post :P
2. I lost most of my "Exams-weight".. but the last tiny bit just won't go away!! That's where "The Deal" comes in.. (suspense..) I'll post about it later :)
3. I started reading the books.. a must read is "why men lie and women cry".. if i had to choose only one relationship book to recommend it would be this, it's even man-friendly! (as opposed to all oterh relationship books!)
4. i finally have another closet.. and much more closet space!! (i can see my clothes now!)
5. I trained for a month only here in Jeddah, coz the other month was supposed to be in Beirut.. soon inshallah "سنرجع يوما"
6. I'm traveling to Dubai and Prague with Sunshine and Clareeish inshallah within a week.. more details on that later!
7. I didn't go to all the weddings.. thus i didn't have to buy new dresses (except a gorgeous Karen Millen one).. give me a month or two and i'll have to start worrying about dresses for the winter weddings that await me..
8. cleaning the room is half done.. i still have a lot to go.. i'll probably get uo now and tidy up more..
9. computer is still as messy as hell.. aaaaaaagh
10. i took my wisdom tooth out.. i still have one more to go... or was it 3?.. loool
11. Still don't know how to get closer to God.. :(
12. i don't use actually so much anymore.. is there any other word that i use repetitively??
13. I'm officially black now.. yaay :)
14. I'm planning to turn blond-ish.. Jennifer Aniston style.. what do u think?
19. No Beirut, No driver's license.. inshallah soon :)
20. Got new passport pics taken.. finally!
21. massage in Karlovy vary, Czech republic.. The town of pampering.. :)
---------------------------------------------------
So i guess most is done, except the cleaning up.. and i owe u guys 2 posts now; the deal, and the trip.. :)
here' what i accomplished..
1. I know how to link to stuff, e.g. my original post :P
2. I lost most of my "Exams-weight".. but the last tiny bit just won't go away!! That's where "The Deal" comes in.. (suspense..) I'll post about it later :)
3. I started reading the books.. a must read is "why men lie and women cry".. if i had to choose only one relationship book to recommend it would be this, it's even man-friendly! (as opposed to all oterh relationship books!)
4. i finally have another closet.. and much more closet space!! (i can see my clothes now!)
5. I trained for a month only here in Jeddah, coz the other month was supposed to be in Beirut.. soon inshallah "سنرجع يوما"
6. I'm traveling to Dubai and Prague with Sunshine and Clareeish inshallah within a week.. more details on that later!
7. I didn't go to all the weddings.. thus i didn't have to buy new dresses (except a gorgeous Karen Millen one).. give me a month or two and i'll have to start worrying about dresses for the winter weddings that await me..
8. cleaning the room is half done.. i still have a lot to go.. i'll probably get uo now and tidy up more..
9. computer is still as messy as hell.. aaaaaaagh
10. i took my wisdom tooth out.. i still have one more to go... or was it 3?.. loool
11. Still don't know how to get closer to God.. :(
12. i don't use actually so much anymore.. is there any other word that i use repetitively??
13. I'm officially black now.. yaay :)
14. I'm planning to turn blond-ish.. Jennifer Aniston style.. what do u think?
19. No Beirut, No driver's license.. inshallah soon :)
20. Got new passport pics taken.. finally!
21. massage in Karlovy vary, Czech republic.. The town of pampering.. :)
---------------------------------------------------
So i guess most is done, except the cleaning up.. and i owe u guys 2 posts now; the deal, and the trip.. :)
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Saudi Society
My sister-in-law and i were talking the other day about the Saudi society, and how she was having trouble adjusting (she's European, and she's been here for only a year or so).. and i was trying as much as i can to explain to her a few things..
Being not much of a fan myself of the Saudi culture, mentality, society and traditions, conversations like this tend to show me how much i like/hate certain things.. here are a few things that i truly do appreciate about certain saudi traditions..
- segragation of sexes: I know this sounds weird coming from me, but there are certain places where men and women should NOT be allowed to mingle.. e.g. GYMS. I'm sorry, but it feels really weird when ur trying to work out ur gluteal muscles (a.k.a. ass!) and u basically look like something out of a black rap video, and there's a GUY next to u.. umm.. thanks, but no thanks.. i'll pass
- the norm is having groups of just girls hanging out in public places: this way, you get to hang out more often and therefore be closer to your "girlfriends".. i mean, no matter how "cool" and "laidback" you are, there are certain things that can NOT be discussed in front of guys.. and let's be real, 20 years from now, how likely is it that you'll still be friends with those guys? on the other hands, girlfriends last a lifetime.. :) all i'm trying to say is, this "style" of socializing offers a better bonding between girlfriends.. something i found missing in many other cultures..
- wearing an Abaya and Tarha: yes, again, coming from me, this is odd. It does have an advantage though... you get to wear what you want to wear under it, not what your girlfriends think is cool, what guys think is hot, bla bla bla.. so basically, if you're a person who likes to take care of herself and dress nicely and fix her hair even under the Abaya and Tarha, congratulations! you will never run into a rut where you'll stop dressing nicely and hang out in a bathrobe all day long at home.. this might have the opposite effect though.. that since no one sees what you're wearing, you'll dress like crap all the time.. :/ depends on your personality i guess.. And just to clarify one thing, i do NOT agree on the concept of the Abaya, i think it's a horrible idea that makes what Mao did to the Chinese sound "nice" and "logical".. but this is called looking at the silver lining i guess..
Being not much of a fan myself of the Saudi culture, mentality, society and traditions, conversations like this tend to show me how much i like/hate certain things.. here are a few things that i truly do appreciate about certain saudi traditions..
- segragation of sexes: I know this sounds weird coming from me, but there are certain places where men and women should NOT be allowed to mingle.. e.g. GYMS. I'm sorry, but it feels really weird when ur trying to work out ur gluteal muscles (a.k.a. ass!) and u basically look like something out of a black rap video, and there's a GUY next to u.. umm.. thanks, but no thanks.. i'll pass
- the norm is having groups of just girls hanging out in public places: this way, you get to hang out more often and therefore be closer to your "girlfriends".. i mean, no matter how "cool" and "laidback" you are, there are certain things that can NOT be discussed in front of guys.. and let's be real, 20 years from now, how likely is it that you'll still be friends with those guys? on the other hands, girlfriends last a lifetime.. :) all i'm trying to say is, this "style" of socializing offers a better bonding between girlfriends.. something i found missing in many other cultures..
- wearing an Abaya and Tarha: yes, again, coming from me, this is odd. It does have an advantage though... you get to wear what you want to wear under it, not what your girlfriends think is cool, what guys think is hot, bla bla bla.. so basically, if you're a person who likes to take care of herself and dress nicely and fix her hair even under the Abaya and Tarha, congratulations! you will never run into a rut where you'll stop dressing nicely and hang out in a bathrobe all day long at home.. this might have the opposite effect though.. that since no one sees what you're wearing, you'll dress like crap all the time.. :/ depends on your personality i guess.. And just to clarify one thing, i do NOT agree on the concept of the Abaya, i think it's a horrible idea that makes what Mao did to the Chinese sound "nice" and "logical".. but this is called looking at the silver lining i guess..
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Places to Hang Out in Jeddah
Everytime my friends and I want to go out, we have to spend ages deciding where to go.. Last time, I actually gave them an "off-the-top-of-my-head" list of places organized by location, and still it was difficult!
Solution:
Post an updatable list of all the places in Jeddah that human ladies like us can hang out in.. with your help ofcourse!
I'm organizing them this time by location, maybe coffee/dinner would be better?
P.S.
* Bassem told me about these places, but I've never been there! :) His comments will be in this color :)
I'd also like to thank OT, who was also kind enough to offer a quick "Review" of the some of these places. All his comments will be in this color :)
Tahliya:
- Barnie's Restuarant/Cafe: I just plain don't like it.. I don't know why!
- The place in Promenade II: Their food is not that good, and neither is the place, the stairs are creepy!
- Benihana:(Japanese) Good food, but you end up smelling like, well, food! Oh yeah, and it's not that light on the wallet, but it's worth it
- Lallo:(Italian) Finally went there! quiet atmosphere.. quite small actually, with a home-y feel to it.. their food is good, and you can actually buy their uncooked pastas and raviolis to cook them at home for very reasonable prices.. (I'll do that next time I go!). My complaint? not enough ravioli choices.. :/
- Fuddruckers: Yummy food.. place full of memories.. and the brownies.. and the fries.. and the cheese.. yummm!
- Blasamico: (Italian/European): Has shisha, food and atmosphere are average.. (OT) I like the couches outside, but now in the summer time, there's a minimum charge apparently! (I HATE the minimum charge idea!!!)
-La Villa: (1/2 Italian, 1/2 Indian) both cuisines are very good... (OT)
-Goodies: (Lebanese) has quick mazzeh food.. (OT)
-Baguette: Sandwiches and other fatty foods... Not bad... (OT)
- Second Cup: (Coffee) you must try the vanilla bean hot chocolate.. yummm! and the setting is very relaxed.. It's like an up-graded Starbucks :)
- Tea Amo: (Tea) Nice selection of different teas.. relaxed atmosphere.
- Harley: i haven't gone there in a couple of years. According to Bassem, it's a basically a place for Shoshos with an infamous reputation
- Piano Cafe: according to what I've heard, it's not a place for ladies to hang out.. Bassem agrees.
- Gilateria: (Icecream) I never set a foot in that place; It's more for the "younger/dating" crowd.. Used to be a favorite place of Bassem. They changed the manager and stopped serving m3assel so he stopped going there.
Rawda:
- Osaka:(Japanese) Bennihana's food is better, but the place offers more privacy ;)
- El Forno:
- Pearls: I don't like that place.. dunno why! But they have nice music (Bassem)
- Black Rose: Never been there, but heard it was overpriced, overdimmed, and according to Bassem, lots of Shosho were around. Ahmed says the food is actually good. :)
-Le Chalet Cafe: (Swiss) Lovely place. The food is good. It's usually not crowded and the lighting is dim so it offers some nice privacy. (Bassem)
-Gulf Royal: (Chinese) Above average Chinese food... Large selection (OT) I prefer it for take-out though.. coz the setting isn't that nice, Bassem agrees.
-TOKI: (Gourmet Chinese): The best food in Jeddah, even Saudi I would say... Amazing (OT), as opposed to Over priced and i didn't like the food that much. (Bassem)
- Chai & Ba: (Tea) also a tes lounge, you can go studythere in the morning, more casual than Tea Amo, and they have a big screen tv.. you can also buy the tea you liked. A must try: Orange jasmine tea
Andalus & Falasteen:
- Chili's: (Mexican/American) Very fatty.. everything is fried and oiled.. but i still love it. Major downpoint: on wednesday afternoon, there can be a wait for up to an hour and a half.
-TGI Fridays: (American) Better than Applebee's. Bassem's favortie American food place.
- Applebee's: (Amercian) There's also one located in Prince Sultan street.
(Just to clarify, i have a theory of how things go; people go to Chili's, they don't find a place, so they go back into their cars, and drive to Friday's. Now if Friday's was full too, that's when they go to Applebee's)
- Mon Cafe: It's one of those wanna-be-different-so-all-the-lights-are-out kind of place, which turns freaky when you realize that they have blacklights on (!!) I's hard to concentrate on the quality of the food when the teeth of the person in front of u are glowing white!
- Java Lounge: Used to be very nice.. Their m3assil is quite good, but it's become overpriced for a lounge.. I mean, 45 S.R. for a tiny cup of juice??! That is, excluding the 15% service charge!
- Vertigo: Setting is nice, food selection is rather odd; most of it completely suck, but some are just great, overpriced for the quality of food, and for the quality of people you find (more of a higher-class Shosho place at later hours). It's funny how different the atmosphere is from Java which is literally 10 meters away!
- Cafe Aroma: (Fusion) Great food, horrible service.. (OT) but i think the food has this preservative salt or something in it, coz evey time i come back a gallon of water can't quench my thirst
- Lost City: Aroma wanna-be (Bassem)
- Shahrazad Tandoor: (Indian): It's a wierd indian restaurant that Mytique took us to; great food, hilarious setting!
- La Cuisine:(French) Great food, classic setting.
- Black & White:
- Joffrey's:
- Senses: (Fusion + Sushi) somewhat similar to Java (same owner), more expensive though. I like the tvs with psychedelic stuff on it. The reason why i don't go is.. umm.. the stairs really freak me out; i feel like i'm gonna fall through them.. And since i always wear high heels, someone either has to hold my hand on the way up (i prefer they carry me, but whatever), or it takes me a full 10 minutes to go up.. what's wrong with elevators.. or normal stairs??
- Bubbles: The setting is gorgeous, that food is okay, but it's way overpriced (especially with the DUMB minimum charge rule).. My advice? Go there for american coffee and a vanilla Mille-feuix at 5 pm at the seats near the window.. just great!
- Byblos: same as bubbles, but add to it that i would not go out of my house to a restuarnt and pay all the for lebanese food! I eat yummy lebanese food at home!
- Red: (Japanese) mixed reviews... The sushi is supposedly very fresh... (OT) I also heard there's a karaoke room.. wanna go Mystique?
-Maharaja: (Indian) Good food, run down and old spot... (OT)
-Lenuo Cafe: (Pizzeria) Very good pizza, and the Nutella covered calzone with 7alawa ta7eeniya inside is to die for!! (OT) I hope OT would realize that if he didn't provide me with the exact location of this place i just might hunt him down, find where he lives, and gives him what he deserves for hiding such a wonderful place from the rest of the human race.. :)
- Shezan: (Persian) Dont like it :/ (OT)
- Sanabeek: (Seafood) A la 3anbariya and Shara style...
- Irani (Persian): Heard it was bad...
-Casper & Gambini's: Amazing salads and wonderful interior design.. great to have breakfast at.. anbd the quality of their delivery is even better than their in-house.. i think it's the most popular and healthy delivery place in Jeddah
Tareeg Al-Malik & Corniche:
- Havana: It's really tiny. Hilarious setting. food and drinks are good. and the brownies.. (L)
- Nakheel: Best big out-doors place in Jeddah (for the lack of something better). Service sucks though, and I'm sorry to tell you Ahmed, but kids are finding their way there these days.. just ask Mysitque!
- Steak House*: (American) been to the one in Andalus. Good food, but the setting is not that nice. I'm a sucker for good baked potatoes..
- Zee Noodles*: (Oriental) The place is very nice. The food is good. The service is rather quick. The prices are reasonable. (Bassem)
-Multaqa (Laylaty): Amazing food with fresh pasta and sushi, but very pricey (SR 250-300 per person) (OT)
-Bice (Italian @ Hilton): The best Italian restaurant in Jeddah... Very pricey though (SR 250-300) (OT)
-Il Gabbiano: (Italian) Good pasta, but the interior design is lousy!! (OT)
Sari Street:
- Shisha Cafe*: Right next to Nando's behind Samba bank. They only serve m3assel and juices though. However, their m3assel is great (Bassem)
Other:
-Shurafa (Fusion): I heard the pizza and sushi are great... (OT) The food is soo yummy.. used to go there all the time in the old location, but now, the interior makes me feel like i'm at some old relative's house with the crystal-ly gold-y decor.. a bit too old for me :)
Solution:
Post an updatable list of all the places in Jeddah that human ladies like us can hang out in.. with your help ofcourse!
I'm organizing them this time by location, maybe coffee/dinner would be better?
P.S.
* Bassem told me about these places, but I've never been there! :) His comments will be in this color :)
I'd also like to thank OT, who was also kind enough to offer a quick "Review" of the some of these places. All his comments will be in this color :)
Tahliya:
- Barnie's Restuarant/Cafe: I just plain don't like it.. I don't know why!
- The place in Promenade II: Their food is not that good, and neither is the place, the stairs are creepy!
- Benihana:(Japanese) Good food, but you end up smelling like, well, food! Oh yeah, and it's not that light on the wallet, but it's worth it
- Lallo:(Italian) Finally went there! quiet atmosphere.. quite small actually, with a home-y feel to it.. their food is good, and you can actually buy their uncooked pastas and raviolis to cook them at home for very reasonable prices.. (I'll do that next time I go!). My complaint? not enough ravioli choices.. :/
- Fuddruckers: Yummy food.. place full of memories.. and the brownies.. and the fries.. and the cheese.. yummm!
- Blasamico: (Italian/European): Has shisha, food and atmosphere are average.. (OT) I like the couches outside, but now in the summer time, there's a minimum charge apparently! (I HATE the minimum charge idea!!!)
-La Villa: (1/2 Italian, 1/2 Indian) both cuisines are very good... (OT)
-Goodies: (Lebanese) has quick mazzeh food.. (OT)
-Baguette: Sandwiches and other fatty foods... Not bad... (OT)
- Second Cup: (Coffee) you must try the vanilla bean hot chocolate.. yummm! and the setting is very relaxed.. It's like an up-graded Starbucks :)
- Tea Amo: (Tea) Nice selection of different teas.. relaxed atmosphere.
- Harley: i haven't gone there in a couple of years. According to Bassem, it's a basically a place for Shoshos with an infamous reputation
- Piano Cafe: according to what I've heard, it's not a place for ladies to hang out.. Bassem agrees.
- Gilateria: (Icecream) I never set a foot in that place; It's more for the "younger/dating" crowd.. Used to be a favorite place of Bassem. They changed the manager and stopped serving m3assel so he stopped going there.
Rawda:
- Osaka:(Japanese) Bennihana's food is better, but the place offers more privacy ;)
- El Forno:
- Pearls: I don't like that place.. dunno why! But they have nice music (Bassem)
- Black Rose: Never been there, but heard it was overpriced, overdimmed, and according to Bassem, lots of Shosho were around. Ahmed says the food is actually good. :)
-Le Chalet Cafe: (Swiss) Lovely place. The food is good. It's usually not crowded and the lighting is dim so it offers some nice privacy. (Bassem)
-Gulf Royal: (Chinese) Above average Chinese food... Large selection (OT) I prefer it for take-out though.. coz the setting isn't that nice, Bassem agrees.
-TOKI: (Gourmet Chinese): The best food in Jeddah, even Saudi I would say... Amazing (OT), as opposed to Over priced and i didn't like the food that much. (Bassem)
- Chai & Ba: (Tea) also a tes lounge, you can go studythere in the morning, more casual than Tea Amo, and they have a big screen tv.. you can also buy the tea you liked. A must try: Orange jasmine tea
Andalus & Falasteen:
- Chili's: (Mexican/American) Very fatty.. everything is fried and oiled.. but i still love it. Major downpoint: on wednesday afternoon, there can be a wait for up to an hour and a half.
-TGI Fridays: (American) Better than Applebee's. Bassem's favortie American food place.
- Applebee's: (Amercian) There's also one located in Prince Sultan street.
(Just to clarify, i have a theory of how things go; people go to Chili's, they don't find a place, so they go back into their cars, and drive to Friday's. Now if Friday's was full too, that's when they go to Applebee's)
- Mon Cafe: It's one of those wanna-be-different-so-all-the-lights-are-out kind of place, which turns freaky when you realize that they have blacklights on (!!) I's hard to concentrate on the quality of the food when the teeth of the person in front of u are glowing white!
- Java Lounge: Used to be very nice.. Their m3assil is quite good, but it's become overpriced for a lounge.. I mean, 45 S.R. for a tiny cup of juice??! That is, excluding the 15% service charge!
- Vertigo: Setting is nice, food selection is rather odd; most of it completely suck, but some are just great, overpriced for the quality of food, and for the quality of people you find (more of a higher-class Shosho place at later hours). It's funny how different the atmosphere is from Java which is literally 10 meters away!
- Cafe Aroma: (Fusion) Great food, horrible service.. (OT) but i think the food has this preservative salt or something in it, coz evey time i come back a gallon of water can't quench my thirst
- Lost City: Aroma wanna-be (Bassem)
- Shahrazad Tandoor: (Indian): It's a wierd indian restaurant that Mytique took us to; great food, hilarious setting!
- La Cuisine:(French) Great food, classic setting.
- Black & White:
- Joffrey's:
- Senses: (Fusion + Sushi) somewhat similar to Java (same owner), more expensive though. I like the tvs with psychedelic stuff on it. The reason why i don't go is.. umm.. the stairs really freak me out; i feel like i'm gonna fall through them.. And since i always wear high heels, someone either has to hold my hand on the way up (i prefer they carry me, but whatever), or it takes me a full 10 minutes to go up.. what's wrong with elevators.. or normal stairs??
- Bubbles: The setting is gorgeous, that food is okay, but it's way overpriced (especially with the DUMB minimum charge rule).. My advice? Go there for american coffee and a vanilla Mille-feuix at 5 pm at the seats near the window.. just great!
- Byblos: same as bubbles, but add to it that i would not go out of my house to a restuarnt and pay all the for lebanese food! I eat yummy lebanese food at home!
- Red: (Japanese) mixed reviews... The sushi is supposedly very fresh... (OT) I also heard there's a karaoke room.. wanna go Mystique?
-Maharaja: (Indian) Good food, run down and old spot... (OT)
-Lenuo Cafe: (Pizzeria) Very good pizza, and the Nutella covered calzone with 7alawa ta7eeniya inside is to die for!! (OT) I hope OT would realize that if he didn't provide me with the exact location of this place i just might hunt him down, find where he lives, and gives him what he deserves for hiding such a wonderful place from the rest of the human race.. :)
- Shezan: (Persian) Dont like it :/ (OT)
- Sanabeek: (Seafood) A la 3anbariya and Shara style...
- Irani (Persian): Heard it was bad...
-Casper & Gambini's: Amazing salads and wonderful interior design.. great to have breakfast at.. anbd the quality of their delivery is even better than their in-house.. i think it's the most popular and healthy delivery place in Jeddah
Tareeg Al-Malik & Corniche:
- Havana: It's really tiny. Hilarious setting. food and drinks are good. and the brownies.. (L)
- Nakheel: Best big out-doors place in Jeddah (for the lack of something better). Service sucks though, and I'm sorry to tell you Ahmed, but kids are finding their way there these days.. just ask Mysitque!
- Steak House*: (American) been to the one in Andalus. Good food, but the setting is not that nice. I'm a sucker for good baked potatoes..
- Zee Noodles*: (Oriental) The place is very nice. The food is good. The service is rather quick. The prices are reasonable. (Bassem)
-Multaqa (Laylaty): Amazing food with fresh pasta and sushi, but very pricey (SR 250-300 per person) (OT)
-Bice (Italian @ Hilton): The best Italian restaurant in Jeddah... Very pricey though (SR 250-300) (OT)
-Il Gabbiano: (Italian) Good pasta, but the interior design is lousy!! (OT)
Sari Street:
- Shisha Cafe*: Right next to Nando's behind Samba bank. They only serve m3assel and juices though. However, their m3assel is great (Bassem)
Other:
-Shurafa (Fusion): I heard the pizza and sushi are great... (OT) The food is soo yummy.. used to go there all the time in the old location, but now, the interior makes me feel like i'm at some old relative's house with the crystal-ly gold-y decor.. a bit too old for me :)
Saturday, July 29, 2006
The Grande Finale
WARNING: It's very long, but i hope you'll find it interesting :)
Place: Emergency Room, which has 7 beds for "regular" patients, and 6 beds for critical patients (we call them "resus bays")
Time: Late night friday, technically Saturday Morning
Significance: My last day of training
Well, "nights" start at 12 am, and end at 8 am, and it's quite calm; we usually spend them chitchatting and joking about until around 6 am. where people with sickleavitis start showing up, especially on Saturday You see, sick-leave-itis is a very common disease, usually affecting young males who haven't slept all night and have to go to work in a few hours. It usually presents with abdominal pain, as it is the easiest to fake. It's usually very easy to spot them. They rarely cause much trouble.
As I pranced into the ER at 12 am, Dr. M2 (as in, M-square), was the one in charge. There was only one other doctor with him. Strange, since there usually are at least 4 or 5 physicians. He said as much, smiling and adding, "especially in my shift". He told me how, for some reason, during his 40 years working in various ERs, patients tend to just show up in unexpected numbers, whether it was day or night. I laughed it off, and he just smiled and said you'll see. And I did see..
When we started the shift, there were quite a few people, but nothing out of the ordinary.. A couple of kids with vomiting, a guy with abdominal pain, .. you know, the works..
1 a.m.
people were still coming..
2 a.m.
people were still coming, including a kid who broke his arm while jumping (why aren't these kids sleeping?!).. we had to keep him in the critical area and call the orthopedists (the bone people).. The ortho dr kept joking with Dr. M2 that he would not appreciate it if he woke him up again that night.. he kept telling him "don't u wake me up at 4 am!"..
3 a.m.
the number of people we have just wouldn't decrease.. the moment discharge a pateint, at least one more comes in.. a guy came with a "bite", he has no idea what bit him.. might be some wierd insect.. gotta keep him in the critical area..
4 a.m.
a really sick woman came in.. never in my life have i seen someone so pale.. must be kept in the critical area..
4.15 a.m.
I took a look at the board (where they keep "score"; number of patiens in each area, plus additional info).. people were just flooding the ER.. i decided to go on a coffee break
4.50 a.m.
Dr. M2 went to the board to "pick" a patient, wanted to see a "crying baby" (yup, that's the parents' complaint!).. I noticed that a new name was put in "resus".. it read "MVA" (Motor Vehicle Accident).. It had arrived a minute or two ago.. so we decided to go there..
We saw a little kid, around 10 years old.. He had an accident on those little "motorbikes" (دبابات) on the Corniche.. he looked okay, ws fully conscious and oriented, just a few scratches and bruises, but you have to make sure.. (especially since the kid wasn't wearing a helmet.. these places should be banned!!) we asked the dad about worrying signs, he said he had to call the mom to check (she was with him when it happened).. we arranged for x-rays to be urgently taken.. and ofcourse he too was put in resus.. (Again, why is a 10 year old child playing at 3 am??!)
5.10 a.m.
I'm leaning on the desk, talking to Dr. M2 about his plan regarding one of his patients, when a couple of the Red Crescent guys come in rolling a guy in a trolley.. The guy was covered with blood and dirt, and the look on their faces said it all.. Car accident.. and not a simple one..
As i moved closer, I heard the Red Crescent people inform the doctor that there was another one on the way.. which is a little but more than the ER can handle with just 2 doctors present, especially that the first guy looked pretty bad, and there was a good chance that the other one was just as bad..
From a few meters away, with one look, Dr.M2 expected that the guy was gonna crash soon if a tube wasn't put down his throat to help him breathe.. He made the necessary calls and jumped to check on the patient, instructing me to answer the phone and ask the people he paged to quickly come to the ER.. (including the bone doctor who was jokingly complaining earlier, hehe)
5.15 a.m.
The second victim arrived, and Dr. M2 was just making sure everything was "okay", when the "Trauma team" came.. The trauma team are usually a buch of surgeons and nurses, each assigned to do a specific thing.. Man, aren't they organized!! (Which also reminds me; tall, tanned surgeons are usually very hot especially when they just wake up, with their hair all messy and stuff.. ;) )
CONCENTRATE
So i go check out both guys, and to spare you all the gory details, let's just say they were in really bad shape, especially the second one.
Apparently one of the nurses was "new" to the ER, so she kept shaking and dropping things back on the tray.. So i just tried to get her to concentrate back on her work (i.e. i "yelled" her name so she could just divert her attention for second, offered my help, smiled, then let her get back to work.. this actually works when people are panicking, try it!)
5.30 a.m.
The place officially looks like a an ant farm.. The room that previosuly had around 3 or 4 of the staff now held at least 17 people.. each doing his job so perfectly, somewhat calmly, yet frantically.. it's so difficult to explain.. It's that if you disengage from the moment and just observe each person, you'll notice the look of calm concentration on their faces, the smoothness of their procedures, the preciseness of their documentation.. Yet, the buzzing was continuous; everyone was talking, yelling or shouting.. It was professionalism in all its beauty...
5.45 a.m.
Another guy gets rolled in on a trolley.. the paramedics tell Dr.M2 that there are at least 4 more on the way..
I look at him and smile :)
5.50 a.m.
Another guy gets rolled in (the 4th for tonight), like the last one, he is conscious , with a few broken bones and a few cuts and scratches.. much better off than the first 2..
5.55 a.m.
The first guy who was rolled in is relatively "stable" but in a very bad state, so he's taken to the CT scan (to get a picture of his brain, make sure everything is still in place).. from there he will be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) where they will continue monitoring him and making sure he's fine..
1 down, 3 to go :)
6.00 a.m.
the 5th guy for tonight gets rolled in.. he looks bad.. just as we rush off to check him out, they roll someone else in. Now, Dr. M2 starts to get mad.. the last guy they rolled in was NOT critical.. he had clearly explaied to the Red Crescent that the ER's capacity can barely tolerate (at this specific day) more than 2 or 3 MVAs, and here they are rolling in the SIXTH!
The doctor was totally right; what they're doing is against procedure.
No. 1: they have radios in the ambulances, they should use them and CALL. That's what they're there for.
No. 2: technically, they're not allowed to just "roll" patient in.. It's not a walk-in market! One of the doctors (preferrably the one in charge) should sign on a paper and "Accept" them.. Ofcourse no one really does that in really critical patients (as in, dying), but when they roll in a patient who is perfectly fine except for a broken leg, now that's just pushing it!
As Dr. M2 was explaining this to the extremely rude Red Crescent guy (so rude I wanted to slap him!), a guy from the accident walked in, sat on a wheel chair, and rolled himself to the critical area! Now that's just.. umm.. unconventional..
Dr. M2 calmly told him that we don't have time for this; he will not sign that he received these patients, so he might as well pick them up and go to another hospital.. and then he turned around to go check on the other patients.. The guy kept following him and yelling that this was unacceptable and he kept on rambling about how he wants to talk to his supervisor bla bla bla.. like it was the time for this! then he stormed off to God knows where. The rest of the Red Crescent guys just silently took those two "extra" guys back to the ambulance and probably took them to another hospital..
6.15 a.m.
By now all the patients that were in bays were now either in rooms or out in the hallway.. more and more medical staff were flooding into the resus area, each with something to do.. The buzzing was continuous, and i was still observing..
6.30 a.m.
All hell is breaking loose around the 2nd guy.. He is in a very horrible shape.. He was injured all over.. and the scariest part was.. he was bleeding.. and no one could figure out where from.. solution? some emergnecy fixing! Procedures I haven't seen in my life were being carried out, machines so odd I couldn't even guess what they were for were being brought in.. He was connected to all sorts of tubes and stuff.. And it was way too crowded for me to observe anything.. so i moved on..
I checked on 5th guy; he's stable and was taken to CT san.
2 down, 3 to go..
6.45 a.m.
Back to no. 3 and guy no. 4.. Their xrays werent taken yet, their blood wasn't drawn yet.. It's just that when things get this critical.. you start with the worst off.. Dr. M2 asked me if i could take the blood of one of them.. and i said sure..!
ehemm..
I DID IT!!
It's not like it's my first time (I've been doing it once or twice every couple of days for the past month), but this is the first time when it's actually a critical patient.. It was a big deal to me.. And my "toughness" amazed me, becuase in situations like this patients are not very cooperative, and you have to find just the right balance between being nice and empathetic, and being professional and strict.. Because this has to be done NOW.. yay me!
7.00 a.m.
Time for changing the nurses' shift.. theyt're not required to stay a second after 7 am, yet none of them even moved! They just wouldn't leave the pateints and doctors until someone else was right there as to make sure that everything is alright.. It's not exactly what you expect after 12-hour shifts.. Now if that's not loyalty, then i don't know what is..
Still, changing shifts was a bit confusing, so i ended up drawing the blood of another pateint,, and it just felt wonderful, to be a part of such an efficient team..
7.15 a.m.
I took a peak at guy no. 2.. apparently while i was "busy", they literally surgeoned him., you know, opened him up, and did the works, in the emrgency room (!!). umm.. wow
7.30 a.m.
My feet were aching so much i wanted to cry.. Things were calming down.. There wasn't much to do.. I leaned back on the desk and started chitchatting with Dr.M2, just laughing at the irony of the "night" we just had.. He was telling me some anecdotes, and cute surgeon guy joined in.. Ofcourse, I was floating above the clouds, when i noticed the damned thing.. The ring on his finger.. aaahh.. oh well.. he still is cute :)
7.45 a.m.
Things were looking bleak for guy no. 2; he might not make it beyond noon.. they were taking him to the operating room to try and save as much as they can..
The rest of the guys were relatively fine.. Most of the other pateints were discharged..
with 15 minutes to go, Dr.M2 gave me permission to leave.. but i told him that i wanted to wait and see the faces of the next shift as they strolled in, assuming it was a quiet night..
I had to wait til 8.15, but i t was worth the wait..
There are somethings that can't be explained by writing.. things which you have to be there to experience.. that is the spirit of everyone.. During this turmoil, people were still joking, laughing, and smiling.. The nurses kept excaliming that all this was happening on my last day, and I was smiling back and saying that this was my Grande Finale.. That i couldn't leave without a big fuss.. They were wishing me good luck, asking me about my plans, and I even got to meet someone whose first shift was today.. The one word i could think of to describe all this, is "human".
One of the lessons i learned was: in the face of crisis, you can either laugh, or cry. I choose to laugh. :)
Place: Emergency Room, which has 7 beds for "regular" patients, and 6 beds for critical patients (we call them "resus bays")
Time: Late night friday, technically Saturday Morning
Significance: My last day of training
Well, "nights" start at 12 am, and end at 8 am, and it's quite calm; we usually spend them chitchatting and joking about until around 6 am. where people with sickleavitis start showing up, especially on Saturday You see, sick-leave-itis is a very common disease, usually affecting young males who haven't slept all night and have to go to work in a few hours. It usually presents with abdominal pain, as it is the easiest to fake. It's usually very easy to spot them. They rarely cause much trouble.
As I pranced into the ER at 12 am, Dr. M2 (as in, M-square), was the one in charge. There was only one other doctor with him. Strange, since there usually are at least 4 or 5 physicians. He said as much, smiling and adding, "especially in my shift". He told me how, for some reason, during his 40 years working in various ERs, patients tend to just show up in unexpected numbers, whether it was day or night. I laughed it off, and he just smiled and said you'll see. And I did see..
When we started the shift, there were quite a few people, but nothing out of the ordinary.. A couple of kids with vomiting, a guy with abdominal pain, .. you know, the works..
1 a.m.
people were still coming..
2 a.m.
people were still coming, including a kid who broke his arm while jumping (why aren't these kids sleeping?!).. we had to keep him in the critical area and call the orthopedists (the bone people).. The ortho dr kept joking with Dr. M2 that he would not appreciate it if he woke him up again that night.. he kept telling him "don't u wake me up at 4 am!"..
3 a.m.
the number of people we have just wouldn't decrease.. the moment discharge a pateint, at least one more comes in.. a guy came with a "bite", he has no idea what bit him.. might be some wierd insect.. gotta keep him in the critical area..
4 a.m.
a really sick woman came in.. never in my life have i seen someone so pale.. must be kept in the critical area..
4.15 a.m.
I took a look at the board (where they keep "score"; number of patiens in each area, plus additional info).. people were just flooding the ER.. i decided to go on a coffee break
4.50 a.m.
Dr. M2 went to the board to "pick" a patient, wanted to see a "crying baby" (yup, that's the parents' complaint!).. I noticed that a new name was put in "resus".. it read "MVA" (Motor Vehicle Accident).. It had arrived a minute or two ago.. so we decided to go there..
We saw a little kid, around 10 years old.. He had an accident on those little "motorbikes" (دبابات) on the Corniche.. he looked okay, ws fully conscious and oriented, just a few scratches and bruises, but you have to make sure.. (especially since the kid wasn't wearing a helmet.. these places should be banned!!) we asked the dad about worrying signs, he said he had to call the mom to check (she was with him when it happened).. we arranged for x-rays to be urgently taken.. and ofcourse he too was put in resus.. (Again, why is a 10 year old child playing at 3 am??!)
5.10 a.m.
I'm leaning on the desk, talking to Dr. M2 about his plan regarding one of his patients, when a couple of the Red Crescent guys come in rolling a guy in a trolley.. The guy was covered with blood and dirt, and the look on their faces said it all.. Car accident.. and not a simple one..
As i moved closer, I heard the Red Crescent people inform the doctor that there was another one on the way.. which is a little but more than the ER can handle with just 2 doctors present, especially that the first guy looked pretty bad, and there was a good chance that the other one was just as bad..
From a few meters away, with one look, Dr.M2 expected that the guy was gonna crash soon if a tube wasn't put down his throat to help him breathe.. He made the necessary calls and jumped to check on the patient, instructing me to answer the phone and ask the people he paged to quickly come to the ER.. (including the bone doctor who was jokingly complaining earlier, hehe)
5.15 a.m.
The second victim arrived, and Dr. M2 was just making sure everything was "okay", when the "Trauma team" came.. The trauma team are usually a buch of surgeons and nurses, each assigned to do a specific thing.. Man, aren't they organized!! (Which also reminds me; tall, tanned surgeons are usually very hot especially when they just wake up, with their hair all messy and stuff.. ;) )
CONCENTRATE
So i go check out both guys, and to spare you all the gory details, let's just say they were in really bad shape, especially the second one.
Apparently one of the nurses was "new" to the ER, so she kept shaking and dropping things back on the tray.. So i just tried to get her to concentrate back on her work (i.e. i "yelled" her name so she could just divert her attention for second, offered my help, smiled, then let her get back to work.. this actually works when people are panicking, try it!)
5.30 a.m.
The place officially looks like a an ant farm.. The room that previosuly had around 3 or 4 of the staff now held at least 17 people.. each doing his job so perfectly, somewhat calmly, yet frantically.. it's so difficult to explain.. It's that if you disengage from the moment and just observe each person, you'll notice the look of calm concentration on their faces, the smoothness of their procedures, the preciseness of their documentation.. Yet, the buzzing was continuous; everyone was talking, yelling or shouting.. It was professionalism in all its beauty...
5.45 a.m.
Another guy gets rolled in on a trolley.. the paramedics tell Dr.M2 that there are at least 4 more on the way..
I look at him and smile :)
5.50 a.m.
Another guy gets rolled in (the 4th for tonight), like the last one, he is conscious , with a few broken bones and a few cuts and scratches.. much better off than the first 2..
5.55 a.m.
The first guy who was rolled in is relatively "stable" but in a very bad state, so he's taken to the CT scan (to get a picture of his brain, make sure everything is still in place).. from there he will be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) where they will continue monitoring him and making sure he's fine..
1 down, 3 to go :)
6.00 a.m.
the 5th guy for tonight gets rolled in.. he looks bad.. just as we rush off to check him out, they roll someone else in. Now, Dr. M2 starts to get mad.. the last guy they rolled in was NOT critical.. he had clearly explaied to the Red Crescent that the ER's capacity can barely tolerate (at this specific day) more than 2 or 3 MVAs, and here they are rolling in the SIXTH!
The doctor was totally right; what they're doing is against procedure.
No. 1: they have radios in the ambulances, they should use them and CALL. That's what they're there for.
No. 2: technically, they're not allowed to just "roll" patient in.. It's not a walk-in market! One of the doctors (preferrably the one in charge) should sign on a paper and "Accept" them.. Ofcourse no one really does that in really critical patients (as in, dying), but when they roll in a patient who is perfectly fine except for a broken leg, now that's just pushing it!
As Dr. M2 was explaining this to the extremely rude Red Crescent guy (so rude I wanted to slap him!), a guy from the accident walked in, sat on a wheel chair, and rolled himself to the critical area! Now that's just.. umm.. unconventional..
Dr. M2 calmly told him that we don't have time for this; he will not sign that he received these patients, so he might as well pick them up and go to another hospital.. and then he turned around to go check on the other patients.. The guy kept following him and yelling that this was unacceptable and he kept on rambling about how he wants to talk to his supervisor bla bla bla.. like it was the time for this! then he stormed off to God knows where. The rest of the Red Crescent guys just silently took those two "extra" guys back to the ambulance and probably took them to another hospital..
6.15 a.m.
By now all the patients that were in bays were now either in rooms or out in the hallway.. more and more medical staff were flooding into the resus area, each with something to do.. The buzzing was continuous, and i was still observing..
6.30 a.m.
All hell is breaking loose around the 2nd guy.. He is in a very horrible shape.. He was injured all over.. and the scariest part was.. he was bleeding.. and no one could figure out where from.. solution? some emergnecy fixing! Procedures I haven't seen in my life were being carried out, machines so odd I couldn't even guess what they were for were being brought in.. He was connected to all sorts of tubes and stuff.. And it was way too crowded for me to observe anything.. so i moved on..
I checked on 5th guy; he's stable and was taken to CT san.
2 down, 3 to go..
6.45 a.m.
Back to no. 3 and guy no. 4.. Their xrays werent taken yet, their blood wasn't drawn yet.. It's just that when things get this critical.. you start with the worst off.. Dr. M2 asked me if i could take the blood of one of them.. and i said sure..!
ehemm..
I DID IT!!
It's not like it's my first time (I've been doing it once or twice every couple of days for the past month), but this is the first time when it's actually a critical patient.. It was a big deal to me.. And my "toughness" amazed me, becuase in situations like this patients are not very cooperative, and you have to find just the right balance between being nice and empathetic, and being professional and strict.. Because this has to be done NOW.. yay me!
7.00 a.m.
Time for changing the nurses' shift.. theyt're not required to stay a second after 7 am, yet none of them even moved! They just wouldn't leave the pateints and doctors until someone else was right there as to make sure that everything is alright.. It's not exactly what you expect after 12-hour shifts.. Now if that's not loyalty, then i don't know what is..
Still, changing shifts was a bit confusing, so i ended up drawing the blood of another pateint,, and it just felt wonderful, to be a part of such an efficient team..
7.15 a.m.
I took a peak at guy no. 2.. apparently while i was "busy", they literally surgeoned him., you know, opened him up, and did the works, in the emrgency room (!!). umm.. wow
7.30 a.m.
My feet were aching so much i wanted to cry.. Things were calming down.. There wasn't much to do.. I leaned back on the desk and started chitchatting with Dr.M2, just laughing at the irony of the "night" we just had.. He was telling me some anecdotes, and cute surgeon guy joined in.. Ofcourse, I was floating above the clouds, when i noticed the damned thing.. The ring on his finger.. aaahh.. oh well.. he still is cute :)
7.45 a.m.
Things were looking bleak for guy no. 2; he might not make it beyond noon.. they were taking him to the operating room to try and save as much as they can..
The rest of the guys were relatively fine.. Most of the other pateints were discharged..
with 15 minutes to go, Dr.M2 gave me permission to leave.. but i told him that i wanted to wait and see the faces of the next shift as they strolled in, assuming it was a quiet night..
I had to wait til 8.15, but i t was worth the wait..
There are somethings that can't be explained by writing.. things which you have to be there to experience.. that is the spirit of everyone.. During this turmoil, people were still joking, laughing, and smiling.. The nurses kept excaliming that all this was happening on my last day, and I was smiling back and saying that this was my Grande Finale.. That i couldn't leave without a big fuss.. They were wishing me good luck, asking me about my plans, and I even got to meet someone whose first shift was today.. The one word i could think of to describe all this, is "human".
One of the lessons i learned was: in the face of crisis, you can either laugh, or cry. I choose to laugh. :)
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Li Beirut..
Yesterday morning, we received some bad news, a family friend, my dad's oldest friend, has passed away. He was Greek-Lebanese, and has lived in Lebanon for most of his adult life. He was one of the nicest, best-humored people I have ever known. In the past few weeks, he got sick and had to be hospitalized and operated on. Finally, he had to be taken to the Intensive Care Unit where he peacefully passed away.
What's really sad was that when we received the news, my mom said that its a good thing he passed away before seeing what Lebanon has become. I realized something. They'd rather see their friend of 45 years pass away, than have him dwell in sorrow over what his beloved country has come to.
Later that night, it just hit me, and I cried.. for the first time since this "war" has started..
I cried in grief..
I cried in sadness..
of desperation..
of anger..
of helplessness..
This is soo.. wrong! this should not happen.. This is not happening.. That's what i've been telling my self for ther past few days.. I've been in complete and utter denial until this moment. That Beirut could be gone in a second. That Lebanon, my love, could just turn into dust..
A few days ago, a friend asked if if i would go to Beirut if I could, and i didn't even hesitate in answering, "ofcourse!" I think i was partly in denial.. but still.. even after this moment of realization.. I would go.. why? I don't know.. for the help that i could give?.. by doing what?.. volunteering in a hospital, donating blood, donating clothes and money? is that all i can really do? is it enough? i don't know.. i guess i want to be there if -God forbids- something happens.. You know this thing that moms sometimes do.. how when you're going some place "dangerous" or faraway or whatever they insist on being with you? and even though you both know that her presence will not make an actual difference, she just insists to be there, so that if something happens, at least she was there with you.. that she did "her part".. i know it doesn't make much sense.. but it's sort of the same thing..
I love Beirut.. i love it.. I can't express my love in words.. the only things that come close, are the words of the great lady Fairouz.. and one thing i've been avoiding till now, because i know that listening to it will definitely make me cry, is Majida Al-Roumi's song "Beirut, Mistress of the World"..
يا رب، يا رب، يا رحمن، يا رحيم، احمي أرض لبنان، واللبنانيين، وأخواننا المسلمين.. يا رب، كل من كان في قلبه ذرة حقد، أو كراهية، أو غيرة من لبنان فردها عليه. يا رب اهدي أولياء أمور المسلمين. يا رب لا تسلط علينا من لا يرحمنا. استغفرك ربي وأتوب إليك
What's really sad was that when we received the news, my mom said that its a good thing he passed away before seeing what Lebanon has become. I realized something. They'd rather see their friend of 45 years pass away, than have him dwell in sorrow over what his beloved country has come to.
Later that night, it just hit me, and I cried.. for the first time since this "war" has started..
I cried in grief..
I cried in sadness..
of desperation..
of anger..
of helplessness..
This is soo.. wrong! this should not happen.. This is not happening.. That's what i've been telling my self for ther past few days.. I've been in complete and utter denial until this moment. That Beirut could be gone in a second. That Lebanon, my love, could just turn into dust..
A few days ago, a friend asked if if i would go to Beirut if I could, and i didn't even hesitate in answering, "ofcourse!" I think i was partly in denial.. but still.. even after this moment of realization.. I would go.. why? I don't know.. for the help that i could give?.. by doing what?.. volunteering in a hospital, donating blood, donating clothes and money? is that all i can really do? is it enough? i don't know.. i guess i want to be there if -God forbids- something happens.. You know this thing that moms sometimes do.. how when you're going some place "dangerous" or faraway or whatever they insist on being with you? and even though you both know that her presence will not make an actual difference, she just insists to be there, so that if something happens, at least she was there with you.. that she did "her part".. i know it doesn't make much sense.. but it's sort of the same thing..
I love Beirut.. i love it.. I can't express my love in words.. the only things that come close, are the words of the great lady Fairouz.. and one thing i've been avoiding till now, because i know that listening to it will definitely make me cry, is Majida Al-Roumi's song "Beirut, Mistress of the World"..
يا رب، يا رب، يا رحمن، يا رحيم، احمي أرض لبنان، واللبنانيين، وأخواننا المسلمين.. يا رب، كل من كان في قلبه ذرة حقد، أو كراهية، أو غيرة من لبنان فردها عليه. يا رب اهدي أولياء أمور المسلمين. يا رب لا تسلط علينا من لا يرحمنا. استغفرك ربي وأتوب إليك
Friday, July 21, 2006
Being Healthy
I recently read a couple of articles, one from the Oprah website, and the other from the AHA (American Heart Association), about acquiring and mantaining a healthy lifestyle..
- trans-fat are hydrogenated oil (hardened oil). All the hype these days is about avoiding it because it's very bad for you. They are found in commercially baked and fried foods, including crackers, French fries, cakes, pies, bread, and cookies. They are now required to be shown on the Nutrition Facts label of packaged foods.
- good oils are olive oil, sesame oil, flaxseed oil (زيت بذرالكتان), grapeseed oil, and canola oil. They should be kept in a dark bottle in the fridge.
- try as much as possible not to heat up the oil. If you're using it for cooking and u don't have much choice, mix it with food then heat both as little as is needed, as opposed to heating up the oil on its own then adding the food (which all the "old" cookbooks tell you to do!)
- for a very healthy side dish: heat up spinach with olive oil and garlic. sounds yummy but i didn't try it yet!
- healthy snacks: almonds, pomegranates.
- when you buy food, look at the list of contents, they are usually arranged from the highest to lowest in %. If sugar (in any form!) is one of the top 5, chances are that it's not healthy!
- avoid high fructose syrup, try to use cane or beet instead.
Now the new AHA recommendations for 2006:
(a few were way too obvious -and long-, so i omitted them! Ofcourse, they include the avoidance of tobacco in all its forms) <--- bss 3shan al dameer!
- Set a goal of at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. (could be divided throughout the day. ofcourse, more is better)
- Consume a diet rich in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables (not fruit juices), especially those that are deeply colored (spinach, carrots, peaches, and berries).
-Prepare fruits and vegetables with little added saturated or trans fat, salt, and sugar.
- Choose whole-grain, high-fiber foods.
- Consume 2 servings of fish, especially those relatively high in omega-3 fatty-acids (eg, salmon, trout, and herring) at least twice weekly.
- Children and pregnant women should avoid mercury-contaminated fish (eg, shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish).
- Limit intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol by choosing lean meats, vegetable alternatives, and fat-free (skim) and low-fat (1% fat) dairy products and minimize intake of partially hydrogenated fats.
- Minimize intake of beverages and foods with added sugars.
- To consume no more than 2300 mg of sodium daily, choose and prepare foods with little or no salt. Middle-aged and older adults, African Americans, and those with hypertension should consume no more than 1500 mg of sodium daily.
- Limit alcohol intake to not more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men (1 drink = 12 oz of beer, 4 oz of wine, 1.5 oz of 80-proof distilled spirits, or 1 oz of 100-proof spirits).
- When eating out, be aware of portion size; select vegetables and fruits; and avoid foods prepared with added saturated or trans fat, salt, and sugar.
as you can see, a lot of emphasis is placed on "trans-fat", and fat in general; actually the updated dietary recommendations set a lower goal for saturated fat (less than 7% vs less than 10% in the 2000 guidelines) and a goal for trans fatty acids of less than 1% of total calories.
Saturated fatty acids occur naturally in meat, dairy products, and tropical oils, including coconut and palm oil.
This last piece of info is dedicated to all the people out there who just *love* to pop pills..
"Dietary supplements, Vitamin E, other antioxidant supplements, folate and B vitamin supplements have unproven or uncertain effects on cardiovascular disease (diseases of the heart and blood vessels). However, dietary antioxidant nutrients should be obtained from fruits, vegetables, and vegetable oils rich in antioxidants."
sorry guys, turns out there are no shortcuts!! :)
- trans-fat are hydrogenated oil (hardened oil). All the hype these days is about avoiding it because it's very bad for you. They are found in commercially baked and fried foods, including crackers, French fries, cakes, pies, bread, and cookies. They are now required to be shown on the Nutrition Facts label of packaged foods.
- good oils are olive oil, sesame oil, flaxseed oil (زيت بذرالكتان), grapeseed oil, and canola oil. They should be kept in a dark bottle in the fridge.
- try as much as possible not to heat up the oil. If you're using it for cooking and u don't have much choice, mix it with food then heat both as little as is needed, as opposed to heating up the oil on its own then adding the food (which all the "old" cookbooks tell you to do!)
- for a very healthy side dish: heat up spinach with olive oil and garlic. sounds yummy but i didn't try it yet!
- healthy snacks: almonds, pomegranates.
- when you buy food, look at the list of contents, they are usually arranged from the highest to lowest in %. If sugar (in any form!) is one of the top 5, chances are that it's not healthy!
- avoid high fructose syrup, try to use cane or beet instead.
Now the new AHA recommendations for 2006:
(a few were way too obvious -and long-, so i omitted them! Ofcourse, they include the avoidance of tobacco in all its forms) <--- bss 3shan al dameer!
- Set a goal of at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. (could be divided throughout the day. ofcourse, more is better)
- Consume a diet rich in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables (not fruit juices), especially those that are deeply colored (spinach, carrots, peaches, and berries).
-Prepare fruits and vegetables with little added saturated or trans fat, salt, and sugar.
- Choose whole-grain, high-fiber foods.
- Consume 2 servings of fish, especially those relatively high in omega-3 fatty-acids (eg, salmon, trout, and herring) at least twice weekly.
- Children and pregnant women should avoid mercury-contaminated fish (eg, shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish).
- Limit intake of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol by choosing lean meats, vegetable alternatives, and fat-free (skim) and low-fat (1% fat) dairy products and minimize intake of partially hydrogenated fats.
- Minimize intake of beverages and foods with added sugars.
- To consume no more than 2300 mg of sodium daily, choose and prepare foods with little or no salt. Middle-aged and older adults, African Americans, and those with hypertension should consume no more than 1500 mg of sodium daily.
- Limit alcohol intake to not more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men (1 drink = 12 oz of beer, 4 oz of wine, 1.5 oz of 80-proof distilled spirits, or 1 oz of 100-proof spirits).
- When eating out, be aware of portion size; select vegetables and fruits; and avoid foods prepared with added saturated or trans fat, salt, and sugar.
as you can see, a lot of emphasis is placed on "trans-fat", and fat in general; actually the updated dietary recommendations set a lower goal for saturated fat (less than 7% vs less than 10% in the 2000 guidelines) and a goal for trans fatty acids of less than 1% of total calories.
Saturated fatty acids occur naturally in meat, dairy products, and tropical oils, including coconut and palm oil.
This last piece of info is dedicated to all the people out there who just *love* to pop pills..
"Dietary supplements, Vitamin E, other antioxidant supplements, folate and B vitamin supplements have unproven or uncertain effects on cardiovascular disease (diseases of the heart and blood vessels). However, dietary antioxidant nutrients should be obtained from fruits, vegetables, and vegetable oils rich in antioxidants."
sorry guys, turns out there are no shortcuts!! :)
Thursday, July 20, 2006
My English
| Your Linguistic Profile: |
| 60% General American English |
| 15% Dixie |
| 15% Yankee |
| 5% Upper Midwestern |
| 0% Midwestern |
thanks sunshine!
Friday, July 14, 2006
World Cup.. Again!
I wanted to write another post about the world cup.. but I've been too lazy to do that.. today I came across an interesting article/blog about the global effect of the world cup on different countries.. I quote:
".. people in China were warned about getting enough sleep at night, because the games were held at midnight their time. It is estimated that Chinese productivity decreased considerably due to sleep deficiency within the past month. The British were also warned about seeking time off from work to watch the games via false physician's notes! The Cambodian president appealed to his people not to gamble their land, their cows and all their belongings on these games, while the Algerian government apologized to its people for not being able to buy the broadcast rights of the games!.."
So.. what effect did it have on OUR country??.. he he.. I guess it's the restaurants got more crowded.. the streets got more crowded.. the people got more high-strung.. friends got another way of socializing and..umm.. what else? :)
".. people in China were warned about getting enough sleep at night, because the games were held at midnight their time. It is estimated that Chinese productivity decreased considerably due to sleep deficiency within the past month. The British were also warned about seeking time off from work to watch the games via false physician's notes! The Cambodian president appealed to his people not to gamble their land, their cows and all their belongings on these games, while the Algerian government apologized to its people for not being able to buy the broadcast rights of the games!.."
So.. what effect did it have on OUR country??.. he he.. I guess it's the restaurants got more crowded.. the streets got more crowded.. the people got more high-strung.. friends got another way of socializing and..umm.. what else? :)
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
25 hours..
"Yesterday" I stayed up for 25 hours straight! no naps.. nothing.. just 2 cups of coffee and i was good to go..
It was a long day.. I woke up at 12:20 pm.. My baby nephew came over.. then I went to the gym.. then at midnight i went to work.. My aunt had surgery so I hung out with her for a little while..
I got off at 8 something.. then had to go food shopping coz at 9:30 am my friends were supposed to come over for breakfast.. by then it was 21 hours and ticking..
imagine my amusement when at 10 am, when they still didn't show up, I called and turns out they "overslept" (!!)
I guess sleep-deprivation is an effective method of anger-management.. you become sort of emotinally-blunted.. he he..
They finally showed up, and my beautiful day ended at 1:30 pm.. a full 25 hours since I last tasted the sweet sensation of sleep..
Funny how when you go this long without sleep.. you stop being sleepy..
I guess it's true.. The more you sleep, the more sleepy you are.. The less you sleep.. the less sleepy you are.. :)
Happy Sleep everyone.. I'm off to work in a couple of hours!
It was a long day.. I woke up at 12:20 pm.. My baby nephew came over.. then I went to the gym.. then at midnight i went to work.. My aunt had surgery so I hung out with her for a little while..
I got off at 8 something.. then had to go food shopping coz at 9:30 am my friends were supposed to come over for breakfast.. by then it was 21 hours and ticking..
imagine my amusement when at 10 am, when they still didn't show up, I called and turns out they "overslept" (!!)
I guess sleep-deprivation is an effective method of anger-management.. you become sort of emotinally-blunted.. he he..
They finally showed up, and my beautiful day ended at 1:30 pm.. a full 25 hours since I last tasted the sweet sensation of sleep..
Funny how when you go this long without sleep.. you stop being sleepy..
I guess it's true.. The more you sleep, the more sleepy you are.. The less you sleep.. the less sleepy you are.. :)
Happy Sleep everyone.. I'm off to work in a couple of hours!
Friday, July 07, 2006
Comics vs. Medicine
This is a really adorable website created by a family doctor who's interested in comics.. It's really one-of-a-kind :) He analyzes all the "medical" scenes and diseases in his favorite comics, such as Superman..
http://politedissent.com/
Enjoy! :)
http://politedissent.com/
Enjoy! :)
Thursday, July 06, 2006
World Cup
Yup.. I caught the world cup fever.. :) though i'm starting to notice a few things..
I never knew the meaning of an "off-side" (تسلل) till yesterday.. As far as I understood, it's when one of the offenders of one of the team shoots the ball off to an offender on the same team who is behind a line of defenders of the opposite team.. Apparenlty it's not right to do that and the refferee has the right to stop the dudes from doing that.. well.. I'm really sorry, but this is a SMART thing to do! why they want to stop them is beyond me..
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I'm pretty pissed at the German team for winning over the Argentinians.. but I noticed something.. well.. let's just say.. If the word Italian relates to Italy.. then isn the word German related to GERMS??! hehehe.. the funny part is I JUST NOTICED!
I never knew the meaning of an "off-side" (تسلل) till yesterday.. As far as I understood, it's when one of the offenders of one of the team shoots the ball off to an offender on the same team who is behind a line of defenders of the opposite team.. Apparenlty it's not right to do that and the refferee has the right to stop the dudes from doing that.. well.. I'm really sorry, but this is a SMART thing to do! why they want to stop them is beyond me..
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I'm pretty pissed at the German team for winning over the Argentinians.. but I noticed something.. well.. let's just say.. If the word Italian relates to Italy.. then isn the word German related to GERMS??! hehehe.. the funny part is I JUST NOTICED!
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