Michael @ McDonald's Today

THIS goofy little guy, my nephew Michael, made me laugh today. I took him to McDonald's and he informed me that he found out his dad watched Sponge Bob (wow, he has a Wikipedia page!) on the computer without him last night! Who knew Will would sneak in an episode of a cartoon while Michael was in la-la land? That Will! Maybe he created the Wiki page...hmmm.



Also we were watching the NCAA tournament game with Louisiana State vs. Butler. Our McDonald's recently was remodeled and now has a large-screen TV. So, anyway, we were watching the last bit of the game ("19.4 seconds and we'll go, OK, Michael?") and Michael decided he was going for LSU. Maybe that name sounded cooler than Butler. So when the game finally ended about 8 minutes later -- who's counting? -- Michael was happy "his" team won. Of course Victor (the manager) was pulling for "the Butlers." I just laughed when Mike said that because an image of these kind of guys came to mind. I could imagine a whole basketball team full of stodgy-looking older gentlemen with British accents.....

Anyway... it amused me.

Maybe I need to get out more.

I am going to bed now. Unless I get interested in the Duke basketball game that Andrew is watching. It's March Madness!! The only time I really watch much basketball these days. Back in high school, I'd watch it a LOT.

Oh, this picture of Michael was at his birthday party. He wanted fried chicken.

Mom, Taking My Chances & Great Song!

First of all, "Happy Birthday" to my mom though she probably has never read my blog. Ha, ha! She doesn't get on the computer much. Still, I wanted to wish her a great day!

Secondly, I think I am going to risk getting a dog "bug" rather than finish my antibiotics. I think I'm allergic to one or both of them. I'll try to eat healthy and let my immune system take care of any potential germs Apollo may have given me. The antibiotics were for prevention and, truthfully, I had on pants so did Apollo's mouth actually contact my skin? Maybe, but who cares? I'm tired of itching and looking flushed because of these meds. I'll be daring and take my chances.

I really like this song .... the words are great! And the "you're amazing" part ... well, wow! He IS!

In the Hands of God

We have raised our hopes and our cities high
We have followed fragile dreams
But only One could take the measure of our goals
And we've stumbled over the trials of life
And we've wrestled the unseen
But only One can calm the storm inside our souls

In the hands of God we will fall
Rest for the restless, and the weary
Hope for the sinner
In the hands of God we stand tall
Hands that are mighty to deliver
Giving us freedom

When our strength gave way to the weight of guilt
'Til we strained for every breath
Only One could lift our shame and make us well
And when all is finished and we face
The fearsome power of death
Only One has overcome the gates of hell

You're amazing
You're amazing, You are
And we praise You, Lord
For what Your hands have done

Damascus -- Off the beaten path

In Old Damascus we would occasionally get off the beaten - and busy - path and enjoy a slower pace and change of scenery in an area like this . . .

I wonder what we will find

I always thought this minaret was pretty.

I love the detail on things like this door

these, um, I was going to say windows, but

I'll just call them building art.

They're lovely.

I spotted wild life hiding among the vegetation. ;-)

And when I looked across the way, I greatly amused
Samer because I detected & photographed

clothes hanging on the line.

See, I do this at MY house although
my clothes aren't so high in the air.

I find it cute. Maybe I am part Shami or something.

Doubting?

A local church printed this article about John the Baptist: Doubt in the Darkness. I absolutely loved it. It's not very long and maybe it will encourage you ... go read it right fast.

I just read it again.

Wow.

Here is a section of it. Remember John was in prison awaiting death at this point . . .

So he sent two of his closest disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

The affection that radiated from Jesus was palpable. Jesus was familiar with John’s sorrows and grief and the satanic storms that break on the saints when they are weak and alone. He loved John.

So he invited John’s faithful friends to sit near him as he healed many and delivered many from demonic prisons. Then he turned them with kind tears glistening in his eyes and said, “Tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” John would recognize Isaiah’s prophecy in those words. This promise would bring the peace John needed to sustain him for the few difficult days he had remaining. ~ Jon Bloom

Maybe I loved it especially because I am prone to doubts. Maybe also because this time in the world seems bleak. Just reading Jesus' words - the message He wanted John's disciples to take back to John in prison - they are so touching.

I needed that.

Stuff on my mind lately

I started to write this post in red or blue, but then remembered it was St. Patrick's Day. Did you get pinched? I was curious this morning how beef got "corned" and found a plausible answer at Wikipedia. I can't recall that I've ever eaten it. Pickled beef just doesn't sound appealing to me.

Just some random things I've heard or read or thought or experienced lately . . .

I was working on this list prior to taking an afternoon walk. Finally we saw the sun after 4 days of gray skies and rain. So I decided to go for a walk in my neighborhood. I've done this literally thousands of times in the 8 years we've lived here. Today I got bit by my neighbor's doberman, Apollo. Kelly had just said, "Don't worry...he won't bite" as the dog ran towards me. I stopped, was calm, waited for Apollo to return to Kelly ... which he did. However first he bit me! Kelly and I were stunned. Anyway, I am fine. Just punctured, bruised and cut on the back of my leg in the area above my knee. I met 3 new neighbors. I'd never talked to Kelly or the Michigan couple (Nick and Jamie) who live beside her except for exchanging hellos as I've walked. But I met them today. Nice folks. Nick and Jamie have a dog named Phoebe.

On to my list of stuff now . . .

I finished "The Kommandant's Girl" this morning! Enjoyed it a lot. I'll talk more about it when I post my March list of books read. Only that one so far, but there are still 2 weeks to go. (This year is going by fast!)

I heard that Obama was going to be on Jay Leno's show this Thursday.

KLOVE reported that researchers were studying hippos sweat in regards to new sunscreen. Apparently hippos have "secretions" (the announcer said he hated that word...I agree) that cause them to tolerate and do fine in the sun. However, said secretions are red and smelly. They make it appear hippos are bleeding sometimes...hmmm. Didn't know that.

Oh, I just saw this story about the one-world currency idea emerging once again. It is "considered as solution to global economic recession."

How do you pronounce "Lincoln"? Do you say the second l?

Granted I haven't read both sides of the story and my opinion is shaped much by the headlines (hype?) I've read in the media so maybe I am mistaken having these thoughts. However, it seems wrong for the AIG folks to get big bonuses with taxpayer money. Or maybe they are not huge bonuses and the media and politicians just want us to believe it's an outlandish case of the rich getting richer -- on the taxpayer dole? Well, of course, I am opposed to THAT! I don't mind if companies earn their own money and give it out to their executives and employees. They earned it. It's theirs. However, when you take government ... scratch that...taxpayer money...yes, strings ARE attached.

The Irish PM or President or some such leader was in the US today meeting with President Obama. I understand this guy said the US would lead the way out of the global recession. I guess since we are blamed by many for putting the world into this recession, it would be nice of us to clean up our big ol' mess.

I was listening to a CD of one of my preacher's messages and heard him say "wheelbarrow." I wonder if everyone pronounces it like Brian does. I say it like he does -- wheel bear uh.

Today I bought ice cream for the first time this year! It was Walgreen's brand cookies and cream. I think I was hungry when I went to Walgreens because I got other food items there.

Like Sweet Tart jellybeans. Andrew loves those. He used to like Starburst jellybeans best until he had the Sweet Tart ones a couple years ago. Got some of those.

And also some Peanut Butter M&Ms. They were on sale, plus I had a coupon so I got 2 bags for $3!

Andrew accuses me of squirreling things away. OK....that's been a trait of mine since before I met Andrew, but he teases me about it. So, yes, I hid the candy I bought today. I think I am part squirrel. Maybe that's why Apollo decided to sample me today. I still can't believe I got bit by a dog! And now I'm on two antibiotics for it.

Guess the Prophet Muhammad (?) had something right when he said dogs' mouths were germy. The guy who prescribed the meds said it would take 2 to cover all the possible "bugs" dogs could have. If I could take penicillin-based meds, I could have taken only 1. I guess those are stronger or have allllllll the possible-bugs-from-dogs combinations included in one tablet. At least the meds weren't too expensive. One was $4 and the other around $31 ... both generics.

Ha, ha.....so this leads me to the spiritual side of things written down on my list. That'd be JOY which I hope to share more about later. And also this gem from my pastor on the CD I heard today:

God is more interested in your faith than your comfort. (Shoot!)

And I guess I should add, "In everything (even dog bites) give thanks (why?) for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

I am thankful that I had an opportunity to meet my neighbors and respond in a gracious way. I am trying to look on the bright side. :-)

I have more things on my list, but this is enough for now.

Hmmmm

"Where are your people hiding?"

I was asked that today.

Sobering.

:-/

Damascus -- Outing with "the Jakes"

So we'd be walking in Old Damascus overwhelmed and enjoying all these shops -- spices, nuts, scarves, beans, candy -- and people, never knowing what other great treasures were nearby. Like this door just off the beaten path. And you'd never know inside this door was a fantastic place to eat!

So what could be behind this door?
(besides Jake's family since I took this as we were all leaving)

TA DA!!!

THIS beautiful restaurant! Wow!
We ate on the second floor.

(When I clicked this picture & saw it big just now, I laughed. Try it and see if you see the two guys in blue. It seems they are watching me photograph the place. :-))

Here is a view from the top. I really loved this place.
It was so beautiful.

This sweet family was so kind to take us there. Siblings Ahmad, Rusha & Mohammed. We affectionately dubbed them "the Jake family." These are our sweet Palestinian friends. Ahmad studied engineering with Samer in college, Rusha is a dentist & Mohammed is studying neurology! Yes, we hung out with educated folks in Damascus!

Not only was the restaurant charming, but the food was delicious! Here are french fries (of course!), parsley salad (surprisingly good) & hummus. Someone is demonstrating how to dip pita bread in it.

(Thank you.)

Here is a picture of the best pita bread, pickles to the right (not my favorite, but I'm never a pickle person), above the pita bread is babaganoush (YUM!!!). I was kind of surprised, but I *really* loved that stuff every time I had it. In fact, I would like some now & I never eat at quarter 'til eleven at night ... unless I'm in Syria!

Caught Samer and Jake enjoying the food.
LOOK at this spread!

This meat dish included shish tawook (chicken) & Turkish lamb kebabs ... really tasty! Looks like maybe chickpeas there on the right. I had so many food options, I can't remember if I ate any of those.

One more look at our food.

The Jake family was so thoughtful and sweet to take us here.
Shokran!

Pictures from Damascus, Syria
February 6, 2009