ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaDoes your muslim husband mind if you drink?
We both drink. We drank a lot more when we first met (in our early 20's), but will still have wine with dinner or go out for a few drinks on the weekends.
hollywFemaleAlgeria2008-08-04 23:03:00
Middle East and North AfricaME/NA pictures
pictures from Algeria......

View of the Mediterranean from the Santa Cruz Fort and Church in the mountains of Oran
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Beaches in Mosteganem
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Maquam E?chahid (The Monument of the Martyrs) in Algiers
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View of the ocean from Maquam E?chahid in Algiers
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Edited by hollyw, 19 January 2007 - 07:29 PM.

hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-01-19 19:27:00
Middle East and North AfricaWednesday!




finally... kicking.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-11-14 10:32:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy wednesday!
Happy Wednesday!!! Going over to my parents house tonight to bake my pie, wait for my mom's family from NY to arrive, and have our annual night-before-Thanksgiving lasagna from Costco and movie fest kicking.gif



hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-11-21 10:45:00
Middle East and North AfricaThings your husband/fiance does that drives you crazy.
One thing that drives me nuts about my husband is he will let his shoes (for example) sit in the living rooms for MONTHS (unless I give in and put them back in the closet), but if I walk in the house and put my bag on the table in the front hall, ten minutes later he's going "why is you bag still in the hall? that's not it's place." He is a neat freak... but only when it's my mess. If his suitcase has been sitting in the middle of our bedroom with clothes still in it since Monday? Apparently that's ok.
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-10-26 08:31:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Tuesday MENA
QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Nov 27 2007, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (sereia @ Nov 27 2007, 01:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
i love her and her show too. last night i made a recipe i recently saw on her show and was totally disappointed! boooo ina! it was a vegetable tian with zucchini, potato, tomato, onion, and gruyere cheese. how could that be bad? but it was just...EHHHHHHHHHHHHHh. still love ina though! biggrin.gif


I saw her making that too, but it looked pretty bland to me. Those three veggies aren't my favorite.

Have you ever made a sweet potato gratin? I was thinking of trying that and I don't see why it wouldn't work like a normal potato gratin.


We made a russet and sweet potato gratin for Thanksgiving because no one ever eats the yams... it was really good and went fast. I'm pretty sure that the recipe was from one of the William Sonoma cookbooks.

Edited by hollyw, 27 November 2007 - 10:56 PM.

hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-11-27 22:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Tuesday MENA
QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Nov 27 2007, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Wow I can't believe all of the snow! Texas looked pretty bad on the news.

I always spend abotu 5 seconds a year wishing I lived where it snows. It doesn't take long to remember what it's like, and how cold I get in California with temperatures in the high 50's and low 60's.



laughing.gif

When I got in the car this morning the temperature said 57 degrees and I saw people on the highway driving in their convertibles with the tops down!!!!
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-11-27 14:13:00
Middle East and North AfricaThanksgiving Recipes
I've decided that, instead of drastically changing my pumpkin pie, I'm going to just do a creamier version with a gingersnap crumb crust. Yummmm.


Corn Soufflé

2 cans of creamed corn
2 bags of frozen niblet corn
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
4 eggs beaten
1 tsp. salt
1 stick of butter, melted
1 cup heavy cream

Mix together all ingredients, waiting until the end to add the frozen niblets. Bake at 350 degrees in soufflé dish or 9"x13" glass dish for about one hour until top is golden brown.


I've also added this roasted potato recipe cause it's so good.. we don't use it for Thanksgiving, but someone might.

Roasted Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic

8 red-skinned potatoes, about 2" long, unpeeled, scrubbed
1 Tbs. fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1 tsp. crumbled dried)
1 Tbs. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 large cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped *add garlic last or it will burn*

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut potatoes in quarters. Place then in a bowl and add 1.5 tsp fresh rosemary or 1/2 tsp dried. pour 2.5 tsp olive oil over them. Toss until well coated and the rosemary is well distributed. Place in a single layer on a heavy baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper roast for 15 minutes.

In a small bowl, mix garlic with remaining 1/2 tsp olive oil. Add it to the potatoes and continue roasting for 10-15 minutes or until the potatoes are crisp and browned and easily pierced with a fork. Transfer to a serving dish, season wtih more fresh pepper and remaining 1.5 tsp fresh rosemary or 1/2 tsp dried.
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-11-21 09:40:00
Middle East and North AfricaThanksgiving Recipes
I would much rather talk about Thanksgiving than actually do work...


Here is my recipe for the brie:

Baked Brien with Pecans

Brie, one wedge (if you use a wheel for a larger crowd, adjust the other ingredients a bit)
2 handfulls of pecans, some broken up some whole
About 1/4 cup Brown sugar
1/3 to 1/2 cup Maple syrup
1 box plain table water crackers

Place brie in an ovenproof dish. Put whole pecans on top of brie wedge, then break up the rest and sprinkle in the dish. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Pour maple syrup over brie and place in oven. Bake for 30 minutes or until brie has completely melted and is bubbling. Serve hot, spooned onto plain table water crackers.



This is really a recipe you can eyeball and adjust to your taste... I usually add more brown sugar cause I like it sweeter.

Edited by hollyw, 20 November 2007 - 12:37 PM.

hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-11-20 12:35:00
Middle East and North AfricaThanksgiving Recipes
QUOTE (polarbear @ Nov 20 2007, 11:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Bourbon Pecan Pie... Yummy! Too bad I don't consume alchohol anymore, but it's much better than the regular stuff tongue.gif

Just take a bowl of Bourbon or Whisky and soak the pecans for 1 hour (turning 1/2 way through) and use in your favorite pecan pie recepie. I used to just kinda tip the bowl when adding the pecans so that alot of the alchohol got in there for extra flavoring wink.gif



Ooooo we do a Kahlua pecan pie which i LOVE.

Our Thanksgiving is pretty traditional. We have the turkey (actually we get two... we're having 31 people at my parents house this year), mashed potatoes, squash, green beans, the white bread stuffing, etc etc. This year my mom is doing a sweet potato gratin because no one ever ever eats the yams... every year she burns the marshmallows. We have tons of different kinds of cranberry sauce. One of my favorite sides that we do is corn soufflé, but i don't have the recipe here at work with me. I'll have to post it later.. my aunt always makes two, one for Thanksgiving and one for me to take home smile.gif I'm always responsible for the rolls (from the Joy of Cooking), the baked brie with brown sugar and pecans for an appetizer, and the pumpkin pie. No one ever eats my pumpkin pie because my cousin makes a pumpkin chiffon pie, so i'm trying to find a better recipe if anyone has one.... so far this is winning:

Pumpkin Paradise Pie



A layer of cheesecake, a layer of pumpkin custard, and some pecan streussel sprinkled on top.... I can't decide... is it ok to break the pumpkin pie tradition??
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-11-20 12:15:00
Middle East and North AfricaHow many of you really know and understand
QUOTE (julianna @ Nov 29 2007, 12:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
WOM-- I mastered the slow-two-handed eating. You make sure to always have somehting in your mouth and your right hand... and you just slowly eat.. like one grape at a time. That was how I got out of the not eating enough versus too much for what i felt like (which was nothing).


That is awesome.... and something I need to start doing.


QUOTE (OlivianWaleed @ Nov 29 2007, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yeah hugging to me as an American is like the two kisses on the cheeks when meeting or saying Goodbye to Europeans.

When I hugged my Husband's bestfriend to show my gratefulness for his hospitality I didn't know I did anything wrong. His bestfriend apologize for five minutes to my Husband while I got on the bus back to Cairo. It wasn't until I got back to the US that I knew I did anything wrong and what they were talking about outside the bus.


Yea, the hugging thing was also an issue with me. My husband's Algerian friends/family in France never had a problem with it. So when I was saying goodbye to one of my husband's friends in Algeria, I gave him a big hug. We'd gotten to know each other, we were buddies. He turned bright red and had a shocked look on his face. My husband couldn't stop laughing. It also took the same friend awhile to be comfortable sitting alone with me in a car or at a cafe if my husband had to get up for some reason. He would stare straight ahead and give one word answers if I tried to talk to him until my husband told him it was ok.

On the whole though, I got the feeling that Algeria was more relaxed than some of the other MENA countries.. maybe just because we were in a city? Or the people I was around? I constantly saw guys and girls out together in groups and a few of my husband's female friends went out on dates, drove alone with men in cars, etc. Not the norm, I'm sure, but I noticed it happening more than in other MENA countries.
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-11-29 13:15:00
Middle East and North AfricaHUMP DAY WEDNESDAY
that's horrible....


.... what is it?
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-05 11:27:00
Middle East and North AfricaHUMP DAY WEDNESDAY
Happy Hump Day!!


hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-05 09:22:00
Middle East and North Africaalgerian american citizen married to algerian citizen
QUOTE (wahrania @ Dec 7 2007, 01:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
name of cigarette in algiers starting with an R
name of the song from GUEROUABI that sings about being 20 years old again... Only an algerian will know this
Name of major concert venue in Algeria where shows are televised every summer

If youa re ALgeiran you will know these within 5 minutes



or if you have an ounce of intelligence and can google in french
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-07 15:39:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Friday!
QUOTE (bridget @ Dec 7 2007, 10:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOh and if anyone is thinking of getting FIOS do it!!! I LOVE it! I got verizon fios tv, phone and internet and I am one happy camper. It came with the dvr option too and I have NO IDEA how I ever lived without it!!!!! Now I can watch all the CSI's, Criminal Minds, House and Cold Case whenever I want too!!!!! I just hope that writer's strike ends SOON!! yes.gif


I'm starting the Hero's series using Netflix since I never watched it last season. I hope it's as good as everyone says!



have you been watching the second season? if you have and you like it, you're going to LOVE the first season... in my opinion, the it was better than the second, although i haven't watched the finale of the second season yet... got that waiting on my DVR aka the best thing that ever happened to me wink.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-07 11:12:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Friday!
QUOTE (bridget @ Dec 7 2007, 09:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (just_Jackie @ Dec 7 2007, 08:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Sometimes a hiatus is needed. Happy Friday to ya! Whatcha drinkin this morning? Triple gingerbread latte with 1/2 skim no froth?

Jackie jest.gif



No way, man!!!! Full caloric gingerbread latte with whipped cream and just ate an apple fritter. On QUITE the sugar high!!! kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif


Gonna attempt to do ALL of my holiday shopping tonight once the kiddies are off to their dads. Meanwhile looking for a treadmill to treat myself with for my Eid/Wedding anniversary present.



oooooo I have a gingerbread latte too!! Sugar free WITH whipped cream.... I tell myself if I get the sugar free it... sort of... cancels out... the whipped cream... unsure.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-07 09:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Sunday MENA
QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Dec 10 2007, 12:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Asparagus is good roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper and at the last minute I sometimes add a bit of parmasean.


i love roasted veggies. especially asparagus and cauliflower. i do it the same way, with a bit of olive oil or cooking spray, salt, pepper, and parmasean. yummm... i'll probably do that tonight. we also frequently roast peppers, cut them up, and saute with some olive oil, grated tomatoes, garlic, salt, and red and black pepper. that's yum too.

really the only way we both like vegetables is roasted or grilled. i like them steamed and he likes them boiled to death. if i make green beans for dinner i have to make them two different ways - steamed crisp for me and boiled mushy for him. bleh.

I really need to try to make more fish because we both love it, but i just never think to buy it when i'm at the market. I know i'd have to make that two different ways too... he loves this broiled tilapia i make with a creamy parmasean sauce on top... i'll have to dig into the depths of the cooking thread to find a good, healthy fish recipe. I'm sure there is one.


I've totally cut out soda and now have to taste for it at all. I'm trying to cut out bread and pasta... but I love both! blush.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-10 13:02:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Sunday MENA
QUOTE (moody @ Dec 10 2007, 11:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oh God don't even get me started about the vast amounts of sugar the man uses. Let's just say he likes a little tea with his sugar. laughing.gif He's a candy/cake/cookies freak. He'll eat M&M's by the handful while sipping on a regular Coke.



I will forever be in awe of the amount of sugar my husband can consume. I swear he must put 5-6 scoops of sugar in a his mug of coffe in the morning, which is not so much coffee, but half coffee half cream.



One thing I've been super excited about is he has liked every kind of international food he's tried... we eat a lot of mexican, chinese, thai, spanish, indian, vietnamese, japanese, etc.... hence.. the extra poundage unsure.gif



QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Dec 10 2007, 11:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This is making me laugh. Hicham constantly says he's on a diet. The other day I made some mini chocolate cakes for a Christmas party and I had about 8 left over. He ate them all and said it was ok because they were "mini".

Hicham will eat pretty much anything I make and I got him to eat vegetables that are cooked, but crisp. That was quite a breakthrough.


Medy does the same thing!!! "I'm only going to eat half of the large chocolate almond tart because I should really watch my weight" ......... huh.gif riiiiiiiiiiiight.

man I wish we were making that kind of progress with vegetables... we're not even close.

QUOTE (moody @ Dec 10 2007, 11:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've gotta get out of this cooking rut I've been in lately.


I've also been in a rut... I've been desperately searching for new recieps because I feel like I make the same things over and over.
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-10 11:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Sunday MENA
QUOTE (moody @ Dec 10 2007, 10:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Sorry for intruding in the conversation but I really can relate. My husband doesn't like cooked vegetables either unless it's a potato and usually it has to be fried. I've also had the same problems about gaining weight since my husband's been here. He loves burgers and red meat in general. Doesn't really care for "healthy" foods like stir fry or salads..unless they're covered in ranch dressing, lol. It's a bit frustrating having to cook two seperate meals. He has gained a bit of weight but seems to be losing it now that he's working over 60 hrs a week and not eating as much as when he was sitting home.


laughing.gif

Yup, unless it's fried, covered in some kind of really fattening sauce, or straight sugar he doesn't like it! He also eats potatoes about 5 times a week and it's either fried or mashed with a huge amount of butter.

I've also had to start buying 2% or whole milk for him and skim milk for myself. Butter for him, magarine for me. Full fat for him, fat free for me. Even for breakfast we have all kinds of eggo waffles and toaster pastries and croissants for him and I get a yogurt... *maybe* some granola... biggrin.gif And I won't let him cook north african foods for me anymore because I have sat in the kitchen with him while he cooks and have seen how much f-ing olive oil he puts in the food!!! He puts in 1/2 a cup of oil to saute some onions when, really, a tablespoon or two is pllllenty.. wacko.gif

He's put on a little weight since being here, but is by no means fat. Although the button on his favorite pair of jeans won't button tongue_ss.gif I have to admit I kind of enjoy that innocent.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-10 11:28:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Sunday MENA
QUOTE (julianna @ Dec 10 2007, 10:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (hollyw @ Dec 10 2007, 08:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (julianna @ Dec 10 2007, 09:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
He;s the only person I know who can eat a dozen cinnamon rolls every day for 2 weeks and still be thin.



blink.gif

:::jealous:::

The same thing happened to me.. I was used to eating yogurt, chicken, brown rice, steamed veggies and drinking sparkling water and when Medy showed up that all went out the window. After a a month or two I had to admit myself that I just can't eat loads of carbs, drink soda, and eat a pint of ice cream every day. crying.gif


I know. Why do we have to suffer so? I made Ammar weigh himself and he's 170lbs at 6'2". I am going shopping today for more veggies. I like them, but I just don't like having to make 2 things since he doesn't like cooked vegetables and wants rice.


my husband's the same way.. he won't eat veggies unless they're cooked into a soggy, mushy mess We have also had to resort to making two meals most of the time... at least until i join a gym whistling.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-10 10:48:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Sunday MENA
QUOTE (julianna @ Dec 10 2007, 09:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
He;s the only person I know who can eat a dozen cinnamon rolls every day for 2 weeks and still be thin.



blink.gif

:::jealous:::

The same thing happened to me.. I was used to eating yogurt, chicken, brown rice, steamed veggies and drinking sparkling water and when Medy showed up that all went out the window. After a a month or two I had to admit myself that I just can't eat loads of carbs, drink soda, and eat a pint of ice cream every day. crying.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-10 09:58:00
Middle East and North Africa2 car bomb attacks in Algiers
QUOTE (jpaula @ Dec 11 2007, 11:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
For anyone who reads French, here is the Algerian paper's report: http://www.elwatan.c...d_article=82592


Wow, I hadn't heard anything more about this since this morning... I can't believe how many people are dead and hurt. What a sad story.. thanks for posting that.
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-12 00:36:00
Middle East and North Africa2 car bomb attacks in Algiers
QUOTE (wahrania @ Dec 11 2007, 10:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ill be there next week, 3 days in transit...



wow, three days?! how are you getting there?

I can't imagine that anything will happen in Oran... I'm a little jealous that you're going for a visit! wink.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-11 11:09:00
Middle East and North Africa2 car bomb attacks in Algiers
damn them... i felt so safe in algiers two summers ago... now i'm not sure that i would go through the capital, if i went at all. so sad..
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-11 09:36:00
Middle East and North AfricaIts tuesday - my first thread
QUOTE (bridget @ Dec 11 2007, 12:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (hollyw @ Dec 11 2007, 12:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (bridget @ Dec 11 2007, 12:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Busy as a bee here today! Supposed to get a snowstorm this weekend!! kicking.gif




........... really? unsure.gif

i have to start paying attention to the weather.


oooo it's also supposed to snow thurs night and fri morning....



They're saying that Sat night into Sunday for the snow. Only light snow on Thurs and rain tomorrow.




phew!!!!!!! as long as i don't have to get up early to scrape the snow and ice off my car and commute to work, bring it on! good.gif


Edited by hollyw, 11 December 2007 - 01:11 PM.

hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-11 13:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaIts tuesday - my first thread
QUOTE (bridget @ Dec 11 2007, 12:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Busy as a bee here today! Supposed to get a snowstorm this weekend!! kicking.gif




........... really? unsure.gif

i have to start paying attention to the weather.


oooo it's also supposed to snow thurs night and fri morning....
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-11 12:06:00
Middle East and North AfricaWednesday
Happy Hump Day!!


Edited by hollyw, 12 December 2007 - 08:54 AM.

hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-12 08:54:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Friday!!!
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Dec 14 2007, 10:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (hollyw @ Dec 14 2007, 10:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
How did all of the other northeasterners do in the snow???


Well, Jenn! is having a nervous breakdown. laughing.gif

QUOTE (wahrania @ Dec 14 2007, 10:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Dec 14 2007, 10:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
One of the worst mornings of my life. I hate snow. We're seriously considering relocating to Florida. ranting33va.gif

If you need any help Jenn, I ll do anything I can to help you


Thanks, K. rose.gif There's another storm moving in on Sunday. Would you like to scrape my car? tongue.gif


I'd like to get in on that!

I don't think I can handle another storm........ at least it's on a weekend... and NOT when everyone in Massachusetts is trying to get home girlwerewolf2xn.gif

QUOTE (Jenn! @ Dec 14 2007, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We had both of our cars towed from our street which is NOT a snow artery. Allegedly the police came by with sirens and airhorns, but we're in the back of the building with the windows shut, so we didn't hear it.

There were no cabs available this morning so we had to walk through the snow to the tow lot and spent over an hour trying to get the first car out.

So here I am, $300 and an aching back later. crying.gif



WOW.... I'm getting stressed just reading that. You win

Edited by hollyw, 14 December 2007 - 10:48 AM.

hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-14 10:45:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Friday!!!
I left work yesterday at 12:30 and it took me 5 and 1/2 hours to get halfway home, what is normally about 30-40 minutes... I had to stop at my parents house cause I just couldn't take it anymore. There was a point, the last two hours, where I literally maybe moved a couple inches. People were standing outside of their cars dusting snow off and trying to figure out what was going on. Turned out two cars were stopped side-by-side on a small hill cause they coudn't get up ranting33va.gif . I had to drive with the heat on full blast on the windshield so the wipers wouldn't freeze and my windows down cause it was so freaking hot. And then, after about three hours, my phone battery died.

The snow kept falling and I was basically snowed in so I ended up staying at my parents. I woke up and had to chip the ice off my car and was an hour and a half late to work. I'm sooooooooo ready for the two week vacation I have coming up!!!!!!!

How did all of the other northeasterners do in the snow???

Edited by hollyw, 14 December 2007 - 10:40 AM.

hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-14 10:38:00
Middle East and North AfricaThursday
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Dec 13 2007, 09:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (bridget @ Dec 13 2007, 07:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
*grunt*

Holly you were right we're gonna get pummeled today sad.gif I"m going to try to see if I can leave here at 3:30 to avoid probably the worst commute of the year.


I'm hoping they'll let us out early (usually they let us out at 3 if a storm's gonna effect the commute). Snow will start around 1. 128 is gonna be a flippin' mess even by then.



ooof 128? I hate having to get on 128 during a regular commute, let alone in the snow... good luck! I'm hoping Rt. 2 won't be too bad...


We just got an email that we get to leave after lunch! kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-13 10:11:00
Middle East and North AfricaThursday
QUOTE (bridget @ Dec 13 2007, 07:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
*grunt*

Holly you were right we're gonna get pummeled today sad.gif I"m going to try to see if I can leave here at 3:30 to avoid probably the worst commute of the year.

Woke up feeling like there's a dry dry sock in my throat so I thought I'd coat it nicely with two glazed cruellers and a vanilla spice coffee. innocent.gif

Now I'm wicked full and still feel like there's a dry dry sock in my throat. blush.gif



It looks like it's going to be a rough couple of days dry.gif Ten minutes after I got to work this morning we lost power. I'm not sure why, it's not snowing yet, but it was eerie. Luckily it's back on and a lot less creepy in here. I'm trying to wrap things up here by early afternoon and I don't even know about tomorrow... if it's as bad as it sounds like it's going to be, I might just have to stay snowed in for a couple days innocent.gif

I went through all day yesterday thinking it was Thursday (even though I posted a camel in the hump day thraed..) so imagine my disappoint when I woke up and had to do Thursday all over again! I did quite a bit of damage last night at the mall xmas shopping and was planning on going again tonight, but I think my credit card could use a little rest. I'm looking forward to a little holiday vaca time!!!
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-13 09:27:00
Middle East and North AfricaSaturday :)
QUOTE (just_Jackie @ Dec 15 2007, 10:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>


Here is my new kitty. She is sleeping and purring alot. I don't know what to name her.

Jackie rose.gif



Awww, she is adorable!!! We had Himalayans when I was growing up! We actually had one with the same colors as yours and her name was Mommy Fluff. Actually, her name was just Fluff.... until she had babies blink.gif Then her name was Mommy Fluff luv.gif She had three babies, Gwen and Arthur were both blonde and Burt II was chocolate brown - gorgeous. The hair is a pain though, but so pretty.


My mom is having a gingerbread house decorating party for all of my nieces and nephews, sans parents... so I volunteered to go help out. Then hopefully I'll finish up my Christmas shopping before it starts to snow... again!
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-15 11:14:00
Middle East and North Africado you speak arabic?
My husband, his family, and all of his friends speak french, except for his younger brother (21) who is too cool, but understands it. I am fluent in french so I haven't had a real incentive to learn arabic blush.gif I do know the alphabet and how to count and quite a few phrases ("I'm in the metro" or "I'm tired"), answers to questions, and what to say aroudn ramadan. When we talk to each other we use a mess of english, french, algerian, and norwegian ( blink.gif my mom's side of the family is from norway laughing.gif ) so it's pretty hard to follow our conversations.... unsure.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-14 11:45:00
Middle East and North AfricaThursday
I love vacation!!!!! The first couple days I was pretty productive, but yesterday I spent most of the day watching tv and movies biggrin.gif I try to get a little done each day, but with the snow that's falling outside, I'm really not wanting to change out of my PJs and go to the mall unsure.gif After lunch with some friends I suppose I'll have to cowboy up and brave the crazy last minute shoppers... of which, I am one.
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-20 10:56:00
Middle East and North AfricaFriday!
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Dec 21 2007, 10:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Is today Friday? I have a hard time keeping track when I'm on vacation. tongue.gif


me too!!! dancin5hr.gif biggrin.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-22 00:41:00
Middle East and North AfricaHappy Caturday!
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Dec 22 2007, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Good luck at the mall, Bridget. We were driving on 128 N yesterday around 1:30 and I couldn't figure out why there was so much traffic, I thought maybe there was an accident. Then as we passed the Northshore Mall it all made sense.


dead.gif

I know what you mean... I got stuck in traffic going to the Natick Mall yesterday around the same time... sooo happy all of my shopping is finally done!!!

I made my Christmas sugar cookies last night and decorated them... now I have to come up with a few other recipes, since that is my Christmas present to a few people this year (stupid idea). I also have a TON of wrapping to do. In our family we have a rule that all wrapping has to be done the night before Christmas Eve so we can all enjoy our Christmas Eve brunch! Well, that leaves this afternoon and tomorrow, because tonight we're going to a Christmas buffet... I wish there was a nail biting smiley... Christmas sneaks up so fast! blink.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-22 14:08:00
Middle East and North AfricaMonday. Wish it was Sunday. 'cause that's my funday.
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Dec 10 2007, 02:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (hollyw @ Dec 10 2007, 02:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Jenn! @ Dec 10 2007, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (amal @ Dec 10 2007, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am too stubborn to cook 2 meals so I always cook stuff he likes.


I am too stubborn as well. But I cook what I like for the most part, and if he doesn't like something, he doesn't have to eat it. Otherwise, he can cook for himself. I find if I do this, he ends up eating things that he might not try otherwise, and he usually finds he likes them.


i think about doing this all the time... and have done it a few times when he's really pissed me off. But then medy works from 10 in the morning to 11pm-1am so then i feel bad if there's not something for him to eat when he gets home or if it's something he doesnt like.


I see what you're saying, but at the same time, you work too, right? And you're the one cooking the dinner!

I guess we're (or maybe it's just me smile.gif ) just a little less "traditional" in that sense. I don't see anything wrong with it.

I also remember being amazed as a kid when I would go over friends' houses and their moms would be making separate dinners according to what everyone felt like having or refused to eat as if it were a restaurant. I grew up with a working mom. If I didn't want it, I didn't have to eat it, but there were no alternatives. I think that's why I'm not so picky as an eater myself.



Haha, i grew up with a working mom too and we got whatever was put in front of us. most of the time that was bbq chicken, white rice, and steamed broccoli. i swear we must have had that 3 nights a week at least. if she made it home in time for dinner.

I do work, which is why a lot of the time i get pissed if i cook something and what i get back is "ohhh but i don't like that and i'm too tired to cook...." well, i'm tired too! i was up at 6am! he may work long days, but he gets to sleep til 9 or 930.

we do alternate the cooking a lot, but because i'm home in the evening on the week days and he's not i usually end up doing the cooking. then on the weekends and monday night (since he doesnt work) he'll cook for both of us. and we split the household chores, so i don't really see us as being "traditional". just trying to make it work smile.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-12-10 14:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaTuesday
QUOTE (charlesandnessa @ Oct 17 2007, 09:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Maggie724 @ Oct 16 2007, 08:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (a1angied @ Oct 16 2007, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Happy Boss's Day to allthe boss's out there.

I love dogs and I seen on the today show that they have a website that has dogs that are going to be put down unless adopted. I am very happy that in my community we have a no kill shelter. My dog is my baby and I wish I could have another dog but my baby is such a drama queen she will not allow us to get another pet.

Just found out that we are having a baby shower for a co-worker on Friday so I get paid to go to the baby shower how cool is that!

It is overcast and the leaves are changing colors.


Thanks for the bosses day heads up. I ran out to buy sandwiches for the doc and receptionist after reading that and surprised him. She made a card in paint. It was too cute.


QUOTE (charlesandnessa @ Oct 16 2007, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (hollyw @ Oct 16 2007, 03:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
sometimes i wish i could use the VJ emoticons in my work email.... ( ranting33va.gif )

there's a way to do that. whistling.gif what do you use to write email with - outlook?



Oh I would love to do that too. I sometimes think about adding them in but realize I can't. They would sure enhance the message.

add them to your clipart in microsoft word, then you can insert microsoft word clipart into an outlook message. not had any luck getting the smiley to move though but you can see the smiley ranting away tongue.gif


awesome!! my boss is gonna loooooooooooove this. jest.gif
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-10-17 09:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaTuesday
sometimes i wish i could use the VJ emoticons in my work email.... ( ranting33va.gif )
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-10-16 15:18:00
Middle East and North AfricaIt's SATURDAY!!!
QUOTE (sarah and hicham @ Oct 27 2007, 01:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does anyone know how to get permanent marker out of something white? I accidently washed something with a marker in the pocket and now it has a few black spots on it. I'm going to try bleach but I just thought I'd ask to see if anyone knows of something else that works miracles?



I drop sharpies on white shirts all the time... bleach pens always work for me.
hollywFemaleAlgeria2007-10-27 23:22:00