ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD
February in Portlandia

Posted Image
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2013-02-07 16:58:00
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD
Yes. Not listening to the physiological cues from your tummy because your brain hasn't synced up with your newly shrunken tummy can lead to an over-stuffed and very uncomfortable tummy. Avoid.this.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-07-13 21:32:00
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD
We love bagels in the morning with a little bit of cream cheese, poached egg, tomato and avocado slices. It sticks around for a long, long time when you're fasting. I have that on work mornings anyways, when I've got to get stuff done and need to do things requiring a brain cell or two. Otherwise I eat oatmeal or cereal.
Food and drink are totally secondary- I have weird eating habits anyways, but what wears me down is sleep deprivation. I still have no idea how to make that easier, not in July anyways.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-07-13 16:32:00
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD
200 lbs of lamb?!
Unless that's a Lamb of Unusual Size, like the ROUS from the Princess Bride, that's not a lamb at all.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-07-09 08:08:00
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD
Next weekend we are making our summer pilgrimage to the Columbia Gorge Fruit Loop, and Rainier cherries are on the list!
I love all cherries, but those Rainiers from the Gorge are spectacular.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-07-04 22:01:00
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD

That sounds awesome ! Let me know how the movie is... Mahmoud loved the first 2.

I have never seen the first 2! I don't know how I have managed to be a mother for almost 12 years and not see them, but there it is.
3 was very funny. It was silly, and cute, and my daughter is still singing the circus sing.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-07-04 21:58:00
Middle East and North AfricaDAILY THREAD
I am making Walla Walla onion rings, salad, smoked chicken, and grilled asparagus. But first we are going to see Madagascar 3 :)
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-07-04 16:32:00
Middle East and North AfricaZ.y.z.z
I'd like to file a formal request with moderation that all mod input and admonishment at least be in haiku form on this thread then.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-05-30 19:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaZ.y.z.z

HI! I'm back.. Nah I'm not mad.. I was working out.. and i'm glad the thread has been romved.. Thank you VJ

cool! i had a smoothie, with muscle milk protein powder. that's the extent of my working out today, so far. i feel stronger already though, muscle milk is awesome.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-05-30 17:20:00
Middle East and North AfricaZ.y.z.z
bikinis and bombs
mojitos and money laundering
in miami

i think barry's hair deserves a haiku too.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-05-30 14:30:00
Middle East and North AfricaZ.y.z.z
C-4 in my trunk
is how I always roll
and i've got great hair
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-05-30 14:23:00
Middle East and North AfricaZ.y.z.z
i am not an artist, i'm an art appreciator. so i will only be able to contribute some things i've appreciated.

Michael Westen; Spy
Helping the disadvantaged
Got burned; Lookin' good

someone wrote a blog post of burn notice haiku. that's solid, in my book. http://doughuber.blo...o-matt-nix.html
there's more here- http://forums-test.u...howtopic=435001

Edited by sandinista!, 30 May 2012 - 02:13 PM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-05-30 14:12:00
Middle East and North AfricaZ.y.z.z

Stiffler's mom is hot
MILF, GILF: so many, no time.
Wu-Tang Killa Bees.

Agnostic groundhogs
Child-eating parrot petlings
Where is my dark Grimm?

^^ dedicated to Sandinista, of course.

i actually teared up a bit!
Posted Image
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-05-30 13:41:00
Middle East and North AfricaHow have your children been with new hubby/fiancee?
And pardon my French, but could you be more fcuking patronizing? No one is offering any experiences here in search of your totally unasked for validation! It's like you're holding up scorecards here. Stop it, please. It's interfering with how people interact on this forum, and it's impinging on people who just want to have discussions without unnecessary and inappropriate drama.

Only having one son is actually alot easier than having several and you two are also close in age. Its not like you are in your 40s with teenagers petitioning for someone younger. He is close in age and honestly, that helps.

Not everything that we talk about on here is going to apply to every single situation and its good that you are all helping each other.

Unfortunately , when the goal is more to get here, get status and adjust and get papers, which sometimes happens in these relationships, if the kids develop attachments to the person, it really hurts the kids.. Its hard to bond and then be ripped apart from someone who is a stand in for a father figure...


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-07 22:19:00
Middle East and North AfricaHow have your children been with new hubby/fiancee?
You are, of course, miraculously above all of this, right?

There has to be something else that compels these posts. You can't honestly think there's a single soul here who is going to take this to heart. Why would they, under any circumstances? You have to know this, to have known it for years. This is not learning material for others, I can only imagine it's somehow catharsis for you or something to say these things here. There are better outlets for this, I wish they were accessible to you.

I think that any mom bringing someone over here needs to understand the impact of bringing someone new into the family unit. Too often, these relationships are all about the mom's desired and not enough about the kids. Also, with the divorce rate among these couples after status, its very important that the immigrant spouse realise their impact on the american kids as well. These relationships are a lot more involved because of the fact you are sponsoring someone, they are relocating from a foreign country etc, unlike meeting someone stateside and building a potential relationship or marriage. Too often, it seems as if the relationships do not really incorporate the kids..there is a lot more to parenting than talking on yahoo or skype, and boom, someone is a dad. So many of these guys are not emotionally prepared, as much as we would like to think they are, to come over here, adjust to a new life and then all of the sudden, have a kid thrust on them.

Having been through this journey and I am now 6 years into it, I would advise anyone marrying from overseas like this, petitioning for a foreign spouse to make sure your kids have some kind of support system or counseling. When things are good, they are very very good but when they go south, things can go very badly and yes, it does affect your kids. If the foreign spouse is only it in for papers, that affects the kids for a lifetime. My children became very attached to the man I married. He on the other hand had swung back and forth between caring about them to just caring about himself.
I think that these relationships , if handled incorrectly can cause permanent damage to kids. These men that we are petitioning over, some have never been alone in their whole life, then to be thrust all of the sudden into a new culture with new people and kids to take care of and nurture. I think taking the whole transition very seriously is a given and also its important that the foreign spouse understand just how important it is to be a good step parent to the american kids. I have met very few mena who have been divorced from their american sponsors that continue to keep in touch with the step kids after divorce. I think there is a general perception that perhaps we are more used to divorce etc and its not a big deal to leave or cut off contact afterwards


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-07 22:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaHow have your children been with new hubby/fiancee?
Their main source of disagreement seems to be in regards to Star Wars. My son loves Star Wars, has since he was like 3, but my normally really into sci-fi husband just doesn't get what all the fuss is about. Outside of that, they're very close, and like two peas in a pod. They do fun guy stuff together, and I can tell they are both very happy to be in each others' lives. My son was 6 when my husband moved here, he's now 11.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-05 22:05:00
Middle East and North AfricaEngagement parties? Input please!
Honestly, especially given your demographics, a big engagement party is highly unlikely to make a difference in getting an approval or not, much less be remotely necessary or required. I wouldn't take any visa stuff into account re an engagement party, but that's just my opinion. If you want to, and can comfortably afford to do it just for kicks, that's cool.

This summer will probably be really expensive for travel to morocco especially with Ramadan almost smack dab in the middle of it.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-08 16:59:00
Middle East and North Africahelp your brother ?? only advice please
exactly. Posted Image

Relax yr mind,if u get so apprehensive u may lose the visa.onCe they notice fear, which is normal in everyone in yr shoes,they may be a denial . I was denied my cos of fear and apprehension, is was so much that I couldn't talk much. My hands were shaking to sign in front of co. My relationship was genuine with evidence but denied. As much as possible try to be clam, look into their eyes. Be bold and confident ,God almighty will help u.


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-16 00:44:00
Middle East and North AfricaHow tall are you & your MENA so?
You can be a teensy bit taller first thing in the morning than you are at the end of the day. I don't think you're nearly old enough to be totally shrinking, lol.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-05-03 13:12:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
That's always nice msheesha! There's a new shop that opened recently that's a lot closer to our house. 90% of what we buy is the Rossdown frozen chicken, and they carry lots of it, so it's convenient. And they have these yummy chocolate cream biscuits I like there, so it's a win :)
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-27 10:42:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
Nice! My worst clumsy time today was when the big pocket of my scrub jacket got caught on the corner of a drawer, knocking down my keyboard, and totally startling my 2 yr old patient. :-/

Edited by sandinista!, 27 June 2012 - 01:09 AM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-27 01:09:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012

I suggest you also possibly record this for us, you know, to show us how it's done. :P

YouTube, here I come. Julianna, you know me too, too well.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-26 21:34:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
I have the zumba for wii that I feel guilty for never trying. Maybe I will tomorrow, and send the kids to the backyard to play so they don't make fun of me.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-26 21:26:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
You are most welcome!
Ours is American Home Shield.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-22 01:00:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
we have a home warranty too. in two years, we've had garbage disposal replaced, new one installed, a furnace repair, and the garage door fixed. it was included with the house when we bought it. it's about to expire, but we plan to renew it ourselves. it's come in very handy. and the service has always been very prompt as well. the companies they're contracted with have always contacted us first thing in the morning, when we did the online service request the evening before.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-21 17:55:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
i think that is something that should be reported as well.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-20 13:16:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
that does suck mithra. and everyone else who has had that kind of ####### happen. i can't think of any specific, clear cut incidents really. my husband says sometimes people will seem more standoffish at work, when they hear his name, when they had previously seemed more friendly. but again, nothing clear cut, and he says it could have nothing to do with that at all. overall, people are more curious, and think it's cool that he's from morocco, and usually have something positive or interesting to say about the place.

Edited by sandinista!, 20 June 2012 - 01:07 PM.

sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-20 13:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
i don't think there's anything more pleasant than night swimming. even when it's for exercise.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-19 13:14:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
I had a broomstick skirt I loved too! It was black, and I'd wear it with my Joy Division shirt, etc. And thrift store velvet blazers. I can't remember the last pair of shorts owned though. Even in Arizona and Florida I wore jeans.

Oh noes... can you rig something up to see it?

I remember thinking they gave me awesome legs LOL. Actually, I think that was just being a teenager. Those were the only shorts I ever wore. Other than that, i wore jeans. Jeans and a white V neck were pretty standard... and often a cardigan or sweater. I had these wood-soled guess clogs I liked, but I really liked these sling-backed cork soled heels I had with these skirts and opaque tights. I had two modes of dress-- grunge and grunge chick dresses up. :P I always admired the carefree dress of the hippies from our youth, like the stereotypical art teacher... I could never pull it off though. i always just looked like a grunge chick in a broomstick skirt.


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-17 13:53:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
Biryani is the yum. Actually even better the next day for lunch.
I'm walking to the library to return overdue books later. And if I can get my mom to watch my bratty, yet darling children, I might play a round of golf with my husband and my dad. It's a very nice day out there!

The persecution complex was strong in that one, sadly.

Ugh! Why'd we have to get on the weight? I gained almost 30lbs since husband got here! Lost ten on ww so far but haven't been going to meetings recently and haven't lost more. Haven't gained but haven't lost either. I think it's harder with someone else in the house stuffing their face with ice cream every night & not gaining a pound!!!

Btw - about the poof I'm gone thread - I think the definition of wanting someone to take care of you is wanting your in laws to give you $ to start your life & when they don't - whining & complaining publicly that they give money to someone else & not you. There. Wanted to get that off my chest. The OP responded to me that she wasn't expecting anyone to take care of her. By the time I had time to respond thread was gone.


sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-17 13:46:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
I remember wearing them with babydoll dresses and a cardigan, lol. They were always comfortable though, if a bit heavy. Those, my DM boots and these German clogs i had were my favorite shoes of the late 90s. I don't even have to get all nostalgic though, because the 90s never really ended here.

I wish I could watch Burn Notice when I work out on my bike tonight :-/
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-17 00:02:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012

Well, you should have just sent them to me since I seem to be buying everything from your town anyway lol.

Sounds yum! I discovered a new chicken curry recipe I like. Tuesday that is my plan. Monday I have to eat out with my class XP

hehe!
actually,when this lady bought a pair of my old dr martens sandals i did think of you-because until her you were the only person i know who still likes them. these would have probably never fit you though. i can't shove my feet in them post second kid. but they were probably too big for you to begin with.
enjoy tuesday chicken curry. if you're eating with your class on monday i hope you don't get stuck at the weird place that smelled like goldfish again.

Just stopping in for a quick hello. I broke my ankle last week and I've been stuck in bed most of the time and bored. Posted ImageI'm leaving to head back to Amman July 12, my husband's interview is the 16th, I'll be able to attend with him. I'll be there for about 3 weeks so I get to spend 12 days of Ramadan with he and his family. and his birthday is July 29th, I'll be there for that as well!!! I'm super excited to go back to see him and his family and friends. Posted Image..We are praying that all will go well at the interview and he will be approved so he can FINALLY come to the US with me Aug 1. The waiting is getting more difficult as he days go by...Posted Image

oh that is a bummer! i hope you heal quickly and enjoy your next trip there.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-16 23:37:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
True- it's past 9 here, and it's still cooking.
Saturdays are always late dinner nights for us though.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-16 23:07:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
Beets are superfood! I like them on salad, with a bit of chevre and walnuts. They're good in smoothies too, with strawberries.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-16 22:49:00
Middle East and North AfricaJune 2012
I sold lots of old clothes at my mom's yard sale today. And my mom's English/Indian neighbour gave me step by step chicken biryani directions, so that's what's on my stove tonight. It smells heavenly.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-16 22:43:00
Middle East and North Africasecond visit wise.. or keep new position at work?
it's certainly how i read it, and i know i'm not the only one who read it that way.
i'd like to know how one is able to do more than they can possibly do, since more than they can possibly do is impossible. are people doing impossible things to get visas? how do they do so? superpowers? magic? not doing something impossible is "often a bad idea"?
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-27 16:12:00
Middle East and North Africasecond visit wise.. or keep new position at work?

Nobody knows what will be "enough".

They "know" in the context of what's physically and financially all that they can possibly do, preparation and visit-wise. People have varied constraints there, with time, money, employment. She's not asserting that she knows all the consulate could possibly require and that that standard's clearly been met.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-27 09:24:00
Middle East and North Africasecond visit wise.. or keep new position at work?
Is your husband super devout or religiously observant? You not being so might be a red flag if he is, but if he isn't, it's not been any big deal for several couples who have received visas from that consulate with similar demographics.

You might be a teensy bit over-analyzing things with the "maybe they'll think it's just a squeezed in trip for posterity". But maybe not. It's a weird, unpredictable consulate in so many ways, but from what you've shared here you seem to have far fewer big, glaring, giant, and weird red flags than a lot of people who have come out of that consulate successful. Best of luck with whatever you end up able to do.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-27 01:25:00
Middle East and North Africasecond visit wise.. or keep new position at work?
Adding, while the OP only visited once, it does sound like a substantial amount of time she was there.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-26 21:05:00
Middle East and North Africasecond visit wise.. or keep new position at work?
While I went to Morocco twice, I only had one "documented" visit with pictures and everything of us together. We are close in age, same religious beliefs, etc, this is my 2nd marriage, and I already had a child from that marriage. That single visit the consulate evaluated was adequate for my then fiancé's visa approval. Is there that big of a difference between a marriage visa and a fiancé visa in a case with seemingly not a whole lot in the way of red flags for Casablanca like the OP?
Stress over money, jobs, etc is huge amongst a lot of MENA couples, post arrival in the US. I would not discount that.
sandinista!FemaleMorocco2012-06-26 21:03:00