Zekrayaat (ذكرايات / Memories)

"We are our dreams", someone said that to me 25 years ago.... As the years passed, and I grew older, I understood how true that phrase is. Today I was once again reminded of that by the life of two of my favorite women in the whole wide world; my wife Mary, and my sister Mona. Today, my sister got her results from college, and she is now one year away from graduating. This was a dream she put off for 25 years, and finally is about to see it come to reality.  Today, FaceBook reminded Mary that she started graduate school (Master of Social Work), another great woman with great dream that eluded her for decades, but never gave up on it; She graduated couple of years ago with honors. She went further and obtained an advanced degree in Adduction Treatment. I could not be more proud to be called Mary's Husband and Mona's brother, two great dreamers.

"Our past never passes", it never ends, it is always here, lurking in the background waiting to reappear. I remember the first time I came to realize that and articulate it... it was terrifying yet reassuring at the same time. We are our past, stretched beyond certain moments… all the way to Eternity. I can go on and on (and probably will), but the past 48 hrs I experienced yet another profound realization (at least felt profound to me)… I found myself remembering my father, the root of all my past. All of a sudden, a flooding wave of memories, thoughts and feelings. I could see it, smell it, hear it, touch it... Don’t worry I am not hallucinating or suffering from a sudden manic attack (as you know the therapist in the clinical social worker keeps me honest and keenly aware)…  It was just that sort of remembrance, the one that you never forget. Of course  soon enough, I started "rationalizing" that as a side effect  to an overdose of the subliminal

Read something I wrote 8 years ago:  Majdi's Musings: New Perspective

Well, tonight’s recipe was born out of a last minute scramble. I was hungry, cold, and wanted something wintery. I also did not want to go out grocery shopping. So, after combining 3 recipes I made in the past and experimenting with Artichoke, here it is…   Ingredients Boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 11/2 pounds) Salt to taste (many of the ingredients are salty to begin with, so taste before you add more salt) Freshly ground black pepper 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 yellow onion, diced 3-6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced (I like lots of garlic, so I went with 6 cloves) 1 teaspoon turmeric 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander Generous pinch or two of red pepper flakes 1 cinnamon stick, or 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 bay leaf 2 cups chicken broth/stock 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (a zest of 1 lemon is enough if you are using jarred artichoke) 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon is enough if y

The day was full of work, food, and ended with an architectural marvel.. That's how I felt as the day unfolded Food time... Now comes the wow part of my trip, the Grand Mosque at Abu Dhabi: More videos to follow ...

Well, Day 2 was equally packed... Visited a friend of Mary and I, Maya, at her Art Studio (set up at a popup gallery), then I went to see Kat our Brit friend, her sister Marg, her Indian Hubby, and their adorable baby Hazel...Had tons of fun, but had to rush after that to Fujairah to visit my brother Moaty and his family. Here are some of the moments captured in photos (any photo that looks remotely good is taken by Mohamed)... Finally downloaded some of the Day 2 photos... The Courtyard in Dubai. This is where our friend, Maya, has her Gallery The Starbucks at Uptown Mirdiff, Dubai, round the corner from Kat's building Uptown Mirdiff again... one of the few outdoor style plazas Thanks to my brother Moaty for taking some pictures of our visit... My sister-in-law Hanan my nephew Ahmad hooked on the xbox...Thanks to uncle Majdi Don't worry I am not eating it all My niece Haneen eating away Hanan never eats Ahmad = trouble