Aneres

Born in the depths of Poseidon’s realm, a symbol of beauty

A mystic creature singing in celebration of immortality

Addict to my voice and become tipsy,

Let my music fill your being, yield to me

Listen, bedazzled, while giving your soul willingly,

I award you death, to lead you to truth of purity

My exquisiteness disgraces Aphrodite and Venus

Bow to me, man, angel, and gin, bow in hypnosis

Let aqua waves tenderly cradle silver tresses

Let Appolo’s glare become shy in the presence of amethyst eyes

Let delicate bubbles tickle a lean body

Let mighty Ares and Eros burn with jealousy

Away from your eyes, I’m hidden

You can’t defile me with your thoughts, I’m forbidden

Protect you not, for I am a curse

My spell is passion and loves noxious thirst

Splendor mocking Zeus’s art

Seductress of every beating heart

Song is enough to ensnare your senses

A lone note will set you restless

Circe isn’t your ally and you are not Ulysses

Sorceress isn’t with you, unaided in my clutches

Yet you chance to perceive my face,

My granted ecstasy will be your slaughtering embrace.

                                                                                                   June 18, 2006

                                                                                              

Symptoms of the Shopaholic Syndrome

Some people call it “sales season”, others call it “in the shopping mood”, and then there are some who know when it’s early signs of the “Shopaholic Syndrome”.

I’ve begun to realize that I’m going over the edge.  I can blame it on bridal shopping, sales, or Noor, but deep down inside I know what it is, there is no room for denial. 

And I thought I was the one in control!

1.      You swear you won’t go to the mall, but then go with your friend for company and end up doing equal shopping… “They were simply catches!”

2.      You leave your credit card at home to avoid impulse buying, but get it the next say to swipe everything you saw the day before thinking “just this time.”

3.      When you see something you like but don’t get, you find yourself starring into the distance just thinking about it and people around you snap in your face and say, “Don’t tell me your still thinking about it.”

4.      You have dreams about the jacket you saw a few months back but can’t afford; then do your weekly pilgrimage to the shop waiting for the sale to get it before sizes run out.

5.      You keep your stuff in shopping bags for a week on your bedroom couch until you are able to find room for them in one of the closets (It doesn’t have to be your closet!)

6.      When your remodeling your room, you can’t but use all the space to make hangers for you bags so they won’t get creased, boxes for your shoes so they all remain apart and visible, double hangers for your jackets because the leather just can’t overlap the cashmere, and for your shirts so they can be organized by color and style.

7.      You make a list of all the necessities, and then start adding to it because “you just forgot you needed that.”

8.      Nothing is ever enough, you have a valid reason to get anything, and everyone including God stops believing your promises because they know you can’t help it.

Ok, that’s enough confessions!

Antique Shopping in Basta

Basta is located in central Beirut, just 10 minutes away from the Grand Serail building. The area is home to some of Beirut’s oldest antique vendors for almost a century, who raid old Beiruty houses looking for treasures.  The story goes like this: someone living in one of the old houses passes away; children come to the Basta area to find a few vendors and take them back to the house.  They make a deal and often sell items for a fraction of their retail price.

The Basta area is marked by the old, rampaged buildings that date back to the French mandate.  Both sides of the street are littered with shops stocked to their ceilings with old, dusty, and sometimes broken woodworks and antiques that can price up to $7,000 at times.  Further in to the market are alley ways also filled with treasures; mind you, visiting them requires flats, sachet bags, and a flashlight because some areas are dim.

Yesterday, my mother in law gave me a call just as I was getting off of work asking me to pass by Basta to look at an antique dinning room set and a bunch of other things she had seen and new that I’d like.  When I arrived to the shop, I could help but bite my lip in astonishment at the wonders I saw.  The tables, chairs, couches, instruments, chandeliers, and trinkets make you lose yourself and your day just exploring and learning about the items.  After four hours of prying through items, I managed to walk away with a console that was a gift from my fiancé’s auntie.  Thank you Auntie Samo!!  The dinning set is still understudy.

 

People, especially my colleagues, don’t always understand the awe I’m in when I see such things. Authentic antique items have history and character, they have a life and a story behind them that gets you wondering why is it scratched here, has this table seen happy feasts, how long has this clock been telling time...

It’s so interesting to be able to tell the difference between a Henry II Dinning Set, a Louis XIV chair, and a Chesterfield sofa. It feels so good to have an almost green copper chandelier cleaned and restored to find out that those are little swans hanging from its rim.  And finding that perfect porcelain plate with a shield and crest painted on it to hang on your wall, it’s priceless.

Now all of you know what to get me as wedding gifts!

White Beirut

No clubbing for me, Thank you!

I just like the video!