Things that no one tells you about your wedding day!

My wedding was on Saturday September 10, 2011.  Preparations go on for months on end; meetings with vendors, flower selections, food tasting, and selecting the music take so much time, effort, and money that you reach the evening before the wedding excited that you’re finally done with all the running around.

Then comes wedding day!

No matter how early you decide to sleep, you can’t help but lie awake just recapping everything, trying to remember if you forgot something or making a list of things that you must make sure go absolutely well on the day.

Hair and make-up usually go according to schedule and plan, but no matter how comfortable you hair do is by the end of the night, you will feel like you have been carrying a 7 pound baby on your head, neck, and shoulders all day.  No matter how soft or natural your make up is, by the end of the night you would need an extra garbage been to dispose of all the make-up remover wipes.

No matter how many phone calls you make to the vendors, the photographer will manage to be a little late, and the zaffe party will manage to be a little early to arrive to your house.

No matter how much your groom loves you, and how much he was looking forward for that day you finally become his, he will manage to be a little late…because of TRAFFIC!

No matter how many times you check the weather forecast and it says clear and sunny skies, that odd cloud will come out and give you a little suspense and keep you on your toes.

Even if you mention on the invitation card that guests are required to arrive at 8 p.m. and you confirm that timing when you call to confirm attendance, still guests will still manage to arrive just 2 minutes before the bride and groom make their entrance.

It is of extreme importance to keep an emergency pack of everything with you (your mother of brides maid) that has some flats, safety pins, a needle and thread, wet wipes, deodorant and lip gloss.

Regardless of your efforts, people will still complain, even the closest to you, some people will still get things wrong, and some people will still eat and run… but no matter what, you will enjoy it, remember every second even if it all felt like a second.

Wake up UN

“The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues, and provide a forum for its 193 Member States to express their views, through the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees.

The work of the United Nations reaches every corner of the globe. Although best known for peacekeeping, peace-building, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance, there are many other ways the United Nations and its System (specialized agencies, funds and programmes) affect our lives and make the world a better place. The Organization works on a broad range of fundamental issues, from sustainable development, environment and refugees protection, disaster relief, counter terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation, to promoting democracy, human rights, gender equality and the advancement of women, governance, economic and social development and international health, clearing landmines, expanding food production, and more, in order to achieve its goals and coordinate efforts for a safer world for this and future generations.

The UN has 4 main purposes

·         To keep peace throughout the world;

·         To develop friendly relations among nations;

·         To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms;

·         To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals.”

- UN website

Every morning, on my way to work, I pass by the UN headquarters in Central Beirut.  Traffic is always jammed on its street because most of the street is blocked by a cement wall leaving a two lane passage way, were one converts to a queue of UN employees’ cars all looking to park inside the premises, and another lane which remains open for the rest of the commuters on that street.  Hell.

Today the jam was especially depressing, and got me thinking about the UN; Its purpose, its members, its sub-organizations, its efforts, and its achievements.

I checked their website, and I couldn’t help but critique every single statement they made about themselves.   

*51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security… How on earth could they still write that when two of their key members have been busy waging wars for the past 10 years?

*developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress… The joke in this phrase is "friendly relations"! Iran, Syria, North Korea, China… are their best friends.

*better living standards and human rights…The use of internationally banned weapons in the Israeli war on Lebanon, the war on Iraq, in Syria and Lybia with the protestors, the starvation in Somalia, conflicts in other parts of Africa, increased global warming and higher levels of pollution… are all ways to ensure that the human race enjoys better living standards and their human rights.

*Due to its unique international character, and the powers vested in its founding Charter, the Organization can take action on a wide range of issues… issues like preventing wars, abolishing illiteracy and abuse, extracting dictatorships… I still don’t understand what actions they are taking exactly!

 *Although best known for peacekeeping, peace-building, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance… I already addressed this so let’s cut the crap.

I don’t want to sound like I hate the UN, although I already did, but what bothers me is that the world is in dire need of such an organization, but one with a more active role, more defining decisions, and more authority.  The UN’s role will remain passive if its power continues to reside with a hand full of nations that already command the world’s economy, wealth, military power, primary resources and technological developments.

Dry August

August was by far my driest month in terms of blogging, but the most active month in terms of finalizing the apartment, the wedding, and the honeymoon.

I really could have written a lot; like details regarding wedding preparations, honeymoon destination planning and visa drama, and the most famous apartment renovation issues; however I felt things are better left to be said with pictures, facts, and real time events.

This is just a mild introduction for the blogs yet to come, and a friendly reminded that I’m still here, very much alive and kicking!

:D

Things that no one tells you when you’re remodeling your apartment!

The apartment that my fiancé and I will move in to after the wedding has been “Under Renovation” for a little less than a year.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but still can’t reach it. Work was going on hard, especially in the first seven month with the complete remodeling of the bathrooms and kitchen, reinstalling all electric circuits and lights, reinstalling all pipes and sanitary, reinstalling doors and other woodworks, molding gibson board into the ceiling, installing glass curtains, installing parquet, painting, and a bit of furnishing.

From the sound of that, I know you’re thinking: What else could they still possibly be doing?

Well, no one tells you that making the finishing touches takes much longer, more effort, and is actually more nerve wrecking than the actual work.  By finishing touches I mean the little retouching required on the wood to eliminate those little scratches that come naturally, those little glass shelves in the bathroom for the toothbrush, the key whole frames on all the doors, the kitchen cabinet handles, and that little accessory that makes the glass curtain open and close easily!

It’s a nightmare sometimes!

No one tells you that the carpenter can make you seven hardwood doors, four kitchen high chairs, one console, and one TV unit in 3 months, but requires another 6 months to get those key whole frames on!  Oh, and he has a carte blanche to carve wood and drill things over your newly installed parquet!

No one tells you that the electrician can re-circuit you entire apartment and install all the lighting in 4 months, yet manage to leave some switches bursting outside the walls.  And don’t forget, your life will be compromised into an ever ending whirl of picking up plastic wraps and wire cuttings.

No one tells you that you have to pick up cigarette buds and plastic Turkish coffee cups as much as you have to pick up the rubble, and maybe more!

No one tells you that you would be stupid to bring in any furniture item because some worker will think that it’s Ok if their soft drink can leaves traces on your antique console.  

No one tells you that you have to have a back-up plan for every item of furniture you buy because you never know if the gallery will end up selling your purchase to someone else.

On the other hand…

No one tells you that everything you complete makes you so happy, so fulfilled, and brings you even closer together!

No one tells you that every item you buy for the house makes you so eager to use it.

No one tells you that everything around you becomes temporary, and just a transitional phase to take you to your own place and own life.

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!