4th of July Two Weeks Early

On Wednesday, we met Alex in West Bloomfield and then went to Detroit for the fireworks! ...Quite the international event. We got there around 4:30pm, which was about five and a half hours before the fireworks. So we walked around Detroit and ate at a restaurant called New Parthenon or something like that. I thoroughly enjoyed it. We then went to the river and sat around until the fireworks started. While we were waiting, there was some kind of ruckus where chairs were flying through the air and some guy ended up face down on the ground and handcuffed. The festivities started with the Canadian flag being pulled behind a helicopter and then the American flag. And then came the fireworks, which were big, loud, and impressive. But half of them were hidden by a stupid grove of trees. The stupid fireworks people should have planned that one a little better. But we saw most of it and it was still very cool. The booms echoed off the buildings behind us and the smoke surrounded the GM building.



Afterwards, we got to the car and it only took us an hour to go a mile (or less?) to the freeway. Yes, that was quite a traffic jam. We got home around 1:30am, and Nidhal watched the replay of that day's soccer game.

Speaking of the soccer game... !!! It was already a miracle that the US made it to the semifinals. And they were playing Spain in the semifinals, which was the best team in the world. So imagine our shock when Alex informs us during the drive to his house that the score is 1-0 and that it was the US that scored. And then imagine my excitement when, while ordering our dinner, we saw that the final score was 2-0! Incredible. The US plays Brazil on Sunday in the finals!

And it has been hot. On Thursday, it was 92 degrees when I went to work at 1pm. But after a couple hours it started storming. There was almost continuous thunder for two hours. Afterwards, it wasn't any cooler, it was just a lot more humid.

A Thought

We found a dress at Von Maur a few days ago and it was great. I know, me and a dress? But I really liked it and it looked good. Unfortunately, it was $70.

I knew Barb and her husband were in Turkey, but I just found out today that she has a blog. I searched for it in the vast expanses of the internet, and I found it...! ...And now I'm insanely jealous. I need to get out of this country.

Just Another Weekend

This weekend has been fairly nice. On thursday, I made semi-middle eastern chicken sandwiches. 'Semi' because I didn't have the right spices in which to marinate the chicken so I picked my own, but I did use the middle eastern garlic paste that I made. It was quite tasty. I made kefta sandwiches last night, but they weren't as good as the chicken ones or even as good as the first time I made kefta.

Friday was fun because of all the rain at night! Yesterday, we went to downtown A2 and had BTB, which was better than I expected but still really nothing that special. While there, we got to see some of the Iraq vs. New Zealand [soccer] game. After a bit, we decided to walk around and ended up in the law quad, where we sat, talked, and relaxed for some time. We then did some browsing at the mall, which was followed by the purchasing of fruit at Meijer. We got home in the late evening, made dinner, and watched National Treasure on TV.

And today we watched soccer. There were two games: USA/Egypt and Italy/Brazil. The USA's only chance of going on to the semifinals was if they beat Egypt by at least three and if Brazil beat Italy by at least three. ...In other words, a slim chance. But, against all odds, the final scores were USA 3 - Egypt 0 and Italy 0 - Brazil 3. So, woo USA.

'Ever since the world began, men have been subject to various tricks of Fortune'

Let's just say I dodged a bullet.

We're still enjoying that big TV. In addition, we've taken advantage of a 19% off opportunity and purchased a blender and wallet among other things.

I'm reading The Decameron now by Giovanni Boccaccio. I was supposed to read parts of it for my Great Books class in Winter 2005, but being as lazy as I was/am, I didn't read a word of it. It really is a good book though. "In the summer of 1348, as the Black Death ravages their city, ten young Florentines take refuge in the countryside. They amuse themselves by each telling a story a day for the ten days thay are destined to remain there - a hundred stories of love, adventure, and surprising twists of fate. Less preoccupied with abstract concepts of morality or religion than with earthly values, the tales range from the bawdy Peronella hiding her lover in a tub to Ser Cepperello, who, despite his unholy effrontery, becomes a Saint. The result is a towering monument of European literature and a masterpiece of imaginative narrative."

My eyes are tired. Good night.

Farewell Symphony

Our living room has undergone a slight makeover in the past week or so. Here is a picture. Anything seem new?



Well, first of all, we retrieved the file cabinet from my parents' house last week. They had given it to me for my birthday when I was a kid. Then today we splurged and got a NEW 32" SONY HDTV! It's about time we replaced that little old 13", which has since migrated to the bedroom. Then when we were setting up the TV today, Alex called and wondered if we were around so he could bring over a desk that his mom was getting rid of (he had offered it to us a couple days ago). And so he brought it over and we set it up. The desk it probably a good 30 years old, but it's in good condition. Apparently, it's called a campaign desk. It was one of the first pieces of furniture that his parents bought after they got married. The TV is amazing, but we can't get the HD channels yet because apparently we need a couple new cables... soon.

Work is stupid and there was a lady who was seriously the rudest person I have ever come in contact with. She was a complete idiot, too. I don't want to type up the whole story now (maybe later), but the highlight of the encounter was when she said to me, "Don't get an attitude with me, little girl!" This was followed up by a rolling of the eyes by another customer witnessing the entire fiasco. The whole thing was completely unprovoked, and I would have defended myself if doing so wouldn't have cost me my job. I was livid.

But then today, I got the exact opposite reaction. And she went to the manager and told him how awesome I am. What a difference a day makes...

Button, Button, Who's Got the Button?

Today, I spent way too much money at Bath & Body Works. WAY too much. But it was oh so worth it.

It was a nice spending Sunday and Monday in Au Gres. Alex's graduation party was fun. I got to talk to people I hadn't seen in forever. And of course the food was great. It was too bad Nidhal couldn't come.

I'm thirsty.

Stupid loud annoying kids outside.