Regular day at the office, chatting with Rawane with whom i shared a bed the night before:
[7/28/10 12:47:14 PM] rawane-khalil: BTW!!!
[7/28/10 12:47:30 PM] rawane-khalil: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED YESTERDAY!
[7/28/10 12:47:34 PM] rawane-khalil: yi.
[7/28/10 12:47:39 PM] rawane-khalil: chu sar?!
[7/28/10 12:48:24 PM] rawane-khalil: plz tell me u remember
[7/28/10 12:48:40 PM] Dania Bdeir: wat r u talkin abt??
[7/28/10 12:48:47 PM] Dania Bdeir: were u drunk??
[7/28/10 12:48:55 PM] rawane-khalil: no way dania
[7/28/10 12:49:00 PM] rawane-khalil: la la no way
[7/28/10 12:49:02 PM] Dania Bdeir: yoh
[7/28/10 12:49:05 PM] rawane-khalil: ma testelmine man'
[7/28/10 12:49:08 PM] Dania Bdeir: yoh
[7/28/10 12:49:14 PM] rawane-khalil: DANIA
[7/28/10 12:49:16 PM] Dania Bdeir: yoh
[7/28/10 12:49:32 PM] rawane-khalil: so u dnt remember? u sure?
[7/28/10 12:49:57 PM] Dania Bdeir: ro, i'm not gonna answer u until u say what ur talking abt!
[7/28/10 12:50:01 PM] Dania Bdeir: i'm supposed to be working
[7/28/10 12:50:12 PM] rawane-khalil: uff bad eza heik
[7/28/10 12:50:23 PM] rawane-khalil: khalass ill tell u when i c u :D
[7/28/10 12:50:34 PM] rawane-khalil: fiya reinactment w heik
[7/28/10 12:50:49 PM] rawane-khalil: hahah bad.
[7/28/10 12:50:54 PM] Dania Bdeir: bas tel mw shway what ur talkin abt
[7/28/10 12:50:56 PM] Dania Bdeir: cz i have no idea
[7/28/10 12:51:00 PM] Dania Bdeir: and its pissing me offff
[7/28/10 12:51:37 PM] rawane-khalil: am guessssing u did the thing that u usually do at night
[7/28/10 12:51:49 PM] rawane-khalil: bass chwey more extreme
[7/28/10 12:51:52 PM] rawane-khalil: :P
[7/28/10 12:52:02 PM] Dania Bdeir: lah!
[7/28/10 12:52:03 PM] rawane-khalil: 2ella eza the girls t3awwado
[7/28/10 12:52:05 PM] Dania Bdeir: i talked?
[7/28/10 12:52:07 PM] Dania Bdeir: with u?
[7/28/10 12:52:19 PM] rawane-khalil: talked chwey understatment :P
[7/28/10 12:52:42 PM] rawane-khalil: with me kamein understatement :P
[7/28/10 12:53:17 PM] Dania Bdeir: laaaah!
[7/28/10 12:53:20 PM] Dania Bdeir: please tell meeee
[7/28/10 12:54:03 PM] rawane-khalil: ma the thing is i cant tell u
[7/28/10 12:54:11 PM] rawane-khalil: enno i have to show u :D
[7/28/10 12:54:14 PM] rawane-khalil: ya alla no way
[7/28/10 12:54:42 PM] rawane-khalil: ktir funny enno u dnt remember man hahaha
[7/28/10 12:54:58 PM] rawane-khalil: i think i wanna shotgun sleeping next to u from now on :D
[7/28/10 12:55:10 PM] rawane-khalil: hahaha heik suspense btije chwey ente :D
[7/28/10 12:58:01 PM] Dania Bdeir: hahhahahaa
[7/28/10 12:58:03 PM] Dania Bdeir: ya allaaaaah
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
High Five: Miguele is here!!
We had a very tight and perfect plan: Wake up, rent a car, get Miguele from the airport, head to Duisburg at around 11 am, get there at 4 pm in time for the Love Parade, enjoy the love, head back to Berlin at around 2 am.
Well things didnt exactly go according to plan.
Everything worked out just fine. She's on the plane. It's still on time. She's heading to Berlin!
Dania and I go get the car, and then head home to get the girls and then get Mig from the airport.
We get home and there she was.
MIG IS HERE!! A WOO HOO. She had already arrived and took a cab home.
We get ready, and get some snacks and sandwiches for the road. Get in the car, put in our destination on the GPS (which we decided to name Romy; she was the only one missing so we had to have her with us in a way!)
Destination: LOVE PARADE.
We were on the roads of Germany with wind in our hair, and beautiful weather with great scenery around, following Romy's instructions to get to Duisburg and feel the love.
A little dance off here and there, a sleeping co-pilot, a very demanding pilot, snacks, beer, bathroom stops, music, the same song over and over again, Romy guiding the way, "I'll stand by you", and five hours later we finally got to Duisburg.
LOVE PARADE: We arrived there full of excitement and ready to dance the day/night away, but we felt something was very odd.. There was no music, no happiness, no love... We just saw a bunch of confused ravers, heard a looot of ambulances, and got shouted at by the police (Go home! The love parade is cancelled!). At first we weren't planning on taking that for an answer. We had not just driven 4.5 hours just to get turned away! We had the Lebanese in us turned on full blast and tried to talk to the policeman as if he was some bouncer at a club. Dania tried to put on her puppy eyes and really popped out her... um... other talents, but the police guy just walked away. We had no idea, but were in the midst of a tragedy.
19 people killed. 400 injured. 1100 people still missing until today.
Thankfully we arrived late. Thankfully we arrived late enough to miss it. We could have easily gotten hurt by following the crowd. Thankfully we got there late enough. Thankfully Mig's plane got a bit delayed.
The Love Parade is a huge dance event that was turned into a stampede. People were literally killed by being stepped on.
Love Parade just claims joy as a definition because of what it is and what its called.
But this year something about the joy of love just went wrong.
Condolences to everyone who lost someone.
We kept hearing updates about the tragedy as we drove back to Berlin and as people called to check up on us.
Music, nightfall, struggling and determined co-pilot, a very courageous pilot, 3 sleeping beauties in the back, 5 hours later we got to Berlin, specifically a Russian pub with our very own Claudia and Patrick (Patrick is back!! I know you all missed him just as much as we did!). A couple of double vodka shots, and a crazy Russian dance off, we were suddenly in "Surprise" dancing to RnB, Hip Hop, Reggae, Soul, and African music.
We grabbed a bite to eat and drove back home at around 6 in the morning.
Sunday: It's showtime!
Woke up at around 12.
Woke up at around 12.
Claudia and Patrick came over for Brunch.
We enjoyed the food, and got ourselves ready for the show.
I am sure you all know by now about our Sunday afternoons.
Mauer Park. I got chills. 6 girls. One stage. More than 1000 people watching.
1 girl. Beautiful voice. The remaining 5 were swaying. She got the crowd to sing along. Leaving on a jet plane. crowd cheering.
After Mauer park we head to Tacheles and then had a beautiful and relaxing dinner in an Italian restaurant. Then we had to show Mig Paradise.
A perfect ending to our weekend by the river and by the fire. On the swing and over the water. Beautiful lighting and perfect reflections.
4 am. Train station. This train. No this one. Jump in. Jump out. Some running. Some laughing. Some waiting. From train. to train. 5 girls. 1 guy. off the train. to the bus. Sun rise. Day time. 5:10 am. Waiting. On the bus. To the airport. Leaving on a jet plane.
She left. Good bye Mig.
It was short. But it was great.
4 again. 4 girls. 1 guy. Bus. Train.
Bathroom explosion.
Home.
5 girls. great weekend. beautiful people.
4 girls. missing her. wish she could stay.
will meet again. will be 6 again.
soon.
To Mig and Romy: We miss you.
Monday, July 26, 2010
It's time for an update
Thursday night:
It all happened so fast. Dancing under the rain in Badeschiff (that pub/nightclub/pool in the lake/sand on the floor place) was followed by the girls, soaking wet, running with Felix towards the swimming pool.
Felix: Our new German extremely tall friend.
A couple of minutes later I see Dania sprinting back
Dania's words: "Like a little munchkin with anger problems, the tiny bouncer dragged us out of the pool and attacked Felix. kaff men hon, kick men honik, this bouncer kept bouncing up and down to reach felix's face."
Zeina's words: "... One night. One pool. Rain. Bouncer. Angry Bouncer. kick. felix. ass."
And since Felix isn't a Lebanese-proud-i'll-make-a-call-and-bring-the-ghetto-to-kill-your-family type of guy, we were able to have a good laugh about it, and go on to an underground club called "Golden Gate".
It all happened so fast. Dancing under the rain in Badeschiff (that pub/nightclub/pool in the lake/sand on the floor place) was followed by the girls, soaking wet, running with Felix towards the swimming pool.
Felix: Our new German extremely tall friend.
A couple of minutes later I see Dania sprinting back
Dania's words: "Like a little munchkin with anger problems, the tiny bouncer dragged us out of the pool and attacked Felix. kaff men hon, kick men honik, this bouncer kept bouncing up and down to reach felix's face."
Zeina's words: "... One night. One pool. Rain. Bouncer. Angry Bouncer. kick. felix. ass."
And since Felix isn't a Lebanese-proud-i'll-make-a-call-and-bring-the-ghetto-to-kill-your-family type of guy, we were able to have a good laugh about it, and go on to an underground club called "Golden Gate".
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
An ode to Zeina Halawi
Zeina Halawi
we Love thee
Not just because
you cooked for me
i cook too, a lot of food!
difference is,
what you cooked was good.
Thank you Zeina!
Fridays have their own charm ...
After work:
Destination One: Paradise.
We all met in the long waiting line to get into Paradise (Bar 25).
The wait didnt feel too long with all the beers in hand.
Swings, beautiful trees, performances, swings over the lake, raining, pouring, swaying in the rain, music, more performances, under a small tent, and under the rain, dancing, dancing under the pouring rain, clothes on, clothes off, shirts flying, dare to a dare, pants off, girls flying, girls swimming in the lake, one after the other, shirt after the other, boy after the girl, a Mexican and a Lebanese, over the lake, in the lake, and around the lake, suddenly a lot of flesh wiggling over and in the water: flesh, as in naked, and wiggling well they were guys.
Two girls, one name, one swing, two guys, four people, one swing, and one crazy swing ride, and they just had to end it with a kiss.
Crazy bar, seven crazy people, beautiful night.
Destination Two: Berghain.
The biggest challenge yet.
Out of the water, out of paradise, in the cabs, at the door.
There was no queue.
Round one: Fail.
Round two: two girls, one name, giggling, back and forth, a Rawane and another, walked a walk, and talked some talk, at the door, one look from the bouncer, and they are IN!!
Jacket off, attitude walk (something like we knew what we were doing), a blond, a brunette, walked The walk, determined to get inside, another look from the bouncer and they are IN!
It took all four of us a while to realize that we got in.
We took the stairs up to the club. Got to the bathroom, a special bathroom, one that is open for all: one bathroom, all genders. (Sharing is only and merely caring after all). Danced. Danced. Danced. Danced together, and each alone. Danced with a guy, while his guy waited. Danced. Danced with a coach and got coached.
Crazy night. Crazy place. Crazy people.
Walked back to the train station, heads held high.
They didnt want it last time. But now they did.
We know what they want. They want it wet. (That's what she said)
Got back home in the morning, had a nice and comfotable sleep.
Well most of us did. Dania got home, showered and went straight to work. That was just horrible!
We woke up at around 1.
Destination three: Lunch (well more of an aim than a destination but it works well for the chronology of the post).
Went to a nice cafe and enjoyed a good lunch, followed by coffee and desert.
Destination Four: Berghain again
Before we went there, we took a drink at a chilled out bar and then head to Berghain.
Long queue. Long wait. 2 girls, one name. found their way through the crowd. Skipped a long line of people. we joined them. and waited. We waited and walked and planned, and talked and waited and planned and planned and walked. Rawanes go in together. Dania and I go in together, and Nour goes in alone. We got to the door, rejection 1 Rawane and Rawane out! rejection 2 Dania and I out! And then Nour walks up all by herself, and there it is, we see her walking in as we walked away. It didnt feel too much like a walk of shame because we were all in desperate need for a bathroom and food.
And so early in the morning, we got to the closest open Mcdonalds, ate.
Got on the bus. Got back home.
Slept for a couple of hours.
Woke up.
Zeina Halawi and Nour left at noon.
It was only us and Rawane Jbara now.
Destination Five: Mauer Park. (SHOW TIME!)
Lady Marmalade, 5 girls performing, around a thousand people watching. We sang, they clapped, we danced, they sang along, we jumped, they cheered, it was a beautiful chain of cause and effect.
We left the karaoke place, heading to the park, 2 girls, one name, each on an instrument from derbakkeh to drums, tambourines to percussions , playing, mad skills with the hands, Dania, Tala and I run there and start the shaking, we took it all the way from Beyonce shaking, to Oriental belly dancing. We went on it non-stop and the two Rawanes were playing with the rest of them, sometimes trying to get the people to follow them with an arabic beat and most of the time they were just blending in.
They took turns, and while one of them played, the other one did a booty bounce, and taught a something-like-a-yoga dancer do the same. They bounced back and forth... it was magic.
A bit of things here and there, with a black spice of New York and a touch from Amsterdam, a blonde one on a high stool, massged by an angel, this day couldint get any better.
A nice dinner with the angel in a Mexican restaurant left us all mezmerized by his ways.
Finally we got home and had a nice good night sleep.
One long weekend, seemed like one exciting day.
Today, Rawane Jbara head back to Lebanon.
We are four again, only four.
A beautiful number.
One city.
Still that same city.
Berlin.
Destination One: Paradise.
We all met in the long waiting line to get into Paradise (Bar 25).
The wait didnt feel too long with all the beers in hand.
Swings, beautiful trees, performances, swings over the lake, raining, pouring, swaying in the rain, music, more performances, under a small tent, and under the rain, dancing, dancing under the pouring rain, clothes on, clothes off, shirts flying, dare to a dare, pants off, girls flying, girls swimming in the lake, one after the other, shirt after the other, boy after the girl, a Mexican and a Lebanese, over the lake, in the lake, and around the lake, suddenly a lot of flesh wiggling over and in the water: flesh, as in naked, and wiggling well they were guys.
Two girls, one name, one swing, two guys, four people, one swing, and one crazy swing ride, and they just had to end it with a kiss.
Crazy bar, seven crazy people, beautiful night.
Destination Two: Berghain.
The biggest challenge yet.
Out of the water, out of paradise, in the cabs, at the door.
There was no queue.
Round one: Fail.
Round two: two girls, one name, giggling, back and forth, a Rawane and another, walked a walk, and talked some talk, at the door, one look from the bouncer, and they are IN!!
Jacket off, attitude walk (something like we knew what we were doing), a blond, a brunette, walked The walk, determined to get inside, another look from the bouncer and they are IN!
It took all four of us a while to realize that we got in.
We took the stairs up to the club. Got to the bathroom, a special bathroom, one that is open for all: one bathroom, all genders. (Sharing is only and merely caring after all). Danced. Danced. Danced. Danced together, and each alone. Danced with a guy, while his guy waited. Danced. Danced with a coach and got coached.
Crazy night. Crazy place. Crazy people.
Walked back to the train station, heads held high.
They didnt want it last time. But now they did.
We know what they want. They want it wet. (That's what she said)
Got back home in the morning, had a nice and comfotable sleep.
Well most of us did. Dania got home, showered and went straight to work. That was just horrible!
We woke up at around 1.
Destination three: Lunch (well more of an aim than a destination but it works well for the chronology of the post).
Went to a nice cafe and enjoyed a good lunch, followed by coffee and desert.
Destination Four: Berghain again
Before we went there, we took a drink at a chilled out bar and then head to Berghain.
Long queue. Long wait. 2 girls, one name. found their way through the crowd. Skipped a long line of people. we joined them. and waited. We waited and walked and planned, and talked and waited and planned and planned and walked. Rawanes go in together. Dania and I go in together, and Nour goes in alone. We got to the door, rejection 1 Rawane and Rawane out! rejection 2 Dania and I out! And then Nour walks up all by herself, and there it is, we see her walking in as we walked away. It didnt feel too much like a walk of shame because we were all in desperate need for a bathroom and food.
And so early in the morning, we got to the closest open Mcdonalds, ate.
Got on the bus. Got back home.
Slept for a couple of hours.
Woke up.
Zeina Halawi and Nour left at noon.
It was only us and Rawane Jbara now.
Destination Five: Mauer Park. (SHOW TIME!)
Lady Marmalade, 5 girls performing, around a thousand people watching. We sang, they clapped, we danced, they sang along, we jumped, they cheered, it was a beautiful chain of cause and effect.
We left the karaoke place, heading to the park, 2 girls, one name, each on an instrument from derbakkeh to drums, tambourines to percussions , playing, mad skills with the hands, Dania, Tala and I run there and start the shaking, we took it all the way from Beyonce shaking, to Oriental belly dancing. We went on it non-stop and the two Rawanes were playing with the rest of them, sometimes trying to get the people to follow them with an arabic beat and most of the time they were just blending in.
They took turns, and while one of them played, the other one did a booty bounce, and taught a something-like-a-yoga dancer do the same. They bounced back and forth... it was magic.
A bit of things here and there, with a black spice of New York and a touch from Amsterdam, a blonde one on a high stool, massged by an angel, this day couldint get any better.
A nice dinner with the angel in a Mexican restaurant left us all mezmerized by his ways.
Finally we got home and had a nice good night sleep.
One long weekend, seemed like one exciting day.
Today, Rawane Jbara head back to Lebanon.
We are four again, only four.
A beautiful number.
One city.
Still that same city.
Berlin.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Labneh in the House! (Yes this does deserve a post on its own.)
I'm making my own labneh.
I gotta say its not easy.
I need a break. A massage would be nice.
Mmm.
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