I want to vent out...

btw, the title does not relate to the post, in case you were wondering...

Am usually a very helpful person, i go out of my way to do stuff for other people when they ask, and why would i do so? because i think people wouldn't have asked unless they really needed the help, as naive as that is, its how i look at it...

now for me, i do not usually turn and ask for people's help unless i really need it, most often that not for not having enough time to finish up, and for some reason, i always expect a firm "yes, i will" of people, and is often left with half a brain when that doesn't happen...

Being in such situations have taught me to put myself in other's shoes before i judge, vent, and decide to do sth that i might regret later, does that person even ask for my help? have i ever turned a cry of help before?... it helps keep things in perspective...

well, i don't really think i have a point here, just some conclusions that am figuring out as i write this down, but it will continue to bug me, asking for help is the first step, so step up and give it to me...

Tina Fey must one of most entertaining comedians ever, specially in this spoof on SNL, (also starring Amy Poehler as Ms. Clinton)

Enjoy!

This blog has been in my mind for a while now, and should hopefully start a "How To" series of other blogs that i think you might find helpful. :), yay!

So, lets start;

*Ingredients

• For the filling, you will need;
• 9 Apples (Granny Smith).
• 4 Tbsp (tablespoon) of Apricot Jam.
• 8 Tbsp of brown sugar.
• 2 cups (200 ml) of water.
• 3 Tsp (teaspoon) of cinnamon.
• 1/4 of a Tsp lemon zest.
• For the dough, you will need;
• 200 grams of butter, unsalted.
• 3 1/2 cups (200 ml) of regular flour.
• 1 to 2 Tbsp COLD water.

*Preparation

• Peal the apples, cut each as desired, for a better final presentation of pie cut into small pieces.
• Heat the 2 cups of water, add the Apricot Jam, Brown Sugar and stir till ingredients are partially mixed with the water.
• Add to the above mix the pealed and cut Apples, then add the Cinnamon and the lemon zest, mix all of the ingredients and leave covered on medium heat for approx. 20 minutes or till the apples are juicy and almost transparent. Please note here that cooking time depends on type of apples selected, Granny Smith apples take longer to cook than, lets say, Ginger Gold apples.
• While the mix is cooking, add blocks of Butter to the Regular Flour, mixing should be done slowly, since you want the butter to milt within room temperature and mix with the flour, continue to add the butter to the mix.
• Halfway through adding butter, add 1 Tbsp of COLD water, the water must be cold since it will be used to cool down the butter that now holds the dough.
• Continue with the rest of the butter and finally add the second Tbsp of COLD water, if it is needed, you can add an additional Tbsp or two of COLD water depending no your mix and dough.
• After finishing with the dough, refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Take the dough out of the fridge, divide into two parts, 2/3 to 1/3, the 2/3 will be used for the bottom and sides of the pie, the 1/3 for covering it.
• Using a non-stick pan, spread the 2/3's of the dough to cover the bottom and the sides of the pan.
• Add the cooked mix of the apples.
• Cover with the 1/3 of the dough remaining.
• Cook pie at 180 C, for 25 minutes.
• Preferable, toast the pie's top for no more than 3 minutes.

Serve either hot with some vanilla ice cream, or refrigerate and serve alone.


Tip: if you are using different apples (other than Granny Smith), you may want to reconsider the amount of brown sugar used, depending on the apple's sweetness.

Source

So it’s that time of the year again folks and hopefully we can rally together to make a difference in the lives of a few citizens. The Action Committee has started its food drive for Ramadan and your help is needed! The Ramadan food package is going to cost 20JDs and will contain:

3 kg Rice
3 kg Sugar
2 kg Beans
2 kg Lentils
6 Packs of Pasta
2 Cans Tomato Paste
1 kg Tea
2 A’mar Eldin
1 Oil
½ kg Dates
12 packs Maggie

The drive is underway and will last for the next week or so, depending on the donations. The Action Committee is targeting the last 10 days of Ramadan for distribution.

So tell a friend, tell a family member, tell the neighbor, tell the people at work, even the weird guy who sits in the corner of the office and who no one talks to; this could be your chance.

For bloggers: Forward this message. Post about it. Spread it. Mobilize!

Just like last time, when we went from this, to this. It’ll be interesting to see the extent to which blogs can make a social impact in Jordan.

You can contact Sara at 079-5154498

The Facebook Group

Exactly 7 years ago, i remember getting a call from my friend at school, telling me to urgently switch to CNN, one of the World Trade Centers was up in flames.

Back at that time, i did not what the WTC is in the first place, to me it was some couple of tall buildings that we regularly saw in movies, and till this day, it still is the same, but it transformed a whole lot, and not probably for the best.

I don't really care to talk about politics here, but what struck me is that it has been 7 YEARS, that, is a lot of time, but coming to think of it, is it?

A thought came to my mind; am sure most of us know someone, either closely or though friends and family, who is related, or connected, to someone who is terminally ill, how they are told that they have so and so years to live by, maybe even months, and worst; weeks.

If you were told today, that someone you hold dear to your heart is going to die in 7 years, what will you do differently?

We as humans are selfish beings, even in our feelings, we always want more, and most of the time we give less, take a time to look around you, who in your life deserves your attention today, and who are you wasting your time with;

Is your wife at home and you're spending way too much hours at the office, work can wait, she may can't.

Is your girlfriend still waiting for that special visit from your parents, will try to forgo the new car for now, and jump the wagon, you may be left with nothing but the fond memories of her.

cherish every moment you have with the people that you love as it is the last, remember, the past is gone, the future is yet to come, but the present is what you have at the moment, its your gift from the Universe, use it well.

I have been meaning to write this down for quite some time,

Ever since i lost my mother, which was exactly 2 months, 9 days ago, i, and our family, have been blessed with unlimited support from our families; aunts, uncles, friends, cousins, it was really overwhelming, to all of you, i say thank you.

I remember a sparkle in her eyes, she used to talk passionately, i like to think that i have that too, am not sure if i do, or is it me just being a pain in the ass, her idealism sometimes triggered the same in me, ill owe it to her.

But during this whole time, one person in particular really shown out to remind me of her, it wasn't that she did anything that much different than the others, who did more than i ever could imagine, but it was something i could see in the soft wrinkles around her eyes, how they used to come out beautifully whenever she smiled, her eyes shown, her sweet smile, and her infectious laugh, to you amto Wedad, i love, and i thank god for having you in my life.

To the others, who really touched my life in ways i may never be able to pay back, i also want to thank you for making this difficult time as easy as it could be.

Happy Ramadan to you all, we'll be having fotoor soon i guess,

love
ahmad