Cinnamon Zone

So the other day I went out with some friends from work, it was one hilarious evening with some maliciously good food, junk food that is, nothing fancy. However, one of them wasn’t that much into this kind of food so she picked up some pastry on her way. By the time we all arrived, her food was already cold. So, she suggested that the only guy who was with us would go and ask someone is one of the restaurants to heat it up for her. Everyone was like: Give me a break! Do you want us to make a fool out of ourselves? So, after some failed attempts she gave up and grabbed a piece of her cold pastry.

Mean while, I was staring at her and at her cold food. In a matter of seconds, I held some hectic mental negotiations, some sort of an inner conflict. What would happen if I tried to get her food heated up for her? It seems embarrassing, but is it really? Then, as I figured out later, my subconscious mind came into play, and what I learned from Stephen Covey’s book about being principle-centered, and how people-centered individuals get embarrassed easily. Am I people-centered?  I really hate to think so! So, I had to prove it to myself. 

The next thing I knew, I grabbed her plate and got up from the table. “What the heck! Give me this.” Everyone looked at me with a puzzled look as I made my way between tables holding a plate of pastry. I went to one of the restaurants and explained the situation to the guys working there (Although I think I shouldn’t have, I need more training) And as I expected, they were very nice and even heated up in the oven instead of the microwave so it stays juicy.

I’m not gonna lie and say I did this because I’m too good and perfect to let my friend have her food cold. In fact, I’m gonna admit that my objective was purely ego-centric. I was challenging myself. Would I be principle-centered enough as to care less for supposedly embarrassing myself?

So, I was proud of myself, and Tubby was proud of me too! He kept pushing me until I did it. I’m loving Tubby these days, he’s making me feel very good about myself. Hope his schizophrenia won’t catch up with him for some while.

You may laugh if you want, but I really wish I can send this to Stephen Covey to thank him for the positive continuous effect his book is having on me. Eh, maybe someday…

A: So, what did you do next?

B: Nothing, I accepted his friend request

A: No you didn’t!

B: What else could I do? It would be rude to ignore

A: That’s why you had that funny status, “Some people just have no class”

B: Oh no that’s has nothing to do with it! I was just bugged by that girl who keeps posting weird comments to C’s wall.

A: Oh now you’re jealous!

B: I’m not jealous but it’s getting ugly, he has too many girl friends on facebook

A: Yeah and half of them are his COUSINS!!

B: You know forget it, I just have to get over him and stop checking his profile

A: Especially with those weird profile picture, didn’t know he was into blondes!!

B: He’s into everything and everyone! Anyway, did you hear anything from D?

A: No, I wrote on her wall and sent her a message but she didn’t reply. You think she’s mad of me or something?

B: Why would she be?

A: She invited me to join a group to vote for a friend of herS on Super Star but I ignored it, I don’t watch the show

B: Nah I don’t think so. Maybe she doesn’t have access to the net,, she hasn’t updated her status in days. Try sending her on her mobile.

A: But I don’t have her number, we’re not really close… at all. I even have her on my limited profile list.

B: Oh no! Does she know that? Maybe that’s why she’s been sulking!

A: I wouldn’t care less. In fact I hope she removes me because it’s embarrassing to have her picture on my friend list with all those piercings on her nose, ears and tongue!

B: Tell me about that! My mom saw the picture and she wasn’t really fond of it

A: Ah, speaking about your mom. She mentioned in her status that she was cooking Lasagna, I’ve been craving that form months!

B: Oh, now you see why I didn’t want my mom to join facebook!

A: Shut up and let’s go have some lunch. Wait! I think this would be cool for my status…

I often wondered about the origin of some of the superstitious habits practiced among people in our society, such as lighting incense to revoke envy and such stuff. This morning I heard something interesting on TV about "blue beads" that are thought by some people to protect from envy (I don't know if anyone still holds that belief). It was actually interesting, so I did some search and found other interesting things…

في التلفزيون قالوا: اختار قدماء المصريين اللون الأزرق بالذات لكرههم له، والسبب أنّ غزاتهم من الهكسوس ومن ثم اليونان كانوا يملكون عيونا زرقاء، فأصبح اللون الأزرق رمزا للشؤم، وحتى عندما يأتيهم خبر سيئ كانوا يقوون: يا دي النيلة (درجة من درجات الأزرق)

 من النت:

- أما أسطورة الربط بين الخرزة الزرقاء ودفع الحسد فتعود إلى الفراعنة حيث يُحكى قديماً أنهم أمنوا بكون الحلي المصنوعة من الخرز الأزرق لها قوى وآثار سحرية تقي مقتنيها من السحر والحسد والأمراض إلى جانب وظيفتها في الزينة. وقد اختلفت أنواع الحلي حسب اختلاف الحالة الاجتماعية، فالأغنياء استخدموا الأحجار الكريمة بينما العامة اختاروا الخرز المصقول لبخس ثمنه. وسر أهمية اللون الأزرق والذي يرمز للإله رع عند المصريين القدماء فتعود لارتباطه بزرقة السماء حيث كانوا يعتقدون أن الآلهة تعيش فيها وتحمي الإنسان وتباركه.

 - والنساء يعتقدن أن الخرز الأزرق والكفوف تقي من الحسد، والكف المعروف (بالخمسةوخميسة) إما يُعلق أو بدلاً منه تدفع المرأة بكف يدها بعد فرد الأصابع الخمسة فيوجه من تظنها حسودة مع ذكر العدد خمسة ومضاعفاته أو كلمات مرتبطة به كقولهن (اليوم الخميس) (الطفل وزنه خمسة كيلوغرامات).

- والنساء يفعلن ذلك ولا يعلمن أصل هذاالموضوع الذي يعود إلى طقوس السحر التي تؤمن بأن لكلٍّ عدد ولكل حرف خواص، وأن العدد خمسة وكف اليد بها ذبذبات طاقة الدفاع وحتى تمنع الأذى عن جسم الإنسان أو مايخصه إذا ما دُفعت في وجه الحسود·

وفي الأعراس يستخدم الناس البخور، ويرشون الملح، وهم لا يعلمون أصل هذه العادة، لكنهم يمارسونها وتعتبر من الأدوات التي كان يستخدمها السحرة والكهنة في الجاهلية، وكانوا يحرقون البخور أمام الأصنام والسحرة لاسترضاء من يتعاملون معهم من الجن، وتختلف رائحة البخور حسب العمل المطلوب، فإذاكان المطلوب فك سحر، استخدم البخور طيب الرائحة، أما إذا كان المطلوب عمل سحر سيئ فالبخور المستخدم يكون خبيث الرائحة·

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Such a beautiful song! I vaguely remember it from some years back, but when I heard it 2 days ago, it was as if I was hearing it for the first time…