Basboy’s Weblog

I have been spending much of my free time updating my video blog, or generally uploading videos to my youtube account. (more…)

I have been away from this blog for a while now, having had a couple weddings to tend to and attend in the meantime, as well welcoming and then saying goodbye to a large amount of my extended family. I have even had to say goodbye to my little sister as she moved to Montreal with her new husband, and will soon have to similarly help move my older brother to his new city… It has all been quite emotionally draining, and I found myself without the will to even think about blogging, much less write something fit for your intellectual eyes.
To that effect, I have decided to try something new and use my newly acquired digital camera’s HD video capabilities to video blog my thoughts. I don’t know how long this will go on, but I think the novelty of it should last a few weeks, at least! I had already been uploading some sample videos testing its capabilities and/or capturing some of my nephew’s coolness, and I even got my first subscriber (it is only one of you guys, but, hey, I love ya and you count!!), so I guess my “youtubing” is a little more than a  flash-in-the-pan, but who knows?
Here is my first official video blog (make sure to click on the HD button below it to see it in full res):

Until later…

Tomorrow, the first wave of arrival will… arrive. Khalto Sanaa and her “kids”, accompanied by Omar Q. This fact is, obviously a happy one to me, and I regret that I will continue working while they are here, although my work times are rather early and will allow for maximum taking advantage of daylight hours for entertainment of any kind.

I will update you soon about our guests and whatever may interest you.

I am sitting here in the main living room of my father house in Doha, on the morning after the night of my arrival. (more…)

I have been quiet on this blog for a little while on account that I really had nothing interesting to add to the blogosphere. Sure, I had many a thought that conceivably been interesting, yet most, I fear, were naked and singular musings that could not serve as sparks to the fire of discussion. So high on my own profundity am I! (more…)

I have to start by saying happy Eid el-Fitr to everyone. (more…)

My dad has been discharged home today, which has understandably made him very happy. (more…)

This is the second summer that I have not spent in Amman. I mean, I was there in January to see jido after the Kuwait trip, so it’s not exactly the city I am missing. I must admit that the summertime mini-family gatherings have had a special place in my heart. I liked that I was able to get together with members of both sides of my family, and be in a place that reminds of my childhood (what with the Arabic). I miss my little brothers (well, technically my cousins Mahmoud, Omar, Ali, and Abdalla), as well as my khalo Hassan. I also miss khalto Wafa’. I also miss my A3mam, though I was able to see them last August (occupied though they were).

I am stuck here in this heavily rained-in city of Toronto, lazing away my precious summer days doing next to nothing when I am not working. Its depressing, really. One of the real high points is when Leith-o shows up and wants to play with his “Mommo”- with his Baba in tow, unfortunately… No if only he would say more than one word at a time.

Its been more than a few weeks since I came back home from California. For the most part its been relaxing, especially since my Mom came back less than a week after my return after a two month vacation. I am a homebody and I am comfortable… mostly.

There is an animal on the loose around the house. He- its definitely a male- roams around without guidance, without aim, and absolutely without care for whatever stands in his way. Observers were able to positively identify his as a member of the Leithieus Cutieus species- a domestic poopy lion- though his domesticity is suspect when one witnesses him recklessly charging through our valuable china and turning over and ingesting anything that will fit in his vicious jaws.

He can be controlled by some stern commands, if only very temporarily, and he has been taught some rudimentary tricks involving paw gestures, but he is only compliant if the mood strikes him. The mood does not strike him often.

Know this: he is a wild beast. Still, he has been known to be soft and playful- extremely playful. He is, at his core an attention-craving creature who will roar and bounce around for our pleasure. He will also on occasion cuddle close to the inhabitants of this house, mostly the females, and nuzzle them messily but lovingly.

I am presently at home with the cub and the mother lioness. He while gravitate to her the most and perform many of his tricks, despite the fact that, for circumstances beyond their control, they are often separated. The mother-cub bond is strong, and a beauty to behold, from a safe distance.

I must now end this entry, as his feeding time draws near, and he is a harsh customer if not fed…

Not the most inspired pun, and certainly not a great way to start my new blog, but the title above fits my mood perfectly. I find myself nearly at the end of my California vacation, looking back at what I had done while I am here. As before, I find this place unreal, possibly only fit to vacation in due to the many distractions here and the laziness that elicits in me. Just the same I find myself not having done all that I had dreamed of doing, or hoped to accomplish. I have seen most of relatives living in this state, or all that reside in the O.C., but I felt as though I am intruding because of their busy schedules- not to say that they have not bent over backwards to accommodate me.

Still, I have spent a good amount of time wandering aimlessly about on my own. Yesterday, for example, I took a shuttle to Universal Studios in Hollywood in a bus full of families who had just been to Disneyland- not one single person but me. I arrived there and went on most of the rides that I did not feel too old to go on- the Mummy, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future (the latter of which was  soooo lame)- saw a 3-D or interactive show or two- T2 3-D, the special effects shows- and took the backlot tour that was the only thing I was truly looking forward to. The tour was fun and a special treat to the cinephile in me to see the sets and props used in some of the movies and shows I have seen, although there were the childish parts I remember  from 1990 (watch out, King Kong is shaking the bridge!!!)

Earlier this week, I had gone to Laguna Beach, and a couple days later to Newport Beach, both of which are very relaxing with incredible scenery and cool breezy climates, and not as many bimbos as you’d think from TV, although there were a  few. I regret not being able to wade in the water, but I had my camera and bag with me and couldn’t very well leave them and hope no one will make off with them. I walked barefoot through the low tide , but it got very high and very violent quickly. It was extremely relaxing all throughout.

I went to the sopping centers and malls, and I must say that what they lack in size they make up for in style and ambiance.  I also went to San Diego with Moh Tyby and Saed, my first cousin once removed as near as I can figure it. That was a quick and interesting inventory pick-up trip on behalf of Ammo Isam; interesting on account of Moh’s ‘exuberance’ on the road.

I find myself with little time to write, and this post is a special effort to account for what I am doing here for any that care…

Well, until next time,

-See ya