Have a good weekend to report on. Everything was focused on the arrival of our Moroccan friends from Atlantic City on Saturday night. They were bringing their mom who came a few weeks ago form Morocco. Did a lot of cleaning on Friday night, woke up early on Saturday to wash all the bedspreads, cleaned some more and went grocery shopping. I even re-arranged the furniture in the guest room. I was so exhausted when they finally got here.

We had food galore. Dates, almonds, cashews, figs, walnuts and peanuts, Moroccan tea, cookies, sunflower seeds and salted dried chickpeas. Issame cooked everything--Moroccan Chicken Royale and Lamb with prunes. I made the salad. Followed with bananas, golden plums, oranges and grapes. Dinner was excellent thanks to our in-house chef--
Grand Chef Master--ISSAME.

Oh, speaking of food:
to the . You're a 100 and you look (and taste) great!

It's always a challenge for me to be in a house filled with so many Moroccans and be the only American and native english speaker. I kind of get forgotten. That was the first time, in a very very long time that I felt like that. Everyone is always very nice and gracious but I find that other than complaining about our hubbies, I don't have much to say. I do have to say that Issame was very good about keeping me in the loop and sitting next to me at dinner. I really appreciate your patience with me, Habibi .

Sunday morning came way too quick!! Fadwa helped me make breakfast. Moroccan coffee and tea, figs and dates, harb boiled eggs and yummy msmen (bread) .

We then headed over to Coney Island to spend an couple of hours at the Aquarium. Which was a lot of fun. I got flashed by a rather well endowed walrus. There was also a special exhibit with seahorses . Then we ended back at oine of my favorite restaurants Istanbul (where Issame took me for Valentine's Day). Food was excellent as usual.

It was rough to wake up this morning and go to work. Especially to get up and face the news. 3 Moroccans arrested in relation to the bombing in Madrid--once again people are going to look at Moroccans and Arabs in the same stereotypical light. This really frustrates me. So unfair. Issame was pretty upset--he was saying that it really doesn;t matter where they come from--they just don't care about anybody. But I know it hurts him to know that his own people were involved. Trying to stay open minded and patient.

Getting ready for St. Patty's Day Got my corn beef, some sauerkraut (heck it's made out of cabbage plus I'm Greman) some pumpernickel bread (not too big a fan of rye) and am going to eat corn beef sandwiches on Wednesday. I know Issame is not going to like it, he doesn't like to try anything new.

I got us some Irish soda bread-so I heated it up and put butter on it--Mr. Morocco 2004 stuck his nose up at it. Food !