Seeing Boaventura de Sousa Santos

.1. Doors opened at 5 pm and D and I arrived at about a quarter after. Got brilliant seats, centre 2nd row (because everyone was outside getting liquored up).

.2. De Sousa Santos sat directly in front of us, and I had to stop myself from reaching over and either tugging on his hair (to make sure he was real), or giving him a kiss on the back of his head (for kissing his forehead meant that I had to move some). Luckily for both D and I, I decided that it wouldn’t be such a hot idea and opted to ignore my impulses and take in the setting instead.

The organizers did a brilliant job because the setting itself was quite lush and visually appealing and engaging. They had three massive screens as a backdrop to the three very comfortable looking seats on stage, waiting and poised for the bums of de Sousa Santos, Gross Stein and Medina. The look of the discussion was high-tech meets money meets tweed meets warm comfortable pillowed seats with a splash of antique. I felt like I was in someone’s den. Well, ok. Maybe not. But I was cozy.

.3. I tried to eavesdrop on his conversation, hoping that I would just “get smart” by some sort of air carrying and generated state of osmosis, but hearing him talk about how he liked his coffee did nothing for me.

.4. Janice Gross Stein is a very polite and happy lady who sits at the edge of her seat and wears really cute little brown slightly open toed sandals (with white nylons). I couldn’t see her rose colored glasses, so I can only assume she was wearing contact lenses. For the duration of the discussion, I wasn’t sure if I was waiting for her to put up her hand or break into show tunes. Having said that, I will also say that she really is a lovely lady and I enjoyed listening to her.

.5. If ever you are having a conversation with de Souza Santos and you hear him say “Eye-Raqi”, know that he is really saying “hierarchy”.

.6. Who is Ann Medina? I believe I am out of some kind of loop on this one.

.7. Was slightly disappointed for the conversation was very apolitical, and done so on purpose. At one point, de Sousa Santos said “fraudulent American elections” and everyone in tweed started fluttering. Ann Medina bulldozed that train of thought in nano-seconds.

.8. A lot of old Montreal money present (donors, perhaps). As D put it, when you covered their faces, you thought you were looking at 20 year olds, but when you took your thumb away, you realized they were…old.

.9. The most intelligent and entertaining part of the entire discussion was de Sousa Santos’ opening remarks. He took it upon himself to deconstruct and then reformulate the question posed by the organizers. Look it up and read about it if you’re interested enough…

.10. Hightailed it out of there as soon as the discussion was over. Downtown Montreal has always been more appealing than a reception with too many pearls and too much wine…and lacking politics.

Qusay Khouly or someone with a name spelled something like that in English

For the last few nights, mom and I have been watching a Syrian television show called "Illit Zo2 W Kitrit Ghalabeh" and I think I have fallen in love with the actor named Qusay Khouly.

It's not that he's a babe by our regular standards, it's that he is an absolute doll in this roll. And since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I'll say that I think he's beautiful. I'm blushing.

In the show he marries Lou Lou and how I wish I were her! Every time I see him, I want to squeeze him until he stops breathing...that's how much I adore my little قصي خولي, Allah yishwee.

The sad thing is no one knows him; none of our friends - Syrian or otherwise - have ever heard of him. And apparently, the internet is not someplace to find anything on this man. I can't find a single hit about him in either Arabic or English. I am left with absolutely nothing; not even a photo I can share with you. You'll just have to take my word for it, and I promise to keep you posted as to this brilliant actor's progress. I have no doubt he will be one of my generation's most celebrated actors, Inshallah.

The Single Girl's Wedding

.1. Over the past 5 and a half months, I’ve had the pleasure of attending eight weddings. Of those eight, there may have been one or two I could have done without. Naturally, and due to the nature of the game (& the way mum raised me), I attended even those I would have rather avoided

At the more noxious weddings, I smiled, congratulated, kissed, and danced my night away as though there were nowhere else I’d rather be. How else is one to behave when there is nothing to do but shake one’s behind and forget that one is at a wedding of folks one will most likely never see again?

Suddenly, I feel as though am an orator.

Anyway. I’ve realized that there’s nothing I enjoy more than being asked why I’m single. Depending on my mood, I usually teeter between “No one thinks I’m worthy of love” or “I thought I’d do something productive with my life.” Oddly, both responses produce the same result: Vacuous glazed stares waiting for the punch-line. So as to ease their idiocy, I wait a little while before smiling, then poking the women in their bellies before saying “Just kidding! I can’t wait till my body changes after I give birth. You look great!”

Yes. I have great capacity to be cruel. It’s the way I protect myself.

My last wedding was this weekend past, one wedding I had been looking forward to and one which I enjoyed immensely. Finally.

.2. God bless Montreal.

Must really one day stay at Le St-Sulpice, because I think it just might be the most handsome hotel in Montreal.

But it should be in the summer heat of that City...it just fits better.