I screwed up because I care

by Omar N
Today I have learned a new lesson, not new in the sense that I never knew about it before but in the sense that it came to me in a crystal clear form, almost in a poetic way.

I always believed that nothing is hard to understand, nothing is impossible within our limits. For each problem there is one or more feasible solution, once this problem has been defined clearly and tackled.

This evening, I got into a conversation where I got the feeling that I have done something I shouldn't have. I had good intention but what I expressed probability has been misunderstood. Or perhaps was understood correctly but weren't the appropriate thing to do or say. In either cases, the over all result wasn't what I was hoping nor aiming for.

What is it that in some case I can be really good at expressing things but when it comes to other things I go into destruction mode. I don't know how to express what happened today. I am used to the idea that the more I work on something, the easier it becomes, that being an assignment at school or a task at work. But today, it felt the more I tried to express what I want to the say, the worse it became.

So, I went into an over-thinking mode. Trying to understand why is this the case. How did I manage to screw up like this. Then I found that I tend to screw up when I care, when I am scarred to mess things up. Maybe I try so hard not to screw up that I end doing exactly that.

Then I went again, thinking: why that? why do I keep doing that? and this 'why'! The question that never leaves me alone. This curse that hover over my head, stealth to other but like a light house attracting and pulling me towards it.

And that is not the worst part, yes, it gets worse. Now I am left with this unease feeling. Feeling I have done something wrong that I should apologize for. I might have hurt someone. Someone that I truly like. How can I present an apology for something I don't fully understand. It wouldn't be sincere in this case, it would be a fake apology that satisfies nothing but my own ego. At the same time, I can't leave things in this state with its loose ends and awkwardness.

My biggest problem right now is I am incapable of understanding the problem I created. My biggest problem is finding this problem. My biggest problem is what I am trying to reach is in fact hidden behind this problem. The problem has became the beast I need to defeat in order to free the Princess at the top of the Castle. The more I try to tackle this problem, the more problems I cause. How am I suppose to solve this.

Then it hit me, this post is precisely what I have been doing wrong. I was 'thinking' ...

Somethings are understood and others are felt. These two should not be interchanged. Because by doing that, we would be destroying the essence of the experience we should be enjoying.

The amazigness of magic would be taken away by knowing the secret of its trick. The trick should always be a secret in order to enjoy Magic ...

This might be intuitive to some of you and I envy you for that as I am struggling to understand what you have been enjoying all along. One day I will look back at this and laugh. Laugh at how simple this was but yet how complex I made it to be ...


related article: INTP, the Thinker


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Hey, at least I don't go to York

by Omar N
If you go to any university, regardless how bad it is, you can always feel better by saying: "Hey, at least I don't go to York University". You know what they say about York: if you can use a fork, you can go to York.

The following is not my original writing but felt compelled to share it:

Carleton University: "There's a 95% chance you know absolutely no one at Carleton, and if you do, they're probably your brother's best friend's girlfriend's cousin who you don't really care about anyway. I bet all you've ever been told about Carleton is "Don't go there!" Carleton is in Ottawa (you were thinking Hamilton, am I right?), so, it's campus social life consists of dull keg parties (they exist!) and AA meetings. For them, Toronto is intimidating and Quebec exponentially cooler, so, they get their jollies by flouting their Ottawaness in front of all other Canadians. But being from Carleton ain't all that bad. Sure, they'll never wear their Univ sweater in front of Waterloo kids, and yes, sadly enough their most famous alumnus is nobody's favorite and strangely regarded-as-unsuccessfulthough-he-technically-is-succesful-actor/washed-up-comedian Dan Ackroyd. But hey, Carleton kids get higher GPA's than those who go to actual universities. What's that mean? That means these bums will get your seats in all the grad schools!"

Way to go CarletonU, way to go!

source: http://brontecreek.wordpress.com/

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Tunisians in Montreal (a rally)

by Omar N ,
People are asking: why is Canada's Tunisian community doing the rally thousands of miles away from home in Montreal, what is the point?

The answer is very simple: good new are never complete without being shared or celebrated .

Here are couple of minutes from the rally in downtown Montreal, so you can get a feel of it.



PS: I was cold.

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Review: Wings @Wild Wing

by Omar N
If I need to summarise this blog in one sentence it would be: try the RingOfFire or bitchSlap.

Yes, these are off the menu chicken wings at Wild Wing (it seems RingOfFire is now on their menu). But before I get into that, I need to do the introduction. So here it is. Wild Wing is a "Chain of family restaurant franchises across Ontario featuring chicken wings in a wide variety of flavours, as well as ribs, fries and salads". They have a normal predictable western style, not the best wings in town but they are good enough. They have couple of places in Ottawa. I went to the one in Kanata on Eagleson Road. They have a lot of flavors to choose from. Just don't piss me off and go there to order a burger. Don't do that shit.

Now to their menu, they have all the typical items found on any normal restaurant, but that is not why you are there. You go there for the wings. So try them. Don't expect all the wings to be done to perfection, some will be just ... bad.

If you are up for a challenge try their Ring of Fire and if that doesn't cut it for you (just like me. 'the caveman' they called me, I assume they meant it as compliment) go for the BitchSlap. If you are not crying by then, then congratulations, you are no human.

Below you will find a video with some of my co-workers trying out the Ring of Fire. Unfortunately, we didn't have the BitchSlap on video. To be done next time :)

I give this restaurant a 4 out of 5 overall and Ramadan stars.

PS: one of my co-workers ate the wings with their bones, weird - don't try that. "This is how we do it in the south (southern USA)" - He said. I still don't believe him.




This blog is part of the Ramadan Fooding in Ottawa reviews.

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Son defeats Father, the ancient Greek story

by Omar N

I don't get the Greek's obsession with Sons defeating their Fathers. Let me tell you the Ancient Greeks Gods myth. First there was the void: Chaos. Out of this nothingness came the primary divine beings: Eurynome, Gaia (the Earth), Eros (Love), the Abyss (the Tartarus in the underworld) and the Erebus. From the original primary divine beings came a series of offsprings: creatures, angels, Titans and others. Later, the Titans gave birth to the Olympians.

I will focus on the Titans here. I am not really into Cyclops the one eyed creature nor Echidna ( don't look her in the eyes ...). So to summarize: it went from Chaos, to primary divine beings, to Titans, to Olympians to end of Pure Gods era.

Kronos and the Titans

Kronos the youngest and leader of the Titans defeats his father Uranus (aka Sky). Leading the Titans ( the first generation) until the Titanomachy (the Titans War). Afraid that his offspring would do the same to him, he devoured them. But when Rhea (his wife) gave birth to Zeus, she wrapped a stone instead and gave it to Kronos (arouba el sit di) . When Zeus grew up, he gave his father, Kronos, a poison drink that made him throw up all his children (khayalhom wasi3 el nas di 2awi). Zeus and his siblings united forming the Olympians.


Zeus and the Olympians

Now Kronos is scared shitless of his son Zeus that he will rise and defeat him. Zeus, also the youngest and leader of the Olympians, challenged his father Kronos to a war for the kingship. Zeus defeated him sending him to the lala land .. Zeus was known as the god of sky and thunder. That is why he is easily identified as a figure from the 'thunderbolt' he holds in his hands everywhere he goes (showoff!). Also known as Leader of Gods, "even the gods who are not his natural children address him as Father, and all the gods rise in his presence." -wiki. Probabilty the most known and talked about ancient Greek God.

Athena and the new age Olympians

It is Zeus turn now to be sacred of a child that would overthrow him. So he devoured his wife Metis, but it was too late as she was pregnant with Athena already. Metis gave birth to Athena inside Zeus. As the myth goes, Zeus got an unbearable headache ( akeed Metis we Athena midiyinha raghy, gaboulou souda3). So he ordered (someone) to split his head open by a labrys ( which is a fancy word for a double axe). Athena came out ready for war. Ah the teenagers don't have any patience!

Then the era of Gods came to an 'end' then the Heroes started which -in my opinion- is more ridiculous, where mortals ( or half human half Gods) were able to defeat Gods (maltasha el Gods dola).

Lesson learned: want to scare a Greek? Give his son or daughter an axe.

Di nas motasharida.

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Review: Italian @Calabria Restaurant & Pizzeria

by Omar N
Calabria Restaurant & Pizzeria is located on Bell Street North ( right off Bronson and Gladstone) in downtown Ottawa. This is the closest you can get to Italian food that is not located on Preston Street.

Personally I have been going to this restaurant for the past 8 years. I have a thing for their lasagna and poutine.

This is a well established restaurant. Their staff rarely change which I like about a food place. This way you get consistency in both food an service. If you re tired of visiting the same old Italian places on Preston St, this is the place for you.

The price are fine, not too cheap and not too expensive either. They have a nice collection of pizza menu served the old fashioned Italian way. They have an extensive menu to choose from but I would stick to Italian items ( no burgers or roasted chicken items).

As for filling, this will definitely fill you up if you are hungry.

It is not the fanciest restaurant you will visit but it is not that bad for a quiet place in the middle of a residential area. Also, though I have been going for years to that place, I never got any special treatment. Feels like a stranger each time.

I give this restaurant/bar a 3.5 out of 5 Ramadan stars

PS: Don't forget to try their poutine with extra cheese and thin crust pizzas.



This blog is part of the Ramadan Fooding in Ottawa reviews.

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