This I promise you, this blog is going to have no focus whatsoever. There is entirely too much going on in my life. I am loosing focus. The only redemption is that I shall be spending at least five days sequined in my apartment. Plan is to stay in and concentrate – most probably concentrate on preparation for my trip to Saudi Arabia. Packing is not a problem whatsoever for the simple reason; all of my summer clothes are residing in the first stop, the Riyadh Hilton Summer clothes and my collection of abayas and hijabs. Worn in Saudi Arabia as it is cultural, not religious. A reel appeared on Instagram about a week ago starring none other than the magnificent Trevor Noah speaking with a brilliant woman. I HAD TO respond:
Me: I love this! I love that he finally got it, understood in simple and true terms the folly of the hijab. This must be the last word as way too much time is wasted on this and not the real and profound meaning of the Islamic Faith.
Got 217 likes to this comment – it is so entirely gratifying to receive that response from people. Most meaningful. However, do have to admit that those were not my exact words because Instagram in playing with me.- taking away Responses and replacing it with suggestions for followers – which I neither need nor want. Hopefully it will reappear and when it does will give you the exact words AND the link. Sometimes you can be a victim of your devices and your social media. I only DO this blog and Instagram but I can still feel the pain.
But back to the beginning – I am not talking about creation instead the title of this particular blog. Mishmash is a confused mixture. It has a mixture of fun synonyms: jumble, mess, confusion hodgepodge, ragbag, melange motley collection conglomeration.
Did you know that Mishmash is a town mentioned in the Bible? Probably you did not and could care less. However if you care even slightly this is what Wikipedia has to say about it. “Michmas (/ˈmɪkmæʃ/; Hebrew: מִכְמָשׂ or מִכְמָס, romanized: Mīḵmās, lit. ’laid up (concealed) place’) was an Israelite and Jewish town located in the highlands north of Jerusalem. According to the Hebrew Bible, it belonged to the Tribe of Benjamin.[1] It was the setting of the biblical Battle of Michmash, recounted in 1 Samuel 14. Michmas was inhabited during the Second Temple period, when, according to the Mishnah, its fine wheat was brought to the Temple.[2]Michmas is identified with the Palestinian village of Mukhmas in the West Bank, which preserves its ancient name.[3][4] The nearby Israeli settlement Ma’ale Mikhmas, founded in 1981, is also named after the biblical town.”
In true Wikipedia fashion it tells you everything you would ever want to know about it – it even has WWI ‘connections’.
During World War I, British forces under the command of General Allenby were to face the Turks at the same location.
Allenby remembered the Biblical references to the area, found the path that was lightly guarded and the rest, they say, is history. The rest they say is history has been mentioned in a prior blog – it is a cringe-inducing cliché.
But onward with this jumbled, hodgepodge, ragbag blog which promises to touch on many unrelated topics in a disorderly fashion. Fasten your seat belt.
Me: I do love that phrase, fasten your sear belt.
Alter Ego: I know you do. You often say it to others, weather they want to hear it or not.
Me: Yes. And then I say. Fasten your seat belt, not just the lap belt but the shoulder harness as well.
Alter Ego: What response does that bring?
Me: Funny people draw the imaginary seat belt over their shoulders and say click.
Alter Ego: So then you know you have a good audience.
Me: Exactly! You are so smart, that is why your are my Alter Ego.
It will not surprise you to know that I am most preoccupied with my sojourn to Saudi Arabia. A sojourn is a temporary stay. Moreover, Sojourner Truth (1797–1883), was a abolitionist and women’s rights activist. Perhaps I shall change my last name to Truth using my Muslim name. I would be Fatimah Truth. It would be rather fun but would entail not just hours, but days and months of forms changing my passport, identification, my SIN, my US social security number, my bank accounts, my investment accounts and, in all likelihood, my friends. I shall stick with Alexis McBride, thanks anyway.
Back to Saudi Arabia. Was in the office of Travel Guru thumbing through tour come-ons, one was called Unforgettable Adventures. It said:
Explore the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Explore Saudi Arabia, perhaps oe of the few places tin the world that can be described as outside the reaches of tourism. Images of desert adventures or smoky souks are only one side of this electric county. Discover lush mountains, chaotic camel markets, mouth-watering food and a history that spans prehistoric rock art the ancient spice trade and Lawrence Arabia deserts.”
It then directs the reader to page 51 which offers a trip of 13 days for Canadian $6500 including ten nights in a comfortable hotel, 2 nights in a comfortable camp.
A comfortable camp seems to me to be a misnomer. Wikipedia describes misnomer as:
A misnomer is a name that is incorrectly or unsuitably applied.[1] Misnomers often arise because something was named long before its correct nature was known, or because an earlier form of something has been replaced by a later form to which the name no longer suitably applies. A misnomer may also be simply a word that someone uses incorrectly or misleadingly.[2]
Of course, Wikipedia says a great deal more. You can read it at your leisure, should you choose.
As the photographs following this blog will attest however, I do live a life here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Two photos show me cutting my last birthday cake in my last 80th birthday celebration at the Alberta Legislative Cafeteria. There is a reel on Instagram as well. One a photo of me clad in a PESCO hat which you will hear a great deal about and then one of me eating a yummy bowl at Earl’s where I had lunch with Dr. Vine, an amazing woman who was described in a text as an over achiever.
Me: Me too. That is Me too.
We shall now leap into the world of politics using the satiric talents of Andy Borowitz. It speaks of USA politics but is an utterly accurate depiction of many a Canadian politician. This from June 7, 2023 titled: Pence Endorsed by National Association of Ass-Kissers.
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Just days after announcing his candidacy for President, Mike Pence has picked up the coveted endorsement of the National Association of Ass-Kissers. The N.A.A., a trade organization representing more than a hundred thousand of the nation’s leading toadies, minions, and lickspittles, heaped praise on the former Vice-President, calling him an “awe-inspiring tower of unctuousness.”
By the way, unctuousness is an utterly perfect word which means: (of a person) excessively or ingratiatingly flattering. Andy is not only very funny, he also knows big words. Andy continues in fine form:
“During his four years as Vice-President, Mike Pence brought flattery and obsequiousness to new heights,” the N.A.A. statement read. “We bow down to his utter magnificence.”Accepting the endorsement, a jubilant Pence praised the organization of abject flunkies, calling the N.A.A. “without question the finest collection of humans this planet has ever known.” But the endorsement drew a sour response from Chris Christie, who had hoped to receive the ass-kissers’ nod. “I thought I sucked up to Donald Trump as much as anybody did,” Christie said. “Maybe I should have sucked harder.”
That is a great motto for an inspiring politician: “I should have sucked harder.”
When breakfasting in the Alberta Legislative Cafeteria celebrating (in continuous and never-ending form) my 80th birthday, I spied a man, waiting for his food, looking most anxious with a jiggly foot.
Me: Wow look at that leg twitch. You must be nervous.
He: Well I am. I never experience job security.
Me: You are in, perhaps, politics???
He: Yes, how did you guess??
Me: Because of where you are and when you are. It is Minister Switcher Day, it will be announced in a few hours. Here today, gone tomorrow is the lament of the political.
He: You got it!!
By the way, I did hear something, whispered in my ear by a reputable insider.
RI: Premier Smith will be gone in a few months. The party will replace her.
Me: You have made my day. Not only my day but my week, my month and even my year. Allah (SWT) says things on this earth are only temporary. When I learned she prevailed, I took refuge in His Wisdom. Allah the All-Knowing, Al-Aleem one of His 99 names. PHEW
