Vegas-iyyat

At the New York Hotel with a friend, there's a roller coaster

Friend, "Yalla let's go ride the roller coaster"
Hareega, "No I'm fine thanks"
Friend, "Yalla let's go"

So we went up the stairs. I started hearing the screams of people on the roller coaster.
Friend told the operator, "We need 2 tickets"
I told him, "No just one ticket, I'm fine man, I'll stay down here"
Friend pulled me to the side, "Malak? Let's go"
"No I don't want to"
"Why? Don't tell me you're scared?"
"Of course not, there are little kids riding it. I'm not scared, but people can throw up when they ride these. I don't want to throw up"
"But have you eaten anything today"
"No but I can still throw up. I also don't fit into these small carts"
"No you do, here's a guy who just was on the roller coaster and his ass size is twice yours, I'm sure they can squeeze your ass into one of them"
"I just don't feel like riding them. It's for little kids. I'd rather stay here. Go have fun"
"No I'm getting you a ticket. I'll pay for it. It's fun"
"No don't"
"No I'll get one"
"No don't get one. I'm not going up there"
"No you will"
"Ok listen. I always shit in my pants when I ride these things, then start crying like a baby and get nightmares for a week"

Morale: Sometimes you got to make embarrassing confessions to avoid publicly humiliating yourself.
----------------------------

I was in the shuttle heading to the airport.

The driver was asking everyone where they were from.

"So you in the blue shirt back there, where are you from sir?"
" Jordan"
"I don't know where that is?"
My father was sitting next to me, he told the driver, "Do you know King Hussein?"
The driver, "Yeah, of course I know King Hussein... I know him"
then paused a little bit, gave it a little thought and kept going, "It was really harsh to execute him that way"
----------------------------

February 2008
Super Bowl
I was driving to Vegas with a friend.

We knew the super bowl was taking place in Phoenix.
We also knew that day was the super bowl.

On our way to Vegas, we passed by Phoenix. Beautiful Stadium. Plenty of traffic.

"Why is there so much traffic on a Sunday?"
"Not sure, must be a big game or something"

Arrived in Vegas,
People stacked in bars watching a football game.

I asked, "That must be the super bowl right?"
Friend, "Yes. And it's in Phoenix this year, in that nice stadium they have in Glendale"
I said, "O I know it. Been there before, saw the US playing Mexico. Nice stadium"
-"Indeed".