^ I doubt you will see ppl who are wearing the same abayas, and if you do it will be once in a blue moon. Don't worry 2 much abt that..

^^ you can also check out this arab store at lawrence/pharmacy...can't recall the name of it...(umu anas was it...really cant recall..i will get you the exact address)..they do sell thick ones..like the two layer abayas...n most of them are pretty much plain. lol whats wrong w/ others wearing the same abayas? dnt ppl wear sometimes the same jeans, or the same tops for instance.

Pucca, I buy them from the somali store at the west end "ceelgaab". You can find plain ones down there...and they happen to have abayas that are a lot cheaper than the arab stores...

Republicans spent $150,000 on Sarah Palin's clothes Jenny Booth The Republican Party has spent $150,000 in upmarket designer stores on dressing Sarah Palin for the part of vice-president. During September, more than $75,000 was spent in a single shopping spree at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, and another $9,500 at Macy's in the same city - scene of the Republican party convention where John McCain introduced Ms Palin as his running mate. Another $5,000 was spent at Atelier, a classy men's boutique, suggesting that Ms Palin's husband Todd, jocularly known in Alaska as the First Dude, may also have come in for some sprucing up. Later in the month $50,000 was spent in forays into Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and St Louis, on a procession of neat little waisted jackets, pencil skirts, killer boots and patent heels that have enabled Ms Palin to appear in at least one, and sometimes two or three, new outfits a day. The party also spent nearly $5,000 on hair and makeup. The figures have emerged from the Republicans' monthly financial disclosure report for September, listed under a new heading of "campaign accessories". Since Ms Palin was unveiled as Mr McCain's choice for Vice President on August 29, the Governor of Alaska - a former beauty queen contestant - seems not to have been photographed in the same outfit twice. Red has emerged as a key colour, worn at upbeat moments in such guises as a red leather jacket with a clinging short black skirt, and a tight red suit with a ribbon under the bust. In the days around October 10, however, when the Troopergate scandal resurfaced to tarnish Ms Palin's image, she was photographed in much more serious outfits, each a tailored ensemble in sombre, sensible black and grey. Mrs Palin has had a few fashion howlers, such as her foray into peach satin on August 30, a fussy and unflattering white tie-fronted jacket on October 6, and a hideous shiny brown jacket on October 15. She has also several times repeated the fashion faux pas of teaming white tops with black skirts, making her look like a waitress. Mainly, however, she has stuck with a tried and tested formula of short tailored suits, with skirt levels always above the knee. News photographers have responded with a huge volume of generally flattering pictures, some of which look more like catwalk images than political portraiture. There were reports earlier this month that she had been working with a team of stylists and a voice coach on refining her image. What did not emerge until today was the scale of the outlay, believed to be unprecedented in the annals of American presidential campaigning. Male candidates have in the past come in for severe ribbing over much smaller sums, such as Democratic contender John Edwards's $400 haircuts and Mr McCain's $500 Ferragamo shoes. The Republican Party has tried to play down the extraordinary sum it has spent on packaging Ms Palin. "With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it's remarkable that we're spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses," said Tracey Schmitt, a party spokeswoman. "It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign." Maria Comella, another spokeswoman, declined to say whether it was necessary to spend $5,000 a day on clothes for Ms Palin. "The campaign does not comment on strategic decisions regarding how financial resources available to the campaign are spent," said Ms Comella, in a statement to the US political website Politico which first noticed the coyly named entry in the Republicans' accounts. The Republicans have declined to say whether the shopping sprees have continued into October. Disclosure of their campaign accounts for this month is not expected until after the presidential election is over.

NG looooooool you are soo cold...kulaha tea towel now that's rudeee I bought enough Abayas for this year...

McCain has an Old Man Alzheimers Moment LMAO you guys should see this..... poor Maccain!!!

sounds like fun indeed, ye all have fun.

Subhanalah my younger brother was telling me about it the other day. what a world!!!

^^Alhamdulilaah am blessed with good god fearing parents. inshallah I hope to follow their footsteps one day if allah blesses me w/ kids. There's nothing wrong with the somali culture, but the ways somali parents raise their kids has to change. wa salaamu alaikum

lol actually I can't think of anything I want to discuss... where's cirdey.. maybe he can entertain us. My head hurts of all the reading i had to do today

equating the faulire of the somali diaspora to raise their children properly as they have done centuries back home The way they use to raise children worked well in the context they grew up, in somalia. However, it will not work in the western context. They need to implement a new ways of raising their kids. They are raising their kids in a society that doesn't share the same values. And, if you allow your child to be out there without the proper guildlines what are your expectation as a parent. And, lets not forget most of these parents are raising their kids in the ghetto areas where their kids can be influenced so easily. So if they do not implement new ways to parent, instil in their children the importance of education, making sure their kids are occupied 24/7 with school work, after school programs, and making sure they know who their kids are friends with. As the saying goes " tell me your friend i'll tell you who u're" so if ur child hangs out with a drop out child with no manners/values what does that say about your own...and so many other things that we can do to make sure our kids grow up right knowing their values. I'm sorry bt somali parents seem as they don't know that they are raising their kids in totally diffeernt environment with different values. They need to alter their parenting methods if they want see change in their own kids. my 2 cents salaam..

lol am not even sure waxaan isku kiin qalday..just trying to make an excuse for myself am the one here asking to be entertained Anyways, if you choose a topic we can just share our 2 cents.

But - I must say the solution does not lie In lambasting our culture and customs and way of life – for I vehemently belief in it being the best among all other in every shape and form Somali children are most underestimated intellectuals of this world You are denying in the sense that you are not accepting the source of these problems that are somali parents and the way they raise their kids.As you can see somali's way of life this far has produced huge number of somalis who are failing academically and who are even violent. And, if you deny that they are whats causing the fact that somali youth are the heighest drop out rates regardless of whether it's europe or here. How can we solve it??...you have to accept the root of this problem. You can't solve a problem unless you understand what's causing it.

Sayid that's right. I was talking abt A & T. You guys have the same writing pattern... cirdey i don't mind any of you can entertain me...

There's nothing wrong with pointing out those somalis who are succeeding in life, but we can't deny our shortcoming that actually by far exceeds anything we have accomplished this far... As you can see I have nothing against acknowledging what we have achieved this far. But, can you admit that we have a problem and be ready to solve it? how can you solve anything if you're in denial. subhanalah!

sunny? I wish.....subhanalah I hate winter. We don't have snow yet bt it's soo cold outside, you gota wear ur jacket.. But, my day was alright...I had an assignment to work on. And, now that am done. am just trying to catch w/ my readings..Other than my studies and the weather lol I have nothing to complain abt alhmadulilaah... oh too bad sayid, as strange as your stories come i do enjoy them. Next time I suppose when you're in the mood to write one inshallah wa salaam

hey cirdey ws/wr/wb How was your day walaal?

for I vehemently belief in it being the best among all other in every shape and form You are suffering from ethnocentrism. You can't seem to accept where our community is going wrong. How can we even then try to solve the problems our community are facing, if the members of the community will not accept the problems they have. We can't be in denial. Everyone knows statistically speaking that somali youth are failing academically. For instance, in toronto somalis make the highest high school drop out rate....now what does that say about somalis??....Certainly without a question something is wrong with the way these parents are raising their kids. Perhaps, you can say yeh they are going through transitional period, they dnt know how to parent kids within this western context? bt how long will that be an excuse? it's been about 20 years? will it take another 20 years? and if so what does it say about our generation ?? in 20 years all these drop out kids how will they affect our community?...think about it before you act like oh we are so smart we dnt need to change our ways. There's nothing wrong with pointing out those somalis who are succeeding in life, but we can't deny our shortcoming that actually by far exceeds anything we have accomplished this far... my 2 cents salaam

^^lol@ waxwalba.. how abt one of your wacky stories to entertain me

^^ haye maxa haysa ina adeer

hey ibti. I'm glad for you. How are you all doing? ..... am tired and have loads of readings to do... salaaam

it says "the website is under construction" Jac..so just wait some time .... wa salaam

^^amiin. hana dhihin maxa ka galay, qofkasta wa in uu qofka kale wuxu ku dhaamo u sheega, dacwa is part of faith. Siph leave somali men alone. They include your own father, uncles, siblings, and extended family. So just ask God to guide them and us. wa salaamu alaikum

^ you are definitely right. There was actually a study done that found chinese parents put huge emphasis on acadamic achievement from a very young age. So basically, being smart has a little to do with genes and more w/ the environment the child was raised. Somali parents do need to spend a great deal of time with their kids and actually try to enhance and stimulate their childrens' intellectual abilities from a young age. Rather then thinking that child is too young, and before you know it the child is behind academically or what not. So you are absolutely right, theres need for parenting classes where somali parents are concerned. But who will convince a somali parent to take parenting classes ... they would be like you said what? are you questioning my ability to parent dhul, theres nothing wrong with cousins getting married. So, stop acting you're all westernized. Even though I would suggest not to given that if there's ever a problem you're dividing your own family. Where if he was totally someone not related your family would always be on your side. But, we should know that marrying your cousin is religiously alright and nothing wrong with it and we shouldn't talk of it in ill tone. wa salaam

Don't know anything about this but congrats I guess being there for her should show her how much she means to you. salaam