JabbaSpikeEez...

The World's Greatest...

...I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest." -Muhammad Ali

And he did. Today I had the extreme privilege and honor of standing in the same room as Muhammad Ali. Asked to help out on a shoot, I was humbled and blessed to be in the presence of "the world's greatest."

The body and strength of the man I saw today was much different than the body and strength of the man pictured above. The man I saw today was frail, shaky and could hardly speak. He could offer little more than his face and a couple fist jabs for the camera. But that was enough. The mere image of Muhammad Ali is enough to inspire millions.

As Ali sat down in front of bright lights and a camera, the hush that fell over the set was almost tangible. The shaky, helpless image was sad to see and I couldn't help but thinking how despite his present frailties, his strength still shined through. Amazing how a man so weak in the present can inspire because of his past.

Muhammad Ali was a champion multiple times. A three-time world heavyweight championship and Olympic gold medalist, Ali was named Sportsman of the 20th century by both Sports Illustrated and BBC. He is revered and respected around the world and known as the world's greatest athlete. But a lot of athletes have won multiple championships. A lot of athletes have won multiple gold medals. So why does Ali hold the title of the World's Greatest? What made him stand out?

Muhammad Ali spoke what he believed.

Many people believe in things but are too afraid to speak it, too afraid of negative reactions that might come. With courage and confidence Ali claimed he was the greatest before he was even a champion. His loose tongue and defiant attitude upset many, including the US government. But the words that so freely rolled off his tongue are what gave him a voice that lasts today, a voice that teaches and inspires, a voice that permeates generations, even when his throat can hardly make sound.

Today I saw a man without the physical strength of a champion but with the spirit, will, determination and most importantly confidence of a legend.



"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'"

Holiday Read...

Many of you know a bit about my father's upbringing. He was born in Germany, then lived in Greece, Turkey and Iraq. For me, stories of Middle Eastern culture and the warm hospitality of its citizens have always been a usual dinner topic. My father would talk with the fondest memories of his youth in Baghdad: makeshift archaelogical digs with local kids, roaming through thinly discovered ruins with siblings, traipsing through markets and bazaars to find his favorite daggers and armor, and swimming at pool clubs during hot, hot summers. It wasn't until I recently traveled to Jerusalem with 80 other Americans that I realized the way I perceive and understand Arab culture (sadly) is not shared by all Americans.

My aunt has taken one step in clearing this misperception.

If any of you are curious about what I am talking about here, I invite you to read "The Reckoning" by Tanya Parker Mills. While entirely fiction, this novel is loosely based on her (and my father's) upbringing in Iraq. Her understanding of the Arab world permeates in this stimulating, genuine and at times disturbing page-turner. If you liked The Kite Runner, you'll like this.

Click here to read more reviews on Amazon.

Things I love:

1. My family's Thanksgiving tradition of singing the Sound of Music with napkins on our heads:

2. My grandmother's new discovery of facebook.

Orin (my grandfather): Well, I think facebook's kinda funny.
Rita (my grandmother): Well, it's kinda nice. It's kinda like one-liners and you stay in touch with people.

My grandmother, Rita, is 82 years young. Because of both her and my mother I have never feared getting old. A few weeks ago she added me as a friend on Facebook. I laughed when I saw her name in my inbox, but really I wasn't surprised. Tonight I helped her add a picture and watched her as she wrote on my boyfriend's wall, complete with "Haha" and even signed "Love Rita". She navigated through the website with such ease and confidence that it put some much younger family members' computer skills to shame (hm, hm, Dianne Parker).

If any of you know Rita personally and have ever had the pleasure of meeting her, I'm sure she'd be thrilled if you added her as a friend.

From LA to NY

Last month, I hopped on a plane after about an hour of sleep and a lot more hours of work to deliver materials for a presentation in New York. It was a really big presentation. So big they sent three of us to make sure everything was delivered and set up just right. Who is NOT complaining about a free trip to New York? ME!

Dinner and Brooklyn Heights Park with my talented and beautiful cousin, Kaitlin


And the much needed, appreciated and savored catching up with Kate McNeil. After OVER A YEAR of not seeing each other, Kaj and Faj were reunited.

The Last 6 Months...

What started as a personal desire to organize my favorite websites into one place for a more efficient web surfing experience has now become my journal, the kind that anyone in the world can read.

So first a 6-month update in 7 sentences: After a life-changing 4 months in the Middle East, I returned to Redondo Beach, CA and set up shop with Jeff and Dianne (my parents). Just in time for the warm summer months I spent much of May and June riding beach cruisers, playing volleyball at sunset and, oh yeah, scouring the internet for a job in my major, Advertising. While Jerusalem made me wish I had studied Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies in college, I was fully equipped for a job in advertising so I decided to go for it. I wanted the best, a big agency with a strong reputation, and I got it: TBWA\Chiat\Day in Playa Del Rey, CA.

Owners of the Apple account (yes, they produced the famed 1984 commercial) and other big names like Nissan, Infiniti, Visa and Energizer, I was excited just to get an interview and then I found out I would be interviewing for the newly acquired Gatorade account--I was thrilled. The last 3.5 months at Chiat have been filled with lots of learning, patience, free dinners, late nights (my record is 2:30AM), talented people and even a trip to New York. I am definitely never threatened by boredom and just can't wait until January when our 09 campaign will finally begin.