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Birthday Wishlist

I turn 40 on January 4 of 2018. If you’d like to spoil me, here is a list of things I’d love: This book: This bookcase: https://www.target.com/p/7-shelf-hollow-core-bookcase-homestar/-/A-21536056?lnk=fiatsCookie This bedspread in Queen: https://www.overstock.com/Bedding-Bath/Urban-Habitat-Kids-Bliss-Blue-Cotton-5-piece-Duvet-Cover-Set/16740020/product.html?option=27852748&keywords=clouds%20duvet%20cover&refccid=4GX64BQGAC5JSQKCOWVAX3XVBE&refinement=&searchidx=0 These giant scarab earrings: This print: This rug: A Sephora gift certificate

The Normal School Online

I’ve been working with wonderful student editors to revamp the Normal School literary magazine’s online presence. I’m very proud of the work we’re doing. Take a look!

“Every Palestinian must tell [her or] his story.” -Edward Said.

My heart is with Gaza.

Lives piece included in NYT anthology

One of my essays, about a conversation I had with my son, is collected here in this new NYT anthology of Lives essays. You can read more about it here.

Outside the restrooms, each door bore the standard gender symbol denoting male (♂) and female (♀). She stood in front of them and said, “When I come out, I will need you to write something. Please get the notebook,” and disappeared into the women’s room. When she finally emerged, she stood in between the twoContinue reading “New Short Story”

Have a very Muslim Xmas

Growing up in Kuwait, we never had Christmas trees, but one year, my mother found a fake one about two feet tall and, although we had nothing to decorate it with, we improvised and posed “underneath” it for pictures. When we moved to the States, my mother began buying fresh trees every December and deckingContinue reading “Have a very Muslim Xmas”

Twelve years

My son on 9/11 was told lies by his white teacher & for years, when flying solo between my home in TX & his father’s in NY, was terrified of Arab terrorists. Now, he knows better. He knows better because he was selected randomly for a screening at the age of seven. He knows betterContinue reading “Twelve years”

Back to School

This week, I taught my first set of classes– I’m teaching a graphic novels class to graduate students, and an MFA workshop. So far, my students are lovely. I adore them, and I’m excited to read and write and discuss writing with them. The funniest part of being a professor, I think, is the bureaucraticContinue reading “Back to School”

Postcards from Buenos Aires

I recently visited Buenos Aires for a week to celebrate the beginning of Summer. There, I went to incredible cafes, like Tortoni, and saw El Ateneo, a gorgeous bookstore in a 20’s cinema palace. I also saw a room lined with unicorn heads, Evita’s tomb at the Recoleta cemetery, a statue of Mafalda, one ofContinue reading “Postcards from Buenos Aires”

Things that concern me

I bought a bar of soap, nice, Dead Sea soap, made in Jordan, for my son’s bathroom back in late February. The bar of soap is still there. About half-way used, but still there.