If you're just joining us, you might like a program to follow along with the blog entries. I won't be IDing everyone, so this is a quick reference list to Naeif's extensive family, starring here in the SyriaBlog.

Naeif and Fahimi (me) - the happy couple.

"OMMEE!" The matriarch, Naeif's mother who makes stuff happen around here.

*Special thanks* to MUHAMMAD TAHA, the Internet King of Syria for getting me hooked up online! It took awhile, for three or four people to puzzle it out, but Muhammad came for a visit and had us rolling and publishing in about a half hour. MABROOKNA, Muhammad!

Naeif's Brothers:
Ghazwan ("want a beer?")
Firaz
Nizar ("ai-WAH!!!")
Hassan
Hamzeh (lives in Libya)

Their wives:
Ghazwan's wife: Mazenah
Firaz's wife: Amal
Nizar's wife: Amale
Hassan's wife: Maleek

Their kids:
Ghazwan's kids: Rama (F), Rebal and Rawad
Firaz's kids: Hooda and Marah (F)
Nizar's kids: Mirnah, Murwah, Keenan
Hassan's kids: Mataz, Murad, Mudar.

Fahimi's PEEPS!
The English speakers, Marlin (Naeif's sister) and Thuraiya (cousin)
Ossama and Ahmed, the guys at KABRA computer, my internet access!
Muhammad Taha - Internet King of Syria, also a fellow Macintosh user.

Naeif's parents:
Altaf: Mom "Ommee"
Adel: Dad "Ebbee"

Naeif's friends:
Issam: lifetime friend, fabulous Oud player
Wessam: now living in Lebanon
Walid: lifetime friend, lives near us in Chicago, also visiting Syria
Fourat: Violin player - studied in Russia for 11 years, great guy, English speaker. Used to live in Chicago, but got sent back to Syria when he tried to audition for a music job in Canada and didn't have the right papers to get in. Now working as a recording artist in Syria.

countless aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and on and on . . .