tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18798660817025355972024-03-25T10:06:50.398-04:00My B WordsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-55716427430328100532012-05-14T12:29:00.001-04:002012-05-14T12:29:47.207-04:00Be the Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV2Hi5SwO5h_FMINrvgoIRZFEUkh4gF2vgWAOJELU7VU47QRpkn9havUcKbq3I5wafKsvWR1h2vs2BVLkGm2OkPOC6GqPwM53gG8rdk6bX_n29C8cUo7icZqAGZdWlzj36RAFonZruLs/s1600/pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV2Hi5SwO5h_FMINrvgoIRZFEUkh4gF2vgWAOJELU7VU47QRpkn9havUcKbq3I5wafKsvWR1h2vs2BVLkGm2OkPOC6GqPwM53gG8rdk6bX_n29C8cUo7icZqAGZdWlzj36RAFonZruLs/s320/pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I've always had profound admiration for all things Gandhi. His story moved me and in his quiet resolute way made me think about the many things I've encountered in this my life journey.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Every one has the innate need to be remembered long after they're gone. I would hate to know that my life lived was all in vain. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This quote seems to be the one to get me off my behind and do something.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What can one simple woman do with limited resources and a severe case of the "Don't do it'itis"?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I've decided that I can't possibly traipse all over the world in search of things to "Be the change..." to. I can't even begin to spend money I don't have on others. (Try living off a private school teacher's salary and that being the only income in a household of seven people, with two soon to be three kids in college).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I can't share my time volunteering anywhere as I do have obligations in said household.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So what's a girl to do to make "Be the change"?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I look around myself, my job and my domicile and the answer is clear and apparent.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To "Be the change....", I need to start with myself. Duh you say, but scoff not. We forget our purpose in this life and we get entrapped in the "glamour" of people, things, events, social media and other fascinating, yet trivial pursuits. Remember that game? Trivial, yes trivial. Mind blowing drivel and time wasting mind play. Yet we become embroiled in such. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sometimes, it becomes mandatory to step back and look within and evaluate and critique the person hiding behind your own smile. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Who are you and what are you doing in this time and part of your life?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What will you change today?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Where are you going in this direction you're headed?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When will you get there?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
How will you accomplish your journey?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Who will benefit from such a journey?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Why do you want others to benefit, or not to benefit?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tough questions to ask of self, especially as I stare my mortality in the face.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To be the change, Gandhi is not asking us to stormily take the world, but to take the world. Be the best person you can be. Start with your world and yourself.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Love yourself.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Be kind to yourself.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Forgive yourself.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Take care of yourself.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Be good to yourself.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
and the list continues....</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
When you are the best person to yourself, you will be the best child, the best daughter, the best friend, the best best student, the best employee, the best fiance, the best spouse, the best parent, the best grandparent.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The ripple effect from all of these duties will be felt in every aspect of your life and every human you touch simply by being the best you.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We can't change the world....</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Be the change you wish to see in the world"</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-1320677655135877052012-03-15T21:16:00.002-04:002012-03-15T21:59:24.629-04:00BabyBaby, baby, baby...<br />
<br />
A baby has been born into our family. A new Khan. The newest Khan. He is the son of my only brother and I hope the first child of more to come.<br />
<br />
He was in a rush to meet us as he arrived at 1:52 am on a beautiful sunny day on the 14th. March, two weeks before his due date. Much anticipated and worried about by his aunts, uncles and twelve older cousins. He arrived amidst much rejoicing and celebrations, and he entered our hearts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9NTX4xRDBA1d9Z1nj6Nd5KdjRwYDdTPaQqb82VYvIlwxZddAgpJPXbYLNHDz8THvBXC09EipWaCdOrDeIGMGKEisKGNxp79pbj68xNBbcHVhlt5VcQwtZayeZqXqJM24-_ZMO2xWi3o/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9NTX4xRDBA1d9Z1nj6Nd5KdjRwYDdTPaQqb82VYvIlwxZddAgpJPXbYLNHDz8THvBXC09EipWaCdOrDeIGMGKEisKGNxp79pbj68xNBbcHVhlt5VcQwtZayeZqXqJM24-_ZMO2xWi3o/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>When babies first begin to make their appearance, they bring feelings of apprehension, anxiety and pride, love and many many questions. When my first was nothing more than a bump the size of an apple on my then oh so flat tummy, I turned sideways to make sure there was confirmation of what the doctor had found. Yes there it was, a small bump below my belly button that told me I was carrying life. I couldn't believe it!! Life in me! An over whelming feeling to say the least. Motherhood has it own pit falls and wonders all in a given hour.<br />
<br />
My husband always remind me of how I would say, "Never, never, never again would I ever have another child" every morning when the bathroom sink got most of my face time and witnessed the heaving and hurling that reminded me that my gastro intestinal tract was being rudely re arranged to make growing room for a new human. When she was born, I called him as I was being wheeled back to my room and told him, "I don't mind having another one". He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Five kids later and I don't believe the audacity of my words and my body's ability to support five babies. But mothers are tenacious and seldom back down from their responsibilities.<br />
<br />
Mika Khan is our newest Khan and he has entered a world where technology is moving sometimes faster than the speed of light it seems. A world that seems upside down with everything that's going on. A world where beauty, hope, love, compassion, intelligence, freedom and everything worthwhile exits. He will be surrounded by love, friendship, care and devotion<br />
<br />
I know his parents will give him the best life possible for him and he will have the benefits of many older cousins and aunties and uncles. His dad is still considered the "cool uncle" with his wide horizons and broad spectrum of interests, and if I know my brother well, he will be exposed to a world of experimentation, exploration, and excitement.<br />
<br />
Hello world, here comes Mika Khan. Oh baby!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-80558658420502407132012-03-09T21:03:00.002-05:002012-03-09T23:14:56.328-05:00Bibi Part DeuxHere we go again with the Bibi name. Please feel free to revisit the blog post from June 2011 ~ <a href="http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/2011_06_01_archive.html">Bibi</a><br />
<br />
It has been a while since I've blogged and I've missed doing so. I've decided to re open or re hatch the discussion of the name thing. Most people when they choose the name to be given to their offspring, chose names they think will be the best one for their new person.<br />
<br />
I was given the very pretty and unusual name of <i><b>Shaeeza</b></i>. Well, it is my official middle name with Bibi as my first name, but that is the subject of another blog post mentioned afore. I gently suggest you read it so the rest of what I say would make some kind of sense. I was thusly named <i><b>Shaiza</b></i>, so spelt by the registrars who thought it very unwise to have the parents of babies born in the British colonies fill out official name forms. Many a sad story has been told about the mistakes made in registering babies' names. Most misspelt, horribly documented with extra or missing consonants, vowels, or just plain butchered beyond recognition. Many just learnt to love their name as is and many changed it as soon as they could by deed poll.<br />
<br />
However I learnt my name as <i><b>Shaeeza</b></i>, I spelt it that way, wrote it that way and knew myself as Shaeeza. Imagine the shock to my tender self when a smart mouthed teacher told me my name was not spelt <i><b>Shaeeza,</b></i> but that it was actually supposed to be <b style="font-style: italic;">Shaiza.</b> I didn't know who to be angry with, my parents for not teaching me the spelling on the birth certificate or the teacher (did I mention she had a smart mouth?) for pointing out my ignorance. My nine year old self was mortified as this was the first instance I actually dared to argue with a teacher. You'd think a child would know to how to spell her own name. So very reluctantly and very sulkily and not very happy at the prospect of changing my name, I began using <i><b>Shaiza</b></i> as my name. Part of my bone of contention with this rogue variant of my name was simple, people seemed to have a hard time pronouncing it correctly, making me more annoyed and sulky than ever, hence sticking to the Bibi, now they couldn't possibly mess that one up could they? Turns out they can.<br />
<br />
Fast forward to my becoming an American citizen and while I considered dropping the Bibi from my name, I changed the spelling from that dreaded <i><b>Shaiza</b></i> to the much more friendlier <i><b>Shaeeza</b></i>. Although it can seem confusing, the three vowels in a row can be easily pronounced rather than the very confusing <b style="font-style: italic;">Shaiza. </b><br />
<b style="font-style: italic;">Sha ee za,</b> see how easy? Now try <i style="font-weight: bold;">Sha i za! </i>Point proven.<br />
<i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
In all my adventures with my name I have always wondered what the meaning of my name was. Finally a few weeks ago, my very best cousin in the world had her son find out the meaning for me. Turns out, the name Shaiza means ~ firm, raised, extreme, severe. I am beginning to think that I should have let sleeping names lie. But it is my name and depends on who you may ask, it suits me very well.<br />
I am firm.<br />
I am raised<br />
I am extreme<br />
I am severe<br />
I am ShaeezaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-30701419385450993332012-01-25T09:38:00.002-05:002012-01-25T10:37:46.907-05:00Bravery<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/bravery.html">Bravery</a> comes in many stages and we are often judged by how others perceive our bravery or lack of it. Opportunities for being brave confront us daily. Many scenarios come into play throughout our day causing us to question our sense of bravery or face up to it. Start with your morning call, whether it's coming from a clock, a phone or your significant other shaking you into wakefulness. It takes bravery to begin a new day and face whatever it may bring.<br />
<div><br />
<div>Bravery is the mundane task of driving to work or braving public transportation to get there. Think about it. You are brave entering stairs into the world under city streets to get into a shiny cylinder jam packed with humanoids to spend the day in a cubicle where you probably won't see sunlight until the summer solstice comes around again. Driving makes even the most timid of <a href="http://www.personalitypage.com/high-level.html">personalities </a>morph into a dare devil of a person who takes chances peering around blind spots and praying to god almighty that someone else doesn't come barreling into you or cuts you off. </div></div><div><br />
</div><div>Opportunity for bravery can crop up when it's least expected such as taking the first painful step after surgery. More times than none are patients scared of taking that first step out of bed. Afraid of <a href="http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/default.htm">pain</a>, afraid of popping stitches, afraid to breathe, afraid of going back to not being well again.<br />
<br />
Bravery steps up when they realize that the first step wasn't as bad as they thought, the stitches are still tight, breathing actually helped with moving, they were going to get better and there is only of slight chance of them going back to where they were.<br />
<br />
It takes bravery to be the first to break a silence, to write an <a href="http://www.agmconnect.org/RCP/sample_letter.aspx">inquiry letter</a> to an agent or a publisher.<br />
It takes bravery to be the one to approach the person who holds your heart.<br />
It takes bravery to be the one to go against society and claim your <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120603/">beloved</a>.<br />
It takes bravery to be the one to let go of your <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sticky-bonds/201007/first-love-lost-love-is-it-imprinting">first love</a>.<br />
It takes bravery to let your child walk into his <a href="http://www.education.com/grade/kindergarten/">Kindergarten</a> class all by his lonesome self.<br />
It takes bravery to sit down your family and tell the worse news they could ever expect to hear.<br />
It takes bravery to know when to cut off the parasitic people in your life,<br />
<br />
Bravery steps up when our hearts, bodies and mind reaches for it.<br />
Go ahead, be brave.<br />
The pain will diminish, the stitches will hold, you will get better.<br />
<br />
Breathe</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-66785250385552234452011-12-29T11:56:00.002-05:002012-01-09T21:55:30.762-05:00Bygones and New Year Resolutions.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TR4aODHQkv0/Tvyhj90C4iI/AAAAAAAAAHA/De2Srl1y18w/s1600/hny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TR4aODHQkv0/Tvyhj90C4iI/AAAAAAAAAHA/De2Srl1y18w/s320/hny.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
It comes without saying that another year has past. Unless, you're some sort of person who relies on something other than traditional time keeping, I'm saying nothing new. And of course everyone will be saying how fast the year had come and has now gone. The speed of the past year is relative and to a child waiting on Christmas morning, it would have seem like forever, whereas other (ahem) older folks would be spinning thinking, "Are you serious? Is it Santa time again?" "I've only just paid off last year's credit card bills!"<br />
<br />
The year two thousand eleven bought its own unique events, trials, joys, experiences and sorrows. Each year leaves a stamp on your heart and lives and this year was certainly no exception. For the most part, everyone stayed safe and I was able to witness how well my arm would fare when my entire bodily weight would fall on it. Excruciating pain, varying types of narcotics, a fifteen thousand dollar surgery, one neon green cast later traded for a bright pink cast and a number of hand therapy sessions would relate to me exactly how my arm would fare......... not so good.<br />
<br />
Have I attempted any of my resolutions I made at the beginning of the year? I didn't make any. Refer to my post....... <a href="http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/2011/05/bad.html">http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/2011/05/bad.html</a>.<br />
<br />
Things have certainly improved since then and all those events have actually made us stronger and closer as a family unit. Many have said that it takes tragedy to bring people together and many times over it has been proven correct.<br />
<br />
Will I make new year's resolutions this time around? Hard to say. A resolution I once made was "I'm never doing this year again". I don't think that applies to this year. For despite its many extreme downs, it has been one of the more rewarding years in a long time. The highs of this year were rewarding and brought new hope each time. Many of the lessons learnt this year will forever stay with my family and I.<br />
<br />
Instead of making resolutions, I will instead try to cross things off my bucket list and live each day for what it is. A gift to spend with loved ones and a way to get my dreams. My biggest dream? To have an agent. To be published. To see my books in scholastic book clubs. One day......<br />
<br />
For now, it's saying so long to the year two thousand eleven and recall fondly the many happy, loving, trying and challenging days it brought us all.<br />
<br />
Bygones.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-41621955563210311352011-12-05T20:33:00.000-05:002011-12-05T20:33:20.162-05:00BrothersThis has been on my mind for a long time - brothers.<br />
I just have one brother and every corny and/or inspirational quote circling in cyber space cannot effectively convey the love for brothers.<br />
<br />
My four daughters have just one brother also and as much as they tease him and at times make him feel alienated, they love him to pieces and would give their lives for him willingly.<br />
<br />
I remember the day my brother was born as if it were yesterday. My dad came home from the hospital that Friday and announced to us that our mom had a baby boy. To say the least, my soon about to be ten year old self was dumbfounded.<br />
A BOY!?!<br />
<br />
My dad was known for his joking around with us girls and I was very skeptical at hearing what he was saying to us three girls. A boy?? No he was definitely joking. That baby was a girl, my mom had a girl. We wanted another sister. What could we do with a boy? We had enough boy cousins around. We didn't need boy to play with, we needed a girl.<br />
<br />
In the days after, everybody seemed to go a long with my dad, smiling and saying we had a brother. Seven years after her last baby, my mom came home from the hospital and sure enough she was carrying a brand new baby boy. I don't think we were too happy at the fact it was a boy. We were just excited that we had our very own baby to play with. And what a cutie he was!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3QlktnLq01o-fjjOSCxMqStVKSvpFi781-_g3STB8P3SMlBXafvUgi7a6Pjfzyoaww7OhAVvVx9O4RfGzSuwS7zze2HDBxRBO_bnJVeYk7uaonXgEG2PytkrB6Wkphj5Y0JaSmBNC3M/s1600/baby+re.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3QlktnLq01o-fjjOSCxMqStVKSvpFi781-_g3STB8P3SMlBXafvUgi7a6Pjfzyoaww7OhAVvVx9O4RfGzSuwS7zze2HDBxRBO_bnJVeYk7uaonXgEG2PytkrB6Wkphj5Y0JaSmBNC3M/s320/baby+re.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
As my brother grew from a pampered baby to a cute toddler, he was often times subjected to many occasions when his three older sisters tried to fulfill their need to have a living doll to dress up. Yes, we dressed him up like a doll and boy did we get yelled at. But he soon learnt to run in the opposite direction when we came at him with frilly clothes and lipstick. And run he did, he stayed outside our house since to be in the house with three sisters would be a fate worse than death.<br />
<br />
For those of you who have read my blog, you know that my extended family is quite large and mainly populated with females. At family gatherings, my brother would longingly and hopefully watch the door open, waiting to catch a glimpse of another boy coming in. I distinctly remember his exasperation at seeing only girls coming and him declaring in disgust, "Another girl!!" before stalking back outside the house.<br />
<br />
When he was eleven, I got married and left for New York soon after. I did not get a chance to see him grow into adulthood. But was pleased every time to get reports of how he was doing.<br />
<br />
My brother became the uncle to five boys and they all consider him the "cool uncle" as he was able to empathize and guide them as need be. All my nephews were often over at his house for boy weekends of just boy stuff happening. Video games, monster truck rallies, cricket games, movie night, car racing, motor cycling, fishing, boating and other boy important things that we girls think beneath us. (Well, sometimes).<br />
<br />
Now my brother is an adult, a self sufficient, societal contributing member and a friend. Although, I am the oldest of our family, there are many times, where I have dialed his number and just said, "I need to talk", and he'd make the time for me. He has advised me and counselled me and helped me through some rough patches and I know he'll still continue to do so with each of his three older sisters.<br />
<br />
My brother has been married for more than five years now, and will be adding to our family as I have often referred to him as untapped resource. I pray and hope the very best for his little family and I know he'll do extremely well as he has shown with his ability as a son, uncle and a brother.<br />
<br />
Brothers................unmatched love.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXC8bq9o3GV8-XaAgZrpAS2izmX7onfrPFr7AwP7jC1B_x21LSDPXAW0te0KBtAhWdzy_OqBprDpPGhTakyJz5xn27NQ_FJsEBlOpi_76yTPjdkjZO9ZehJ1TfdvxnEmeGaI3hbE08ck/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXC8bq9o3GV8-XaAgZrpAS2izmX7onfrPFr7AwP7jC1B_x21LSDPXAW0te0KBtAhWdzy_OqBprDpPGhTakyJz5xn27NQ_FJsEBlOpi_76yTPjdkjZO9ZehJ1TfdvxnEmeGaI3hbE08ck/s320/9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-67703439911151378452011-10-30T15:47:00.004-04:002011-10-30T16:12:04.932-04:00Broken hearted<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In our travels through life, we've heard that a heart has been broken. A friend's, a sibling's, a child's, or ours. It's likened to a loss, a death, the demise of a relationship.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> It brings on anger, depression, confusion, fear, pain, sorrow, loneliness, and an insatiable need for sad songs, carbs, ice cream, tissues, chocolate and a warm fuzzy place.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Along with that, other responsibilities tend to go south as the "broken hearters" soon move out of their normal living domicile to the more appropriate one as featured in Broken Hearts Digest, complete with unwashed hair, clothes, half eaten pizzas, opened jars of peanut butter, melted ice cream, chocolate wrappers, muffin bottoms, blankets strewn around, stereo stuck on "our song", telephone/laptop, smart phone within a one second reach.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The observed (may not have been true anthropologist observation) behavior of the ones who fall into the Broken Hearters category are not limited to:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* stare longingly at the phone, checking and rechecking, making sure the ringer is on and that it's been charged.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* reliving the last moments of the relationship, rereading the snippets of last conversation, last texts </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* stalking the loved one now obsessed about said person</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* substituting inanimate and animate objects for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the loved one now obsessed about said person</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* dressing said unwashed body in the left over clothing left behind by </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the loved one now obsessed about said person</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* self imprisonment in the domicile that would be the envy for every reader of Broken Hearts Digest</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* severe anti social tendencies stemming from the abhorrence of anything jolly and not depressed</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* developing the mask of the broken hearted, drawn pallid skin, hallowed red eyes, cracked dry lips, sucked in cheeks, swollen eyelids</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dealing with a broken heart takes time just as in the death of a loved one. The stages of grief are stated for us to be able to understand how the person deals with a loss.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">Denial </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">Anger</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">Bargaining</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">Depression</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;">Acceptance</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">These stages are most often dealt with and last in varying ways as with each personality. Some may spend more or less time on a particular stage, Some may rush through some stages and spend a considerable, pathetic amount of energy on some causing on lookers to gather.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">A broken heart is nothing to be laughed at or ignored, a person going through a broken heart may never truly recover as scarring tissue from a broken heart leaves a permanent mark. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">But the broken hearters can get better if they so desire and some do eventually make it and move on, some unfortunately succumb to the emotions of it and never truly move on, others give up and allow their broken hearts to lead them down a path that ends in their own demise. Others write songs, books, poems, music for other broken hearters to relate to.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">But every broken heart also means that there was once love, deep love!</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-8759628008642707512011-09-24T09:26:00.003-04:002011-09-24T15:25:28.642-04:00Blog a licious tour<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<h2 class="date-header" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font: normal normal bold 11px/normal Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: small; letter-spacing: inherit; margin: inherit; padding: inherit;">SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011</span></h2><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry" style="margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1879866081702535597&postID=875962800864270751" name="9078910628069173708"></a></span></span><br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font: normal normal normal 22px/normal Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; position: relative;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour 10</span></h3><div class="post-header" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="position: relative; width: 420px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(238, 238, 238); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XGb2WqkIT6c/Te3qq97mmvI/AAAAAAAAA2A/ILbX4qKIam4/s1600/bloaliciouusblogsbanner125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc6611; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XGb2WqkIT6c/Te3qq97mmvI/AAAAAAAAA2A/ILbX4qKIam4/s1600/bloaliciouusblogsbanner125.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 0px 0px 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 0px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Join Me!<br />
Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Come join us on a fantastic blog hop that brings together bloggers of all genres, backgrounds and locations.</i></span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i></i></span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">Tour Date - <b>Saturday, 24 September</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">Theme - <b>Punctuality Is Necessary Or Overrated? </b> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">1. Debbie - <a href="http://scatteredmusings.net/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://scatteredmusings.net/</a> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">2. Shelley -</span></span></span></span><a href="http://bookfare.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;"> http://bookfare.blogspot.com</a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">3. Janu -</span></span></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com</a></span></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">4. Ryder - <a href="http://ryderislington.wordpress.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://ryderislington.wordpress.com/</a> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">5. Dora - <a href="http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/2011/09/punctuality-is-necessary-or-overrated.html" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">6. Lorhainne - <a href="http://lorhainneeckhart.wordpress.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://lorhainneeckhart.wordpress.com/</a> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">7. Shaeeza - <a href="http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">8. Corinne - <a href="http://www.everydaygyaan.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://www.everydaygyaan.com/</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">9. Dora - </span><a href="http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; line-height: 16px; text-decoration: none;">http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/</a> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Punctuality </span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Hmmmmmmmmm, my pet peeve.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 1.4;">I like </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">punctuality, the word itself, the sound of it and the very existence of it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">For me in my life, punctuality is never over rated and it is an actual need.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">For my Kindergarteners, it means being there for a full day - from the ease of transition from home to school and not having the feeling of being "left out". So many kids come to school late missing that very important transition period and begin their day feeling very disjointed. Not a good feeling to have first thing in the morning at age five.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">For my family, punctuality means you'd better be dead in a ditch somewhere if you're late. As a wife and a mother of drivers, that feeling in the pit of your stomach when they're late knows no comparison. I have a very fertile and active imagination and the things that go through my mind when someone does not show up on time would be enough to supply Stephen King with fresh new material.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">You know, what's funny? This blog tour is about punctuality and I'm probably the last one to post, but it's in before 12 noon! So I'm not late!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Keep on reading and please do visit the other wonderful bloggers.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Have a great bloggy weekend.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-14347647580567392702011-08-30T18:05:00.002-04:002011-08-30T18:11:07.187-04:00Bash, blow out, feast, shin dingEid Celebration<br />
<br />
As a young child, I remember being woken up early in the morning. The house filled with the smells of my mom's cooking, vermicelli, beef curry, fried rice, chowmein, chicken stew, pepper pot, dhal polourie, fruit cake, sponge cake amidst all the finger foods she made the NIGHT before. I don't know how she ever did all that work with three young kids. My dad was the decorator and he dressed up our house with streamers and balloons just to make the day special for us.<br />
<br />
For days before the big event, mom spent at her sewing machine. Measuring us, and cutting and sewing and making sure her girls were dressed in their best. (See picture below)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7sKs9MmnaLCg5yWbVic5zKxjp1WHqM_iDxXThWU8QbqIA3SHtC77-_BHVvkHJJa89m4ETlbgOVF68yzG4mIfuXilGYDlSCx66IhQ4XxYA-NO3ahcKEI1U18TYc7HCpJNFCPCvYW0aAc/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7sKs9MmnaLCg5yWbVic5zKxjp1WHqM_iDxXThWU8QbqIA3SHtC77-_BHVvkHJJa89m4ETlbgOVF68yzG4mIfuXilGYDlSCx66IhQ4XxYA-NO3ahcKEI1U18TYc7HCpJNFCPCvYW0aAc/s320/13.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
The afternoon before would have kids looking out the windows at sundown, looking and praying for that new crescent that heralded the end of Ramadan and made the next day Eid. How happy we were when we saw it and how disappointed we were when it wasn't seen. That meant one more day of fasting and Eid was yet another day away.<br />
<br />
The songs that came from our radiogram filled our ears and heads with memories that takes us right back to that time when we hear them now. Beautiful songs by India's son, Mohamed Rafi were played from LP's and 45's.<br />
<br />
Come Eid morning, we were dressed and made our way to masjid - La Grange Masjid on the West Bank of Demerara in sunny Guyana. Come to think of it, I don't ever recall Eid being anything other than a sunny day in Guyana. That masjid is loaded with memories for all four generations of the Khan clan. My uncle was the Imam there and now my cousin (who is my age) is the Imam. La Grange masjid has always been home to us and all the aunties who are the staple and backbone of the masjid have known me since I was a baby bump for my mom. After the Eid prayers and Khutbah, us kids were hugged and kissed and given money. There were always the kids who tried to get as much money from as many people as possible especially those incorrigible boys from the previous post.<br />
<a href="http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/2011/08/boys-in-ramadan.html">http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/2011/08/boys-in-ramadan.html</a><br />
<br />
No one seem to mind and in fact the men even forgot the antics of the boys during the night prayers....it was Eid and a day for the kids.<br />
The first house we visited was my uncle's house - the Imam, then we walked over to my grandparents' house and then over to my aunt's house where we spent the majority of the day. Come afternoon, we took a car ride over to my mom's parent's house where yet another feast awaited.<br />
Those long gone Eid days always bring back memories of us kids running around in Eid finery, with the excitement of seeing and meeting dozens of cousins from all over the country. Playing until dark and until one by one each family made its way back to their home. Lucky were the ones who got to stay extra days with the grandparents.<br />
<br />
As we got older, we were able to help my mom with the preparations, mostly me cleaning and decorating and my sister Farah cooking (pssst.... it worked better that way as I have a hard time finding my way around the kitchen and knowing what each ingredient is used for). My mom still sewed our clothes and she made sure we looked the best she could as now we were kinda fashion conscious.<br />
<br />
Our boy cousins with their friends started off the famous "walking" as it is known in Guyana, going from house to house, sampling wares put out by each happy, smiling host. By late afternoon they made their way from La Grange to Pouderoyen where we lived, a distance of approx. three to four miles. Here we'd put out our delicacies for their enjoyment. They ate, chatted and had a over all good time. The night ended up as movie night and more than likely with some of our cousins spending the night.<br />
Eid was perhaps the best day in our young lives!!<br />
<br />
This post is dedicated to all my cousins especially the La Grange troupe, Moneer, Shahab, Omran, KK, Talib, Gamal, who now have their own families to celebrate with and Mehboob and Junior who have since departed this world. I miss those days.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-7840372324518248622011-08-27T07:29:00.000-04:002011-08-27T07:29:24.526-04:00Blog Tour<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">1<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">. Shelley - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://bookfare.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://bookfare.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
2. Totsy - <a href="http://totsymae.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://totsymae.com/ </a><br />
3. <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Janu - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com</a></span></span></span><br />
4. Shaeeza - <a href="http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/</a><br />
5<span><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">. Dora - <a href="http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-does-freedom-mean-to-you.html" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://peacefrompieces.</a><wbr></wbr><a href="http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-does-freedom-mean-to-you.html" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">blogspot.com/</a> </span></span></span></span></span></span>6. Corinne -<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a href="http://www.everydaygyaan.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://www.everydaygyaan.com</a><br />
7. Rhiannon - <a href="http://www.rhiannonpaille.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://www.rhiannonpaille.com/ </a><br />
8. Ryder - <a href="http://ryderislington.wordpress.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://ryderislington.wordpress.com/ </a><br />
9. Karen - <a href="http://www.karenvwasylowski.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.karenvwasylowski.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a><br />
10. Karen -<a href="http://www.britsunited.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> http://www.britsunited.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a><br />
11. Dora - <span style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://blogaliciousauthors.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://blogaliciousauthors.blogspot.com/</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Thanks to Dora for another delightful blog a licious tour. Please visit, sit for a while, leave a comment and then hop on to the next exciting blog. some have give a ways, others have pictures, all have something interesting to share. Enjoy!!</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">This week's topic is about - drum roll - "PEOPLE WHO TURN ME OFF!"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Now this list can be either pretty long or pretty short depending on my day. And we get days like that. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Mostly I'm pretty easy going, ignoring the haters and living it up with the "happy people". I like good company as most people do and try to surround myself with such. There are times when I'd like to press a button and just get rid of the person who just plain fell off the rude wagon. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I can't stand rudeness or rude people. There is such a thing as manners and being well brought up. I'm not saying you have to be starchy and stuffy - just have manners.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I teach Kindergarten in a private school and the first thing we do together is make up the class rules. They are very simple.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">1. Always follow directions</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">2. Don't hurt anyone with words or body parts</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">3. Tell me only what you did</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">4. Use good words</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">It works very well. Sometimes I think people need to revisit their kindergarten days for a few moments, learn to share, hold hands, make sure your buddy is alright, use good manners and don't snitch.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Rudeness makes me bristle and turns me off!!</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-20062480853008601012011-08-22T07:04:00.004-04:002011-08-22T14:54:25.062-04:00Boys in RamadanNow I may get into trouble for this post by some very conservative people out there, but then I'm not writing to please anyone.<br />
<br />
I always laugh out loud whenever I hear stories like these. I come from a very large family and the stories I've heard from my millions of cousins and high school friends will make any law abiding citizen blush, cringe, or laugh. Indians sometimes are too prolific for their own good. I ended up with a large family of my own - 5 kids.<br />
<br />
During the month of Ramadan, many people, actually the majority of people welcome the respite from all their daily struggles and seek to find forgiveness, peace and solace with their Lord. Many young children are given the opportunity to wake up with the grown ups and begin their fast for the first time. Many people see this as an opportunity to practice this part of their religion for at least this month. And still there are others seeking to become closer to their lord and try to wring every ounce of goodness they could garner from this month as no one is sure of the future.<br />
<br />
Then there are the boys.<br />
Hmmmmm<br />
<br />
Highly debating whether I should continue with this post. I have already spiked your interest, no?<br />
<br />
With the abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, comes the night prayers at the masjid. During this month, the sense of family and love and community is very strong. Everyone gathers to break their fast and then stay on for the extra prayers every night. It really is beautiful.<br />
<br />
(note to my mom - don't read further)<br />
And as a child in Guyana, these nights always bring back fond memories of friendship, laughter, happiness, a little bit of matchmaking, passing love notes, and old ladies giving us the stink eye because we couldn't stop the giggling. And the sneaking out from under moms' stern and watchful eye to meet ..... ahem!<br />
<br />
But I think the boys had it best.<br />
<br />
In every masjid right now in the world. I seriously doubt that I am wrong. There is a line at the very back filled with young boys who purposely go to masjid for things other than dutifully performing their prayers. Call it the channeling of Tom Sawyer or the Huckleberry Finn Syndrome, these boys are not interested in the spiritual benefits of prayers. Be they ages fourteen to eighteen, and sometimes the occasional thirty something.<br />
<br />
Their soul purpose is to purposely disturb the prayers of the older men who take the night prayers to heart. They will out prank Ashton Kutcher any night of the week. And they would come out smelling like a rose as no one would give up anyone. And the older men had no way of proving who did it even if their suspicions greatly outweigh the innocent looks of suddenly quiet praying boys.<br />
<br />
Pranks I know they played:<br />
1. spit balls suddenly flying through the air aimed at upraised bottoms<br />
2. tying prostrating feet together<br />
3. pulling down loose pants<br />
4. rubbing coal on the carpet right where white clothed bottoms will sit<br />
5. starting a wave in the line by pushing from the ends<br />
<br />
There are more risque ones they played, but I'll stop here. Almost every night came with reminders to the boys to their purpose in the masjid. And every night, there would be at least one irate patron who is so offended by the boys' behavior that he would be in favor of banning the boys from masjid or better yet send them over to the women's section (which might have been the boys' ultimate goal).<br />
<br />
There was almost always some older men who defended the boys, "Hey, they're in the masjid, leave them alone". "Have you forgotten when you were their age?"<br />
They would continue to pray and keep a watchful eye on the boys. Some even went as far as to join the boys and sit amongst them to curtail the "nonsense". But their political aspirations would prove too much and they would end praying up front as babysitting a bunch of little boys wouldn't get them the position they wanted.<br />
<br />
Most of these boys do eventually grow up to become fine upstanding, productive members of society with a great love for their religion. They become Hafiz, Imams, scholars in Islam, doctors, pharmacists, bosses, lawyers, teachers, farmers, business men and great fathers themselves and contributors to the Muslim community.<br />
<br />
And I bet they all carry fond memories of when they were boys in Ramadan. Just ask any of them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-40575091271305185992011-08-15T14:25:00.002-04:002011-08-15T14:35:17.449-04:00BelovedLove, affection, cherish, devotion, adore, fervor, enchantment, soft spot, tenderness, fondness, piety, worship, rapture, courtship ..........<br />
<br />
Love is a common thread in everyone's lives. How can we live without it? Do we want to live with out it? Should we live without it?<br />
<br />
Some people live their entire lives surrounded by love.<br />
Some others live their entire lives searching for love.<br />
Some search for it in all the wrong places.<br />
Some people even have love enter their lives when they least expect it.<br />
Some people live their lives without even an inkling of what love is.<br />
Some people focus on their love of a deity rather than for humanity<br />
Some have found a balance of love in their lives.<br />
<br />
We all want love whether it's the blush of young love, the love of parent for child, the love between spouses, the love for God, the love for nature, the love for money, the love for knowledge. We all want it in vary degrees.<br />
<br />
I have been reading recently about true love, first true love. Many people have experienced it, many have continued in their love, many have lost it and many are rekindling it.<br />
Why?<br />
What makes your first true love so special?<br />
What makes it endure through out the years?<br />
What makes it so unattainable for some?<br />
Why does it bring the heart ache, the happiness, the contentment, the turmoil, the never ending euphoria?<br />
<br />
True love, mostly first true happens to many people in a young age, when they are forming connections similar to the same connections as a baby with a mother. First true love is beautiful in itself and many people are reconnecting.<br />
<br />
Boston Globe interviewer, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Carey Goldberg "notes some research indicates that a teenager may attach specifically to a first lover in much the same way as a baby attaches to a mother. "</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">"This hypothesis was given by Dr. Linda Waud, a Psychologist who wrote her dissertation on three reunited couples.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">“There is an actual neurological attachment that happens between these individuals,” she said, “and that’s why it’s enduring and it never leaves your mind. It’s there forever and ever.” Interestingly, Dr. Waud herself reconnected with a long-lost love after 35 years apart."</span><br />
<a href="http://shrinktalk.net/?p=190">http://shrinktalk.net/?p=190</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Quoted from Shrink talk -<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">As of 2003, Dr. Nancy Kalish had studied over 2,000 “lost love” relationships.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Dr. Kalish brings up a very interesting point: “therapists tend to underestimate the powerful nature of such old loves, especially first loves. As a result, they tend to tell such patients that their feelings for their re-found loves are based on fantasy and that they can find the same feelings in their own marriages if they only try. But that fails to take into account that reunited lovers really do know and love each other, and a first love, in particular, remains unique. This is not about sex, it is not about the spouse or the marriage, it is not a midlife crisis,” she said. “The reunion is a continuation of a love that was interrupted.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #d5d6d7; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">Why my interest in love and first loves? Simple, I am a witness to it. Many young people I know are embracing the way they feel and going after their first true loves. I say hold on to it and never let go. Once you recognize what you have, Never, ever let go.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-87649336058210195742011-08-08T22:39:00.002-04:002011-08-08T22:51:11.789-04:00Bee Sting Part DeuxIt's been almost a month since the first bee sting post. Is the bee still circling? Is he still aiming with deadly accuracy? Is the bee sting still there or faded away? You can bet your bottom dollar, bee sting is alive and well, or better yet still red and swollen.<br />
<br />
I started really working on my diet of losing some weight and trying to get rid of my apple of a body. I've lost an entire beautiful size.<br />
<br />
How am I doing it?<br />
Well ahem, a day at a time.<br />
<br />
Diet:<br />
Eating only the amount of what my eight year old would eat.<br />
Stocking up on yogurt and other healthy foods<br />
Bottles and bottles of water.<br />
Chocolate limited to about 2 Hershey kisses a week instead of an entire bag.<br />
Extra gum - dessert delights, instead of bowls of ice cream.<br />
No bread or baked goods as much as it pains me and calls for me .<br />
Fruits although my choice is limited due to my irrational allergy to fruits - hives on lips and mouth and throat closing inducing allergy.<br />
<br />
Exercise:<br />
Walking- up and down the rolling hills around my home, beautiful views interspersed with wild life sightings.<br />
Exercise on demand TV - belly dancing for beginners<br />
Rena's and Vena's belly dancing for beginners<br />
The pussy cat dolls - exercise workout<br />
Wii fit<br />
Just dance<br />
<br />
Seems quite impressive? Well using it and putting it into action can be an extremely funny way to lose some weight when you're me and live in house filled with comic wannabes.<br />
<br />
The first time I used Rena's and Vena's belly dancing for beginners, I was impressed with the seeming ease of the workout. Very low impact for arms and waist.<br />
Until they asked me to locate my rib cage - Are you kidding? Locate my rib cage and move it independently from my waist -is that even a legal thing to do?<br />
But it didn't stop there - they wanted me to feel my sternum and move my chest using my sternum - are they crazy? I can feel my sternum? Is that even humanly possible?<br />
Needless to say my first time belly dancing with the twins was an event thankfully witness free. Can you imagine how I would have looked to any innocent bystander? A round overweight 40 plus woman trying to imitate two lithe 20 year olds with about 40 years experience between them in ballet, belly dancing, classical and folk Indian dancing. After ignoring the comments from my family who I remind myself really loves me and wants me around longer than my apple body is willing to permit, I did the best I could and did feel some sort of burn.<br />
<br />
Then I joined Nazeefah on the Wii fit with just dance. Once upon a time, when I was younger, my cousins and I shared our beauty tips - some being dancing the fat away, and we did good. Fast forward to this time and that skinny girl is now hopelessly out of sync and uncoordinated to the extent that the easy songs on the just dance has the effect to turn her into a human pretzel with no hope of untangling herself. My score? Wouldn't you like to know. A miserable score that ranges between 3000 and 4000, not even enough for 1 and 1/2 stars. Did I stop there, no being the glutton for punishment that I am, I decided that maybe doing Michael Jackson experience would do me better. I soon find out that there's a reason he made millions doing what he did. Only trained dancers can keep up with him, certainly not short dumpy me. Shelving that idea real fast. Might revisit him later, or not, maybe in a next life.<br />
<br />
Then Mariam hands me her DVD - the pussy cat dolls workout. Have I learned nothing? But then I seem to be a glutton for punishment. So I popped that baby in and hoped for the best.<br />
Surprisingly, there is a great workout there. Easy warm up and the break down of the steps were easy to follow except for when they threw in a punch here and there to keep you on your toes. This is fast becoming my favorite workout.<br />
<br />
Not having a group or posse to compare notes with can be devastating to any weight lost program. But I am determined to do this and I've designated every Sunday to be measure and weigh in day.<br />
<br />
Anyone care for results? So far a total of 6 inches lost and a whopping ten pounds - yay! a whole baby, now only four more babies to go.<br />
<br />
So I think, maybe this time it will work - I know my muse will be ecstatic with the final results and my doctor might just be tickled pink with my blood pressure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-2268712020348235742011-07-15T17:34:00.003-04:002011-07-15T18:17:21.803-04:00Blogalicious blog tour<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How to stay worry free</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to another blogalicious blog tour compliments of Dora and all the other wonderful bloggers. You've just come over from Roy and his unique way of putting things. Stay a while here, browse and then head on over to Ryder. Hope you had fun and gained some insight on "How to stay worry free".</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">1. Janki - <span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://janukulkarni.</a></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">blogspot<wbr></wbr>.com/</a></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">2. Shelley - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://bookfare.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bookfare.blogspot.com</a></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;">3. Karen - </span><a href="http://karenvwasylowski.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://karenvwasylowski.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"></span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Dora - <a href="http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-does-freedom-mean-to-you.html" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">http://peacefrompieces.</a><wbr></wbr><a href="http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-does-freedom-mean-to-you.html" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;">blogspot.com/ <span style="color: black;"></span></a></span></span></span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span">5. Roy - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com</a></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">6. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Shaeeza - <a avglsprocessed="1" href="http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">7. Ryder - </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><a href="http://ryderislington.wordpress.com/" style="color: #0000cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://ryderislington.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com/</a></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">8. </span><span class="Apple-style-span">Karen - <a href="http://britsunited.blogspot.com/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://britsunited.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></span></span></div><div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div><div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Dora - <a href="http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://blogaliciousblogs.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usually when I have to write about a specific topic, I like to get opinions from various people, namely the members of my family. How to stay worry free is this week's topic and it can be akin to finding the holy grail for some if not everyone. </span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the responses I got after some weird looks, raised eyebrows and gestures that mean "are you crazy?"</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband aged 49 - pray and remembering God</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mariam aged 21 - yoya after crying about it</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Samirah aged 20 - have someone to talk to about it</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nazeefah aged 16 - listen to music</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dinah aged 13 - I don't know</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Danyal aged 8 - I don't worry</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me aged (never mind) - don't sweat the small stuff</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Worrying is relative according to my family. Depending on the age, lifestyle, and emotional level of the person, everyone has a different view on worrying and how to stay worry free. I have learnt a long time ago and many parents would have done the same as I, to ask myself this question when faced with a dilemma "Will this still bother me tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, five years from now, ten years from now?" and deal with the situation as such.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Many times, the situation can be dealt with as needed, others you need a bouncing wall to get your thoughts together, sometimes, you actually need someone else to put things into perspective. Still with others, music, a movie, a good night's sleep or even a tub of ice cream seems to do the trick.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I have a question though, do we really want to be worry free? Without worry, will we be able to plan for our very near or even distant future? Will we be able to think ahead and make provisions for our safety? Turns out I have more than one question. Worrying whether it's about our health, wealth, children, spouse, home, cars, religion, politics, education is an essential part of our make up. When it not too much, such as borderline neurosis worrying can help keep us sane!</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></div></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-52321401123321713892011-07-09T23:32:00.003-04:002011-07-09T23:50:53.191-04:00Bee StingShow of hands all those who have read "The Story of Ferdinand" by Munro Leaf. Great! Those of you who haven't read it as yet - please put it on your "To Be Read" list. Quite a story.<br />
<br />
For the sake of keeping my readership, the story is a sweet tale of a bull who was quite content to sit and smell the flowers in his pasture. One day when the bullfighters came to choose bulls for the next bullfight, Ferdinand just happened to sit on a bee. How Ferdinand roared and performed! The men thought that they had found the most fearsome bull and took him away for the next bull fight. In the interest of protecting people who don't like when they are given spoilers for a book, I won't tell how the story ends.<br />
<br />
Why am I writing about this? Well I was quite content like Ferdinand and liked doing my own thing, just like Ferdinand. Only I didn't smell the flowers all day. My forte was just happy being the person I was. But was I really happy or even satisfied?<br />
<br />
I just turned 40 something, and for some time now have been peering into greener pastures.<br />
<br />
I had been teaching for some years now and really looked at my life and decided that there was something else out there for me to do, so I decided to become a nurse.<br />
<br />
I started from the bottom, did a CNA course and started working in the hospital - no bee sting yet.<br />
<br />
My husband got into a terrible car crash and then I broke my arm - no bee sting yet.<br />
<br />
Went through some really tough times with kids and other such - no bee sting yet.<br />
<br />
I wrote a bunch of stories for kids and actually self published one - no bee sting yet.<br />
<br />
Then I looked at my self in the mirror - the bee is buzzing.<br />
<br />
Realization sinking in that I'm at high risk for diabetes - the bee is getting uncomfortably close.<br />
<br />
Factor in that I already have hypertension with an apple of a body - the bee is coming in with deadly aim.<br />
<br />
Given a challenge to lose the weight by someone who we will call my muse - BEE STING!!<br />
<br />
Now I've started my "lose some weight " plan, not a real organised plan, but a plan - more than what I had a year ago.<br />
<br />
- Watch portion size - now only eating what I would give Danyal my 8 year old.<br />
- put that Pilates DVD to some work and gain some return on my purchase<br />
-walk up and down the rolling hills surrounding my home in upstate NY<br />
- make some sort of connection with the Wii fit sitting in the family room<br />
- join the kids in doing "Just Dance" instead of laughing at them<br />
<br />
A plan of sorts.<br />
Keep checking back for updates as this is sure to get very interesting real fast.<br />
<br />
A number of things have the possibility of happening:<br />
a. Shaeeza continues through this summer and makes her doctor very happy<br />
b. She runs out of steam and returns to smelling flowers like Ferdinand (oops, sorry)<br />
c. She ends up actually gaining more weight as is her luck<br />
d. none of the above<br />
<br />
Let me ask you this - what will make your bee sting? For those who haven't yet read the book, what are you waiting for? A bee sting?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-29914009382266830232011-06-27T19:17:00.004-04:002011-06-29T05:38:08.925-04:00Bibi<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Of all the "B" words I know, this one is the one I really don't like. Bibi - spelt a few different ways. Bebe, Bebi, Bibe and even the occasional Beebe. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">You might ask what is a Bibi? According to urban dictionary - it is defined as "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;">Is the epitome of all things feminine and womanhood. Bibi means "mistress," "lady," "beloved," "wife," "queen," "lover" etc etc. </span></span><br />
<div class="example" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-style: italic; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"She's my beautiful bibi..."</span></div><div class="example" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">According to the baby name meaning website "Babynology", it is Persian meaning lady. It seems to be a beautiful name but don't let its innocent facade fool you. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;">Americans seem to like it as it is easy to pronounce and it can be a cute name, again that facade thing. I used it when I first started working in Brooklyn as a receptionist in an office, they really liked the name and thought it was cute - I didn't want to introduce them to my middle name. A conundrum of many vowels. Try saying Shaeeza three times fast - not very cute and no it will not open the gateway to the dark side. I promise. I used it during my five years as an aide in the hospital, I got so many compliments on it, it was quite a conversation starter. "Oh you have a cute name Bibi". and "Bibi, you are the bibiest of the Bibi's" and my </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;">Ukrainian friends when they call me"Be-bushka". </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;">As you can tell my first name is Bibi and here's the kicker - so does my sister Farah and my little sister Swafeha. See, losing that innocent face. Three girls in the same family with the same first name. What a tangled web we weave... But it doesn't stop there. I come from a very large prolific </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;">Indian</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"> family and we seem to bring forth tons of baby girls (they are still appearing today) and guess what? Most of my cousins have the same first name yes that Bibi - spelt in varying styles. One of my cousins even decided to get even cuter by asking to be called "B. I" How much cuter can you get?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">If you check my FB friends list, there are many Bibi's there. Seventeen at last count and seven are related to me by blood, that doesn't count all the closeted Bibi's who are reluctant to use the name. I don't blame them either. Still think it's an innocent name? </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I started a FB page whose title is "You know your're Guyanese if your first name is Bibi". I haven't checked back there in a while because it is practically terrifying exactly how many have that first name. It just might give me the hibby jibbies. Almost every Guyanese family know someone or many someones named Bibi. Losing that cuteness factor real fast.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;">When I was in elementary school in Georgetown Guyana, I used the name Bibi. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;">so did my sisters- we were</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"> Bibi S. Khan, Bibi F. Khan and Bibi S. Khan. See how my point is proven? Not innocent.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then came the day when a new girl entered my class - guess what her name was? Bibi S. Ally. I was delighted (young and foolish), oh here's another girl with my name, oooh maybe we can friends. Maybe we'll become pals, buddies, form a club or something, maybe even solve mysteries (Enid Blyton was a strong influence then on my impressionable life). The teacher trying to be nice said "Oh now we have two Bibi's , Bibi Khan and Bibi Ally". Oh the daggerish looks I got from her were practically designed to take the Bibi out of me! I shrunk back into my shell. Later that day out on the playground, she came over to me and hissed "I'm the only Bibi". I was too shocked to return with "But I was here before you". I thought it , but was too dumbfounded to say it. Innocence where did you go?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So I decided to drop that name, just didn't write it anymore and switched to my middle name - Shaeeza. I still keep it, you know legal stuff and all that, remember that cuteness factor, even I will admit to being fooled by its innocent facade, but you have no idea how tempted I was to literally drop it when I became a citizen. How many Shaeeza's do you know?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-8884255265257938102011-06-17T09:36:00.008-04:002011-06-17T12:08:46.240-04:00Blogalicious blog tour 2<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">It's that time again - another delicious Blogalicious blog tour! Thank you for stepping over from Dora's </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/">http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/</a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">the organizer of this blog hop. Our topic this week is about a book that most influenced us. What a topic! Everyone will have something unique to say, blog, rhyme or say in pics. Some are hosting giveaways, others just need a listening ear and everyone will be a delightful read. Visit, leave comments and follow. When you have sat a while here, hop on over to Mari's </span></span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://mariscamera.blogspot.com/">http://mariscamera.blogspot.com/</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #2a2a2a; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> and see what she is up to. Happy blog hopping!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">1. Roy - <a href="http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://royd-spiltmilk.</a></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">2. Sulekha - <a href="http://sulekkha.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow me" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://sulekkha.blogspot.com/</a></span></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">3. Dora - <a href="http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">4. Shaeeza - <a href="http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/</a></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">5. Mari - <a href="http://mariscamera.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://mariscamera.blogspot.com/</a></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">6. </span></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Paula - <a href="http://hardlineselfhelp.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://hardlineselfhelp.com/</a></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">7. Karen - </span></span><a href="http://karenvwasylowski.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://karenvwasylowski.blogspot.com/</a><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">8. Keiko - <a href="http://hannahweptsarahlaughed.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://hannahweptsarahlaughed.</a><a href="http://hannahweptsarahlaughed.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span>9. Catherine - <a href="http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/</a><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">10. Kate & Ashley - <a href="http://backofthebookreviews.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://backofthebookreviews.</a></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://backofthebookreviews.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">com/</a></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">11. </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Desiree - </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.desireeholttellsall.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://www.desireeholttellsall.com/</a></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">12. Sonia - </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://soniarumzi.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://soniarumzi.com/</a></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">13. DK Levick - </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span style="color: #888888; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://dklevick.wordpress.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://dklevick.wordpress.com/</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-size: x-small; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">14. Kelley - <a href="http://4theluvofwriting.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://4theluvofwriting.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">15. Tosh - <a href="http://totsymae.com/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://totsymae.com/</a></span><br style="line-height: 17px;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">16. Lucy - </span><a href="http://lifethrulucylasticaslense.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" title="http://lifethrulucylasticaslense.blogspot.com/">http://lifethrulucylasticaslense.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
<div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"></span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">17. Dora - <a href="http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0000cc; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;">The Book that inspires me the most.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">I have read so many books that it is hard to choose the one that inspired me the most, as most if not all has left an impact of some sorts on me and my life. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">But every time I come back to "Little Women". I first read this when I was just ten years old and I have since read and re read many times over. All the versions, the combined one with "Good Wives" and the original that I had bought at a library sale for 25 cents. I wished I kept it, but left it behind when I came to America. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">I loved Marmee and her way with her girls. I tried to see myself in the girls and as an older </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">daughter, I was Meg. Patient in her love for her family and proud of who they were. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">Now I'm the Marmee and I have four girls. I see my girls in them and I try Marmee's influences when dealing with them in all their dramas, whether petty or not. I try to mirror her wisdom and beliefs . Mariam 21, is Amy, liking nice things and always primping. Sam 20 is Joe who likes a good romp around the world and what I call her"walks abroad", Nazeefah 16 and Dinah 12 are both parts of Meg and Beth combined. They like to be home and make everyone happy like Beth and patient and proud like Meg. They all have varying degrees of girlhood drama and long suffering teenaged angst. Which makes me wonder how would Marmee handle today's girls? So I channel her especially when they try my very last nerve and try to be calm and patient. I've had many a "fess up" time with the girls as I ask straight questions and even though I get the short version sometimes, Marmee helps me see through the gaps and read between the lines.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;">Although I have not yet achieved Marmeedom I am trying everyday with my "Little Women".</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ7YIw4F3rkAiDBaSPyPgjY5srwDo0ve0aYVd_QPI9YN6NDPnURNzfCGA3IcTxIMZFdBWvVg1CqKAZ1e6yt-5LVLrOZr1z_IC-5_fscAHlFBKpFhydkQ5XjG4vqrmYL3fryCiXPvVQvk/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ7YIw4F3rkAiDBaSPyPgjY5srwDo0ve0aYVd_QPI9YN6NDPnURNzfCGA3IcTxIMZFdBWvVg1CqKAZ1e6yt-5LVLrOZr1z_IC-5_fscAHlFBKpFhydkQ5XjG4vqrmYL3fryCiXPvVQvk/s320/18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-75798823327100747632011-06-10T16:46:00.009-04:002011-06-10T17:55:22.897-04:00Blogalicious blog tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XGb2WqkIT6c/Te3qq97mmvI/AAAAAAAAA2A/ILbX4qKIam4/s1600/bloaliciouusblogsbanner125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XGb2WqkIT6c/Te3qq97mmvI/AAAAAAAAA2A/ILbX4qKIam4/s1600/bloaliciouusblogsbanner125.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Join Me!<br />
Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
Today we are blog hopping with the Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour, a fantastic blog hop that brings together bloggers of all genres, backgrounds and locations. In today's hop, you hopped over from<br />
<a href="http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com/">http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com</a><br />
stay a while and browse here and then continue the hop over to<br />
<a href="http://annalwalls.blogspot.com/">http://annalwalls.blogspot.com/</a><br />
do stop by and say hello plus some of us are having giveaways and contests. Sorry all I offer today is a topic post, but please do read, comment and follow if you can. My policy is I follow back! Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
Book-less World.<br />
The topic for this blog is "World without Books". I can't begin to imagine a world without books. Our civilization started as such - no books. No books doesn't necessarily mean no knowledge or stories, in fact it means creative ways to get your message across. The passing down or on of knowledge is the single most important duty we have to our civilization. In our future advancements, our writings might be considered primitive in all of its formats - digital or not.<br />
<br />
Even if there are no books, there will be story telling, story acting, and story sharing. There might be a sense of community, since people like being together for story telling. At times reading a book can be selfish - just you and a book and your mind's eye. At other times, a joy in sharing - like when my eight year old son shares a funny part of his Tin tin books with his older sisters. At some times, a favorite part of the day - when my kindergarten class gathers on the carpet every morning for story time. At times, a learning experience, when we sit at a table for a book club. (Now here I've digressed- I am supposed to be writing about a world without books and I prefer to write about books.)<br />
<br />
The human mind is an amazing thing. It can supply endless ways of entertaining the body it's connected to. If there are no books, the stories, ideas and thoughts conjured in the mind will be enough to find a way to communicating it to others - hence the primitive paintings found in caves and on hillsides. (I bet they thought those drawings were "state of the art"). The findings of scrolls and other primitive writings found on stones and rocks tell of a desire to be read and to be read to.<br />
<br />
Given a choice I would much rather live in a world of books rather than one without.<br />
<br />
Keep on hopping.<br />
Thank you for stopping by.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-3637359477660113022011-05-27T22:46:00.000-04:002011-05-27T22:46:58.781-04:00Bones covered with furOur family is a cat loving one. When I was a child, there was almost always a cat in our home. My Aja always had cats surrounding him, you will see cats featured in my book The Rice Bag Hammock. We were always taught kindness to animals. My little sister was especially soft where animals were concerned. <br />
My husband and kids are no exception. When he lived in Brooklyn with his mom, he tried to adopt a cat, but had to return it to the shelter because his mom couldn't tolerate it. He was devastated and heartbroken. <br />
<br />
Fast forward to eight years ago, we had five kids and felt the need for a cat (new roommates - the horrible nasty creatures - mice). So we traipsed all the way to the North shore animal league in Long Island to adopt our very first- Kitty. you know, I've had five children and not once was I asked to supply three references before I could take a kid home. The nice people there made us wait until they contacted all three references!! Kitty was spoiled and loved, and nurtured. She cleansed our cramped apartment of mice. That summer, our home was ours again.<br />
<br />
Now we have 3 cats, Kitty, Kit and Pumpkin. Now kitty is keeping moles and mice at bay in our yard and neighbors'<br />
<br />
But what about "bones covered with fur"? you may ask.<br />
<br />
It's happening as I write. This past week, my husband sitting out on out deck, noticed a small stray and mentioned it to our first- Mariam. They saw her on and off in the following days.<br />
<br />
Two evenings ago, the kids were outside doing something I was paying no mind to. I was to soon find out. <br />
"Mommy come see something"<br />
"Mommy!!"<br />
"you need to be here"<br />
I ignored them. (nobody was bleeding - mothers have an innate sense of when something is wrong with their kids, and this occasion was not one of them or it just could have been from their tone of voice)<br />
Next thing I know, bowls were been filled with food, milk and water and the sounds of <br />
"ohhh, it's so cute"<br />
"It likes Kit"<br />
"Kit is the mother figure"<br />
"It's gray all over"<br />
<br />
I started paying mind.<br />
"No more cats!!"<br />
"Three is enough"<br />
"more poop in the litter box"<br />
"Kitty will become even more crazy" <br />
Did I mention that Kitty is very territorial and doesn't like the other two cats we do already have?<br />
<br />
Nazeefah comes in.<br />
<br />
"Mommy, it just bones covered with fur"<br />
NOW WHY DID SHE JUST SAY THAT?<br />
<br />
"Mommy come see"<br />
Again, NOW WHY DID SHE JUST SAY THAT?<br />
<br />
<br />
I debated, delayed and disputed. <br />
<br />
The cat was meowing. More food, milk and water.<br />
I got up to see. <br />
NOW WHY DID I DO THAT?<br />
<br />
They were right, the poor scrawny thing was just bones covered with fur. It looked hungry and unloved. Huge green eyes in its shallow face.<br />
<br />
Rain was coming and it was now night. Dinah got a box filled with a towel (making sure it wasn't my best one).<br />
<br />
We told them to leave it outside and to make sure it doesn't come into the house. We would take it to the shelter if it doesn't leave.<br />
<br />
It stayed outside the slider with Kit on the other side watching it all night and the next day. Last night was a thunder storm with hail. Mariam placed the box under the eaves with the coffee table over it, so it could be dry. The poor thing spent the night out again. It meowed all night long.<br />
<br />
Come this morning, it's still out there, now wanting to come in. Sorry cat.<br />
<br />
Mariam took her to the shelter this morning, but it was closed due to power outage. The woman told her that it was a Russian Blue and that they had no room. Fate you say?<br />
<br />
So Mariam give it a flea bath (no fleas) and brought her in. She is the most loving cat I've ever met. She sat on my lap as I checked email. She stayed curled up into a ball and slept as only cats could. She was probably trying to make me feel guilty for not wanting to have anything to do with her.<br />
<br />
We told the kids that someone is probably looking for this cat and that they should make flyers and to find out around the neighborhood if anyone's missing a gray cat.<br />
<br />
We spent this evening looking up Russian names for cats. Strong contenders are Kiska, Dior, Kitkat and Smudge.( I know not of all of them are Russian)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-41561453328567088852011-05-20T17:35:00.000-04:002011-05-20T17:35:57.922-04:00Bucket kickingSo apparently if you believe and follow a certain preacher man, we will all die tomorrow May 21, 2011 when this world will come to an end!. Yes he really believes that the world will end tomorrow. Many others will totally prepare to die tomorrow. Many others will scoff and turn away from him, and yet many others will watch and wait to see what will really happen. <br />
Which one am I?<br />
I don't even know if I'll wake up in the morning or if I'll live to see tonight. There's a thunder storm outside and anything can happen. That birch tree outside our living room can very well be split asunder and come crashing through the windows and I would have kicked the bucket. Or the pine trees in our backyard could kick their buckets and come tumbling down on our roof or some other such event. I wouldn't want that to happen to anyone, least of all myself and my family. All I know that one thing is certain.<br />
"Live you may, die you must".<br />
<br />
That certain preacher man says without a doubt that he will not be here tomorrow to give a follow up interview. <br />
What do you think?<br />
I say let's wait until tomorrow.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-21257203584167993382011-05-15T08:25:00.000-04:002011-05-15T08:25:45.325-04:00Birthday 2So I did promise to let you know what I got for my birthday. Surprisingly almost all of it.<br />
<i>My kids behaving (well)</i> They actually did<br />
<i>clean kitchen (my kind of clean)</i> I'll take their type of clean after all it's the effort that counts right?<br />
<i>folded laundry ( I can wish can't I?)</i> I folded, but then they were preparing dinner<br />
<i>no long hairs in the sink or bathroom floor ( is that too much?) </i>pretty clean bathroom considering that there are 5 females in the house who have varying degrees of obsession with their long black hair<br />
<i>a foot massage with out asking (ahhh)</i> didn't need one<br />
<i>a leg massage (restless legs are a bummer)</i> got it, it was awesome<br />
<i>breakfast (fiber less cereal or as Nazeefah calls it "petting zoo food for animals")</i> we threw out the petting zoo food for the birds to have, although I have a sneaky feeling , they left it for the bunnies that hop in my backyard when the kitties are not around, Birds are smart<br />
<i>lunch ( not a tuna sandwich)</i> a peanut butter and jelly sandwich<br />
<i>dinner ( grilled salmon sounds great)</i> steak and potatoes yummmmm<br />
<i>quiet (In my dreams!! psst it's not too quiet in there either)</i> quiet for them, if a house filled with 5 kids and 3 cats is quiet then they're all dead or something equally terrifying has happened<br />
<i>my husband walking (maybe next year's birthday)</i> yes I'll leave that for next year's birthday, although in my dreams he is up and walking like nothing ever happened<br />
<i>3 cars that work well (I think we deserve more than just the ability to turn on)</i>We had the van checked and it needs a minor repair and the 4 runner also just needs a hole welded in the exhaust and the elantra just needs AC<br />
<br />
Not bad, If I live to be 90, then I'm exactly halfway. Bring on the mid life crisis!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-14370615991308700562011-05-11T21:06:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:30:46.284-04:00Bucket ListMany people have a bucket list. There are blogs, whole websites dedicated to bucket lists. There are suggested lists of things to do, eat, drink, places to visit, funny suggestions, real intense - OCD inducing behavior types with daily reminders and motivational updates. Some of them are meant for people whose tax bill is my household's entire combined annual salary (if they pay any taxes at all, which I think is totally unfair, after all don't we all drive and use the same roads, but I'm going off on a tangent and that's a topic for a future post if I can figure out a name for it that begins with a "B")<br />
So back to the bucket list, I made a bucket list in my head last year and was able to figuratively cross out a few. Now this list is not by priority but by how I can pull them from the recess of my brain after all it has been a year, hence the need for a written list.<br />
1. Go to Hajj<br />
2. go on a road trip - we've gone on many and last year was first time I drove most of the way so I'm going o chalk that one up.<br />
3. stand at southernmost part of the USA, thanks to my wonderful family, we did just that.<br />
4. go on a hot air balloon ride- that might happen after I over come my unshakable fear of heights.<br />
5. publish my first book, even though it's only digital at the moment.<br />
6. stand at the most northern part of the USA - continental that is<br />
7. witness the northern lights<br />
8. travel across the USA in our RV and visit all wonders in this country<br />
9. ride a roller coaster, did that , done that, never again, refer to the fear of heights thing<br />
10. vegetate for one day, note:- tried many times, but apparently as a wife and mother you have obligations.<br />
11. stand on the great wall of China<br />
12. ride the ATV by myself and not be a passenger<br />
13. visit the great pyramids<br />
14. lose some weight apparently when you say how many pounds, you don't lose them, you gain them<br />
15. stand on four corners<br />
16. vote - never tried that<br />
17. take the kids back to Guyana for a visit<br />
18. ride an elephant, a camel, a horse, a donkey<br />
19. learn to roller skate I grew up in the eighties, yet it never happened<br />
20. learn to swim apparently fear of heights and water go hand in hand<br />
21. learn to drive stick, a old dog can learn new tricks<br />
22. travel to India to find my peeps<br />
23. travel to China to find my peeps<br />
24. learn to appreciate winter for what it is, a freak of nature<br />
25. eat sushi<br />
<br />
There, maybe I'll add to this or maybe not, I don't know how many I'll accomplish or even attempt. What I do know is that I have to work on my "to be done now" list.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-29824851805731276532011-05-08T20:15:00.000-04:002011-05-08T20:15:42.702-04:00beauty"Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder"<br />
<br />
"The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart."<br />
<br />
If you google beauty for quotes, tons of pages are available.<br />
<br />
I asked my husband what he thought of when he heard the word beauty and he said many things, that beauty is in everything. "A beautiful woman".<br />
Mariam says "beautiful people and things"<br />
Nazeefah says " beauty pageants"<br />
Dinah says "Beauty and the beast"<br />
Anyone can find beauty when ever and when ever they look. Beauty is relative.<br />
Many people have written tomes, essays and hundreds of words on beauty. I found beauty today on Mother's day.<br />
It was there all along, waiting to be noticed and cherished and remembered. With all that has happened in the past 5 months, I've forgotten how to look for beauty and today it reminded me.<br />
My son woke up and brought out his gift bag filled with cards he'd made and poems he'd written, He had made a mirror in his class painted green, his favorite color and decorated with pink hearts. He give me a certificate for being the best mother and hugged and kissed me. Beauty.<br />
My older daughter brought in her gift, a gift box bought late last night by her and her fiancée after their dinner out. White diamonds gift set - one of my favorite scents, an ahh inducing spray to begin the day. Beauty.<br />
Breakfast cooked on the grill, toast, eggs and beef strips with tea served by my son. Beauty.<br />
My kids bringing in complete bed set for my room in my favorite color. Beauty.<br />
My mom bringing in a box of stainless steel pots and telling me to throw away all my old non stick pans. Beauty.<br />
My mother coming over with my dad bringing fried rice, salad and homemade buns. Beauty.<br />
My husband singing to me what he remembers of the "Twelfth of Never". Beauty.<br />
Beauty is here and everywhere. Beauty is where you find it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003399; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><u><br />
</u></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-8562364668728297912011-05-07T07:55:00.000-04:002011-05-07T07:55:41.712-04:00BooksSo the 'B' words is actually supposed to be about books and yet so far I haven't mentioned books. Books are my life line, they are my loves and my dreams. As a child my nose was always in a book, I gained the nickname - Bookworm from my loving family. I didn't mind - it was the perfect name for me and I read and read. I read until I needed glasses. I read all the books in the house. All the books I brought home from the library were read before the day was out. I read a book a day. I read in the car, on the bus going to school, in the bathroom, in the hammock, at meals times, doing my chores, a book was never far away from my hands. I read above my level. I read below my level. I borrowed books from friends and I lent them. The best time I had a child was going to the library in Georgetown, Guyana with anyone who could take me. Browsing and perusing books on shelves, reading the comics,solving the puzzles, laughing at the jokes in joke books, reading magazines and just being with the books. Coming in at first place for the best time were the times my dad took me to the books store. Oh the joy!! The smell of fresh new books beats the new car smell any day. Maybe it wasn't such a good thing because I had a hard time just picking books to buy. I knew what section interested me, I just wanted them all.<br />
When I had exhausted the kid collection at my disposal, I went for my dad's book case and tried to read his collection for his college classes. I did and although the print was too small for my eyes (the reason I needed glasses) I read them anyway. I didn't understand them but I read them anyway. Years later reading back those same books as a adult, I take pity on my child self. I had read words and not the enormity of the literacy or the complexity of the language. Then one day when I was nine,my teacher brought in boxes and boxes of books his sister had outgrown. I read through her collection of Enid Byltons and it was here that I discovered the Nancy Drews. I would never forget that afternoon when I sat at my mother's feet while she prepared dinner and I moved along with her as she worked her way in the kitchen. It was The Secret Staircase. I was so scared, it was the most frightening book I had ever read (I was nine) and I couldn't put it down. I read that book cover to cover that afternoon. My first book in a day.<br />
Come the teen years and I moved on to the romance genre and voraciously read my way through collections of Mills and Boons, Harlequins, Silhouette and all the other novels meant for that age, and yet again I devoured all the books my uncle and cousins read.<br />
I started a book exchange club just so I could get new books to read.<br />
Now I am grown, at least I look so and I find myself reading children's books, I read all my kids' books and books to my kindergarteners.<br />
Now I write books. Now I review books.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1879866081702535597.post-21068905729013183922011-05-04T22:56:00.000-04:002011-05-04T22:56:13.653-04:00BirthdayI have a birthday coming up. What do I want for my birthday?<br />
My kids behaving (well)<br />
A clean kitchen (my kind of clean)<br />
folded laundry ( I can wish can't I?)<br />
no long hairs in the sink or bathroom floor ( is that too much?)<br />
a foot massage with out asking (ahhh)<br />
a leg massage (restless legs are a bummer)<br />
breakfast (fiber less cereal or as Nazeefah calls it "petting zoo food for animals")<br />
lunch ( not a tuna sandwich)<br />
dinner ( grilled salmon sounds great)<br />
quiet (In my dreams!! psst it's not too quiet in there either)<br />
my husband walking (maybe next year's birthday)<br />
3 cars that work well (I think we deserve more than just the ability to turn on)<br />
a flourishing garden ( my green thumbs turn blue before touching poor unsuspecting innocent plants - if you would like to have plant put down , give it to Shaeeza.)<br />
<br />
Now I could go on and on, but that would just make you realize how needy I am. So I'll stop. I'll let you know how many things happened on my birthday!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04302901368805442774noreply@blogger.com9