my life.

I love my friends. I took a semester off from school and I can honestly say I wouldn't have been able to survive it without a few choice people in my life. Have you ever heard that saying '..God made friends to make up for your families?', yes well I truly believe that to be true. Now i'm not saying families all suck but there are times when one would just rather kick back and chill with one's friends. That would be me.
I wanted to write about this for several reasons but the main one being to make myself feel better. Like I said I have a few really awesome friends but I also happened to attract some not so savory- ok really just one. This one person in my life has become the bane of my existence and I refuse to tolerate her anymore. Which is my prerogative- and more to the point, I don't need her. Ok there. I feel better. Now on to the juicy stuff.

I won't talk about Obama's pick for the supreme court becase I think that the right wing attacks on her are racist and sexist and unfounded. I like her. I think she'll make a good Supreme Court Justice. The end

The peace treaty between North and South Korea was rescinded earlier this week by the North. This particular treaty was drafted in 1953 and is the reason for the tenous stability between the North and South. This comes after the underground nuclear test that had taken place in Pyongyang. They have tested six missile shoots since monday.

There was a bombing in an Iranian Shiite Mosque two days ago by a Sunni anti-government group. Which the government claims to have apprehended. The bombing killed 30 people on a religous Shiite holiday, in Zahedan- border city of Pakistan.

I don't know if most have you new this but Sri Lanka has been in the midst of a 26 yr civil war that is seeing its last stretch. Yesterday the government shelled Tamil civilians, killing 20,00 people. According to the UN an average of 1000 civillians were killed every day until May 19- which was the day the leader of the Tamil Tigers was killed. The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate country of only Tamil natives for the past 26 years, and they have just lost their fight.

On that note, I shall leave you to enjoy the lovely pink sunset :)
Much love,

Make it what you want

I'm in Egypt right now! I still can't believe it and I've been here for a week now. Such a strange feeling it is to be walking the same streets of Nasr City in Cairo as last year... even stranger to see the same people working at the same shops from last year. So I've had a lot of reflections since I've arrived...

There’s a concept in social psychology that the situations you find yourself in are not random. They are a product of your behavior and your choices in life. Too many times we blame our environment for our shortcomings. But the truth of the matter is that we should be blaming ourselves.

I love Egypt. I really do. Last year I had the most amazing roommates mashaAllah (what God has willed) and I really felt that they were the reason that my experience was so wonderful. I was surrounded by people who had deep faith running through their veins. I was surrounded by a city filled with the unconcealed forthright remembrance of Allah. And most of all I was surrounded by knowledge and students of knowledge.

Before coming back to Egypt this summer, I was so excited to be back in an environment that would pull me back up again, that would bring me back to my roots of faith. It was almost as if I thought the feelings I have here in Egypt are impossible to have in the States. Although certain things at the moment are impossible in the States (like hearing multiple loud call to prayers five times a day from my balcony), I failed to realize that if my faith wasn’t stronger in the States it was my fault, not the States.

Right now I live in an apartment with three other girls. Most of the girls are really independent and are doing their own thing. We’re all living together yet are still so apart. I really wanted to bring us back together…and what better way than to pray together? This is something my roommate last year used to do all the time. This year I feel like her. She knew that she had to create her environment so she pulled everyone up so we could pull her up without even realizing it. Now the tables have turned and I’m finally realizing that in order for me to have a stronger sense of faith, I need to be the one who works at making my environment support me.
Yesterday I went room to room in my apartment asking the girls if they wanted to pray together. Surprised, they all got up, made wudu (cleansing before prayer), and came to the sitting room where we prayed together. It was so nice.

I'm slowly realizing that this summer is probably going to be a lot different than last summer in Egypt. I'm going to have to be the one that pulls everyone up...because if I don't I think I'll lose myself. Man, do I have my work cut out for me. I have to get these girls to come together and become like a family for the time we're here together.

So my first method was to pray together ...which has been working to some extent. My next method is to play the story game during dinner. Its basically where you take turns telling some interesting thing that's happened to you in your life. Any other suggestions??

, originally uploaded by Rabujee.

No other reason for this post, but to make you all hungry. This is Parmesan Encrusted Chicken with Mostaccioli. Had it a few weeks ago at my (new) favorite restaurant (because not only is the food delicious but all the meat is halal = eatable by ME and other Muslims). Yum.

Random, I'd really like to be try being a chef someday (but those of you who know me are probably thinking "what WOULDN'T you want to try?"). Yes, yes I'm bipolar when it comes to careers lol. Its fun making new and different things and being creative with spices (as funny as that sounds but coming up with new tastes/flavors is cool...except when its a FAIL, then that's just disappointing) . Lately, I've been trying cooking new things for the fam. on the weekends which is cool. Most of all I like to dress up the plate, table, etc. Presentation is the best-est part, no? And then watching a satisfied audience eat away is even better =).
I know a few of the writer's on this blog would agree.

Plus, its really nice to be able to make things that you might WANT to order (as a Muslim) in a restaurant but can't because the food isn't prepared the way your religion asks. Basically we eat meat that is blessed (with a prayer) before its killed. There are many other rules like making sure the cutting tool is as sharp as possible so the animal doesn't suffer unnecessarily (sharper knife means a swifter cut). The jugular veins are usually cut so that blood is properly drained from the body. Also its important to isolate the animal being slaughtered from others in line to-be-slaughtered. That's so the other animals don't go through psychological trauma of seeing what will happen to them. And another one is not to sharpen the knife or cutting tool in view of the animal.

Also, since I'm on the topic we're not allowed to eat pork, or the meat of already dead animals (since they were not blessed at the time they died and because they might have been weak, sickly, etc. ) Andddddd no alcohol.

So why did I start with all this? Oh right, eating at restaurants. Anyways, that's Islamic eating in a nutshell.

P.S. I'm off to class in a little bit, sometimes I wish they would hurry up and do hologram lectures or something. There's just so much more I could do at home, listening in on a lecture, then listening to it at school in a stuffy classroom.

Third World Greetings

This post is about one aspect of third world culture that exists in our community in America: "saying salaam", or greeting people.

Most of our non-Caucasian parents in the community come from "back home" and we, their offspring, are the first generation of American born/raised/both in this country. So we happen to be well acquainted with how things work back home because our parents express it in the community. For the most part.

One of those things is greeting people. Most of the times at parties, we have to go make a round of greetings around the room and say "hey" to basically every older person we know. Indians have big parties with lots of people. Sometimes my mouth goes dry at the end of it.

Should you NOT do this, you and your family are up for being talked about and some people take it to heart and never talk to them properly again. I am dead serious. It's pretty lame, but it happens. First of all, why should my mom or dad get hated on for something I did, especially when I am 23, not 2? Because it's my parents fault they didn't "raise" me well. Weirdos.Oh, and there is no second. Whatev.Oh yeah, there is. DO YOU REALLY CARE IF I SAY HI. Honestly? Okay maybe they do because it's a sign of respect in the culture, but sometimes people forget and it's stupid to make a big deal out of it.

Anyways, I never did this because I HAD to. I just think it's polite to do so and rude to ignore my mom's friends. Plus, I think in Islam you should greet everyone. Like when a person walks into a room he should greet everyone. I think you can give a big hello to everyone but our culture likes to take it a step further a greet every single person...?? And the young should greet the old first, the smaller group should greet the larger group. Stuff like that. So I always do..if I can recognize them.

But sometimes there are people I've never seen before who expect me to know them. WTH?? But they know me because apparently I'm a dead ringer for my mom. So what I do when I pass someone who I don't know if I know I just walk by nonchalantly like I don't know them. Usually they catch me and say hello then I'm like, "Oh wow! I didn't see you there!" And ask about their family and stuff, while in my head I'm trying to figure out who they are. Just kidding. Promise. But it's a great backup plan. But I am usually oblivious to my surroundings and luckily, I think people know that, and catch me when I miss them.

Especially family. Oh Em Geee. Like my mom's 3rd cousin twice removed who I've seen only when I was two years old. It's so redikulus {say it how it's spelled because that's how silly it is}. I was in India at the time and some family from Australia was there. I've never seen them I don't know their names or seen pictures. Distant distant family. So I greet them..then the most hated question in the world: "DO YOU REMEMBER MY NAME?"

Way to put me on the spot. I'm pretty sure she and I and everyone in the room know how stupid that sounded so I ignored it and just smiled. Then my great-aunt was like how H-E-L-L-O is she supposed to remember you?

Have you guys experienced this? I hope I don't turn into one of those when I get old. Maybe I'm exaggerating, something else us Indians love to do.

Our battered suitcases...

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life., originally uploaded by Rabujee.

I'm back (maybe too soon and I'm sorry if anyone else wanted to post) with a vengeance. Okay I sound dangerous but whatever. I'm mad. Mad. Mad. Mad.

Ten more today. Ten people let go from my workplace. And it hit real close to home because one of the sweetest co-workers of mine, with whom I shared "good mornings" and random laughter/jokes, who sat RIGHT next to me for the past 8 months is now GONE. I saw her packing her stuff into a box and it didn't register until she told me. I'm telling you the feeling SUCKED. I was sad because I'd miss having her around, she was a real friendly person and welcomed me the most when I first got there. And I was annoyed because why does it hit us first always, the engineers.

In the past, I've just denied it when I hear people say engineering is "dead end" but now at the "beginning" of my career I am facing this dilemma. I seriously felt like a loser, like the past 5 years of mind-numbing work was/is a FAIL. Staring at my computer, I kept thinking about getting out of this career, and fast. I thought about my options, kicked myself for not going into med or pharma like everyone else, and for the next few hours I seriously considered calling it quits.

Yet every-time I thought about going elsewhere I got sad and realized I don't know what to do. When I got into engineering and all the way up till NOW I've felt like an outsider. I've had to learn the lingo and literally think/talk like the boys...otherwise I wouldn't have survived. It's been a REAL challenge especially in the beginning, its harder when you have to PROVE to the team before you prove to the proff. that you can actually contribute ideas. I had a few encounters of sexism EARLY on but thank god recently its been great.

But now, especially now, when I finally am becoming comfortable in my skin at work, in my classes I get this blow (I forgot to say this isn't the first layoff its round 2 and yes 10 people doesn't sound like a lot but considering I work in a small firm, its 10 too many and who knows how many more after this??). I've never even considered switching to something medical but today I felt like that's the only thing that ever survives. And good for them but its like a slap in the face to me, I lost the race, because when I went into this I set out to prove to everyone that girls can do just like the boys and BETTER, that engineering is NOT dead end, and that there are more OPTIONS out there (this was more for my daughters in the future, I didn't want them to think science or pre-med is the only way to go).

I'm so mad I can't explain. You know in China (and probably elsewhere in the world) there's a 4 to 1 ratio of engineers to lawyers, they're VALUED there. And here its the opposite, there's so much red tape in all the industries and emphasis on BUSINESS appeal, marketing, management, cost reduction. What about the intelligence of the company?? Why are we always last when we MAKE the company? (Sorry I'm not saying that non-engineers are dumb, I just mean engineering firms that put out a product or an idea revolve around the engineer's work).

I don't have any automotive experience but from ALL the classmates I've had that ever worked in auto tell me the engineer is basically the last on the rung in that industry. We're treated as the "money takers" because putting out products that are safe and user friendly AND appealing takes money, research, and trial-and-error. Companies don't want to deal with all that.

So, have I lost the battle I set out to fight? I don't know, it sure feels like it today but I know one thing, I can't fit in anywhere else. Not now. Not ever. I hate thinking that I'd be compelled to shift directions. Depression is setting in right now, people.

I'm sorry to anyone who felt I was rude in this post, believe me I appreciate ALL fields from cooking to art to medicine to teaching to law, everything has its own place. But wake up WORLD, you can't run without the engineer!!!!!

---------------------------------------------------------

The original photo on Flickr was titled "Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life."

Anticipation--the roly poly kind

Last night I got this email from Constructive Attitude:

"hi. you haven't written a post in a while. can you please write one... where are YOU? i wanna read an AL post."

So per CA's sweet request, I'm here whether you wanted me to be or not hehe. Basically, I've had writers block ... ever since I joined this blog. That's WE ird. Is it possible for that to be a chronic condition? *sigh*

I just don't think i express myself in words anymore the way I used to. That bugs me. I used to be a book worm to the maxxxx, which means I built up my vocabulary pretty fast... and then I don't know what happened. Writing was probably my strongest skill in school, my dad always told me to write a book. But lately all that's gone down the drain. Now I can't even ask questions at work properly, I guess my brain has been stuffed and overstuffed with numbers and greek letters that I've forgotten english.

You know there was a time when I even wrote poems, like cute little rhymes. In 3rd grade we had a contest to write a poem about a llama (yes randommm topic). So mine went something like...

O Llama Llama
....something something
Mama

I know that sucked but I can't remember it now I for sure remember it had the words Llama and Mama in there a lot. YEA so creative =D. BUT I guess the rest of the kids in the contest were even LESS creative than I was because apparently I won the prize. It was a.... Star Trek pin HAHAHA! Which reminds me, today my friends (the bloggy ones and some more) made plans to go watch a movie--intended to watch Wolverine but were undecided as far as I know and were leaning more towards Star Trek. Seriously? Seriously! I don't know what ended up happening since I didn't go with them.

Wow I started off and went on a tangent immediately, that up there ^ was totally not the reason for this post...maybe this is why I don't post often.

Anyways, my cousin-in-law is pregnant with her first baby and is due like 2 seconds from now! I am so excited for her and a few weeks ago attended her baby shower. (That's where I met the cutie in the picture above). It was a typical shower with games and such but then we decided to throw in a little bit of a cultural curve.

So we did something I've only ever seen before in Bollywood movies --called 'Gaud Bharai.' Literally, it means to fill one's lap.

I'll try to explain from MY view (so don't quote me because I don't know if the purpose is what I imagine it to be). Since a pregnant woman is soon to have her lap filled with a cute n cuddly baby, they do this little celebratory ritual in South Asian countries where she gets to dress up fancy shmancy and her friends and relatives (all women-most of the time older women who are married or have kids themselves) get to "fill her lap" with goodies. They take 5 different kinds of fruits and drop them into her lap, along with that they fill her ear with some sort of advice or well wishes. The fruits, I think, represent enrichment of good foods in the baby's future and what-not. Its really cute but that's MY take on it and I'm no anthropologist so google it for better info if you please =).

So yea, I can't WAIT until this new baby arrives...*sigh* ... Maybe even before the week ends =). Kind of amazing to think of isn't it? A few days ago this life didn't exist (in the world where we could SEE it) but all of a sudden its here and its quite unique and curious in its own little ways. I think that calls for a SubhanAllah (Praise to Allah).

Jumping on the LoveWagon....or at least lecturing to those on it

You know how when you're visiting other blogs and you start seeing a common theme?

Well, the common theme that I've been noticing for this past week or so, seems to be LOU.
Didn't catch that? I meant LOVE.

Even while visiting the most unrelated blogs, they still shared that one post about love, or singlehood, or other things of that nature.

It's been almost three months since the lovely red and pink overloading your senses with hearts and chocolates day.

AKA Valentine's day

But it feels as though some sort of Valentine day like effect has taken place.
I think it might be because of the downward spiral of the economy. People are getting depressed (or sad) hearing about job losses, and the pessimistic futures of America or American companies.
And even entire countries going bankrupt.

So people start wanting to feel some kind of security, stability, and start seeking some kind of comfort.

Maybe you're not actively noticing the reason or at least one of the reasons why you and rest of the female population is moaning for love. And then there are some who start gushing the entire blogger community with their new found love, and then disappearing of to well...God knows where.
And the most popular, so many of you, stating their fears of being single forever. Because "there is no one out there" or maybe "I have too many flaws".
And then, "Will I be single forever?"

They did a study and it showed that because of the recession, people are starting to hook up sooner. So maybe the recession is having a subconscious effect on you.

Everytime I want to yell, that there is nothing wrong with being single! Enjoy it! Your "LOU" will come when it's time. And if you've found him, please don't pull an Edward/Bella and revolve your world around him. Other humans do exist, you know?

You are not the last surviving humans on the planet!!

Why is it that usually (I'm a happy exception) those who are single, are jealous of those who are not, and then those who are settled down become jealous of those who are single?

And seriously it's not you, or your "flaws". The male population really isn't giving much to work with either. Just one look at them, and another reason to get depressed. But who cares, one of them will sooner or later straighten up their act and find their way to you.

You just are gonna have to wait. Think of them as a herd of cows, slowing chewing on grass all day, with their eyes all glazed with the most stupid thoughts and pointless fears. Until one of them wanders away from his group (Not to be eaten by a wolf or something) to find you.

So keep your chin up till then! Why get depressed, and let some guy who has yet to find you, make you feel like crap about yourself?
Have a good time till then. If you can't appreciate yourself, what reason are you giving that... um 'dude' ( I didn't wanna say cow) to appreciate you.

Oh and one more thing, I wouldn't be surprised if the latest blog theme isn't also due to the after effects of the Twilight movie. All of a sudden, everyone wants their Edward.
He doesn't exist.
He's a vampire. You want a human. We've grown up with Prince Charming, and then the world smacks Edward Cullen in your face. Girls want that "sweep me off my feet" love.

Ever read, "Eat, Pray, Love" ? I prescribe that book to all of you depressed about love, looking for love, and have found their love.

And I seemed to have gone completely of topic from my original post intention. I mean, I was gonna talk about love...but my kind of love. Just because I wanted to jump on the blog theme bandwagon.
Instead I just ended up lecturing an imaginary attentive audience. I hope I don't start receiving imaginary comments as well. You know, where I'm imagining people to be, "Dear CC, you are so smart! Thank you for that"
But in reality ...I don't think it'll even be close.

Since I didn't get to touch on my topic of love. I thought I would at least leave you guys with a quote I came across a couple years ago. It really touched me then, and it just kinda relates to our topic.

It's something written by a muslim sufi (umm let's say mystic) known as Dhu'l Nun.

One day I met an old woman on a beach who revealed to me many mysteries of the Path. I asked her, "What is the end of love?" She laughed, "You fool, love has no end."
I asked her, "Why?"
And she replied, "because the Beloved has no end."

The Beloved they are referring to is God.

I dunno. I thought it was cute. And it's kinda random. You said love, and I thought of this.

Against the Current

I'm leaving for Egypt in a couple days, God willing.

Eeks. That means I should probably get packing soon... sigh.

This morning I went canoeing with my two younger sisters. It's kind of a tradition we do before I leave to travel. It was quite an adventure. The wind speed today was about 9 MPH. Literally. That means the water current was really strong. So we start canoeing down the river. Easy. Piece of cake. 30 minutes later we're about a mile down the river and realize "oh crap, how are we going to go back up the river???"

Long story short, we made it back up the river in about an hour and a half after about 4 or 5 big loops where we would go straight 1/6 mile and then get pushed back by the current. My arms and shoulders are like solid rock right now. Seriously.

So anyhow, this whole river adventure really got me thinking. Going up the river was really hard...I mean really really hard. It took some massive arm muscle and major communication skills between my sisters and I. The analogy reminded me of a major concept in Islam. As Muslims, our main goal in life is to enter Paradise. And on that course we know that we'll be tested. Sometimes we'll be able to ride the current in peace and a lot of the times we'll be working against the current, getting tested in life. The fact of the matter is, working through those tests makes us stronger people and one step closer to Paradise.

I mean think about it. Look at people who are tested with illnesses like cancer. If they're patient and optimistic they usually come out happier than most because they realize whats important in life. Or look at people who are tested with loss of money. If patient and optimistic they'll come out with a better outlook on life and what we really need versus what we waste money on. Even down to little tests like rifts between friends or not getting into the school you want...later on when you look back in retrospect you realize that there was wisdom in you going through that trial. That that hardship made you who you are today.

Moral of the story: there will most definitely be times in life when we're working against the current, and it seems like life is really hard. But in the end, if we're patient, persevering, and optimistic we'll probably come out stronger than we were prior to. So lets change the way we look at hardship...let's wear the lens of optimism!!

Snippets of My Friday.

So I was at this ghetto store because I don't know why. throughout the store I hear this girly woman's voice going, "Honey!? Honey, do you like these, shoes, Honey? Oh, my Gawd they're gorgeous, Honey. Honey, where are you, Honey? Honey, Oh! Look at this, Honey! I love these, what do you think, Honey?" I never heard so many "Honey"s in my entire life. So obviously I have to turn and look at the woman. She glances over at me and comes over and says, "Asalaam Alaikum".. And then she tells me that she's learning about Islam. She was a Catholic and married her husband, who is Muslim. I couldn't properly get a word in, but then she shyly aded that she says "Asalaam Alaikum" when she sees Muslims because it makes her feel good and that people thinks she's nerdy for it. Then I think she got a litle too shy and went away before I could say anything. She was a cutie pie in the sky. I like people who say hi for no reason. I know people, Muslims and NonMuslims alike just kind of look at you if you say Hi, or the Muslim greeting. I guess to some the Honeys may be annoying, but at least she loves her Husband enough to call him Honey 2 times a sentence. awwwww.

Then in the next aisle this woman is talking to someone on the phone. I don't eavesdrop but she was loud. She was talking about how someone she knows is gtting out of jail today and she's scared. Or something. I don't think it's a highlight. More like randomly scary.

Then I went to the masjid {Muslim place of worship. Masjid in Arabic, mosque in English} and met a convert to Islam. That was pretty exciting. The good thing is that her family accepted her conversion and there's no drama between them. {side note to CC: Is this the same girl you were supposed to meet up with yesterday?}

And just now I heard my five year old sister yelling to my brother, "You're ruining my whole life, you know!?"

OMGOMOMGOMGOMG

For those of you who follow Cheryl on Twitter, she left a message update saying china blocked her blog!!!!!
OMG
OMGGGGG

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?!!!

SOMEONE CONTACT AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL!!!!!

WAHHHHHHHH

People THINK of A PLAN!!!!! SOMEONE! ANYONE! PLEASE!!!!!!


HOW DARE YOU CHINA!!!!!!!

I am being dead serious. Someone tell me what we should do??!!!

Do we start a movement? Oh maybe Cheryl can start a new anonymous blog? Anyone with ideas please leave a comment!!

EDIT: China has blocked the blogger website, not just Cheryl's...sigh

This is literally me rambling...LITERALLY

Ok so I still don't really get what the point of a popover is...
I mean basically it's bread/a muffin right?

But thank you to everyone who answered my comment about a popover on S.C.'s post below. (I was the anonymous C.C. )

Maybe I have to eat one to get the hullabaloo about something called a popover? POP...over
Really it seems so dumb.

Snake Charmer wanna make me one? PUH-LEZE?

And Dearest Readers,

Did you guys notice that I seem to get a lot of pleads from the other authors in their posts?
It's either a "Please don't kill me C.C." or a "Please don't yell at me CC" or a "Sorry CC"

And every time I come across these pleads, I wonder if there's some kind of hidden movement among the rest of the authors.

Are they doing it on purpose so I seem like some kind of Hitler, to you, the reader?

Do they think it's funny, because they know I am very controlling (controlled chaos duh!)?

It's like I'm a tiger that's cornered some poor baby rabbits and forcing them to write on some old, rusty typewriters.
(Yeahh...weird analogy...I chose tigers cuz they're found in India...I don't think I get it either)

"RAWR! WRITE DANG YOU!"

"But..bbuuttt..buttt..Miss Tiggerrr"

"WHAT?..RAAWWW ::cough cough::: RAWR" (Roaring can really get to your throat. Promise it does)

"Pleeaaaseee don'ttt k.k..kill mmee."

"RAWWR MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. HEY ! YOU THERE!"

"I'mmm sorryy..I'mmmm sorrry..P..plllease ddon't yell"

"RAWMUHAHAHAHAHA"

And don't tell this to the other authors on this blog but I actually think its funny too whenever I come across those side notes to me. They stop me before I say anything...so I guess it works?

....But more importantly, I prefer wolves, cheetahs or lions over tigers. Oh and actually smaller cats would be nicer. But it just doesn't have the same effect if I meowed at them.

"MEOW! YOU THERE! MEEE OWWWW!!!" (atleast I'm not straining my throat)
"MEOHAHAHAAHA"

Even if I did make the rest of the authors into mice...not that I could. Lucky them, that Islam forbids black magic...

Huh.

Here's a question. Do you guys believe that black magic exists? It's forbidden in Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism as well.

I'm curious. What do you guys think? And don't give me the answer after looking it up on wiki or on dictionary. If you don' t know what it is, then just say so. (Oh the controlling me is kicking in again)

And no, black magic doesn't include card tricks, and the rabbit out of the hat trick.

"RAAAWRR. NOW watch as I pull one of my authors out of this empty hat! RAWR"
.......
...............................
"RAWR? Where'd the RABBIT GO? RAAAWWWWWWW ::cough cough::: WWRRRRR!!"

Breakfast: Basic Popovers

So I was talking to MarjnHomer online about food and mentioned popovers. I found a great recipe and thought I'd share. This is for you, MarjnHomer. :)

I've made them before but they never were too great. Yesterday I tried this recipe from food network and they came out great {see pic above}. This is a basic recipe that can be eaten with jam, marmlade, butter, etc. But there are flavored ones. Jsut search the site.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus 1 teaspoon room temperature for pan
4 3/4 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 1 cup
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup whole milk, room temperature

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Grease a 6-cup popover pan with the 1 teaspoon of butter.
3. Place all of the ingredients into a food processor or blender and process for 30 seconds. Divide the batter evenly between the cups of the popover pan, each should be about 1/3 to 1/2 full. 4. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 40 minutes. Remove the popovers to a cooling rack and pierce each in the top with a knife to allow steam to escape. Serve warm.

My suggestions:

* Make sure you follow the directions perfectly. Make sure everything that needs to be at room temperature, is.

* You can use cupcake tins instead of muffin tins.

* Grease the tins REALLY well and maybe even flour it or else it'll stick and be really hard to take out. Your popovers will then become popunders by the time you manage to pull them out.

* If the popovers are sticking, don't do anything until they cool completely. Or else they'll be impossible to take out and the shape won't be retained. Cut around it with a knife and gently pull them out. If they're completely cool the shape will stay. They are NOT attractive at all if they sink.

O'Canada

My family and I went to Canada for a day this past weekend.

And I got homesick.

I'm such a party animal, I know... woooooooooo.

The first thing we did when we got to Canada was go to Wal-Mart.



We all had to pee and passed all the rest stops, and Wal-Mart was like a beacon of light calling us to their washrooms.

My last semester at University, my sister and I took a Canadian culture class together and learned the history and demographics of good ol' America Jr.

It was quite exciting to be able to list off random facts and be able to say who their prime minister is,(Stephen Harper), what their favorite past time is (shimmy hockey) and what the October Crisis was about (terrorist acts committed by the Front de libération du Québec).

We sounded like geniuses.

Yayyy us.

We drove a good while and reached Toronto. Toronto reminded me SOOOO much of Gotham City from Batman. It was gloomy and depressing and I kept thinking that it would be just our luck that the underdogs of the city might rise up all of a sudden and try to take over.

I did not see what everyone else saw/sees with this city. There were a bajillion apartment complexes. The most I've seen in my entire life. And it was just dark. Granted it was raining, however, the skyscrapers alone were blocking the sun out.

Poor Torontonians.

We did what all the tourists there do. We went straight for the CN Tower.



It cost us $21 per person (five of us decided we wanted to spend that much, the other three decided to use their brain and opted to sit outside,play with a Frisbee/fly a kite, and wait for the rest of us) to ride an elevator that didnt even reach the top of the tower.

Sigh.

So much money wasted.

My brother and I were too chicken to watch as the glass elevator escalated upwards (and downwards).

But on a positive note, it is indeed considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World. So I'm glad I spent all that money and was able to see at least one of the Wonders. (Please don't yell at me, CC)

After Toronto we perused on down to Niagara Falls.




I've been there a million times before and it wasn't anything spectacular this time around.

Although they did build this entire new place right around the corner from Niagara Falls called Clifton Hill. It was sooooooooooooo freaking cool. I dont even know how to describe it. Just look at the pictures:





Anywho, Canada is such a farmy country. We probably passed a million farms and wineries. And it's like the entire country smells like cow dung. (No offense to Cheryl and any other Canadians out there)

It is really really nice in certain areas, though. Actually a lot of the places we went to were really nice and clean. People are extremely polite and friendly. And during the entire trip, there we didnt hit a single pothole.

Canada is nice to visit and all, but I would never ever want to live there though .

It just ain't home.

Mrs. Cullen: The Sitter

Dear Friends,

I hate kids. Really, I do. That’s exactly how I started my post a few days ago. But then I stopped because I realized I had nothing interesting to say. So I pressed save and decided to wait a few days, in case something interesting happened. And sadly yes, something did happen. But more about that later. Last week I found myself babysitting. I get home to sleep after taking my last final (YAY) and next thing you know I get a phone call asking if I could start babysitting. I said yes? I don’t know why. But I was thinking about getting another job for the summer. Sigh. I don’t really like kids. My sister is the one who would always be holding random babies. Not me. I don’t even like holding ones I know. And its not just babies. I don’t like toddles, or kids or children or teens or yeah you get the point.

But next thing you know, next day comes and I am changing two diapers, making formula (milk) and deciding if I want to go with Banana or Potato baby food for breakfast. Sigh. It’s not bad though. I even know how to put the kids to sleep. I am babysitting two kids. One is a boy, two years old and his younger sister who is one. They have an older sister (age seven) but she is at school most of the time. Except yesterday. Yesterday she stayed at home because she wanted to hang out with the cool babysitter; me. We watched Barbie Thumbelina. Yay.

As I was driving to my cousin’s house from babysitting today, I was thinking about the nasty diaper I had to change today. I always thought that kids were a pain in the—BUT now I was sure. They are so annoying. They are so demanding. All they do is cry and eat. Blah blah blah. I decdided I didn’t want to have kids for a loooooong time.

I got to my cousins house and we were looking at her beaaaaaautiful wedding invitations (really, they are amazing, thanks to God). Ten minutes later we get a phone call with someone screaming and crying and going crazy. It was my cousin. Something was wrong and she needed us to come to her house. As soon as we got there we saw her waiting on the drive way with her 18-month-old son. He hurt himself. The white towel she was holding was soaked with blood. She was panicking. I drove her to the hospital as she filled us in. She was cooking, he was playing and a chair fell on him? I really don’t know if that’s what really happened..she couldn’t even remember her phone number when they asked for it at the hospital.

Anyway we took her to a small hospital by the house. Turns out its an “Urgent Care” and not an “Emergency Care” hospital. So they could help us, but not do much? Turns out they didn’t even have a freaking X-Ray machine. What hospital doesn’t have an X-Ray machine??? I’ll tell you…..Urgent Care hospitals. Don’t ever go to one of those.

Yours for the sake of Peace and Motherhood,

Mrs. Cullen

Random Thoughts.

Excuse the post below. I was surprised and touched I even got comments for it.

***

I don't know how I don't notice when people are 8 months pregnant. But I just don't. I met a woman on Friday who was and I didn't realize until she mentioned it. last year I met Artistic logics friend and she was due really soon but I didn't notice. I look at people's faces more, i guess. ut how can you miss something like that? honestly. I'm usually observant and notice more unnoticeable things, I don't know how I miss this. Does that make me come off as uncaring?

***

I've been on hulu lately, catching up on my shows. They have them in india, but my television is retarded and that channel disappeared. I watched The Office's "stressed". Its hilarious. it expires in 3 days so check it out if you havent.

***

And finally, I can't think of anything to blog about which explains my silence. When I can't blog because I don't have time I'm itching to get on the computer but now that I have all the time in the world...nothing. I for some reason, am not sitting online. I guess because it's been a year since I've been home why waste it online? I am reading blogs but not commenting. Will get back to it. sorry, folks.

***

The previous post was how I normally feel before my final exam results come out. I stop everything and go into a hermit-like state. And then what happens is I PASS!! One more step to becoming your doctor. Thank you, God.

Bye :)

Boo!

lame.

meow.

Bye.

Don't kill me, CC.

So So So SOO

FINALS ARE DONE!!!

And. And . And ANDDD I'm graduating!
Actually a couple of the authors are/will be graduating this year. So WE-irdddd

(F.Y.I That's my new way of saying weird. I feel as though you get the most out of the word when you say it that way...You're thinking that I'm weird, aren't you? Don't be thinking I'm all We irddd until you be trying it. Shoot)

So of course one of the first things I do is come to blog. But I have nothing blog about!
I'm a blogger FAIL!

Oh FAIL!
That reminds me of this really funny, fail jumping jacks video. They were jumping, but they wern't doing the jacks part. Or they were doing the jacks, without the jumping. (And yes, I am ignoring the other thing the word fail is reminding about. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I'm not telling you. Because if I tell you, I'm not ignoring it.)

Um. How about I just show you the video? Promise it's funny. In a sad way.




Oh and there's this other fail video that's more shocking then funny. Like I would just DIE if I were in that situation. Well...at least pretend to die. You will be shocked. Unless you've seen it. In which case, you'll just find it WE irddd.



And here's a jingle bell fail (Actually it's not a fail video. But we can pretend). I don't know if you'll find it funny unless you're south asian. Unless maybe if you knew Indians really well and knew what Bhangra music was.



It's not that funny the first time, but it gets funnier every time. I would know since I played it at least 8 times while cramming for my final.I blame Simply Me for all my lost time...
........
.................. AHHH !!! I SAID IT! I SAID it ! So much for ignoring IT! I failed at studying and doing even remotely well on that final. And all these STUPID people kept coming out of the final saying, "OH it was easy" .
OH Screw YOU and your La di da , I'm so smart..blah blah blah. Go die happy somewhere.

And no it didn't help to find out that my professor left his microphone on while using the bathroom and everyone who was still taking the final heard every detail. (Actually this has happened to me before with another Professor). Which is also WE irdd since normally we can't even hear what he's saying when he's speaking INTO the microphone.

And did you know that around every exam cram time I start tackling a philosophical dilemma? The last time, I was trying to decide which of my friends would be the best contestants for the show, The Amazing Race. I decided on Mrs. Cullen and Simply Me.

This time I couldn't figure out if Peter (NBC tv show Heroes) and I would make a good couple. And we could save the world together!

I wish we could, but sadly I decided that we couldn't. Our personalities wouldn't hit it off. He's too broody.
But the real Milo Ventimiglia doesn't drink alcohol. And I don't drink alcohol since it's forbidden to drink in Islam. So maybe.. Milo?
But I don't know Milo, and I don't like him. But I know Peter and I like Peter. Not some random dude named Milo something.
So annoying.

WHY?!


P.S. Since I'm done for now, I'll be making my way around to your blog. Yay! You may faint from happiness.

FINALS ARE

1. Making me cry
2. Killing me
3. Making me dream of a life far, far away from here
4. Sending me on my way to a life with chronic depression
5. Making me beg God to HELP ME
6. Making me realize how stupid I am that I can't even manage to get a single A.
7. Getting me refreshed with all the Jane Austen movies.
8. Creating a new swelling on my head from banging my head.
9. Telling me that I'm suffering from some severe memory loss disorder.
10. Making me dream about how I would use my superhuman powers during finals week

Did I say my life is over?