It's half empty I tell you

Normally I'm a "glass half full" kind of girl but as exams approach... not so much... But.. I'll try to remain elated, and not get deflated! (be forewarned: as exams approach, I may exhibit signs of cheesy rhyming and other random acts of puzzlement.... You have been warned).... *sigh*

(Garfield proves its all about perspective!)

Trains, thoughts....

In the middle of the night, driving to South Carolina, lost in thought, listening to music we neared my inlaws home and drove over the railroad tracks. The second we crossed, we saw glaring its lights, a train, engine running, no more than 10 feet from us. After we crossed I looked behind, the train appeared parked. Makes sense. If it was going, we'd be dead. No need to fear Kashif said, the guard rails were up. Maybe this would have been enough for me pre-law school.. but every other case I read are about people who don't pay attention combined with guard rails that malfunction. Sure, the decedent's family might win the suit, but does that give back what they really want? In retrospect we were in no real danger, but looking dead on to the lights of a train.... in the dead of the night on a rural South Carolina road... and then later hearing the distant rumbling of the train sounding its horn as it crossed those very tracks... just reminds me of the very essence of life, how fragile it is, how it hangs by a thread. Each day is a gift worthy of pure elation.

"Isn't it funny that people live in whole separate neighborhoods based on their skin's ability to filter out sunlight?" - Saadia

I'm so glad Saadia, a wonderfully creative writer is back at it. Her latest topic is of particular interest to me, skin color. Welcome back Saadia:)

TV or not TV- that is the question

The first time I learned that TV can be seen as a bad thing was in college. An article by Noam Chomsky discussed the ill effects of television. It destroys creativity, brain cells, promotes obesity, his list went on and on. I never thought of it that way. Sure certain TV shows have no redeeming value such as most reality TV but really, all those scathing words for a simple glass screen in the family room?

I grew up not watching much TV, as I got older I watched a few shows here and there but nothing regular. Since adulthood I've never really thought about my TV habits. I consider it filler for when I'm folding laundry or doing dishes, a chance to take a mental vacation when I come home from a busy day, besides, some shows are funny and interesting, I like them......

But lately I've been thinking about TV again. Particularly after all the comments on my post two down about how a lot of you don't even watch TV (Although I do believe internet addiction is a very real thing too... TV isnt the only culprit turning us into a nation of passive potatoes). Baraka expressed on her blog her views on television and passed on this interesting link on the ill effects of television. Mansoor also sent me this article that I find fascinating discussing the adictive nature of television....

TV's biggest vice is how it steals your time away. Time is precious, its your life. I could be studying and I'll catch a rerun of King of Queens. Which will lead to another, and then why not watch The Office while I'm at it? Then I began thinking about how I use it as filler when I fold clothes, or load the dishwasher. What would my mind be thinking about if the TV wasn't on? When I'm 80 will I look back and reminisce about the wonderful shows I watched? I guess about as much time as I'll spend reminising about the laundry I folded and the dishwasher I loaded. Hm. So this line of logic doesnt help!

Then I look beyond my own life and look at the world around me. When Omarosa from The Apprentice, got offered a commercial, so many people threatned to boycott that the company withdrew the offer to her. There are entire channels devoted to the people who dance before us on television to tell us what they're wearing, who they're dating. We discuss it as though we know them. The energy that could be spent doing things productive are instead being sapped sitting infront of a television. It doesnt take a huge stretch of the imagination to see we are very close to A Brave New World.

I want to watch less television. But easier said than done. Billions of dollars have gone into ensuring that people like me keep our eyes on the screen and our bottoms on the couch. And its hard when other people tend to watch television as well (though thankfully most of it is sports viewing which I despise)

So here is my question. What are your views on television? If you don't watch any, like some of you say, is it how its always been? Did something happen to make you not want to watch anymore? How did you wean yourself away? How ironic a post after just a few posts ago the favorite TV shows, ah well! :)

If you cant be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you escaped...

My former assistant principal who I used to refer to as "I-must-have-done-something-really-bad-in-a-former-life-to-have-landed-here" finally escaped Stalin's lair (a.k.a Ms. Prada a.k.a If-I'm-not-happy-no-one-else-will-be). So I called to congratulate and our conversation got... interesting...

Her: " I'm so glad I escaped... it was hard... it began feeling like prison..."
Me: "Yes, ha, you know.... sometimes I felt like they were out to get me."
Her: "*laughs* you were right."
Me: *Silence*
Me: "come again?"
Her: "Yeah.. I always thought you would quit last year. Each time you came to my office I thought... yep, today's the day she gives us her two week notice?"
Me: *silence*
Me: "come again?"
Her: Well... I can tell you now... she wanted to get you. She told us to tell her if you ever studied in your classroom or neglected the kids, or came late... she wanted to get you for something.... but.. don't worry though, no one saw anything to get you on...
Me: "but why me?"
Her: "Why does she do anything? I wish I knew. But I can tell you now what I couldn't then... you're lucky you left""
------

Why Ms. Prada, why? My kids had some of the highest test scores in the school, their standardized scores exceeded state standards... I never came to you with behavior problems... I even complimented you on your new shoes. And your Gucci purse. I played the game. But you know why you amaze me the most. How you talk about God and Jesus. And how you never miss Church. There are people like you in every religion, that practice the rituals and go through the motions and say the right things, but kind of miss the whole point.

*sigh*

"I'd hate to be a giraffe with a sore throat"- Hedberg.

Sore throat coming on but Mitch Hedberg reminds me to look at the bright side:) It's beeon of "those days" so I figured after reading Huda and Aamina's site that I'll take a break from the books and share the shows I watch. (Well, when I get the chance)

The Shows I LOVE

King of Queens: Usually I dont watch sitcoms when they're on their first go round. I fell in love with Seinfeld, Raymond, Will and Grace all on reruns. I just dont have time to catch stuff usually but I try to catch King of Queens when I can. Craig James is hilarious and Stiller Sr. is much much funnier as Carrie's dad than George's dad on Seinfeld. I really relate to this show.. and let's face it comedy is funnier if it touches a truth in your life.



Gilmore Girls: I started watching this show four years ago and I love it still. (Ali- I miss watching this show with you...hehe sorry to call you out). Some things irk me like Rory as an adult. I liked the old Rory, the sweet straight laced good girl. These days Rory is on my very last nerve. She does not have to face any reprecussions for so many of her actions like breaking up Deans marriage and then dumping him right after she does so! AND I dont like her being rude to Lorelai. Apparently the mom and daughter finally hugged at the conclusion of tuesday's episode, I hope the writers fix her character back to normal soon. I think Lorelai is hilarious and though I'm happy for Luke that she's with him now, I think she should end up with Chris, Rory's dad. I know he's kind of a flake but I think they were meant to be.

Scrubs: When does this show come on? I love this show but I never see it anymore! It's the best comedy on TV in my humble opinion.

The Shows I'm on the fence about...

Desperate Housewives:Obviously I'm not the only Desperate Housewives fan...but.this season... something's missing right?! It just doesnt seem the same. At first I couldnt put my finger on it but I think I've figured it out. Last year I loved this show because it was a story of a bunch of, well desperate housewives with a little bit of drama and "whodunnit" to spice it up. But now it's reversed with a lot of drama and intrigue and very little desperate housewive storylines... I mean really, there arent many housewives left. Gabby's hubby is in the slammer, Bree's is dead, Susan is single... it's pretty much just Lynnette whose a "normal" wife. I love her storyline this season. . The other storylines are pretty much soap with little grasp on reality. And Bree's Fiancee????? I want to change the channel when he comes on the screen. He's doing a good job playing a creep. I think if I saw him on the street I'd turn and run!

Gray's Anatomy: Can someone explain the fascination with show? Perhaps it's because it replaced Boston Legal which used to come on in that time slot (which I loved last season) that I don't like this show much. It's very unrealistic but trying to be realistic. Dr. Grey is whiny. I dont know the name of the other characters, but the one who really annoys me is the kid that always looks like a cat who is about to go to the vet. Always panicked. He looks 12. I just want to buy him an icecream cone with extra sprinkles and send him home to mamma.

Boston Legal: Like Grey's Anatomy, totally utterly fake. Last year this didn't bother me so much because the stories were still interesting. They talked about death row and freedom of speech, etc. But this year, its so distinct from reality that I watch just to shake my head in disgust! For example, Denny Crane walks into a courtroom where they are having a case about gun rights with a rifle a big white wig and colonial era clothing and starts shooting in the air. IN a courtroom people! AND he wins! Also, I guess maybe all law shows are like this, (i dont watch any other), but they ALWAYS WIN. No matter how absurd. C'mon, that's unrealistic!

ER: I watch ER because I get home from class around the time it starts and I'm so tired I just want to sit on the couch and do nothing. I like that is more realistic than Grey's Anatomy and I LOVE that Neela is on the show... finally a desi with a major role in a medical drama... and not just a socially inept nerd like I've seen on Gray's Anatomy for little blurbs...about time! . But here's my gripe with the show. Why are the minority cast members only hooking up with each other? This isn't the only show I see it on but its most pointed on this show. I'm also a bit bitter that Keira Knightley is a big screen darling when Parimanda was the real screen stealer of Bend it Like Beckham. Roger Ebert suggested it was a race thing... tsk tsk. I'm really not on the fence with this show, I like it a lot. But to be honest the real selling point is its on when I come home from Torts.

So what do you think? What shows are you watching or not watching?

Children and Choices

I read this very interesting article about the current trend of women working longer than ever into their pregnancies and returning sooner than ever back to work. The article, and my child development courses said babies need at least their first year with a primary care giver for optimal development. It could be mom, dad, grandparent, etc. but someone who will give the baby as much one on one care as possible.

The problem is that because of the increasing two income lifestyle of most familes, both parents need to work if they want to live as they are accustomed too. Plus, if a woman stays out of the workforce for 1-2 years her earning power can decrase 18%. Plus a woman might enjoy her job, why does she have to give it up? But, Women who work full time don't come home and put their feet up on the couch and read the paper, they come home to a full time job too. Work never ends.

Personally I'm glad my mom was a stay at home mom. No day camps or frantically trying to find a babysitter for school holidays. If I'm sick, no problem, I can stay home without having to rearrange schedules, meetings, appointments. Growing up, I assumed "that's how it was". But... now that I'm older and perhaps some day in the future will have kids myself I really wonder. Yes, being home for your baby is important. But then if you want more than one kid, do you just stay home for years? What about that extra income? What about the career advancement opportunities lost? Are daycares really so bad? How do people who work and have children do it? How do people stay home at allll day do it?

Just Five Weeks Ago...

"Five weeks ago, an earthquake struck Pakistan, and then the event seemed to disappear. It disappeared from our newspapers, from our television screens and from our minds. Perhaps it was just one natural disaster too many this year. But here’s the aftershock: the situation in Pakistan is worsening by the day. The death toll continues to rise and is now close to 90,000. Three million people are still living without shelter and a harsh winter is weeks away. The United Nations says conditions in Pakistan are worse than after the tsunami and it is the biggest humanitarian nightmare the UN has ever dealt with."

One of our friends leaves for Pakistan soon. He is going to help with distributing prosthetic limbs to those who've lost their limbs. God speed, God bless. May we continue to give, give and give.

Tragedy

The creator of The Message died in the Jordan bombings. Though these words will not reach whom they are meant for: I stand in protest too.

Happy 1000!!!!

Wow! Today was my 1,000th comment! The 1000th commentor was : *drum roll*: "Hasan the not so great" :) Yay! Some of you know me in my daily life, others this is a way for us to keep in touch, but a completely unexpected benefit is opening my eyes to all of you who I would never have otherwise known. Thanks for all your reflections, comments and advice I've learned so much from so many of you.... Thanks for stopping by, for reading, and for letting me peek in to your world as well.

The White Powdery Stuff is Addictive

"The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself--the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us--that's where it's at." - Jesse Owens

A few days ago I decided I'm going to get healthier and save my teeth from sugar. I had no idea it would become an inner invisible battle between myself, and I. A battle to rid myself of an addiction I never knew I had.... I always thought of addicts as drug users or smokers...why don't they just stop? Me, oh so straight laced would never get addicted... Who knew sugar could so stealthily show up and addict me? Trying go without makes me feel jittery and lightheaded... I am fascinated by this actual, physical reaction!

On one hand I could rationalize: this is my body telling me that I NEED it. But my body does not need a twizzler. There is no redeeming quality to it whatsoever and our forefathers certainly did not consume sugar on a daily basis. It's withdrawal. And quite literally a battle of the inner sort.

Comittee Of One

Paul Findley stated in his book "Silent No More" (and I'm completely paraphrasing) that because people sometime have a really hard time organizing and get caught up in beaurocracy and trying to be the chief, that we should instead join a comittee of one. (on my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days). Simply stated, you should just figure out something that needs to be done and just do it. Imagine how different the world would be if we could pick one thing, perhaps small, that needs doing and just do it? Around that time the Eid Stamp had just been introduced... An Eid stamp may not seem like a big deal. But it is. It was hard fought for and granted with the effort of hundreds of people campaigning for years. The stamp symbolizes our place in this country. Just like Hannukah and Christmas stamps. But the struggle didn't end with simply getting our own stamp. If the sales didn't reach a certain quota for two years it would be discontinued. Thus my father found his comitte of one. He purchased stamps. Used science project boards to create advertisements and when he went to conventions or prayers, he brought his board and stamps with him. Some were uninterested, some suspicious "How much profit are you making?" He did not make a profit. In actuality these people could themselves go online or to the postoffice and buy themselves the stamps, but alas, the way wetalk and the way we implement in action are often contradictory. His goal was 1,000 stamps....to date its 38,000 stamps... and counting.

Anyways, hehe, I was a little bad myelf because my brothers birthdays were coming up (October 21/22) and so in a rush I bought their cards but when it came to mail them I searched and searched frantically but realized that I was OUT OF EID STAMPS. Knowing these card were heading home I knew my dad would certainly notice the fact that I used the most generic stamp available.... Hmm.. judging from the letter I got in the mail this evening... I do believe I was right: (it states: Aisha ye Kya hain? translated: Aisha what is this?) along with a book of stamps! This cracked me up, and I just had to share the story. Thanks Abu jee for trying to help save the Eid Stamp. If you'd like to support the Eid Stamp click here.

The Long overdue Meme ...

I was tagged for this meme twice, Baraka and Raheel... sorry its taken this long!!

10 FAVORITES
Favorite Color: Maroon
Favorite Food: Dessert, particularly: Molten Chocolate Cake at Chili's
Favorite Month: September
Favorite Song: anything Sarah Mclaughlin
Favorite Movie: Sound of Music (must be curled up in blanket w/ hot choc. as I watch it)
Favorite Sport: haha... hahaha...hahahahahahah..... you so funny!
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Day Of the week: Friday
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Coffee with Java Chips at Ben & Jerry's.
Favorite Time of Day: when I'm not at school

9 CURRENTS
Current Mood: Sleepy
Current Taste: lemonade
Current Clothes: scrubs (former teacher-current law student-wearing scrubs... does this portend the future? nahh!)
Current Desktop: Picture of Boston
Current Toenail Color: au naturale
Current Time: 1:04 AM
Current Surroundings: Family room sitting on my burgandy leather couch with feet propped up on the glass coffee table with the kitchen light casting a warm glow...
Current Thoughts: I should be studying. really really should be studying...

8 FIRSTS
First Best Friend: Uzma
First Screen Name: ACSUF1
First Pet: kitten
First Piercing: Ears
First Album: Paula Abdul
First Movie: Follow that bird (sesame street on the big screen)

7 LASTS
Last Cigarette: *gasp* never! although I did have hooka when i was 8! :)
Last Drink: lemonade ten minutes ago
Last Car Ride: this evening from south carolina...
Last Movie Seen: Office space= special edition= with flaaaair!!
Last Phone Call: My mom
Last Book Read: Boring book: Land Use Law Interesting book: Dancing Girls of Lahore <- MUST READ Lat CD Played: Lauryn Hill (I feel empowered!).... 6 HAVE YOU EVERS
Have You Ever Broken the Law: Yes, speeding
Have You Ever Been Arrested: no
Have You Ever Been on TV: Yes
Have You Ever Lied: how rude!
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: Yes. When I was eight and went to pakistan, I was smothered by aunties and uncles I had never met..

5 THINGS
Thing You're Wearing: scrubs, didnt we cover this?
Thing You've Done Today: ran 5.5 miles. go me!
Thing You Can Hear Right Now: ticking clock
Thing You Can't Live Without: hope
Thing You Do When You're Bored: check my email

4PLACES YOU'VE BEEN TODAY
1. south carolina
2. highway
3. party at a friends house
4. home

3 PEOPLE YOU CAN TELL ANYTHING TO
1. Brothers
2. Parents
3. Hubbaroo

2 CHOICES
1. Black or White: Black like the night
2. Hot or Cold: hot!!!

1 THING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
travel to discover and appreciate the hidden and overt beauty of our world .

If you've made it to the bottom of this consider yourself TAGGED to do this meme. Please let me know if you do it so I can read it:)

"I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later."- Mitch Hedberg

At long last... Office Space's special edition is out. And just in tme for Eid... what a coincidence... *Umm.. Kashif... is my hinting tacky?**

One year ago I made a list, 101 things to do in 1001 days. I got quite a bit done! Who'd have thunk? *Aisha pauses and smiles at her productiveness*...yeah.. so.. Back to them books.

*Update: Kashif bought me office space special edition! It's like he can read my mind.... wow:) love you Kashif!!!*