Ramadan Mubarak

It's that time again- Ramadan. Fasting from sunrise to sunset and trying to be a better person in between. If fasting I hope your fasts go well and you experience the spiritual growth you desire. And don't forget to support businesses recognizing the holiday like Hallmark. and buy Eid Stamps!

Saints verus Falcons- and Aisha gets weepy***

So Im writing my paper, rolling my eyes at the intense marketing campaign for the Saints/Falcons game tonight as they hype that its the New Orleans Superdome. I hate it when the media tells me how to feel. But then U2 and Greenday do a tribute to New Orleans with local instrumenteers and wimpy Aisha breaks out the tissue. Crying watching a football game. What an absurd sentence. It's ironic to see the crowd cheering how far New Orleans has come, when a year ago the people living in the superdome were almost uniformly one race, now a year later at a sold out football game, the race is distinctly another. Maybe that's the way it is- but its sad.

PS: President Musharaff, Pakistan's president is going to be on the Daily Show? Huh?!!

*OMG! MUSHARAFF IS ON THE DAILY SHOW. butterflies!! Its like watching your kid perform ballet in front of 1,000 people and how they perform will reflecton you. *gulp* Currently they are drinking tea. Don't embarass me sport. Don't embarass me.

Topic Turmoil

I need advice.

Am I seeking a lot of advice lately? Do I make you feel like a magic 8 ball?!? Are you wondering just how incapable I am of making a decision?!? *sigh* As people who know me (or don't) can attest to, I am... slightly indecisive. I have difficulty deciding on everything from careers to suits to salads. I admit it, decision making is tough. However, if confused, isn't advice the best thing to get?

Vell, back to the advice... my International Human Rights class has a paper and I can choose any related topic. I'm torn between two. I'd love to tie both in. My professor said it was possible but I'd have to make sure it was not too broad. If you see a tying theme between the two that wouldn't be too broad, advice appreciated.

Guantanamo. The who/what/when/where/why and legal implications.
Internment camps. Its history and the legal possibilities for the future.

I know many of you are quiet readers (I see you!) so thought a poll might be a good way to get input. IF I can't integrate the two topics, THIS POLL will decide what I write about. I hope to publish this in an academic journal so I do want to pick the best topic.

Paper Topic? Gitmo Internment View Results

The art of regifting

Wayfarer discussed the icky sticky topic of regifting. (She mentioned it as a desi thing. Buy we're not the only regifters? I saw it on Seinfeld) There's nothing wrong with regifting but a bad one can make you wonder what that person thinks of you. (granted this could also occur with a non-regift) Isn't the whole POINT of giving a gift on a special occasion to say: We care about you? So when you get bad gifts you wonder, are they trying to tell me something? Some tips:

1. If you regift, no one should be able to tell. Yes ladies and gents, just like a nose job is bad if its obvious you got one, a regift is not good if its obviously so.

2. Do the once over. This means check for dents, signs of wear and tear, and old tape. The worst: Cards inserted in the box you did not check. One of my friends got a wedding gift with the original card inside. D'oh!

3. If you giggled and/or gagged when you got the gift: Don't regift it. Well, you ask, am I to throw it away? A perfectly intact one eyed camel sculpture?? (Seriously, I've actually received one) How about donating to charity. One man's junk-another's treasure... just don't impose your junk on your friends.

4. Is it something the recipient would even want? Think about the person. Would they like this? Pink bunny to a baby boy. A funky monkey plate set? Can you see them using it? If the answer is no- don't give it.

5. If you regift will the original gifter find out? People, if you get the gift from a friend and then pass it on to a mutual friend and its something like a purple vase with yellow dandelions stenciled... and the original gift giver sees it in someone else's house. Not good folks. Not good at all.

6. If you used it, don't regift it. I don't care how well you think you cleaned it. Or you only used it just once to test it out. Once you've used it, don't give it as a gift. Caveat: if its a close friend, and what you are giving away is something kinda high end like a roaster or a cappachino maker and you know your friend would LOVE it. Gift it but let em know.

7. If its not regift but you got it off the extra super duper clearance rack, proceed with caution for there might be a reason it was there. On my wedding we got a portable grill from the one who gave us the idea of "no boxed gifts" on the invite. Whats wrong with a portable grill? Nothing if its not retaped, broken, and used! Granted, they may have bought it new. But if its hanging by a thread in the super duper clearance rack... think about it: Will it look used? Maybe it was used.

8. If you did perchance buy it new from a widely advertised super duper clearance in the area, proceed with extreme caution. Chances are others may figure out your cheap-osity. Case in point: BBQ utensils from friends who made a whole big deal about their gift. But we knew: Home Depot penny bin. That very day, everyone and their mother bought one because it was, a penny. Still can't quite figure out what they were trying to say: We don't give a hookie dookie about you? or Nothing personal, we're just cheap?

In sum, if you're going to regift, do it well. If you don't want to spend the money on a decent gift: Don't give a gift. If you feel like never-the-less you should give a gift, how about a cheap but charming option such as a card or flowers or fresh baked cookies? And if even that is too much.. a smile is enough. Really. A bad gift can make the receipient feel that you meant to give them a message akin to a slap or scoff when you probably only meant to save a few bucks.

What would you do? Vat?

Working for the Gov't always intrigued me. (note: if and only if I dont get my Dream Job) Good hours and pay, interesting opportunities and good hours.

Dilemma: I have an opportunity to be an intern there during the school yr but they require 16-20 hours. I'm taking 17 credits (5 classes + 10 hour externship, Tues-Thurs. morning to night) But Mondays and Fridays are off. Those days I study, clean, cook, and sleep in!

When you work for the gov't its a huge process and once you get in you pretty much stay if you want. So if in my shoes, would you suck it up and use your Mondays and Fridays to work there in the hopes to stick around if "Dream Job" doesnt work out?

The advice I received is mixed. Some say DO IT. Others: do you really want to exhaust yourself and risk bad grades? I don't know. I'm the type of person that thinks I can do it all. I worked full time as a teacher and took four night classes in law school my first year. I thought I could do it, and though I DID do it... I was worn out. I want to seize all opportunities. So my instinct is to take this. But I know from personal experience I can take more than I can chew. Is this an instance of that? Or is this a wise move to take this? Advice much appreciated.

Click*

The proposal for my dream job, due today. After a slightly melodramatic day I sat down to submit. That was the hardest part. You stare at the words final submit on the screen for at least five minutes. You gulp and with all your strength click yes. Then just as you're about to sigh a breath of relief and say its over, its really over. The computer, as though eager to taunt you, as though hoping you will run from it hands flailing and screaming asks: "ARE YOU SURE??? IF YOU CLICK YES YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EDIT THIS APPLICATION AGAIN!!!" So after approximately fifteen more minutes of staring panic stricken at these words, you gulp. you click. and let the waiting game fun begin.

PS: Ali and Aamir, thank you much for the wishlist gifts! Its a trippy feeling to get an Amazon package on your doorstep when you know you did not buy anything! :) From your quite random assortment, Captain Underpants will be my book of choice tonight as I try to think of something other than this job, and actually get some rest.

9/11/01: Where were you?

I remember many things vividly. Hurricane Andrew. Where I was when Kashif proposed. My wedding day. Certain memories are etched in your mind forever. However many of us share one common memory perhaps forever etched in the minds of the generation that was alive to witness it: September 11, 2001.

It was my first year of teaching and my students had just gone to Music class at 9:00am. I was at the front desk of the school checking my mailbox when I noticed that the television was on. That's odd. I walked up to look at what everyone's eyes were riveted to. I remember seeing before registering a white plane hitting a large building. My first thought: what movie is this a trailer for? My second thought: An inexperienced pilot flying a small plane accidentally hit a building. I still remember watching with horror as a second plane hit the other tower. And it wasn't a small plane. A commercial airliner with people onboard.

I remember the rest of the day being in a daze as students did busy work and I frantically searched the internet and emailed friends to understand what was going on. I prayed with all my heart the prepetrators were not Muslim. But they were.

I remember September 12. The radio announcers declaring their hatred for all things Muslim. NPR urging Muslim school children to stay home. I remember frantically calling my little brother's schools, urging them to go home. I remember the angry look from the woman at Subway. The cool glare from the man at Home Depot in the battery aisle.

I remember feeling grief for the innocents. Feeling overwhelmed. Feeling helpless. Feeling angry. And uncertain about my future. Five years later, as I see hatred for me rise with each passing day... if I had to sum up how I feel today: I miss September 10 with all my heart. (thanks Shabs)

M.I.A. for a minute

I'm working on a proposal for my dream job. I must compress what is normally done in 3 months into, well, 3 days. I have never wanted any job more and its a long shot. I must be vague but if you've been reading this blog long enough or know me I'm sure you can guess where my passion lies and thus, what a dream job for me would entail. Please keep me in your thoughts as I spend many a sleepless night. Due Wednsday!

Better safe *and* sorry?

My Evidence class ends at 9:45pm. I go to campus around 1:30pm and end up having to park all the way on the tippie top of the parking deck. Seven stories. No elevators. All classes but mine end by 8:45pm so around 10pm I am the sole person climbing a winding staircase of 7 stories all by myself in the heart of downtown wondering who is at the next corner. My mom always tells me to call security for escort but I always feel like such a wimp. But today as I got ready to make the lone trek I thought: why? I'm not exactly a body builder or tai kwane do master that can take em on. I can't even run that fast though I guess if it was a distance thing I could probably take him though it couldn't go past four miles because then I get tired...plus I have a laptop bag and that can weigh me down.. But I digress. So I faced facts tonight as I stepped out of the law building today and looked at the deserted streets and the dim yellow lights of the distant parking garage that I should not presume I am invincible.

So what do I do? I call Campus police who say they will pick me up. They come fairly quickly and at first all seems well until we get to a red light and a guy with absolutely no teeth (okay maybe a few) and a plastic bag over his shoulder flags the car.

Security dude: *rolls window a crack* What?
Clearly homeless dude: I need a ride to the.. train station.. yeah... train station..
Security dude: I'm sorry, we only assist students
Clearly homeless dude: Uh... I is a student * earnestly flashes a big toothless grin*
Security dude: Oh, well, come on in.

Clearly homeless dude climbs into the car and I can't help but think a) I'm glad I am sitting in the front seat and b) As the three of us wind up the parking deck to my lonely car sitting by itself at the tippy top... I am not fully certain this option was much safer?

Disclaimer: If you are reading this and are perchance homeless (In the offchance my blog is a roaring success with the homeless community) I do apologize sincerely for offending you if you are indeed offended. But if you have lived on the streets surely you know not everyone is quite as thoughtful as yourself and that occassionaly there are a few... crazy folk, particularly in the ATL.. so when I fear this, please know I didn't mean you.

Happy Birthday... to me.

Today is my birthday and I am 27 years old. Am I now at the age that I should be keeping my age a secret? I still feel 22. I know some people say they look forward to each year with joy and cherish each stage of their life. I still remember being 9 years old (left) and standing by my window looking outside and thinking of the elderly couple I had seen earlier that day at the library. The woman holding on to her husband as she walked towards the check out counter... each step she took was painful and pronounced. Her husband, feeble himself, did his best to help her maintain her balance as he propped himself on his crane. I realized that day, that growing up meant going there and that day on the eve of my tenth birthday, I no longer looked quite so forward to being one year older. A birthday marks the march of time as it drums on caring not whether or not you are willing to go, it swoops you up in its clutches and takes you with. Time makes you grow up, time makes little brothers you climbed trees with and rode bikes with into people you see a few times a year. Today as I talked to my family on speaker phone hours away from me I missed them with an ache in my heart that I feared if I examined too closely, would open into a crater and swallow me whole. But today I learned a childhood friends father who was my Sunday School teacher died of cancer. And then it hit me. Seventeen years later. Time will come either way but the fact that she comes for me at all is a gift I am lucky to have. Instead of looking to the past at the time gone, and things not accomplished, I can look at it time spent with loved ones and loving. Instead of looking furitively and with sadness to the past, I should focus on the now for the now is the only thing that is real.