Shaeeza Haniff's Blog: http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/, page 2
August 22, 2011
Boys in Ramadan
Now I may get into trouble for this post by some very conservative people out there, but then I'm not writing to please anyone.
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 will make any law abiding citizen blush, cringe, or laugh. Indians sometimes are too prolific for their own good. I end up with a large family of my own - 5 kids.
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.
Then there are the boys.
Hmmmmm
Highly debating whether I should continue with this post. I have already spiked your interest, no?
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.
(note to my mom - don't read further)
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!
But I think the boys had it best.
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.
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 gave 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.
Pranks I know they played:
1. spit balls suddenly flying through the air aimed at upraised bottoms
2. tying prostrating feet together
3. pulling down loose pants
4. rubbing coal on the carpet right where white clothed bottoms will sit
5. starting a wave in the line by pushing from the ends
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).
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?"
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.
Most of these boys 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, lawyers teachers, farmers, business men and great fathers themselves and contributors to the Muslim community.
And I bet they all carry fond memories of when they were boys in Ramadan. Just ask any of them.
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 will make any law abiding citizen blush, cringe, or laugh. Indians sometimes are too prolific for their own good. I end up with a large family of my own - 5 kids.
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.
Then there are the boys.
Hmmmmm
Highly debating whether I should continue with this post. I have already spiked your interest, no?
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.
(note to my mom - don't read further)
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!
But I think the boys had it best.
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.
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 gave 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.
Pranks I know they played:
1. spit balls suddenly flying through the air aimed at upraised bottoms
2. tying prostrating feet together
3. pulling down loose pants
4. rubbing coal on the carpet right where white clothed bottoms will sit
5. starting a wave in the line by pushing from the ends
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).
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?"
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.
Most of these boys 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, lawyers teachers, farmers, business men and great fathers themselves and contributors to the Muslim community.
And I bet they all carry fond memories of when they were boys in Ramadan. Just ask any of them.
August 15, 2011
Beloved
Love, affection, cherish, devotion, adore, fervor, enchantment, soft spot, tenderness, fondness, piety, worship, rapture, courtship ..........
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?
Some people live their entire lives surrounded by love.
Some others live their entire lives searching for love.
Some search for it in all the wrong places.
Some people even have love enter their lives when they least expect it.
Some people live their lives without even an inkling of what love is.
Some people focus on their love of a deity rather than for humanity
Some have found a balance of love in their lives.
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.
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.
Why?
What makes your first true love so special?
What makes it endure through out the years?
What makes it so unattainable for some?
Why does it bring the heart ache, the happiness, the contentment, the turmoil, the never ending euphoria?
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.
Boston Globe interviewer, 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. "
"This hypothesis was given by Dr. Linda Waud, a Psychologist who wrote her dissertation on three reunited couples.
"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."
http://shrinktalk.net/?p=190Quoted from Shrink talk -
As of 2003, Dr. Nancy Kalish had studied over 2,000 "lost love" relationships.
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."
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.
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?
Some people live their entire lives surrounded by love.
Some others live their entire lives searching for love.
Some search for it in all the wrong places.
Some people even have love enter their lives when they least expect it.
Some people live their lives without even an inkling of what love is.
Some people focus on their love of a deity rather than for humanity
Some have found a balance of love in their lives.
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.
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.
Why?
What makes your first true love so special?
What makes it endure through out the years?
What makes it so unattainable for some?
Why does it bring the heart ache, the happiness, the contentment, the turmoil, the never ending euphoria?
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.
Boston Globe interviewer, 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. "
"This hypothesis was given by Dr. Linda Waud, a Psychologist who wrote her dissertation on three reunited couples.
"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."
http://shrinktalk.net/?p=190Quoted from Shrink talk -
As of 2003, Dr. Nancy Kalish had studied over 2,000 "lost love" relationships.
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."
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.
August 8, 2011
Bee Sting Part Deux
It'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.
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.
How am I doing it?
Well ahem, a day at a time.
Diet:
Eating only the amount of what my eight year old would eat.
Stocking up on yogurt and other healthy foods
Bottles and bottles of water.
Chocolate limited to about 2 Hershey kisses a week instead of an entire bag.
Extra gum - dessert delights, instead of bowls of ice cream.
No bread or baked goods as much as it pains me and calls for me .
Fruits although my choice is limited due to my irrational allergy to fruits - hives on lips and mouth and throat closing inducing allergy.
Exercise:
Walking- up and down the rolling hills around my home, beautiful views interspersed with wild life sightings.
Exercise on demand TV - belly dancing for beginners
Rena's and Vena's belly dancing for beginners
The pussy cat dolls - exercise workout
Wii fit
Just dance
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How am I doing it?
Well ahem, a day at a time.
Diet:
Eating only the amount of what my eight year old would eat.
Stocking up on yogurt and other healthy foods
Bottles and bottles of water.
Chocolate limited to about 2 Hershey kisses a week instead of an entire bag.
Extra gum - dessert delights, instead of bowls of ice cream.
No bread or baked goods as much as it pains me and calls for me .
Fruits although my choice is limited due to my irrational allergy to fruits - hives on lips and mouth and throat closing inducing allergy.
Exercise:
Walking- up and down the rolling hills around my home, beautiful views interspersed with wild life sightings.
Exercise on demand TV - belly dancing for beginners
Rena's and Vena's belly dancing for beginners
The pussy cat dolls - exercise workout
Wii fit
Just dance
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.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
July 15, 2011
Blogalicious blog tour
How to stay worry free
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".
1. Janki - http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/
2. Shelley - http://bookfare.blogspot.com3. Karen - http://karenvwasylowski.blogspot.com/
4. Dora - http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/ 5. Roy - http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com6. Shaeeza - http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/7. Ryder - http://ryderislington.wordpress.com/8. Karen - http://britsunited.blogspot.com/9. Dora - http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/
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. Here are the responses I got after some weird looks, raised eyebrows and gestures that mean "are you crazy?"
My husband aged 49 - pray and remembering GodMariam aged 21 - yoya after crying about itSamirah aged 20 - have someone to talk to about itNazeefah aged 16 - listen to musicDinah aged 13 - I don't knowDanyal aged 8 - I don't worryMe aged (never mind) - don't sweat the small stuff
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.
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.
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!
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".
1. Janki - http://janukulkarni.blogspot.com/
2. Shelley - http://bookfare.blogspot.com3. Karen - http://karenvwasylowski.blogspot.com/
4. Dora - http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/ 5. Roy - http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com6. Shaeeza - http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/7. Ryder - http://ryderislington.wordpress.com/8. Karen - http://britsunited.blogspot.com/9. Dora - http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/
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. Here are the responses I got after some weird looks, raised eyebrows and gestures that mean "are you crazy?"
My husband aged 49 - pray and remembering GodMariam aged 21 - yoya after crying about itSamirah aged 20 - have someone to talk to about itNazeefah aged 16 - listen to musicDinah aged 13 - I don't knowDanyal aged 8 - I don't worryMe aged (never mind) - don't sweat the small stuff
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.
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.
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!
July 9, 2011
Bee Sting
Show 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.
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.
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?
I just turned 40 something, and for some time now have been peering into greener pastures.
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.
I started from the bottom, did a CNA course and started working in the hospital - no bee sting yet.
My husband got into a terrible car crash and then I broke my arm - no bee sting yet.
Went through some really tough times with kids and other such - no bee sting yet.
I wrote a bunch of stories for kids and actually self published one - no bee sting yet.
Then I looked at my self in the mirror - the bee is buzzing.
Realization sinking in that I'm at high risk for diabetes - the bee is getting uncomfortably close.
Factor in that I already have hypertension with an apple of a body - the bee is coming in with deadly aim.
Given a challenge to lose the weight by someone who we will call my muse - BEE STING!!
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.
- Watch portion size - now only eating what I would give Danyal my 8 year old.
- put that Pilates DVD to some work and gain some return on my purchase
-walk up and down the rolling hills surrounding my home in upstate NY
- make some sort of connection with the Wii fit sitting in the family room
- join the kids in doing "Just Dance" instead of laughing at them
A plan of sorts.
Keep checking back for updates as this is sure to get very interesting real fast.
A number of things have the possibility of happening:
a. Shaeeza continues through this summer and makes her doctor very happy
b. She runs out of steam and returns to smelling flowers like Ferdinand (oops, sorry)
c. She ends up actually gaining more weight as is her luck
d. none of the above
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?
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.
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?
I just turned 40 something, and for some time now have been peering into greener pastures.
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.
I started from the bottom, did a CNA course and started working in the hospital - no bee sting yet.
My husband got into a terrible car crash and then I broke my arm - no bee sting yet.
Went through some really tough times with kids and other such - no bee sting yet.
I wrote a bunch of stories for kids and actually self published one - no bee sting yet.
Then I looked at my self in the mirror - the bee is buzzing.
Realization sinking in that I'm at high risk for diabetes - the bee is getting uncomfortably close.
Factor in that I already have hypertension with an apple of a body - the bee is coming in with deadly aim.
Given a challenge to lose the weight by someone who we will call my muse - BEE STING!!
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.
- Watch portion size - now only eating what I would give Danyal my 8 year old.
- put that Pilates DVD to some work and gain some return on my purchase
-walk up and down the rolling hills surrounding my home in upstate NY
- make some sort of connection with the Wii fit sitting in the family room
- join the kids in doing "Just Dance" instead of laughing at them
A plan of sorts.
Keep checking back for updates as this is sure to get very interesting real fast.
A number of things have the possibility of happening:
a. Shaeeza continues through this summer and makes her doctor very happy
b. She runs out of steam and returns to smelling flowers like Ferdinand (oops, sorry)
c. She ends up actually gaining more weight as is her luck
d. none of the above
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?
June 27, 2011
Bibi
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.
You might ask what is a Bibi? According to urban dictionary - it is defined as "Is the epitome of all things feminine and womanhood. Bibi means "mistress," "lady," "beloved," "wife," "queen," "lover" etc etc.
"She's my beautiful bibi..."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.
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".
As you can tell my first name is Bibi and 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 Indian 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?
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?
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.
When I was in elementary school in Georgetown Guyana, I used the name Bibi. so did my sisters- we were Bibi S. Khan, Bibi F. Khan and Bibi S. Khan. See how my point is proven? Not innocent.
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 terrifying. 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?
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, 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?
You might ask what is a Bibi? According to urban dictionary - it is defined as "Is the epitome of all things feminine and womanhood. Bibi means "mistress," "lady," "beloved," "wife," "queen," "lover" etc etc.
"She's my beautiful bibi..."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.
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".
As you can tell my first name is Bibi and 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 Indian 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?
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?
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.
When I was in elementary school in Georgetown Guyana, I used the name Bibi. so did my sisters- we were Bibi S. Khan, Bibi F. Khan and Bibi S. Khan. See how my point is proven? Not innocent.
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 terrifying. 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?
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, 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?
June 17, 2011
Blogalicious blog tour 2
It's that time again - another delicious Blogalicious blog tour! Thank you for stepping over from Dora's 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 sit a while here, hop on over to Mari's and see what she is up to. Happy blog hopping!
1. Roy - http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com/2. Sulekha - http://sulekkha.blogspot.com/ 3. Dora - http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/4. Shaeeza - http://shaeeza.blogspot.com/ 5. Mari - http://mariscamera.blogspot.com/6. Paula - http://hardlineselfhelp.com/ 7. Karen - http://karenvwasylowski.blogspot.com/ 8. Keiko - http://hannahweptsarahlaughed.blogspot.com/9. Catherine - http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/10. Kate & Ashley - http://backofthebookreviews.com/11. Desiree - http://www.desireeholttellsall.com/12. Sonia - http://soniarumzi.com/13. DK Levick - http://dklevick.wordpress.com/14. Kelley - http://4theluvofwriting.blogspot.com/15. Tosh - http://totsymae.com/
16. Lucy - http://lifethrulucylasticaslense.blogspot.com/17. Dora - http://blogaliciousblogs.blogspot.com/
June 10, 2011
Blogalicious blog tour
Join Me!Blog-A-Licious Blog Tour
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
http://royd-spiltmilk.blogspot.com
stay a while and browse here and then continue the hop over to
http://annalwalls.blogspot.com/
Do stop by and say hello plus some of us are having giveaways and contests. Enjoy!
May 27, 2011
Bones covered with fur
Our 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.
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.
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.
Now we have 3 cats, Kitty, Kit and Pumpkin. Now kitty is keeping moles and mice at bay in our yard and neighbors'
But what about "bones covered with fur"? you may ask.
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.
Two evenings ago, the kids were outside doing something I was paying no mind to. I was to soon find out.
"Mommy come see something"
"Mommy!!"
"you need to be here"
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)
Next thing I know, bowls were been filled with food, milk and water and the sounds of
"ohhh, it's so cute"
"It likes Kit"
"Kit is the mother figure"
"It's gray all over"
I started paying mind.
"No more cats!!"
"Three is enough"
"more poop in the litter box"
"Kitty will become even more crazy"
Did I mention that Kitty is very territorial and doesn't like the other two cats we do already have?
Nazeefah comes in.
"Mommy, it just bones covered with fur"
NOW WHY DID SHE JUST SAY THAT?
"Mommy come see"
Again, NOW WHY DID SHE JUST SAY THAT?
I debated, delayed and disputed.
The cat was meowing. More food, milk and water.
I got up to see.
NOW WHY DID I DO THAT?
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.
Rain was coming and it was now night. Dinah got a box filled with a towel (making sure it wasn't my best one).
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.
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.
Come this morning, it's still out there, now wanting to come in. Sorry cat.
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?
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
Now we have 3 cats, Kitty, Kit and Pumpkin. Now kitty is keeping moles and mice at bay in our yard and neighbors'
But what about "bones covered with fur"? you may ask.
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.
Two evenings ago, the kids were outside doing something I was paying no mind to. I was to soon find out.
"Mommy come see something"
"Mommy!!"
"you need to be here"
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)
Next thing I know, bowls were been filled with food, milk and water and the sounds of
"ohhh, it's so cute"
"It likes Kit"
"Kit is the mother figure"
"It's gray all over"
I started paying mind.
"No more cats!!"
"Three is enough"
"more poop in the litter box"
"Kitty will become even more crazy"
Did I mention that Kitty is very territorial and doesn't like the other two cats we do already have?
Nazeefah comes in.
"Mommy, it just bones covered with fur"
NOW WHY DID SHE JUST SAY THAT?
"Mommy come see"
Again, NOW WHY DID SHE JUST SAY THAT?
I debated, delayed and disputed.
The cat was meowing. More food, milk and water.
I got up to see.
NOW WHY DID I DO THAT?
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.
Rain was coming and it was now night. Dinah got a box filled with a towel (making sure it wasn't my best one).
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.
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.
Come this morning, it's still out there, now wanting to come in. Sorry cat.
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?
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.
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.
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)
May 20, 2011
Bucket kicking
So 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.
Which one am I?
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.
"Live you may, die you must".
That certain preacher man says without a doubt that he will not be here tomorrow to give a follow up interview.
What do you think?
I say let's wait until tomorrow.
Which one am I?
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.
"Live you may, die you must".
That certain preacher man says without a doubt that he will not be here tomorrow to give a follow up interview.
What do you think?
I say let's wait until tomorrow.
