Go Patriots!!!!

Let me first say that I am not a big sports follower, but something my brother-in-law said yesterday stuck with me. He was saying that we know GMU cause we live in Maryland, but to someone from Wisconsin or Minnesota, it's as foreign to them as whatever their smaller universities are to us! Then this morning, I was listening to a piece on NPR about GMU. Seems like they have achieved the unthinkable! I went to George Mason for two years before I transfered over to the terps territory. I loved that quaint, little campus and I was always finding faults with the UMD campus at the beginning. Then slowly, GMU slipped out of my mind. I got used to the Maryland campus. It was everying GMU was not! I think it's time I re-activate my affiliation with George Mason University! :-)

On a different note, go watch "Inside Man" if you haven't already! Insanely entertaining and clever! We were specially thrilled with the song that was played at the beginning and at the end of the movie! :-D I'm not going to spoil it for you! Go watch the movie. It's worth it! Clive Owen is HOT!!! ( Ofcourse not as hot as you baby!! :-P)

Failure as a mother

Within a matter of an hour, one person called me a "lazy mother", then another said I'm "impatient". And then a third comment pretty much said I'm an incompetent mother. Let me just go die somewhere.

Sad

Chicago evoked emotions in me that I wasn't even expecting. Back in third grade, when I was memorizing the name of Sears Tower as the tallest building in the world, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I'd actually be standing in front of it one day. I was proud of my accomplishments, sorrowed by the realization that my father couldn't see my achievements. Today also being the one year mark of Zoya's surgery, made me think of all the "what ifs" of that situation. I wanted to be home with her today, hug her all day. Don't get me wrong. I'm happy to be finally sinking my teeth in some work for FM, at the same time, I miss being home, being with the kids. I'll definitely make a stop at the toy store at the airport tomorrow on my way back.

The windy city

I'm enjoying FM so far. I was in Training all last week. Tomorrow, I fly out to Chicago to observe people working on the pilot project. Never been to Chicago before. I'll be there for two days only, so probably won't get much chance for sightseeing. But I do hear there's a mall right across the street from the hotel! :-D I would be going back couple more times in the next couple of months. So do let me know what I should definitely check out.

Food Poisoning?! Heat Stroke? Migrane?

It's been nagging me that I haven't updated my blog for quite some time now. I figured what better time to update than when I am awake at 4:00 in the morning with my stomach churning while the rest of the world sleeps in peace?! :-P I've been busy. With this and that and what not. Today was my first day at FM. Loads of information was provided at Orientation. Hmmmm... I'm thinking whether I want to make you guys green with jealousy, since I am feeling quite green myself at the moment! Hold on.... while I make a quick visit to the bathroom.....

Alright, back for the time being. Here are couple of benefits I am excited about besides all the regular ones:
1) Assistance for buying a house (up to 7%). If I stay with FM for 5 years, the loan is forgiven! :-D (The 7%, not the mortgage!)
2) Flex hours. FM requires employees to be on premise from 10:00-3:00 and then I can do the rest of the 7.5 hours (yes you read it right, 7.5 hours, not 8!!) however I wish.
3) $250 per eye for Laser Vision Correction! I am not sure though if I am ready to part ways with my glasses. We've been together for ages!!

Alright I'll stop now. Other updates:

• My mom is here!!


• I finished reading "The Twentieth Wife". While it was a good read, it left me with an unsatisfied feeling. Lets put it this way: I am in no rush to read the sequel.


• My sil moved her twins bday party to the following weekend. We are thinking about having a bday party for Raffae now since his bday is on a saturday! I am thinking the theme is going to be "Fun with Water"! Can't wait for hot July weather!

EEEEKKKK. It's 4:20! I have to be in training by 8:30! It's raining a little right now, which means the commute tomorrow morning is going to be horrible!! Maybe I should try laying down and see if I can sleep! Alright my friends, wish me luck! Talk to you soon.

Some Raffae Speak

What he says - What he means

ScooDoo Stuck - Scooby Doo Bandaid
sown - Sit down
Peas - Please
Eat - Food
Moster - Monster
Nana - Banana
Drash - Dash from The Incredibles
Peepaw - Fuppi
Pitcher - Picture

Her whole life in two suitcases

They were a young couple with a small child. They rented a room and started their first "shongshar" in Dhaka. That was 1973. Next week, she will be reaching USA with her 36 year old "shongshar", packed in two suitcases. My mom. A teacher. A grandma. A great mother. A widow. I still can't think of her as a widow.

I think relationships between parents and children change as the children enter different stages of their lives. I feel like I never got to know my parents as an adult myself. I left them in 1992, barely out of my teenage years. I didn't spend more then 6 months in a row with them since then. Now I would never have that chance with Abbu. That's why I am really looking forward to my mom spending some time with us. I've heard stories here and there, but this time I want to sit down and ask her questions, get all the details and engrave them in my memory.

Good thing memories don't get put into suitcases.

Syriana, a wounded chin and motherhood

When Batman came out, George Clooney's mother said he has the sexiest chin in hollywood. From then on, I always look at GC's chin first whenever I see him. However when we went to watch Syriana the other night, there was another chin on my mind - Raffae's.

He ran into the couch right when we were about to leave for the movie. Got a big cut on his chin and was crying. He is such a strong kid that usually when he gets hurt, he just gets up, says "oh sorry" and runs off. So when we hear him crying, we know he got really hurt and its bad!

We had already gotten the tickets, so we left him in my mother in laws capable hands and left for the movie. I was feeling really guilty about it. Then came Syriana. Heart wrenching, disturbing, thought provoking, tear jerking Syriana. Made me feel even more guilty about leaving Raffae behind after he got hurt. Also made me think what kind of a future is ahead for him, for his generation.

My day today

6:21 - Got out of bed without waking Raffe up.
6:45 - Got out of shower.
7:00 - Made coffee and listened to the morning news.
8:30 - Left for work.
2:30 - Got a call from Fannie Mae. I got the job !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D
7:22 - Still can't believe it! :-D I'm very excited about this job. This is something completely new for me. Can't wait till march 13th! I am Fannie Mae's newest Senior IT Policy Analyst! Hehehehehe

The Flying Tomato

I can't wait for the Winter Olympics to start this Friday. Looking forward to seeing the flying tomato in action!! Some time ago, Tanveer and I were watching some show on TV where he was skating down the slope of a mountain! We talked about getting Raffae into something like this when he grows up! Something to channel all the energy he has! Wish us luck!

Blog find of the day

40X365

Sounds interesting! I think I'm going to try and see if I can remember 365 names from my past! Writing 34 words for each would be hard. Maybe I will refine the laws a little! ;-)

What are you afraid of?

Did you hear about the guy who jumped off of the Empire State Building yesterday!?? My mom always says "If someone is brave enough to jump in front of a train or jump off of a bridge/building to commit suicide, what on earth is there that they can't face?" I totally agree with her. He was quite young, 20 I think. What a loss!

The love of my life

Scenario 1: Trying to select which pictures go up on pbase from Tanveer's brother's engagement party, I came across a picture of mine.
Me: "Oh my God! Look at my shoulders! I look like a quarterback!!!"
Tanveer: "Nah... You look like a linebacker".


Scenario 2: Couple of weeks ago I was sick as a dog. My throat was hurting like anything.
Me: "Baby, look! I think my throat glands are swollen!
Tanveer: "That's just your double chin".

Scenario 3: I was two days overdue with Raffae.
Me: "I look like a whale!!! :-("
Tanveer: "No you don't! You look like a baby whale! :-P"
May I remind/tell you all that Raffae was a 9 pounds 3 ounces baby and I am barely 5'2" tall!

Some random updates

• My sister is reaching Toronto on Feb 9th! Yayyyyy!!!


• I've become addicted to food blogs!! Doesn't bode well for my resolution of "eating well/healthier and finally loosing the pregnancy weight"


• Raffae is just becoming too cute now that we can really communicate with him. He doesn't throw as much tantrums. Becoming very managable(!!). Those of you that know him know it is still a lot of work!


• I don't have anything definite, but recently I just feel like Zoya is making a lot of progress. She babbles lot more (probably because she doen't have the pacifier in her mouth! She strictly gets it at night), she is becoming more and more active. No new dance moves recently though.


• I so want that job I interviewed for!!! They are going to interview an internal applicant and then decide! I hate inernal applicants! I'm just trying to get my foot in the door, but this guy is alreay in! That is just not fair!


• Next month, we will be celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary!!!! 9th!!!!


• I don't think I can finish reading "Shalimar the Clown". Too slow!


• I got a new laptop! I'll be downloading all the hindi/bangla songs I want on my iPod this weekend from questionable sites. I'm sure I'll be downloading some spyware too which would be driving Tanveer crazy! ;-)


• I am very hungry! Arthur (our intern) better be here with the lunch soon! ;-)

HR people are cruel

I interviewed for a job last Friday. I got really positive vibes from the 4 people that grilled me for 2.5 hours. I thought I'd definitley know something by today! The lady from HR just called me to update me about their position! Turns out, she had to reschedule someone else for the interview and wouldn't be able to make a final decision until next Friday (hopefully!)!!!!!!!!!! WHAAAATTTTT!!!!!!!! Next Friday is like 2 years away from today!!!!!!!! What am I going to do till then? Twiddle my thumb?! I need a short-term project....

Any suggestions?

I want my mommy ......

I hate being sick and I am sick! My throat hurts. I am completely exhausted. It took all my willpower to get out of bed this morning and drag myself to the shower. When drinking my morning coffee didn't help, I figured it's time I go to the doctor and find out what's wrong with me. Turns out, I have both ear and throat infection!!!!! Now I am all drugged up, waiting for Tanveer to bring me hot soup so I can have my soup and go to sleep and get some much needed zzzzs. I need some serious TLC from mommy. Maybe I'll call her up and get some TLC over the phone!! I also realized why Raffae calls out "mommy" every 10 seconds when he is sick! I'll try not to get too annoyed next time!

Help me!!!!

I'm gaining weight just by looking at these pictures! If I ever go to Philippine, I'm hooking up with Lori so she can take me to all these cool places!! Yummmmmmmm.......

Yipeeeeee

This just made my day! ;-)

De-Lurking Week

Hehehehehe! I hear through the grapevines that this is the de-lurking week and I know there are couple of you out there from my sitemeter report! So ..... fess up and leave a comment.

Thank you! ;-)

Ramblings on a dreary day

Eid Mubarak to you all. If you are on the east coast today, does your brain feel as foggy as the weather?! I had to drag myself out of the bed this morning. I felt like I was going to die. I had a splitting headache and my throat was hurting like it was no one's business! Feeling much better now after a long, hot shower and a big, yummy lunch! Here are some links that caught my eye in the last couple of days:

• Update on world's first face transplant recipient


• A Million Little Lies


• Found an interesting blog


• Another blog

Have fun!!

Update at 4:30: Just saw this article on MSNBC. Wonder if Oprah is going to say something about this!