Things that make you go hmmmm...

There are lots of things in the world that I don't get...like global warming...the energy crisis...the human rights violations in chechnya. Yes, the world is filled with baffling things that never cease to astound me. However, as I listen to the lady in the desk next to me crunch on her chex mix...my mind is wondering to a rather perplexing question. She worries that her crunching annoys me, however her rhythmic crunch merely puts me in a trance, and I begin to ponder why people make homemade chex mix? Yes, that's my mind boggling question of this feel good Friday.

My CCl makes lots of things homemade...like babyfood. In fact she refuses to let her boy eat processed food. I guess it makes sense...it's better for the kid. However, I do feel sorry for him that he'll never eat an oreo. I can see him at 16 standing at 7-11 with his pal. His friend will look over his shoulder checking to see if anyone sees him handing the clerk a fake id as he buys his cigarettes. Ethan, on the other hand will be looking around nervously before he hands over the dollar bill to buy a pack of cookies. I guess his mom isn't a total nutcase...cuz atleast the kid does get to eat cookies. and his mom's cookies are THE best. To make homemade cookies from scratch versus store bought totally makes sense. I mean, they're just better tasting and softer and chewier. Even if you buy them from a bakery, they'll never be as good as homemade because unless they're fresh from the oven you'll miss that warm goodness. Plus, the best part about homemade cookies is the cookie dough! I'll risk gettin salmonella for a lick of that!

But chex mix? Why would anyone want to buy pretzels, chex mix cereals and nuts and throw em' together when they could save money and time buy buying a bag. It's not like licking the bowl is any good either! it's just salty!!...and you'd get the same effect licking the bag! Now there is the puppy chow stuff that my BF makes. That's chexmix with chocolate and powdered sugar. You just can't buy that stuff in a bag...so it's definitely worth making. But regular chex mix? Do yourself a favor and just buy it!

I don't know why my head is stuck on this perplexing subject today. The only time I crave or think about chex mix is when my co-worker is eating it. Luckily they now have a chexmix type snacky available in my 100 calorie packs. I'd be so snackless without those things. But that takes me to another subject...and I don't want to be THAT random...so I'll just stop b4 I get started. I guess what it all comes down to is that making homemade chexmix is just one of them things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Turkey on white, light mayo, hold the tomatoes...with a side of luv!

I went to Subway for lunch since it's right next to work. It's Indian-owned, like a lot of Subways here in OKC. They have non-Indians working there, but the same Indian girl is there every time I go. Today the owner was there also. He's rather young and in his 20's...much like her.

To say she was macking on him is an understatement. Of course, they were speakin in Hindi, so I didn't understand a word they were saying but she was so dern obvious. I mean she had that uncontrollable, giggly laugh....that smirky "i'm so in love with him but he doesn't know it" smile...and that high-pitched shrill in her voice. I was so embarrassed for the chick I couldn't look at her...which made it difficult to order my sandwich since i was lookin down at my toes. =/

He, of course, was oblivious to the fact that she was mackin. He just laughed at her nonsense like an oaf. I rolled my eyes. Personally, I'm not so sure what she sees in him. He's not THAT cute...although he thinks he is...and he's annoying. At least, I was annoyed when he kept calling me "madam." "hi madam. what kind of sandwich madam? that's 4.68, madam. thank you, madam." Seriously...drove me nuts. What are you, my British butler?

ok, so maybe...just maybe I'm jealous...cuz i don't know how to mack nor do i have anyone to mack on. i guess i could practice on the chubby hispanic guy that works down in the mailroom. but our relationship thus far has consisted of insulting each other relentlessly. So, suddenly macking might throw him off kilter...and he might go postal!! I wouldn't want to take the blame for that one!

Anyhoo...maybe i just notice this love schmove stuff because love is in the air...and as usual, i'm breathing in from alternate air source.

The habits of the twisted and strange...

I think to some extent we are all creatures of habit. Just ask 9 out of 10 girls, and they will recite their morning ritual to you. It's performed the same way every day because if it wasn't, well, something just wouldn't FEEL right.

At my sister's house, I picked up on a few of her habits, which she passed on to her son. As soon as their feet hit the floor of their home, they are off to their rooms to change into "home clothes." These are clothes only worn in the home. It's almost as if clothes worn "out" must be contaminated and removed. Clothes worn in can never cross the line of the front door or else they be removed from the premises permanently.

CCL has a weird habit too...she has a "clean" brush and a "dirty brush." The dirty brush is used for brushing her hair before she washes it and the clean brush is after the wash. One time cousin Mikey made the grave mistake of using CCL's clean brush before he had washed his hair. His punishment? He was beaten with the clean brush until she knocked some sense into him never to use the clean brush on dirty hair. She then had to remove the contaminated brush from the premises and replace it with a new brush. Mikey...ever the quick learner...next used her clean brush on his CLEAN hair after bathing one day. He smiled like a good little boy who had learned a valuable lesson as he looked into the mirror and brushed his clean hair. CCL found him in her bathroom once again and beat the tar out of him with the contaminated brush. "Why?" he cried. "My hair is clean!" Her answer is one that we should all have known. None of us...even with clean hair...could measure up to the clean of her hair...therefore her clean brush would be off limits to all of us. We all learned through his misfortune.

Yesterday, I went over to see my kid cousins and noticed that Ashley has a habit similar to that of my sister's. She too changes as soon as she gets home. However, she changes into her pajamas. Not just any pajama...but flannel pajamas...even in the dog days of summer. However, I must say that her weird habit has improved just a bit. She used to wear the flannel shirt of the pajama set over a t-shirt...like some sort of fashion statement or security jacket (opposed to a security blanket). The girl is constantly in pajamas regardless of the time of day. And it's not like she has a lot of sets. She wears the same set until her mom gets tired of seeing her wearing the same thing every day and yells at her or threatens to burn it. And believe you me...she is true to her threats...she's done it before. Currently it's a pair of pajama pants that I let her borrow along with my NYC t-shirt. This is what I saw her wear y'day...and what I saw her wear last week...oh, and the week before.

Les is no different...she's just as weird. Her habit is to saveeeee everything. When I say everything...I mean everything...a gum wrapper, a stub of a movie ticket, a random pin she finds on the street, etc. She even has the plastic flower arrangement that my mom gave her mom on the day she was born. The thing is 16 years old...not to mention plastic and ugly...but the girl still keeps it as a cherished heirloom.

Now, I have habits too...but none out of the ordinary. I bite my nails, pop my knuckles, crack my neck...but nothing WEIRD like these people. I guess they're just habitual weirdos.

Getting organized...

Never have I had a more uneventful weekend. Although I did absolutely NOTHING fun or exciting, I got a lot of work done. My living space has been a complete wreck, which is usually the case after a wedding/party in which I am asked to "craft-up" something. Since the wedding festivites are over, and I am back from vacation, I could no longer avoid the mess that I call my room. There was a layer of glitter dust on my desk, bed, floor,etc, remnants of tulle all over the floor, hot glue stuck to my bed sheets and beads EVERYWHERE. In the mornings I'd step on the glue gun to get to my door, walk into the bathroom inspect myself in the mirror...only to find glitter in my hair and on my face...walk back to the room to get ready only to find hot glue stuck on my favorite black shirt. That's when I decided enough was enough!!

So Saturday, I devoted the day to organization. I have 4 parties scheduled to plan and must begin to learn how to do these things and remain organized. Or else, my business will be in ruins before it even begins! My room is currently immaculate, and I can only pray that this cleanliness lasts.

This week proves to be promising. Mondays are usually from hell, but this one started off well because I'm actually wearing pants that fit. These days, my pants are all baggy. I don't mind wearing baggy pants because they're more comfy, but it's slightly embarrassing when my co-workers point out how they baggy they are. I'd like to chalk this up to the weight loss, but I naturally have skinny legs and NO ASS...so things are baggy regardless. What makes it worse is that every pair of pants I own are way too long. Finally, I found a store that has my size. Ann Taylor. However, it's a bit pricey and will only be able to shop once a year when I go to Florida and shop the outlet. Their petite size is perfect for me. Grant it, I still have to wear 3 inch heels for it to fit perfectly right. but, atleast I don't have to cut six inches off. It sucks to be short. Wednesday, I'm off to a cooking class where I will be learning how to make hours d'vours. (Sp) This will be the perfect thing for me considering my new business endeavor. Yeah! Friday, yours truly will be going to the Reggae Fest. I love reggae music, so this I'm quite excited. I shall have pics on the flog for your viewing pleasure!

Take notes, fellas...these are the keys to my heart!!

I followed Blessed's/Suja's lead and tried this quiz...since i'm a sucker for quizzes. However, here's what struck me as strange. THESE results were construed by asking me questions about animals?!

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free.

In love, you feel the most alive when your lover is creative and never lets you feel bored.

You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was insecure and in constant need of reassurance.

Your ideal relationship is open. Both of you can talk about everything... no secrets.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage as something precious. You'll treasure marriage and treat it as sacred.

In this moment, you think of love as something you don't need. You just feel like flirting around and playing right now.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

The last statement just makes me chuckle. Everything else? right on target...

I don't think I can dance...I know I can't!

I have found my new favorite show on TV. "So you think you can dance" was on Fox last night. I know it's supposed to be the dance version of American Idol, but the "chief judge" is not half as mean as Simon. I love the show that opens the season because you get to see all the crazies that tried out. One guy was about 200 pounds, but man, could he make that fat move. Another guy was like 500 pounds and dude could barely breathe much less move. I had to give it up for the fat boy with the moves...cuz I couldn't kick my leg up half as high as that brother did. And over all, I'm much too self conscious to shake my thang...correction thangs. There were also some majorly HOT street dancers representing NYC! At one point I was so in awe of their fineness that I let out my gettho supasta yelp "NYC, bay-bee!" My mom scowled...and it was one of those moments when I stopped and thought..."oops...am i actually awake?!"

I think I love this show because dancing is one thing I can NOT do...but i love to watch people do it. It's so interesting to me that people are so uninhibited and coordinated. I can feel a beat...but that's about it. My famous dance move is "the nod." this is a very difficult move, so try to follow along. the no is done when you sit in a chair clutching on to your friends purses, keys, wallets, and cigarettes...fold your arms across your chest, and nod to the beat. oh yah...i got that move down. i also got the "scoop the peanut butter" move down. this is something that the belly dancer taught us at my friend sheryl's bachelorette party. it's supposed to be some seductive move of the fingers that coincides with the seductive move of the hip. i got the move down...however, i'm missing the seduction aspect. instead it looks like i'm having a innerfatgirl relapse and i'm walking around scooping imaginary peanutbutter. she also taught "scoop the icecream with your boobs." err, yah...that's one i have no intention of learning.

Secretly, I want to learn how to dance. I've tried Sheryl's motto of "You can do it, put yo back into it." But, it just doesn't work. I'm worse than Carleton from Fresh Prince. What usually happens when I go out is that a group of guys (typically the morons that I know...of course it wouldn't FINE, NEW guys) will circle around me and dance all freaky and embarrass the beejeezus outta me. I will then call it a night and split the scene...looking flushed.

Perhaps the show will teach me a few moves, which i can practice in the privacy of my closet. Then when I go to NYC for my weight loss celebration weekend, I can go out and actually get jiggy with it like everyone else!! =/

Got a party? I got a plan...

While in Florida, I had an epiphany of sorts. I decided that I'm too creative to be happy sitting behind a desk 8 hours a day, 5 days a week doing things that require little to no creativity whatsoever. Some people are all around smart, some analytical, some philosophical, and some creative. And it's absurd to think a philosophical person would be happy doing an analytical job, etc, etc.

My ultimate goal is to have a quiet, brightly colored room in my house with a big bay window that I can write in every day. THAT would be my job. But, THAT will be a long time coming. Meanwhile, I must find ways to express myself, make money, and have some sort of happiness in my little life. So, it hit me...like a ton of bricks...the perfect "side job"...that could possibly become more....an EVENT PLANNER. Having a party? hosting a shower?? planning a wedding??? Let ME help YOU!

Where did this idea come from? I have always loved planning showers and helping plan weddings. I'm anal about it. I have spread sheets and file folders...all for a one day event. I do this for free all the time...why not spread my wings and fly a little bit?? I think what most inspired me was going to Disney. It amazed me how one man's vision, not only became a reality, but an empire. I'm not trying to be the next Martha Stewart...I'm just trying to throw some $$ into savings, so I can actually live my dream some day. Plus, it's something I loveeeee!

I got my first gig today! It's a babyshower...tentatively set for November. =)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, SHEPPY AND BEENA

happy 15th anniversary to my sister and brother-in-law. i can't believe the geezers have been married for 15 years! i still remember it like it was y'day. i was a bit concerned when i first met sheppy. first of all, what a strange name...but, then i realized his full name was shepherd, and something about that seemed kinda cool. then there was his moustache. i told my sister it wasn't THAT bad...but i had my fingers crossed behind my back. typically, the thick moustache is the identifying factor of a true fob. little did i know, that this wasn't the case for my future brother-in-law. somehow, my sister had managed to go to india and marry a guy LESS fobby than her. yes...LESS fobby than a girl who was raised in the u.s. since age 2. infact, he doesn't possess an ounce of fobbiness, so i worried for no reason.

their wedding day...to say my sister was having a bad hair day, is an understatement. this is the girl who did her bangs over and over and over again until she reached ultimate perfection. I mean, each strand of her bangs had to be curled to perfection in order to form an immaculate wing on the top of her head. this wasn't an option in india where the humidity made the air so thick u could slice it. the lack of "hair perfection" set a scowl on her face that was captured in pictures that everyone can look back upon today. by the look of her scowl...i knew it was best to "shumymow" (shut my mouth) and shut it tight because i was liable to have my head snatched from my neck by her jaws if I uttered one annoying comment. So, i sat in the back seat of the ambassador and prayed that it would stop raining, so her hair condition wouldn't worsen.

Luckily the rain stopped by the time we pulled up to the church, they got married, and 15 years later they are still happily married with an amazing son. today they are celebrating their anniversary in montreal...and she doesn't know this, but she's getting a diamond ring!!! She only got a band for her wedding, so my brother-in-law bought her this amazing, phat, diamond!! I hope she loves it and enjoys her day!!!

Back to the daily grind blues...

It is 4:35, and in 10 minutes, I will have survived my first day back from vacation. It's funny how you look forward to something so much for months and months...and then, in a matter of days it's all over, and you have nothing to look forward to anymore. Coming back to the redundancy of life in OKC has got me in a serious funk, which means I am officially suffering from "back to the daily grind" blues.

This happens to me EVERY time I come back from an extended vacation to a REAL city. I start contemplating my life...and trying to find ways to broaden my horizons. For the next few weeks I will try to find jobs in any city possible. Eventually the attempt to find a new job will become too taxing because I will hear NO responses. Then, I will give up all hope and pout because I will feel stuck in this rut called life in Oklahoma. After which, I will continue to be miserable day in and day out until my next vacation...only to re-live the cycle all over again!!!

I wish things could be different. Life is too short to be doing things that fill your days with dread. I want to wake up and be excited about doing something that i'm passionate about and good at. Why, why, why is this so hard to find? I don't know...but I have one minute left of this work day...and 5 hours to enjoy myself before I have to go to sleep in order to wake up and do this all over again! Bleh!

I'm a cheata..cheata..cheata!

For the first time in 5 months I decided to cheat. Sonia and I were out enjoying sunny, Florida today, and I suggested we stop in for a sweet treat. Since neither of us know O-town well, we asked my sister for the location for the nearest Coldstone Creamery. I couldn't wait to partake in the sinful goodness of a Birthday Cake Remix-Like it sized-in a waffle cone. There's absolutely nothing as good as that Cake batter ice cream. I swore to myself that I would eat the sin and not even feel an ounce of guilt for it. After all, it was my first REAL cheat...and I AM on vacation, afterall.

I got to the counter...hardly able to contain the smile on my face...and I ordered the birthday cake remix...only to hear the lady say. "I'm sorry...that's a flavor they're working on improving, so it's not available." What? WHATTTTTTTTTT? How can you possibly improve the BEST EVER ice cream?!?! My heart sunk to my toes. I wanted to cry. I made Sonia drive all the way there for nothing!!!

Instead, I ordered sinless sweet cream. It's low fat icecream. That was a completely ridiculous move on my part, considering the fact that I mixed full fat brownies, fudge, and caramel in with it!! It was aight...but it was no birthday cake remix, and obviously, I'm still a bit sad and bitter about it. Even more sad is the fact is that it's Wednesday and I only have 3 more days left of vacation. Yep, I'm one of those anal people that don't fully enjoy vacation because I'm too busy dreading the end of it. Strange, I know....Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go bug my nephew till he agrees to play dominoes with me. =)

Vacation time is here!!!...

Well bloggers, I'm writing you from sunny, Orlando, Florida. And, I must say that I'm thrilled that it's sunny considering the recent storms caused by Dennis the Menace. Hopefully the weather maintains for the rest of the week. I was a bit saddened when I heard about the hurricane because the weather in OKC was absolutely beautiful.

Anyhoo, my sister is currently breathing down my neck because she insisting that she needs to check her email. However, I decided I'm going to take my sweet time in order to teach my sister that "patience is key." (It's a bit hard to write and listen to her babble at the same time. She doesn't realize the babbling will only prolong my blogging) She is a very habitual person and while I am here, I will be taking it upon myself to break her out of a few habits. One of these would be that there is assigned seating in this home. When watching tv, she has a spot, my bro in law has a spot, and my nephew has a spot. I have officially taken over her "spot" in a matter of 24 hours. I'm merely trying to show her that TV can be watched from any spot, and the world will still oribit on it's regular axis. Another habit I will be working on is the fact that she asks my nephew if he washed his hands before EVERY single meal. Now, this is a hard one. But, for the sake of my nephew's sanity and mine...I'll see if there is some way we can beat her to the punch so she won't ask.

I'll probably break for a week, but needless to say...when I go, she will be back to her usual habits and when I come back again...I'll have to work hard once again to restore normalcy to this home. But, at least for one week...I can break her out of her strange patterns.

CCL, if you are reading this...and so much as chuckle...you shouldn't. Why? Because you are just as strange as my sister...if not more so. But, to write about your weirdness would take more than a blog....it'd take a book. But I'll work on that another time...

Good day folks!

The Lesser of Two Evils...

Today's my weigh in day, and I'm totally dreading it. I know that pavaka, karayapalla, and mini-bananas aren't the only things I picked up in Houston...I also picked up a few pounds. Bleh. It's impossible to eat light portions or healthy meals when staying with aunties. To them, it's a personal insult if you don't eat two heaps of rice with an abundance of curry on the side. One afternoon I opted out of rice for lunch and headed out to Subway for a turkey sandwich. You would think that I had literally walked up to my aunt and pimp-slapped her. She was THAT offended by me skipping out on lunch. She began telling me that her kids aren't picky about what they eat and they love Indian food.

This is one thing that annoys me beyond measure. It's guilt tactic 101 in the book of "The Malayalee Mom's Ways of Guilting Children Into Doing What They Want." Sure, her statement sounds rather simple and harmless, but let's examine what it REALLY means, shall we? "My kids aren't picky..." YOU ARE PICKY. "They love Indian food." YOU DON'T LOVE INDIAN FOOD BECAUSE YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE KIDS WHO ACT AMERICAN AND NEED TO WASH THE SPICES OFF THEIR CURRY.

The problem here isn't that I don't like Indian food. Indeed, I do. The problem is that aunties FRY fish, FRY beef, FRY pappadum, and saute their veggies them in OIL. THAT'S my problem.

The funny thing is...aunties want you to eat their cooking, but they're the FIRST ones to tell you you're fat. Some even have the audacity to say "You so fatty now. Vhy?" Grr...It's a no win situation. If you don't eat their cooking and offend them, you get their comments that leave you feeling guilt ridden while you are labeled as one of those "confused american borns" that can't value the taste of authentic indian food. I guess you just have to pick the lesser of two evils.