tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65323371423296414802023-11-15T19:07:40.455+04:00Hajra Kvetches!Complaining about just everything...Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-27761313286587754822011-08-20T00:19:00.000+04:002011-08-20T00:19:31.748+04:00I have moved!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, I got my own domain and still figuring out so many things! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JdxU_ltW00U/Tk7FKtzqh7I/AAAAAAAAAJY/wS8QoXsy8CI/s1600/hajrak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JdxU_ltW00U/Tk7FKtzqh7I/AAAAAAAAAJY/wS8QoXsy8CI/s1600/hajrak.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though I like blogger, I got a domain and shifted my stuff there! I haven't done the redirecting you guys directly there trick yet! Will do that some time soon. So to keep you all informed and to continue the lovely support you all give to my blog, do come across my newer, hopefully more better blog!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, come visit me at <b><a href="http://hajrakvetches.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Hajra Kvetches</span></a></b> (Yes, didn't change the title!). And it has been one year to blogging! So, that's why all this! :) I am celebrating my blog's birthday there! </span>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-87292358248681819382011-08-13T21:08:00.000+04:002011-08-13T21:08:37.432+04:00My Seven Deadly Links...<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, last week I had <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-now.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">nothing to blog</span></b></a> about and my partner - in -crime <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/neanster77"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Janine Ripper</span></b></a> helps me out. Yes, she gives me this "challenge" and nominates me in this<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> <a href="http://reflectionsfromaredhead.com/2011/08/09/looking-back-through-my-blog-my-7-links/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">My 7 links project</span></a></span></b>. Well, this isn't like any other award but it's way more scarier. I had to rate my own blog posts! But each one is like my lil baby... all precious but I had to pick it anyways -<a href="http://www.adjuvancy.com/wordpress/http:/www.adjuvancy.com/wordpress/1-2-3-4-5-6-7-links/#more-4016"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> like Roy says, Janine made me do it! </span></b></a></span></i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xa8osxPN0bA/Tkau3hNdvCI/AAAAAAAAAJU/Q3wF2Qzzd_4/s1600/number7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xa8osxPN0bA/Tkau3hNdvCI/AAAAAAAAAJU/Q3wF2Qzzd_4/s200/number7.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">My Most Beautiful Post</span></b>: I couldn't understand what beautiful meant to me. But my nephew and niece had come over for an amazing vacation and I wrote a post about <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2010/11/why-babies-are-better.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Why Babies are Better</span></b></a>. That was lovely and my nephew complimented me beautifully... he always does!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">My Most Popular Post</span></b>: I wish all. But in terms of statistics the one that did really well was the <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/01/5-study-habits-no-one-told-me-about.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">One about Study Habits</span></b></a> (because it got over 70 comments and over 400 page views!) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">My Most Controversial Post</span></b>: I don't think I write controversial posts... maybe because I am a little scared to do that here! But something I thought would have a lot of mixed reactions was when I was targeting people on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-are-you-tired-of-hearing.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">what they really mean</span></b></a> </span>when they use these cliches. But then it didn't create much controversy anyway!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">My Most Helpful Post</span></b>: None! I just do a lot of Yikkity Yak! But a lot of students got back to me when I wrote about <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/01/5-study-habits-no-one-told-me-about.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Study Habits</span></b></a> and could actually apply it to their study patterns and how much they could relate. So I was very happy after that! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">A Post whose Success Surprises me</span></b>: Just last week when I wrote about <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-now.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">nothing to blog about</span></b></a>. I loved the support and what every blogger thought that they could relate. I thought they would go like this "Oh, so this is the blogger who doesn't know what to blog about!" Didn't happen!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">A post I feel didn't get the attention it deserved</span></b>: Many! LOL! But the post which I enjoyed writing and din't get the attention I thought it would was this - <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-is-your-three-something-bad.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">What is your three something bad?</span></b></a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">The Post I am Most Proud of</span></b>: All! Yes. I love all my posts very much. They liberate me, make me happy and I just love them all. But then I have to pick one... the one which talks about <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/07/who-are-we.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">finding my identity</span></b></a>! And I loved the response too! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, Phew... I thought it would be easy. But this was the TOUGHEST blogging thing ever. So, now for the evil act of nominating four lovely people... (Evil Laugh!). I wanted to trap <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/bdorman264"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Bill Dorman</span></b></a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/RAAckerman"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Roy Ackerman</span></b></a> but seems like others have already done that! So here goes...</span><br />
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<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/samanthaluy"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Samantha Bangayan</span></b></a>: Her energy would do loads of justice!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/JSJ2020"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Muriel Jacques</span></b></a>: A blend of British and French links would be lovely!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/MelanieKissell"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Melanie Kissell</span></a></b>: Lol... her sense of humor would be so much fun to read!</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/oneshoeshy"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Thom Brown</span></b></a>: Because he is such a pleasure to read! </span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Looking forward to your posts! Also, others, do leave your seven links.. would love to read them! Good Day!</b></span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-46290776245387243402011-08-06T17:54:00.000+04:002011-08-06T17:54:51.142+04:00What now?<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Okay. So here’s a confession.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I really don’t know what to blog about!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Maybe it is the cold, maybe the fasting (Yes, it’s Ramadan!) or maybe the same old laziness. But I really don’t know what I should blog about. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I haven’t blogged for about a week and still don’t know what I should be saying this time. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I thought I would do a recycling of an old post; or just a last minute attempt at something. But I just can’t seem to do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristiand/3223044657/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="Confused by Kristian D., on Flickr"><img alt="Confused" height="320" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/3223044657_5b74ba8b28.jpg" width="186" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And to think to about it, I am closing in on my one year blog anniversary! Yes, almost ten more days to go before I complete one year! And I am already lost for ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I never thought I could run out of ideas for complaining so soon; or that I just ran out of creative juices flowing all around my head – if I had any in the first place!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">No, it’s not that. Maybe all that corporate job stress is making me think about nothing else but working. Yes, let’s put the blame on something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Or maybe, I should run into events that make me all nasty. Yes, it’s destiny’s fault. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Or maybe it is just because I am so lazy! My fault…. Hard to believe I just said that! (Sneer) <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, come just tell me what to blog about. Or what you did when everything decided to shut that blogging creativity of ours… yes, you can be immodest and tell me how you never run out of ideas.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So the final "performance" by <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Todayhaspower"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Rob Adelphia</span></b></a> of <a href="http://todayhaspower.com/about/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Today Has Power</span></b></a>. Rob has a wonderful blog that talks about having coffee baths and inspiring music. Do go across and show his blog some love. So, after much pleading and begging to ask the wonderful "Power" to guest post, here goes: </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Rob!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I didn't have the space here for 15,000 words, so I included the pictures instead. Each of these pictures have a permanent impression in the recesses of my mind and heart. They reflect what I value and love. They reflect me, and what I'm thankful for. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wisdom to know that life is meant to be enjoyed...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That my baby-girl's beauty won't last forever, but the wonderful person she is, will...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Thoughts of the young dreamer…</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Time spent with friends…</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Time spent alone…</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The cowboy in all of us… </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For days at the beach…</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Your browser may not support display of this image." height="1" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?name=d33be9805ff33117.jpg&attid=0.2&disp=vahi&view=att&th=1316f36d9a20cd07" width="1" /></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Second chances…</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A creative and lovely wife…</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Being encapsulated by nature…</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The man my son is becoming (even at six)…</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The encouragers, the givers, the joy spreaders… </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztxnCysMMZU/TjK7xice1vI/AAAAAAAAAJM/FuBIdo4U_KU/s1600/THP+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ztxnCysMMZU/TjK7xice1vI/AAAAAAAAAJM/FuBIdo4U_KU/s640/THP+2.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Snap your own memory today. It really is the little things in life that make the difference.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6532337142329641480" name="0.2_graphic04"></a><img alt="Your browser may not support display of this image." height="1" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?name=d33be9805ff33117.jpg&attid=0.2&disp=vahi&view=att&th=1316f36d9a20cd07" width="1" /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One final thing I'm thankful for…<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">fellow bloggers</span></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Live it LOUD!</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>So there goes! Say hi to the wonderful Rob and go over to his blog for his wonderful power boosters he has to offer (Really!). Also, say bye to the Friday series! Ending on Rob's powerful post! </b></span>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-78628075674704777592011-07-26T19:36:00.000+04:002011-07-26T19:36:43.132+04:00Really, who are we again?<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Two weeks back I wrote a post titled <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/07/who-are-we.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Who are we</span></b></a>. And as many suggested, and gave in their inputs – there are two ways of looking at who we are. How we define ourselves and how others chose to define us. Depends on what you want to go with.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, after the on going kvetch about how and who and what I think I am, I thought we could go into the second aspect. What do others think of us? I mean, it’s really okay what they think of us. But how do they remember us. What of our features stand out the most? And how do we remember others.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just the other day I ran into a college “friend”. Seems like we took classes together for two years, lived just a city away and have been “friends” on Facebook for a long time now. But how do I remember her… ah, not by any of that. I remember her as “the girl who cheated on a Social Psychology monthly test and got caught and got kicked out of the class”. Yes, so much for Social Psychology and so much for memories.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_EuOXAO0llQ/Ti7eIvxxVRI/AAAAAAAAAJE/cOimZoQDXTg/s1600/nerd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_EuOXAO0llQ/Ti7eIvxxVRI/AAAAAAAAAJE/cOimZoQDXTg/s1600/nerd.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then, a few years back when I fell into this social media craze, I get a request from a girl who I went to school with way back in fifth grade. And how does the all grown up and supposedly mature 23 year old introduce herself, “Remember I am the girl who exchanged Boyzone posters with you. And you didn’t return my poster. I still remember that” … I mean, Gosh… that girl knows me by my “poster-not-returning” tactics. And that is what she will always remember me by. The non-poster returner Hajra.<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Besides, one sad poster exchange gone all wrong, the consensus is that people remember me by the way I talk – too much, too fast. Some might remember the Psycho factor in me (Ha Ha, I am just referring to my subject), some might remember me as the girl with the colorful flip-flops, some as the one who wrote wonderful blog posts (Yes, I ain’t modest), some as the speaks-her-mind-way-too-much person, or else. Sometimes I care, sometimes I don’t. But yes, I still keep talking. Hoping that people remember me for what I made them kvetch about and how I brightened their dull day (I said I wasn’t modest).<u></u><u></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>So, tell me, what do you refer to me by… what do others refer to you as? You like it that way? Or do you think there should be a change in the way others think about you?<u></u><u></u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-8218518952223795722011-07-22T00:06:00.001+04:002011-07-22T00:06:15.206+04:00Fridays will be Different... Thanks to "Techie" Carolyn!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Another Friday…after a week of <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/07/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to_15.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">featuring the amazing Bill Dorman</span></b></a>, I fell silent. Yes, a new job, entering the corporate sector has already had its toll on me in just one week! Also, Bill was so amazing that I had to shut up! So, this week there is nobody as thankful as I am for the week to end and to breathe a sigh of relief for two days – yes, we have Fridays and Saturdays off this end of the world!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tj7AN053LM/TiiEnSbmISI/AAAAAAAAAJA/L-DlJPK7eVk/s1600/carolyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--tj7AN053LM/TiiEnSbmISI/AAAAAAAAAJA/L-DlJPK7eVk/s200/carolyn.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But, then I find the amazing <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/carpathia16"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Carolyn Nicander Mohr</span></b></a> to come across and be thankful for me. Yes, let her do all the talking. My tired fingers are too tired to “talk”!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What has she to be all thankful about! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> 1. My amazing <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">husband</span>. I am blessed to be married to a man who goes beyond my dreams. My marriage gives me the foundation and freedom to grow as a person. My husband is a quiet hero who does a lot of good in the world that few people know about.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> 2. My awesome <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">daughters</span>. Everyone marvels at their babies when they are born, but you don't know who they will become as they grow older. My daughters are loving, caring girls who are fun to be around. I know, I sound like a proud mama, and I am!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> 3. I have good <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">health</span>. My mother never lived to be the age I am now, so I appreciate every day that I have enjoyed good health.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> 4. My <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">friends</span>. I have incredible friends who support me when I rise and when I fall. I have made great friends online recently through my blogging who astound me with their support. I am very grateful for the kindness of friends, both close and far away.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> 5. Living in a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">place of peace</span>. I live in a beautiful area of the world that gives me peace. I have lived in many places but right now I am living in my favorite place I have ever lived. If I hadn't moved around so much I may never have appreciated how incredible it is to live in a place of peace.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Do say hi to Carolyn, she is very “technical” at her <a href="http://www.wonderoftech.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Wonder of Tech</span></b></a>! And she is a wonderful visitor too! <b>Say hi, share your thanks and visit her blog… do your Friday bit! </b></span>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-84390275428745278152011-07-15T15:49:00.001+04:002011-07-15T15:49:50.759+04:00Fridays will be Different...Thanks to Dorman, Bill Dorman!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So after featuring six super ladies (<a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-different-thankfully.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">me</span></b></a>,<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to.html">Janine</a></span></b>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to_16.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Samantha</span></b></a>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to_23.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Melanie</span></b></a>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/07/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Diana</span></b></a>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/07/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to_08.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Roberta</span></b></a>) I pester the <b><a href="http://billdorman.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Invisible Blogger</span></a></b>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/bdorman264"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Bill Dorman</span></b></a> to be thankful this week! If you have no idea what I am talking about, do check out how I force people into being thankful on Fridays! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, what does the James Bond persona-like<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/bdorman264"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> Bill Dorman</span></b></a> have to say..here goes: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We all have something to be thankful for, right? Even if we are the mushroom in the middle of a field and a cow comes by and deposits a ‘patty’ right on top of our heads; at least it kept us out of the sun, huh?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here is what floats my boat and I’m thankful for:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 40.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;">I’m thankful for being <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">perfect</span></b>; and I don’t mean kind of perfect, but the hair never out of place, breath always fresh, doodie never stinks and never annoying kind of perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 40.5pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZR-O3all1o/TiAnQm9dRcI/AAAAAAAAAI8/qXfZNMnc5rk/s1600/bill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZR-O3all1o/TiAnQm9dRcI/AAAAAAAAAI8/qXfZNMnc5rk/s200/bill.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div><ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I’m also thanking for being so <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">cool</span></b>; the kind of cool that everyone wants to hang with me and copy what I’m doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And I certainly can’t leave out <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">good looking</span></b>; the kind of good looking that makes women stare and men are so jealous they want to fight me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">How can I not bring up <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">popular</span></b>; so popular that I block calls from Charlie Sheen and Tom Cruise because they became such incredible douche bags and I can’t have them sullying my reputation?<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finally, I’m just thankful for <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">being me</span></b>; I mean I have to pinch myself everyday and sometimes more than once a day to remind me this is real, I’m living the dream.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ok, that was my attempt at humor and before everybody thinks I am the ultimate douche bag, let me tell you what I’m really thankful for.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;">I am certainly thankful for my family and my health.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;">I am thankful for my friends, both on and off line as they energize me and give me a sense of purpose. I appreciate them immensely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;">I am thankful for being smart enough to know I’m not going to win just by showing up; anything worth doing is going to take preparation, time and effort.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;">I am thankful for the simple things including <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Hajra</span></b> inviting me to be a part of her Friday series.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">5.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;">Finally, I’m thankful I like to help others any way I can and a big believer in paying it forward. I like to give with no expectations in return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, that was Bill saying how thankful he is. And don’t worry he isn’t as <b><a href="http://billdorman.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">invisible as his blog says</span></a></b>. You can just find him everywhere….and I mean, everywhere! <b>And tell us, could you relate to this “good looking, popular amazingly perfect” Bill…. Or just compliment him!</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-67012436605047554902011-07-11T22:58:00.000+04:002011-07-11T22:58:36.649+04:00WHO ARE WE?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, I don’t </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mean</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">your</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/p/about-kvetcher.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">About Me</span></b></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">page</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">your</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/hajraks"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Twitter</b></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bio</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">how</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">you</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">describe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">yourself</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">on</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/HajraKvetches"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Facebook</span></b></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. I </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mean</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">all</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Let’s take it from the beginning. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When I was say younger, people knew me as my elder sister’s younger sister. Yes, one of the pitfalls of being the younger sibling to a smarter, very pretty, popular elder sibling. Everyone will call you by “their name –followed by the sibling tag”. And that’s how it went till I started calling myself by my name or just when my sister changed school.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvtCCU6U9Gk/ThtGLztYSAI/AAAAAAAAAI0/D7_Nr51LWfE/s1600/nerd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvtCCU6U9Gk/ThtGLztYSAI/AAAAAAAAAI0/D7_Nr51LWfE/s200/nerd.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Asked to write an “About Myself” essay and it would include the tedious details of how fun-loving, outgoing, friendly, love reading books, hanging out, surfing the net, listening to music - person we all are. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then, college. Here you are known by the subject you take or the controversies you create. Yes, I was known as the <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/where-are-you-from.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Psychology girl from the Arab World</span></b></a>. And that is how I referred to myself as – Name- followed by “the girl from Psychology”. Well, it didn’t matter that there were 30 other girls from Psychology. They probably called their selves the same. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At work, obviously, but obviously, you are defined by your work. I am the psychologist. And that is how one would introduce oneself. “Name – followed by profession”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then, comes the oh – so – intriguing online world. The world’s your stage here. Say what you want, everyone believes you. Here, you could be the person you had always wanted to be! But when it comes to writing “about myself”; just what can you include. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The details of how you were a nerdy be-spectacled younger sister to a elder sister, the Psychology mumbo jumbo, your interests, the movies you like, your hobbies, your family, being a mommy / wife /aunt (if you are one!) or what?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Really, who are we? Or, who are you?</b></span><br />
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</b></span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-36601878820308575892011-07-08T13:10:00.000+04:002011-07-08T13:10:24.515+04:00Fridays will be different...Thanks to Roberta!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Friday again! Time to meet someone new and see what they are thankful for! If you have missed the series and trying to figure out what we are talking about check out the following thankful: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-different-thankfully.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Me</span></a>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Janine</span></a>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to_16.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Samantha</span></a>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to_23.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Melanie</span></a>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/07/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Diana</span></a>!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, this Friday time for <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/RobertaBud"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">ROBERTA BUDVIETAS</span></b></a> of <a href="http://www.getoutofstuck.net/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Get Out of Stuck</span></b></a>. A brilliant lady who helps you get out of “sticky” situations and much more! So, what’s Roberta all thankful about: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">• Baking with my granddaughter </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">• Watching my husband and granddaughter create robots or origami</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8n-P_rrIps/ThbHseIbfkI/AAAAAAAAAIw/BQC6vDtAxNk/s1600/roberta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8n-P_rrIps/ThbHseIbfkI/AAAAAAAAAIw/BQC6vDtAxNk/s200/roberta.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">• Christmas day or any holiday when my children and grandchildren are around or at least in touch</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">• Being able to see the ocean whenever I want by walking a short distance with my husband</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">• Watching old movies and sharing the tears with my husband</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">• Snuggling in bed and reading a good book</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">• Speaking to a group of people and making a difference to one or two of them</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">• Soaking in Paradise pools and enjoying the heat and beauty of natural hot springs in Rotorua. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Say Hello to her! And do find your way to her awesome blog too! </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>So what are you thankful for this week? Anything similar? Or has it been a bad week? Would love to hear you’ll kvell!</b></span>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-70311524246780659572011-07-05T22:11:00.000+04:002011-07-05T22:11:01.071+04:00Getting up on the wrong side can be good!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You know, those days when you get up on the wrong side of the bed…not left or right or whatever superstition you go by; just the wrong side. Yes, those miserably terrible days when everything makes you go Aaargh…; well I have been having those days quite often lately. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PEJtZG3eEQ/ThNTIyDGWxI/AAAAAAAAAIs/JIACBduuCyQ/s1600/grumpy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0PEJtZG3eEQ/ThNTIyDGWxI/AAAAAAAAAIs/JIACBduuCyQ/s320/grumpy.jpg" width="314" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The days when even the coffee turns out bad (Gosh!); the days when the hair just won’t settle; when the wind will blow out the perfect hairdo; everyone around you will seem chirpy, happy and all bright and beautiful. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The day when you have to send out an important mail and the internet has connectivity issues and the phone is not working and the mobile just crashed into bits and pieces. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The day when you just snap at everyone and don’t feel the guilt, don’t cringe after doing it and don’t worry about it until the “bad day grumpiness” wears off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Well, I don’t mind them actually. They do strike once in a while to make us get back to our grumpy old selves. Call me sadist, but getting up on the wrong side has its benefits. Yes, not for you specifically but in general. People around you are “scared”; yes, I don’t know about kids; but parents seem to nag a little less when you are having those days; one look and your colleagues know that today isn’t the day they should be messing with your coffee, your boss will shout irrespectively of anything and THEN THE BOSS will feel guilty because you just gave him a nasty stare! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, the next time you are having a bad day; use it to your advantage! People need a little dose of the nasty you… be nasty!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, when was the last “wrong side of the bed” day you had? Had fun or just grumped along?</span></b></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-88413572070304035212011-07-02T21:17:00.000+04:002011-07-02T21:17:42.585+04:00Why You SHOULD Be Lazy!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have always been a lazy girl. Like I said earlier, mommy dearest kept telling me that if I got anymore lazier, spiders would be making webs around me and the sofa.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tjs7NCEUrvU/Tg9Qopd5pCI/AAAAAAAAAG8/4TBbrpE85-c/s1600/lazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tjs7NCEUrvU/Tg9Qopd5pCI/AAAAAAAAAG8/4TBbrpE85-c/s1600/lazy.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Not that I am proud but my laziness just got me a guest post! Yes, I am kinda proud about that. On <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/LindaMHewett"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Linda</b></span></a>'s blog about positively spinning your life, I talk about why we need to stop, take a pause for some time and just be lazy. Not that I am endorsing being on the couch with a pack of chips and grunting when the remote doesn't work. While, that sounds just lovely, that gets people into a lot of trouble. Long term trouble actually. And if your mommy is nearby, big trouble! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, the guest post tells you to <a href="http://www.positivespinblog.com/2011/07/stop-right-there-dont-even-think-about-reading-this-youre-much-too-busy-arent-you/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">"Stop Right there, Don't Even Think About Reading This. You're Much too Busy...Aren't you?</span></b></a> But please do, do read it! :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So head over to Linda's blog, where I talk about being lazy, why and how you SHOULD be lazy. Join in the conversation. Tell us if you enjoy taking it easy for a while. Whether you are just too busy and needed a reminder. And how you enjoy being lazy! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">P.S. I am closing comments on this post (Oh, how I hate closing them!) so that you people do <a href="http://www.positivespinblog.com/2011/07/stop-right-there-dont-even-think-about-reading-this-youre-much-too-busy-arent-you/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">hop in there</span></a> to give in your two cents! </span>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-22051417406662152312011-07-01T00:25:00.000+04:002011-07-01T00:25:49.662+04:00Fridays will be different....Thanks to Diana!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Time for Thankful Friday again! The week was very hectic and thus no posting in between! So time for someone to be thankful again! After <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-different-thankfully.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">me</span></a>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Janine</span></a>, <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to_16.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Samantha</span></a> and <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to_23.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Melanie</span></a>; I have Diana Simon doing the kvelling for us! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NFwJvz7Upgw/TgzZJRXPAuI/AAAAAAAAAGc/5QYKTmHttvM/s1600/diana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NFwJvz7Upgw/TgzZJRXPAuI/AAAAAAAAAGc/5QYKTmHttvM/s200/diana.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diana</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Through the same club, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/coachdiana11"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Diana</span></b></a> has been such an awesome support for my blog and has got some absolutely brilliant ideas all raring to go! So what’s she thankful for? Here goes: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am honored that Hajra has asked me to be part of this “Fridays will be different” series. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">1.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>I am thankful for my family.</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My husband is the most amazing person in the world and is always so patient in putting up with me. I wouldn’t put up with myself! My sister is another saint who plays an important part in my life and it’s great when two sisters can also be best of friends. I am also thankful for my extended family as well as my husband’s. If you don’t already know, I have twin nieces who are 2-years old and I am thankful for their laughter and the joy they have brought to my life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> 2.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>I am thankful for my health.</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Four years ago, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and while it was a challenging period, it was a blessing in disguise. I now take better care of myself and it is important for me to be healthy as I intend to life a full life even at a ripe old age. I want to be able to do daily routine tasks without doing so in pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> 3.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Talking about my health, I am thankful for my doctors.</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In Italy, and it will shock many, my doctor and his team are extremely efficient and professional. My doctor even makes his team speak to me in English! Did I mention, this is a public hospital? While the infrastructure is questionable, my doctor and his team are god-sent. I am so thankful for him that I told my husband that if we have a boy, I am going to name him after the doctor. That was until we found out his first name and my husband refuses! LOL<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> 4.</span><span style="color: black;"> <b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>I am thankful that my internet and laptop is working again.</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Last week, I had two days where both my laptop and internet didn’t work at the same time. I am glad they are both working now but the twist is that I was thankful that I had two days offline. It was a much needed break!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">5.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b> I am thankful that I am on holiday for until September.</b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As most of you know, I teach and always make the most of my summer by taking 3 months off. I am away for a month visiting family but that doesn’t mean I won’t be blogging<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 31.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So now as always just tell Diana how much we enjoyed having her here! Do visit her <a href="http://www.dianasimon.com/about"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Coaching Blog</b></span></a>; she does wonders there!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-57199246289827918892011-06-23T23:00:00.002+04:002011-06-23T23:12:03.283+04:00Fridays will be different....Thanks to Melanie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4MiaY9RUsU/TgOKGzocfhI/AAAAAAAAAGU/rtAMvMPfYr4/s1600/dishwashing+liquid+and+sponge+melanie%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4MiaY9RUsU/TgOKGzocfhI/AAAAAAAAAGU/rtAMvMPfYr4/s200/dishwashing+liquid+and+sponge+melanie%2521.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So another Friday and another week to stop whining and taking time to being thankful. If you are new here then go check out the Friday rituals to see what we have been doing here: the first where <b><a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-different-thankfully.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">I was thankful</span></a></b>, then <b><a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Janine </span></a></b>and <a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to_16.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Samantha</b></span></a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This week I have the grand <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/melaniekissell"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Melanie Kissell</span></b></a> of <a href="http://www.melaniekissell.com/about/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Solo Mompreneur</span></b></a>. I met Melanie through a blogging club and it has been wonderful knowing the lady with the long comments! Yes, she writes the most amazing comments that are thoughtful, genuine and has taken effort. If you have a blog, then you should definitely have Melanie there to comment on it; makes your day! So here’s what the lovely lady has to be thankful for: </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m7HmyFvjv9M/TgOJ_OwwnnI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/BzhtFFim8ro/s1600/melanie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m7HmyFvjv9M/TgOJ_OwwnnI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/BzhtFFim8ro/s320/melanie.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely Melanie!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Migraines and dirty dishes.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Who can say they're thankful for those two things?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I can!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now don't think I'm not grateful for things like good friends, nice neighbors, a wonderful blogging community, a reliable vehicle, and a pulse ... because I am!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But the following are what I'm REALLY thankful for.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1.) I loved <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">kaleidoscopes</span> as a child - all those really cool geometric shapes and colors. Now that I'm an adult, I'm so thankful I suffer with ocular migraines. I get to see all those beautiful shapes and colors flashing in front of my eyes again!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">2.) I'm really thankful for the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">absolute *guarantee*</span> it's going to rain as soon as I've spent hours washing and detailing my car. It's an amazing phenomenon. We get lots of "dry spells" here in Southern California. No problem. I've discovered a way to end the drought. Wash my car. How empowering is THAT?!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">3.) The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">dishwasher</span> is broken in my apartment. It's never worked since my daughters and I moved in almost two years ago, and I couldn't be happier. I'm so thankful to have piles of dishes to wash each week and the opportunity to prove Palmolive dishwashing liquid really does soften your hands! I've used so much of their product, I'm sure Palmolive is going to contact me to do a television commercial.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">4.) There's nothing finer than paying almost $200 a month for T.V., phone, and internet service (you know, the infamous "bundle"?) and having your service fail on you at least every other week. I'm extremely thankful for those <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">outages</span>! I get to use my cell phone and talk to all kinds of interesting customer service representatives from foreign countries. I feel so lucky. Not everyone can say they've spoken to someone in the People's Republic of Bangladesh!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">5.) I'm very thankful for the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">7 - 10 loads of laundry</span> I tackle every week. It's a nice diversion from dusting and vacuuming. With two daughters, seems like the dirty clothes bin is never empty. The only thing that's empty around here is the toilet paper spindle -- the minute "I" need to use the bathroom. I can't thank my girls enough for doing their part to make sure I never have any leisure time. And anyway, mothers weren't put on this earth to have fun (were they?).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, that was Melanie’s thankful Friday moment. <b>Say hi to Melanie and tell her how much fun you had reading the post!</b> Also, do visit her blog and pretty please her to visit yours if you want some amazing input to your posts! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">P.S. It was her Birthday…wish her a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY BIRTHDAY!</b></span>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-7926699012202062182011-06-20T23:54:00.000+04:002011-06-20T23:54:05.292+04:00WHERE ARE YOU FROM?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I always get that question. And I find it hard to answer. Oh no, not because I don’t know where I am from. Just because people confuse me further. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I was born in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">India</span></b></a>. But when I was four, we shifted to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uae"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>UAE</b></span></a>. And that is where I stayed till I was 17. Finished school and went to India for higher education. Finished my Masters and now I am back in the UAE. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tjumLv7YqlQ/Tf-jvv5-qzI/AAAAAAAAAGM/IdzRitSYXlo/s1600/globe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tjumLv7YqlQ/Tf-jvv5-qzI/AAAAAAAAAGM/IdzRitSYXlo/s1600/globe.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So every time I am asked that question, I launch into a big 500-or-more-words-essay-type-answer of telling them how I was born in India, raised in UAE and then did my higher education in India and now am working in the UAE. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And that is usually followed by… “I meant country” and “Am I talking to a crazy person” look. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So when we were young, my dad made sure we took our annual vacations in India. So vacations there were spent by our cousins telling us, “So, Dubai returned kids, don’t like the weather here, and don’t like the water here…eh?” And poor me, all of 10 would answer it by saying, “Why do you say this, I AM from India, I just live there, that’s it.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In college, during our introduction, I identified myself as from India and then one professor mentioned this… young lady, aren’t you from the Arab world. No I am not, I just lived there. I am from India. No use, they all kept referring to me as the Indi-Arab.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now, what raises that question…the color of my skin, the way I dress, my accent, my bright jazzy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojari"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Mojris</b> </span></a>(the most comfortable footwear ever!) or just plain curiosity. Not that I hate answering it, just that the question implies that it should be answered by one country and that is just not possible anymore. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So maybe I look like a Pakistani, maybe my habits are Arab, maybe my likes are Indian, but I keep thinking… should I, just should I just show them my passport? I mean…technically. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Had trouble answering the question?</b> Born here, lived there, and worked elsewhere and totally from all the way over there? Isn’t the world just a huge, huge thing!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-56472678174114262512011-06-16T23:42:00.032+04:002011-06-18T22:47:36.916+04:00Fridays will be different....Thanks to Samantha!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Friday again! Time to pause the kvetching for a day and shout out our thanks! If you haven’t been following and are new here, I KVELL on Fridays instead of kvetching! The</span><a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-different-thankfully.html"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">first Friday</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">kvell was done by me and the </span><a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-differentthanks-to.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">second by Janine Ripper</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-clmT7sVZ2ps/TfzyrMFLEuI/AAAAAAAAAGI/LWF2JRtncdw/s1600/SamanthaBangayanTwitterProfile2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-clmT7sVZ2ps/TfzyrMFLEuI/AAAAAAAAAGI/LWF2JRtncdw/s1600/SamanthaBangayanTwitterProfile2011.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samantha</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">This week I have the lovely </span><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/samanthaluy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Samantha Bangayan</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> to join us in doing her thankful duties! I met Samantha through a blogging club and she soon became one of my favorite bloggers. She blogs at </span><a href="http://www.whatlittlethings.com/about-the-author/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>What Little Things</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> about her life in </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_171252873"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Huancayo, Peru. </span></b></a><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.huancayoperu.com/"> </a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div style="text-align: right;"></div><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So here’s what “Sammy” has to say about her Fridays: <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;">I </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333;">haven't been spending the time to be thankful for all that I've been blessed with these days, so I was ecstatic when Hajra started celebrating Fridays this way and what an honor to be invited to share my "thankfuls" too! My first warm "Thank You" goes to Hajra for being such a supportive and encouraging friend! </span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">Other tidbits I've been thankful for this week?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ji8SZKN6XNg/TfpjsddwnGI/AAAAAAAAAF4/EN40gjhfzhA/s1600/Huanca%25C3%25ADno+Wear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ji8SZKN6XNg/TfpjsddwnGI/AAAAAAAAAF4/EN40gjhfzhA/s320/Huanca%25C3%25ADno+Wear.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Huancaino wear</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">1. I am thankful that they sell Pringles and Nutella in the one supermarket here in Huancayo. This is a new phenomenon and I don't know how I survived without them.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">2. I am thankful that when my kitty, Fénix, bites and scratches me, I only get real wounds around once a week. He is so vicious for an innocent-looking 7-month-old! Any cat training advice would be greatly appreciated!</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">3. I am thankful my partner agreed that gifts for his birthday should be gifts for me too. We bought an electric heater for his birthday a couple weeks ago that I now use right by my desk.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">4. I am thankful that the rooster on the roof sings cockle-a-doodle-do all day, so I never feel like I'm alone. When the kitty refuses to stay in my lap, I can always rely on the various sounds and rhythms around my apartment building to keep me company. If it's not the rooster, there are always other cats meowing or salsa and reggae ton playing at the bar just a building away.</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span">5. I am thankful that I learned to braid my own hair into pigtail braids because it helps me fit in with the traditional look of women in the Central Andes. Now I just need to tan a bit more, so I don't look so gringa!</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 4.5pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, that was the lovely Samantha with her kvellings! Say hi to her and tell her what a wonderful person she is! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Join in, tell us what you were thankful about this week?</b></span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-7813704669185504932011-06-14T01:19:00.000+04:002011-06-14T01:19:34.355+04:00What do they REALLY mean?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am tired of people not telling the truth – Ok, I get all the controversial stuff but every day ambiguous sentences are getting a little tiresome. I mean I wouldn’t call those people liars, maybe the diplomacy, guilt factor and nagging moms keep coming in the way and they are just “forced” to say things they don’t mean. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So over the past few months, I have been getting a lot of these and experiences just tell me what they mean. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EPFcZrl8b6E/TfZ91OuZVZI/AAAAAAAAAFM/tApG-SxuxKU/s1600/pinnochio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EPFcZrl8b6E/TfZ91OuZVZI/AAAAAAAAAFM/tApG-SxuxKU/s320/pinnochio.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span dir="LTR"></span>I am busy, I will call you back</span></b>: At many times, rightly translated it reads as follows “I didn’t know it was you calling, otherwise I wouldn’t have bothered taking the call. Hang up right now, I am going to save your number as “Don’t pick up or bother to call back”. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span dir="LTR"></span>You are perfect for the job, we will get in touch soon</span></b>: Ok, we didn’t hear what you had to say, we don’t know whether we have positions available, my coffee is getting cold, hmmm…what should I have for lunch, didn’t I tell the darn secretary to call me with “something important” five minutes into this “interview”, wait what was this chap’s name.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><span dir="LTR"></span>I am on my way, just five more minutes</span></b>: It will take me over an hour, I still haven’t changed, I completely forgot and stop calling me every five minutes because that’s not going to change things. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: .75in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Just 5 more minutes with the TV</span></b>: Coming from a 5 year old it definitely means this “Please, just stop nagging me; I am going to be saying the same thing for the next hour, stop worrying about my eyes and just please, oh please, stop blocking my view”. Coming from a 20 year old also, it probably means the same. </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Everything looks so pretty on you, I can’t choose</span></b>: I haven’t being paying attention, why do you make me go through this, what time was the game on TV, 6 or 8…should I message someone, are you going to be buying matching shoes after this…I hope not, just pick one already!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Please if you are late, just tell me so. I might just go back to napping. If you don’t want to give me the job, just tell me, I will stop jumping every time my mobile rings hoping it is the job confirmation. Just say it nicely, there is a nice way to say bad things… except for when you want to talk about my weight, there is no nice way to say that!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So have you had enough of sugar coatings? <b>What do you think they really mean? </b></span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-46481510684932469202011-06-10T00:26:00.001+04:002011-06-10T00:43:20.972+04:00Fridays will be different....Thanks to Janine Ripper!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So just last Friday I started a new weekly routine where, every Friday, instead of kvetching we will be kvelling (Thanks <a href="http://www.adjuvancy.com/wordpress/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Roy</span></b></a> for teaching me that word!). Yes, if you haven't read it, <b><a href="http://hajrak.blogspot.com/2011/06/fridays-will-be-different-thankfully.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">then do it right now</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">!</span></b> Every Friday I will be featuring a blogger who gets to be thankful for something! Last Friday, being the first, I started off being thankful.This Friday, I get to feature my favorite blogger, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/neanster77"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Janine Ripper</span></a>.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I met Janine through a discussion on <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/" style="color: black;">LinkedIn</a> and from then on, it has been such an honor to read her <a href="http://reflectionsfromaredhead.com/about/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>blog</b></span></a>, her reflections and about her beautiful journey through the crazy thing called life. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So featuring Janine, the first blogger for my Thankful Fridays! Here's what she says: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Title1" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">My blogging buddy and partner in crime - </span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Hajra Khatoon </b></span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">- recently came up with a new way to celebrate Friday’s. For this I am thankful for. I mean, I love Friday’s - or rather, I used to. Lately, my Friday’s at work consist of a meeting from about 10.30am until whenever it finishes (the first week it was 6.30-ish pm)...of which for the last 4 weeks has left me feeling shattered for most of the weekend. I am endeavoring to change that, therefore, in the wise words of Hajra, here are my top reasons for what and why I am thankful for in recent times!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f3DX0YQBGzY/TfEmgmhSRCI/AAAAAAAAAFI/WZiSGk3UcpQ/s1600/Janine+at+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f3DX0YQBGzY/TfEmgmhSRCI/AAAAAAAAAFI/WZiSGk3UcpQ/s320/Janine+at+beach.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Janine at the Beach<br />
Pic taken by her dear friend,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ambreen Beg</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="Body" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in left 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #262626;">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Hajra</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"> - If it wasn’t for Hajra I may have given up on blogging. I mean, we live in different countries, have never met, have never talked, but have struck up a great friendship and supportive blogging / writing relationship, of which I hope continues for a long time into the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in left 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #262626;">2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">The beach </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;">- Over the past month I’ve managed to get out of the house on weekends with my Mum or friends, to hang around some of our local beaches. Of course, we are officially in winter here in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia">Australia</a>, but the days are still mostly stunning, and have presented some amazing opportunities to break in my SLR camera, whilst also experiencing some ‘natural’ therapy at by the sea side (the waves, breeze, smell, fresh air, peace...).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in left 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;">3.</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"> </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span></b></span><b><span dir="LTR" style="color: #990000;"></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">My beautiful friends</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"> - I am truly blessed to have some of the most amazing, genuine, down to earth, beautiful souls as friends. I am one lucky person.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in left 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #262626;">4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Opportunities </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;">- I decided recently to take this writing thing a whole lot more seriously. I mean, I have always wanted to write, but I have never believed in myself. Something seems to have changed in my thinking of late - I think it’s what some people call ‘confidence’ or ‘self belief’ (something I have lacked my whole life in pretty much everything). This has led to doors opening, and opportunities being presented to me. Although I have also put myself out there to be noticed...which is what I probably should have been doing all along?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="Body" style="tab-stops: 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="Body" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in left 35.45pt 70.85pt 106.3pt 141.75pt 177.15pt 212.6pt 248.05pt 283.45pt 318.9pt 354.35pt 389.75pt 425.2pt 460.65pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #262626;">5.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Nature </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;">- As I write this post, I am watching a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Attenborough"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>David Attenborough</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626;"> documentary on Gorillas. Even with their bulbous bottoms and big heads I think they are amazing. There is so much beauty out there in the world.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that was Janine with her Thankful Friday! And she is thankful for me...Yippeee! See, that's how you get featured on my blog!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you want to be featured, tell me! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please, just be as lovely as the amazing Janine!</span></b></div></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-65792838106837136992011-06-07T23:52:00.000+04:002011-06-07T23:52:11.900+04:00What are you tired of hearing?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some things are just said too often. Way too often. Very often in fact. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I don’t know the reason, I think maybe out of habit or maybe we don’t realize that the person on the receiving end is silently cringing on hearing that “phrase” for the umpteenth time that day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So things I am tired of hearing and wishing “If only I had a penny…” yes, I am kvetching again!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Nvb4T3YtnE/Te5-8VF0okI/AAAAAAAAAFE/23sElXXpyB8/s1600/sick-and-tired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Nvb4T3YtnE/Te5-8VF0okI/AAAAAAAAAFE/23sElXXpyB8/s320/sick-and-tired.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.peanuts.com/">Peanuts </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>If only I had a penny</b></span>…: No one and I mean NO ONE, no one gives a penny, so it’s no use wishing.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Where do you see yourself</span></b>…: I see myself successful, rich and a lot happier, whether five years from now, ten years, twenty years, fifty years, a century….that is how I see myself; always. Isn’t that everyone’s ultimate goal? Richer, happier and successful. What else?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>What do you want to be when you grow up</b></span>: This was as a kid. Spare me, I was 10, all I was bothered about was getting my math lessons right and shooting the duck in the video game. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">I am a complex person; I need to figure things out</span></b>: Aren’t we all? Psychology taught me that “Human is a complex being” and that remains. So stop saying that you are the only one. We all are; we all need to figure out so many things, just go with the flow. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Things will get bette</span></b>r: Yes, they will if you just stop saying so ALL the time. Things do get better, only to get worse again, only to get better again…that is life’s circle. Just play along!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">No matter how much I “kvetch”; I will be the one often using them again…If only I had a penny for every time I kvetched!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>So, anything you are tired of hearing? Or are you slightly cringing and saying… things will get better!</b></span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-4920220614369621572011-06-03T00:38:00.001+04:002011-06-03T00:58:30.801+04:00Fridays will be different…. Thankfully!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ok, enough of kvetching! Oh, no, no, I ain’t shutting my blog….just decided to add a new twist to it! Though I try to “kvetch” at least twice a week…life is happening pretty darn fast for me to catch up (there you go again….) so I thought we could crib and cry once a week and try to be thankful on Fridays!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yes, everywhere I go I see people talking about how life is treating them bad, how they need to be inspired and motivated; how they feel the constant urge to prove themselves right, how plans are going crazy wrong and how everything is messed up. So although, all that holds true; we could still come by every now and then and kvetch! We could also, end the week on a happy and in your face laughing note on why the next week will be better!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So starting this Friday; here are my top reasons of why and what I am thankful for during recent times! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U3mDuKrgZ9Y/TefzlBFQDYI/AAAAAAAAAFA/OabSU4g2Ne0/s1600/fridays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U3mDuKrgZ9Y/TefzlBFQDYI/AAAAAAAAAFA/OabSU4g2Ne0/s320/fridays.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From my trip to celebrate weight loss!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am thankful the world didn’t end as was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/end-of-world-may-21-2011-4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">“suspected”</span></a>. I got to meet my nephew and niece. I would have missed that if the world decided to shut down.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am thankful I came up with this idea to blog. Otherwise another week with no post!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am thankful that I lost some weight this week; no not running, jogging and all that; just really bad summer is sweating it all off. I treated myself to ice cream to “celebrate”!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> I am thankful that humidity still hasn’t struck its high in my good hot city. July will be a month where I kvetch about humidity!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am SO SO SO thankful that only one of my friends got engaged in the past five months. Yes, many of my friends are married or engaged to be married and that makes us not-ready-to-commit types feeling a bit “left out”. So thank God, just one <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>“I am happy for you but OMG-not-you-too” situation!</b></span></span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So there, my top five for the week! <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Want to join in, comment below or get in touch with me!</span></b> I might want to feature yours next Friday! Yes, saves me the trouble of coming up with a post and you do all the “writing”!</span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-23320033519778622682011-05-25T00:34:00.000+04:002011-05-25T00:34:03.778+04:00WHAT I LEARNT WHEN FACEBOOK DITCHED ME!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Don’t worry, not a philosophical post on why you should be unplugging – will do that later.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4gltQqczOg/TdwUD2r1c5I/AAAAAAAAAE8/0Rt0IyviwHk/s1600/facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Recently, something went wrong with my laptop and nothing helped - kicking it, banging my fists on the keyboard, restarting a million times, cursing it, cursing myself on not being more technologically savvy, snapping at my mom, tapping fingers real hard and banging the lid shut – trust me, nothing worked.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4gltQqczOg/TdwUD2r1c5I/AAAAAAAAAE8/0Rt0IyviwHk/s1600/facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u4gltQqczOg/TdwUD2r1c5I/AAAAAAAAAE8/0Rt0IyviwHk/s1600/facebook.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I had to do everything on my mobile, no matter how huge they make the screens, the buttons are real small and it gets real tough to navigate. They should really think about attaching a life size keyboard to mobiles. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ok, coming back, how was I to keep up with <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a>… that was the true question. That is where my 500 friends live! How do I know every single detail about where they are, what they are doing, how do I “like” everything they do, “comment” on everything they say and what if they need me. I mean like really need me, ya okay, my mobile is there, but what if there is a network problem and they can’t reach me; they might just probably update “Kidnapped…help me!” Then what… Panic, panic, panic! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So it took me fifteen days to get back to Facebook, yes, they are planning to feature me on some show talk show to inspire people. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Logging in after 15 days, sighing with relief and all excited about sneaking into my friends’ wall I learnt some things:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span>My friends were doing fine without me on Facebook. Apparently, everyone’s too busy with life goals to notice a person is missing. </b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span>If someone does notice you “missing” they will call up to say this “You okay, haven’t seen you active on FB for the past 5 hours… seriously, everything okay your end?”</b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span>If they are getting kidnapped, they are considering Police before Facebook. Apparently, the police are quicker is responding than the Facebook buddies. </b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span dir="LTR"></span>If they are getting married / engaged then they prefer to give you a call before creating the event and changing their relationship status. If they aren’t calling you up and have created the event, simple, they don’t want you there. </b></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hmmm… wasn’t such a big deal after all. But I am just as addicted to Facebook and will just panic the next time my laptop plans to take a break!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So over to you. Addicted to Facebook? Check your mail every 15 minutes? Did you panic when your laptop “broke”? Are your friends doing fine without you? Or just about anything, any friend’s wedding you not invited to?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">P.S. In no way am I criticizing Facebook, I can still be found <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hajra-Kvetches-The-Blog/170384909664849">there</a> every 15 minutes. </span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-73420749297896391962011-05-18T13:50:00.000+04:002011-05-18T13:50:28.923+04:00Weird Weight Loss Techniques!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now who doesn’t deal with weight problem, or hasn’t dealt with it like ever. If you are the one with “high metabolism”, “I eat everything, but I have don’t put on weight” stop saying it like it is a bad thing. It is a boon; ask us heavy people, we put on weight every time we breathe. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now every time I am supposed to get on the scale, I have this sudden surge of Blood Pressure. So what works? How does one lose weight? Though you could find a million tips on doing that, here my personal favorites. Though they might be the direct ways of losing weight, they sure will get you up and going:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1.<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> HIRE A CRAZY DOG</span></b>: Now don’t worry, dogs are wonderful but every time you plan to jog and are feeling lazy, hire a huge fellow (Dog I mean!) and make him bark and chase you across the street. And yes, pay him in advance for a couple of rounds! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P0jOYzz2E_A/TdOF-ytv4oI/AAAAAAAAAE4/ImYXo8DhsTw/s1600/ShootingScale.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P0jOYzz2E_A/TdOF-ytv4oI/AAAAAAAAAE4/ImYXo8DhsTw/s320/ShootingScale.gif" width="253" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">2. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">JENNIFER LOPEZ POSTERS</span></b>: Yes, boys have them for totally different reasons, but put them up all around you for motivation!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">3.<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> FULL LENGTH MIRRORS</span></b>: Have them fixed all over your house. One look at them will keep you squatting and doing pushups for an hour at least!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">4. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">IMAGINE THE WORS</span></b>T: Every time you reach for a bag of chips, think dark circles, hair fall, acne, pimples, and love handles. If it doesn’t get you running, it might help in putting back the bag of chips and picking up an apple instead. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">5. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">MEDICAL BILLS</span></b>: Estimate the cost of fighting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity">obesity</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes">diabetes</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholesterol">high cholesterol</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartattack">heart problems</a> and maybe even <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liposuction">liposuction</a>. Yes, it is over a five digit number. Maybe more!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So there you go, probably won’t get you losing oodles of weight but will get you running and going for some time at least! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>P.S </b>For more serious stuff on weight loss and health care, do check out these amazing ladies: Maureen of<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> <a href="http://www.makingitallfit.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Making it All Fit</span></a>,</span> she does have the best to “make it fit” and Melissa Austin from <a href="http://www.byebyefatgirl.net/about/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Bye Bye Fat Girl</span>;</a> love the way she overcomes her challenges and added </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">bonus: she is a personal trainer and the wonderful Carrie Tucker at<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> <a href="http://www.heartfailuresolutions.com/about"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Heart Failure Solutions.</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Have you tried weird, fun ways to lose weight? <b>I would love to hear them and whether they worked or didn’t. Kvetch! </b></span>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-70654220598531278922011-05-07T20:12:00.000+04:002011-05-07T20:12:32.804+04:00RENTING TROUBLE!<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Some time back <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/samanthaluy"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Samantha Bangayan</span></a>, blogged about <a href="http://www.whatlittlethings.com/peru/apartment-gossip/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">“Apartment Gossip”</span></a>. Now, I have had the “privilege” of renting an apartment for a year when I was working/ studying in a new city. So there is this system which helps you rent an apartment with a family. It is called being a<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestay"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> “Paying Guest”</span></a> or PG for the shorter, more commonly used lingo. So when you are being a PG, you are given a well furnished room / rooms as per requirement and you have the privacy of space by having separate entry/exists. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqNbOX_jDKY/TcVuIU9Vr4I/AAAAAAAAAE0/qAL_oZgjDqE/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqNbOX_jDKY/TcVuIU9Vr4I/AAAAAAAAAE0/qAL_oZgjDqE/s1600/images.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now what I didn’t know was that I was in for a lot of trouble which, surprisingly, wasn’t a part of the contract. I mean if you had to give me a hard time, you should have told me so; I would be prepared for the fight. Unpredictable danger always elicits more panic than predictable danger: that is a lesson from psychology!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So as for my being the PG, I was renting a house with a lady who promised me the time of my life. And that, I did. I had to share the room with two other girls, no privacy whatsoever. Every action of mine was being scrutinized by the “other paying guests”. I couldn’t talk or laugh loudly on the phone or otherwise because the lady was sick, sleeping, being disturbed or simply annoyed by my laugh. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I couldn’t listen to music because my taste is music was too loud and wacky; apparently my taste in music is too hurting for the “normal ear”. My flip flops made the splatter sound too loudly. My sleeping hours were too long for normal people. She was worried I had “un-insomnia” (Hypersomnia for the sophisticated ones of you reading this!). Now, I when I write this, I wonder, how did she know how long I slept?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And slowly and suddenly, I was dragged into the apartment gossip! The couple from the 5<sup>th</sup> floor was having a baby…why hadn’t they informed us, the strangers before, I mean she was already in her fourth week…four weeks and no information? The old man from the top floor was having a hard time with his finances. Is that why he was acting so stingy lately…. I mean, we would have definitely helped him if he had told us, now what’s wrong with telling everyone you’re broke? The lady from down the hall is having an affair with that “awful” man. She should have asked us before making her personal decisions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Every month a week before the “due date” of my monthly payment, I was reminded, not politely that “you have to pay remember, you aren’t staying here for free” Yes, I do. I have always paid on time, now why the need for the monthly drama. “Oh, I am a poor old lady, you might just run away” Oh no, I can’t you have my phone numbers, copies of my identity card, my voter card, one call to the police and you might have me behind bars the next day, what gives you the idea I might run away without settling my dues!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">How long did I undergo the ordeal of “having the time of my life”… seven months to be precise and yes, the farewell was just as nasty. I had to pay for the next month’s stay because I had supposedly taken a day extra to move out my stuff, even though I was physically not there and I had two bags left. My luggage had occupied a month’s stay. I have never called her back…some things are better left in the past!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You have had trouble of renting from someone so bad? Or are you the nasty landlady / landlord? </span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-14398036868898802792011-04-28T22:14:00.000+04:002011-04-28T22:14:44.134+04:00AS KREATIV AS I CAN BE!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It’s been less than a year and thanks to<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/neanster77"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Janine</span></a></span>, I get my second “blogging award”! It came as a pleasant surprise, I don’t think I am creative but the lovely Janine thinks otherwise, so guilty as charged! She just bestowed me the <a href="http://reflectionsfromaredhead.com/2011/04/19/and-the-final-5-are-a-follow-up-from-yesterday/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Kreativ Blogger Award</span></a>!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So conditions with this award is that </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nSe9CTGZF9U/TbmtPviGOcI/AAAAAAAAAEw/8FfbTU-y_iQ/s1600/kreativ_blogger_award_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nSe9CTGZF9U/TbmtPviGOcI/AAAAAAAAAEw/8FfbTU-y_iQ/s320/kreativ_blogger_award_copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I needed to pass on the Kreativ Blog Award to 10 <span style="color: windowtext;">bloggers</span> and notify them; and<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I needed to tell you all 10 things about me that you don’t already know.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Both really tough tasks because I have more than 10 bloggers I would love to acknowledge and I really don’t know what ten things of mine would interest you. But I am doing it anyways!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So for the top ten I would love to acknowledge:<o:p></o:p></span></div><ol start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Janine Ripper at<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> <a href="http://reflectionsfromaredhead.com/2011/04/19/and-the-final-5-are-a-follow-up-from-yesterday/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Reflections from a Red Head</span></a></span>: I know we aren’t supposed to pass it on to those who passed it to us but she is and will always remain my No.1 blogger! <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heather Fonseca at <a href="http://thestyleconfessions.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Style Confessions</span></a>: I am no fashion crazed but a chance meeting (through <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">LinkedIn</span></a>) introduced me to the lady who believes in weaving style and simplicity! <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Samantha Bangayan at <a href="http://www.whatlittlethings.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">What Little Things</span></a>: I love the way she has an opinion and a voice about the life in Peru. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bonnie Copeland at <a href="http://myrivendell.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">My Rivendell</span></a>: She actually has wonderful tips to get around in life!<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="apple-style-span">Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. at <a href="http://www.adjuvancy.com/wordpress/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Cerebrations</span>:</a> Undoubtedly, the man with the most intelligent posts…always! </span><span class="apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Steve Rice at <a href="http://www.karmickappuccino.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Karmic Kappuccino</span></a>: I came across his blog recently and couldn’t get my eyes off the title! Wonderful words of inspiration and if you name it Kappuccino, you are bound to get readers!<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Melanie Kissell as the <a href="http://www.melaniekissell.com/blog/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Solo Mompreneur</span></a>: Last I heard, she was telling us all to shorten our emails to 140 characters!<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Veronica Campos-Hallstrom at<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> <a href="http://clubcreativestudio.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Club Creative Studio</span></a></span>: Where there is creativity, there is Veronica! </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Cathy Jones at <a href="http://cjtittle.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Just My Thoughts</span></a>: A wonderful photographer… and beautiful posts!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -0.75pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;">Linda at <a href="http://www.talktherapybiz.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Talk Therapy Biz</span></a>: Last time I gave her an award she wrote a post called <a href="http://www.talktherapybiz.com/7-bloggers-i-want-to-share-my-couch-with/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">7 Bloggers I want to share my Couch with!</span></a></span></span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And now for the tougher part, ten things about myself:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am a big foodie; to say “No, I am not hungry” is like a crime in my life. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My all time favorite movie remains <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Gump"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Forrest Gump</span></a>, though I watch tons of movies, Forrest Gump remains my No.1!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As a kid, I was so naughty that my parents were scared I would be kicked out of school. But surprisingly that never happened. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I hate getting my photos clicked. I always end up with the most awkward smile. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I don’t understand the Vampire craze that has gripped the world. I watched <a href="http://www.twilightthemovie.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Twilight</span></a> movies and vowed to never do it again. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I take a lot of time to make decisions. The only snap decisions I make are in a shoe shop!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I just spent my last salary on books, almost all of it!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am as lazy as lazy can be… my mom thinks that spiders will make webs around me someday. </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am very bad at learning languages. I stayed in the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">UAE </span></a>almost 17 years and made it without learning Arabic. I know how to read and write, but I still find it hard to speak. Contrary to belief, everyone here manages fine with English!</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Coming up with these ten things took me the longest than writing any other post. Mainly because I have done the “things about me” posts twice already!</span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, there you go, thanks to Janine once again! And to the ten of you… pass it on guys!</span></div>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-70638482682045519222011-04-26T19:22:00.001+04:002011-04-26T19:24:04.910+04:00SINGLE? .... BAD TIMING!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There is never a “good time” to be single. And that is not a thought, that is my verdict. Final verdict.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Whenever someone tells me, or whenever I read a headline, article or feel good quotes that say “Now is the best time to be single” I say “Rubbish”. There is never such a good timing to be single. Even if YOU are happy with your single status and enjoying the freedom that comes with it, the no hassles of a relationship, the joy of not having to buy anniversary presents and valentine presents and the likes, there are people all around just waiting to attack your “singularity”… coming to think about it when you Google "Singularity" one of them defines it as “peculiarity”! Don’t believe me, check it.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQclQnAh-7Y/Tbbe9SXPXTI/AAAAAAAAAEs/F-hEvkr3RG8/s1600/single+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sQclQnAh-7Y/Tbbe9SXPXTI/AAAAAAAAAEs/F-hEvkr3RG8/s200/single+2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">image from <a href="http://socyberty.com/relationships/being-single-and-happy-is-it-possible/">here</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So coming back to the peculiarity of being single, I was at this family gathering the other day and all eyes were darting back and forth at the “oh-pity-the-helpless-single girl”. The conversations went like this:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Say, you are like 23 now”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“No (dear distant – remote – meet once in a decade-) aunt… I am a little over 25 now”</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Oh, hmmm… didn’t your sister have a kid by then”</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Oh yes, she did, (but I am not her)”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Oh yes, you have “different” plans of course, so what are your plans? Isn’t your other sister married too?”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I am sorry I think I am getting a (fake) phone call”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank God for the craze of carrying mobiles everywhere you go, makes escaping a lot easier. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So after my Great Escape I am “confronted” by a younger cousin who has got those eyes that glisten with joy and maybe “pride” (which I see so clearly) of beating her elder cousin to the “battle of getting married first” and this is how the dreaded conversation goes: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“hey you, elder (by some months) cousin, Isn’t my fiancés such a darling, I told I had plans to study more and all and work for little longer before I even think about marriage, you know just like you, but then… he just was so insistent and I HAD to say yes!”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“…..” Nothing, I ain’t saying anything, I am busy nodding my head, eyes wide open with unwanted glee and a smile that is as plastic as plastic can be…</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“So, don’t you look lovely tonight…say you’re still single right?”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“….” Nodding head again…. Did she just compliment me and then attacked my “peculiarity singularity” </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hmmm… hate it when people do that, makes it harder decide whether I like the conversation or just plain hate it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time to plan my second Great Escape….</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Oooohhhh… I AM so sorry. Never mind, there is someone out there for you…Your Prince Charming will come someday…Don’t you worry…all right?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh the pity attacks... Please don’t do it, it’s not like you stepped over my foot, it is just my heart that is aching to run…. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Thanks a lot…I think I am getting a call….”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, how did you escape “the attack” as a single or how are you escaping it if you are one of the “doomed”?</span>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6532337142329641480.post-31566832061291133442011-04-18T22:26:00.009+04:002011-04-29T17:11:40.650+04:00How About Winning1100$ for Blogging?<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So I normally don’t write a post like this but I had to do this for three reasons:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Posting this is a part of the contest.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For prizes worth over 500$... (Yes, it’s true!)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You could actually end up making 200$ if you win! And there is that 500$ I told you about!</span></li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GN_1q4-ZHZE/TayBfBqZnwI/AAAAAAAAAEg/XNlfNwC6tJ8/s1600/guest-post-contest.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GN_1q4-ZHZE/TayBfBqZnwI/AAAAAAAAAEg/XNlfNwC6tJ8/s1600/guest-post-contest.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For those of you who don’t know what I am talking about…rise, rub your eyes and see what Kiesha is offering. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We all love to guest post, at least I do. I have done it twice (once for Kiesha) and I loved the experience, exposure, feedback and the traffic (yes!) associated with it. Now, the lovely <a href="http://twitter.com/WeBlogBetter"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"><b>Kiesha</b></span></a> from <a href="http://weblogbetter.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">WeBlogBetter</span></b> </a>(actually she blogs wonderfully well!) is hosting a Guest Post Contest over at her blog. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And she has some amazing sponsors. The entry is simple. Write an original post (related to blogging and the likes), register for a username, submit your post, announce the contest on your blog (like I did this) along with the sponsors, promote your post as well as you can on BlogInteract and Blokube or just do it any which way to guarantee as many votes as possible and then… cross your fingers and hope you win!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For the detailed version of the guidelines and others technicalities go <a href="http://weblogbetter.com/2011/04/04/guest-posting-contest/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">HERE</span></b></a>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And if you are still the lazy soul wondering whether you should do it or not then go <u><b><a href="http://weblogbetter.com/2011/04/11/reasons-to-enter-guest-posting-contest/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">HERE. </span></a></b></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">If you still decide not to do it, too bad for you but good for us, the lesser the competition, the more the chances of us poor souls winning a cool 500$ and maybe more! (Yes, I had to throw in a little devilish laugh here!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">So are you joining or will be just helping others win?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The list of sponsors: </span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.darrenmonroe.com/wordpress/darren-monroes-premium-email-list/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5107" height="200" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/darren-premium-email-list-200-x-200.jpg" title="darren premium email list 200 x 200" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
Darren Monroe – <a href="http://www.darrenmonroe.com/wordpress/darren-monroes-premium-email-list/" target="_blank">Online Business Ideas</a><br />
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<a href="http://wordpressthemes.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5404" height="100" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/wp350.gif" title="wp350" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Mike - WordPress Themes: <a href="http://wordpressthemes.com/">Premium Wordpress Themes</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://basicblogtips.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="125" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/BasicBlogTips125ad.jpg" title="BasicBlogTips125ad" width="125" /></a><br />
<br />
Ileane - Basic Blog Tips: <a href="http://basicblogtips.com/">Blogging Tips</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://keywordwinner.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5484" height="250" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/keyword-winner-new250.gif" title="keyword-winner-new250" width="250" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://gseo.net/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5486" height="60" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/gseo468x601.gif" title="gseo468x60" width="468" /></a><br />
<br />
Dan - Keyword Winner: <a href="http://keywordwinner.com/">SEO Plugin</a> and GSEO: <a href="http://gseo.net/">SEO Outsourcing</a><br />
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<a href="http://blog.2createawebsite.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5108" height="150" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2createlogo.png" title="2createlogo" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Lisa Irby – <a href="http://blog.2createawebsite.com/" target="_blank">2 Create A Website</a><br />
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<a href="http://positivespinblog.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5109" height="160" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/positive-spin-blog.png" title="positive spin blog" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Linda Hewett – <a href="http://positivespinblog.com/" target="_blank">Positive Spin Blog</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://iblogzone.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5110" height="101" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/iblogzone.png" title="iblogzone" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Francisco Perez – iBlogZone: <a href="http://iblogzone.com/" target="_blank">Home Business Resources</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://live-your-love.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5111" height="93" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/live.jpg" title="live" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Brankica Underwood – Live Your Love: <a href="http://live-your-love.com/" target="_blank">How To Blog Like A Star</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.attractionmarketingonline.com/attract-targeted-endless-prospects/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5112" height="105" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/attraction.jpg" title="attraction" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Mavis Nong – <a href="http://www.attractionmarketingonline.com/attract-targeted-endless-prospects/" target="_blank">Attraction Marketing</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://dannybrown.me/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5113" height="96" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/danny-brown.jpg" title="danny brown" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Danny Brown – <a href="http://dannybrown.me/" target="_blank">Social Media Marketing Blog</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://psychbits.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-5114" height="229" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Psychbits-Banner-500x500.jpg" title="Psychbits-Banner" width="301" /></a><br />
<br />
Roberto Montanez - PsychBits: <a href="http://psychbits.com/">Psychology</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.findallanswers.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5169" height="96" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/New_header_8a8a8a.gif" title="Find all answers" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Jane Sheeba - Find All Answers: <a href="http://www.findallanswers.com/">Blogging Tips</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://skipthescams.com/"></a><a href="http://skipthescams.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5258" height="150" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/STS-affiliate-marketing.jpg" title="STS-affiliate-marketing" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Laura Burke - Skip the Scams: <a href="http://skipthescams.com/">Learn affiliate marketing</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.trafficgenerationcafe.com/best-internet-marketing-tools/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-5227" height="100" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/header930-500x123.jpg" title="header930" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Ana Hoffman - Traffic Generation Cafe: <a href="http://www.trafficgenerationcafe.com/best-internet-marketing-tools/">Tools for Internet Marketing</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://kikolani.com/"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-5240 aligncenter" height="97" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/kikolani-500x97.png" title="kikolani" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Kristi Hines - Kikolani: <a href="http://kikolani.com/">Blogging Marketing</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://clevermarketer.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5298" height="100" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Clever-Marketer1.jpg" title="Clever Marketer" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Heather C. Stephens - <a href="http://clevermarketer.com/">Blog Marketing Ideas</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://clevermarketer.com/"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.peppywrites.com/"><img alt="" class="size-large wp-image-5340 aligncenter" height="74" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Peppy-500x74.jpg" title="Peppy" width="350" /></a><br />
Peppy - <a href="http://www.peppywrites.com/">The Peppy Writes Chronicles</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.freecondomsandlollipops.com"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-5368" height="250" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/FreeCon+Lol3C-logo01-Lg-500x535.jpg" title="FreeCon+Lol3C-logo01-Lg" width="250" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.freecondomsandlollipops.com/">The Health Media Watch Blog</a>: Fresh. Hip. Healthy<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bloggingbookshelf.com/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-5406" height="100" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/blogging-bookshelf.png" title="blogging bookshelf" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Tristan: The Blogging Bookshelf: <a href="http://www.bloggingbookshelf.com/">Blogging tips</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://myblogguest.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="My Blog Guest" border="0" class="aligncenter" height="80" src="http://myblogguest.com/img/myblogguest-500-80.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Ann Smarty - <a href="http://myblogguest.com/">My Blog Guest</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.seo-writer.com/freelance/blog-writer.html"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="183" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/happyguy.jpg" title="happyguy" width="206" /></a><br />
<br />
David - <a href="http://www.seo-writer.com/freelance/blog-writer.html">Blog Writer for Hire</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.creditcardscanada.ca/"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="94" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/creditcardscanada.jpg" title="creditcardscanada" width="371" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.creditcardscanada.ca/">Credit Cards Canada</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.findyourpeak.com/"><img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-5593 aligncenter" height="91" src="http://weblogbetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Find-your-peak-250x91.jpg" title="Find your peak" width="250" /></a><br />
<br />
Sean - Find Your Peak: <a href="http://www.findyourpeak.com/">Make Money, Live Fully, and Create the Life of Your Dreams!</a>Hajrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07686684984746593155noreply@blogger.com0