Monday, January 30, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
New Address…New School and the New School Bus!!!
We moved to this apartment on the 13th and I still have a few boxes to open....I cant tell what is in those boxes right now...nothing that important I guess....one thing that I need and still cant find is the alarm clock! So since so many days I wake up with the alarm on my cell which is so loud that I just feel like throwing it away when it starts and then it goes on a snooze and beeps after every five minutes. Khair, have to open the boxes tomorrow for sure.
As I said earlier it’s been about 14 days that we moved here...we already had some guests on the weekend. There were some friends who came from Austin who are planning to move to college station (don’t know why they want to leave such a nice place for this stupid one). The other guest was my daughter’s best friend from old school whom she misses a lot.
I forgot to mention that Hadia had to change school when we moved to this apartment, something that came as a surprise as our zip code remained the same. Her school revealed that College Station ISD did rezoning last year. Anyway, when we found out that she'd have to change schools I guess I was more disturbed then she herself. She had mixed feelings of excitement and confusion. So we picked her up from her previous school on the 17th and got her transfer letter and went to the new school. We met the new school principal, school nurse and also the new class teacher, who seemed very nice. We also took a round of the school. And I am so glad that she found some of her old friends who were with her in the old school last year. We got the bus information and came back home. She could not sleep the whole night due to anxiety and excitement, neither could I, (my husband still can’t understand why I was so concerned… to him it is a normal thing which doesn’t merit loss of sleep!!!).
Anyways we went out the bus and because it was the first day I was more particular and took her to the bus stop 10 minutes earlier than usual. It was pretty cold and we waited and waited and waited…. there was no sign of the bus anywhere! After about 30 – 40 minutes we came back inside and I asked Hassan to go drop her and talk to the transport office. He talked to them and told me that they were not informed about it. How could it be the office secretary had called them and informed them while we were there for the admission, plus she gave us all the numbers and stuff which they usually give to the parents. Anyway, I was pretty restless all day and kept waiting for the clock to turn 3. I went out side around 3:20. Waited and waited and finally saw the bus coming around 3:45 pm and it stopped on about 5-6 minutes walk from our apartment block. I thought it must be some other kids that they r dropping there but wait a minute it was Hadia who got off the bus she crossed the street and went towards the apartments. I called her but she did not see me and she was too far away to hear me calling her.…..my heart just stopped for a minute I tried to call her again but she was too far away. So I started running towards her I was holding my 3 year old whose total attention was focused on getting out of my grip and be in the middle of the busy road. But I asked her call Hadia’s name loud so she could hear us and did not panic because of not finding the apartment or me. I could not see her as she had gone in side the apartments where she was dropped. I kept running and amani kept calling her when finally I heard her crying and I saw her looking at the apartment doors to find our apartment. By now my legs were shaking badly but I tried to keep calm because I know if I lose my cool then Hadia just won’t go to the school ever again. So I just tried to talk to her and told her that it was the first day and there might have been some misunderstanding. When we got back home Hassan had already called school. He had seen me running and came out to see what had happened. So he gave them a piece of his mind and they apologized. I hope it never happens again. It was too irresponsible of them to behave like this. Now it’s been a week that she is going to this school. She likes her new teacher and is making new friends too. She now also knows the new address and phone number by heart. I have told her to remember that we live right opposite to the McDonalds!
As I said earlier it’s been about 14 days that we moved here...we already had some guests on the weekend. There were some friends who came from Austin who are planning to move to college station (don’t know why they want to leave such a nice place for this stupid one). The other guest was my daughter’s best friend from old school whom she misses a lot.
I forgot to mention that Hadia had to change school when we moved to this apartment, something that came as a surprise as our zip code remained the same. Her school revealed that College Station ISD did rezoning last year. Anyway, when we found out that she'd have to change schools I guess I was more disturbed then she herself. She had mixed feelings of excitement and confusion. So we picked her up from her previous school on the 17th and got her transfer letter and went to the new school. We met the new school principal, school nurse and also the new class teacher, who seemed very nice. We also took a round of the school. And I am so glad that she found some of her old friends who were with her in the old school last year. We got the bus information and came back home. She could not sleep the whole night due to anxiety and excitement, neither could I, (my husband still can’t understand why I was so concerned… to him it is a normal thing which doesn’t merit loss of sleep!!!).
Anyways we went out the bus and because it was the first day I was more particular and took her to the bus stop 10 minutes earlier than usual. It was pretty cold and we waited and waited and waited…. there was no sign of the bus anywhere! After about 30 – 40 minutes we came back inside and I asked Hassan to go drop her and talk to the transport office. He talked to them and told me that they were not informed about it. How could it be the office secretary had called them and informed them while we were there for the admission, plus she gave us all the numbers and stuff which they usually give to the parents. Anyway, I was pretty restless all day and kept waiting for the clock to turn 3. I went out side around 3:20. Waited and waited and finally saw the bus coming around 3:45 pm and it stopped on about 5-6 minutes walk from our apartment block. I thought it must be some other kids that they r dropping there but wait a minute it was Hadia who got off the bus she crossed the street and went towards the apartments. I called her but she did not see me and she was too far away to hear me calling her.…..my heart just stopped for a minute I tried to call her again but she was too far away. So I started running towards her I was holding my 3 year old whose total attention was focused on getting out of my grip and be in the middle of the busy road. But I asked her call Hadia’s name loud so she could hear us and did not panic because of not finding the apartment or me. I could not see her as she had gone in side the apartments where she was dropped. I kept running and amani kept calling her when finally I heard her crying and I saw her looking at the apartment doors to find our apartment. By now my legs were shaking badly but I tried to keep calm because I know if I lose my cool then Hadia just won’t go to the school ever again. So I just tried to talk to her and told her that it was the first day and there might have been some misunderstanding. When we got back home Hassan had already called school. He had seen me running and came out to see what had happened. So he gave them a piece of his mind and they apologized. I hope it never happens again. It was too irresponsible of them to behave like this. Now it’s been a week that she is going to this school. She likes her new teacher and is making new friends too. She now also knows the new address and phone number by heart. I have told her to remember that we live right opposite to the McDonalds!
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
My little one turned 3
Amani turned three on the 22nd. I made a cake and Hadia did the icing. Hassan grilled some bihari kebabs and we had a small birthday party for ourselves. Will have another party with some friends at our place on the weekend
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Dumb Laws
Alabama
Boogers may not be flicked into the wind.
Alaska
While it is legal to shoot bears, waking a sleeping bear for the purpose of taking a photograph is prohibited.
It is the state policy that emergencies are held to a minimum and are rarely found to exist.-Sec. 44.62.270. State policy.
Arizona
You may not have more than two dildos in a house.
Donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs.
When being attacked by a criminal or burglar, you may only protect yourself with the same weapon that the other person possesses.
A decree declares that anyone caught stealing soap must wash himself with it until it is all used up.
Arkansas
A man can legally beat his wife, but not more than once a month.
Dogs may not bark after 6 PM.
California
No vehicle without a driver may exceed 60 miles per hour.
Detonating a nuclear device within the city limits results in a $500 fine.
You cannot bathe two babies in the same tub at the same time.
It is illegal to wipe one's car with used underwear.
Colorado
It is illegal to mistreat rats in Denver, Colorado.
It is illegal for a man to kiss a woman while she is asleep.
Cats may not run loose without having been fit with a taillight.
Connecticut
It is unlawful to walk backwards after sunset.
It is illegal for fire trucks to exceed 25mph, even when going to a fire.
You aren't allowed to cross a street while walking on your hands. You may not educate dogs. It is illegal for a man to kiss his wife on Sunday.
Delaware
It is illegal to wear pants that are "firm fitting" around the waist.
Florida
It is considered an offense to shower naked.
Women may be fined for falling asleep under a hair dryer, as can the salon owner.
Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.
Georgia
Cars are not to drive on sidewalks.
It is illegal for a chicken to cross the road.
Maryland
It's illegal to take a lion to the movies.
Massachusetts
No one may take a bath without a prescription in Boston.
Minnesota
All bathtubs must have feet.
It is illegal to sleep naked.
Nevada
An ordinance makes bringing a concealable fire arm into the county illegal unless it is registered with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. In order to register a handgun, however, it must be brought in to the police station. Furthermore, you may not register a gun on the weekends, but the police may prosecute you at that time.
New Hampshire
On Sundays citizens may not relieve themselves while looking up
New Mexico
State officials ordered 400 words of "sexually explicit material" to be cut from Romeo and Juliet.
New York
The penalty for jumping off a building is death.
It is illegal for a father to call his son a "faggot" or "queer" in an effort to curb "girlie behavior."
North Carolina
All couples staying overnight in a hotel must have a room with double beds that are at least two feet apart. Making love in the space between the beds is strictly forbidden.
If a man and a woman who aren't married go to a hotel/motel and register themselves as married then, according to state law, they are legally married.
Ohio
It is illegal to get a fish drunk.
Women are forbidden from wearing patent leather shoes, lest men see reflections of their underwear.
It's illegal for a woman to strip off her clothing while standing in front of a man's picture.
Oregon
You may not pump your own gas in service stations.
Tennessee
Driving is not to be done while asleep.
Texas
When two trains meet each other at a railroad crossing, each shall come to a full stop, and neither shall proceed until the other has gone.
Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on Monday.
Utah
It is illegal to detonate any nuclear weapon. You can have them, but you just can't detonate them.
Virginia
It is illegal to tickle women.
Washington
Men who deflower virgins, regardless of age or marital status, may face up to five years in jail.
West Virginia
It is legal to beat your wife so long as it is done in public on Sunday, on the courthouse steps.
Wisconsin
It is illegal to kiss on a train.
No male is allowed to be in a state of arousal in public.
Wyoming
Citizens may not take showers on Wednesdays.
For More Dumb Laws see: dumb laws
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
New Camera
Our new camera will arrive tomorrow. We sold the 3MP one on ebay last month and got a new canon powershot A610 5MP. Wanted to get 7MP but it was way too expensive for us. My photography will resume from tomorrow and I can't wait to take pictures of my kids again. I feel like I have missed a lot in this one month without the camera.
Christmas, New Year, Eid and Moving yet Again...
On Christmas day we went to a fabulous BBQ in a park arranged by our friends in Austin. It was probably the best we have had since we came to the US great Seekh and Bihari Kababs and Chicken Tika. The kids enjoyed a lot too because the park was really good and they could play all the time. The only downside for me was that in an effort to feed the ducks in the adjacent pond my younger one as usual went knee deep into mud. So she had to be changed and washed right on the spot.
Last couple of weeks I have been busy packing. Just counting, ever since we came to the US i.e. 2002 we have moved a total of 7 times, this would be the 8th ! In Urdu there is a proverb called “ paon main chakar hona” roughly translated it means those who can’t sit still. I think that this is meant for us. If we don’t decide to move, the house decides to move on us! For instance when we moved to the University Housing last December we were sure to stay here till the degree is finished but then after 8 months the university decided to demolish only that section of the university housing in which we had just moved. So we had the option to either move to a smaller university owned apartment or find one in the local market. But small is an understatement for this apartment, it was a one bed room in which they converted the single bedroom into two! All said we are actually excited about the new apartment because of all the space we will have and also because we would be able to grill (BBQ) there and also get Desi channels!
What else… yeah my kids got their new Eid clothes from Pakistan. My mom is a little busy these days so she just got the suits stitched for the kids and sent some Gota. I have done a great job with the Gota on one of the suits (pictures forthcoming). I am thinking of putting some sequins too on the other suit and will go to hobby lobby tomorrow to get some matching sequins. That is if my husband ever gets up before hobby lobby closes ( he has vampire hours!) I hope and pray that this eid goes fine. Last one was very depressing for us all as my sister in law died right around that time in child birth and her baby girl also died after 3 weeks. So we did not do anything then but i did take the kids for eid namaz. I did not feel like going there too but I did because of the kids. They were happy to get eid gifts from the masjid. We dont have anything planned for this eid yet. Eid is probably on the 10th and we will be moving out of this apartment on the 13th.
Last couple of weeks I have been busy packing. Just counting, ever since we came to the US i.e. 2002 we have moved a total of 7 times, this would be the 8th ! In Urdu there is a proverb called “ paon main chakar hona” roughly translated it means those who can’t sit still. I think that this is meant for us. If we don’t decide to move, the house decides to move on us! For instance when we moved to the University Housing last December we were sure to stay here till the degree is finished but then after 8 months the university decided to demolish only that section of the university housing in which we had just moved. So we had the option to either move to a smaller university owned apartment or find one in the local market. But small is an understatement for this apartment, it was a one bed room in which they converted the single bedroom into two! All said we are actually excited about the new apartment because of all the space we will have and also because we would be able to grill (BBQ) there and also get Desi channels!
What else… yeah my kids got their new Eid clothes from Pakistan. My mom is a little busy these days so she just got the suits stitched for the kids and sent some Gota. I have done a great job with the Gota on one of the suits (pictures forthcoming). I am thinking of putting some sequins too on the other suit and will go to hobby lobby tomorrow to get some matching sequins. That is if my husband ever gets up before hobby lobby closes ( he has vampire hours!) I hope and pray that this eid goes fine. Last one was very depressing for us all as my sister in law died right around that time in child birth and her baby girl also died after 3 weeks. So we did not do anything then but i did take the kids for eid namaz. I did not feel like going there too but I did because of the kids. They were happy to get eid gifts from the masjid. We dont have anything planned for this eid yet. Eid is probably on the 10th and we will be moving out of this apartment on the 13th.
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