"Tanookie" Moment

Well Kamran and I are back from our wonderful and very needed break in San Francisco. I have to say I loved the change. The change in weather, environment, people... everything. We had a an awesome time. I want to dedicate most of this entry to pictures and comments about our trip, but before I begin I want to relate an incident that happened at the airport on our way back home. (Christina, this one's for you)

My "I should have learned from others mistakes" moment:


After a beautiful drive from San Francisco to the San Jose International Airport, Kamran and I rush through security, we have 1 hour to eat and we are starving. We look over at the gate no one is in line, and heck there are only 5 people waiting in the area. So, we relax and head over the CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) and Cinnabon for a quick bit to eat.

Side Note: We as a nation are so fat due to the quantities we are forced to buy at the fast food places. Take for example Cinnabon's "minis." Great! They have a mini version of the terrifyingly fattening and delicious buns, but you have to buy them in pack of six! WHY?! OH well... at least they charge extra for the extra frosting.

All done and satisfied, Kamran and I start mosing back over to the gate. All of the sudden I realize that a huge line is starting to form for loading... we have to get there fast, I need seating choices! I rush over and quickly plant myself behind a lady about 10 people down. "Whew..." I think to myself "just made it." It is 6:50 and our flight leaves at 7:10pm we should be loading soon.I look out the window to watch the beautiful sunset and the planes coming in and leaving...but wait a second where the heck is OUR plane! "Dang it" it must be delayed. With this in mind I leave my suitcase to hold our spot in line and promptly find a seat close by. As I am standing there TWO people decide to cut in! I wanted to yell out "hey you! No cuts, no buts, no coconut cuts!" but alas, I was too "shy" to say anything. For all of you that know me... don't worry. They were the ONLY 2 people I let pass. I am not going to let everyone walk over me or my luggage! In any case, while I was dealing with "meanie butts" who just had to keep cutting, I noticed a nice but weird looking desi gentleman (UNCLE). He kept looking over at Kamran and I, scrutinizing us with the "Uncle" look.

Side Note: Isn't it a wonder how to us desi's every older desi individual is an Uncle or Aunty? I had the hardeset time calling the desi people I work with by their first names. I almost felt that I should call them with a Mr. or Mrs. if not Uncle and Aunty.

Back to the Airport Uncle. Now, my worst habit is smiling. Yup, smiling. Not just at someone I know (that smiling is ok). But strangers! Sometimes, people return my smile with a "What the heck are you smiling at?" look. Other times, it is "Hey, watcha ya doin'?" and I even have caused some to ask "Don't I know you from some where?" but for the most part it is a simple smile back. Many people have told me this "habit" of mine makes me "too approachable," but I like that... I don't want people to be scared of me (unless they are scarey people). Anyway, so this Uncle smiles back at me... and we get stuck in awkward loop of smiling (kinda... like the Chinese bow). I smile at him, he smiles at me, I smile back ... the vicious circle continues.

Well, eventually our plane arrives and it is time to board. We all get up and take respective places in line, of course we let the Uncle cut, cause he is, after all an Uncle! Now, I did not initiate what happens next but I could have kept my mouth shut... if only I had thought "WWHD." The Uncle turns around and asks (insert desi accent where needed):

Uncle: "Are you guys from San Diego?"
Kami: "yes."
I had to add..."Carlsbad, CA. Are you from SD too?"
Uncle: "yes... Poway"

Now I can feel Kamran's eyes saying "Stop... don't say anything else" but I can't stop...
Me: "OH! Then you MUST know the other Aunties and Uncles in San Diego!"



Not only had I, vocalized what I had been thinking (that the stranger was an uncle... but now he was looking at me as if I was nuts!

Now I was praying that Kamran would save me from myself... so I look over with a "please help me look." He opens his mouth and think "YES! I am saved"

Kami: "San Diego, is very big Jaahn, a lot of people live there"

WHAT THE FREAK?!!!!


Me: "Welllll, he MUST they live in Poway too."

Now mind you we do not know anyone in Poway, I just told a lie. Luckily, the uncle does not seem to be paying anymore attention, and I decide to take the moment to shut up. Not before I see the "What were you thinking... weirdo?!" look from my dear Husband.


Alas, I boarded the plane with the sobering thought of... "I now know what Christina was talking about."


Well, people I think this entry has gotten to long so I'll add the pictured from our trip in the next entry.

Blank

Have you ever been so consumed with work that all you can think of is work, and if you try to think of anything else your mind is a blank? Well, that is what I am going through right. Hence and the title "Blank."
I just got off the phone with the travel agent. We are officially staying at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco. Unfortunately, I missed out on a great deal on the Nikko hotel due my laziness, but CHH should be great! I paid a little more than I had expected, but I have feeling if I had waited any longer I would have ended up paying through the nose.

Labor Day Weekend

Over the weekend Kamran and I went over to my parents' place, my sisters and I ended up painting the guest/Urooj's bathroom . For some reason I love painting. Painting is a stress relief, and the feeling of accomplishment once you see the finished room is a natural high....Come to think of it, breathing in fresh paint fumes for hours will probably give you the same feeling.
The funniest was my dad's very enthuiastic moment of "pitching-in." Before we knew it my dad was at the walls, lashing away, covering most of the walls within a few moments. Of course in the process he almost took off Urooj's head with the paint pole and jabbed me a few times in the side. :) Nonetheless all is well that ends well, and Urooj's bathroom looks great.

On Sunday we went to a picnic in a new park (Victoria Park), I really enjoyed myself. We played frizbee with the kiddies and then had an afternoon full of racing and competing. Surprisingly Sam was the fastest from Urooj and I (Mehwish does not count we all know we will be eating her dust soon enough).


On Monday it was back home, Kamran, his mom and I stopped at Jamilla's Gardens for dinner and had a few laughs.

All in all the weekd was great... but I can't wait till Wed when my trip to San Francisco with kami starts. :)

San Francisco here we come!

After spending the entire month of August alone at work (my counterpart was out on business and vacation), I am finally got some time off!! :-D I have a business trip scheduled for the 13th and 14th of September in San Jose so I am taking the 15th and 16th off and spending some quality time with my sweetie in San Francisco. I have already booked the flight now all I need is a car and hotel.

We have a pretty jam packed intinerary, thanks to tips and advice from my team member Joe and good friend Arefa.

Thursday: Drive to San Fran from San Jose, go the Exploratorium then drive around see the Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard St (the crookedest street), and the 22nd and Filbert streets (the steepest streets).
Friday: Head over to the Japanese Tea Gardens and the Deyoung Museum. In the evening we will take the cable car over to the Fishermen Wharf for dinner and trinklet shopping, then for desert we will head to the Ghirardelli Square for DESSERT!

Saturday: Will comprise of a tour of Alcatraz, which should be interesting. I LOVE seeing old towns and homes, I guess a prison will be a new thing to add. :)

LOCK IT UP!

Hehehe.. Last night after work Kami and I enjoyed a nice, calorie/fat filled dinner at Mickie D's. Boy do I loooove those apple pies. While munching down on these sweet delights Kami and I discussed the possibilty of getting a little kitty. :-D The only problem is the fact that we live in an apartment. Pets are allowed, but where would be put the litter box? Wouldn't it stink things up? So many things to think of. ARG!
I do like the idea of coming home to a cutie patootie kittie, Kami even has a name picked out "Mr(s). Kittle Wittle" ... awwww isn't that cute?! What color cat do you think we should get?

We then went to the Marine base to watch "Wedding Crashers." The movie was HILARIOUS(adult humor). I certainly would not recommend it for the youngins.

While waiting for the movie to start I had an "Oops I did it again. I messed up the words. Don't know what to say" moment. Here is how it started: I mentioned to Kamran that the oddest thing happened at work. Around lunch time all the men got up and started to ask if anyone had felt the earthquake. Interestingly, enough it was only the men that felt it (weird, huh?). Well, that was the end of my out of the blue story, but my dear sweet husband had to add something. His response was a quiet frank, "Well, you guys are so you used to farting."

To which the sometimes-completely-unable-to-form-coherent-sentences me responded, "Jaahn, if you say that any louder and all these ladies in here will be up your case." HUH?
Of course I only had to wait till we arrived home for Kami to get on the phone an relate the incident to Sam! Sam, the sister who literaly cried because she felt sorry [for me] at how unfunny and embarassing I am, sighed and simply asked "Why do you talk?" All I have to say is at least I am bringing laughter to the world.

As enjoyable as the night was there was a tiny irritating part. ..
A family that decided to come out and sit right next to me smack dab in the middle of the movie! They walked in talking and yelling at their kids and continued as they sat down. After a while they settled down and I began to enjoy the movie again, the next thing I know their little baby girl is forcing pop corn down my throat, and trying to drag me away to meet her mom! Kamran even had a tug-of-war with the kid (me being the rope). I know kids love me and I love them (she was a cute kid).. any other time I would have played with her, but in a movie theater when I am trying to enjoy an evening out with my hubby.. I think not. The worst part was that the parents were completely oblivious (or so it seemed) about what their kid was doing. I swear parents if you are going out to an R rated movie leave the babies at home, or don't come, and if you do bring them keep them in check and away from other movie goers. All in all I still loved the movie and the time out with Kami, but it shed light on to what bad parenting and no courtesy is all about. All, I wanted to say was "LOCK IT UP!"