I'm Backkkkk

Wow. It's been quite some time since I wrote on my blog. Sorry I've been MIA.

I did take a week vacation after the last time I wrote. And let me tell you, it was much much needed. I slept a lot, and pretty much just hung out. I didn't have any place outside of the state to go... but that's ok. I went to the beach, went out to eat, and hung out with friends :) It was nice to get away!

Ever since then though, I've kinda had a writer's block. It's really strange. Like although a bunch of stuff has been going on, nothing too important, but I'm not sure how to express myself in words... This has really affected my work too... since I'm a writer. I feel like I need another vacation. lol.

Friday IS almost here, on a good note. I hope tomorrow goes by quickly. My brother is sleeping over tomorrow night which I'm excited about. He is taking the MCAT's Friday early morning and my apartment is way closer to where he lives... so he wanted to save time in the morning and leave from here. It should be fun.

I'm really close to my brother. He is a crazy guy, and makes me laugh. And even though he can have a very bad temper, and doesn't take criticism, or opinion for that matter, very well, he is still a sweetheart and has a very good heart.

Oh well, I'm calling it a night. I've been tossing and turning with a lot of thoughts recently, and I have been losing sleep because of it. It takes me FOREVER to fall asleep at night, so I've been getting 6.5 hours on average a night... It might seem a lot to some people, but for me, that's not much. I need like 8 hours to be OK throughout the day. lol.

Good night :)

Long Needed Vacation Is Almost Here

For my one year anniversary, I took a week off from work. Awesomeness. I was originally hoping to go somewhere for it, but I don't think that's going to happen right now because let's face it, we don't really have the money to spend at a hotel right now, or doing any excess shopping, which I know I will be tempted to do if I get out of town. LOL.

So my husband and I have decided to stay in town, and just relax. Do some BBQ'ing, go to a lake, and things like that. Hopefully it will be the much needed break I've been hoping for. I need to just get away from work for more than a day.

I really wanted to go to New York sometime this year. I feel like no matter how long I live here in Michigan, my roots will always go back to New York. If I close my eyes, I can smell the summer there...listen to the honking, the people, the different conversations going on in various languages. I can close my eyes and pretend to be there, but it makes me miss the city ten thousand times more. I guess you can never take the city out of me.... Even when we went to Chicago, I was sooo disappointed. It was NOTHING like New York, which everyone told me it would be. Not even close. So I think one of the reasons I've been kinda down lately, is because I miss that place.... I'm super homesick... And I don't know what to do about it.

Speaking of homesick, I also really miss Austria. Before my grandpa died two summers ago, I used to visit Austria at least every other year. It's amazing there. So gorgeous. And just a whole different atmosphere.

I don't want to hate on Michigan, because I admit it's a decent place. But there's no culture... there's no night life...it's all one-minded, so separated...You gotta pay to do anything fun.

Anyways, I apologize for having a few depressed posts recently. I promise I will break out of it soon. Hopefully this vacation will give me what I need....

Death Is A Dark Place

This morning, a very well-known leader for Shia Muslims died --- Sayed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah. See, in our religion, we follow someone who is in a much higher position and much more well-versed in the religion's rules than us... and let him interpret our holy book, the Quran.... Fadlallah was known as the more liberal leader... especially when it came to women, which I believed was good, because we need someone who is more modern nowadays.

So I found out early this morning about his death (apparently he died from internal bleeding and had been sick for a while) from my friend who texted it to me when she found out. And for some reason, it was such a shock... and I'm actually feeling quite sad about it. I didn't know him personally, but I felt like he was doing something for the Muslim world, and despite allll the criticisms from the more traditional clerics, he kept going...

It also affected me deeply because I've been thinking a lot about death recently. No, I'm not suicidal... but about what happens to us AFTER we die. I know I'm not ready to die... not just because I'm young and feel like I still need to fulfill many things in life... but then again, I might just feel the same way when I'm 80... but also because I feel like I haven't done enough good things in my life...

In our religion, we believe that after we bury the body, we are tortured for our sins in our graves... scary, I know... And on the Day of Judgement, God raises our souls up and judges us for everythingggg we have done in our lives... And that is when He decides where we'll be spending the rest of our time... Hell or Heaven... Although, it is also believed that if we weren't such great sinners, we would pay for our sins in Hell, and then move up to Heaven.

But the scary thing is, once you die... there are no second chances... there is no way to turn back time and try to redo some of the stupid things we've done on Earth. Once we're dead... that's it. Our fate will be decided from there on.

I know everyone has different beliefs, and I feel that everyone's interpretation of death has truth to it... But in the end, all of our religions teach us the same thing... to be a good and moral person during our time on earth...and that we shall be rewarded or punished in some way or another for the way we lived.

But the question lies... no matter how much we do... are any of us really ready for death?

Weekend = Eyebrow Gash, Tornadoes

So Friday started out pretty slow and relaxing. I woke up at like 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon or so. Disgusting, I know... lol. Last week was exhausting though... That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

Anyways, I chilled in my pj's allll day long till about 7 p.m. when I finally headed to Dearborn and hang out with my sisters like I promised (I took a shower before I left... just fyi). I got to Dearborn, took my half-sisters out to Starbucks with my husband. That was fun. Man they are growing up. I can't believe one is turning 16 next month, and the other 15 in October. Crazy!

So we got to my mom's house, where their mom was (we're a strange ass family)... and my husband started messing around with the older sister. He stood behind the door and scared her and she screamed and pushed the door on him. Not realizing his head was right at the edge of the door... This is the result:


Ouch... lots of blood, and bruising. Today he woke up and it looks like he has light purple eyeshadow on his left eye.... eek.

Saturday was more low-key. Hanging out with Starbucks with one friend, and then moving onto Panera with another.

Today was RIDICULOUS. There were reports of a tornado hitting down in a part of Michigan (Huron Township). Kept me SUPPPERRR busy at work! Woo, I'm exhausted.


Good thing that happened this weekend. GERMANY BEAT ENGLAND IN THE WORLD CUP. I'm not really into sports...but I do watch the World Cup every four years. And I root for Germany because really, it is the closes thing to my mom's country, Austria. Culture, language wise, and location wise. So yayyyy for Germany! :)

On another note, I need to get the hell out of Michigan. LOL. My husband and I will be celebrating our one year anniversary in July, and we originally wanted to go to New York... but because of financial reasons, that ain't happening. I guess I'm stuck here for a while... which is kinda depressing. It's kinda kept me down for a few weeks now that I don't get to go see my best friends, and just go to the place I love...

Wow... My Age Is Catching Up To Me

It's day 4 of my working out and watching what I eat. So far, don't feel too much of a difference when it comes to losing weight (I don't really have a scale, so I wouldn't know anyways). But I'm basing this on how I feel in my clothes. lol. I do think, though, that my metabolism is MUCH MUCH slower than even a year ago. I guess metabolism REALLY does slow down with age.

A year ago, I could lose like 5 pounds in a 2 week period... yeahh.... NOT HAPPENING NOW.

But where I do feel the difference is my ability to do more. For instance, in the beginning my ability to do push ups and squats was a little difficult, but I've uped them each to 30 times :) I admit, there was a strong burning in my arms and thighs, but that's a GREAT THING!!!

I'm about to have a bowl of Total cereal. This past week, I've had nothing for dinner but cereal and salads. So yay for me :) I have also avoided lots of sweets. Another yay for me :) I think I need to pat myself on the shoulder now *pat pat pat*. Let's see how long it lasts.... my diet and exercise, I mean... not the pat on the shoulder :P

On another note:

This week has been very exhausting... Work has been VERY busy. Especially today. We covered an earthquake that originated in Canada (5.0 magnitude) that was felt across the state. Wow, we had lines from callers RINGING offf the hoook at our radio station. Andddd... plus side, I got to go on the Top 40 station we work with and do a report about the earthquake. Woo Hoo! That was awesome.

We also covered our former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. The man is spending time in prison already for violating his probation, and nowwww he's been indicted on 19 counts!! wow... that man is FUCKKKEEDDD.

Let's see what tomorrow brings!

Weekends Are Too Short

This weekend was a pretty good one. Kinda started out dramatic a little, but thank God that didn't last long.

I've been kinda down recently, don't know why. I guess there are just a lot of changes at my job, and people are tense, then there's always financial trouble. It kinda just adds up after a while. Oh well, I'll deal.

I went to Frankenmuth Friday and Saturday with my mom, brother, and husband. It was nice to get away from the Metro Detroit area. For those who don't know, Frankenmuth is this German town about 1.5 hours from Detroit. Very cutesie :) Here are some photos:

Turtle on Cass River (we paddled down the river)

Beautiful Hotel

Love it!

Another hotel :)

We came back Saturday and I went to my friend's brother's birthday bbq. Perffeccttt weather... Can we keep this weather please :) Thank you!

Other than that, I've been bad in keeping up with my new exercise routine. Today was the second time since my last blog... I put my ipod in my ear tonight when I got home from work, did my routine, and guess what, had a SALAD. Just some tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and avocado, with ranch dressing.

I made some tacos for my husband and was soooooooooo tempted to have some, but I refused. So since I was tempted, I had a bunch of nectarines. Now I'm full.

The thing is, I eat so late, so I'd eat a taco if it was like 6 or 7 in the evening, but 10:30 at night... woo! Way too late. lol.

So let's see how well I do with my routine and how much I stick to it over time.

Will keep you updated!

Setting A Goal!

I am sitting here at 11:17 p.m. on my couch eating a bowl of cereal as my heart races at the speed of light. Why is it racing? Well, I just exercised for the first time in like what... a year? lol. Yes, sad I know!

I've finally decided to do something about my recent weight gain... I think not fitting into my favorite American Eagle jeans is what did it. I'm not fat, and when I tell people I want to lose some weight, they laugh at me.. Not because they don't think I can, but because they don't think I need to. But when ALLLLL your clothes are a size 4, and you can barely fit half of them, we have a problem. I refuse to get new outfits.

See, I am at a weight I don't like. I just don't feel healthy. I don't know if it was birth control, or getting married, or just the unhealthy work schedule I have (I get home at 8:30 and eat late), but whatever it is I need to fix it.

I am 5 foot 6 inches, and weigh 139 pounds. A year ago to this date, I was 123. That was a little too skinny for my taste. People told me I looked like a skeleton (I was really sick for a few months). But a short time later, I started putting on the pounds. My ultimate goal is to be between 126-128. That's always been a good weight for me.

And I just feel gross. I gained weight in my butt, hips, and thighs... A litttlleee bit in my tummy area...and of course I got a bit of the love handles going on (of course the LAST place I would gain weight in is my boobs.... go figure). So when I have a problem getting my jeans over my hips, and I have to lie down to close the button and zipper, that's just bad.

So today, I came home, changed into my PJ's, looked at my husband and said ok, I'm doing a nightly routine...

Here is my goal:

At least five times a week, I will do sit ups, push ups, squats, and run in place. (When I get a little more energy, I will run for real... in place will have to do for now).

So tonight I started with 15 squats since I have pretty strong thighs from dancing. 15 sit ups, which are quite easy for me as well... 10 push ups (OMG, tonight I died at like the 4th one. My arms are the WEAKEST part of my body), and ran in place for 2 minutes.

I may have to start with woman push ups, and move onto men... cuz it wasn't working out too well for me tonight.

Slowly, as I get stronger, I will up those numbers... hopefully double, and even triple them. But I need to dedicate myself to working out. I will also eat less for dinner... so I'm not going to bed with a pretty full stomach.

I am aiming to be at 135 in one month at least. Then down to 128 or so in 2 months. So by mid August, I should have hopefully lost the weight I have gained.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:

Whoever said tattoos are addictive was soooo right. It's not even been a week since I got my first one and I already want another tattoo... I'm trying to figure out the design and location and everything.... haha. No worries though, once I do figure it out I will wait a bit before my next one.

Alright, going to lay on the couch and watch some tv before I crash for the night.

Party Time!!!

So even though I was a bit sick and off this past week, I did have an AWESOME Saturday. I hosted a Lia Sophia party. For those who don't know what Lia Sophia is, they sell beautiful jewelry (I wish I could own most of the catalog).

Anyways, I got some sweet gifts just for hosting:


A beautiful ring. I loveeee it.


And an amazing necklace. I'm wearing it to work tomorrow. Woo hoo!

I had a number of my co-workers come, as well as some good friends. Put all of us in a room, and we've got some great times.

On another note, I've been watching the World Cup and just wanted to say GO GERMANY! I don't understand why so many people here are hating on the soccer sport. It is called the WORLD Cup. And unfortunately, I don't think the game/sport is appreciated enough. It's the only sport where 32 nations come together for one reason....

I think this video says it all.

On that note, good night everyone.

MY FIRST TATTOO!!!!

I had an appointment at 6:30 today, and I started feeling a little feverish, even though I was in the city of Dearborn cuz I had to pick stuff up from my mom's house. So my friend and my husband pushed me to go on with my tattoo anyways just to get it over with. I was NERVOUS as hell. And when I get nervous I get nauseas and feel like my stomach starts hurting (so much so I feel the need to use the bathroom. Gross I know.)

Anyways, I text my mom to tell her I'll be there later cuz I had a tattoo appointment. Of course she says, "I really wish you wouldn't while you're sick." Ugh, mother's intuition. Should I listen or go on with it? Finally, I convince her that I'm going thru with it, and she agrees, hesitantly.

We get to the tattoo parlor. It's pretty busy. I waited until a little after 8 to get my tattoo. I was nervous for over an hour and a half!!! SCARYYYYY.... Of course a few times I got super nervous and turned to my friend and said, you know what, I'll come back another day. And she said nope, we're here already. Fine!

Thank God there was a couple there who had many many tattoos... So we talked. They calmed my nerves.

It was finally my turn. 8:10 p.m. on Friday the 11th of June. They sat me in the chair. Put some stuff on my right foot. My friend was on my left, my husband on my right. She put the GIANT needle into the tattoo gun thingie... And told me, DON'T move, if you move, I'll mess up. Great....... That's good to know.

So I sat my foot flat down on the stool. My friend held my left hand, and my husband my right. She turns on the tattoo thing, it makes a drilling noise. She moves close to my foot... and I'm like hey, I don't feel anything!

Two seconds later... AHHHHHHHHHHH.. Painful. Felt like razorblades cutting through my foot. She stopped 2 minutes into it... and said ok, STAR ONE DOWN. Phew.

10 minutes later (and mind you, she said it would take 25-30 minutes), she looked up... wiped my foot. And said ok you're done! That's it? Really. Wow. That wasn't too bad at all. Yeah, not going to lie, it hurt like a bitch. She examines my tattoo, and then says, oops wait, I missed a spot... Haha very funny. No, she was serious. She did miss a spot. Only took 2 seconds to fill in.

Phew.. She wrapped my foot in plastic wrap. It still hurt, but I was ok...

So here is the final result!


It's kinda shiny cuz of the cream I have to keep on it.


I swear my foot isn't that fat and big. Haha.Stupid camera angle.


Yay. In my flip flop!!

Of course my mom was like "I don't like it." Eh, I guess she's just being a mom :)

Hopefully this will heal as fast as possible.

Sinus Infection... Who Would've Guessed?

Well, I finally decided to go to the doctor today and he told me that what I had was what he believed to be the "beginning stages" of a sinus infection... Even though whatever it is that I have, has been bugging me since Sunday... So either I have an amazing immune system karate chopping bacteria, or the doctor is a LIAR. lol.

So he put me on antibiotics... Lovely.

Have you noticed that doctors LOVE to put people on antibiotics? It's like the first thing they give you, even if they're not 100 percent sure what you have. No wonder everyone is immune to antibiotics and they never get better.

On another note, I have an appointment for my tattoo Friday at 6:30 p.m. I'm really nervous and almost want to chicken out. I figure since I'll be on my antibiotics, hopefully, I can't have too many problems with my tattoo.. Maybe it'll even heal faster! Ha... I wish. We'll see if I'm up to it.

The three stars on the right side of my right foot will take about 25-30 minutes and will cost me $45 bucks. Will keep you up to date on the tattoo front.

Other than that, I'm going to go take some lovely Benadryl and knock the hell out. I'm soo glad I'm off Friday and Saturday. I've had a 4-day weekend now that I think about it. Not that I was really able to enjoy every last minute of it, because I was stuck home for the most part, but at least I got to relax and be off of work. It was much needed!

A Little About Me

Since I'm at home sick, and have a little time on my hands, I thought I'd at least somewhat introduce myself a little. I know I've gone into depth about some of my life situations, but here are the basics.

My mother is Austrian, and my dad is Iraqi. Yes, I know, very strange mix. And not Austria like "kangaroos" Austria. That's Australia folks. "Down Under." This is Austria, next to Germany, near Italy. In Europe. Where Adolf Hitler, sad to say, was born.

I was born in Vienna, Austria. One of the most beautiful cities in the world. I lived there with my mom for almost 4 years, as my dad went to the U.S. to find a better job. Once he did, we moved to Florida. Now at this point, my mom had converted to Islam... She was Roman Catholic.

We moved to New York a little later, and that is where I spent 13 years of my life. Somewhere in between we moved to Philadelphia for 2 years... (my dad was a mover), and came back to New York. I LOVE IT THERE AND MISS IT IMMENSELY.

After I graduated from my Islamic private high school, I went to an all girls college for my freshman year (this was the first time in my life where I learned what pot looked and smelled like, and met my first lesbians). Yes, my friends. I was introduced to the world outside the bubble my dad LIKED to keep me in.

We moved to Michigan after my first year of college. I HATED it. New York...to Michigan. Really? And out of ALL cities in Michigan.. Dearborn!! OH...MY...LORD.. I like to call it Arab-ville. NOt that I have too much against Arabs, I mean they are HALF my people. But really? I felt like I was in the Middle East. lol. And I like diversity.

Went and studied English and Journalism at University of Michigan-Dearborn. Graduated in 2005. Taught English to high school for a year. Hated it because the school director was a SLIME ball and hit on me, even though he was married, and had his daughter in my HIGH SCHOOL CLASS.

Quit that after my first year. WORST EXPERIENCE EVER. A year later, got into a fight with my dad, he disowned me, and we moved out. A few months later I got engaged, and then later married. And here I am... lol. Working at a well-known radio station, and blogging as I drink my yummy slurpee from 7/11. :)


It's blue raspberry. Yum yum.

There... 26 years of my life compressed into a somewhat short blog :)

Now you know a little piece of me :)

Life Gets In the Way of Good Things

I like a lot of things in my life right now, including the friends I've gotten to know over the past years. When I was younger I never thought I'd STILL be making good friends at the age of 26...

But needless to say, no matter how many friends I have now, I still miss the old ones... It's weird how you can lose touch with people who were once soo close to you not long ago. Someone who knew you inside and out... who knew your deepest, darkest secrets... who used to spend every single day with you... And now, you're lucky if you talk to them once a year.

I do still keep in touch with my best friends in New York, but it's not the same. I talk to them quite often, but I miss being in the same room together. We used to say that when the three of us hung out, it didn't matter if the world was falling apart, no one, and nothing, could penetrate our little bubble that we had.

I also miss my college friends, who I still do talk to from time to time, but it's not the same... Life just gets in the way.

I miss one of my friends from my old job. The one who I used to have bon fires with, and slumber parties. Now when I see pictures of her doing those things with other people, it makes me miss those days a whole lot.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love the people I have in my life. And I wish I had time to balance them and others... But like I said, life --my job, marriage, and other things - take priority.

And I'm sure years from now, I will look back on today and miss the people in my life that I have right now. It's strange how life works, isn't it?

Sick of Feeling Sick

I usually don't let myself feel sorry for myself for ANYTHING...but tonight I am feeling sorry. I changed my work schedule today to have the time to go to a wedding tonight in Dearborn, and when I got to work this morning I was feeling a little iffy. Throughout the day, I felt like I was kinda getting worse...

So I drive to Dearborn after getting all my stuff ready-- my dress, my makeup, my hair stuff -- and on my way there I was still debating if I should go to the wedding cuz I was feeling sick to my stomach. I got to Dearborn either way, hoping it would wear off, and of course it didn't. I did my mom's makeup, and drove home.

Being sick today is not what upsets me... I'm not even THAT upset about missing the wedding. What makes me mad, is that I have been sick for over a year now. OVER A YEAR. I've had an endoscopy.. I've taken all kinds of pills for my stomach, I've had a sonogram, I'm taking more pills, I got off birth control already.

I still get nauseas and dizzy... and light headed.. and kinda acidy. And no freaking doctor can tell me why.. I've seen 4 doctors in a year.

As I look back, my life is so pathetic now. I was sick on my WEDDING day.. I felt like shit on my wedding... how sad is that? I never look forward to events because I think to myself, what if I get sick... what if I feel like crap and I'm far from home. I feel like I've started to contain myself to my apartment, and pass up events or opportunities because I'm not feeling good. Something needs to change. There has to be SOMETHING wrong... right?

Not that my life sucks... I'm not saying that at all. I have great friends, a good job (well, sort of), a home, a great mom and brother... But how can I enjoy it all when I feel like crap half the time???

Well, that's my rant.. and this is me feeling sorry for myself.. I try not to do it often, I promise... but today I just do. :(

Time to nap this feeling (hopefully) away.

Bringing My Dad Back Into My Life???

I've been recently considering letting my father SLOWLY into my life.... Not completely into my life, but just allow him to maybe meet my husband for the first time, and maybe see him once a month or so.

A little bit of background before I go on with this:

My dad and I have ALWAYS clashed with ideas. He's Arab, and my mom is Austrian. I grew up here in America, so I guess I am what some people call me "Liberal." And yes I'm Muslim too. I wear the scarf, and try to dress modestly (try is key word), but that wasn't enough for my father. He didn't like me talking to boys, he didn't like the clothes I wore, he didn't like my friends, and he didn't want me to continue my education after my bachelor's. Some would call him VERY traditional.

Not to add, he was VERY abusive with both my brother and I, more me, since I'm the girl. Thank God he wasn't with my mom, but he was still emotionally abusive with her.

Anyways, long story short, he wanted me to get married since I was 16 or so, and I kept finding excuses. Finally, after college, I was out of excuses.... So he starting bringing me suitors. About one or two a month. I kept rejecting them, to the point where he said 'If you say no one more time, I will disown me." Needless to say, I said no... So me, my mom, and my brother picked up our bags and moved out of his house. He didn't make it easy on us, but thank God we did it....

I stopped talking to him at that point. I never said bye to him, or anything. He still talks to my mom and brother, but not me.. I am the evil child, remember.

So recently he came back from a LONG ASS trip to Middle East, where I guess his family talked him into contacting me again... So he called me, and I never answered... What the hell was I going to say to him??? I e-mailed him and we e-mailed back and forth... Just kinda updating him on what I was doing... He was SOOOOOO nice in his e-mails, with words like "sweetheart," and then things like "I miss you," "hugs and kisses." Things he's NEVER said to me as I was growing up.I think I rarely heard the words "I love you."

So on my birthday, I got this e-mail... here is part of it:

"I want to wish you a very happy birthday and wish you happiness in your next year and the years after. I wish that I will be with you to kiss you and wish you a happy birthday baba. I miss you sweetie.

Your daddy"

WOW... I was pretty surprised at the e-mail.... So I wrote back thanks and hopefully we can meet in the near future.

I guess I still haven't really forgiven my father for everything he's done.. But like people say, I should forgive him for MYSELF... to take that burden off my back.

I AM going to wait a bit, because I need to prepare myself for this meeting. And prepare my husband who hates him because of everything he knows.

My only worry is that what if he tries to come to my events, what if he tries to be a big part of my life? But I talked to a friend today and he said that I'm controlling the situation, and I should do things as I am comfortable.

We'll see what happens. Will keep you updated on this dreaded, yet possibly much needed, meeting...

Working on Memorial Day

No long weekend for me! Not that I mind because even if I was off today, I would've been stuck inside the house because it rained HEAVILY across Michigan today... talk about flight delays and power outages... I must say though, thanks to the weather, we had news to broadcast at work today... sad and pathetic, yes I know.

But then come to think about it, if it's between getting stuck at home and working for 8 hours.. I'd pick staying home today.. just because I could've cleaned and put away my winter clothes.. which I haven't been able to do for quite some time now because mother nature is on CRACK and couldn't make up her mind when it came to the weather.... So just for those who DON'T live in Michigan, the weather jumped from the 80's, to the 50's, and then now to the 90's. Lovely. Maybe mother nature is just mad at us....

Feels Good To Be 26

My birthday week is finally over, and it was a pretty decent week. Went to IHOP and the mall on my birthday. Then we had a BBQ at my mom's house... it was fun to get a group of people together.

I got some awesome gifts:

From my mom

From my brother. One of them says "You're Beautiful."

From my husband

From one of my co-workers :)

Here's to shopping! hehe. Now I have some GOOD reasons to go shopping.

Anyways, Saturday my husband sent me and my friend to a spa... got an hour long body massage. AMAZINGNESS.

Unfortunately, I had to work today (Sunday) and will for Memorial Day, but that means comp time for me. That means more vacation time for me!!! YAYYY.

On another note, the birds outside my door on top of my lamp are getting bigger!

This picture was taken on the 24th.

This one just 3 days later. Of course the mom and dad still yell at us when we leave the apartment. But that's ok.. haha. They're allowed to. The birds are just soooo cute and adorable.

Well, I'm home and going to relax and watch some Law and Order SVU. Here's to a relaxing night with just me and the TV :)

Birthday Time!!!

I'm turning 26 today at 7:59 a.m. exactly. I can't believe I'm turning 26. Not that age really means anything to me, because it doesn't. I believe age is actually what you make of it. I can't stand people who are so fearful of telling their age...like it's the biggest secret in the world.

I was raised with a mom who was always proud of her age. She doesn't look or act her age, and that's a good thing. And I think not caring about it, that's what keep you young.

So here's to 26 years of my life... of ups, and downs... the people I have met, the places I have been, the obstacles I have surpassed, the people I loved, the people I lost, the things I have achiever... It's all turned me into the person I am right now. Not that that's always a good thing, lol, but it's made me a stronger and wiser.

For my birthday, I will hopefully be able to spend it with some family and good friends. Not sure what exactly the plan is for the day... I told my husband to plan things... Why am I scared? lol. I will tell all in my next blog though :)

Busy Week

My husband and I are trying to save some money, possibly for an anniversary trip to New York in July!! Woo hoo! So instead of eating out, I've been doing a lot of cooking this week. Which is one of the reasons I haven't posted in FOREVER. That and I've become addicted to The Tudors, an amazing show about Henry VIII, that sticks to historical facts quite well.

So, I wanted to post a picture of two of my best things I cooked this week. I took a picture of the meatloaf I made last time, as well as these meatballs I made from my friend's grandma's recipe. Did that make sense?

That's my meatloaf up there. And here are the meatballs.

When I make food, I like to go ALL out! :) With sides and everything.

Other than that, I've been spending a lot of time with my friend, who WAS a co-worker.. Was is the key word here. She was fired last Thursday for the stupidest reason... at least I and almost everyone around us think it's a pathetic reason. I feel really bad for her, because she has spent literally half her life at this place... So I've been trying to make sure she keeps her mind off the craziness. Cuz I know once you're idle, that's it. You fall into depression. And we can't let that happen! I love her.

My birthday is coming up this Tuesday! I am turning 26. Wow. When I was younger, and thought ahead to 26... I thought I would've traveled the world by now. LOL. Boy was I wrong. Well, I've done a lot of traveling, but not as much as I would have liked to. So here's to the future, where I will travel a lot more!

I told my husband I don't want anything for my birthday. He bought me an amazing new car recently. A mazda 3... blue.. And it was part of the North American International Auto Show.

I call him Skky :)

I will also be getting my first tattoo next Friday hopefully! :) Will keep you updated on that as well.

I must also mention, and this is COMPLETELY off topic, that I am trapped within my house at times. I have a lamp that hangs RIGHT next to my apartment door. And some red robin apparently laid its eggs on top of the lamp.

Beautiful aren't they? Well, every time I leave the apartment, the mother AND father start fluttering in the tree near our apartment, and start yelling at me! And even when I come home, they yell at me.

But it's gotten worse:

The birds hatched this morning!!! And now the parents are even more protective. This morning they swooped at my husband's head while he was walking out! SCARY! I had to take caution as I was taking this picture. lol. I try to be VERYYY careful and quiet as I walk out. I will continue to take pictures of these babies to watch them grow. It's amazing really if you think about it.

I think that's pretty much it. I promise to try and update my blog more often.

Purse Addiction?

My mom has been bugging me to clean out my old room at her house, lol, which has become her room. I have a few files there, and random crap, and well, LOTS of purses apparently. She asked me to go through them this past weekend because apparently her work is holding some community drive, and she wants to donate things we don't need any more.

So I went over and it took me QUITE some time to go through purses I wanted and DID NOT want. Whatever I didn't want, I put into a pile and asked my friend Jessica if she wanted some (she's a purse lover), and the rest I shoved into a big garbage bag and took home.


And let me tell you, it's FILLED with about 8 or 9, purses at least (too lazy to count). From Puma, to Coach, to Louis Vuitton, to New York and Company.

Sickness? I think so. I apparently am always addicted to SOMETHING. I gave up the purse addiction a while ago, and am now into shoes and lots of clothes. And the sad part is, I have so many purses, yet wear each one till I completely wear them out. Literally... For instance my current bright pink "barbie" purse, as my husband calls it.


I've been wearing it for MONTHS now, since I bought it. I don't color coordinate it, even though when it comes to clothes I'm anal about color coordination. So I guess I'll have to start changing purses more often since I have more choices now... Fun stuff. Did I mention I hate changing purses? It's really annoying. Although, it is good for finding things that may have gone missing and cleaning out old receipts and stuff.

On another note:

I am waiting for my meatloaf to be done. Mom's recipe.

• 1 pound ground beef
• salt
• pepper
• onion
• ketchup
• mozarella cheese
• bread crumbs
• an egg

Cook it for 50 minutes on 350 and you're good. I threw some Idaho potatoes in it soaked in butter. So hungry!!!

Time to go make rice :)

Weekend Is Over!

The in-laws left this morning, and here is an update as promised.

It was overall pretty good... His mom and step-dad stayed in a house they rented, along with some family friends... Who turned out to be pretty fun to hang out with. Their sarcasm and humor was similar to mine, so we hit it off well...

There was one dramatic moment that kinda upset me. On Mother's Day, me, my brother, my husband took my mom out for dinner... Bravo! Love the food there. We also had creme brulee, yum yum! So we went back to my mom's house, and stayed there for a bit.

My husband's parents knew we wanted to see them that night, but they were at the wedding of my husband's step-cousin who I cannot stand! lol. So they stayed there all night, and I was kinda sad about it, because they knew we were waiting for them to see them. By the time they got home, it was too late, so me and my husband just drove back to our place...

Additionally, one of my so called friends, which I wouldn't even call her that because of our many fall outs, went to the wedding and claimed she didn't want to be there and that it was so boring she wanted to leave right after dinner... Yeah, she caught the bouquet. Not cool.

So Monday I was still a little distressed about it, and I was talking to my co-worker and she said I need to learn to let some stuff roll off my shoulder, especially things I can't control. And I know she's right.

I've thought about it many times and I know my flaws... and one of them is letting things get to me when they really shouldn't. I am not really someone who holds grudges, but I do take things quite personally sometimes when really, I should just ignore it and just move on with my daily life.

I think it was like that while I was living with my father too, even though it's a little more complicated when it comes to him. He was very physically and emotionally abusive as I was growing up, and he treated my mom like crap too. But whenever he got upset at me for no reason, or for something that he shouldn't be upset about (which was ALL the time), I let it affect me, blamed it on myself, and got depressed about it.

It probably stems from that.. I feel the need to please everyone, and the need to have control over most things. But in reality, no one can control EVERYTHING... Not even me. lol.

I'm going to give this weekend an "A", despite the tiny drama I let get to me. I think it taught me a lesson, a lesson I will most likely forget in a couple of weeks. lol

Onto other things, my birthday is coming up in 2 weeks and I'm super excited! Don't know yet what's planned for the day, but I know I won't be working. Well, hopefully, got to put my time off sheet in. Yeah, I'm also a procrastinator... another flaw!

It's been a while...

It's been a few days since I last wrote, and I think I should do some updating.

Work has been kinda stressful. There's a lot of politics mixed into it right now, and someone recently got laid off. And now of course everyone is on edge and watching their back, and even telling on others so they look good. So it kinda sucks... and isn't the same atmosphere as it once was. I don't enjoy it as much.

Recap of this past week:

On a good note, a Top 4o station I work with used my voice for imaging for the first time ever! Yay. It was so exciting to hear myself on the radio...well, in imaging. Before it was all commercials and different spots, but this is different. This could actually possibly maybe bring me some extra money in this future. Money is alllwayyysss a good thing :)

I made one of my favorite Iraqi dishes last night. It's called Timan Bagila, which in Arabic means "Lima bean rice." It's rice, and dill, and lima beans. I ate it with veal. Yum yum. Came out pretty good if I must say so myself.

I went over my friend Shefali's house tonight and she brought me back some awesome stuff from her trip to Hawaii (which she said was awesome... I think it's time for me to go on vacation).

A pretty shelled bracelet :)


A pretty necklace. The white stuff at the bottom are shells.

Can't wait to match them with my outfits. Yes, I am very color coordinated :)

On another note, my husband's family is coming in this weekend for a wedding Sunday that I REFUSE to go to. Long story short... It's his step father's, brother's, daughter's wedding. So his step cousin. lol. But I can't FREAKING stand her. Her and her family didn't show up at our wedding last year because they thought we said something bad about his step cousin's fiance... which we didn't. But instead of asking us about it, they just didn't show up. They told us they'd come, and then neither side showed up. Which I thought was pretty offensive. We didn't get a call after, an email...a message. NOTHING!

How rude?!!! So me going to their wedding is OUT of the picture. I'm sorry. But karma is a bitch. And just because they're technically family, I'm not going to say anything to them or confront them. And I usually don't hold grudges, but this was just fucked up. So this should be an interesting weekend. I love my husband's mom and sister... she's great. But the rest of the family...eh. OK, end of my rant.

So to end this blog, very randomly, I had some green tea from Meijer Organics today at work, and let me tell you, they were not joking around when they said "green" tea!!!


That is one GREEN cup o' tea. Hopefully it was also one HEALTHY cup of tea.

Will keep you updated on the in-laws situation.

Have a good night everyone.

My how time flies!

I accidentally ran into an old blog of mine today that I COMPLETELY forgot I had... I read through it while I was at work (yes, I know, bad me!) and so much has changed since then.

I started the blog in my senior year of college, I believe, and kept it going till sometime in 2006. And let me tell you, my how things have changed. Major things that have changed since then:

1) I used to be a teacher. Something I HATED with a passion (props to teachers out there). A job I took out of college because it was there. And something my dad kinda forced me into (a story for later). I am now a journalist

2) I don't live under my father's ruling any more (again, this story is for a later time)

3) My parents got a divorce and I stopped talking to my dad (this is alll part of a future blog)

4) I got married and moved out of my mom's house

I think those are the major things that have happened so far. But I can't believe how much can happen in just four years. It's scary. Makes me wonder what things will be like in four years from now. I hate not knowing what the future will bring. I'm the kinda person who likes to plan things out and know what's ahead. But I guess that's not what life's all about, and I guess things wouldn't be as fun and spontaneous if we were always one step ahead.

So for anyone interested, here is my old blog. I must caution you, it gets very strange at times. And my writing isn't really the best in the world.

On another note, I'm realllyyy excited it's May, because as many know (and I don't let people forget!) it's my birthday month. So here is a quick countdown which I've done for years((if you notice that was the subject of my last blog on my Live Journal) since I was in high school, 22 more days left till I turn 26. Wow, can I say that I'm in my late 20's yet? I guess I'm closer to my mid-20's. Oh well, four more years till 30. Ahhh! Craziness.

Tattoo?

So I've been dying to get a tattoo SOMEWHERE on my body, and I figured that right now my best option would be my foot. I was supposed to get one in March but then I got sick and didn't feel like getting it. Plus I have to wear flip flops and no socks for two weeks, and with this damn Michigan weather (apparently mother nature is on crack or on her period or something of that sort), flip-flops everyday isn't the best idea.

In addition, I've put on a little weight thanks to my birth control (the same one that is weakening my esophagus btw) ...and of course everyone tells me oh, you still look good, you can't tell, etc...but when I have a problem getting my size 4 jeans over my fat ass and hips, we have a problem. Throwing myself onto the bed sometimes in the morning to zip my zipper up is not a sexy sight, I'd like to think so.

So the tattoo on my hip bone or the tramp stamp I want right now is really out of the question until my lazy ass gets up and does something about my few pounds of weight gain (I write this as I eat my Oreos and milk...hey don't judge).

So I want three stars on my foot.


No, I don't want this tattoo across my stomach (we did just talk about my weight, remember?). But I am posting this picture to show what kinda star I want. I want the large stas, in the middle. The one that's outlined.

I want 3 from large to small on the right side of my foot. And as everyone asks me, does it signify something? No, I just like stars. And the next person who asks me will get a religious answer... "Stars are a symbol of my religion, hence I am putting them on my foot." I think that answer will please people a little more.

I keep checking accuweather.com to see the forecast, and things don't look GREAT.. Plus, since I can't really go tanning after the tattoo, I need to get my color in (again, don't judge me, I like being dark, what can I say). So I guess mid-may would work. Especially since it's close to my birthday.

Will keep you up to date and pictures to follow!

On the health note, I'm not excited about waking up early for my follo-up appointment to my endoscopy...just saying.

I hate doctors

I try to only take medicine when I need to...and unfortunately, right now I need to.

I went in for an endoscopy last Thursday, and for those who don't know what that is, it's a procedure where the doctor shoves a scope with a camera down your throat into your stomach to see what's going on, and if there is anything to be concerned it.


For me, I was dealing with nausea and heartburn for over a year. Doctors had me on alllll kinda of heartburn medications, you name it I took it. (BTW, did I mention I HATE doctors.)

So back to my endoscopy. They put me under after waiting over an hour with an IV stuck in my hand, causing me to have to pee every 15 minutes. And for the record, I was wearing that stupid hospital gown that's open in the back...some pervert created that, I swear.

I was put under for the procedure. Oh, and might I mention that they gave me valium 4 minutes before the procedure. Four minutes? I was on the verge of tears from nervousness for over and hour, and NOW you give me valium. How does that make sense? Please tell me.

So when I woke up, I did the traditional mumbo jumbo talk that you see in movies and that friends tell you funny stories about (this was the first time I was put under).

My doctor told me that I had bile in my stomach and upper esophagus, gross I know (note: it was not heartburn which doctors thought it was for almost2 years). And the reason it's in my upper esophagus is because my damn birth control, which I have changed a number of times, is weakening my esophagus. What, the, fuck? I don't remember seeing that on the warning!

So I get prescribed giant ass horse pills.


...that I have to take for six weeks. Yes, six weeks, and then will see if I need to take more.


Now, I'm someone who likes to eat throughout the day, so these pills make my life complicated. I have to take it in between meals. So this is my schedule, eat breakfast, wait 2-3 hours, take pill, wait an hour, eat, wait 2-3 hours, take pill, wait an hour, eat, wait 2-3 hours, take pill, and sleep.

Suckie I know.

And for someone who has a bad memory and can't keep track of things, this is a very complicated thing for me.

Anyways, I have a follow-up appointment this Thursday and we shall see what comes out of it. Fun stuff.

Did I mention I hate doctors?

Uncertain Future

So I've been working on a lot of voice stuff recently... mostly commercials for a local radio station here in Detroit. And I actually found something I LOVE doing (this is rare). The thing is, I'm a very hard grader and am never satisfied with my work, although other people tell me I sound wonderful. I'm hoping one of these days I'll be happy with it.... I will post some audio as I go.. if that's possible on this blog site. Is it? lol

The thing is, I don't think I'll be in news forever. It's not something I see myself doing for the rest of my life. First off, I get bored in life wayyyyyyyyyyyyy too easily, bad thing I know. Secondly, it's a sad and depressing world in news. We deal with so many horrible things (see post #1) and I don't think I can deal with that till I die... And third, there's so much politics when it comes to radio stations.

My first thought was fashion school, because I gotta admit, fashion is DEFINITELY something I am into. I find myself judging other people's outfits sometimes and thinking how I can dress that outfit up, and what I can do to make it look better...

But unfortunately, my schedule doesn't allow school right now, unless I decide to wake up SUPER early in the morning, which I don't plan on doing any time soon... so that's being pushed off, for now at least. Till I have more time, and of course, more money.

And since I love doing voice over stuff, why not? I mean what's holding me back really... I'm slowly getting better, thanks to the people around me who gave me a chance and believed in me.

We shall see. I'll keep you up to date.

Bad News is Always Good News

So, I work for a radio station in Detroit, Michigan. And I've learned that bad news is always good news for us. Sometimes, when there's an accident, my producer asks if anyone was injured, or even better, died. And it's no news when something bad didn't happen to someone....

I've come to the point where I'm numb about things we write about. Rarely does something bad that's happened affect me... Sometimes, we even laugh about things, to ease the situation at hand.....

Today, there was an accident in Canton, where an 18-year-old died after she rear-ended another driver. The 15-year-old girl in the car with the other teen survived with "non life-threatening injuries," as we call it.

I wrote the story as if nothing happened. Just the usual routine, "An 18-year-old Plymouth resident is dead after rear-ending...."... Nothing. It means nothing.... I don't turn this 18-year-old into a person, it's just another character in this world who's gone. My world goes on...

But then on my drive home, I remembered the story.. and imagined myself as the 15-year-old in the car. How everything must have happened so fast...just a boom, your body is in shock...you don't feel what just happened. But then you look over to your friend, or your sister, or whoever that 18-year-old girl was, and realize...what just happened. Did he try to shake her awake? Did he even realize she was dead in the seat next to him? Or did he think that maybe she was just knocked out. Then I imagine him at the hospital, being treated for his injuries, when he gets the news... that the girl who was sitting next to him in that car is gone...forever...

That makes me sad. And that's why I don't imagine people as people when I write about them. It's just another story in this world... That way, I don't go home and feel bad for the daughter, the sister, the mother, the aunt, the wife, the girlfriend... that was lost today. And the pain that family is going through. I stay numb.