Monday, July 28, 2008

Grandma and Grandpa

Thanks for the votes on the beard, everyone! As you know, my vote outweighs all...but, the beard is finally growing on me. I suppose Bert can keep it a little longer. :P

***

This weekend, I had the great pleasure to spend time with Bert's grandparents, two incredibly special people.


Grandma is originally from Cuba and is an amazing painter. Here is my favorite one of her paintings; it proudly hangs in our living room:


Grandpa is from Spain and is always working on cars, lawnmowers, etc. They both keep as active as possible. And the love between them...it is so apparent. They have been married 66 years and I will forever be grateful that I have had the chance to know them.

It is hard to watch those you love grow older and have increased health problems and less energy. I just hope that when I'm wrinkly and gray that those around me treat me well. After all, the elderly were once young - just like you and me. In the Indian (and Spanish) cultures, the elderly are to be treated with the utmost respect. Like me mom told me about my grandmother: "Ammi's always right, even when she's wrong." And I completely agree.

I love Bert's grandparents and appreciate so much their unselfish love. They have always treated me with kindness and in the end, that's all that really matters.

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posted by Anisa @ 10:32 AM | 4 comments


Thursday, July 24, 2008

To Beard Or Not To Beard?


That is the question. So, readers, I am asking for you to vote on this extremely important decision! You know...the economy, the presidential election, Bert's beard, etc. Big issues. Please place your votes below on whether Bert should keep the beard or shave it off. This has definitely been a hot topic at our home. ;)



Thanks so much!
posted by Anisa @ 3:28 PM | 7 comments


Sunday, July 20, 2008

Holy Crapola, Batman!


Just wanted to check in on this beautiful Sunday morning and tell all you readers that haven't seen "The Dark Knight" that it is an a-m-a-z-i-n-g movie.  I can't remember the last time I left a movie that blown away. Heath Ledger was truly genius in this film - clearly deserving of an Oscar.  He was crazy scary...the photo above is a friendly-looking one as not to scare anyone unnecessarily. :)  Well, it was just great, all except the friggin' IMAX machine broke right before our showing.  People were so angry that it made the AJC.  We were glad we got to see the movie, even in a regular theater, and also also got free passes to another movie of our choice for a later date.  So, I suppose all's well that ends well.

In other weekend news, the sales - the glorious sales!  Oh my goodness. I got some really fabulous jackets (cute outfit-type ones, not overcoat ones) that were on crazy sales.  My best deal was a $90 jacket at Ann Taylor Loft on sale for $20.  With tons of selection!  It was crazy. And don't even get me started about our diversion to Kohl's.  I am now obsessed with Kohl's.

And so, I have already done most cleaning for the day and I'm headed off to the gym in a bit. And then we shall fire up the grill.  Really, is there a better way to end a weekend than with grilled corn?  I don't think so.

posted by Anisa @ 11:44 AM | 5 comments


Friday, July 18, 2008

It's (Almost) The Weekend, Baby!


Boy am I patting myself on the back for buying tickets on Fandango a couple of weeks ago for "The Dark Knight." Bert and I are headed to Atlanta tomorrow to see the movie in all it's IMAX glory. The last time I was this excited about a movie, it was "Sex and the City." And I loved that one, so I am hoping this one doesn't disappoint either.

Tomorrow, we shall begin at the Mall of Georgia, a gigantor spectacle that we have never seen. I am really hoping for some fabulous sales. Due to the horrible state of the economy, I am thinking there may be some super sales and great selection tomorrow. We shall see.

Then, as if shopping and IMAX isn't enough, Bert and I are meeting my high school BFF Deanna and her boo for a little P.F. Chang's. I hate Chinese food. I love P.F. Chang's. It's really very strange. I can taste the lettuce wraps already! Yummy!

There's nothing like an old, dear friend. And pile that on with stores galore, delish Chinese food and a blockbuster...well, this is already shaping up to be a fabulous weekend. After all, part of the thrill of something is the anticipation and I am definitely excited.
posted by Anisa @ 1:08 PM | 4 comments


Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Z is for Zyzzybalubah


Ah, childhood Saturday mornings. My sister and I, like many of you, enjoyed the fabulous shows including my favorite, "The Muppet Babies." We would often watch "Pee-wee's Playhouse" too. It was the show that we didn't really love, but it came on when we weren't ready to be finished with our TV time. Therefore, we usually watched it.

Finally, one day, there was an episode that I thought was just fabulous. For those of you that watched it, there was this robot that would spit out the Secret Word. When anyone said the Secret Word, everyone screamed. So...the idea was that you would avoid saying what was usually a fairly common word.

However, one day the word was Zyzzybalubah, for a mean alien. He had somehow tricked Conky (the robot) into making his name the Secret Word. Of course, by the episode's end, he learns to make friends. Anyway, for some reason, I thought it was the most fabulous episode. I would then watch it week after week, waiting for it to re-air. I don't think it ever did. At least I didn't catch it. I was seven.

So anyway, the point of my final alphabet post is that whether it's Zyzzybalubah, making "soup" with my sister (mixing chocolate syrup with vanilla ice cream until it was "soupy") or walking up and down our front sidewalk in my bathing suit to impress my older 9-year old neighbor - it's these little things that make life so full, funny and sweet.

Here's to hoping this alphabet game helped entertain, inspire and remind you of something special in your own life. Thanks for being a part of something that helped get me back to writing more regularly and doing something that I love so very much.

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posted by Anisa @ 2:31 PM | 3 comments


Monday, July 14, 2008

Y is for Yucky


For today's installment, I have decided to blog about things that I think are just plain Yucky. And they are as follows:

1. The word nugget. It reminds me of 1) poo and 2) gold nugget jewelry, which I think is horrendous - especially the heart necklace nugget above. *Shudders*
2. Green bean "juice." I had a co-worker tell me a story of a man who loved to drink green bean juice. When she would tell this story, I would literally start to gag.
3. Liver. My mom loves liver. I think this is so gross. I cannot even be in the room with her if she is eating liver or any other organ.
4. When people eat non-finger food items with their hands. There are lots of foods meant to be eaten with your hands. However, if you have to put your hand in your mouth to get the food in there, it's meant to be eaten with utensils.
5. The sounds of people clipping their nails. Of course, I am not bothered if I am doing it...but if it's anyone else, I am disgusted.
6. Seeing someone pick their nose. If you do it in private, fine. Whatever. Just wash your hands. BUT if you do it in public, I am totally disgusted.
7. Nose hair that sticks out. Ear hair too, but especially nose hair. I also do not like back hair or poofy chese hair. Hmm, clearly I have hair issues. Perhaps that is why I get professional waxings every two weeks.
8. Throw-up burps. Ew. I know someone who always does this when eating. Bless their heart. It is painful to eat with someone when they do this.
9. Roaches. 'Nuff said.
10. Pee on the toilet seat. This does not happen at my house, thank goodness. However, I am so grossed out when I have to deal with pee on toilet seats. Ew.

Whoa, I am really disgusted right now. Hope I didn't traumatize you!

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posted by Anisa @ 12:01 PM | 7 comments


Thursday, July 10, 2008

X is for Xylophone

Don't you remember how in elementary school, X was always for Xylophone? I do. And I remember being in music class.

For K-2, my music teacher was Mrs. Millsaps. Her first name was Bishop and I remember thinking she was gorgeous and perfect and beautiful and had the coolest name in the world. I still remember the school song that she taught us. Oh, how I loved going to Music!

No recollection of 3rd grade Music. Strange. I have a psycho good memory, but can't remember this. At all.

But for 4-5, my music teacher was Mrs. Melby. I thought she was also perfect and beautiful and the sweetest person. I remember having so much fun in her class. One day, we all got to go around and pick different instruments to play. I was beyond excited to play the glockenspiel:


I loved all the songs she taught us. To this day, I still remember singing this song:

Christmas is coming
The goose is getting fat
Please to put a penny in an old man's hat
If you have no penny
A ha'penny will do
If you have no ha'penny, then God bless you
God bless you

Too bad that song is not politically correct and I'm sure public school kids don't sing it any more.

And there was a French song that was my absolute fave. I remember the words, but only phonetically. Even though I took French for years, I still can't seem to track it down or figure out what the heck the words are. Here is my best attempt to see if any of you randomly have any idea:

O-lay-ohn
Beau-jean-sais
Notre-Dame'
Du-cla-ray
Von-dough-ma (Vendoma?)
Von-dough-ma

Good memories. I definitely believe in the importance of music and art education. And clearly, I learned from it. I mean, did you know what a glockenspiel was?

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posted by Anisa @ 1:50 PM | 2 comments


Monday, July 07, 2008

W is for Wedding Anniversary


This weekend, my family celebrated my Grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary with a celebration in Atlanta. Their wedding pictures is above - isn't it gorgeous?

And here they are today, still the most beautiful people I have ever known - inside and out:


I gave a speech and thanked them for all they had done for me. They have been my second parents and words cannot express what they mean to me. I told them that while life is not a fairy tale, the time in my life that I have spent with them was so magical that it might as well have been in a storybook.


My mom and I put together a slides show. We literally spent hundreds of hours on it. It was approximately 180 slides and set to several songs. It was definitely a labor of love.

The weekend actually kicked off Wednesday with a visit from my favorite little munchkins, Sommer and Sam. We had a blast.

She LOVES to pose. Just like someone else I know. :)


BFFs

Thursday, my parents and sister, Sara, and her husband, Tim, came.


And Friday, July 4th, was the big day. See some pics below from the festivities:

My parents


I love wearing saris!


Maybe one day this will be in a slide show celebrating our 50th.

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posted by Anisa @ 11:29 AM | 5 comments


Tuesday, July 01, 2008

V is for Villains


Villains. Be they Ursula the Sea Witch (above), Cruella de Vil from "101 Dalmations" or any of the other fairy tale villains, they seem to almost always be...women. Think about it: they are often witches of some sort. I'm not sure what that really means. Hmmm. Interesting.

But, anyway, fast forward to today. Adulthood. Who are the real villains? They certainly have changed. Rather than being in cartoon form, you can find a villain every time you turn on the news. Someone has done something awful. It's sad really.

Sometimes I get depressed about the state of our world. It's a scary place.

But then, something will happen. A friend will give me a shoulder to lean on, Matty (my cat) will snuggle with me instead of galloping away in fear of a bazillion kisses or a stranger will actually say excuse me after bumping in to me. Or, I will simply watch Bert and see someone who just bursts with goodness.

Life definitely has its ups and downs. Bad things happen to good people. But I guess the lesson from the fairy tales is that the villains lose in the end and the good guys win. True, it may not always seem that way in real life. But if you have faith, things are indeed righted in the end.

After seeing "Wicked," my whole opinion changed on the Wicked Witch of the West. So I guess we have to be content that sometimes we don't know the whole story. :)

And while I will always think some people are indeed wicked, I have also seen that goodness does indeed win. Fairy tales do come true, albeit not in Disney form. Life is not in Disney form. Life is real and raw. And while at the end of the day, no one comes to rescue me on a white horse, I do get to end the day away from all the monsters with my own Prince Charming.

Take that, Ursula.

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posted by Anisa @ 9:39 PM | 1 comments