Ximar

I know they've completed the transfer of power in Iraq (or so they say), but that's not the only thing that happened today. I left early and wasn't there to witness it, but apparently Muz not only beat Usman in bowling, he also topped Usman's score. That's pretty sweet, considering Muz has been trying forever to accomplish it.

Went down to Budd Lake, NJ for Muz and Tabish's graduation party on Saturday. Being there at their house was most relaxing. Their whole family is really amazing, they make us feel at ease without much effort.

Came back up to Boston on Sunday, taking Muz with us. Went to Usman's place to meet his parents and his brother's family. I have nothing but respect for his mother, to have put up with him all this while. Meeting his dad explains Usman as the person he is. His nephew, Hassan, is so adorable. And I have mad respect for his sister-in-law for bringing an 11-pound baby into the world and still looking amazing.

Went to Dok Bua afterwards for dinner, but I wasn't much of a company then. I get cranky when I'm tired and hungry.

My brother's birthday was on Monday, but I only got to talk to him tonight. Sometime during the conversation, he mentioned a girlfriend. And I, as I usually do, cracked a joke that I didn't think he would take seriously. But apparently, he did, and started talking more about this girl. In my mind, I just went, "He's only 14, when did this happen?" If I could, I'd keep my brothers and sisters just as they were when they were 1-year olds and not let any pain in the world touch them. If I could, I'd taped my life and show it to them so they could learn from my mistakes, and know what to do and what not to do. But then we all know that you don't really learn much about life until you experience it. What can I do, I'm just a big sister, and I worry about my little ones *sigh*

Just finished watching Before Sunrise with Mbak Pi. It has got to be the simplest movie made that I have ever seen. Yet it's so captivating, with its own charm and light humour. It crossed my mind while I was watching it, that Muz would like it. I don't know why I thought that. So let's see, if I have a favourite movie list (which I don't), second item on it would be "Before Sunrise by Richard Linklater". The first being "Pirates of Caribbean by Gore Verbinski".

I honestly cannot walk properly. No matter what I'm wearing or not wearing on my feet, I always manage to stumble. It's getting to be insanely ridiculous. One moment I'm fine, walking on the sidewalk and chatting away with a friend, and the next moment I'm flat on the ground. If anyone ever find a cure for this disease of mine, please let me know. It's getting out of hand, and to tell the truth, it's getting to be pretty embarassing.

I was going through part of our video collection and came across a couple that sounded pretty interesting - "Presentation Skills for the Professionally Petrified" and "21 Ways to Defuse Anger and Calm People Down" - these have got to be the most important skills you could ever acquire in life.

I never thought I would say this, but Mike Myers is kinda cute and he is actually pretty funny. I never really like any of his movies, at least the ones that I know of, except Shrek. I saw the casts of Shrek 2 on Oprah today, and Myers was hilarious. Who would have thought...

I haven't been keeping up with the news, so excuse me if I appear to be oblivious to everything but my own self.

The kid I talked about last week, I just saw his girlfriend today. What a disappointment.

Diah said my hair looks like broccoli, sob sob (;__;) How insulting.

At the Media Center, our bell is made out of a glass mug and a spoon. You use it to make noise whenever you need assistance and no one is at the counter. My creation two years ago, and still working pretty well to date.

Seriously thinking about EPIIC. I should do it. Sherman's right, this is my last chance, and it is a good experience. Topic for next year is "Oil and Water".

I have this one picture of myself, that whenever I see it, I'm always reminded of how happy I was at that time. Everyone who sees it always comment on how genuinely happy I look in that picure. I don't look pretty in it, but it's one of the nicest pictures of me that have ever existed. I have yet to feel that happy again :)

Freakin A. My brother lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks. I set out to lose 5 pounds over the summer and I still have 5 to go. Chikusho! I seriously don't want anyone in my family to make fun of how fat I am anymore. I'm not.

Tippin is officially my favourite word of the day. Tippin, Tippin, Tippin, it has such a funny sound to it. But anyways, Will Tippin is really cute.

Went sea-kayaking on Saturday, down in Cape Cod, at Pleasant Bay. After which, we went to P-Town for lunch and to just walk around. There were Dewi, Dewi 2, Diah, Haruna, Shakir, Zaid and I. It was a very nice trip actually. We left pretty early in the morning and had the place to ourselves. The water was calm and it was cloudy, so it never really got hot while we're in the water. Seriously, I haven't been to a place as peaceful as that for a while.

We came back pretty early from Cape Cod, around 5pm. Hit the shower, and passed out completely right after. All of us Windsor girls. If it weren't for food, none of us would have left our beds. Diah and I went to get food at 10pm, and as soon as the food was comfortably in our stomachs, we passed out again. Woke up the next morning with the whole upper body feeling sore.

Spent the rest of the weekend watching the first season of Alias. Honestly, I'm as bad as Usman. At least he wasn't taking any classes. I had my Calc. exam today - good thing it went well, otherwise I would probably kick myself, or smack my own head.

The rest of the week isn't looking so bad. Usman's brother and his family is in town. I just want to kidnap his nephew for a couple of hours to play with. Huma is coming back this week. I haven't talk to the girl for ages, it feels like. Muz's graduation is this Saturday, hopefully everything works out fine for the trip down to NJ.

Nabil's birthday today, and I found out our new address.

I dragged myself out of bed this morning and was the first customer at this salon on Main St. The lady there didn't really speak English, but she sure knows how to cut hair. She painstakingly blew-dry my hair straight and I love how it looks like now. I know it'll never look like this again, cause there is no way I'm straightening my hair myself. Too much effort, and it hurts my scalp. But I'm happy, this is the first time I'm fully satisfied with a haircut.

My sister's birthday. I'll call her in the morning and sing "Happy Birthday" to her. She usually loves that.

I finally finished what I intended to finish two weeks ago. On the side, you can find a photoblog of Huzzie that Diah and I made. We're silly like that.

Our girl Diah has passed her qualifier, congratulations! She'd still be mad busy with a lot of stuff though.

Saw EJ today, almost didn't recognize her. For a moment, I actually thought she was Hana. EJ's Sheina's roommate from freshmen year, and was abroad last year, which explained why I haven't seen her for so long. It's funny how I don't really talk to my girlfriends from freshmen year, but everytime we meet we have no problem catching up, which is really nice.

I saw this kid today who I thought had already graduated. I always see him on campus walking to classes and what not with his girlfriend. I thought they had both graduated, but apparently he's still around. Without the girlfriend too, hmm... interesting :P

Trying to figure out details for this weekend's camping trip (weather permitting, of course). And also details about next week's trip down to New Jersey.

At the same time, also trying to study for another calculus exam on Monday. Everytime I think about calculus, I think about Pak Yem, and how he'd be laughing at me for having to repeat a math class. Heck, I bet anyone who knew me from high school would.

I have a calendar on my desktop where I list everything that is happening. This month is filled up with so many things, it's hard to keep track of them all.

Diah's public study is tomorrow. I know she's really nervous about presenting in front of audience, but truthfully, she's handling the stress better this time than when she was writing her paper. I think knowing that it all will be over soon helps a lot.

I have another appointment for a haircut on Friday, lets hope I don't chicken out of this one too.

I was writing the birthday card for my sister, when I realized that I don't even know our new home's address :(

... a 6-year old with mohawk hair who skates and plays drum
... someone who has tasted nail polish
... how "I can't breathe" feels like
... not how to french-braid hair
... someone who slaps anyone who tickles her
... someone who dances around when someone tickles her
... someone who walks out of the room anytime people start to gossip
... how to climb a coconut tree
... how fake wine tastes like
... how condensed syrup tastes like
... how fried grasshoppers taste like
... how to cook rice on the stove but I can never cook rice in the ricecooker perfectly
... how not sleeping for 48 hours feel like
... how to shoot an M-16
... how uncomfortable putting mud on your face feels like
... how to cook eggs in the sand
... how much sleep-deprived babies can make you
... not what or where I'll be in 2 years
... that I don't want to be the person who doesn't know what she doesn't know

Diah and I went to Amir and Usman's place for dinner and ICC meeting last night. It was a very nice visit. I like their place very much and it was definitely easier being there with D since she knows how to communicate with them better than I do :)

Amir made my day last night when he let me hit him. Of course, he only let me punched him in the arm and I was sitting down, so there wasn't much force involved. But the feeling of being able to hit somebody was priceless. If only every single one of my friends is more understanding like Amir *grin* He was even going to let me punch him in the face, but I didn't think that was appropriate, and I didn't want to hurt my knuckles. Imagine if I did, I'd be in heaven right now, hehe.

We talked about going to ISNA last night, and if it does turn into a road trip, I'd be very happy.

Met up with Serap in Harvard Sq earlier today. Her friend, Nahine(?) and her took me with them to run some errands and we somehow ended up having tea at Cafe Angora on Commonwealth Ave. I had originally feared that I wouldn't know what to say to her, but surprisingly we connected pretty well. Talked about a lot of things. Serap has been engaged since Valentine's Day this year and is getting married in August. Her fiancee is a musician and he teaches about Turkish music in colleges around Boston.

I had planned to go check out some stores on Mass Ave, but since I didn't get back from meeting Serap till 6, that didn't happen. Went to Mario's to see if I could get a haircut, but they were busy. I was so determined to get my hair cut, that I actually came home, took the bike and went to find hair salon on Main St. There were 4 or 5 of them, but they were all closed. And so my hair is still safely intact. Hopefully tomorrow I'll still be as determined as I was today, I tend to chicken out from getting haircuts.

Went to see Shrek 2 with Anand, Chris, Dewi and Diah. The movie was insanely hilarious. I went without any expectations, and was very much entertained. I haven't seen Anand for a very long time, it was nice to see him again. Chris is Diah's friend, visiting from Japan, where he currently works. I first met him last September in Dewi's car, and during the ride we just hit it off. He's such a pleasant guy, you can't help but like him.

Today's the day my family officially move to the new house. Tonight my parents are inviting the whole extended family and some friends for a small get together. Solat hajat naik rumah baru and to see my sister off to college. I wish I can be home right now.

After I have settled into bed last night, I realized something was missing - Huzzie! Mbak Pi took him into her room earlier and kept him there :(

I spent an hour on the phone with my mom, and another hour later with my brothers and sisters. It felt good. Costed me less than $2 too, even better. I'm all happy now.

While talking to Diah tonight, I realized that a lot of my hand gestures involve pointing towards the person I'm talking to with my index finger. That is extremely rude of me. I should fix that.

In the past two days, I somehow managed to carry out conversations with two of the people I usually find extremely hard to talk to (due to my lack of social skill, of course, not that there's anything wrong with them).

I updated and reorganized the pictures for my family, but who's to stop anyone else from looking at them. So please, feel free to venture.

Twice this week I got shouted at by people in passing cars in an unfriendly manner. I had none of that last semester. Guess the hot weather is getting to everybody, huh? (<--- That's me trying to be sarcastic)

Got gome from work and found a really nice surprise waiting for me from Huma. Thank you, luv.

Why does everything gotta be a love thing?
Think of all the sorrows that love brings.
Is it where you really wanna go?
No, I really don't think so.

K-Otic

Went to see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban last night. I was really looking forward to see the movie. It helped me visualize things from the book better. All in all, it was a pretty good movie. My only disappointment is the movie somewhat deviates from the story in the book. It can't be help, I know, but still... *sigh*

Called home yesterday. Everyone's home right now but myself and my brother in MMU. One of my cousins is coming to the States this August. Somehow, I can't help being excited. Not that I'll be able to see her, but it'll be nice to know that there's a kin close by.

Huma left Boston on Thursday, and earlier today she left for a 3-week trip to Pakistan. I haven't really felt her absence, although we left MU three weeks ago. I don't know why. Somehow it feels like it's just another school break, we're not gonna see each other for a couple of months, but she'll be back. Only this time she's not coming back to the same school. Or the same house.

Huma's the single one person I spent most time with at Tufts in the past 2 years. She's among the closest friends I have, one of the few people who know my darkest secrets and in the short time we have known each other, she has learn to read me like a page. Which is really creepy at times. No matter how unaffected I feel now, I know I am going to miss her. And when that happens, I'm not quite sure I will know how to deal with it.

Amir and Usman came over for brunch today at Windsor. Spent a good two hours in the kitchen making the food, and the eating session took only half an hour. Had an ICC meeting afterwards, at which Mbak Pi sat in to observe. That was a bit hilarious, having meeting with just 4 people (5 if you count Mbak Pi). Then, because the day was so nice, we went out for a drive. Stopped by at Circuit City because Diah wanted to check out digital cameras. At which she didn't get anything, but I left with a bag for my digital camera and batteries for my SLR. Went to Davis Sq. for smoothies and ice-cream. Then came home for a nap and a movie. What a nice day. And so much for my intention to study Calculus. I have an exam coming up, I better make sure the better part of the rest of my weekend is spent muddling over math problems.

Haven't called home for a while. Want to, but keep getting up late and only in time to get ready for class.

Taking calculus for the summer. Every Tuesday we have either a quiz or an exam. Kinda crazy, I hope I'll be able to do well. I can't afford anything else but an A on this one.

Have something I want to put up on this page, but what with class and work, haven't been able to work on it much. I'll try to do it over the weekend, although I wish I can get it done sooner.

The library is migrating to a whole new system, and everything is in complete chaos as of right now. They say it's going to be up and running tomorrow, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I hate saying goodbyes. Every time someone leaves, they take a tiny little piece of you with them, and you never really gain those pieces back. Most things get better with practice, but not this. It never gets easier. I hate the fact that my life is so full of these goodbyes. Getting to know people, showing the different sides of you to different people, caring for them, and then having to say goodbye and knowing that when you meet again, you will be different people who, most probably, don't know what to say to each other anymore. I don't believe I can truly stop caring about the people I have cared about, but I'm also not the kind of person who knows how to keep other people feel they are involved with her life. But if there is ever someone from the past who approaches me and says, "I need help" or "I need to talk", I will never turn the person away. I care for my friends and family more than I think they know. I can never tell these people how much I love them and how much I care, but I do. If I can spare every single one of them from any kind of pain and heartache, I would. I just can't utter the words, "I love you" or "I care about you".

Muz left today. I'm going to miss you, champ.