Today I Am

I’ve been meaning to address this publicly for a while now but even more so in the past week.

I usually write when i’m down - it’s easier, you produce more content without sounding like an utter narcissist. Therefore, more people are willing to read and agree with you.  

Today I am frustrated. But I am also thankful and grateful. So there you go, it won’t be completely totally depressing post.

2016: Chapter 1

29 take #4 

If i learned anything about myself in the past 30+ years, it's if and when i feel like doing something, i should do it otherwise that want, need and desire withers away and dies a horrible unspoken death.

This morning i woke up and decided to make a cup of coffee and write, granted i had to type which gives me zero to no pleasure at all, but how else would i be able to share with you lovely creatures of curiosity what's going on in my brain.

there's something about writing that allows me to express better, could be the smudges of wet ink or pencil, which i find unfathomably sexy. Or it could be the fact that part of you goes into the paper as your letters curve one by one to make a little dance on a flat surface making it come alive.

Bah humbug! i digress! I sit here at my light brown dining table surrounded by everything our cozy apartment has to offer, 2 fluffy cats, color coordinated furniture, a view of green and blue, and it all feels like a watermark background or a clipping from "Better Homes" magazine. For some reason the need to play music is not hovering over my head, strange.

2 minute microwave baked eggs in a mug

Who would've guessed it? Give a girl some ingredients, a kitchen under her disposal and a loooooooooooot of free time on her hand and this happens.

it's the second easiest thing i've ever had to do or even wanted to do in my life.

I used 2 eggs, lactose free milk (because life), salt, pepper, herbs and a microwave.

Would've loved to have a strip or 2 of Bacon next to this, but oh well. I ditched the toast because it's so fluffy and filling and carbs would've ruined that i feel.

How to:

Coat your mug with some non stick, fat free cooking spray. Add the eggs and a bit of milk and beat. Add your salt, pepper, herbs and anything your heart desires.

Microwave on HIGH for a minute; scramble and microwave again for another minute.

For the cheese lovers, i would assume some shredded cheese on top would be divine (or so i hear) 

Sahtain and bon appétit dahhlings xx

#ItsWorthMore

One of the very few first items i bought when i moved to Dubai was a digital camera.

I wanted to save the moment, to take as many pictures as i can, to post & share with friends and family. As time went by i noticed i was using my phone more and more, simply because it was with me all the time, and sharability factor played a huge part.

My pretty little camera sat in a drawer on its own, with your odd cables and broken chargers and honestly i think someone out there can and will make better use of it.

So as part of the #ItsWorthMore than you think challenge, I'm giving up my camera to whomever is willing to give up something as special and useful.

What is “It’s Worth More Than You Think”?

dubizzle are highlighting the importance of pre-loved items and how they may be extremely useful, nay, even vital to others. And how something that maybe dear to us, but we haven't been using, can actually change someone's life.

The campaign kicked off with this film

Nothing will make my heart happier than my camera helping someone take pictures of their life and send it back home to their family, or newlyweds take picture of their honeymoon, or someone's daughter discovers her love photography.

Follow the hashtag on Twitter #ItsWorthMore

Join the challenge and put up something of yours that you're no longer using and you may get this awesome camera of mine ^_^ <3

bored? facebook.com/dubizzle

very bored? twitter.com/dubizzle

jobless? dbzl.it/JobsOnLinkedIn

Movie Review: August: Osage County

If you've ever seen a movie about a dysfunctional family, throw these thoughts out the door because the Westons are here.

They will tackle each and every issue you may ever consider; drug abuse, alcoholism, betrayal and infidelity..to mention a few.

Walking into the cinema hall i was prepared to watch 'A' class outstanding acting, the kind that can and will floor you. Meryl Streep is exquisite, her portrayal of raw human emotions as well as her seamless transitions between extremes is breath taking for someone who watches movies often for the acting.

That time I tried Hypoxi

Through out the years I've tried many diets, work-outs, i even popped pills to lose weight. I'm not the fittest person out there and at some point in your life your metabolism just...stops

I heard about Hypoxi and i read more about it, but at first i must admit i was skeptical, they claimed it was fast and effortless, sounded more like magic than anything.

Hypoxi is a weight loss method that uses a special vacuum and pressure process that breaks down the fat on your problem areas, working on your cellulite and blood circulation.

To my delight Machka Beauty and Body Design on Wasl road/Dubai have the machines and offer new comers a free first trial session.

Movie Review: Philomena

It's been a while since I've had a movie move me the way this piece of art has.

The past couple of hours has set a serge of emotions and feels rushing through me as thoughts left a somber and tearful bittersweet after taste.

Dame Judy Dench left me heartbroken and breathless, her Oscar worthy performance was absolutely flawless.

The screen play that was written by Steve Coogan himself is rightfully rewarded. The film is based on the book (that i will soon be getting) The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith. The story is of a mother's 50 year-old search for her long lost son, its trials and tribulations.

The journey is as emotional if not more than what one would expect, however i was not prepared to question the vitality of forgiveness in order to secure closure.

THE HAPPIEST 5K RUN

Over 8500 color runners including myself ran the happiest 5k of our lives on Dec 14th late last year. It was nothing short than EPIC! 

The Color Run presented by Activelife was a complete success, it was held at Dubai Autodrome in the UAE! 

Now when I first heard about it and saw all the posts on social media I wasn't sure I could do it. Bear in mind I’m not the fittest or the most physically active person you've met, but hey, nothing a good cause, great friends, and loud music couldn't fix!

My friends and I drove up to the Autodrome early on Saturday morning, geared up with our fabulous attire and coffee (we needed it!). When we got there it was already packed and an overall joyful spirit filled the atmosphere. The music started pumping and excitement levels were rising.

We were off! We passed by a different color station every 1k, and nothing could prepare us for what was next, powder bomb after powder bomb were thrown at us, coats of color started piling up. Yellow, Red, pink and blue stations made sure that not one inch was left uncovered. 

We concluded the 5k (barely!) in a little bit over an hour and joined the thousands of runners in an afternoon concert and delights. We filled our tummies with some yummies and loads of water and patted each other on the back for a job well done! That is one day I will never forget.

The next day, my friends and I went through the pictures and argued over how long it took us to wash the color off. I kid you not; it took a good 4 hours of scrubbing to wash away the awesome! 

I suppose the more rewarding part of it all, other than being able to finish the 5k without injuries is the fact that we were able to contribute back to society. All of the ticket entries and the money people were raising on the side were donated to 'Operation Smile' a great cause indeed. 

Here’s to an even more colorful 2014

Selfless good deeds & what of them

In a conversation i was having earlier i found myself saying the following "There is no such thing as a selfless good deed, everything we do is selfish and that is not a negative thing."

As the conversation got deeper and as we explored where this thought came from, i found that i had so many questions and points, that were not necessarily backing up my point but also contradicting it. So i rushed back home to write..

Movie Review: World War Z

When i originally went to the movies to watch World War Z last night, i went with no expectations and no preconceived ideas on what it was, i read a couple of tweets and knew it was a Brad Pitt movie.

It was sold out in 2 and 3D all over Dubai, but we managed to get 3 tickets at Grand Cinemaplex at Wafi which surprisingly has a great big spacious theaters, big screens, very comfortable and reclining seats and a London Dairy shop. What more can a movie goer ask for?

Movie Review: Lincoln

If you're looking for a history lesson, that's what you will get.

Story-line:

Lincoln takes us to the time when the Civil War was in full throttle in 1865 America and its reelected president is torn between bringing the war to an end or rethinking his Emancipation Proclamation which even though freed most slaves to fight his war but had not made slavery illegal. Only a constitutional amendment would rid America of its racism.

Not an easy task, not a pleasant decision, the struggle is very evident through out the movie.

too many opinions, too many negotiations, be it political (in the congress) or family (his wife and son) it was INTENSE.

By the end of it all you just want to scream at the screen..EFFIN FINALLY!?!?!??!

The Acting:

Story aside, the acting was plausible, as expected

Daniel Day-Lewis did a fabulous job, he was a great Lincoln. However, personally i think he was out shined by Tommy Lee Jones. that man is a legend.
Sally Field as always brought perfection to the screen to say the least.

The one that stole the show for me was James Spader perfectly named Bilbo ^_^

I didn't see much of Spielburg 's influence in the film, nothing spectacular.

over all a good saturday afternoon movie. NOT worth watching at the cinema.

6/10

B points 

Movie Review: Zero Dark Thirty

There's little to be said about American CIA/FBI movies that you don't already know.

Last week i watched Zero Dark Thirty (yes i know this is overdue)..

If you haven't, i won't tell you not to, the main character "Maya" is very raw & dull..but you end up rooting for her

And the progression of the movie is so slow, that at some point you start thinking "What am i doing with my life? Why am i here?"

However, I will tell you this, you will probably be very curious as to how true the events  & how real these characters are..

Story Line:

The story is of CIA chick Maya and her first experience in prisoner interrogation following the Al Qaeda attacks against the U.S. on Sep 11th and her pursuit in capturing 'OBL' Osama Bin Laden

She is not a big fan of the whole process but quickly learns that it is the only way. She adopts the entire sole responsibility of capturing OBL by catching and interrogating the closest Al-Qaeda members and curriers to him. Finally in 2011, with many (slow) events and leads she finally *believes* she cracked it, they send off the Navy SEALS (The Canaries) to kill or capture Bin Laden. But is he who she says or where she says he is?

Dun Dun Duuuunnn

Some parts of the movie was shot in Jordan and India - it was very veryyyy VERY obvious. The overuse of Arabic was so annoying that i lost complete interest in the movie. They tried to sell the idea that people in Pakistan speak Arabic? really? REALLY? you had all that money but couldn't afford to research this?

So many little details that have escaped logic or common sense actually ruined the entire experience for me.

examples:

- Watching events that took place in 2005 on a computer screen on Google Chrome! (Google Chrome launched in 2008)

- When chasing the messenger down in the streets of 'Pakistan' you can see an Indian flag)

- CIA agent & Kuwaiti guy, in a bar, with girls..dancing and drinking (Alcohol is forbidden and there are no bars or clubs in Kuwait)
- and finally, my personal favorite was when the Jordanian inside guy (the doctor) is approaching the camp for super meeting, he is in a white car, driving through the desert, dramatically zig zaging through all the security checks, and driving super fast, but when the car pulls up to the building, it is maroon.. -_- yes..maroon 

At the end of the day if you have time to spare, watch it..if not you're not missing much 

& it's not a cinema movie (meaning you can watch it home)

4/10

B Points

Smoke

* i wrote this a good 10 years ago - now i get to type it*

The grey smoke rose over my head, like a dark cloud
fogging my view.

The little white tube rolling between my fingers, like a living
thing.

Burning & crackling to fulfill  my need.

It's not easy to B

I can't remember if i read this somewhere, or i saw it in a movie, but it has never made more sense..

'it's not easy making friends and the older you get the harder it becomes'

Not for the fact that people become more judgemental, nor the fact that they become harder to please and embrace, but for the simple fact that we know what we want and what we don't want.
As is the way with anything you like or dislike, you simply choose to expose yourself to something or disregard and move on.

That Particular Time

'Yet another reflectional post, adapted to Alanis Morissett - That Particular Time , this may or not be my story. Give it a read & let me know.

Like everyone with a sound mind, I have my very own, well devised foundations, they were rocked when you entered. So bluntly, so inexcusably, so breathtakingly strong.

As a firm believer of trial & error – learn from your mistakes; my tried and true way to deal was to vanish. I simply walked away; I didn't need to or want to, consciously cause myself hurt or pain.

Dear Love

Dear love
You have woken in me so many things I thought dead

Dear love
You have breathed life back in to the soul I thought buried

Dear love
You have healed many wounds in the flesh I thought scarred

Late Night Rambles 1

*This had no tittle, had no date..but I can safely say it was early 2000's*

The sun is shinning..yes..But i'm shrugging an inner coldness, that can only stress the winter of my own discontent ..It makes my skin flaky & goosebumps invade my body..

A feeling of scary loneliness..i'm not alone but that never meant i'm not lonely..Sitting here, i have lots to say & i know few who'd listen, & i understand why they'd want me to talk..The question is, would i?

A Working list of Things I Will Never Be Told

So i literally 'Stumbled-upon' this poem "A Working List of Things I Will Never Tell You" by Jon Sands & i was compelled to write a reply, read his poem first so you have a better grasp of why/what my response had to come alive.

“A Working list of Things I Will Never Be Told”

That One Person

If you’re lucky enough to have met that one person that raises the bar for you, be wise enough to hang on to them with your teeth, they're a keeper.

Now I say lucky because sometimes the nature of said relationship makes you wonder about life, yourself, your future, where you see yourself. It can have the ability to make you want to be the best person you can, in EVERYTHING you do & at every moment. Which is ALWAYS a good thing.

And that person is a keeper for the mere simple reason that they effortlessly push you to become a better person. They change you not because they want to, but because you want it bad enough that even once (& if) it’s all over you will never regret it nor will you feel foreign to yourself. You will just be a refined version of you.

This person may come as frequent as seasons, as often as a blue moon, on a bus you fail to miss, in the corner of a bookshop, in the most boring lecture ever, while filling out an application, it can even be the person in front of you in a cue.

Point is, it is unexpected, it’s not always noticeable, & it's unapologetic. Be open & accepting, allow yourself to love & be loved, to give & receive. You owe to yourself, you owe to the person.

There is no reason to block things out, there's no reason to stop a natural flow, & whether your stream ends up merging into the river of life, or if it goes back in to the ground it will still be full of valuable resources it's a win/win situation my friend.

Theater of the Absurd

To err is human but how long does the error go on before it becomes inhumane?
How many lives must fade, how many mothers must shed their tears in vain
We cry our martyrs, we cry our heroes, but do we actually feel pain

My mother tells me stories, my father tells me tales of a time much better
My grandmother swears of a time when blood ran thicker
A time when light from the candles of hope never did flicker

I’m ashamed to live now, I’m frustrated beyond reason
I can’t call it anything less than treason
Tainted are the hands of souls sold to the demon

You have failed us, you have gravely erred
To err is human or so I’ve heard
But you dear SIRS are mere puppets in this theater of the absurd