4t and 4teen both have a thing for cell phones. 4teen can’t live without it and 4t can’t get rid of it.
A few days ago, the article “Gym Etiquette” caught my attention in a local newspaper. I use the gym continuously, but was never aware of any required etiquette. Therefore, I panicked that I may be doing something wrong and started reading to educate myself to act more civilized for the next time that I am in a public place.
Here are highlights of what I read:
Clean up the machine that you were using after you are done exercising.
Be considerate of other people and minimize your exercise time to accommodate everyone, during the busy hours.
Do not talk loudly on your cell phone in the exercise area.
Please trash your empty water bottle and papers after you are done.
I am confused and believe that something should be fundamentally wrong! Since then, I have started paying more attention to my surroundings and I see similar instructions posted at other places like metro stations as well. I keep wondering whom exactly are they sending these messages to?
Then again, I have an elegant single honk of a ride mate on the metro who loves to share his previous evening outings on his cell phone every morning at 7am. And guess what, he always rides on the same cart that I do! He loves to disclose every detail of his love life aloud, except for the X-rated parts where he tries to whisper, and we (all other people on the cart) can still hear. He loves details and never leaves anything out. Sometimes the conversation is so interesting that I miss my stop. He has a good taste too, I have tried a couple of restaurants and wines that he has talked about and shopped at a store that he was recommending to his friend!!
Enough diversion! I think these educational articles are targeting my hot ride mate who is so busy talking on the phone that have no time to read anything, forget about etiquette and behavioral education. The only people who read it are people like me who are already considerate, neat who are constantly striving to better themselves. The authors should start looking for other ways to communicate with people than traditional writing; otherwise they will be out of writing soon!!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Thanksgiving in August
4t and 4teen had an interesting discussion. 4t believes that the 4teen should be grateful for the privileged life that they have provided for 4teen, and 4teen believes that 4t should be thankful that 4teen is a good 4teen and is present in 4t’s life.
The truth of the matter is that 4t (me) is thankful for the presence of the 4teens in my life. After all, many of the first things that I have done in my life were with them: My first football game, tubing, ice cream sandwich breakfast, barf cleaning, broken head, silly movies, Iming .…
Because of them I have seen places that I would have never gone under normal circumstances and noticed things that were stranger to my eyes. Because of them, my house is fuller with all kinds of people, loud different music and laughter. Holidays are being celebrated in a new tradition and the word enjoyment has found various meanings. Because of them, I have befriended many whom I did not have anything in common and ended up becoming good friends.
Because of the 4teens, I have reached deep into my soul and have truly understood the pain and sorrow, as well as pride and joy that I have caused my parents and this makes me feel closer to them and identify with them. The scary part is that I never knew that one day I will be repeating the same words that my parents told me when I was a 4teen.
I think there is retribution in life after all!!
I am growing with my children as I grew with my parents when I was a child, and later with society as I was exploring my individuality. Who I am now, is also connected to them as the circle of life is being completed. I never knew that I had it in me to be selfless and put someone else ahead of myself, or could cry deeply when someone else is in pain. I did not know how committed I was to my ideas and morals, as my beliefs and convictions are being tested all the time.
And finally, I am grateful for my 4teens for whom I have become after being their mother. If they did not want so much, I would have not pursued my higher education to get a better job to earn more money so that I can help provide for the wants. Because of their wishes, I have become more creative so that whatever I can not buy with money, I can obtain by other means. Because of their requests, I have become, resourceful, understanding and capable, always pushing myself an inch further and I feel ten feet taller.
The truth of the matter is that 4t (me) is thankful for the presence of the 4teens in my life. After all, many of the first things that I have done in my life were with them: My first football game, tubing, ice cream sandwich breakfast, barf cleaning, broken head, silly movies, Iming .…
Because of them I have seen places that I would have never gone under normal circumstances and noticed things that were stranger to my eyes. Because of them, my house is fuller with all kinds of people, loud different music and laughter. Holidays are being celebrated in a new tradition and the word enjoyment has found various meanings. Because of them, I have befriended many whom I did not have anything in common and ended up becoming good friends.
Because of the 4teens, I have reached deep into my soul and have truly understood the pain and sorrow, as well as pride and joy that I have caused my parents and this makes me feel closer to them and identify with them. The scary part is that I never knew that one day I will be repeating the same words that my parents told me when I was a 4teen.
I think there is retribution in life after all!!
I am growing with my children as I grew with my parents when I was a child, and later with society as I was exploring my individuality. Who I am now, is also connected to them as the circle of life is being completed. I never knew that I had it in me to be selfless and put someone else ahead of myself, or could cry deeply when someone else is in pain. I did not know how committed I was to my ideas and morals, as my beliefs and convictions are being tested all the time.
And finally, I am grateful for my 4teens for whom I have become after being their mother. If they did not want so much, I would have not pursued my higher education to get a better job to earn more money so that I can help provide for the wants. Because of their wishes, I have become more creative so that whatever I can not buy with money, I can obtain by other means. Because of their requests, I have become, resourceful, understanding and capable, always pushing myself an inch further and I feel ten feet taller.
Monday, August 14, 2006
This is Colenues
I truly tried to post this picture with my original story, but somehow my IT knowledge was inadequate. Here is the picture for those who want to do their gardens or want to try the myth. Please share your experience!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
The myth of Colenues
4tplus and the 4teen both like to blog! The 4teen is hiding feelings and words from the 4t, and the 4t is revealing thoughts and feelings to 4teen.
This true story started when my sister went to a birthday party of a 55 year old relative who dates a divorced woman 20 years his junior a few weeks ago. He has recently bought her a house, a Tiffany diamond ring, a BMW SUV, and of course, pays for the upkeep of everything including the woman. On top of all these fortunate events, this woman has recently received an additional $100 K from her ex husband due to a lawsuit over their nasty divorce on top of the alimony and all other stuff. My sister said that her house was drenched in a special plant and that she had secretly confided in my sister that all of this has happened to her due to the vigor of this plant and that she swears by its power. My sister did not know the name of the plant, but she described it as well as she could and urged me to go get some for my house.
My delightful sister researched the power of this plant further and informed the always skeptical me, that our second cousin from my father’s half brother aunt from the neighbor side, who declared bankruptcy a couple of years ago has built a mansion next to the bay with a docking port for his boat in a most upscale area. His 5 acre garden looks like heaven on earth and is photographed in a couple of magazines and guess what, most of the foliage is the plant in discussion.
Full of hope, faith and conviction, I went to a garden center and explained the plant to the vendor and asked for his help to locate it. Based on my sister’s description, we thought that we had identified the correct plant which came in various colors. The vendor, who by now was my buddy and knew the reason of my purchase, advised me not to mess with luck and fate, and to buy whatever color available in the store. 4t plus + + dollars later, I came home with almost a cart full of this foliage and planted them in my yard and house and started waiting optimistically.
Present….Whom am I kidding? This plant could not even get me a promotion that I was hoping for with only a couple of thousand dollars raise, forget about mansions, Tiffanies and SUV cars!
I even thought about divorce and getting some fortune out of that, but with my luck, I will be ending paying alimony, forget about getting money from my husband!!
I could find a sugar daddy after the divorce to provide for me, but I wonder if I did not want to do it the first time before I was married and younger, how can I do it the second time around while I am 4t+?
I could open a business, live lavishly and take loans and pay myself big salaries and bonuses and not pay the debts and the creditors. I could expense my house and car payments to the company and then declare bankruptcy. I could then lay low for a while and rise back build me a mansion and find a lot of rich friends and publicity. I could, can’t I?
As I see it, the only person who financially benefited from this plant ordeal is the vendor in the garden center. He went home with a decent amount of cash, my cash, and I ended up with a bunch of foliage and a false hope that kept me sanguine for a while.
However, I have to admit, that my garden looks mighty good! My family and I enjoy long conversations over tea and coffee sitting on the patio that is decorated with these plants. And when I wake up every morning, almost well rested, my eyes open up to the plant that has attracted some new species of birds to our humble garden and cheerful colors to our cozy home. It makes me appreciate the simple things in life. Of course I can always appreciate a Rolex watch too, but it seems that this one has to wait for a while! A long while.
This true story started when my sister went to a birthday party of a 55 year old relative who dates a divorced woman 20 years his junior a few weeks ago. He has recently bought her a house, a Tiffany diamond ring, a BMW SUV, and of course, pays for the upkeep of everything including the woman. On top of all these fortunate events, this woman has recently received an additional $100 K from her ex husband due to a lawsuit over their nasty divorce on top of the alimony and all other stuff. My sister said that her house was drenched in a special plant and that she had secretly confided in my sister that all of this has happened to her due to the vigor of this plant and that she swears by its power. My sister did not know the name of the plant, but she described it as well as she could and urged me to go get some for my house.
My delightful sister researched the power of this plant further and informed the always skeptical me, that our second cousin from my father’s half brother aunt from the neighbor side, who declared bankruptcy a couple of years ago has built a mansion next to the bay with a docking port for his boat in a most upscale area. His 5 acre garden looks like heaven on earth and is photographed in a couple of magazines and guess what, most of the foliage is the plant in discussion.
Full of hope, faith and conviction, I went to a garden center and explained the plant to the vendor and asked for his help to locate it. Based on my sister’s description, we thought that we had identified the correct plant which came in various colors. The vendor, who by now was my buddy and knew the reason of my purchase, advised me not to mess with luck and fate, and to buy whatever color available in the store. 4t plus + + dollars later, I came home with almost a cart full of this foliage and planted them in my yard and house and started waiting optimistically.
Present….Whom am I kidding? This plant could not even get me a promotion that I was hoping for with only a couple of thousand dollars raise, forget about mansions, Tiffanies and SUV cars!
I even thought about divorce and getting some fortune out of that, but with my luck, I will be ending paying alimony, forget about getting money from my husband!!
I could find a sugar daddy after the divorce to provide for me, but I wonder if I did not want to do it the first time before I was married and younger, how can I do it the second time around while I am 4t+?
I could open a business, live lavishly and take loans and pay myself big salaries and bonuses and not pay the debts and the creditors. I could expense my house and car payments to the company and then declare bankruptcy. I could then lay low for a while and rise back build me a mansion and find a lot of rich friends and publicity. I could, can’t I?
As I see it, the only person who financially benefited from this plant ordeal is the vendor in the garden center. He went home with a decent amount of cash, my cash, and I ended up with a bunch of foliage and a false hope that kept me sanguine for a while.
However, I have to admit, that my garden looks mighty good! My family and I enjoy long conversations over tea and coffee sitting on the patio that is decorated with these plants. And when I wake up every morning, almost well rested, my eyes open up to the plant that has attracted some new species of birds to our humble garden and cheerful colors to our cozy home. It makes me appreciate the simple things in life. Of course I can always appreciate a Rolex watch too, but it seems that this one has to wait for a while! A long while.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
$$$$
4t and 4teen are always awed by celebrities, however for different reasons.
Those of us who live in USA were privileged to hear about Mel Gibson’s arrest that made daily headlines and news across the country, despite the various wars, typhoons, global warming, Congo and more domestic and international news.
For those who do not know, last week, Mr. Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol; however, this was not the reason of the infamous broadcasts. He made headlines, because he made some anti-Semitic remarks to the arresting officer and that is why the media created a circus with this piece of news.
He has apologized for his comment and has blamed it on alcohol, but the truth of the matter is that he has to apologize for feeling that way, not for saying it. He can mask his anti-Semitism remarks, but he can not mask his beliefs. He can hate Jews as much as he wants, but can not blame his inadequacies, alcoholism or any other problem that he has on them. But the way I see it, this is not about Jews or Gentiles, it is about $$$$.
He has an ulterior motive. Do you remember his movie about Christ? Do you recall the controversy around that? All he had to say was that his movie was not made to blame to Jews for the death of Jesus; and the media did the publicity for him for free. He cashed big bucks on that movie without spending much on advertising.
Mr. Gibson is a shrewd businessman and he is doing it again. He is using the Jews AGAIN to promote his upcoming movies. The irony of the matter is that he dislikes Jews, but he has no problem using them to get free attention and publicity.
Those of us who live in USA were privileged to hear about Mel Gibson’s arrest that made daily headlines and news across the country, despite the various wars, typhoons, global warming, Congo and more domestic and international news.
For those who do not know, last week, Mr. Gibson was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol; however, this was not the reason of the infamous broadcasts. He made headlines, because he made some anti-Semitic remarks to the arresting officer and that is why the media created a circus with this piece of news.
He has apologized for his comment and has blamed it on alcohol, but the truth of the matter is that he has to apologize for feeling that way, not for saying it. He can mask his anti-Semitism remarks, but he can not mask his beliefs. He can hate Jews as much as he wants, but can not blame his inadequacies, alcoholism or any other problem that he has on them. But the way I see it, this is not about Jews or Gentiles, it is about $$$$.
He has an ulterior motive. Do you remember his movie about Christ? Do you recall the controversy around that? All he had to say was that his movie was not made to blame to Jews for the death of Jesus; and the media did the publicity for him for free. He cashed big bucks on that movie without spending much on advertising.
Mr. Gibson is a shrewd businessman and he is doing it again. He is using the Jews AGAIN to promote his upcoming movies. The irony of the matter is that he dislikes Jews, but he has no problem using them to get free attention and publicity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)