“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

“May you have love that never ends, lots of money and lots of friends. Health be yours, whatever you do and may God send many blessings to you.”

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love

Yes, its holiday season's and I would like to wish all my near dear friends and family ~

"Season's Greetings To All"

As you can see the festive ocassion brings so many surprises and happiness and I love this time as it gives an opportunity to be with your friends and family to share those joyous moments and make them feel we are still there caring and loving you all :)

Before the ice is in the pools,
Before the skaters go,
Or any cheek at nightfall
Is tarnished by the snow,
Before the fields have finished,
Before the Christmas tree,
Wonder upon wonder
Will arrive to me! ~ Emily Dickinson

“It doesn't require a special day to express how much I Love You... if every ordinary day is more than special when I am with you.”

Many times in the midst of work and homely tie-ups people tend to forget that in getting successful in all these, they do have someone who is constantly supporting them and encouraging them to do so!
Its not that one doesn't think about them but its often the right time that we think of expressing it and the right time sometimes never shows up... :)
I dedicate this post for my loved ones :)

“It's easy to let life deteriorate into making a living instead of making a life. It's not the hours you put in, but what you out into the hours that count. Learn to express rather than impress. Expressing evokes a ''me too'' attitude while impressing evokes a ''so what'' attitude.” ~ Jim Rohn
I have seen often a tough person tends to cry for some simple reasons and people might think how weak they are or how come they cry when it’s a very simple thing than what something bitter can be described…but they tend to forget tears are a way of expression…where words don’t support or even reach near to the expression…!
We cry with those whom we love the most …this is I believe which doesn’t mean that the person is weak or can be taken advantage of :D

“Tears are words the heart can't express”

I remember a person who was a boxer and tough on everyone but when he used to see a kid crying the boxer used to cry even louder than the child … lol! It’s the love!!!
All I want to say is love whole heartedly express it and show it in your action but don’t think that is your weakness…as love makes you stronger than anyone else ;)

“Love cannot express the idea of music, while music may give an idea of love” ~ Louis-Hector Berlioz

“Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story”

It was a hectic and busy weekend –meeting and greeting friends was quite fun!
I had a chance in all this to watch the movie ‘Umrao Jaan’ the new one!
Though I have not seen the old one and neither I knew the story of ‘Umrao Jaan’, my only intention was to watch this movie for its story!

“If you've heard this story before, don't stop me, because I'd like to hear it again.” ~ Groucho Marx
Frankly speaking, even though I am a fan of Abhishek I don’t want to comment on the acting part of the duo as I felt they are not matured enough for this kind of role!

A time came where Ash was crying and am sure the audience is supposed to feel the pain and suffering and usually I get touched and carried away with the story but here – I said to myself :D Ash…your acting is not making me cry even or feel bad!

“Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself.” ~ John MacNaughton

But yes the story of Ameeran (Umrao Jaan), really was touchy! I felt had it been a guy would there be some effort done to search this kid who was taken away and sold in a brothel by couple of guys who were taking there revenge on the father of that kid!

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~ Maya Angelou
How the value of a girl-child is and/or was degraded makes me feel the pain! Even though the kid when she grows and gets an opportunity she comes searching for her lost family and identity and she doesn’t get any thing from the people who were alive – mother, brother or even the people of that village!

“You are not our protectors…If you were who would there be to protect us from?(Posed this conundrum to the male gender)” ~ Mary Edwards Walker

A question kept lingering in my mind…(may be coz am Papa’s daughter :D), had her father been there would he be taking her back? I guess my friends can add there thoughts to ponder here ;)

“Any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad”

I am sure my friends will agree that the old Umaro Jaan’s music is still young and melodious with Asha Bhosale’s voice but yet Javed Akhtar’s lyrics is awesome and the music makes sense as it goes along with the story! The songs I liked very much are
‘Ek toote huye dil ki awaz’ (voice of a broken heart), 'Main na mil sakoon jo tumse' (If am not able to meet you..) all in Alka Yagnik’s voice ;)

Can be heard here: http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/hindi_bollywood/s/movie_name.8651/

But no marks to the hero-heroines ;)

Anyone who has seen has a different opinion?

“People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense.”

The Thanksgiving long weekend was actually a treat for me as I also had an opportunity to visit the library which was after a long time!

Usually which ever book IAM looking, I never get those…either the book is gone out or its not available in that particular location…(why it has be to with me always ..LOL)

This time as usual I tried some and then got upset and was turning back when I saw this book lying on the shelf ~ “Amad’s War, Ahmad’s Peace” ; immediately I took a look at it and I just issued this for myself

“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.” ~ Winston Churchill

I came home and started reading and believe me I was so hooked on to this book that I got scolding from my friends too! But to everyone’s surprise…the craving was so much that one day I was feeling very uneasy at work and so came home early and guess what…I was able to finish this book :D and friends the sense of achievement is one thing but the learning and awareness about a whole Country people, the culture and thinking of Iraqi people. It’s so much similar to me and you!

“You know you've read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.” ~ Paul Sweeney

The author Michael Goldfarb ~ this is the first book of his that I am reading but I was so surprised that the author is writing a book through Ahmad. In fact it is a book of Ahmad, who had a very good life in Iraq one time in his childhood, like we all are having now and then how things changed as he matured in the regime of Saddam Hussein. But one thing I like about Ahmad is that he is so sure of his vision and thinking ( which comes all through his eagerness of studying and traveling places). Even the last moment he sticks to his thoughts and the betterment of Iraqi people!

“Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say?” ~ Kurt Vonnequt Jr.

A time came in the book where I thought ~ oh! So after Saddam was caught he might have got some position in the Government. The irony of this book is in the title itself ~ Ahmad’s War, Ahmad’s Peace: Surviving Under Saddam, Dying in the New Iraq

"I never think of the future - it comes soon enough" ~ Albert Einstein

This book really touched me as how much a guy struggles through out in life to see a dawn and in all this he has his love and passion towards a family, a beautiful girl and in all this he has his mission to educate his Iraqi people as education is the only thing that will bring democracy in his country and will make realize people that they are so far behind in everything from the World due to the self motives of there Saddam Hussein

"Laws alone can not secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population." ~ Albert Einstein

The best is that in Iraq what we think it’s a Muslim country and all that but this country has people who are Kurds, Sunni Arabs, Shi’a Arabs and even Christians :D
A lot of mention about there culture and the sayings conveys many things about the community but they all have same thinking such as We!

“Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.” ~ Steven Weinberg

Can you imagine, Ahmad’s kids were all educated and his daughters were not in scarf or burkha’s/Hijaab’s ! Ahmad, himself was a khurd didn’t believe in God until his old age and his wife Afrah who was an Arab and was very religious muslim but religion never came in between them neither in raising there kids ~ I think we all have such in the family where our one parent is religious and strict and principled and one parent is more practical and still nothing is imposed on us as what should we pick!

“Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble.” ~ Ralph Waldo

I can write on and on about this book and Ahmad but if you read only then you will realize how Iraqi people have suffered and continue to endure!

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." ~ Albert Einstein

This book also shows how the author and his hired translator (Ahmad) became such a close friends like one family, that he dedicated this book for Ahmad's Family

I guess by bringing this post I pay my tribute to Iraqi people for the sufferings and for people around the world who have been kept in dark!
Americans are understandably focused upon the loss of our own blood and treasure as the war in Iraq drags on. But this extraordinary work should remind us that it is the people of Iraq who suffered under Saddam and who continues to bear the brunt of the ongoing carnage

“The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.” ~ Bible