"Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal."

There was a time when I had to drive long way to reach my work and I used to enjoy that believe me...some times at work things caused me frustrations however...going to work and coming back was never a pain...it was infact heaven for me :)

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." ~ Robert Bault

I love driving and.... listening to music is another passion of mine ...:)..however here in California...its only 10 mints drive to work and believe me...the craving to drive more..doesnt stop at all...and since the rush hour doesnt allow me to take a long ride...I make complete utilization of weekends :)
In one of these weekends I had gone to San Francisco @ fisherman's wharf. It was a long long drive ...guys and it was hot sunny and busy..too!!!!

"Happiness is like a kiss...you must share it to enjoy it."

I didnt feel that I was on a trip..rather it was a feeling of going on vacation again :)....took lots of pictures...had a good lunch ....hmm yummy food...:) and yes the sea lions...it was amazing view near the sea...!!! The whole crowd was near the sea lions to watch them go crazy on that sunny day....topsy and turvy..!How different they are from the seal..!! You can see how that seagul watching them and getting J about it :)

"Look thy last on all things lovely, Every hour - let no night Seal thy sense in deathly slumber Till to delight Thou hast paid thy utmost blessing"

"I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky; and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by" ~ John Masefield
When I saw this boat in the sea...it felt as if its calling me :).....sometimes I think life is too short with so many passions ..to fulfill...I have to have them all...:) being a bit greedy :)

"Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion"

This bird make me feel so.....in the eternity of sky the bird flying so high... it tells me a lot and inspires me to.....start counting on my goals.....

"It is the passion that is in a kiss that gives to it its sweetness; it is the affection in a kiss that sanctifies it."

"The one advantage of playing with fire...is that no one ever gets singed. It is the people who don't know how to play with it who get burned up."

"If a person gives you his time, he can give you no more precious gift"

Today, am gonna talk about a gift that was given to me by my Canadian friend..in Toronto..:)!!!
It was a sure case where we know we are parting..for good...but to cherish our memories and promise to be in touch...we decided to meet at lunch...(and yes we are in touch via technology :)...)!!!
I always enjoyed my company with this friend of mine....as our interests, our general thoughts...our some of favs..from history too are so common...I sometimes wonder how it can be possible when we are from different places..different era's ;)....but the beauty of it is...we enjoy discussing everything...whether its work...buddha ( I got a new info from him which I never would have if he wouldnt have told me ..lol), its bikes...its sports...its songs...aah...and that reminds me of the gift... :) yes when I gifted him with a book on Indian Culture and heritage...he gave me this CD of 'Bif Naked' album...I had heard one of the songs..but dont remember where and it was stuck in my mind..until I listened to this one..!!!

"A hug is the perfect gift; one size fits all, and nobody minds if you exchange it."

One can enjoy the songs at the given link on the side bar 'Bif Naked', and as you explore knowing her it takes you more deeper as to know who she is..and how she became the number one sexier rock star...hey..that too from Canada ;)...isnt that makes one feel so proud..at least for me hehehe...its hillarious to know..how she didnt go to school but was going to a punck for music...:)! I usually dont like 'tatoos' but here I did liked the way she has explored.. hahaha..give a look!!!!

"The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up." ~ Mark Twain

All these days my schedule was so hectic with travelling, organizing, and being busy with project work...when I got a chance to sneak out with my music and long drives to San Francisco...it really made me feel that..'am alive'

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." ~ Mary Anne Radmacher

Thank you dear friend...for giving me such a nice gift...your time and the music...:)....yes how can I forget to thank for giving me all your wisdom ...which..I still long for ...:) keep filling...

"Intellectual passion drives out sensuality" ~ Leonardo da Vinci

Lately, things are getting so busy...with all my passions...whether its the project...or exploring the place ...riding my blue car ;)...yes it was fun on the highway...as I did enjoyed when I was in Canada...:) my car still gets that look...and smile...as its so cute and attractive with its metallic blue color.. ;)
oops!!! seems like I need to have many more posts just to dedicate on that one ...lol

"Love is a gift of one's inner most soul to another so both can be whole."

"No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance."

Gosh!!! travelling and travelling...!!! Did any astrolger said that I will be only travelling this year hahahaha...! Yes friends ...I have been travelling back and forth from US to Canada...and am pretty sure by now..even the US customs officials will be friendly with my face ..lol ! or may be they start wondering what am I doing with so many trips...could give them some suspicious look-outs too isnt it ?? :D

"Suspicions which may be unjust need not be stated" ~ Abraham Lincoln

Well...guess what...when I went to Toronto it was raining...though windy and cold...and I was like asking mother nature...that she really know what I like the most hahaah but too bad that I couldnt get wet in the rain...as it was too cold. But I did take my flu-shot ...just in case..!!
'Prevention is better than cure' ;)

This time when I went to Toronto...besides my move...I went to all my fav. places...as I dont know after how long I will be back there.. :). Meanwhile...I have to tell about this Lebaniese restaurant in Mississauga 'Alaadin'..you get good wraps but believe me you will never find such a wonderful selections and quality of Juice and Milkshakes...anywhere else other than this place. Its like a 1 litre glass which has all the dry fruits and the real fruits in it..a very healthy drink. I remember I used to often hang-out at this place with friends...even if you dont feel like eating you can just go for this juice and believe me it was like a two course meal :). One thing of this place was so famous they had only one female waitress and the guys used to make her work like a donkey...I always felt bad for her...as the guys used to be in the 'Hukkah' section (yes..if anyone wants to try the authentic hukkah's they can just step into the smoking zone and you have all the luxury of a Nawaab...:) but hey...no dance or mujra ok hahaha!!) and the service was always slow...but I always tipped her as I felt she is been illtreated. But still at the end of the day the gal lets us go with a great smile..a million $$ worth I must say!!!

"Authentic values are those by which a life can be lived, which can form a people that produces great deeds and thoughts" ~ Allan Bloom

This pic above really makes me feel like am in Egypt. But this time I saw lot of change...here lot of youngsters like from Lebanon and Egypt and others come here to play pool table and then hang-out in the hukkah sections. And guess what??? they have more gals as waitress that too...well trained...;)

"We must beware of needless innovations, especially when guided by logic" ~ Winston Churchill

Toronto is like my home and hence it was a mix of emotions when I was leaving the airport....but then...I will be always visiting here whenever I want ;) thats the hope and happiness it leaves me with :)!!!!

"We live by admiration, hope and love" ~ William Wordsworth

"Dedication is not what others expect of you, it is what you can give to others."

"Dawn" - yes thats the name my dad gave me even before I was born...:) that thought itself makes me so special everyday and every moment...!!!!
"The dawn is not distant, nor is the night starless; love is eternal." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I have been always treated special...and believe me am so lucky that I still get that treatment ...not only from my parents but my friends all over the world...:D
"My night has become a sunny dawn because of you" ~ Ibn Abbad
(This is for each friend of mine...)

Today is my birthday and its always been celebrated among friends and my parents...though I miss my parents on this day as ....I am not that often celebrating my b'days with them....but I do get there cards and phone wishes in advance through out till the b'day :)

"Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained" ~ C.S. Lewis

My friends...I have a special place for them :) very near and dear and close to my heart :) ..!!! The feeling itself gives me so much pleasure and confidence and a feeling of being loved...a feeling of... people, there to care for me ...worry for me...:) guys, its a big thing believe me...I am just blessed and I always pray to God ...you have always given me enough...all I pray is just keep them with me always :)...too greedy isnt it >? :)

This picture always reminds me of my birth moment..:)...when my dad already decided for a name thinking it has to be a gal ;) and where my mom too anxious to know it is a gal :) its a emotional...uncertain....yet optimistic...:D yes...thats what this pic of dawn above speaks to me :)...

"Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." ~ Emily Dickinson

I want to dedicate my today's post on my birthday for my loving friends all across the world.

"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come." ~ Rabindranath Tagore

oh ! btw..."Happy Birthday To Me" .. ;)

"All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much."
;) Cheers!!!! 

"Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough."

The festive times were up whether its diwali or eid...for me it was a quick travel time...yes friends I had taken a quick flight to Vancouver ..a 2 1/2 hrs flight and my return was same evening back to California...!!!

"Remember where you have been and know where you are going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way." ~ Nikita Koloff

When I boarded the plane...I was just thinking about the security checking and it just brought back all the flash-back as when I used to travel to US to Canada or vice-versa...it was just taking your bag and going across the border...no questions asked..no papers stamped. In those days I used to wonder when I used to hear the stories of India-Pakistan...and I used to dream ever this can happen in those borders....a hope...a dream ...but it was just a dream...as the one that didnt had any restrictions ...due to whatever happened in past...that freedom is lost.

"There are two types of people - those who come into a room and say, "Well, here I am," and those who come into a room and say, "Ah, there you are."

haha this quote always makes me laugh as..this quote I literally see...rather than reading it :)...so I am a visual person.Well...my flight was nice & calm as I was trying to sleep and when I landed Vancouver...gosh believe me...it was a great relief...coming home :)

"He who would travel happily must travel light."

I wish I could explain this to the Canadian Customs Officer hehehe...he was arguing with me that if I travel to US to my family still I carry clothes hahaha..I laughed...and I said..Sir, am traveling back this evening itself...& believe me..he was a bit zapped and asked me what do I do for living hahahaha boy ..I can never forget his face. He was a very nice guy..with great respect he wished me 'good luck'.

"Let your memory be your travel bag." -- Alexander Solzhenitsyn

I had to kill the time till my flight back to California which was 5.40 and it was only 10.15 a.m. :)

"Reading, to most people, means an ashamed way of killing time disguised under a dignified name" ;)

I had taken this book with me of Donald Trump ~ The Art Of The Deal, ( I am sure people would know him at least if they see 'The Apprentice' - a great show on Project Management).I will not discuss about the book here...:) but would like to share something that I liked what he says and I believe in that too...thats why it strikes me so well :)

"Listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that you're generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you don't make." ~

So true...believe me guys...some of his experiences that he has shared..really gives a worthy tips to all !!! :)I was so much enjoying this book until to see that its time to go...!!! Everyone gets scarred when its flight to US...I really donno why? Either its the security ...or the questions that they Customs & Immigration Officers ask...but believe me..they are human like us and they are very nice and respectful...at least thats what I have found so far...!!!

There was no line-up so I straight went to the officer and he was such a pleasant guy with a beautiful smile on his..face..I can still remember him (not disclosing the name), but yes I have met some of serious..non-smiling but hey...they joke too :) and they never smile even then when you are smiling hehehee...isnt that a comedy :)

"If crime fighters fight crime, and fire fighters fight fire, then what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that to us, do they?" ~ a humor quote by George Carlin

I forgot to mention, I was flying by Alaska airlines...guys believe me the service is awesome...people are so good...I just was in love with the whole customer service concept. I met this Flight Attendant ~ Keith, a very nice looking...with a smile always on his face and very generous and friendly with people..the whole flight he kept us entertaining...he had very short hair..and typical Mullah (priest in Masjid) type of beard...no mostache..but still he looked so handsome..that beard suited him so well that many times he doesnt suit to the right people who actually have to grow for there religious reasons.
I want to mention about Keith, as I didnt know how my 2 1/2 hrs flight came to an end..until his last conversation....about ... that in front of my seat there was a celebrity who was flying with us...a hockey player...gosh!!!!!!!! I was freaking out...am a hockey player and a sports fan...was like..what??? and you are telling us now.........:)

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go" ~ humor quote by Oscar Wilde

Through out the flight Alaska airline gave the feeling of one family on a trip :) It was awesome coming back to California..as I felt am coming back home again :)

"A traveler without observation is a bird without wings."

While at the end I had a fine dine at 'Passage to India' ...thats how I celebrated my Diwali & Eid :) I was thinking...wow going to one country from another that too in one day :)...but it gave me a lot opportunity to see, meet and talk to people...& know them and the world!!!

"Traveling tends to magnify all human emotions." — Peter Hoeg

"Don't tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have traveled." — Mohammed

Think after reading this quote....

"Hitler didn't travel. Stalin didn't travel. Saddam Hussein never traveled. They didn't want to have their orthodoxy challenged." — Howard Gardner

aah! a happy ending to yet waiting for another journey ;)

"When you plan a journey from your mind into mine, remember to allow for the time difference" ;) 

"The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it."

Its Festival time...and believe me...there is not a singal sign of it..around...!! May be people have gone through so many natural calamities that...people have stopped responding to smallest happiness also...well thats what I saw here in the valley...or else everyone is busy working ... lol

"Share our similarities, celebrate our differences"

But when the news that I heard in India..it made me think how this festive moments will be handled by people...as this was something so scarry....but when I saw the pics in news paper and some of our friends blog...it made me smile though with my eyes filled with tears...

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate"

Well what I did ...it was as usual day...all I did different was...I did sleep a bit more ;)...yes I had a good sound sleep and got up a bit late...rushed to work with a warm coffee in hand...and the ended..but I did bring some gulab jamuns...its always good have sweets when we want to celebrate or when we feel happy :)

I remember as a kid ...when I used to laugh without control ...my dad used to say...dont laugh so much also that you start weeping hehehe...yeah how ironic..but then thats so true sometimes ...!!!

"When you jump for joy, beware that no one moves the ground from beneath your feet"