“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

“I love a hand that meets my own with a grasp that causes some sensation.”

In a working environment, as much as comfort, tools and other amenities are required for one to do his/her job, so is something called ‘respect’

“He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.” ~ Persian Proverb

I believe if a person who has some element of self-respect will definitely won’t do a charity also without any respect for him/her

“Never take a person's dignity: it is worth everything to them, and nothing to you.” ~ Frank Barron

A person whether he/she is eligible for a certain kind of work or is over qualified for the job both have the right to deserve the respect, as without respect I think no saint will try to remain as saint unless it is our MK Gandhi :D

“You should respect each other and refrain from disputes; you should not, like water and oil, repel each other, but should, like milk and water, mingle together.” ~ Buddha
A incidence took place today and for which I felt that the person who is well educated and over qualified for the kind of job he/she is doing; tries to bring in some ideas and suggestions as what can improve the quality of work and service and his supposedly boss with a kind of ignorance (that’s what I felt) shouts at him saying what he needs to do to improve his task! At that I felt that person is a fool even to give any ideas to such people who don’t respect others and there ideas/suggestions!
The boss is not worth of any role I felt – neither manage his people nor his department

“In the end we are all separate: our stories, no matter how similar, come to a fork and diverge. We are drawn to each other because of our similarities, but it is our differences we must learn to respect.”

If it was me I would never work for such people who don’t respect there team members
At least I am proud of my self-respect, education and valuable experience

“I'm not concerned with your liking or disliking me... All I ask is that you respect me as a human being.” ~ Jackie Robinson

I hate injustice happening to anyone and this is something I strongly oppose!
Friends speak up for your rights as its only you who can show them what you deserve!

“Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can't love and respect yourself - no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants you to be different.” ~ Stacey Charter

“Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift.”

Its been a long weekend due to Thanks Giving in US. I had an opportunity to be with some friends and at the same be host for some of my friends!

“A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.”

Mean while I had a chance to visit Half Moon Bay which comes on the way to Santa Cruz and the pictures will speak more on the nature’s painting!

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful.” ~ Alice Walker
“If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher” ;)
“Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God.” ~ George Washington Carver



I loved the sunset very much along with the greenery, waves on the shores and the slight reddish sky with tinch of orange and blue!

“I've noticed that being with you, I smile more often, I anger a little less quickly, the sun shines a little brighter, and life is so much sweeter. For being with you takes me to a different place: a place called love.”

“If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you've made me smile, the entire evening sky would be in the palm of my hand.”

Yesterday was a usual day…I knew I am going to attend the program ‘Kaifi Aur Main’ ~ a program/drama on poetries written by Kaifi Azmi (A great poet and a true country man) delivery through Kaifi Azmi’s wife Shaukat Azmi (actress and a true party woman). The diary written by Shaukat Azmi was read by her daughter Shabana Azmi and the poetry was recited by, well known poet and one of my favorite Javed Akhtar Sahab (Shabana Azmi’s husband)

“Sweet the coming on / Of grateful evening mild; then silent night / With this her solemn bird and this fair moon, / And these the gems of heaven, her starry train.”

The presentation was awesome as Shabana reading her mom’s diary with the expression the mother wrote how she fall in love with Kaifi Azmi and the momentary poems that were written by Kaifi Azmi for his beloved Shaukat Azmi was read by Javed Akhtar and to add the cherry on the cream – Jaswinder Singh ~ yes the same friend of mine about whom I had mentioned in my blog ~ he sang some beautiful nazms (poetry) written by Kaifi Azmi himself and believe me I could never find him so good if I wouldn’t have attended this program!
What we hear him on my radio blog, I felt the initial him and now his voice has grown more powerful with the feel of pain as he sings those songs ~ it was terrific! At time when Shabana recited her mom’s feelings and when Javed Akhtar read his verse on Kaifi Azmi as ‘Aisa ek aadmi hua karta tha , kaisa hua karta tha wohh aadmi’ (There used to be a guy , and how this guy used to be) tears rolled out of my eyes and to add to it Jaswinder’s voice~ and that moment I felt how emotional one can get through words and prose and the recitation…but to feel that one has to feel the pain and I guess they all have gone through in there life to reach at this level of achievement

“Talents are best nurtured in solitude, but character is best formed in the stormy billows of the world”

As Javed Akhtar is my favorite, I bought one of his book ‘Quiver’ ~ it’s a book with his introduction and his poetry which is dedicated to his two kids – Zoya and Farhaan and guess what he wrote ~ and for (my name) :D with his autograph!
I had a chance to talk to him and I realized mostly he was signing everyone’s book but wasn’t really looking at there face…but I stopped him from doing that ;)
I introduced myself to him and said am a great fan of him and he straight looked into my eyes and gave that glimpse of smile…which I always loved it even when he received his awards :D! While he was signing I told him how crazy I am that I had come to meet him in Mumbai and he was not in town in fact he had gone to London and he said how long you have been here and then he said next time when you come do come and meet me :D
Boy! What else I want….he is such a talented guy…he asked my name again and again and said yes next time when you come we will meet :D

“Every human has four endowments- self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom... The power to choose, to respond, to change.”

I am so much hooked on to it that I am reading his book since I left the show :D
But this doesn’t ends here…I went to see my friend Jaswinder and guess what this was my first in person meeting with my net friend :D…memories are always good to cherish isn’t it?

“The best things in life come in threes, like friends, dreams, and memories.”
They are still in US performing in Phoenix, LA, Washington D.C. and New York, if you have an opportunity to attend and there is also a good cause behind attending this as they are supporting the charity organization in India. The schedules can be seen from link on the right hand side of my blog as a link.

“The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service”

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

As usual...since I heard of James Bond's movie and the related controversies for the new Blonde Bond..:) the tinch of anxiousness grew to watch this movie :D
So far...I have always seen Bond's movie on the day its released ....this time there were other things that kept me engaged but hey...its not too late...:D....Today I had a chance to watchi Bond ...that too the Blonde Bond :D!
I had seen Daniel Craig's (Blonde Bond) interview on NBC, and I kind a liked him but I was more curious to see him in and as James Bond :D...and friends...let me tell you - He is HOT ;)

There are many new things about this Bond and good things ! He is like a sprinster and yes he is very active, robust and fast!

But one thing in the beginning of this movie there is a terrific chase of a Uganda guy (I found him super hero ;) and yes that's how the Blonde Bond gets the intro..)
This makes me believe there will be one day when the Bond will be someone from South Africa too...boy they have the terrific nack of it ;)

If you love action movies ...you must see this movie its not bad...but yes I missed Q as he used to be one of the most integral and important part in James Bond movies

“Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one.”

I like the Blonde Bond - James Bond ~ shaken but not stirred ;)

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand.

Today am going to talk about relationship and the fast paced life!
It seems like today I got an opportunity to relax back and give a glance to the past
And I was wondering how things were in our parents time…or even when we were kids

"Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save"
I remember how my Dad, used to take us to city for shopping, watching new movie in theater and then dinning out and always without forgetting my ice-cream :D…yes I always remember how my dad, used to whisper about my ice-cream order to the waiter with a wink to me so that mom doesn’t know whats going on :D…and by the time the waiter brings the order, my mom used to give a look…as if why special for her :D

“Love lasts when the relationship comes first.”
Yes, all this reminds me how family tie-ups were there and am sure some of the ladies such as my mom would agree that Dad used to spend time with family if not going any where but at least at home by watching movie or cooking something special…or even just by listening to music.

"The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time"

I have so many such sweet memories and I wonder now days what happened to those tie-ups? Today people don’t have time to spend with the loved ones…forget about going to places!
No wonder why so many misunderstandings take place in relations and distance is built among them!

"They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself"
Is it life has become so fast or is it the need of one’s has changed? I wonder and pity…
Because by the time they run after other things and turn back probably they might have gone far from there beloved ones and then crying or repenting doesn’t make any sense!

Come out of the circle of time
And into the circle of love.

I wonder and keep wondering…why cant those days be back…is it that difficult. When I ask some of them, they say life is fast and one has to catch up ….but catch up what???
I have read stories where soldiers used to be in the battle field for months and yet there mind were with there family, just coz there werent any means where they could be with the family…!
I guess sometimes it’s the value how much you care for your family and the loved ones..!

"Present your family and friends with their eulogies now - they won't be able to hear how much you love them and appreciate them from inside the coffin."

My message is... spend as much time with your loved ones and don’t wait for the next time…as it may not come ever!!!!

"Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey.
It reminds us to cherish each moment, because it will never come again.
What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived."

“For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.”

Friends...since my childhood, my birthday has always been a big celebration! I guess my parents did celebrated it in grand and the routine went on...years went by but my celebration I remember used to start a month before the actual date :) and I was surprised this year...I was reminded about my birthday (which is like a shock to me as my birthday comes as the falls end and winter begins so you can imagine ...lol)...when I received a friend sent me a gift and on the same day I got my birthday card from my parents....this year is a unique one I must say :D

“It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is resurrection”

And I owe a lot to all my near and dear ones....for wishing me best wishes it started more than a week ago and today it started early morning 6.15 a.m. :)
I find myself very lucky to have such loving people around me to love and bless me for all the good things in this world

I am happy and content!!! I love you all my dear ones ~ Thank you is so small try to get into the depth of it for my sake ;)

“The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” ~ Eric Hoffer