thinking out loud

I forgot to mention something from a few weeks ago that could have been developed further into a movie or a hollywood production. Ami and I decided to go to WalMart at 11:45pm. I had the bright notion that I wanted my veggie patties the next morning for breakfast and Ami wanted to buy grapes. So we got to WalMart and while were in the electrical department looking for a lightbulb, the power goes out in the whole store. How ironic!
There were backup lights that were on but they worked like a torchlight would in a dark place....they gave just enough light but we were in darkness. The associates were calling everyone to come to the front of the store and thankfully, it was not crowded that night. I did get a little scared though because for the full time we stood in the darkness, not one police officer was in the store. After almost 30 minutes of waiting for the electricity to come back, we decided that the safest thing for us was to leave the cart (with my veggie patties) and exit the store....just in case some wierdo decided to rob the store.
I really did not think that WalMart did not carry a complete backup lighting system but it was definitely something to see. Ami and I can always look back and talk about the time the power went out in WalMart.

Another bunch of events. Seems as if Pakistani coach was actually murdered and did not suffer a heart attack. What was a little bit off was the fact that the entire team wanted to leave Jamaica as soon as possible and I've been hearing from my pakistani boss from his translation of the indian news that there was match-fixing and a major gamble involved in the deciding game between Pakistan and Ireland. Something just does not add up. Enough to speculate on here.

Sri Lanka won the match against India. Really, to all my Indian friends, no hard feelings but the only reason why i favored Sri Lanka was because of Jayasurya. He's an awesome, awesome cricketer in my book! Not to mention, he played when Ranatunga was the captain of the team and they entertained on the field! I loved the way they played the game....almost like how the Brazilians play football. Then my team, the Windies played today and won, as expected. Well judging that the team they played against was Ireland. I guess they need to play against a more formidable team to really see how they will perform. Then again, Pakistan was a favorite according to our South Florida Sun-Sentinel. However, I consider the credibility of the Sun-Sentinel's news often enough to wonder. Most of the people following the game said the West Indies was depending on Lara to make the runs and for the team and yet, we hear names like Sarwan and Chanderpaul. My mom, being a very patriotic Guyanese, is immensely proud. She always liked the WI team because "they had a Guyanese (Chanders) on the team."
Oh, Furgie has become an avid follower of the game. she's never been interested in cricket but she's behind our home team and she's even learned the names of the players and a few of their stats. It's funny to hear her describe them though. She says things like, "They so little and cute!" We've been following the game online for the score by score report because none of us saw it fit to fork out $149 get the Dish package. We do however work with Indians and Pakistanis who do have live ICC coverage and more than ever, I am reaping the benefits of working there. I'm loving it! Now a part of my job involves turning on the tv and following the game closely to give my bosses live updates on the scores in case if they are not close to a TV....and I am not complaining. They call me and ask me to turn on the TV and watch the game then during the break, I have to call them and discuss the players, give my critique, and I keep them posted on the score. If something unexpected happens (like with Tendulkar being out for duck, I am supposed to call right away to tell them). You gotta love my job!

Cricket Fever

I think i have this! Seriously, until April 28th, I am hoping for the Windies to bring the victory home. Yesterday, my mom was going on about her Guyanese reps on the forefront of the game. She's always been a big one for Chanders. Furgie told our Pakistani boss to not bother and watch the game because Pakistan was going to lose and he got mad at her. Furgie never follows the game but amazingly, she knew who Sarwan was at the end of the match. I called every hour for the score because I was at work and I knew Windies had it when I heard that Pakistan was at 38/2.
While watching the opening ceremony, I heard David Rudder singing "Give Praise" and I remembered growing up in Trinidad. I felt homesick for the first time in a very long time. Maybe a trip to Trinbago is on the agenda. I missed the island feel....or maybe i'm just inching towards another vacation=0)
We had to hear all about how our team was depending fully on only Lara. I'm not sure how true that is but we shall see how the game unfolds. Lara is one of the most unpredictable players in the game and he likes to put on a good show. That much i know. I was so excited that I started convincing people who had no clue what the game was that they needed to watch it. I've read that India's team is the best on paper but the game is not played on paper and really, I hope the best team wins.....but at the same time, I'm cheering for the Windies!

Festivities, etc.

This morning, my mom came with a handful of baby powder in her hand and she went about the house pasting it on our faces saying "happy phagwa" and kissing us then asking us to do the same for her. So I played phagwa with my mom. It was her version of celebrating phagwa since no one had the chance to buy abeer or even the powder. It worked though. After my mom, nan and i were done playing in the house, my mom and I went outside where Vin was potting a little plant and I emptied baby powder all over his head, forcing him to take another shower in less than one hour. He did not expect it at all! Even with a little bottle of baby powder, we celebrated our Hindu new year. Believe me, we can improvise! Later on my mom made a whole bunch of fried foods---pholorie nah! (which my dad enjoyed immensely--he took his lunch break to come home and have it while it was still hot) and chutney to go along with it. The chutney was the best! It was really hot but i guess my mom put some sugar in it to make it less sour and that was all i needed to eat. Not that I like peppery stuff because it makes you eat more than usual. Just the same, this kept me eating until I had to remind myself that the pholorie was deep fried.

Later on, at work, I felt sad because my coworker's boyfriend left for Iraq and she was scheduled to work when his flight was supposed to take off. He came to see her on her lunch break--only a half hour--and when she came back she was crying and I just stood there for a while, looking at her and totally unsure of what to do. It was awkward. At first I tried telling her that he would come back safely and that it was going to be a short time but then I thought of myself and how I would react to someone giving me that same advice. I thought of how hard it is when I do not see Ami for a day and I decided to stop talking. I guess the last thing she wanted was to hear anyone say that he will be back because the point is that he was leaving and going into a war zone. I really wanted to say, "F*&k the A*&hole who put us into this 'war!'" This is different from just a regular trip. I mean, there are uncertainties everywhere, no matter what the situation is but sometimes I still wonder if this 'war' in Iraq is just. Finally, I hugged her and just let her cry until she was finished reasoning with her thoughts. I do not know how she did it but she made a quick comeback and together, we were able to close at 229% today. She is a strong girl and I guess all you can do in a situation like that is be positive and hope that some of the positivity transfers over to the other person. And at the end of the night, my coworker was able to smile again and look a little better even if she wasn't feeling a hundred percent better.

Oh, I've forgotten to mention..I have been getting recommendations from parents to other parents about getting their baby's ears pierced by me. The first time a parent came, i did not believe that i was the one who the other parent had described until the lady related what the parent told her about the location of the store. She said that the girl had long dark hair. I said well that must be my coworker. The lady was adamant that it was not my coworker and I was certain that it was not me until she got tired of beating around the bush and finally she said that the person who she was told about was Indian. Then I realized that it was me. Really, I do not think i am great at piercing but I like doing it a lot and if i like something, I will put all my attention into it. As a scientist, I get to practice my sterile techniques. I suppose that is what makes the difference though.

I've started reading a new book. I will blog on this in another post though. Actually, like some of my other friends, I've been doing a lot more reading and less blogging. however, I've begun to make notes on the margins of my book so I will dedicate my next blog to Russian Literature and my love for Fyodor Dostoevsky's novels.

Happy Holi!

To all my fellow Hindus, happy Holi/ Phagwa. Hope this new year brings much good fortune and happiness to you!
This time, i will not be able to take part in the festivities like I did last year. I have been a little bit busy with work and regrettably, I will not be at home for the fun part of it. I must say, of all our festivals, this is the best one for me. It is a festival where you feel the joy in the atmosphere. You just know it is a special day. Something like that.

Tonight, I saw what has to be the most hilarious movie i have seen in a long, long time. If you are looking for a good laugh, "Wild Hogs" is the movie to see. There is clean humor and nothing very offensive like in so-called comedies today, "Norbit" and "Borat," for example. John Travolta rocks even now! I guess he's one of my favorites and I didn't realize that until just now. I will watch any movie he acts in and I have watched "Grease" and "Saturday Night Fever" so many times that I have almost memorized the scenes and most of the dialogue. John Travolta has charisma....and he can still dance really well. There were some places in the movie tonight where you could see some hints of "Saturday Night Fever" and that very famous walk when the Beegees sang "Stayin' Alive." I even got Ami talking about actually sitting down to watch John Travolta do the famous dance in "Saturday Night Fever. " That's after I told him all about Danny Zuko in "Grease."
Without giving too much of the movie away, "Wild Hogs" is as you guessed it, is about the American Biker culture and about these four suburban, middle-aged guys who decide to ride cross country from Ohio to the Pacific. The movie is funny from beginning 'til end. Believe me, it makes you want to go out and buy a Harley and ride cross-country yourself!

I've gotten the cold again. Seems as if that happens too often now and this time, I've taken more medicine in two days than I've ever taken. At least the worst of it is gone now and I didn't let it prevent me from seeing a really good movie!