Estate Auction

Yesterday, I got a chance to live one of the scenes from Sex and the City (the movie)- an estate auction. By chance, I came across an advertisement for the event. The items belonged to a physician from a prominent family amidst a divorce. Apparently the family business is in scotch. The event was held at a beautiful location in Menlo Park.

Clearly the physician's family had good and expensive taste. There were imported rugs, paintings from Matisse and Chagall, porcelain vases from China, and jewelry dripping with diamonds. There were moments when I thought of them as someone's memories. I don't know anything about the family, but I couldn't help but wonder that each item had a story, a connection with its owner. That's the thing about things. Even though they are inanimate additions to your live, they carry weight and meaning in life. They are part of your history. Maybe that's why I have a difficult time parting with belongings.

I liked two items- a Tiffany style lamp and a globe. Luckily, I was able to get both of them after a short bid war.

Pakistan Day: You know you are a desi when...

Today, is the 64th Independence day of Pakistan so after some research, I compiled this list to catalogue  some common conventions and customs. 

• You use your saved grocery bags as trash bags. 
• You call every older person you’ve never met before "auntie" or “uncle”.

• You hid things from your parents (I called it my need-to-know rule).   
• You studied law, medicine or engineering at university
(I am an aberration to this rule). 
• You know no one who has studied music.
 
• You still came back home to live with your parents after you had finished college.

• You have friends that got married at the age of 18 (Not 18, but 19. I should be worried).
• You like meat well done.

• You secure your baggage with a rope (Only during trips to and from Pakistan). 
• You tie a piece of cloth to your suitcase's handle to easily differentiate your luggage. 
• You walk out of customs with your trolley at the airport and you see a large group of your family who have come to pick you up (on trips to Pakistan). 
• You go back to your parents’/my country and people treat you like a member of the royal family. 
• You take off your shoes before entering a family friends/relatives' house. You take off your shoes before stepping foot in your living room.
• Your parents call your friends “Beta”.  
• Your parents worry what other people will think if you’re not going to be a doctor/ engineer/lawyer.
• You have a pile of shoes blocking the front door. 
• Your parents tells you to change the channel when something dirty comes on t.v. as if you have no idea what is going on.  
• You know how an Indian film will end even before it’s started (but you still watch it). 
• You’re related to a doctor. 
• At weddings the cameraman only ever "cameras" you when you’re eating. 
• Your parents force you to listen to old Indian/Ghazal songs. For me, it was Rafi songs and I still enjoy listening to them. 
• You own a gold chain with your name/initial engraved on it. 
• You find condiments packets from fast food chains in your kitchen drawer.
• The smoke detector goes off whenever your are cooking dinner (in college, but I think that was a testament to my cooking skills).
• You starts spelling your name to the operator like A as in Apple, B as in boy, T as in train ...well you get the idea.
• You bring over the counter medicines like Iodex and Vicks from Pakistan. 
• You take at least 4 weeks vacation to Pakistan. 
• You try to get by using coupons that have already expired. 
• Your mother swears she never wanted to marry your father.
• You arrive one hour late to a party and it's normal.
• You are standing next to the two largest suitcases at the airport.
• Your parents talk for an hour at the front door when leaving someone's house.Then they are invited back in to sit and drink more tea, and then going through the same routine all over again.
• You notice that whenever you go to another desi's house, your parents always talk about work, politics and business.
• Every few months your parents say they want to move back to Pakistan. 
• You hate to waste food.
• You don't own any real Tupperware -- only a cupboard full of used, but carefully rinsed, margarine tubs, takeout containers, and jam jars.
• You carry a stash of your own food whenever you travel. 
• You live with your parents and you are 30 years old. 
• You don't use measuring cups. 
• Your parents use a clothes line even with a working dryer.
• You still prefer driving Toyota and Honda cars.

My Veruca Salt Yearnings

I was a tomboy as a child and most of my teenage life. I took no interest in brand names, labels, or designers. Most of my clothes were from Gap or hand-me downs and I didn't mind at all.  Then came the Hilton sisters with their purses and my fashion sense changed practically overnight. I wasn't their fan, but they did possess enough attraction that influenced me and peaked my interest in labels. I didn't splurge on anything ridiculous, but I did become aware of important names in the fashion world :) Eleven years later I still hold certain items in "reverence":

1. A pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes (blame Sarah Jessica Parker for this).

2. An expensive bag (fulfilled my wish with a Louis Vuitton & Coach bag).

3. Chanel No. 05 perfume

4. A piece of jewelry from Tiffanys (got this onyx bracelet for my 25th b-day). 

My favorite aww"est" moments from the royal wedding

Okay, so it has been a few days since Kate and William's wedding, but I am still ever so obsessed with the event. I missed part of the actual live event due to the imposing power of my REM cycle, but thanks to syndicated coverage on CNN and BBC, I was able to watch the whole event.  Here is a list of my favorite moments from the event accompanied by photos along with my ratings.

•  "You look beautiful" 

As Kate met William at the altar, he spoke the words every woman wants to hear from the man she is about to marry. Look at Prince Harry. Hilarious!

• THE DRESS!

I absolutely love Kate's dress, created by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. She looked glorious. 

• What
  
  

  • 
    

    Harry Told William

As Kate walked slowly down the aisle, Will gazed stoically ahead, avoiding the urge to sneak a glimpse. Prince Harry, best man peered backward at his sister-in-law, informing his brother: "Right, she's here now." Flashing a grin, he added, "Wait till you see her." 

• Happy Couple

When Kate and William  came out of Westminster Abbey and sat in their carriage, Kate leaned over to William and said, "you look happy." William immediately responded with a question, "Are you happy?" and she replied "yes." 

• THE KISS!

Both of them. 

• The Wedding Vows

They both looked so poised and elegant. Their vows were heartfelt and loving. Plus I loved those accents.  

Other noted events:

• Kate's walk down the aisle
• Kate and her father sitting in the car waving to the crowd outside while making their way to Westminster Abbey

Congrats Will and Kate!

Royal Wedding

So Prince William and Kate Middleton are getting married on April 29th, 2011. I wasn't alive during Prince Charles and Lady Diana's nuptials so I definitely do not want to miss this royal wedding. While the royal family of England is busy with their wedding plans, I have thought of things to do to celebrate the wedding too- English style.

1. Buy scones and cakes from Satura bakery.
2. Set the alarm clock for 2:45 a.m. on Friday.
3. Make tea (preferably earl grey or Tetley)
4. Turn to CNN for the wedding coverage.
5. Enjoy "high tea" while watching the wedding services take place.

Here is the wedding schedule:
(London Time)

10:30 am: Prince William and Kate Middleton travel to the service. She will travel by car – starting either at Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace or Clarence House – along The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and Parliament Square.

11:00 am: Wedding service at Westminster Abbey, whose capacity is 2,200. The Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev Dr John Hall, will conduct the service but the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, will marry the couple. The Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres, will then give an address.

12:00 pm: The married couple will travel in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace, crossing Parliament Square before going along Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade and The Mall.

12:30 pm: The Queen will give a reception at Buckingham Palace for the newlyweds and a selection of several hundred guests from the congregation.

6:00 pm: The Prince of Wales will give a private dinner at the palace for the couple, their close friends and family followed by dancing.

Japan Earthquake

          A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean nearby Northeastern Japan at 2:46pm on March 11 causing damage with blackouts, fire and tsunami. The new threat to the area is the nuclear leak that is causing radiation among the residents. More than 10,000 people have been reported missing and the number is rising. 


         What is even more alarming and scary to learn is that this massive earthquake shifted the balance of the planet. According to an article I read online "Japan has actually moved the island closer to the United States and shifted the planet's axis. The 9.0 magnitude quake (the fourth-largest recorded since 1900) was caused when the Pacific tectonic plate dove under the North American plate, which shifted Eastern Japan towards North America by about 13 feet. The quake also shifted the earth's axis by 6.5 inches, shortened the day by 1.6 microseconds, and sank Japan downward by about two feet. As Japan's eastern coastline sunk, the tsunami's waves rolled in.
After seeing the pictures and videos online one can only think about how this sudden devastation can change your entire life and certainly puts things in perspective. It makes you feel grateful for what you have. My heart goes out to those affected.

I Heart Television

Today, I decided that I will make a list of television shows that I  enjoyed as a child (the ones I remember at least). This will help me retain some good memories from my childhood when I used to watch these shows with my cousins, brother, and sometimes myself. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a particular favorite of ours. I loved Michelangelo! During our many games of make-believe I would be assigned the role of April (since I was the only girl among my cousins), but I fought to be Michelangelo.  Here it goes...
(in no particular order)

Cartoons

• The Adventures of Popeye 
• Alvin and the Chipmunks
• Denver the Last Dinosaur 
• The New Scooby Doo Mysteries 
• Care Bears
• Captain Planet
• Flintstones  
• Gumby 
• Heathcliff 
• The Incredible Hulk 
• The Jetsons 
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 
• Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
• Smurfs 
• Thundercats 
• Tom and Jerry
• Darkwing Duck
• Rugrats
• Maya the bee
• Tiny Toon Adventures 
• Loony Toons 
• Magic School Bus
• Bobby's World 
• Animaniacs 
• The Simpsons 
• X-Men
• The Land before Time 
• Sailor Moon 
• Pepper Ann
• Eureka's Castle 
• Yogi Bear
• Gargoyles
• Tex Avery Stuff
• Pokemon (Ali got me into this!) 
• Power Rangers (another show Ali and I bonded over)
• Duck Tales 

Regular Programs

• Sesame Street
• Mr. Roger's Neighborhood
• Sweet Valley High School
• Baby Sitters' Club
• Goosebumps
• Wishbone
• Clarissa Explains it All
• Blossom 
• Saved by the Bell

Remember Nickelodeon Jr face!