Memory Markers

I wrote this diary entry a few years ago, and have revised it as time progressed. These events are not particularly life altering, but since I found them important enough to remember and mentioned them in conversations, I decided to pen them down. The items on the list are related to travels, schooling and/or career accomplishments. The entry is in a list format so I deemed it as a perfect opportunity to include it on the blog. I hope to continue adding to it.  In no particular chronological order:

• witnessed a solar eclipse 
• went skiing in NY and actually learned how to ski a few years ago (finally) in Tahoe
• went canoeing at Bayshore Park (canoe capsized; cell phone destroyed)
• went on a hot air balloon ride in Arizona 
• went rock climbing once (and it will remain that way) 
• slept under the stars and watched shooting stars flash across the sky
• watched a bear rummage through the storeroom where food was being stored (at camp) 
• swam with dolphins twice in Mexico
• graduated from one of the world's famous universities
• lived in Berkeley for 11/2 years and witnessed many of its infamous "ridiculousness"
• have educated 85 4th graders in 4 years (not counting summer school)
• rode on camels in Pakistan
• Took a ride in a rickshaw many times when I lived in Pakistan
• saw a sunset in Mexico from a beach resort
• para sailed in Mexico
• sat on a banana boat in Mexico. Didn't fall. 
• jet skied in Mexico
• rode an ATV in Mexico
• saw the Grand Canyon 
• Took a road trip to Reno, Nevada
• gambled (a few quarters in slot machines) in Las Vegas and Atlantic City
• Attended dancing clubs
• Visiting the beautiful landscapes of Northern Pakistan. Learned where I am from from Pappa
• Been a bridesmaid at 2 of my friends' weddings
• went snorkeling in Mexico
• went horseback riding on the beach twice
• went white water rafting twice in the American River
• swam in Mono Lake
• stayed in Costa Rica for 35 days with a local family 
• wine tasting in Napa Valley/Tram ride
• took a gondola ride in Venice, Italy
• danced on top of a bar in Mexico and in a cage (my parents would not be proud of this one)
• auditioned for a part in a movie (didn't get it)
• went shooting at a shooting range
• was an audience member of The Oprah Show
• had a pillow fight with goose feathers flying all around me
• went to see a Broadway show, Wicked
• learned to believe in myself and finally stood up for myself at work
• canyoning in Costa Rica
• zip lined in Costa Rica
• watched the Arenal Volcano erupt
• held a toucan
• shook hands with a monkey, touched a frog and a crab in Costa Rica
• went to the Toubacon hot springs, sat under a waterfall and actually saw (just saw) a bar in the pool 
• went to see the turtle eggs hatch, but ended up spending 2 hours under the open sky with fireflies
• finally smoked my first joint in Puerto Viejo (didn't finish it)
• got a massage and scrub treatment in a resort spa in Arizona
• realized playing golf in Pakistan that it is a difficult sport
• visited a concentration camp
• saw part of the Berlin Wall
• was in a school play in Pakistan and actually spoke lines
• visited the Senate and the House of Representatives
• learned to play the flute 
• taught English in a foreign country
• had a vintage styled photo shoot with a professional photographer
• Met an ex-prime minister of Pakistan, General Pervaz Musharaff in a restaurant 
• rode a cable car in San Francisco on a beautiful summer day
• visited the Hearst Castle
• selected my first car without much thought and love it!
• learned to ride roller coasters with my eyes open

Lucid Dreams 2: Garden Party

So, the watercolor projects are being completed each day. My mom gave me the  picture book, Dew  Drops (which belongs to my lovely niece, Sameeha) with graphic pictures of flowers. I have been practicing my brush strokes and getting quite good at them. I trace each picture first and then transfer it onto watercolor paper and then paint.
This is quite a relaxing hobby. I am enjoying it so much that I even checked out books related to watercolors from the library. The techniques mentioned are quite advanced, hence I am skimming through them for ideas and occasional tips. Even the masters admit that watercolors is more of a challenging medium then oils and/or acrylics. I notice with each painting the task gets easier. Here are some of my latest creations:

Poppy Pop

Titillating Tulips and Morning Glory 

Lucid Dreams: Watercolors

In an attempt to fill my time with fun activities, I have decided to take up water coloring. Last night, I took my father to the nearest Micheal's store and bought myself paints and special water coloring sheets. Today, the morning was spent on a project I found through a website. The website was designed for beginner painters and broke down the process in steps. I was able to use my own color combinations since the colors mentioned were unavailable in my paint set.  I realized I definitely need to work on my technique so I enrolled myself in a drawing and watercolor class through Mountain View Adult Education.

I learned that the painting process is quite fun. I spent about 4-5 hours learning and finishing my first art piece. It is far from perfect and I can see my novice style clearly through the brush strokes, nonetheless, I am proud of it. I took photographs after completing each step.

 

Step1: Sketch ready to be painted

Step 2: Painting the sky

Step 3: Painting the sea

Step 4: Finished!

I

Wordless Wednesday: A Lazy Person's Version of the Road Not Taken

A Stroll in Whisman Station: Cherry Blossoms Galore

It has been a significant length of time since my last blog entry. Life has taken an unexpected turn. I have moved back home after my brief stay in "independence-ville" in Fremont. Blogging was a hobby I started last year and cherished it to a point that I want to engage in it again. Staying true to its original purpose of creating lists, I focus on some of my current favorite daily activities. So here goes:
1. Taking nightly walks with my parents.
2. Having absorbing, thus long conversations with them about anything and everything.
3. And any chance I get, going to my sister and brother-in-law's house and meeting my nieces, especially Sameeha.

With the intention of adding visual affluence to the entry, I took the liberty of taking pictures in an unceremoniously (maybe a little) brisk afternoon walk around Whisman Station.

Muir Beach, Chinatown, and Big Sur

This weekend, I herald in the end of summer and commenced the new school year with a few short trips. On Friday, I went to Muir Beach, a semi-private spot tucked away in the cliffs north of San Francisco. It was a little foggy, but not too cold to enjoy a book with your feet in the sand.

 On Saturday, I visited Chinatown.

On Sunday, my mom and I drove down Highway 1 to Big Sur area. Unfortunately, most of the ocean views were hindered by dense fog, but later in the afternoon we were able to see some of the beautiful landscape.

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.