Friday, March 31, 2006

Ghosts of 9.11


It’s been a really odd week, the ghosts of September 11th have been making themselves known. Several days ago human remains victims of 9/11 were discovered near ground zero at the Deutsche Bank Building this is the second time this has happened. In January remains were found in the same building. The 41-story building is currently being deconstructed after being badly damaged in the attacks. Just the thought that these remains had been entombed in this building for four years broke my heart. Lord knows how many more will be found as they continue to work on the building.

I’d been working on a paper last night when I heard on the news that some 9/11 audio tapes were being released. As they began to play a portion of one of the tapes. I just had to leave the room, I just couldn’t hear it. I think I am having some type of delayed reaction thing when I heard about the remains being found I cried.

I resumed working on my paper today only to be stopped in my tracks when the evening news said that recordings of the of the emergency calls made by victims trapped in the twin towers on September 11 were released by city officials this morning. They then proceeded to play one of the recordings. Just like that no warning no "cover your ears girl Mia we're going to make you cry". I wasn't ready for it. Just like that the sound of the tapes filled the air making my living room seem so small.The dispatchers on the phone had no clue as to how serious the situation was, they were advising the callers to stay put that someone would call for them then at 9:59 the first tower collapsed.

I couldn’t listen to the tape anymore my eyes were stinging from the tears threatening to spill I left the living room and decided to check my email and there it was a letter from a Danish visitor to my blog. It seemed she had read my
Memories of 9/11 post and had been affected by it and wrote me a beautiful letter ending with "I still remember. I'll never forget." Thank you Kristine.

Labels: 9.11

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Posted by @ 7:56 PM
7 comment from:  Emory Mayne,  Aisha,  Mia,  Just Jane,  Mr. Khurram,  Mia,  sadiq,

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Of purses and heart attacks

Ever since I can recall my mom has been saying that I’m going to give her a heart attack. However yesterday I was certain I had finally done it, I swore I had managed to bring on that heart attack that’s been brewing for 23 yrs and in a 2- for-1 deal my Aunt Nora was getting one too.

I was standing in the dining room transferring my school books from my knapsack into my messenger bag when an idea popped into my head and I took yet another tentative step into the world of women. I had been thinking about some stuff I need for spring… you know along the lines of white sneakers, a new denim jacket…when it hit me…

Mia: Ma you know what? It’s about time I buy some bags. I’m going to head out to Canal next week and pick a few up.

Mom: Don’t you have enough book bags and messenger bags?

(without a doubt I am the Imelda Marcos of knapsacks and messenger bags.)

Mia: Na ma I want a purse.

Mom: What? Una cartera? A purse? Like in a woman’s purse?

Mia: Yeah like a Fendi, or a Gucci bag, well not the real thing because I’m not paying those ridiculous prices and I’m not Paris Hilton. I’ll head out to Canal and get those coco canal bags.

Mom: Are you serious you’re getting a real purse?!!!

Mia: Yea ma yesterday with all that running around from office to office in school stuff kept falling out of my knapsack every time I had to pull out a paper. I almost lost my lipstick like three times.

Mom: Lipstick? You own lipstick? Lipstick with color, not sheer lip gloss? Don’t play with my emotions Mia! Don’t tell me you got lipstick and then have it turn out to be Bonnie Bell sheer lip tint.

Mia: Ma it’s a real lipstick a nice mauve jammy. I picked it up on Saturday.

(I pulled out the lipstick that was in the front pocket of my messenger bag, twisting it up so she could see the color)


Mom: Lipstick and a purse…wow… the apocalypse is truly upon us. Oh God I feel dizzy, my chest hurts.


Mia:Ma look I brought a woman’s wallet.

I take out my new ladies wallet, turning it around to show her all the different compartments. I’ve always preferred using men’s billfolds because they are so flat and can be slipped in the pocket of my jeans or jacket when I am not carrying a knapsack

Mom: Wow! It’s a woman’s wallet! (laughing and holding her chest )Oh my God I can’t feel my arm. It’s the big one!!! Pass me the phone.

(I shook my head she was speed dialing my aunt Nora, I knew I was in for it now)

Mom: Hello my darling!

Nora: Hey my poopsie face, love of my life! Waddup home girl?

Mom: Nora! The baby has a tube of lipstick, a ladies wallet and is planning on buying some carteras (purse)!

Nora: Praise be to Allah! Why didn’t you warn me to sit down Mags? My knees feel weak! (imitating her favorite George Lopez routine )Oh oh my shest hurt and I can’t breef! Call 9-1-1!

Mia: You guys are so wrong. You know this right? So, so wrong.
(I continued to pack my stuff up as mom raised the volume on the speaker phone)

Nora: Awwww Mags our baby is growing up inshallah she’s becoming a woman. Where is my little baby girl who only yesterday was using my tubes of lipstick to draw clown faces on my brother-in-law.

Mia: It was yesterday.

Mom: Shhhh insolent child your titi and I are having a moment.

Nora: Mags stay on the line I’m gonna call The Woman to tell her this. She’s going to love it.

(Oh God, no, no, no they are not going to let this go. The Woman is the nickname my mom gave to aunt Nora’s mom my aunt Lila when I was a little kid and it has stuck to her like glue. Everyone calls aunt Lila The Woman.)
Lila: Hello?

Nora: Woman, Mags and Mia are on the other line.


Lila: Oh great I needed to talk to Mags about the wedding. Hey Mags, how are ya sweetie!

Mom: I am fine woman waddup with you chica?

Lila: Going crazy with this wedding but we’ll talk on that later I need your help …Hey my darling Mia how’s school baby?

Mia: Everything is great aunt Lila ma and Nora are messing with me. Tell them something.

Mom and Nora: ((in unison)) something.

Lila: What’s going on?

Nora: Woman! The baby just revealed she owns a tube of lipstick, a ladies wallet and wants to buy some purses.

(I have no idea why they insist on calling me “the baby” when I’m actually the oldest.)

Lila: Seriously?

Mom and Nora: Yes!

Lila: Don’t play games with me ladies. Mia does this mean I can get you to wear a dress and full make up for Joe’s wedding?

Mia: Makeup maybe. Hell no to the dress Mahmoud wants me to belly dance so I’m wearing pants, no heels.

Lila: You want me to take you shopping for bags honey?

Mia: No thank you I’m straight. I’m going to go to Canal Street next week.

Mom: She’s going to Canal shopping for purses, be still my foolish heart!

Nora: Oy I get so emotional. I think I may need a valium Mags this is just too much for me. Wait until Hassan calls me during lunch! His Arab ass is gonna faint.

Lila: Oh wait until we tell Joe and Rhonda! They are going to run to the mosque to announce it.

( my mother by this time is laughing so hard she’s turned a lovely shade of red. I’m laughing as well because in this house it’s hard not to laugh. Ma starts saying her chest hurts (shes recovering from a bad chest cold)… oh crap I finally managed to give her that heart attack ! She’s going to laugh herself to death and my dad is going to kill me when he comes home and finds out ma had a heart attack because of me. I can hear them laughing on the phone as well mom is making some joke I cant make out because she’s laughing so hard. )

Mia: You guys are so wrong….I gotta bounce... love you…

Mom: Awwwww baby (wiping tears away from her eyes and reaches out to hug me)

Nora: Aww my wittle Mia we tease you because we love you pookie lips…

Lila: Yes we do honey

Mia: Yeah yeah Shukran ladies..I’m outta here


It was time for me to leave for school and I left those crazy women plotting amongst themselves. Welcome to my life where even the smallest of things become comedic fodder for my family imcluding purses and heart attacks.

Labels: about me

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Posted by @ 3:41 PM
6 comment from:  Just Jane,  TotallyHappened,  Aisha,  Emory Mayne,  Mr. Khurram,  Mia,

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Six toed cat on Prozack

This story has had me cracking up since I heard it yesterday.
It seems there’s a crazy six toed cat by the name of Lewis out in Connecticut terrorizing his neighbors. He even kicked the local Avon Lady’s ass when she got out of her car. I guess he preferred Mary Kay Cosmetics.

The cat has spazzed out so much that he was served with a restraining order by the local cops. It was the first time such an action was taken against a cat in the state. The cat’s owner Ruth Cisero was also arrested, charged with failing to comply with the restraining order and reckless endangerment. Oh yeah and the Avon Lady is suing her as well. Wait, wait there's more! Dig this the cat is supposed to be on Prozack but because he refuses to take it he is now under house arrest. The neighbors hate Lewis so much he’s been egged a few times and sprayed with water hoses. "He looks like Felix the Cat and has six toes on each foot, each with a long claw," Janet Kettman, a neighbor said Monday. "They are formidable weapons." The cat’s packing weapons obviously a sign that he is gang affliated. They need to nip this in the bud and lock the crazy six toed cat up, he’s a bad seed . Pretty soon he’ll be forming a gang in the hood and roughing up the local poodles and extorting protection money.

Story Link:Crazy Cat Terrorizes Connecticut Town

Video Link:Cat Sentenced to House Arrest

Labels: news items

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Posted by @ 8:21 AM
6 comment from:  Mica,  christina/ohio,  Mr. Khurram,  Mia,  Emory Mayne,  Mia,

A meme of sight, smell and sound

Aisha invited her readers to take part in a meme of senses and memories. I invite you to do the same it was an interesting experience...
The smell of Cool Water cologne brings back the memory of my first kiss.

The sound of a double dutch rope hitting the pavement reminds me of afternoons spent playing in the school yard. As we got ready to jump into the action the playground would echo with the sounds of us singing, “A my name is Alice …” stopping only long enough to savor our coco ices or cherry piraguas.


The sight of Mr. Bear sitting on my book case makes me feel safe. Mr. Bear is a teeny tiny white teddy bear with a rattle in his tummy. He was given to me on the day I was born, placed on my incubator to watch over me. As a child he protected me from the monster living under my bed and his brother el cuco who lived in my closet. All I had to do was shake him and the rattle in his tummy would scare off anything that went bump in the night.


The sight of empty space in the NYC skyline : Once upon a time when I opened my bedroom window and looked towards the right I was able to see The World Trade Center. Now whenever I glance over that way and see the empty space it brings back memories of that day. Needless to say I try not to look in that direction too often.

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Posted by @ 12:39 AM
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Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Can do...

Canstruction® is a non-profit organization based in NYC committed to ending hunger. To bring attention to the problem of hunger they hold designing/building competitions all over the country. Competing teams, lead by architects and engineers, showcase their talents by designing giant sculptures made entirely out of canned foods. The exhibits take place in different cities and when the event is over all of the food used in the structures is donated to local food banks for distribution to pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, elderly and day care centers.

The following photos are from past exhibits...you wanna do your part to help? contact your local Red Cross/ food pantry and donate.

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Posted by @ 10:14 AM
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A shoe 

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Posted by @ 10:08 AM
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Spam (Look Ritardo!) 

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Posted by @ 10:08 AM
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Sphinx 

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Posted by @ 10:07 AM
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Sub 

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Taxi 

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Twister 

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Posted by @ 10:05 AM
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Toaster 

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Posted by @ 10:05 AM
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A New Yorkers best friend : Metrocard 

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Posted by @ 10:04 AM
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Lifesavers 

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Posted by @ 10:03 AM
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No dog in sight 

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Posted by @ 10:03 AM
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Etch-a-Sketch 

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Posted by @ 10:02 AM
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Rubber ducky I love you... 

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Posted by @ 10:02 AM
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Cube 

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Posted by @ 10:01 AM
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Crayons 

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Posted by @ 10:00 AM
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You call it corn we call it Maize 

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Bulb 

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Posted by @ 9:59 AM
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Blocks 

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Posted by @ 9:59 AM
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Blender 

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Posted by @ 9:58 AM
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