Manifest Destiny

I Tweet?!

2010-01-04T16:28:00.000-08:00

So I am now on Twitter and just noticed its actual usefulness. All Songs Considered posted a link to the new Vampire Weekend Album and in about 5 minutes there were a hundred other people linking to it.

Any way as I have left all other forms of Internet society (i.e. Facebook and Myspace) and if anyone want to see what I have to Tweet about you can follow me at Sapphirepal. I don't really know if what I just said made any sense.

Around

2008-03-27T15:38:00.000-07:00

Alive. Still. Eat, drink music.

Drought!

2007-12-09T18:36:00.000-08:00

Yeah it has been a while since I last posted, and yet there is very little difference in my life. So just scroll down the page to see what I have been up to. Though if you are bored with the nothingness on TV then check out the Wine Library TV widget. Its funny and informative so give it a look.

Other than that I will try and post more than once every three months. :-P

Treading Water

2007-09-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

Something needs to happen. I can't work at Best Buy anymore. It is killing me (hmmm... Deja Vu). It is that bad. When I am at work I just want to kill myself. I think its dealing with customers who are just getting dumber and dumber. Seriously if you don't know how to use it why are you buying it. Read the manual or something. The reason your TV is not turning on is because you need to hit the F'EN POWER BUTTON.

Well besides that I need to be back in school. I am going to take my GRE's (again) and GMATs soon and see then apply to schools like it is going out of style. Then take it from there. Also for this month I have started running though after two mornings of running I had to take today off. I also have sworn off sugar (lets see how long that lasts).

Blah.

Twice

2007-08-13T01:01:00.000-07:00

Hello,

How are all of you? It is weird to do this blog as I want to have this be like a diary but then I don't everyone to know my inner most thoughts. I guess I could make the blog restrictive but then I would have to maintain two websites when I have a hard enough time with just one. Well some of you might be asking what is on my mind that I would want a diary. It is actually nothing, but there is some thing to personal blogs that is a bit voyeur about it. So , as i was reading mine I felt a rush of embarrassment and not wanting others to know me further. It could be that I have been making a new set of friends and I am aware that I am trying to put the best of me forward. With my old friends there are no facades because they by this time have already accepted my flaws and (fortunately) are still my friends. Any way I think this little post helps quell the rush of embarrassment and henceforth will write what ever comes to my mind (every couple of months). Anyway I doubt people read this page any more, so no harm will be done by being honest.

It been too long

2007-07-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

Its been too long. Where to start? I am well and alive. My trip back home was more or less a success. Most of the photos are already up on facebook. I am moving soon from my current abode to a place that a bit nicer and I will be living with people I know better than my current roommates. I think the new place all of the roommates own macs so that should be a plus. I actually painted my room yesterday. It use to be a bright green yellow (like a tennis ball), and I painted a khaki color. A little muted but a good color for a room. Yes, to those how might be wondering, I am currently renting two places, but luckily that only needed to happen for just one month. Any way I will write more later and I will try to keep updating this as much as possible. Though I am sure by this time no one is reading this.

Excitement builds

2007-05-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Long time no update. Well we still have all five kittens and they are becoming a real handful. We need to wait till the youngest ones are old enough. They need less then a week to be at the right weight to get adopted.

Well the time is almost at hand and I cant wait till i am in MD. I think the first weekend there will be a wine festival and that will be great. I dont remember what happened last time but I think that is a sign of a good time. The rest of the time will be played by ear. Hope to see you then.

Countdown

2007-05-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

First I can't wait to leave MD now I cant wait to come back. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. Though, I think I just plain miss my friends. Either way i will be back in MD on the 23rd of May and I hope to see mos tof my friends then.

Other news is we have kittens that we are fostering. From the five we have now we will be keeping 2 but it will be sad giving up the other three. They all are very cute and sweet and have different personalities. None of them are mean or anti social making choosing who we keep hard. But it is nice to know that because these kittens are so sweet I am sure they will find new homes quickly. Also I think some of Judy's friends might keep one or two at their houses. I'll keep people posted on what happens.

Kittens

2007-04-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

Yeah Five kittens sounded like a god idea.

I am wasted

2007-04-25T01:23:00.000-07:00

"There is a shitzu in a Spanish oak tree" yes I have had a few drinkies and I am happy that Greg turns 21 soon and I will BE IN MD SOON !!! Yeah I am soo happy . YES

Birds

2007-04-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

      Sorry for the hiatus. The free internet at my house is gone. But things are good on my end.

     The news is so depressing lately. The Virginia Tech shooting was senseless but then again all deaths are. Maybe something good will come out of it but then again this is not the first time a shooting like this has happened.

      I hope that the families involved recover quickly and I wish them all the best.

Fool me once shame on ...

2007-04-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

Republican Math 33> 40

Walla Walla nerds

2007-04-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

Link to cached page.

The kids from Walla Walla; Can you guess who is who from my previous descriptions?

Less Grunge more Emo

2007-04-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

Seattle was nice. Visiting my sister was fun and I am completely jealous of her. She lives in the middle of a city near things that I would enjoy. Blah I need to move toward the City but LA is too scary, maybe San Diego. Any way fun little break I should do it more often. Next up easter with the boys I am really excited about that.

The Price is write

2007-03-23T15:06:00.000-07:00

I will keep this ~~short as I feel too lazy and tiered to put in words the last couple of days~~. I woke up on Wednesday and drove down to San Diego to pick up Josh and his girl friend, Megan (the way it is suppose to be spelled no "h"), and then proceeded to drive to LA so we could camp out for the Price is Right. Well the CBS studio where it is shot is next to the Farmers Market in LA, which is this mall type place. We get there at around 4:30 ( we had a little detour in Venice where Josh and Megan had a lovely encounter with a clown and dirty bathroom), and notice a line forming by the entrance of the studio. We park at the mall and then walk over to the people in line and find out indeed people were already camping out for the next days taping which is to take place a good 22 hours later at 2:30 the next day. Josh counts and see if we stand in line we will be the 20th or so people in line. I suggest we all relax and walk around the mall and maybe get some food and prepare ourselves for a long night. So we walk around the mall where they were filming the live action version of the cartoon Bratz. We took these sign of the apocalypse all in stride and carried on. We had some dinner and by 7:30 thought it a good idea to get in line. By that time we were around 40- 50th in line. A lot of people were saving seats or had left the line to do other things so it was hard to tell where we stood. We take our position in between 5 kids from Walla Walla University ( a university of mindless douchebags from what I gathered) and a couple from Connecticut. The group from Walla Walla had there place decked out with food and drinks and were watching movies on a laptop. they consisted of two airhead stereotype blonds, and three males that were the archetype of loser kids trying too hard. Well we settled in, I had brought two sleeping bags with mats and a chair. I was not expecting to get any sleep on a sidewalk in LA, no mater how safe I felt. Besides I knew that the constant traffic that went by and street tights would also keep me up. I was prepared to spend some quality time with Josh chewing the fat but ended up just being cold and listening to my iPod. I am not slighting Josh but the big guy fell asleep at midnight leaving me with nothing to do but listen to my music. If I weren't already in love with my i pod I am now. It made the night pass fairly quickly and the times I went walking about helped calm my fears of being stabbed. So 5 am comes around and we pack up our stuff as we are not allowed to bring all the stuff in to the studio. At 6 the line starts moving and wea re given a ticket with a number on it which tells the CBS people where in line we are and we are told to come back by 7:15 so we can get another number, a priority number. Our group of three get 61- 63 respectively. We at this point are little disappointed that we are not higher up as Josh had read that sometimes big groups take up most of the seating and the only take 50 or so people from the line. But optimism still remains high as when we at around 8 am get our priority number and were informed that there were no groups that scheduled for that day which meant our chances were high that we would be in to see it. It also meant that people that showed up at 4 am would also get in to see the show as long they were within the first 330 people. So after we got our number (also 61-63) we were told to come back at 9:50 so we could get through the rest of the process. It was 8:30 is and I was deteriorating by the minute, nausea, headaches just a a plain feeling of blah came over me. But the sun was out and the surroundings were pretty so we found a bench to wait on. Then at 9:30 we head back and are told the rules and that we would soon be interviewed to by the producers to see which nine of the 330 or so of us would be contestants. We were given new tags that had our numbers on them and given a name tag that had to say our correct first name (they said it was a tax thing) so I was a little annoyed if called they would butcher my name instead of just going with Shah. Then we wait around for what seems forever (I left my ipod and cell phone in the car because we were not allowed to bring those items into the studio) and we finally at 12:45 get picked in groups of twelve to give our "interview". Well our turn comes up and we are with the lot from Walla Walla a coupe of other people in front of them me and Megan. Josh was to be first in the group after us. So they take up and we are standing in front of the casting producer and he says goes down the line and says hello and asks everyone what they do and he spends a total of 20- 30 seconds with each person. The two girls form Walla Walla are the first and give identical answers and then the wannabe indie com major, then I guess the bi-curious hanger on friend who the others barely tolerate is interviewed. This guy had been missing most of the night as there were not enough space for him while the others camped out so he spent in the car. His answer seemed fake and over the top with the fake enthusiasm you get from a depressed cheerleader. I am sure that this douchebag with his fake smile and obvious fraud is not going to be picked over any one else. Then there is the jew fro kid then the come to me. Before I can say anything the producer says " wait don't help me... Shahriar" I guess it is nice that the guy can read, butI say yes and that I am from Bangladesh but currently live in Riverside and so on. He moves on to Megan who gave a great little interview not too enthusiastic, not fake, just the type of person I would choose for a game show. We only caught a little bit of what Josh was saying but then we were taken to the other side to the entrance of the Bob Barker Studio. We wait a little and join back up with Josh and then wait. We are not allowed to go anywhere till 2:00 when they finally take us in to the studio. We get great seats right int he center so when the cameras are on the second or third contestants we are in the shot. The studio was not what I expected. it was this small space the size of a small stage. So they have the music going trying to get people pumped up and ready. They dim the lights and start the show and call up the first four contestants and then out comes Bob Barker. The man looks a shade under 200 and fake tanned like a celebutant. During the commercial break he addresses the audience all of whom are just rabid about him. He insults a few and gets some laughs at their expense. People are asked if they have questions and there are no real questions of the sort like " what are you doing after you retire?" or "How many pets do you have?" or " Are you still having sex with the spokes models?" No,all there is the random " can I kiss you Bob?" or "I am you biggest fan and now that you are going to retire my life is over" type of stuff. The first three contestants lose and nothing is given away. they do the wheel blah blah blah. After the halfway point and more insults they call up a little old black lady that had been outside with us since 10 or 12. In line she was loud and just would not shut up. Luckily she was a good ten people down from us so we did not suffer much. SO this lady gets called up and she stands up and then falls back down. She is seated directly behind us so the camera is focused on us. Josh notices and decides to give Megan a Hug and wave, as the rest of the room is focused of this lady who seems to have just fainted. But she got up and what can only describe as jitterbuged her way down. She wins the initial bid and gets on stage and wins her game to win a new car and again its a whole production where as soon as she hears the good news she falls to the floor (people don't realize that getting a car is not good, you have to pay taxes on that- yes it is cheaper than getting a new car but you end up paying 34% of the cars cost rather people should take the cash and just take out the taxes from that) and this is a good 10 minutes. One of the people who are called down is the fraud from Walla Walla. He not only gets on and then wins his game but he gets on and makes it to the showcase and wins. This douchebag who was only two people ahead of me and was the one I thought had the least chance of being a contestant wins it all. I guess next time (I am never going on the Price is Right again) if I want to get on I just have to be a fraud and smile real big and be fake. Says a lot about Hollywood. Well I lied I typed more than you will read, but overall a story to tell people when I am drunk or something.

Bigger than the sound

2007-03-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

      Facebook book is weird, there have been two couples who I have found out that they have broken up by them changing their relationship status. I think its weirder that thats all I know, no details of who broke up with who and other details that would spread like wildfire in a high-school. So you are getting the info faster and to more people but there is less being said.

      Anyway I am going to be taking Judy to see the Namesake tonight in Hollywood but she does not know it. Its kind of a surprise, but wait you say wouldn't she find out through this blog. No she does not read my blog anymore nor does she look on facebook. So it can be our little secret. Though it is weird taking my white girlfriend to a movie that is slightly similar to my life. But she and I have both read the book so she knows what is going to happen. I think everyone should read the book. It was easy to read but wove a complex story over generations and cultures.

      I saw Liz for a little bit last week and I wish it had been a little longer but it was nice none the less. And next week is Joshy and the Price is Right. Before that is St. Patrick's day (it needs to be a national Holiday) when I get out of work early. Everyone at work was how did you pull that off? And I said I just asked, of course when I reply I do it with a smirk. Oh tomorrow I will see the 300 in Imax but that means I miss an hour long office :-( but I'll download it from Itunes or catch it from someones tivo. Ok enough random typing.

Currently listening to Honeybear by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Wires that fire

2007-03-05T02:07:00.000-08:00

I finally realized that my feed to face book needed to be updated since I switched over to google. I also realized that I needed to put my stat counter back in to the website. I had just assumed that people really did stop visiting my page though I could not figure out why my constant obsessive checking of my web page was not showing up. But all is now fixed we are back to pre- google levels of info and it is nice to see some people checking up on my happenings from time to time.

I am very excited for the next couple of months. I first get to see Liz this week. She is coming down during my weekend to visit and go to Disneyland. I then get to see josh who is going to be in San Diego and I will pick him and his girl up and drive to LA where we will sight see and then go stand in line for the price is right. Then the week after that I am going to Seattle to see my darling sister Then during easter I am going to go to Vegas to hang out with Jatin, Daniel, Aaron and Jordon who will be there for a couple of days. Then it is only a short month till I get to come back to Maryland and have a grand old time. Oh yes my calendar is filling up quickly. I am quite happy with the schedule, not to mention St. Patrick's day work till 6 p, so I can get wasted with Judy.

Anne Coulter is a See You Next Tuesday

2007-03-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

I though conservative was synonym for closet homosexual.

Hah!

2007-02-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

Marilyn Manson on O'Reily Factor
Uploaded by DarKwon

I wish he ate O'Iamafucktardeily 's face on TV

Etiqutte

2007-02-26T10:49:00.000-08:00

So I have a silly problem at hand, on face book acouple of people who I long since stoped talking to are trying to friend me. I think one of those people I will have to straight out deny because I never liked the person in the first place. The second person is where I am having the dilemma; I know the person but then fell out of touch (for good reasons)but don't want to come off as a dick if I just out right reject the person. I think there is a way to have the person be a limited friend and deny access to certain aspects of the profile. Though I think in writing this blog entry will give away what I am doing and make me look like an ass. Life was simpler when if you didn't like a person you could just ignore them and it was assumed that feeling were mutual. But now in this information age we have to be rejected on facebook to get the point. Oh well I am a jerk so I think I will do the jerkish thing and just leave the 2 people pending.

A cold spell

2007-02-24T22:24:00.000-08:00

Winter has come back but its still nice when it is sunny. We had a couple days of rain and people seriously flipped out. It has been a dry winter I think we are 6" under where we should be. Still today was a nice day even if it was a bit on the cool side.

Money for nothing

2007-02-22T11:47:00.000-08:00

So I just found out that I can steal internet at my house. Yeah like the idiots in Boston say "Wicked Sweet". I guess my excuses for not writing more on my blog are drying up. Well there you go two post in one week.

Man it is cold and dreary outside. After weeks of sunshine it seems like its the end of the world out side. But I am fine in the warm glow of the LCD screen drinking some hot tea, while I explore the new possibilities that have come across me.

Currently Listening to Romantic Rights by Death from Above 1979

New and Better

2007-02-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

Wow its been a while. What ever following I had has surely stopped reading. Oh well I am fine with that. I have a brand new toy. I got a new MacBook. White with super drive. I got with Judy's student discount and the fact that Judy has money and I dont. I will be paying back installments and pounds of flesh. I do love Macs and mine had really gotten too slow. But with the new one both computers should benefit. I like the little camera that is built in, it is neat-o. look at the pic it took of me. Ok so thats what is new in my world how are you doing?

Hot Hot Cold

2007-02-06T01:08:00.000-08:00

Yeah it was one of those days which makes every one else wish they lived in SoCal. While it was -33 F in some parts of the US Riverside was at +83 F. It was almost perfect... Some have complained it was too warm. While most other days I pine for Maryland today (and yesterday) made me feel like my decision was a wise one. Any way I felt like rubbing it in the face of others a bit. Sorry could not help it.

Knives dont have our back

2007-01-29T11:23:00.000-08:00

I have been in to NPR lately. All songs considered is one of my favorites as is Wait wait don't tell me. I would recommend both. Over all its probably the best radio station out there.

Quick note about an addition to this page, I have linked Mikes new blogger page.

Raising Arizona

2007-01-19T23:40:00.000-08:00

My parents keep reminding me that I am old and others my age are achieving more than I am. It is true I am 25 and falling towards an abyss of failure but I think I can change all of that soon. I am going to enroll in classes. Yes I will.

Worthless

2007-01-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

GREs went horrible as expected.Strange, in practice test i was doing better and then I fuck up during the real thing. So I think I am going to try once more at the end of February. I think what will happen is that by the fall I will take some math classes and or try and enroll a Masters program. Again things are in the air till something actually happens.

Eve of destruction

2007-01-10T15:17:00.000-08:00

SO tomorrow is the big day. I have a gut feeling that this will not go well. Judy seems to think that I am just nervous. No I know that tomorrow will just prove that my life is screwed and I am well into the downward spiral. Oh I know that not doing well on this test is not the end of the world but it will be alot harder to get anything accomplished if I do badly. My gut (where truth comes from) tells me I will do horribly. Even as my gut tells me I will try and defy it with my feeble attempt. Tomorrow night will be either be a night of celebration with lots of drinking ot a night of mourning with lots of drining and maybe some crying. Any way I need to go back and doing the practice tests.

Save the date

2007-01-04T15:57:00.000-08:00

So I have gone ahead and bought my ticket to visit D.C. My flight will be on May 23rd and I will arive at Dulles at 9:50 PM and I will be there till June 07th when I leave at 2:05 pm. I will be flying Jet Blue wich my second favorite ariline next to Virgin Atlantic. So I will need rides to and from and hopefuly a nice place to stay while I am around. More about this impending trip as we get closer to the date. May cant come quick enough. Also for those of you laughing at my attempt to plan 5 months ahead of time please keep the chuckles to a minimum. I feel accomplished.

Unexpected

2007-01-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

By fate or chance the 11th of January is looking to be significant. First I take my GREs on that day. It will mark a day that will be a turning point for what I will do next. If the practice test I just took is any indication then my life is screwed. Though a bit more concentration I think I can manage a decent score. Secondly it will mark the one year of this blog. It was around then that Mike and I had decided to go west, thus being a turning point in my life. I know that sounds like a minor thing comared to the GREs but if it were not form the planning that took place after that day I would not be here in California. So mark your calanders January 11th will be a day of change.

Happy 2007

2007-01-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

Seriously I did not think I would live to see this year, but I have and what a wonderful way to bring in the new year. I was at home with Judy and we drank champagne and wine and listened to music. We watched VH1's top 40 videos of the year and that was disappointing as Nickleback was the number 1. Any way some dancing drinking a good way to end and begin a year. Happy New Year everyone!!

A lay out change

2006-12-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

      First apologies to Iram for forgetting to wish her a Happy Birthday but in my defense I did not have access to the internet for the last week. To amend I wish you a belated happy birthday.

     Ok as you might have noticed things have changed here at shahgoeswest but I like it. It looks and feels better. The old layout was getting too cluttered but it was my little bit of internet.

      On another topic I went back to Trader Joe's to keep up with me trying different wines. This time I got Red Flyer, a California red with a red flying saucer on the label. A 3 dollar bottle of imported Italian wine, just because I needed to see what quality is a $3 bottle of Italian wine. A couple of bottles of Champagne, one from white grapes the other a white from red grapes, though thats for new year's eve. And I got two French wines one red one white to keep things balanced. The white is called French Cat and the label says that the French have cool down, I think I just laughed and thought about the three cool Frenchman I can think of. All of whom were cool only because they were revolutionaries.Any way thats what I am doing what are you up to?

Merry Holidaze

2006-12-29T00:09:00.000-08:00

      Hi all (I think it is down to 2 regular people who check in time to time), seasons greetings. I am sorry to have not posted earlier but I did not have any internet access. So I hope you all had a good Christmas or whatever. I spent mine alone doing laundry and watching T.V and reading. All in all it was actually good. I gave myself a Christmas present of 4 new books: Namesake, The Black Book, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. I finished Namesake and I was surprised to how well it depict immigrant sub-continental life. I did see a lot similarities between me and the protagonist, but then again I think being cross cultured is not a new or unique as I think it is. The book was great because it was simply written but had great depth. I liked that every word had a purpose and nothing was unnecessary. It leave me a longing for my aunt who I called the next day. I told her it was because of a book I had read and she guessed it was the Namesake. She had read it too and we both laughed at how we both saw ourselves in the characters. Any way it is a good book and I would recommend it highly.

      I am now almost half way through A.H.W.S.G. and so far so good. It is a big change form Namesake but I like it.

      Oh from Judy's parents I got $50 in the form of an iTune's gift card. And I (with little hesitation) downloaded "The Greatest" by Cat Power, "Game Theory" by The Roots, "The Fox Confessor Brings the Flood" by Neko Case, "Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor" by Lupe Fiasco, and "So This is Goodbye" Bu Junior Boys. I haven't had a chance to listen to everything as Judy is asleep but I am quite pleased by my downloads. Also, while on the topic of music, I love Regina Spektor.

      On that I wish all a good night and if I don't a chance to post before A Happy New Year may the next year be the best year yet. Happy Birthday Nazar aka N-DAWG

Beta Googler

2006-12-14T12:14:00.000-08:00

I have now migrated to Blogger Beta. Lets see what it does. Maybe it will encourage me to post more though I think the major reason for the lack of recent post is the fact that I don't have internet at my house and I am limited to the time I am at Judy's house. I also think that work does take its toll on time I have to dedicate. But as this blog has shown time will tell what really will happen.

Fiedelity

2006-12-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

Did I mention that I got an iPod for my birthday? Yeah it is a sleek black 30 gig wonder. I love it. In turn I got Judy a new radio for her car which has a aux port in the front and a cd player. I got it almost 50% off which is nice seeing how I paid $153.00 including installation. I use it more than Judy since I drive her car more than she does, but the radio is hers and I also got her a secondary gift that will remain a secret till I give it to her. I have come to appreciate NPR pod casts and the radio station. It is very much a wonder that I have not been into it before but it is amazing. I subscribe to NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me. A game show of news headlines. The panel they have is funny witty and very smart. I am also into all songs considered and they had their top albums of 2006 and it was nice to see a varied lists. After listening to it i bought Regina Spektor's album Begin to Hope. I must say I like it a lot. I will probably end up getting Cat power's album and The Roots along with The Coup. But I am trying to limit the amount of money I am spending.

On a different tangent... yesterday I was walking around in my flowers in the attic t shirt with the Reptilian Records Pentagram on the back, when I came across the salvation Army ringers and watched as five people were greeted with no one donating. I obviously went and donated and the ringer wished me a merry Christmas and may god bless me by which time I was sure to have my back turned. I enjoyed that bit of irony with a smile and a self pat on the back. But oh karma and fortune are whores... There is a coworker who I can not stand, she is stupid, crass and dumb. A brick with spit on it has more brain cells that she does. Any way the office is having Secret Santa and I pick her name. But I don't look at it as a bad thing but revenge. I am thinking I could get her a Itunes gift card (she does not own a computer). Oh a years subscription to the New Yorker.... haha I should get her the complete works of James Joyce. Though the mean bone in my body is drowned out by the sensible ones that says just get her a CD she might want. Such an opportunity to be missed because of sensibilities.

Merry Holidays everyone. You are all missed very much.

On foot in the grave

2006-11-24T11:25:00.000-08:00

I am now 25. It is a surreal age, in the sense there is nothing different or momentous other than now I am one year closer to dieing. One more year has gone by and I am still not doing anything. It is totally killing my buzz. On the other hand I get to rent cars and now am allowed in to the exclusive world of 25and up bars and clubs. Though I doubt I will ever be going there.

Yesterday was thanksgiving and I made turkey. It came out very nicely but I forgot to tie the hind legs together. But all in all it was all quite nice. We had the turkey gravy, mashed potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes with chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. We had green bean casserole, stuffing and we then had tree different types of pies. For college students I think it was a very good spread. Ok well I have to go to work and face the horrors of black Friday but before that I want to eat some food. So I will write more later. Oh if you are someone buying something from Best Buy today be nice and be patient.

Poison Pushy

2006-11-15T21:55:00.000-08:00

      Its been a long time since I last wrote anything. I am not dead... yet. Lets see what have I been up to. Well I voted and that was very gratifying even though Arnold still won. But the control of power has shifted to the not so bad guys. A couple of the propositions I wanted to win were defeated and that kinda sucked but at least it got the word out.

      On the ninth was me and Judy's four year anniversary. We celebrated by going out to fancy dinner at Roy's in New Port Beach. It was fun and the food was amazing as always. I had a Maine lobster California roll as an appetizer with a Bombay Sapphire martini. Then for the main course I had blackened ahi and which I paired with a salty dog. Then for desert I had the chocolate souffle which I paired with a 20 year old Tawny Port. Judy opted for the fixed price menu, which had a trio appetizer of grilled shrimp, a pot-sticker and a BBQ rib. Her entre was short ribs which were amazingly tender. And her desert was also the chocolate souffle. She started off with a lychee martini and then having a glass of Penfolds Cab for dinner. All in all a great eating experience. I know of one other person who would appreciate the greatness of the meal.

      We went and saw Borat and that movie was great. It was everything that I thought it would be and more. Mike has said that if I have not offend you then you don't know me. So if this movie did not offend you you did not get this movie.

Falling back

2006-11-02T11:16:00.000-08:00

      I am so disappointed in my weekends. I wait 5 days then I am just let down by the emptiness that is Wednesday and Thursday. I do nothing but sit around and get bored. Judy has her work and stuff and when we do anything it always seems like it is somehow getting in the way of something else. An example is last weekend we were going to watch a movie a little early but I had to sit around and wait till later because of "ladies night" which can only be on Thursday. I don't know I am just bored. I need to be just focusing on the GREs but After a half an hour of studying I get antsy. Yeah bitch and whine nothing new.

     Last weekend I went to a Halloween party with Judy and her roommates. It was fun , there were many interesting costumes. One guy dressed up like Morrissey which was cool. I got plenty drunk and was hungover at work the next day which made work almost unbearable. Judy and I her roommates dressed up like Crayons (we each wore one color and put a cone on our head). Ill put pictures up on face book wehn i get the chance.

     Yesterday I went to Trader Joes to do some more wine shopping and that I got five more wines. I got one with a question mark on it (2004 Oreana Red Table Wine), Skrew Kappa Nappa (named because it has a screw top) Zinfindale, Hello my name is 2005 Syrah, some Voignier, and a some cheap champagne. Judy asked why champagne and I said well its wine also and there doesn't need to be an occasion for it, specially when it is cheap. We drank the Skrew Kappa and it was eh not bad but not good. I guess it was good for cheap wine, but I have had better. Then we tried the question mark one while watching Lost which made a good pairing. The wine was good Judy thought it had a lot of Vanilla flavor. I thought it was good enough to buy again. I will probably try a couple more tonight. I think we might go see a movie. But then again we might do nothing.

Currently listening to She Wants Revenge

Goodnight Goodnight

2006-10-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

I saw Marie Antoinette and I agree with the critique that the movie is "Dazed and confused, it feels like a teenager's diary, read aloud over some awesome mixtape"(Stephen Whitty, NEWARK STAR-LEDGER). I also think the following critique is also true

"Let them have eye candy" pretty much sums up Sofia Coppola's approach to her revisionist and modernist take on the famous royal airhead who in the end lost her head. It is far from unpleasant to watch an attractive cast led by Kirsten Dunst parading around Versailles accoutered in Milena Canonero's luxuriant costumes to the accompaniment of catchy pop tunes.

It was worth it though. Drinking Sofia minis taking a sip every time there is champagne on the screen. My only regret is that there was not taking more in to the theater. I wouldn't say the movie was profound but it was fun. I would suggest you go see it then get the soundtrack and get drunk and imagine being in Versailles. Now that is a plan.

Ceremony

2006-10-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

      Well the wines were good. The social commentary wine I had opened for everyone but ended up drinking it all by myself. It was nice did get me thinking about stuff, but I am not sure if it was the wine or the fact that I drank the bottle by myself. The Yellow cab was shared and was probably the better buy of the four. I drank the Penfolds and thought it wasn't anything special. I would rank it last, out of the three. The last one is still in my room waiting for a warmish day when I can sit outside and drink and listen to the Marie Antoinette soundtrack.

      I went and saw the Departed it was a very good movie. A bit Shakespearean but I liked the intelligence behind it. I also saw Flags of our Father and that movie seemed a bit too much. But then again the war scenes were graphic. The social commentary was biting and the movie seem to go on a bit too long. I went and saw it with my Dad who was came by for a night.

      Saturday night was Irish carbomb night while we watched one of the hindi movies my mom sent for Judy. It was fun got a little buzzed. That movie was a mix of 7 different movies and the plot was completely crazy.

      I bought more Sofia minis and we are going to see Marie Antoinette tomorrow night and what fun that will be. I think Judy's roommates will accompany us. I hate the fact my weekends are so short. I think its because I have nothing better to do during the day and it is truncated by coming home late on Tuesday night.

Passing notes

2006-10-13T01:53:00.000-07:00

Ok as promised the other two wines, unless you didn't get a chance to read the last post. Then the first line will make no sense but in any case the more about wines I bought at the Trader Joe's.

Social Commentary Syrah This wine was bought because the back label read as follows
Proper social conduct generally says that one should avoid the subjects of religion and politics, yet, this is what (loosely) defines a society. And, I say, bring on the wine and heated discussion! I guess I have never been afraid to talk about it because my family gatherings are like an unorganized debate; really, our family pastime is arguing about anything we can. My role tends to be the instigator I'll ask an 'innocent' question of one family member when I know the answer - making sure that another family member (that disagrees) is within earshot. Then, watch the fireworks! Good fun.
It reminded me of Mike, Dave and Greg, three people who I love arguing with just because as we get drunk we are all playing some type of devils advocate just so we can have a good argument going.A lot of people think it silly but to really challenge your ideals you must know how the other side is thinking also.Hopefuly the wine will be as good if not better than the label.

The last wine I bought just because it was cheap and no other reason. They had a lot of it and I figure that cheap white wine is ok with me. Its callednapea River something or other I am sure it will suffice the need for a drink at some point. I am sure the wine will be nothing more than that.

Ok it is way past my bed time so I am going to go to sleep. Good night and Sault.

Wine and whine

2006-10-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

Judy tells me that my post are just too whinny. Well I think I have the right to a little whining, I am the one who is thousands of miles away from my friends and that should entitle me to be a little sentimental and nostalgic form my friends. Any way I will try and be more up beat and less whinny.

On a different subject I have come to appreciate my proximity to good wine and a Trade Joes I have started looking into some California wines. So I went and bought 4 bottles of wine all less than 10 dollars (none of them 2 buck chuck), though one of them was from Australia. I will be trying them out and this might lead me to be more of an presumtious asshole than I already am. Any way a short rundown of the wines:

Big Yellow Cab The name completely got me. Plus it was advertised as a winner of some medal. The story on the back also sold me. Yes I guess I am a simple creature who is swayed by packaging and how something looks but hey they are putting in the effort to be different so I'll try it. If you are curious to what the label has to say about the inspiration :
Big Yellow Cab is a smooth, flavorful wine inspired by
a vintage taxi cab. That classic 1940s style bold and
romantic, sophisticated but street savvy seemed just
right for what we put inside the bottle, so we put it on the
outside, too. Big Yellow Cab is the first new release from
the Mendocino Wine Company, a partnership between the
families of Tom and Tim Thornhill and Paul Dolan. Mendocino
Wine Company is all about Mendocino, and three guiding
principles: A creative approach to business, respect for
the environment, and sustaining community and family.
It should be interesting to see what it will taste like

Penfold's Limted Resreve Shiraz, the only reason I bouth this wine is becasue I love the Bin 128 by Penfold's and I thought that this reseve limited eddtion would be good and the price was $7.99 which makes it not to hard on the pocketbook. I will say that Bin 128 and 28 are by far my favorite wines to have with a good dinner. I aslo love Smoking Loon but only their Chardonay.

The other two I will talk about in the next post. Also to people leaving comments I appreciate it a lot and I miss all of you. I cant wait to see you all again. My chin is up and let life take its best swing.

Currently listening to "A rush and a push and the land is ours" by The Smiths

Heart and soul...

2006-10-05T20:51:00.000-07:00

I really like the way the mountains look at sunset. They become pink and all the sky is a dark blue. The mix is very calming. I was thinking of "NFA" yesterday. People always ask me what it is about and why I have a white band on. To me its not just the people at St. Mary's but more like the memories that it brings back. It is not confined to St. Marys people some how when ever I look at it I think of all of the people and things in Maryland. I miss it a lot Maryland. I miss the cool October the changing of the leaves, that smell... That smell I miss it a lot. And that sound of leaves being raked or walked on. I miss my youth in Potomac. I remember Halloween and how the neighborhood would get ready. But it was always not very American there was something about living in a community of non American rich folk that insulates you from the realities. I think that's why it was so hard getting use to Frederick, which is probably more "real" than other places. I don't care if this make little to no sense I am just typing. The nights are very cool now and in such a contrast to the warm days. It is hard to imagine such a place. This is not what I thought of when I thought of California. I still have hopes that I will end up in LA or closer to LA than I am now. Though LA seems fake and contrived and materialistic. Its a let down. I want the beating of a city but have enough variety not to be limited to the same euro trash discoteque. I guess I have not been out that much so I would not know the places where people just go. Though it seems that everyone here is not who they seem, well at least the people in LA seem that way. There is always an angle.

I miss the east coast, the nonsense there still makes for better conversation than the fluff here. Joy Division

A sober rant for a change

2006-10-01T23:53:00.000-07:00

I want to express and express soberly but nothing is coming out. I need wine

Too young in the morning

2006-09-26T23:59:00.001-07:00

So work is sucking my soul away. I expected to feel this way. I am not sure how long it can go on before I can't take it any more. I think a year is pushing it but there are so many advantages to keeping this job. It's just it feels dirty. I don't know half the time I feel like this is the only thing I am good at and these jobs are not just some stop gap. That would be totally disappointing an instant failure and I think I would just jump off some building then. I have to start studying for the GRE's so I can take them and maybe get a good enough score to go straight to grad school.

I am sorry that the past few post have been so negative but it just seems like the big pitcure is being hidden and people are being herded. I really am not a liberal but there has to be something to the way things are presented to us. The opening to Studio 60 intro he first episode seemed to be right on the money. Watch for yourself. T.V. Critiquing itself, but does that mean that Studio 60 will be cutting edge and unfiltered? Or is it just a ploy to get ratings. I don't know, I guess more shows will tell.

I am ashamed

2006-09-21T00:54:00.000-07:00

I am sorry but I cant stay quiet any longer. There can't be another genocide while I am still breathing. I pleadge that I will give the 1/2 of my monthly savings to stop the GENOCIDE in Darfur. Fuck getting a macbook I can live a bit simpler knowing others are better off.†

Start Caring

2006-09-21T00:02:00.000-07:00

Ok I wonder if the people in Sudan were white if that would change the coverage they are getting. Hey did you know Thailand ( an US ally) has a new military government. I am livid at the fact that Iran a country that does not have capabilities of attacking the US, is getting top billing on the news when the there exists Darfur and Thailand. Ok first one sentence on Iran: Those camel fuckers are not going to attack the US. Now you might ask why? Ummmmmmmmmmmmm. let me see...... is it because the US is the largest importer of OIL. The number one import of IRAN FUCK@!!!!!!#$R%T^Y&*()_)O(I*U&^%^TY&UI Seriously please lest get things in perspective .... Iran not committing genocide (as of yet) Sudan committing genocide. Hell North Korea has threatened to launch nuclear weapons at the US and ther eis zero calls to arms about that. WTF is up with media. Are we the US so racist that we cant care about Sudan or are we so willing to see governments that are not elected by the people succeed that we are willing to turn a blind eye. I thought this country stood for democracy, and freedom.

If I am the last person still standing for the constitution not just for Americans but for the world then be it.... I wont back down and I wont accept being allied with governments that go backwards rather than forwards.

Set yourself on fire

2006-09-16T02:31:00.000-07:00

I ll skip the indent for this one. I see a lot of you have abandoned the site as well you should, why come here when I myself only give tid bits of information, I am unlike other past posts happy that I am in California. It really is giving me an opportunity to be me. I have found out that I am not the social butterfly that I thought I was but the fact that I do really dislike most people. The first thing I see in new people is not weather they are nice or not but what they want from me. At Best Buy (I have yet to join that network on Facebook so I can rant about it now) , people are nice but at the same exact time are assholes. I mean people are very petty. Its a job god damn it and just get over it and do what is in front of you and stop fucking caring about weather or not the fact that you sit at the outside desk offends someone across the fucking room. I love being the center of attention and conversation but even i know its JUST A FUCKING JOB. It means nothing to me other than a paycheck to keep up my drinking habit. Though I do intend to spend a little on getting a better education so I can get more money to have a better drinking habit. Is that so worng? I don't care if it does make me sound alcoholic I don't drink every night or need to drink. I like drinking, it is not an esacape from my problems it is a wonderful embrace. I don't know when I am drunk my problems seem to line up and be orderly and I like that. They don't go away I know that they will be there when I am sober but analyzing them with a glass of wine is better than with out a glass of wine. I don't love it here... True , but I don't hate it. I like it here I can grow to love it. I think people, specially people who expect absolutes want a world that it s black and white but it is grey. No life is not always happy no my glass is not always half full and no cliches are not always dumb. I like rambling when I am still a little coherent and then use big words to prove the fact. CO-hear-ant. What do I care as far as I know my audience is just five people. I miss my friends but I know they will be my friends even if I am in California or else they were never friends to begin with. Enough rambling I am going to go and sleep next to the my favorite reason for liking California. As my chemistry teacher in high school, who later went on to have a sexual relationship with a student, once said... Well I don't remember some quote about may we have sweet water where we travel or something. What ever he is on some list now ... Oh well.

Another one goes by

2006-09-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

      This is the end of my weekend. Wednesday I went to the LA county fair which was a blast. All the deep fried food and the lights and the place was huge. Much bigger than the great Frederick fair and with more brown people. They had beer tasting and wine tasting too. I will put up pictures as soon as I get them on my computer. Yesterday we went to the film festival to check out Judy's sister's boyfriend's movie, The Big Bad Swim, and for his first movie it was very good. The premise is people are at a adult swim class and just how a varied group of people come to interact and become a part of one another's lives.

     There is a new looks to Facebook and iTunes and I like it. A lot of people were all upset over the changes in Facebook and those people are dumb. I mean seriously its a free service to keep in touch with friends and if you can't handle a different look you should not be using it. The new look just intergrated more information and I am all for it. As for the new iTunes I like it a lot. They included a feature to get album covers to all your music not just stuff that you bought from them and I like it. There was a time when album art was an integral part of the band and the music. One example is the Beatles White album. They also have a new view that shows the album cover as the song plays. Also you can now buy movies for $10 and watch them on your iPod.

      On a side note Asobi Seksu are trying to keep shoegazing alive. Now I have heard of many bands trying to do so but I think these guys are a good ambassador for the genre. They not only have atmosphere, they also have nice pop lyrics. Check them out. Ok I have to go to the store and run some errands.

The Big Swim

2006-09-12T22:48:00.000-07:00

So last weekend was fun. On Sunday we went to Venice Beach and that was fun. It was a little weird the amount of people pan handling. There were people that said that needed money just for beer. Hey, idlest they are being hosnest. Umm I went to work Monday and today and that was well... it was work. They have not given me access to a computer so I can't really do a lot of the work but I am not complaining. Also we listen to Jack FM all day, and today they played "Love will tear us a part" by Joy Division and 3 Cure songs.

This Thursday I will be going to Temecula to watch Judy's Sister's boyfriend' movie. Its a film festival and its also in wine country so that makes it all the much better. Ok its getting late I will write more later. Bye.

Kill me tomorrow

2006-09-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

Oh my adoring public how I have missed all 5 of you. Well work is nice a lot of calling rich people and telling them that their order will be coming at a time that is inconvenient, then them cursing me out and me apologizing because we can't do anything about it. My third day there I had to bring brownies for a farewell party for someone. I was like WTF, but did it any way. I have this weekend off so it will be my last one for a long time. I think we will go into LA tomorrow, and I think the weather will be amazing. Ok time to drink gtg. BYES

Avalanche

2006-09-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

     Let me mention that Sunday Judy made a great polish meal. It included Golumkys, green beans, pierogies and kielbasa. After that we went to a late showing of Beerfest at the Drive-in. It was funny but I think it was Annie who correctly observed that the movie would have been funnier if one was drunk. The movie was ridiculous as is to be expected but as it being my first drive in was fun. We took two cars but then crammed in to the flatbed of Tony's truck (it was me, Judy, Nathan, Annie and Tony). I think we were lucky as it wasn't very cold that late at night.

      Greg has a new blog that people should check out on he friends link.

     Sufjan Stevens is coming out with a box Christmas Songs set on November 21st and that is what I want for my birthday (hint... hint.. Judy). I am actually currently listening to a stream of The Avalanche which are outtakes and extras from the Illinosie recordings. This stuff is great and I think that they should have made the Illinoise album a double CD one. But any way this is nice too.

     Wow I always seem to get calls when I am writing this blog. So Kathy just called from Best Buy and I start tomorrow. But this might mean that I don't have off till next Tuesday but I will have three days off then. Ok so I guess this means I am settling down, finally. Alright folks I need to get some stuff from the store for Judy. So I will write tomorrow about my first day with Best Buy. In the mean time check out Xiu Xiu doing Clown Towne live

Happy stuck on the freeway day!

2006-09-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

Just sitting here watching the Miami v. FSU game. The game is good and it looks like FSU might win but you never know with college football. Any way this weekend was fun. Friday Judy had her girls night and I had a martini and I think I came out the better on that one. Saturday there was the slip and slide party and I was nice and toasted. Met a lot of new people but I am not sure if any would be people I would hang out with. There was some guy from Philly I yelled at for being from Philly and then there was the metal kids who I didn't like because they were metal kids. There was a little flip cup played but no Silo cups so I had a little trouble but I think being very drunk also was a part of it. I only slipped and slid after people left but others were silly enough. I put the pics up on facebook and a couple of videos on youtube and here also. Ok FSU just won so that's good I like that the old ACC can beat the Big East imports. Ok I will have to keep this a little short but enjoy the silly videos. The guy in the flamingo outfit is Judy's roommate Nathan.

Jobless no more

2006-09-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

      I got my offer to work at Best Buy Deliveries Customer Service as a Customer Service representative. The pay is more than initially thought, they will pay me $13.40 and I think I get lunches paid for too so by the end of the week we have 2.5 hrs of over time plus what ever other over time. Also I now only have to pay 5% over the cost for anything Best Buy sells. I just hope they start selling Macs. I know they have ipods, so I think in a couple of months I will treat myself to one. They have other nice stuff like 401k and health insurance and employee stock option. My hours are good and bad, good because I work from 1:30pm to 10pm and bad because I have to work the weekend and get Wednesday and Thursday off. This means I will miss most of the football season though I will catch early east coast college games and Thursday games but besides that I will not have a real life. I need to Find classes to take on Wednesday and Thursday. I know if I were at Maryland I could have taken 12 credits and only had classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Either way I will need to wait a little bit so I can get some money saved and make sure I like the job enough to keep doing it for a while.

      I think this means that I will have to post less but we will see may be I will be able to get internet at my house yet. This weekend is Judy's big party and tonight she is going to have a girls night so I think I might sight around my house and smoke the hookah and read a book. Also I would like to take this time to wish Dave a good party. If you can you should go to it, I know it will be lots of fun and you probably won't see dave in a long long time. I wish Dave good luck and please don't get yourself killed in the Airforce.

      I can't wait to vote. For all those republicans that voted for Bush because he was the candidate that didn't "flip flop" I leave you with this clip.

WTF?!!

2006-08-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

Umm so the new Patron Ad are little bit risque. I don't know what to think about this. There is another one has two women talking but you cant hear what they are saying and in the end there are two little bubbles one that says "real thing" the other says "battery powered"... So yeah.

Miniature Breakdown

2006-08-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

      I am little nervous for tomorrow. If everything goes as planned then I should have a job. All indications are that I will get it, but if I don't then I am slightly screwed. I already am planning how to spend my first paycheck which is never a good sign. I really need to save and save a lot. I know I always say that and then end up spending way too much on dumb stuff. This time I need to stick to it so I can get back to school and stuff. Stuff like a new Mac book. My laptop is fine but it lacks a DVD player and I really want Mac Os 10.4.x, I am stuck on 10.3.9 . Also this comp has been around for a while.

      I downloaded the 25 song sampler from Itunes which I got for free for joining the Apple group on Facebook and there a few good songs worth listening to. The songs I liked are "Let it Rock" by Kid 606, "Here (in your arms)" by Hellogoodbye and "Mirando a las Muchachas" by Mexican Institute of Sound. The rest of them are good but these three were the cream of the crop in my opinion.

      I leave you with "The Metro" by Berlin and "I Run" by Flocks of Seagulls ( what in the world is he looking at most of the time?)

Employed? Maybe

2006-08-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

      The interview went well today, she asked some questions about what I did at the Examiner and then asked me come back on Thursday to meet with the General Manager. So it seems that I might have a job. It will pay $12.95 to start off so that's not too bad. I guess it is better than Zero and I think that it is also a position in the late shift so I might be able to take morning classes and that would work out perfectly. One bad thing is that I might have to work weekends but since Judy has a lot of work too and we don't really do much hanging out with other people I doubt it will be much of a problem. They said that there might be a chance of 3 to 4 hours of overtime a week, which is nice as it will be like a little extra cash.

      The one big problem with this job is that I am going to meet with someone else on either Thursday or Friday, and I have a less of a chance of getting a job with them but it would definitely pay a lot more. Like I said as soon as something goes right there has to be something else to make it complicated. Though this kind of complication is better than not having any job and me just sitting around waiting for something.

     This weekend is the Slip and Slide party at Judy's. I think we have to buy $25 worth of beer and that does not seem like much but that's not my problem. As long as I am shit faced I don't care. Any one catch the Emmy's

Re- reading

2006-08-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

I have been reading the whole blog from the beginning , just for shits and giggles, and it is a gas. I seem so ready to move when now with the benefit of hindsight I can see I was a little too eager. I mean I was just aching to come to California, though reading the old posts, I just wanted to be with Judy. I am not saying that is a bad reason but it did cloud my judgment and sway my thinking. I did need to move but I should have thought it out more or even done some of the things I wanted to, like interview at temp agencies over spring break, so I would have had a head start. It is also funny how the plan was completely scrapped in a month. Well any way 8 months is not a very long time.

In other news I just got a call from Best Buy for a call center position. I guess I am destined to answer phones from irate people. Oh well I hope they pay well enough for me to go to back to school. Though I am only going in for an interview and I might not get the job. In which case I will have to really consider just going back to Bangladesh. I hope things start working out cause being in job limbo sucks.

I love my friends

2006-08-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

ricgnzlzcr (1:13:50 PM): why dont you go eat your curry food and save the pizza for the degos

Sundays away

2006-08-25T00:18:00.000-07:00

I am tipsy.... Well a little on to the drunk side. I am listening to this guy from Australia who is doing one song a week for a year. The name of the band is Sundays Away and I have to say its not bad at all. It is actually very good. He is on week 30 something and he is doing a weekly podcast so go get it its free. I haven't had a tipsy or drunk post (that I remember atleast) so this is new to me. I would like to wish Daniel a happy birthday. I miss that kid he is one of the few people I know that is living life to its fullest. I mean a dull day in his life involves (almost) getting into a fight or getting (almost) killed by a random guy. I have had many a good times with him and I miss him for that. Wow that sounded gay... What ever. Oh every one who likes Sufjan Stevens should go see Little Miss Sunshine, his songs are used in the soundtrack (Chicago and No mans land). What you don't know about Sufjan? He is an amazing singer song writer who is doing an album a year about the 50 states. So in 50 years he will have fifty different albums. He has already done one about Michigan and Illinoise, both of which are amazing. Yeah I like the folksy sound but I like the creativity it takes to tackle a subject as a State. Seriously what would a state sound like? I am sorry if this is too Music Jerkish but what ev I am still buzzed and now I am tired. I ll write more later.

100th Post extravaganza

2006-08-22T16:02:00.000-07:00

      Its finally here; My 100th post. I would like to thank the immense amount of time I have to waste for bringing this blog so far. I would also like to thank Mike for getting me started on this journey I am sure he will too end up on this coast. Those cold nights at the examiner staying up and just typing away . Then how for a while there was no date set and I was away then all of sudden I sold my car and end up here in California. We had some bumps along the way and there have been plenty of changes (like originally the site was called mikeandshahgowest.blogspot.com) but one thing that is certain is that change has been the only constant. All the planning in the world would not have helped to get me to this point. There were thoughts of coming here with my old car but then settled on the airplane. Leaving a lot of things in MD and VA. I look back now and feel maybe there should have been a bit more planning and maybe I should have waited till August to leave the examiner so I could have afforded the move better. But who is to say it would have turned out any better or any worse. Regret nothing and keep moving forward. Ok so a lot of reminiscing but thanks for reading all 10 of you, in the end its nice to see what has happened and how things have changed.

      Last night I went and saw Little Miss Sunshine and the movie was great. Not over the top like 40 year old Virgin but a little more real. It is about this disfunctional extended family going 900 miles in a broken VW bus so that the youngest girl can compete in a beauty pageant. Along the way they have to deal with each other and their own faults and quirks. Over the movie was great and I would highly recommended. Remember its not a comedy like Wedding Crashers or something but still highly entreating.

     I just got a call from Liz and Josh who are up in San Francisco trying to find the "Full House" house. They asked me look up an address but I could only tell them where the opening credits were filmed. It sounded like they were asking random people on the street. Ok that's all, I leave you with a video of the "Full House" theme a video of some bunnies

Coast to Coast

2006-08-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

Things are well. I have not mentioned that I went to a party last Friday night, at Judy's ex roommate's and that was nice. Judy's ex roommate moved in with her boyfriend and invited people for food and wine. Met some new people but over all it was just ok. I don't think there will be any hanging out with those people by myself. Isn't it wired how much harder it becomes to make friends after college. I think a lot of it is me too, I think I am unconsciously feeling that I have enough friends and can't see the need for more friends. Judy's house is planning on having a slip and side party and all I know is I will be drunk early.

I am worried about my job status . It is getting a little out of hand and I am about to sign a lease for a year! I think its time for desperate measures. Maybe a bag boy or fast food or something. Though technically that is still being unemployed (or underemployed).

Currently listening to "Krafty" by New Order

Stand still child!!

2006-08-20T16:28:00.000-07:00

So I am not going to see Liz and Josh this week. I was looking forward to it but Judy is very busy with her work and cant afford to miss three days of work. She actually has to work everyday now to make sure she gets everything finished with her Masters stuff. I guess I could take another way but planes are too expensive and trains and buses just take too long. I don't want to travel 10 hours by myself. Oh well I am sure I will see both of them again, I just need to get things settled and make time for all of this.

Youtube is amazing. I can literaly waste hours of my life on it and most of the stuff on there is just dumb or silly but who cares its something to do. I mean where else can you watch some dumbass lipsyncing to some Brittany spear song and also see live performances of Berlin? Its funny there are people just going off one each others videos and in the end they are just a silly as the last person.

Ok go

2006-08-19T10:38:00.001-07:00

Yeah the song is rediculously catchy and the video is neat-O.

Trouble will find you

2006-08-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

Hello!!! I hope you had a fun week. This weekend for me will be slow one as Judy and I will be taking a trip on Monday so she will try and get ahead on her work Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully Monday morning commute wont be too bad and we should be in the San Francisco Area in 6 and a half hours or something. First really long trip in a while. Last long trip I took in a car was probably New York or to the beach in Maryland. The weather will be warming up by then so it will be nice to go north and cool off a bit. Besides that not much going on.

Making fun of brownie!

2006-08-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

Main Entry: Ma·ca·ca
Pronunciation: m&-'käk-&
Function: noun
: a genus of Old World monkeys including the rhesus monkey (M. mulatta) and other macaques

Source: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Its better than Bush calling Pakistanis Pakis.

Pandering to the masses

2006-08-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

      So Aaron of DC Grapes is boycotting this page because I have not posted a picture of my red bike. I thought I would just get some image from the internet and be done with it. When I did a search in Google images I got this picture (Via). So there you go a picture of a red bike and some guy about to be killed by a monstrous dog. It is a disturbing picture but at least it is well drawn.

     As for a picture of my bike I might put it up but I think I am just too lazy to take my camera out and take the picture then upload it on to here. That just sounds like more effort than I want to expend. If Aaron truly does not want to read my blog then that is fine I'll have to remove his link. Ahh silly internet fights. Its amazing how much web pages rely on being linked to other pages. I guess if you are on this page you might also click from here to Matt's page then to some other page and so on and so on. So if Aaron wants to be less linked it will be his call.

      Any way if any of you want to read a fun post go to the Music Jerk's page and be sure to say something about The Doors, that will always generate a fun time. Also you can mention Weezer and man you might be in for a lengthy reply.

     Most of you are not going to see Snakes on a plane.... Why? I would go just for the fact it would be a great drinking game and get completely trashed. You drink 1 second for each snake you see in the movie and every time Samuel L. Jackson yells, I mean talks (that is his normal voice level). Also everything about this movie promises to be an awesomely bad movie and if you are fans of that genre then this movie has answered your prayers. Have you seen Torque? That movie set the bar nice and low so if this movie is worse that is an achievement in it self. If you haven't seen Torque then go watch it, I bet you like it even though there is a motorcycle duel (they fight WITH the motorcycles kind of like on the Simpsons). Ok enough of that, seriously I will watch the movie some time and I'll to be sure I have a 30 pack with me.

Currently listening to "Highschool Lover" by Air

Survivability

2006-08-16T14:50:00.000-07:00

I am not sure how much longer I can actually stay here in Riverside without getting a job. I have gone on a blitz and have applied to every bank in a 10 mile radius and any other place that I could think of. I hope something happens or else I might need to go back to Maryland. I am sure I know how this will play out. I will sign this lease with my roommates ( which I need to do soon) and as soon as that happens I will get a job that will require me to move someplace else in CA. How do I know? That's just the way life is.

This upcoming Monday Judy and I are going to visit with Liz. Josh is also coming by, I think we will do a little bit of site seeing in San Fransisco. I just hope that there is no call on the way up for an interview the next day, though I wouldn't be surprised as that's the way life is. I am not being cynical I just know that there is no control over these things, they just seem to happen when it is the least convenient. Whatever I will deal with as it comes up. Ok this post will have to be short as I don't feel iike writing any more.

Currently listening to "Backed to the Future" by Washington Social Club

Red Bike

2006-08-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

      This weekend was lots of fun. On Friday, as I mentioned in the previous post, I went to see Scoop. The movie was good,though not as good as Match Point or Melinda and Melinda, but good. All the talk about the wrong casting of Scarlet Johansson is a bit over blown. Yes, she probably wasn't the ideal actress for the part but she did a decent job at it. I think if people went into it without a preconceived notion then it would be fine. The movie was fun and in the end I would say go see it and judge for yourself. The wine was very good too. A couple of cans and I had a very nice buzz going. I am not sure how much of the movie's good qualities were because of the wine but whatever I enjoyed myself.

     Saturday was spent in LA. Went first went to the Little Tokyo for the Tofu festival but after having to pay for parking we didn't want to pay $8 each to go into it. So we just walked around little Tokyo for a bit and then we went down to the LACMA for an old Bengali movie called Apu's World. Now, that might sound like a great name for a Simpons movie but this one was the third part to the Apu trilogy by Satyajit Ray. The movie was good but the sub-titels were white and in a black and white movie when ever the main characters wore white most of what was being said could not be read. Luckily I speak Bangla and I ended up translating for Judy the parts she could not read. The movie was great, the shots were amazing and you can see where Kurusawa gets his influence from.

      Sunday was spent just around the house not doing much. Sunday night Judy's roomate (the gay guy) and his friend made fried chicken mashed potatoes and cream spinach for everyone. We had a bunch of wine and then put on some bhangra music to which Judy danced like she was in a Bollywoood film. It was a good time and a good way to end the weekend.

     Today I took my roommates bike that he gave to be fixed and it will cost like $100, but considering I will have to pay $250 for and new bike I figured all I need it for is going back and forth from Judy's house and school. So $100 for a bike is not too bad. It's an old school 10 speed which is fine with me. Maybe after I have a job for a while and some money to spend I can get a nicer bike but for the time being a old 10 speed bike is fine by me.

Currently listening to "Never Let Me Down Again" by the Smashing Pumpkins

If you are bored...

2006-08-11T16:41:00.000-07:00

Well I am bored though tonight should be relatively not boring. I am going to go see Scoop, though people have said that it is not the best Woody Allen movie, it still should be a laugh. One of the complaints is that Scarlet Johansson plays the ditz and she is not that type of actress. People have said that a Cameron Diaz type of actress would be better suited for the role. Judy and I will be sneaking in Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs , so I don't think the movie will be too bad. ;-)

Change is the only constant

2006-08-10T15:12:00.000-07:00

      I got rid of the Typepad blog but I have moved to Wordpress, because as Matt was kind enough to point out Wordpress did most of the things that Typepad did but for free. This just gives me more time to see which service I like better. If you want to check out the other blog go here. I think (at least for now) I will use that one as a outlet for my political views and my perspective on current events. A couple of things will come form that is that the other blog will probably offend everyone and will give me chance to brush up some research skills. For the most part you should not take whatever is written there as a personal attack as most of the time I might just be playing devils advocate or just trying to incite a reaction. Now if I say something that you take offense to (which you probably will) leave a comment and we will duke it out in Cyberspace. The content of this site will remain light and maybe whinny. This will be the place where I complain or just type about random stuff. The poll in the side bar will also change to reflect a less serious tone. By the way it seems there a lot of you are pro Israel, not that there is anything wrong with that, but I am surprised. I thought most of the regular readers would be more of the pacifist kind, but we will discuss that on the other blog.

     Judy maybe comes home today her flight is delayed and she is not sure if she will make the connecting flight. I am happy that security is being overzealous but the airlines need to adjust their scheduling to accomadate people being delayed. This is a common problem with airlines facing delays and such but it is not like they can nor anticipate it. There either needs to be better communication and maybe even a plan already laid out that the ground staff can follow in these unique situations. The airlines always give an excuse of that things are out of their hand but if maybe they were better prepared to respond to these situation they wouldn't be so overwhelmed. Any way I hope she gets here tonight and I hope she lands in Ontario and not LAX cause that is a difference of well over one hour. Blah I blame the stupid British PAKIstanis who are too dumb to think for themselves and are out not only fighting an unjust cause but are doing more harm to the rest of the brown people who are not involved.

      Oh before I leave you I would like to wish good luck to Liz on her GREs, hope you do well kid.

Currently listening to "Take Me Away" by The Holiday Flyer

Type pad

2006-08-09T17:06:00.000-07:00

In an effort to expand my internet savyness I am trying out another blog. I know some of you are saying "oh Shah, you can't do one web log properly, why are you trying two?", well the answer is I don't care what you think. I am bored, and this gives me something to do other than read. From what I see Typepad is easier to customize but I can't figure out how to look at the coding behind what I am doing. There are more options over there and a lot of it is automated. Also, apparently it has a larger community, but after this month I will have to pay for it and that seems stupid if I am getting the same deal here on Blogger. I will have to see if the extras they offer are worth it.

In other news Judy comes home tomorrow and I can't wait. I was talking to Greg, earlier and I realized that she is the only person I hang out with here, so when she is not here I have nothing better to do. People keep telling me that as soon as I get job things will change but I want change now. I hate just sitting around not doing anything, I mean I don't even have cable T.V. and the basic channels are awful. Oh well enough complaining, just need to keep a positive outlook and have patience.

Currently listening to "Cold Cold Water" by Mirah

Poker is a visual game

2006-08-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

Yes I left out a lot of things but I wasn't in the mood to post so I rushed through it. The comment Jatin made on the violent poker dealer occurred when some one went all in and the other person just flipped over his cards thinking the person who went all in just called. So some else at the table made the comment that the person who flipped over his cards didn't call the all in and therefore he folded even though he was showing the winning hand. The person then said I did not hear the person go all in and the dealer should have announced it. This is when the dealer with a heavy accent tells us that poker is a visual game, but because of his thick accent the person with the winning hand kept saying he did not muck his hand and he won. The dealer some how got totaly angry and was getting in the face of the player and it looked like he was going to hit the guy. Needless to say we got a new dealer and things got resolved. I don't think that guy will be dealing too long with that kind of attitude.

Anyway it was fun and I understand California is very very far way and most people can not make it here, but if you do please call me and I will try and see you.

Currently listening to "Like That" byBlack Eyed Peas

Fun times with brown people

2006-08-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

So I met up with Jatin Thursday Morning and we had a blast. We first drove around looking at some of the LA sights and we saw Entourage being filmed. Then we went down to Santa Monica to get some food then to beach and pier. After that we went back to the hotel that Jatin was staying at and cleaned up. We went out that night in the UCLA area looking for bars. You would think that being near a school as large a UCLA would give us many choices but we ended up at a chain pizza place had a couple of pitchers of beer. Then as we were walking back to the hotel we came across another place that was a real bar and was packed with college kids. We both soon realized that was not that great as we were some of the older people there and that sucks. So any way after a couple of beer we call it a night. The next day we head out to Vegas and it was all very nice except I lost money that I cant afford to loose yet. Blah. But I got completely hammered and slept on the ride back. I am not sure how Jatin made it back but when I woke up we stopped at Riverside. Jatin took a short nap and I took a shower before heading back to LA. We drove around some more went to In and out burger and then drove up to Malibu. We then went back to Hollywood and back to the hotel to get changed for the night. I was not in a drinking mood and Jatin had to leave in the morning and being hungover on planes is never a good idea. So we took it slow when to some place called Red Rock. After that we drove around a bit more then headed back. The next morning Jatin left I got a ride back with the consul general and I have been sleeping and just bumming around my room since.

All alone

2006-08-02T14:26:00.000-07:00

      So I am sitting here reading stuff on the internet when I hit a stretch of like 5 minutes of music that I did not want to hear, but now I landed on "True Faith" by New Order. I really like this song, and so catchy and put me in an upbeat mood. Anyway Judy left for the Maryland today so I have nothing to do but read my book. Though tomorrow I should be meeting up with Jatin but with jet lag and such I am not sure how long we will be hanging out, but we will see how that goes.

      I got an old refrigerator so I can have a beer fridge in the garage and keep the fridge in the kitchen free for my roommates' and my food. It is a pretty big fridge which I got for $70. If I wanted to I could make it into a kegorator but I need to see where I am staying and if and when I get a job. For now it is a good place to put beer in it.

      Well it has been more than a month and a half and the move has not been what I thought it would be. It is a lot harder and I really miss hanging out with my friends. But being close to Judy is much better than being half a world a way. I just need to get going with my classes and work then things wont be as boring. Till then I'll keep coming to the library and update this blog.

Currently listening to "Love Cats" by the The Cure

Update: I just caught the guy on the computer across from me looking at porn and he is like 50 EEEEWWWWW!!!!!!

Mike's home town

2006-07-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

I went to Newport Beach yesterday, I just needed to get away from Riverside and see the ocean for a little bit. I wish more friends would come so we could go there and hang out. It seemed nice suited for jack-assery. There were plenty of bars one of which advertised "Sobriety sucks come and get drunk here!". I was there for a couple of hours and did not drink since I was driving. Oh the day before Judy and I watched Clerks II and it was good. I wouldn't say it was the funniest movie Kevin Smith did but it did have a few good laughs. Over all not too bad of a movie. I also saw a preview for the movie Beerfest. It by the same people that did Super Troopers and Club Dread. It looks funny and drinking in movies is always a good idea, for the sole fact it makes for a good drinking game.

In other news Judy is going to the east coast for a vacation for a week on Wednesday. So Ill be all alone again :-(. Though this time I have her hookah so I can sit around smoking that and reading Prep. Thursday Jatin arrives so I can't wait. I have been missing everyone back home so it will be good to see a friendly face. As always anyone coming by southern California I try and get out and see you.

Currently listening to "The Past Presents the Future by The Her Space Holiday

It is madness for sheep to talk peace with a wolf

2006-07-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

The problems of the middle east are not new but if you have watched the news lately it would seem that it just happened. As always it is just another thing that has the attention of the public until something else comes along. CNN a couple of days a go was discussing if the current renewal of fighting was a sign of the apocalypse. I think I almost cried at the low that modern day reporting has come to. Just yesterday I was watching a biography on the life of Walter Cronkite and was amazed that he dispersed news and when he gave an opinion he made it clear that it was his alone. These days it seems that the media is just spewing out opinion as facts and news. I think it is a blessing that I do not get cable because I do not have to subject my self to the 24 hour news channels. I know it would be completely unprofitable but they should have someone just read the facts about a news situation and not go into analysis or if they do have fair panel discussion and make sure it is advertised as that. Also panel shows that are currently on TV are either too left or too right I cant think of one panel show with competent people in the on all sides. Its either some pompous liberal yelling about something or some ignorant conservative condemning everyone for not thinking like him. Oh well I guess it is a sign of the democratic process because in the end it is the viewers who end up choosing what they want to watch and theses channels just cater to their needs.

Hate free TV

Shisha

2006-07-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

      Judy got a hookah!!! We ordered it on Tuesday afternoon and it was here the next day (I wish everything worked that quickly). So we lit it up last night and it was ok, not great but ok. I think I might have over packed it but next time I will try for less. Also we got the instant light coals even though they are not that great but who wants to wait around for hours while that happens. Well any way the Hookah is blue and Judy has yet to name it. Its tall at 28 inches and is made in Egypt. We are definitely not everyday smokers and I didn't think we need any thing too expensive or fancy. The whole thing with coals, 12 -50 gram- packs of flavor and shipping cost about $90. The hookah came with cleaning brush and tongs. Anyway we are apparently having some sort of get together with people at my place on Friday so we will see how that goes. I need to get some small tupperware containers for the flavors and expetiment with mixing a few together. It was nice sitting outside smoking, the weather at night is near perfect.

      Other news, Jatin is coming on the 3rd of August so that will be great. I can finally do some bar hopping LA style. Maybe we will go on a Vegas road trip (but not likely, I don't have that kind of disposable income)I need to work for his company they seem to send him everywhere. Actually I just need to work. I never thought it would be this hard. Eh something will come along.

      I might be coming to MD in September sometime. I will need to organize so I can come have a party then do family stuff, but more on that after I get some firm dates.

Heat and Fire

2006-07-25T13:51:00.000-07:00

Fires in California are like thunderstorms in Maryland. Whenever I turn on the TV there is seems to be another wild fire. I guess I am not use to this at all. On the east coast its usually flood warnings and such but here its fire warnings and watches. Judy and I were driving home from Ikea there was what seemed to be huge fire on the side of the freeway, but when I checked on the news it was reported as a small brush fire. So I can just Imagine what a large or medium size brush fire must be like. What is weird too is that these fires are created by thunderstorms. Now in my head that doesn't make any sense, how can there be fire and rain at the same time? From what I understand is that because it is so dry out here the rain has little to no effect on the vegetation and the lighting when they hit trees and stuff cause these fires. Wild.

Also because of the extreme heat people are asked to conserve energy and set the thermostat to 80 degrees. That might seem warm but it is actually cool when you step inside from 110 degrees. All these new experiences that I am learning about. I am sure to the seasoned Californian they must all be a passing thought but its exciting to me.

Blue Jeans

2006-07-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

      Yesterday I went to the mall to waste some time and get out of the heat. We walked around and ended up in the GAP where I find a pair of new jeans with almost no pre-worn tears. There was a small one by the pocket but what ever they fit great and they cost me $8.00, I was besides my self. It was such a good deal because the original price was $49.00. I almost regret not looking at more but they had few that were in my size. The day before that I went to the Counsel Generals house for dinner and that was nice. He drove up here to get me and then had the driver drive me all the way back. I am suppose to go to a networking thing with lots of big wigs next Monday and I will have to see what happens.

      Charter cable came back today to with similar results as last time though this time they told me I had to talk to the neighbor in the back to get the ok for them to come and climb the pole. This whole thing is getting out of hand. All I want is cable and I don't understand why it involves so many steps on my part. Judy things I should write a letter to the neighbor. I think I should complain to Charter but in the end both will have the same result of me not having ready access to the internet.

      I miss my old car. Judy thinks I miss just having a car but no I miss Betsy. She was ugly but she was good. I treated her like crap and yet she still worked. And when she didn't I was helpless. Yeah I miss the old gal , I think I miss a lot of things now.

      I also finished Brick Lane. I thought it was good alot better than White teeth but not the best thing either. It was more universal even though it had less charecters than White Teeth but the message was clearer. The book over all was about a woman's struggle agaisnt fate and how in the end everyone has the power to set their own path. I also finished A Walk in the Woodsby Bill Bryson. It is a non fiction book about walking the Appalachian Trail. This book was funny and informative and was throughly enjoyed. There are many parts of it where I just could not sop laughing. I liked boththe books alot and I would suggest people go and read both of them.

Curse you Charter

2006-07-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

      Judy is back (yay) but the situation with her roommates remains. Her roommates want to have a meeting with me to discuss the bad vibes they are getting from me. Besides the fact that I have not set foot in that house since I was banished I am not sure how I am affecting their lives. I think they are taking the time Judy is spending with me at my place as a sign that she too dislikes them. The whole roommate meeting thing was written in a note and given to Judy, and she like wise left a note saying that this is silly their is no reason for a meeting with Shah if any concerns remain they can be directed at Judy. All this is very silly to me and I wish it would just go away.

      During the weekend the cable guy came from charter cable to install and get the cable internet working. First off the guy they sent could not read a map or understand English. Then when he finally got to the house he could not get the cable working because the lack of "juice" and a ladder needed to climb a pole to connect to the "juice". Seriously this person was just an idiot. Then he said he would have to reschedule and someone would call me to do that. Well I waited for the call and it never came. I had to call and tell Charter what had passed and then they said they would reschedule till next Monday. Arghhh. I cant go on living with such limited access to the internet.

      I finished reading The Devil in the White City and I have to say it was very good. It was interesting how much the world has changed since the 1890s, and where America was. The book is about the Chicago world fair and does good job explains its importance to American history and along with that the book also covers one of the first serial killers in America. Its weird how normal the killers seem to people and how they prey on peoples emotions. Read the book it is quite good. I am on to Brick Lane, by Monica Ali. Another novel about Bangladeshis in London, though this one seems better than White Teeth.

      Still no job but I will try a couple more temp agencies. I hope everyone back home are well and enjoying their summer.

White Teeth

2006-07-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

First about the last post, I am over that now and am looking forward to the awkward meeting with Judy's roommates when she returns (I want to be piss drunk and derogatory). In the end its not really worth my time.

so I finished the White Teeth by Zadie Smith and I must say I am a bit disappointed. The story is a of immigrants in Britain trying to hold on to their own identity and while trying to fit in to the larger society. As you might suspect this theme is close to me and book over all is good at showing the trouble with immigrants who come to a new society and then struggle with individual and cultural identity. I was disappointed by the way the book ended. The last part of the book sets you up for a some fantastic event but then the whole thing unravels and then everything is hastily explained in about a page. I hate happy endings, I am one for the tragedy in the Shakespearean sense, where everyone dies or atleast the main character is screwed royally by life. Zadie Smith does do a good job of building characters that are real and most of them in this book seem hopeless and just shuffle through life. The book as a whole was good though not great as some have herald it. I would say read it if you have nothing else on your book list.

The next book I am on to is The Devil in the White City by Eric Larson. A non-fiction crime book that so far is a very good read.

Not Cool

2006-07-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,

This is the first time I am using the letter writing format as I wish to convey something more than a post, as John Donne once said "More than kisses, letters mingle souls." So it is my need to vent if you will that has lead me to this format. Yesterday was not a good day (people always seem to vent about bad things and not the good). It in fact made me wonder if I had made a mistake coming out here. But I am getting ahead of my self and lets start at the beginning.
I was woken up at around 7:30 am by Judy, who needed me to email some files that she needed for her presentation at the conference. I don't have the Internet at my house as of yet so i had to go over to Judy's. When there Judy informed me that I needed to go to her office and get the files from a flash drive she had left there. So I go do that and email the files to her and she is all happy and such. I go back to her place so I can pick up my ids and money to open a bank account. I again leave making sure that all things are locked and I am not leaving unnecessary appliances on and do my thing at the bank. After which I come back to Judy's and finish up setting up my online banking and such. At this time the heat and just running around with errands has got me a little tired and I call Judy and tell her that I have a new bank account and that I might nap on her bed. Mind you I have kept the door closed to the room as not to disturb the roommates in anyway. I wake up from my nap and step outside of Judy's room to find a note from one of the roommates asking to speak with me. Now this is where my day turned from alright to bad. Her roommates proceeds to tell me that now that I have my own place that I should not be in their house, that when Judy is here I am her guest and that's OK but if she is not it was not cool. I was dumb struck and said sorry, not realizing that I had not done anything wrong. I gathered my things from Judy's room and left. It is only then that it hit me that I had every right to be there. Judy had asked me to be there and she knew I was in her room. It wasn't like I was eating the roommates food or getting in their way I was just in her room quietly minding my own business. This lead to me being quite angry and depressed and realizing that I am very much on my own here. I really don't know anyone besides Judy and no friends to turn to in this type of situation. Of course these things take time and no one can expect to move and have it be like home. In the end all this thinking brought up a fear that maybe this is not for me, and maybe I should have stayed in Maryland or gone to Bangladesh for a year. I called a few friends and I realized that it was just a bad day and in the end I should not second guess myself and the reason for being here out weigh any for not. The reason I am here is Judy and it is simply that.
So there I have vented and I am sorry to subject you the reader to it. I am sure it sounds trivial and what not but it does help. I promise that next time I will keep the venting to a minimum and stick to the non coherent jabber that you usually find here. Again thank you for at least reading this far.

Sincerely,
Shah

Downers Grove IL.

2006-07-08T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hi who ever is reading this page from Downers Grove Il I thank you for taking the time to read. Also a hi to whoever is reading in Winthrop Ma though I have a feeling I know who it is. Though I think there was one person who was misguided and landed here when looking for Temecula wineries. Yeah there is no hiding or stalking in the world of Google Analytics. Though I guess you could use a vpn or a proxy server to fool people.

Today I signed up for skype but I don't know anyone else who uses it, but if you use it and want to chat my screen name is sapphirepal (also my AIM SN).

I finally got a place to live and it is cheap and close to Judy. The address is 3648 Mt Vernon Ave., Riverside, CA 92507 so if you are in the neighborhood just pop in and say hi. Jatin the man of satin will be on this coast in August as will Pimpbot who I will try and go see but I am not sure how everything will work out. I think Brian will be dropping by some time this month. The bad thing is I don't have a job or a car so that makes it hard to come see people as I don't have the means of getting there or funds for the trips.

Judy goes to Philly tomorrow for a week to attend a conference. I am not sure what I am doing but mostly fixing up the place that I am living at.

Currently listening to "So Here We Are" By Bloc Party

You are a fish monger

2006-07-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

I think I might have found a new place to live, but (everything has a catch) I havent been able to contact the people, who have ginven out a) the wrong number or b) are never hokme to answer the phone and don't own an answering machine. Either way this place is closer to Judy and is cheaper in rent and hopefuly sans shag carpeting. I am keeping my fingers crossed but not getting my hopes up. I think that is my motto for this adventure. So nothing more to report on, but if anything does come up I am sure it will be posted right here.

Happy right to bear arms day!!!

2006-07-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Hi kiddies. I hope your summer is going well. Mine is going along very nicely, besides the whole not having a home or job thing. But I am on it, today I interviewed for a potential "career" with a career center (euphemisms are great). The lady refused to call it a temp agency. Well we will see what comes of it. They want to place me in banks or something but then again my experience shows I am good at, you guessed it, customer service . Its like just because it is what I have done in the past I must do it in the future. Fuck that shit. Oh well it will give me money so I can go to school and then get my dream job , which is the point of me coming to California. I should really look into working at a bar, I mean it can't be that bad... can it? So Judy is going to Philly for a conference and I am not sure what the hell I am doing. It will be weird being at her place with out her there. I need to get away for that time period but there are a few places where I can go. Hmm... Any way I hope all of you have a fun and safe 4th of July and watch out for those redcoats there are a tricky bunch (I don't think that they know what a redcoat is).

Currently thinking of ways to loose weight

Its cold outside but her popsicle melts

2006-07-02T12:58:00.000-07:00

Actually it hotter than hell outside. The second you step into the sun it feels like someone is holding a blow torch to your face. Because of the stifling heat Judy and I went to a local bar to see the Brazil v. France game. The bar was filled with a large number of Brazil fans and a small but vocal group of French supporters. Judy and I sat in he back and enjoyed a pitcher of Blue Moon and, a Artichoke and pine nut topped pizza. The game was very exciting though I don't think Judy cared much for it, but none the less I had fun. After the game we went to the movies (a good way to avoid this heat, oh Judy's house has no air conditioning) and saw Superman. It was good and made me all nostalgic about my youth. The new Superman looks and acts a lot like Christopher Reeves. I like how they kept the music and credit font the same. The acting was not bad, I wouldn't give out Oscars but it was good for the type of movie it was. I would say it is on the level of Spiderman. All in all a good movie to watch on the big screen. While on rottentomatoes.com I came across this description of the new Strangers With Candy Movie

This movie is worse than flying from JFK to Singapore in the middle seat between two chatty Scientologists. It's worse than do-it-yourself rhinoplasty. It's even worse than college improv.- Kyle Smith , NY Post

Ouch; a little harsh but I don't think Ill pay to see the movie. The next movie I really want to see is Who Killed the Electric Car? It should just inform me that my views on big oil and the Detroit are correct. Other movies that I will try to watch are :Cleks 2, My super Ex girlfriend, Little Miss Sunshine,and Scoop. What better way to waste away the hot summer days than in a cool theater. I also need to get into the music scene here. I wonder who is playing where and when....

Currently Typing from UCR library

Sour Grapes

2006-06-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

I am homeless. The abode I was talking about fell through, but on the bright side it had shag carpeting and sucked. For the past week I have been busy helping Judy at her field site in Forest Falls. I go there and do manual labor like dig trenches in soil that is mostly large rocks and carry shovels up debris flow channels. I am complaining for my aching back is killing me. But on the other hand for Judy I would move mountains.
So plan for next week is to interview at a temp agency on Monday at 9, look for a new place, and go see the Bangladeshi Consul General about networking me with a few big wigs.

Happy Fourth of July, and for the first time it will also be my Independence day. YAY.

Currently typing from UCR Soil and Minerology Lab

Tarepanda

2006-06-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

I got in at 1 am last morning. The flight was very turbulent up to Las Vegas but I did have three seats to my self. I tried to nap but the cosntant shaking kept me up. From Vegas it was a short half hour flight. The person across the aisle thought I was a Mexican and started to speak at a furious speed about, from what I could make of his hand gestures, was the oppression the white man was putting on him. I loked at him blankly and said in English that I did not understand him for I did not speak his language. He seemed very disappointed and looked around him to see if he could vent to someone else but he just talked to his companions and that was that.

I am currently at Judy's lab typing on her computer as her home network apparently is an anti-Macite. I have a connection but it wont let me get to the internet. All the rest of her roommates have it working. Oh well there is very little I can do. I get to see my potential new abode on Monday so that should be fun. Ok I need to get going we are about to leave for her house.

Oh I have been her about a day and a half and I already been to 4 wineries. Hah! Temecula is only 40 mins away and has some good port. More on that later. Tata.

The time has come

2006-06-19T21:06:00.000-07:00

Goodbye DC, hello California. All things are set up. I sold my car for a lot less than I wanted to. I am mostly packed. I have said my byes to most people, but its not like it is forever. I love what Greg wrote and I agree. This is another chapter to my life. Most of the people I call friends I will see again and again, so no worries it is not that easy to be rid of me. If anyone ever ventures into my part of the world, know that I will always greet you with open arms. I will miss all of you, and I wish all of the best in what will come in the future. This blog will stay under this name and probably be more about me adjusting to life out there. I will put up pics from the past weekends as soon as I can.

It is getting late and I will write more when I am less exhausted. To the people I have not seen or get a chance to say goodbye I am sorry but I am sure I will see you again. If it is the last time I get to see you I hope you had as much fun as I did. I love you all and next time I will write to you as a Californian.

Goal!!!!

2006-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

I move June 20th. I fly out that night reach Ontario California at 1 am and then a short drive to Riverside . And that is it... I go west .

Friday was fun though !!! should have played for longer and played songs that people knew.Oh well it is well known they are jerks. Yester day was World Cup watching then walking around downtown Frederick, then Mike and I watched Old school which ended at 10. So after that I just came back and had a quiet night at home.

Today more World Cup and maybe a visit from a friend. Also lots of laundry and sorting of what I want to take and what goes to the Salvation Army.

As for the rest of the week I need to take care of things in Frederick and then sell my car or donate it (I just need to get rid of it).

We will see where this all leads.

Currently watching Mexico v. Iran

Läßt gehen Deutschland

2006-06-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

YAY!!! World Cup time. I don't care who wins, I just love watching soccer. Though I think Germany has a good chance because of home field advantage. France , and Brazil are looking good. If Ihad to choose a team it would have to be Spain .

Yesterday was like 4 days in one. Greg and I went to the National Gallery of Art where we looked at art for about 2 hours. Then I thought it would be a nice day for a walk and we ended up at a small farmers market. Greg and I bought some bread that was amazing and we had this tomato olive oil and feta cheese that they were giving out that was just insanely good. Then we walked to Dupont circle and had a great dinner at Kramer's. We had a few drinks and were joined by Daniel, Laurel and Jordan. After dinner we went over to Daniels "e- lounge" and watched the first half of the NBA Finals.

Tonight is !!! with Mike, Greg , Josh , Matt and a few others so it should be great dance fest. Before that I will be in Frederick hanging out with Dave celebrating his entry into the Air Force .

Currently watching Germany v. Costa Rica

Is this thing on?

2006-06-06T20:07:00.000-07:00

So the time is nearing closer and closer. I wrote to one place in Riverside that is close to where Judy lives and the rent is $415 dollars for a room and shared bathroom. I hope I get it and the people are nice. But we will see what happens.

I am becoming more and more a google-phile. They are coming out with a online spreadsheet and that looks great. I love the reader they have and just started using their research tool. Viva le Google and I hope one day it will take over the world.

I am going to the !!! concert at The Black Cat on Friday and this time (unlike the time for Ladytron) I bought tickets ahead of time. Last time I saw them they blew me away. It will be whole bunch of fun.

Daniel moved into a new place in D.C. and it is amazing. Jealousy does not even come close to describing my feelings. He has everything there, close to bars, close to his job and surrounded by a great city... Daniel if you reading this I want your life.

Enough envy for now .

Currently watching "Clear and Present Danger"

Back in the good old USA

2006-06-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

I am back. I leave for California soon. The date is yet to be fixed because I need to get rid of my car and also because there is a chance of getting to Albuquerque for very little money. Seth is driving there to help move his mom and he said I could come along. The only problem is he is leaving on the 26th so that is a bit late. But then again saving some money might be worth it.

I hung out with young Greg yesterday and then Mike , Dave and Insley. It was fun and just reminded me of the people I will miss when I am in California. But that is life; we move lose touch, stay in touch, relationships change, and that is a part of life. I just hope that maybe years from now some one will think back and say, " That Shah was good guy I am glad to have known him"... Though I am sure some people will the say" Shah who?" Or " Good riddance" but hopefully those people are few.

Saturday I am going to go to Liz's party with Insley. Insley is moving to Indiana with Nazar... It seems every one is moving.

Tonight is Kristen’s Birthday and it will be nice to see Daniel , Jatin, Kristen and Jordan. I am not sure who else is coming but I hope there are more people. It will be nice to see people and have a good time.

Blah too sentimental... Too boring...

Currently watching Super Group

Staying alive

2006-05-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

I feel a whole lot better, I took some meds ate some yogurt, so I feel better. Not much to say except that traffic here is like on the wilson bridge during rushhour and if everyone driving was blind. Scary is an understatement, it makes me want to belive in a God its that bad. I took a small movie of it which ill post once I am back. Alright I got go. I hope all of you are having fun and doing well.

Ill

2006-05-06T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yeah my 3rd day here and I think I alread have cholera or some other "tropical" disease. Blah I hope I get better tomorrow, tho I feel better than I did in the morning. Also its hotter than hell during the day and sometimes we dont get electricity so that I cant run the a/c. :-( but we do have generators which run the fans. Any way I need to rest some more.

In the motherland

2006-05-04T11:27:00.000-07:00

Hello out there! Well I made it. It was looooong and boring flight here but I survived. I did write a post while in London but I could not get on the internet from my laptop.

So I land and I am greated at the door by my Mom and Dadand I taken away with out passing through customs or anything straight to the car and home. Someone else got my suitcases and delivered it to my house....

anyway I am jet lagged and I need some sleep so I will write more later.

Saturday was fun

2006-05-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came to the party on Saturday, I had a blast. I don’t remember how the night ended but that’s ok. I just know it was great. It is sad that this will be last time I get everyone like that in the same place for such a long time. By the way the pictures are up on facebook.

On other news I am currently in Frederick running some errands. I need to get emissions tested for Betsy. But before that I have to drop off Nazar’s tub at Insley’s then have lunch with Dave. I need to go to the post office so I can mail off a couple of things. Yeah then I head back to Centerville then pack the rest of my stuff. Tomorrow I leave at 11:00 PM to go to Bangladesh. I can’t say I am looking forward to this flight but its something that I have to do. I will be back on May 29th and then I am off to California and Judy!!!
Currently watching MSNBC (Don't ask)

Crossing things off my Checklist

2006-04-29T04:35:00.000-07:00

~~Go to Bangladesh embassy and get “ No Visa Required Stamp”~~

~~Finish up with the Examiner.~~

~~Clean downstairs and get ready for the party~~

Have party

Get car emissions tested.

Go to Frederick and see aunt and get things for trip to Bangladesh

Pay car insurance

Get packed

Go to Bangladesh

Well actually there are probably a hundred more things I could add to the list but you get the picture. On Thursday I said good-bye to Josh and David and that was a sad moment, because they had been my roommates and just getting nostalgic with them was a little depressing.

Today is the big party, I still have to go to Cosco and get some bulk foods and I need to go get the beer and ice and liquor. But all in all it looks as if it will be a good party. If no one shows up I get left with a lot of drinking and that’s not a big problem. If everyone shows then that’s great and a jovial time will be had. I still need to call Dustin and Nick to give them directions but I believe that facebook has a map option in it. Call me if you are lost. People coming please park in the park and ride lot next to the complex it’s a short walk to the house from there. Don’t worry you can call me and I will show you the way. Don’t worry about inviting too many people because there is no such thing. I am sure that there will be plenty to drink and eat tonight. Festivities start at 6 with grilling of hot dogs and hamburgers. Ok so everyone set? Good!

Almost but not quite

2006-04-27T02:21:00.000-07:00

I forgot my book today, which is bad cause today I don’t have working computer (I am on my laptop which is not connected to the network drives) so I am basically getting paid to do nothing. I have my phone on so I can take the calls but someone else has to put in the information. We have yet another new person who seems a bit more excel literate, she is one of the verifier’s daughter. Though there is some controversy over her being here as my direct supervisor said she would not work here and now here she is. Hmmm… office politics and gossip. Oh well I don’t have to worry about it.

Today I overslept and could not make it out to D.C. to get my passport stamped or what ever. I also need to get my car emissions tested and pay for car insurance. Blah… I also need to get the oil changed but I might wait till I am back from Dhaka. This weekend is my party and before that I think I am going to go to Maryland Day, so if anyone wants to join and then ride with me back to Centerville they are more than welcome. I hope there is a decent turn out for the party; instead of a keg I was thinking a bunch of cases of beer some liquor such as gin, vodka, rum and some mixers. Definitely something red and something blue, while a clear one to make white, or white wine. If we run out of alcohol before 11 the grocery store is a short trip away so we are totally covered. It looks like there will be about 25 people there so that’s a decent size. There is a party in St. Mary’s that has like 50 people showing up to it, but I was just there and gas is way to expensive for that.

I am thinking that my next car will be an old school beetle, I have been looking at them on Ebay and they seem to be cheap and most are restored and working well. I would obviously have it checked out thoroughly before buying it. Like they say once bitten twice shy. Shit 2 more hours to waste….

Go WIZARDS!!!!
Currently listening to "Wish List" by Jets to Brazil