reverie

I turned 25 on Monday. I think the greatest thing about it was that Nicole got Jared Leto to come to my party. ;) Actually the greatest part about it was being surrounded with so much love. I may not have an amazing career, a nice car, a husband & 2.5 kids, or any of the typical measures of "the American Dream," but I have something so much better than all of that. I have the most amazing people in my life. And I know in my head that I am blessed with so many people who love me, but it was so nice to really have that lavished on me this past weekend. With cards & notes & phone calls & hugs & cookies & presents. It was truly wonderful. Here are some photo highlights. Saturday night I had a Fake Asia night for my birthday party. Pretty much that just means an Asian themed party with candy sushi instead of real sushi. It's also funny because I'm half Indian which in my mind makes me Asian, but most people don't consider Indians to ...

1. go to 30 Seconds to Mars concert check. 2. touch Jared Leto check. haha 3. have an amazing 4 day weekend check. 4. decorate for Christmas well this didn't happen yet, but that just means there's something wonderful to look forward to this week. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving day/weekend. I hope all of you did too! :)

I realize I have been rather delinquent in posting of late. I intended to respond to all of the comments on the previous post, but alas time has gotten away from me. For now I will just say, thank you & I love you guys. This has been a wonderful Thanksgiving week already, far better than I had even imagined. Sunday The afternoon was spent driving back from my church's young adult retreat. We got a bit off course and the trip took much longer than anticipated, but it was a fun ride back with friends. Monday I got my ipod back from Apple after I sent it in for replacement due to a dead battery. This was much quicker than I anticipated. And despite the fact that I can't get the thing to work (it doesn't seem to want to charge), it's still exciting. Monday also brought the release of 30 Seconds to Mars' video for From Yesterday . The video is a martial arts epic mini movie that MTV2 says is "one of the most ambitious music films in history." Tuesday ...

For all the melodies and choruses in the world, all the songs ever written, all the music about this earth, there is no greater sound than hearing a small child say your name. I was able to be in Omaha over Labor Day weekend & spend time with my family (except Joe unfortunately) and had the distinct pleasure of hearing my youngest niece utter my name in a way that only she at this age will ever say it. And I am so pleased to report that Ashlee was right when she said a bond like what Jadyn & I had formed was not one that would be forgotten. Knowing that 4 months could pass and not break our bond makes the time between now & Christmas not seem quite so long. Don't get me wrong, I don't love or miss Alaina or Amber or the rest of the family any less. They are all very dear to my heart & I cannot wait to see them again. But Jadyn & I have a connection that I have never had with anyone else on the planet, nor am I likely to unless I have a daughter much lik...

Shauna's here! Hazaa! Hooray! And all other manner of celebratory words! On occasion I like to think back on what my life was like a year ago. Aside from looking forward to Shauna being here, very little is the same. The friends I most regularly hang out with now, I did not know a year ago. My job situation is far better than I could have ever hoped for a year ago when I was still dependent on my parents' help. And I have found a church home. It's funny how I say I don't like change because I can't tell you how happy I am that my life is so different from what it was a year ago today. The journey's pretty amazing. Tonight was a fun girls' night. We ordered pizza, watched some Gilmore Girls, and made collages. It's nice how simple things and great friends can make for such a wonderful night. :)

I went on my church's women's retreat this weekend. It was completely amazing. I didn't go there with any expectations. I just knew I wanted to spend the weekend in fellowship with some wonderful women. There had been something pressing on my mind and I prayed about it, but I didn't expect God to move in the way he did about it, probably because I didn't realize what I needed from him in the situation. Thankfully He did know what I needed. It's a long story, thus the vagueness, if you would like to hear it, call me and I'll probably tell you. In other delightful news, they always do a raffle at the retreat. Women put together these amazing baskets to be raffled and the money goes to support our missions efforts in Jamaica. I actually won a basket, it was a cooking themed one & it came with serving platters & a cookbook & a giftcard to my favorite grocery store. Hazaa! The funny thing is that even though winning it was very exciting, whe...

Nothing can quite break your heart like saying goodbye to beautiful children you won't get to see again for 7 months. 7 months! In that time Jadyn will turn 2 and forget everything about this past week. Alaina will probably remember at least some things & more than likely immortalize them in song. My favorites being the "Aunt Azina" song which consists of repeating Aunt Azina over and over again to the tune of the alphabet song and the "my bum hurts" song which similarly repeats the same phrase over and over again but this time to Alaina's stock tune. I love those girls beyond words. (And just so you guys don't think I love you any less, it is sad to say goodbye to the rest of my family, but you guys won't change as much until I see you next and barring any head trauma are not very likely to forget me.) Jadyn & I really bonded this past week. She & I are truly kindred spirits. Every time my sister would make a comment about Jadyn...

Check out the iTunes free single of the week this week for a song by Plumb off her latest album "Chaotic Resolve." I'm stoked they picked one of her songs, but it's kind of annoying to me that they call her an "up-and-coming pop artist" (she's not pop, she's rock/alternative & she's been around awhile) similar to Evanescence. I myself have often compared Tiffany Arbuckle Lee's vocals to Amy Lee's (no relation so far as I know), but come on Plumb has been around way longer. Anyway, check it out it's a great song. In other good news, even though it has been raining quacktastically too much here lately, I got new windshield wipers last weekend and they are fantastic. That's pretty exciting for me. What can I say? It's the little things. :) I'm cooking for the cafe again on Sunday, I'm glad about that, it's one of my favorite parts of the week. And the week after that Nicole & I are hosting Easter Dinne...

Monday we had torrential downpour which was lovely until I tried to drive home from work through streets that had morphed into streams. The last two days have been quite delightful though. As most of you know, the parentals are in town which has been fun. Today we went to the Farmer's Market in Santa Monica. We picked up all kinds of lovely produce- so many strawberries! And my parents bought me some flowers- freesia, which if you know me well you know is one of my favorite scents & the flowers are quite pretty. I got red & white ones so they match our decor and I arranged them in the milk pitcher I painted (with the intention of using it as a vase) at Color Me Mine. Someday I will have a digital camera and will actually post pictures of these things. But most of the joy is in the scent anyway, which sadly I cannot capture for you here with any technology that currently exists. If I had enough money I would make sure there were bouquets of freesia in every room of ...

Wow, I can hardly even begin to explain how much fun I had this weekend. Thanks to all of you who helped me celebrate whether near or far away. I felt so much love this weekend & that fills my heart. Sunday at Red Robin was so delightful. 13 people were there. Nicole bought me a tiara and a pink & white feather boa. I felt kinda silly but it was also fun. I'll have to post pictures after I finish this roll of film. Yes yes, again I continue to find myself technologically stagnant. But lack of sufficient funds necessitates remaining in the 20th century. Monday night was of course karaoke. A good group of people showed up. I was this close to singing (imagine me holding my fingers quite close together), but I kinda chickened out. Maybe next week . . . Sean & Benn sang Piano Man, it was amazing. And of course there was Nate's rousing rendition of Livin' La Vida Loca. Good times. Sad that the weekend had to end, but I get to look forward to my parents b...

Delicious chocolate chip cookies from my sister! Girls' day out with Nicole, Jodi & Rachel! I had so much fun going shopping, to Color Me Mine ( watch this video ), to Panera, and to Barnes & Noble. Mmm. :) Coming home to find fun birthday greetings, including this one from my friend Nate who had left this comment this morning, "Happy Azinamas Eve! Have fun shopping." aww, how nice :) I also had this message from Yahoo, which is my homepage, "Happy Birthday, Azina! " It's silly I know, but I liked it & the little cake is a nice touch. It has been a marvelous weekend so far & tomorrow is Red Robin! Hazaa!

God whispers in our pleasure and shouts in our pain. God whispers in our pleasure and shouts in our pain. God whispers in our pleasure and shouts in our pain. Church was amazing yesterday. I was mad at a friend and angry/frustrated with God. And we sang one of my favorite songs & a song I definitely needed to hear- words below. And then the sermon was great. And through it all I just heard God saying, hey I'm here & I haven't forgotten about you & I love you so much. And oh how I felt it. And then the cafe last night was great, I laughed a lot. Break through, break through all my doubt Break through, break though all my fear Break though that I may worship you Break through, break through all my pain Break though all my guilt & my shame Break though like only you can do You are brighter than my darkest night Stronger than my toughest fight Just one touch from you my king my friend And I'll never be the same again God is amazing. :)

Tonight marks the happy return of Taco Tuesday, a new episode of Gilmore Girls, and 2 new episodes of Scrubs! That's right kids, Tuesday has gotten even better. Scrubs is back! (It was actually back last week, but I forgot to write about that in a timely manner.) And next week Tuesday could get even better. I know it's hard to imagine, but Love Monkey premieres next week & with a title like that & Tom Cavanagh in the lead, Tuesday could reach new heights of awesomeness previously unimagined. Yes, sometimes it's just the little things. :)

Nicole and I hosted Thanksgiving at our apartment yesterday. There are not enough synonyms for wonderful for me to accurately describe it to you. It was such a blessing to be able to share the day with so many friends. I love my family dearly, but this was probably the best Thanksgiving I've ever had. We had people in our house from 11 in the morning to 10 at night. Everything went quite well and though it was a lot of work on very little sleep, it was all worth it & I wouldn't have changed a thing. The refrigerator is stocked with leftovers, my head is filled with memories, and my heart overflows with joy. I couldn't have asked for a better day. I hope you had a marvelous Thanksgiving too!

I intended to post the first part of this the other day on the 19th, but alas I was busy shopping and going to Harry Potter that day. Anyhow, the 19th of every month is always significant to me, probably because my birthday is on the 19th of February. And a really cool friend's birthday is on March 19th. And the day I officially moved to LA (after my semester out here) was June 19th. In just under 3 months I will be 24. And in under 3 days it will be the 24th and it will be Thanksgiving! I am very excited about that. So I am writing my Thanksgiving post tonight because I am not sure that I will have a lot of time the rest of the week. Last year's Thanksgiving was still in a pretty difficult time of my life and while there are things that are still the same , my life as a whole is so much better this year. And even those things mentioned in the poem I am dealing better with I think. So here are some things I'm thankful for (not in much of an order per se): 1. my family 2. my...

I'm pretty sure Thursday just hugged me. :) I went to dinner tonight with my favorite new friend, it was so fun! And then upon getting home I got a call from another friend & we had a good conversation. Oh and this morning I got emails from 3 awesome people. Thanks Amber, Shauna & Nicole! Mmm I feel loved. :)

I feel as though I am not updating frequently enough, this being by my own gauge and not by comparison to say Raj who is happy if he writes a new post before the previous one is a month old. By that gauge I am way ahead of the game. ;) I also feel that I do not comment enough, so if you're sitting there thinking, why doesn't Azina comment on my blog more? all I can tell you is that your words do move me and/or make me think. There are things I wish to say here and there sometimes, but I feel too often that words are inadequate. So much happened this past weekend, and it was tiring but ever so much fun. I could give you a list of what I did, but it would look rather similar to the list that I gave you for what I intended to do this weekend. I could tell you how this weekend made me feel, but happy doesn't quite seem to capture it. Imagine a brisk night, the rain has recently ended. Moonlight glimmers in the puddles gathered in the street, or at least you pretend it is moonli...