The rain has arrived..

Minty Mornings

It was a beautiful morning with the scent of mint in the air. The tiny green leaves stretched and peeked from behind the bricks only to be kissed by the sun. Tea cups were waiting anxiously on the kitchen table.

The Roof at Night

I was standing outside where the moon bathed everything in its glow. I looked at the sky line and saw shadows racing on the walls.

At the Greek

We went to The Greek restaurant on Ventura Harbor yesterday. The food was great and the view was very nice. The view of the marina at night was very romantic with street lights casting shadows on the walk side.

Tricks of the Mind

I flexed my fingers and resumed writing. The glow of the lamp softened the biting darkness. Words moved flawlessly across the page. Coldness started creeping to my right hand. I dropped my pen and massaged it with the left one. It felt as a ball of lava dropped in a sea of ice. I exhaled, closed my eyes, and rested my head back.

Ah.. the welcoming quietness.

I heard it then...a faint sound. The hair stood on the back of my neck. Sudden coldness infested my feet. I sat rigid on my chair listening. The sound was menacing in its purposefulness. Someone (or something?) was pacing in my room. The sound of feet walking on a thick carpet emanated from the floor behind my back. This being decided to pay me a visit in the middle of the night. It wafted closer, and its light breath fanned the back of my neck. Icy needles shot through my spine and my back slumped.
I sat there like an old woman not daring to breath. My toes touched the cold floor under the desk, and the contact jolted me back to my senses. I turned around ever so slowly.

Darkness started back at me, mocking me.

A kiss from Mommy

I saw her kiss him, and I could not resist. I snapped a photo of them.

My Grandfather's Finger

"It was a stroke of pure luck." He said.

He held his stiffly-bent index finger in front of his face and smiled.

"If it was not for that coincidence, I would not have joined the army." My grandfather chuckled.

"What happened?" I asked in anticipation.

"I was very young. A boy of no more that 10 years or so. I was playing with my mates when I lost balance and fell on my hand. I heard a muted crack, and I screamed. I broke my index finger."

"They aligned my finger with a small stick and tied them both with a piece of cloth." He paused and stroked his silver hair.

"The next day, I stood watching my friends play. I was fidgeting with my injured finger when the stick fell from its wrapping. I looked around, but I could not find it. Then the genius idea hit me." His eyes twinkled.

"I put my index finger on top of the middle finger and tied them both. I thought, 'my other finger can serve as a stick'."

He demonstrated this by crossing his index and middle finger.

"Days passed by and no one paid attention. It was time to remove the wrapping. I spread my hand, and I noticed it. My index finger healed cleanly with a permanent bent."

We both laughed.

"Forward 8 years from that day, and I am standing in the health examination room for the army's applicants. The doctor looked at my hand and grimaced. He wrote something on my slip and dropped it in the box next to him."

"We stood outside waiting for our names to be called. They were calling by first name only. I heard mine. I could not believe my ears. I was accepted after all. I took the piece of paper and went to the registration lines."

I looked at him for a moment then realization dawned on me.

"No!" I breathed.

He chuckled. "Yes, there were two people sharing the same name. I accidentally took the man's slip, and he took mine. I did not realize it till much later."

"What happened to the poor man?" I asked.

"I wish I knew." He whispered softly.

"Did they ask you to leave?" I asked, knowing the answer in advance.

"No. They realized that I can use my hand perfectly fine. It was just a matter of abnormality in its look."

Toby is Biting Everything

Toby just can't help it. His specialty is chewing shoes and table clothes.

Chewing his favorite toy, my winter slipper

Chewing the hem of my dress

Chewing the table cloth

Chewing his teething toy

Almost chewing my sibling's hand

Fishing Trip

Pictures I took of our fishing trip in Lake Casitas.

Earthquake Fun

I thought I became dizzy when my desk and monitor started shaking slightly. The shaking stopped for a breadth of a second then the dreaded tremors hit. The walls and the cubicles started swaying. I put my hand on the edge of my seat and held my breath. "Please God, don't let this one be the big one," I prayed silently. My mind went blank for a second then my thoughts went to my family at home. Gasps and exclamations rose from the cubicles surrounding me. I looked at the opposite building through the glass window from the 4th floor where I was sitting. I watched in fascination as the glass windows of the other building vibrated. It lasted about 20 seconds but it felt forever. It was a bitter reminder of the power of nature that we choose to forget.

Did anyone feel the Los Angeles earthquake when it hit on Tuesday?

The Newest Addition to Our Family

...is our puppy, Tobey. He is a 2-months old white Pomeranian. He is very adorable.

Being Quiet

Do I feel it, this quiet pulsing under my skin? Yes, I can sense the strong trickle of blood warm and steady in my veins when I put the tip of my fingers lightly against each other. Yes, I feel like a stretched web where my heart beats teetering every cord.

I laugh inwardly when they unceremoniously comment that I am demure, quiet, or shy. I instantly become a pond, and I swallow their words like pebbles momentarily breaking my surface. I let them squint at my watery exterior and think that the bottom is dark and empty. They won't see the core sighing with life between my chest and back. When I move my head sideways, I can hear the rush of ocean in my ear, but they can't. They are unaware that gilded images play on my irises under my closed eyelids every night.

When did being quiet become a shame?

Capturing Photos of Tania

My gorgeous cousin allowed me to experiment with my new camera and snap some photos of her. We took photos in front of the house in the afternoon.

Aaaand we are baking here...

Yep, it is unbelievably hot in LA. The weather has been crazy for the past three days with record-breaking temperatures. You know the feeling when you open an oven door to check on a cake you're baking? That's exactly what you feel when you exit any air-conditioned building to go outside. Scorching wave of heat will slam into your face and body making you wince. The sole of your shoes will start sizziling, and your clothes will stick to your body. Hello, summer! I hope this is not an earthquake weather.

Hello

My co-worker is hilarious. One of the things that cracks me up is the way he says hello when he walks into the office. I thought it was something that he made up until I watched this video. I sat there and laughed hysterically for five minutes straight. Now I know where he got his hello from. By the way, my co-worker is not Indian.

The Window Frame

I knew that you could not sleep at night. The whispering voice of Fairouz would filter through the door of your room after midnight.

One night, Fairouz's angelic voice beckoned me from the fitful grips of sleep. My throat felt dry, and I craved an icy cup of water. I swung my little feet to the side of bed and stepped on the cold tiles of the floor. I walked barefoot to the door and stopped. The kitchen was veiled in the dark. The hallway lamp cast shadows on the walls, and the trip from here to there suddenly seemed impossible. My eyes darted to the door of your room that stood next to the kitchen. A soft light adorned its rims. The world behind that door was my wonderland. My feet hesitated for a second before I ran to it. I placed my palm on its handle and pushed it lightly. It opened, and I was engulfed in light.

A becoming smell of Turkish coffee filled your room. You were sitting by the window with the side of your face resting on the palm of your hand. You closed your eyes and moved your head to the song coming from the small radio. The moon light washing the rose tree behind the window accentuated your profile.

"Why are you awake, tita?" You said.

"I am thirsty," I whispered.

You smiled and poured me a glass from the silver jar next to your bed. My hand shook, and drops of icy water slithered down my throat while I drank.

You took my face in your hands and sang endearments to me. You stroked my long hair and kissed the top of my head.

You held me in your arms, and your robe smelled of lavender and face powder. A cool breeze tickled the roses outside, and we both inhaled the sweet smell.

Sane People are Everywhere

God, I felt exhausted. I worked too much the past two weeks, and I had to deal with some stressful issues that won't be over for at least days to come. I felt emotionally drained and tired when I reached home after work. I only had a moment to sit at the edge of my bed when my sister walked into my room and asked if I am ready to go out. I grimaced because I remembered that I promised to hang out with her that evening. I looked at her and wanted to tell her to leave me alone, but the expectant look on her face stopped me from doing that. I reluctantly put on my shoes and headed outside with her.

We went to Coffee Beans and chose two seats next to the window. I only had one sip of my coffee when a disheveled man pulled up a chair and sat on the patio outside - right across from us . He sat so close that if it weren't for the glass, you would think him sitting at our table. I could not pay close attention to what my sister was saying because the man kept fidgeting with his seat and table. Suddenly, he tapped his finger on the glass. We turned our heads, and he smiled and waved his hand.

"Oookay...we got a friendly fellow here." I said.

We resumed our conversations. The man stood up and started swaying and dancing like he was in a trance or something.

"I think he is drunk." My sister said.

He tapped his fingers on the glass again and waved happily.

My blood pressure started to rise. He ignored my sister completely and gave me his undivided attention.

He crouched on the ground right next to me, stuck his face against the glass, and winked. He waved his arms, shook his head, mouthed unintelligible words, and batted his eyelashes.

Eh..why can't I enjoy a cup of coffee for god's sake?

My sister choked on her coffee trying not to laugh.

Me:"What's funny?"

Sister: "He likes you!"

I tried to ignore him as best as I could, but he kept tapping on the glass to make me look his way.

That's it! I could not take it anymore. When he was least expecting it, I suddenly stood up pushing my chair back noisily. He jumped and started running like the devils where chasing him.

Reading Time

I could not help but take a photo of my little brother while he was reading.

Me: How cute you are!

Brother: Go away..

Me: What is your little book about?

Brother (offended): little?... LITTLE?...come here... (he flipped a page and read) "Snake left the room and found Jim on his face lying on the ground."....you call this little?

After recovering from a fit of laughter, I snapped another picture of him. He became grumpy.

The Rules of Converse

A co-worker: Lulu, I've never heard you cuss the whole time I have worked with you. I found this really admirable.

Me: Oh, don't be. I curse, blaspheme, and swear all the time, but it all happens inside my head. I just don't like to air my dirty laundry.

The Great Indoors

I can't breathe.
I hate my room now. I hate every indoor.
I want to tear down all the walls and run.
I want to plunge into a cold pond. I want to feel the chilled water engulf me and shock me. I want to inhale the frost, feel my lungs turn to glass, and see my breaths in blue puffs.
I want to stand under the sun and feel it burn my skin, my nails, and my hair.
I want to look up and cup its glowing disk between the palms of my hands.
I want my heart to melt into a pool at my feet.
I want to feel the wind crash into my body and break my bones.
I want to walk barefoot on grass. I want to wiggle my toes in the dirt and feel the dry twigs prickle my skin.
I want to dance a Sufi dance. I want to close my eyes, throw my arms in the air, swirl around, and lose myself in the sensation of spinning.
I want to sleep under a huge oak tree. I want to sleep to the sound of its humming branches. I want to wake up to the light washing its leaves.
I want to eat wild berries, and feel its juices drip on my fingers.
I want to go bungee jumping. I want to feel the rush of leaping to the void.
I want to hold a lantern and walk through a forest at night.
I want to sit near the top of a pyramid and sip a cup of green tea.
I want to stroll in crowded streets. I want to laugh with strangers.
I want to stop being afraid.
I want to get away from the indoors.