Job Counts...
Five Reasons I LOVE My Job
5. The children at my school are so much fun. Although I don't work with them directly, I still get hugs everyday.
4. Some of my co-workers are true comedians and have me laughing all day long.
3. Depending on who calls in sick, this office can definitely be a place of peace for eight hours.
2. The check is always on time and directly deposited into my account...oh, and I have benefits. (This is important because I taught at a Muslim school for four years without these things).
1. Helping someone achieve something they really need is a wonderful feeling.
Twenty Reasons I HATE My Job
20. Folks act like my name is so hard to pronounce, so they decide to say it the way they choose, but then wonder why I don't respond when they call me AR-knee-sha, A-knee-si-ah, Selena, Saleen, Sha-leen, etc.
19. Upper Management is so pressed for folks to check their email although you ONLY hear about office news through the grapevine...like, what's the point? "We have a meeting today? Really? Thanks for telling me, Sandy, cause it definitely wasn't in my email."
18. Folks refuse to answer their phones, KNOWING it's for them!! Why the hell does someone else have to answer the phone and you KNEW it was for you....folks always want to be made to feel like they have personal secretaries in this camp.
17. Myspace is blocked for my daily entertainment.
16. The internet is so damn slow...
15. Supplies needed to do my job are not always readily available...
14. Some of my co-workers are so inconsiderate of their noise level. Just because you fell in love with Yolanda Adam's last CD doesn't mean I want to praise Jesus all day every day...nor do I feel the need to join in and/or LISTEN to your sing-a-long.
13. Thirty minute meetings last for two hours because some of my co-workers don't understand that a meeting is not the proper time and/or place to discuss your PERSONAL issues that have absolutely NOTHING to do with our job.
12. I'm not utilizing my skills to their full potential and I find myself growing lazy because of my environment.
11. This place doesn't meet my sanitary requirement level. If they keep playing, I'm calling Fox 5.
10. You have to live in fear for eight hours that some knuckle-headed kid is outside spray painting your damn car.
9. Some of my co-workers talk too damn much, all day long about absolutely nothing.
8. I'm the youngest one in my office, but you wouldn't know that through conversing with some of these chicks.
7. My manager asks me dumb ass questions as an effort to start a conversation then wonders why I look at her like she's stupid.
6. Some of the parents I work with seriously drain me simply because they refuse to do anything for themselves, they want too many handouts, and love to complain about problems they bring on themselves.
5. I work with parents who should have never been allowed to procreate...although I can't make that judgement cause I'm not Allah (swt). I'll just say their parenting skills are horrible.
4. The Director of this program is a miserable woman who wants everyone around her to be just as miserable...if she thinks I'm falling for it, she's got it twisted.
3. The time moves very slow in this place.
2. I can't bring my lunch to work because I don't trust the refrigerator or microwave.
1. Upper Management are idiots who swear they know it all...Fox 5 definitely needs to be notified.
I think the scale is broken...
...cause the sucka won't move! Alhamdullah, I lost ten pounds over the last month and my goal is to lose ten more by my birthday, which is in December. I've gotten so excited about my ten pound drop, that I think I'm stuck cause the scale won't move. Over the last month, I have changed my diet, which I believe contributed to my weight loss (well, that and fasting). I stopped eating fast food and found healthy alternatives, cut out the snacking all day long, cut out the sodas, cut out the candy...just tried to cut out all those things I am used to and find healthy alternatives, which actually worked. Now that I'm not fasting anymore, I have kept my habit of eating healthy, no snacking all day, etc. I make sure to take my multi-vitamin every morning, which is still hard since I don't consider myself a daily pill popper, but the scale won't move. Insh'Allah, I'll try some new things to get the weight off in November...probably start exercising more regularly, which I really need to do. I have a friend who LOVES to exercise and I wish I could take on her enthusiasm about it. I guess I just have to find something I love to do that I can do on a three times a week basis. I pray I can reach my goal by December. That will be a great birthday present to myself.
Men and their toys...
A co-worker decided he wanted to treat me to lunch today, so I accepted. So, we jumped in his car and headed to Whole Foods. As soon as I closed the door and buckled my seat belt, I notice all the gadgets he had in there...a tv here, a tv there, a remote to this, a remote to that...he's driving while we're watching a DVD and the whole time I'm wondering, "Isn't this dangerous? I mean, watching a movie and listening to the radio are totally different while operating a vehicle." It was so funny how he used a remote to control something that was in his reach...I just had to sit back and chuckle about that one. Men and their toys...funny.
Circle Time Success
I love to spread the joy of Eid. Those who know me know I LOVE to give gifts and decided to pass out candy on Eid day. So, I went to Costco and found Chocolate wrapped like gold coins and decided that it would be cute to pass those out on Eid and give some to my non-Muslim co-workers as well. I ended up making these cute gifts for my co-workers. I took two coins and wrapped them with pre-cut tool (I think that's how you spell it), attached a note that said "Eid Mubarak" with a brief explanation of the holiday and tied it to the candy with gold ribbon. They came out really pretty. As I passed them out to my co-workers, everyone expressed their gratitude and asked questions about Eid and Ramadan. One of the teachers was so interested that he asked me if I would talk to his students about Eid. So, of course I say "SURE!" I used to teach and miss it dearly, so getting back in the classroom for a presentation seemed exciting. As I prepared my power point presentation in my head about Ramadan and Eid, the thought hit me..."Wait, they are three years old. Wow...how am I going to explain Ramadan and Eid to three year olds while making it interesting??" I thought about it and thought about it and decided to read them a story, but found that I didn't have one. So, I decided to make them a coloring page that said "Happy Eid" with Eid Mubarak written in Arabic, and give them chocolate treats as well. That took care of the "gift" portion, but what was I going to tell them? I decided to wing it and go with whatever came out of my mouth when I got there. This made me really nervous, because I'm used to always being prepared. So, I just asked Allah (swt) to bless me with the words to tell these children about this wonderful holiday and ALHAMDULLAH, it went sooooooooooooo well. The children were VERY attentive and interested in everything I said. I made sure to include them in a lot by having them say "Eid Mubarak" to each other and things like that. I also colored one of the pictures and colored each Arabic letter a different color and we went over how to spell Eid Mubarak in Arabic. It was really nice. At the end, I gave each child their own chocolate candy gift, which they were VERY excited about. They gave me a "roller coaster" at the end which is their way of clapping...it was too cute.
Oh, the horror...
Only 14 minutes until the end of the work day and my co-workers are sitting here having a IN-DEPTH conversation about various liquors...I'm feeling drunk just listening to them...I swear I'm made to sit and listen to the worst conversations known to man in this office...times like this I wish I had a sound proof cubicle...YA ALLAH!
Blown on Eid Day...
Ok, so my Masjid projected for Eid to fall on Tuesday, so all the festivities were planned for Tuesday. Eid actually came on Monday, which threw a lot of people off, including myself. The Eid prayers were prayed at the Masjid on Monday, but it was announced that the festivities would still take place on Tuesday. I was a little blown since I had taken off work Monday and now I wouldn't have an Eid celebration to attend. After the prayer, two of my friends informed me that Eid festivities were taking place in Baltimore, which is about a 30 to 45 minute drive from DC. We decided to go there since we had all taken off and wanted to partake in some kind of Eid celebration. While there, I ran into a guy who I hadn't seen since 9th grade. His sister and I were great friends. Since she is in the military and had been to Japan, Iraq, etc., we sorta lost touch. When I saw him I was truly happy that maybe I would be able to contact her again. Imagine my surprise when he told me that she was in DC, but would be returning to Oklahoma in a few days, so of course I wanted to see her and gave him my number to give to her and everything. So, we chatted on and off the entire day...real cool guy. (Rewind: this was my second time seeing him because I saw him the previous Saturday at an Iftaar where we spoke very briefly). Ok, so after talking to him and all this, one of my friends asked me what his name was. Before that moment, I had never even thought that I didn't say his name, although he had said mine a few times, which meant he knew it...that's when I remembered that I didn't remember his name. I mean, I hadn't seen this guy for a good fourteen years and even then, we didn't talk like that. I mean, he was a year below us and he was my friend's little brother, so come to think of it, I doubt I knew his name then. Anyway, she tells me to ask him, which isn't an option since we had talked so much that at this point it would be extremely embarrasing if I was like, "By the way, what's your name?" I mean, it was really too late for me to ask. So, I tell her to ask him simply because it wouldn't come off obvious that I didn't know it and wouldn't seem weird since she had never met him. But, instead of doing that simple task, she goes "She's too embarrassed to tell you this, but she doesn't remember your name." (Aneesah + comment = BLOWN) I'm not one to be easily embarrased and haven't felt embarrassment in years, but this TRULY embarrassed me. He looked pretty blown too as he told us his name.
Wow...yeah, I felt bad. I think the thing that blew me was having something done to me that I wouldn't do to someone else...
Hakuna Matata
lol...I knew my last post would cause an outbreak of comments from those who know me, but ladies, no worries...I'm five months older. I've had five long months to think about the ENTIRE situation and be COMPLETELY honest with myself about it for once...besides, the closer I get to 30, the less crap I'm able to handle.
So, I called and he answered. When I heard his voice, I'll admit that I felt a hint of "I've missed him", but the feeling of "we're not doing this again" was a lot greater. The conversation pretty much went the same way I've heard it many times before...nothing was new, of course, and this time he did 95% of the talking. There was the "we've been friends for too long to be mad at each other", the "I've been thinking about you a lot", and the ever popular "I'm sorry". I've repeatedly heard these sentences as I've known him the last thirteen years of my life. The conversation was short...maybe about five minutes since I was at an event and he was obviously busy as well, but when I woke up the next morning, I noticed that I missed another call from him later in the evening, which I didn't feel the need to return.
I'm not going to write about my experiences with him over the last thirteen years because it has DEFINITELY been an emotional rollercoaster, but I will say that I believe I'm at a stage in my life where I've gotten off the ride while leaving the anger and bitterness in the seat...maybe that's why I called back. Who knows? Maybe we both needed that five minute conversation to move on. I have missed him, but I know that it is a combination of missing who he was years ago and missing the person I wanted him to be, not necessarily missing who he is now.
So, that's what it is now...I guess once we have our long talk where we are both completely honest with each other, we'll be ok. But, I honestly don't see that happening...
To answer, or not to answer? That is the question...
SO.....I'm in the car driving to what promises to be a nice iftaar with some cool folks and food when my cell phone rings. I felt it vibrating in my purse by my feet, but at that moment, I was too lazy to even look and see who was calling, so I left it alone. I arrive at the iftaar and made my rounds: a kiss kiss here, hug hug there, said a few "Hey, haven't seen you in a while"s, smile for the camera here, smile for the camera there, hug a kid here, kiss a kid there, said a few "Wow, he's/she's gotten so big"s, a Ramadan Mubarak to the left, a Ramadan Mubarak to the right...the rounds are complete, so time to relax and eat (hey, that rhymed). So, I'm sitting laughing and eating with friends when a little birdie reminded me that I missed a call. I dig in my purse for my cell, click it open and see that not only have I've missed Muneera's call AGAIN, I see a name I haven't seen there for at least five months...wow...had to sit all the way back in the seat and pause with the question flashing in my mind: Call back or no? Hmmmm...needed advice on this one. I asked two close friends who were in tune with the situation whether or not I should call back...one decided on rock, paper, scissors for the answer, which resulted in I shouldn't...the other friend told me that I shouldn't and explained why, and her reasons were extremely valid. So, I decided not to call...but the question kept eating at me: why is this person calling me, ESPECIALLY during the month of Ramadan?? So, I called back hoping to get the voicemail, but he answered...
To be continued...
Stepping into my personal space block...
Ok, I HATE being in line at the store and having the person behind me stand so dag-on close. I move up, he/she moves up...I move up a little more, he/she moves up a little more....I feel like turning around and yelling STOP FOLLOWING ME, DAMN!!!! What is up with that though? As Amatullah would say, "You plan on paying for my items, too? I mean, are we together??"
Oh, and the stupid comments/questions strangers feel the need to share blow me...they just get looked at with my blank face...for example:
Yesterday, I was in line at the grocery store. There was a lady in front of me who had her items on the belt. I had my items on the belt right behind hers and they were separated with the spacing thingy. So, this lady gets behind me and she has a LOT of groceries. She decides to be generous and let the lady behind her get in front of her because they lady only had like four items. Instead of putting her items on the belt, she decided to hold them, which was her business. So, get this: The cashier is done ringing up the lady in front of me, so my items slid up to the cashier. The lady behind me looks at my items on the belt and asks, "Are those yours?" (blank look while thinking "WHO THE HELL ELSE'S ARE THEY?) Items on belt next to ME plus ME equals MY ITEMS...she didn't get a response to that question. I mean, I know I must have seemed rude, but I figured she had to figure that out on her own..or at least she would get the answer when I walked away with the bags...
I try not to be rude, folks, but I mean, I can't think for everyone. I need others to use their brain power as well...
After three years of procrastinating, it happened today.
I've been putting it off and putting it off, but this morning, I finally did it: I regsitered to take the Praxis I exam. The Praxis I exam is a Pre-professional exam consisting of reading, writing, and mathematics that all educators must take now-a-days for certification. I need to take it in order to apply to a Master's program, and this test is the only thing that has been stopping me from applying. So, Insh'Allah (G-d Willing), I will take it next month. I made myself apply today, since today is the deadline. If I hadn't registered today, I would have had to wait until January to take it since that's the next time it's being offered. One of my goals is to have this test taken by my birthday, which is in December, so I'm happy I'm going to be able to accomplish that...just pray for me that I pass it. I hate taking standardized test, which is probably why I kept putting it off. I'm itching to go back to school, so I had to do it...
On another note, you all don't know the Spider-Man moves I had to pull yesterday in order to get my Sims game. After three hours of searching, I finally found it and had to drive out to St. Charles Town Center to get it. The pathetic thing is St. Charles Town Center is a good thirty minute drive from where I live. The other stores have it on their shelves today, but I couldn't wait another day. Yes, it was that serious for me and, yes, it was definitely worth it.
I'm at work now, and yes, you guessed it...it's an "in-house annual" Thursday. I worked hard Monday and Tuesday, so I've put in my time for the week :)...
Tomorrow's going to be a great day!
Why? Because the new expansion pack to The Sims 2 titled "The Sims 2: Pets" will make it's way to the shelves of stores everywhere. Anyone who truly knows me knows that I am a Sims addict. I'm such an addict that I am calling in late to work tomorrow just so I can be at Target when it opens and grab a copy...yeah, it's that serious. If I wait to go on my lunch break or after work and they are sold out, man, it's not gonna be pretty, so yes, it is that serious. AND, now that I have a laptop (Oh, thank you Allah (swt) for it), I will play at work for the rest of the day cause I'll be on what I like to call "in-house annual leave"...that's where I go to work, but do nothing pertaining to my job, so technically, I'm on leave, but since I'm physically at work, I'm still getting paid...but I digress. I've been waiting for this expansion pack since The Sims 2 came out, which was almost three years ago, so yes, a sista is excited...if you think I'm bad, you should visit the website and see all the folks who are more excited than me at
www.thesims2.com. Click on the BBS, go to Pets and read all the hype...
This is nothing...in three months, the Seasons expansion pack is coming out...it's gonna be a riot! It's a shame that these are the things that get me excited about life, but hey, I'm about to be 28 in a little over a month, I'm single, and I don't have kids, so what do you expect? I look to technology to keep me entertained and to tell you the truth, I don't mind :).
I finally made up my mind...
...and started a blog for myself. I love to read other people's blogs, so I figured I'd share my thoughts as well. I hope the reader gets something out of my posts, be it a good laugh, a good lesson, or just a good "what the hell is she talking about?" thought which strikes up the urge to comment. I look forward to reading comments about my posts as I've kept a journal since 7th grade and never once had a response to anything I've written, well, except when I would go back years later and comment on some of the things I wrote like, "You wrote this? Why?"...or, "Sounds like the same thing you wrote yesterday...give some variety, would ya?"...yeah, I get bored and do things like that...at least I did...
Well, until next time, my readers...
