I Have a Dream!

I honestly don't know why people are making such a big deal about NSA surveillance and the storage of phone metadata. I mean, I really have no issues with NSA listening to my phone conversations. In fact, I pity whoever has to listen to them. I mean, imagine having to listen to the phone conversations I have with my ex. I won't be surprised if they send over a terrorist to blow us out. And boy, if they are reading our emails - that might require chemical weapons. So, if they need to really go through our personal information to stop a terrorist attack, I say - go for it! In fact, I think NSA deserves a medal for going through all that crap.

I have never really talked about my divorce in my blog. Mainly because I didn't think it was anyone's business. But I was wrong and the esteemed Bengali community of Sacramento thought otherwise. And even though this deserves a whole post dedicated to the topic, I would just like to tell all of you who have shown extreme concern regarding my daughter's well-being, it would be nice for you to actually try and find out how she's doing and help out once in a while. So, take a chill pill and worry about what's happening in your home, not mine. And if you really do have that perfect family, then please try to devote your time to world peace. And remember, each time you judge me when I walk into the room, know, I'm feeling sorry for you - truly.

In other news, today is day three of my Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 workout challenge. All I can say is that, apart from discovering muscles that I did not know existed, I should have also been serious about my kegel exercises while I was pregnant. The fact that at my age I am even thinking of adult diapers makes me depressed. And that makes me eat a whole bag of chips. And that makes my workout quite meaningless. Moral of story - working out at home is depressing! I think I need a nap.

It took me a while, but I discovered the secret to being a perfect parent - alcohol and TV! Today is also day three of my little one being sick and we have not left the house so far. If you're not a parent, you will probably not understand the gravity of this situation. Remember the airline safety videos where they ask you to wear your oxygen mask first and then help your child? You have to apply that same rule when your kid is sick and stuck at home. You reach for the wine first and then the cough syrup - I am serious! And TV time is the ONLY time the coughing and whining recedes. One of these days I will find that post where I proclaimed, being a parent was the best thing that happened to me and delete that remark.

If you've been feeling jealous that I had MLK day off - this post should now put your mind at ease. And this quote couldn't me more appropriate in my life right now: "I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream." Just that my dream involves a beach and a private jet.

Jokes apart, I pay respect today to the remarkable man who touched the lives of many ordinary citizens.

The New Year Post

When your year ends with having to dump your child’s Christmas presents in a trash bag or having to deal with the year’s worst temper tantrum right before heading out to the NYE bash, you can’t help but think you’ve had the worst year of your life. And I can’t help but wonder, whether everywhere in the world people are drinking themselves silly for similar reasons that very special night. (I think they ARE!)

But today, the very first day of 2014, was right out of a fairytale. My daughter seemed like she could be Cinderella instead of one of her stepsisters, which made me wait in anticipation all day for the bubble to pop. Only after I tucked her in bed, I realized I had the perfect day with the perfect daughter. But the day wasn’t perfect because of this one reason. The day was perfect because we were also both very sad to have said goodbye to our best friends, so sad, that my almost seven year old sat down to write a letter to her friend saying how much she was missing him and wish he had never left. That was real. That was life. And that made it such a perfect day to start the year with.

2013 was the same. It was real. It was life – complete with shitty moments and incredible ones, but most of all, a year of endurance. Today, I shamelessly pat myself on the back and shout out loud that I did really good. And I did it with grace, and dignity, and for the very first time, I am proud of myself.

I am also incredibly proud of my daughter who continually struggles to be the perfect child we all want her to be and makes me revisit the word "endurance" on a daily basis.

So, I start this new year with no resolutions or goals, but with everyday life that me and my child will truly LIVE!

Wishing all of you a year full of crazy laughs!