Nishi's A Dream I Dream's Pitas Page

Welcome to Nishi's Journal part of A Dream I Dream. Nishi is a 27 year old Indian American who is working as an attorney in Manhattan. She is also a singer/songwriter who is signed with an independent record label and working on her 1st album. She dreams of bringing her songs to the world and pursuing international human rights. Nishi is an avid Japanese anime and manga fan & is a web designer too. See her major anime/manga websites listed below. She also collects anime goodies, see her Treasures.				This journal is a place for me to vent, to share, and to catch up with friends. Strangers are welcome to see the world through my eyes but respect me and my writings. Add Entry \| Login \| Edit \|

Thursday, July 22, 2004
11:10 p.m.

lord where do I begin............tonight........I went to a modeling agency.....and had my first photo shoot. What's more - it was FUN! :) The person I interviewed with told me my "look was good" and that I'd be best suited for the print ads, magazines, and tv and gave me a list of soap operas! ;) LOL! Their clients generally pay $150 per hour to as high as $1500. The photographer who took my photos had me stand in a large room against this white cloth thing set up on the floor and wall with HUGE lights and what looked like projector screens but not really and then made me stand in all these weird angles with hips thrust out here and there and I had to smile through all that ;) It was fun :) I just hope I didn't smile like a dork!

I go back next Thursday to review the photos and select the best ones to be sent out. On another note, my performance is this Saturday - I am completely ready for that! I think I might call up some other modeling agencies and see what they're about too first before I agree to anything.

My mom is so cute - I came home today and found she had my copy of Bill Clinton's MY LIFE and she proceeded to entertain me with anecdotes from the book. She adores Bill now ;) My mom loves biographies so I told her to start on Hillary Clinton's biography in my library and work on to Margaret Thatcher and Madeline Albright ;) When my mom gets excited about and passionate about a topic - she reminds me so much of myself - she launches into it with full passion and it's impossible to not be swung along for the ride :) I watched her talking to me and I totally saw myself - it's exactly the way I am when I talk about anime and manga, about international affairs and politics, about history and mythology and astronomy and anything else I love. Our eyes light up, we become very animated - I love my mom :)

Oh.....I have a scandal to share......;) ok not really a scandal....a month or so ago I went with my sister and friend Laurice to see our friend Sean's band, the MYTVs, perform at ROTHKO. While there, I took a camera shot in fun with Sean by sticking my tongue out next to his ear. Not only did my friend Laurice make doubles of that picture, she showed almost everybody who mattered to me at the firm today that picture!! I couldn't live it down all afternoon ;) I wrestled with her to get the 2 photos and tore them up and grabbed one of my other friends to show her the photo since she hadn't seen them and we dived into one of the handicapped stalls in the bathroom to hide from Laurice and when Laurice caught up with us I flushed the pieces of the pictures down the toilet! IT WAS HYSTERICAL. :) My friends John and Jenn wouldn't let me live this one down! ;) I swear I'll find something soooo incriminating on both of them I'll laugh my head off ;) ANDREW IF YOU READ THIS - HELP ME! MUUUWAAAHHAHAHAHAHHAH :D

So anywayz, aside from the fact that I'm the the supposed ear-licking girl at my firm now, the day was good :) After the modeling thing, I met with Tiffany and Bill for a late dinner at GINGER NOODLE SHOP on 7th Avenue and 38th I think (?) and I got the nicest fortune cookie which said that I would have a very productive an happy future. :)

if there's one thing I've learned in my short 27 years of existence it's that you alone control you life and your happiness. No matter who or what goes wrong in your life, you can help yourself to change things for the better. I was down yesterday because someone else let me down by telling me they were going to do something with me and then proved to be an unreliable person - so what did I do? I made the appointment with the modeling agency and I feel 100% better now. Taking actions to shape and mold your life to make it everything you ever wanted and dreamed for is the only way. Don't let anyone or anything stop you, no matter how hard it gets.

Martin Strongin Rothman & Adler? You wrote "Nailing Down the Coffin Lid: The Rise and Fall of the After-Acquired Evidence Doctrine in Title VII Litigation"? Cool! :) I'm very happy to meet you! And yes I looked you up ;) I found it hard to believe that any attorney would google 'preliminary conference' so thought that had to be made up ;) But you're legitimate :) LOL! I don't REALLY shop that much ;) hahaha just the past couple weeks cause I seem to be on a kick to max out my credit cards ;) hahahah anywayz I make the time to write - it's one of my passions......if I don't get the chance to write I go stir crazy.....again, I'm really glad to meet you! Please comment often so I know you're around :) Sashiiiiiiii if you're reading this - I demand you call me chica who did not tell me she already got MARRIED!! :) *HUGS* Adrianne and Miyu-chan do I tell you two enough how much I adore you guys and am greatful to have you guys as my friends? *HUGS* Sean raw calimari? no way! yuckkkkkkkkk hahahahah that musta been so awful! Have fun in Wisconsin! I finally fell in love with wine and cheese so I can understand!!! You're meeting 'guy' in Idaho? Wait I'm confused. Details! Email me? Sanoj I adore you too you know that? *HUG* thank you! Your message made me feel a lot better too! Email me please? Alex you're right! I forgot to include my love of learning languages! I've studied and am continuing to study (when I have time) spanish, japanese, chinese (mandarin), and hindi <--- stillll not good at this at all even though I spoke fluently till age 5.

Alrighties I'm out people. Have a wonderful night one and all! I think I might be gong out with friends tomorrow night to WEBSTER HALL! :) WOO HOOOO :D So probably won't get a chance to write till maybe Saturdya night or Sunday.

- Nishi

Wednesday, July 21, 2004
09:37 p.m.

I hate people who say one thing, make promises, and never keep them or follow up on it. Hate people who keep you hanging. Hate people who are unreliable. Flakes. I'll say this - neither he, nor the other two or anyone else is going to stop me from making my dreams come true. Even if I have to do it all myself, I will do it.

- Nishi

Tuesday, July 20, 2004
09:56 p.m.

awwwww thanks you guys! Miyu-chan *BIG HUGS* :) Memory LOL! I definitely have a good frame for it, but it's a digital photo that I actually sliced in half cause the other side has 2 of my sisters - I gotta get around to ordering a copy of it. Thank you :) *HUGS* Niovi snails? for real? aaghhhhh I never had them! And I agree with you - every woman should be treated like a queen :) *HUGS* and thank you :)

Well I hope you're all well - I was up till late last night rehearsing my song and dance for Saturday. I'm happy and confident about it although I'm gonna rehearse some more now.

Had a kick ass kickboxing class last night - took Tiffany and Bill there and they had a blast! :) Tonight, however, I wanted to get home early to rehearse but wound up shopping down in Chelsea with Laurice - hit BEBE and ANTHROPOLOGIE and ARDEN B. and lord knows what else. I made out good with a gorgeous new jacket and a lovely new pink bag to match all the gosh darn pink stuff I have lately ;)

I went down to Chinatown for lunch today to my fave NYONYA's on Mulberry and Grand right opposite the famous FERRARA's pastry shop. Got their lychee and roti canai.

I never realized before today how much I value independent thinking and actions as well as the ability to make decisions and take chances and risks as well! Back bone and healthy self-esteem - 2 things essential to me in the friends I choose to have.

Ok I'm out. See ya'll tomorrow :)

- Nishi

Sunday, July 18, 2004
10:21 p.m.

Today, I spent the day with my friend Tiffany doing one of my most favorite things (especially on a rainy Sunday like today): looking at art at the Metropolitan Museum. We went through 19th Century European art and the Dangerous Liasons exhibit as well as the Greco and Roman art, the European paintings and sculptures and a whole load else. I bought a pink Metropolitan Museum t-shirt and 3 books on painters, philospohers and a biography on Emma, the Lady Hamilton.

Afterwards, we went to Barney's to eat at FRED's - an absolutely fabulous restaurant. We ordered the 'cheeses & fruit' appetizer as well as the calamari appetizer, I ordered this Reisling white wine and a dinner of omellete and salad and we splurged on dessert - I got this peach melba thing which was good but I liked the Friteroles dessert better (caramel ice cream with chocolate sauce on these wafer things....agh my description doesn't do it justice...).....

We then shopped at SEARLE where I got a matching pink soft cotton skirt to match the pink jacket I got there last weekend. Think I'll wear it tomorrow. Then we went home and I just finished doing laundry, kept my mom company till she went to sleep and am going to finish watching the 2nd season of Sex and the City. My sister Nithi left this evening while I was out :(

I got new pictures!!!!! These are pics Ricky took of us over 4th of July weekend when he visited. The first couple are of Ricky and me and my sisters and me on the 4th at the local park here awaiting the fireworks. The 3rd picture is of Ricky and me at the outdoor garden restaurant we went to, GROTTO, on 100 Forsythe.

Anywayz, I responded to msgs in the entry(ies) below. Hope ya'll had a wonderful Sunday.

- Nishi

Saturday, July 17, 2004
05:58 p.m.

Updated again at 10:17 p.m. EST BELOW
What a hot summer day! I was outside today for a little bit. I love being warm....except when it's humid and the heat sticks on you like glue - yuck. That feels awful - after steamy August I kinda like when it gets a little cooler in September and it's more pleasant warm - but absolutely hate cold November and December days. But today was pretty. Warm breeze, warm sun, and I, for once, didn't feel sweaty at all. *sigh* I love enjoying summer.

Went and picked up dry cleaning, bought some gorceries for mummy, went to the bank, and came home and mopped the whole house's tiled floors. Whew! Was so tired I didn't bother doing the bathrooms. I was supposed to meet up with someone today to work on stuff but that wound up cancelling so my sister, Nithi, and I are watching the 1st 2 seasons of Sex and the City! :) I showed her the things I bought from the "Pleasure Chest" which was featured in the episode Charlotte got her rabbit. I didn't get anything like that but go the chocolate body paint and x-rated fortune cookies - I think Nith was all freaked out that I might bring out something much worse! LOL!!!!

I think it's time for some cold iced-tea! Ahhhh....summer.....these are the days. Maybe after we watch this season of the show, I'll go outside and sit on the deck and read magazines....the lake does look gorgeous.....

Niovi LOL! I LOVEEEEEEE eating out in the city - lemme guess - you wound up getting snails or something weird at the restaurant? ;) LOL! I once ordered my favorite type of appetizer - calamari - listed as a calamari/squid dish at this place in chinatown and what arrived was a plate of octopus-like things that freaked me out! I had to cover up the octupus creatures with the leaves the meal came with so I wouldn't have to look at them anymore. Micaila that sounds fabulous! My boyfriend Ricky is a great artist in my opinion and he does great stuff with charcoal and heck crayon. It always amazes me how people with artistic talent can so easily sketch and draw things they see exactly the way we see them and it's just gorgeous. Good luck to you! Deivl Girl ya mean devil or deivl? ;) Hi and nice to meetcha! :)

Updated at 10:17 p.m. EST
This was so nice....I helped mum make chappati and after the beans and potato thingamajig she made was ready, she, nith and me all ate and talked about everything under the sun, then had oranges and the last of my Magnolia Bakery cupcakes - nuking them in the microwave til they're piping hot makes them taste even YUMMIER! :)

I jogged 2 miles this evening and afterwards put in 8-minute abs and 8-minute buns and then did my own thigh and waist workout - I am SOOOO exhausted now. Felt good to jog again after weeks of not.

Nith and I are beginning the 2nd season of Sex and the City now. I had plans to take the interns from work out for a tour of the city tomorrow but turns out the weather's gonna be crappy - nothing but rain and thunder all day! I really don't want to travel in such weather so I think I'll stay home. Anywayz, see ya'll tomorrow :)

- Nishi

Friday, July 16, 2004
09:24 p.m.

Their frosting may be super-sweet but I love Magnolia Bakery's cupcakes! It's located on the corner of W. 11th & Bleeker (gorgeous part of the West Village) and they have another store up on 52nd/2nd. It's this old fashioned dessert shop for which people line up all the way around the block to get cupakes from! The story behind the place is this: these 2 lesbian lovers opened it up like a decade ago and it was the best thing to hit that part of the west village and it was a happy, loving fun place then one dark day the 2 broke up and the place closed....but one day one of the women re-opened it and the other opened up her own version of it (same name) uptown so now it's back and just as wonderful as ever! :)

I have a lot I'm thinking about.....lots I'd love to say but unable to on here so this is going to be a short entry. I'm going to spend the night watching the entire 1st season of Sex and the City with my sister Nithi who's home for the weekend. Tired. Am gonna go. Hope ya'll have a wonderful night and weekend! I'll respond to msgs later! *HUGS*

- Nishi

Thursday, July 15, 2004
11:19 p.m.

On 35th Street b/t 5th and 6th avenues is The Playwright's Tavern/Restaurant - a great Irish pub/bar/restaurant - they had a live band playing downstairs - Tiffany, Bill and I went there after I took them to my kickboxing class tonight. It's near some nice looking Korean restaurants I want to go to too! Ordered their Bailey's Cappuchino (yumm!) and a Nouveau sandwhich (grilled mushrooms and tomatoes with some kind of cheese(?) on sourdough bread) - light and healthy after my intense workout. Bill and Tiffany are now going to sign up and become regulars with me for a month at the gym :) They're not just gonna do the fitness kickboxing - they're gonna do the full martial arts kickboxing with me in the San Shou classes - love those! :) Taking them to class was a LOT of fun...I learned a lot tonight as well even though it was only the fitness class - learned a lot of knee blocks and round kick techniques.

Just finished a shower....gave myself a clay facial mask using ORIGIN's dark clay masque - my skin looks gorgeous now :) I got a french manicure and pedicure today too. My friends from work are all going to my other friend from work, Sean's band that he manages, The MYTVs, perform at ARLENE'S GROCERY downtown tomorrow night. I want to go too but I may be doing something Saturday which would get in the way of me going Friday night....agh well...

I went to a SAMPLE SALE this evening where I saw Prada bags, Fendi and Dolce & Gabanna and Guuci bags and SHOES! Even at 40-60% off the prices were still like $199 and UP. Didn't find anything I really liked though so skipped on over to this Leather Jackets boutique and found an $80 vanilla creme-colored leather jacket that makes me look to die for. Only 3 problems: they only accept cash and it's no refunds or store credit and the sleeves are an inch too long which I can get tailored but for $80 with no return or anything & all in cash I kinda want it to be perfect ;) So I didn't buy it - vowing instead to bring one of my sisters down to get their opinion before I laid down so much cash for something like that. Funny how I have no problem if it's a credit card purchase huh? ;) But cash and I'm like NO! ;) It's easy to give in to credit card purchases cause you don't see the money leaving your hands - with cash you literally feel the hole in your pocket and you feel a lot more guiltier for overspending and are much more careful with your wallet. I should REALLLLLLY start switching to the cash-only mentality and save credit for only major big NECESSARY purchases. I do that....sometimes....but not enough....

Aishah hahahaha yes it IS a happening city - there's no place in the world like it - although I REAAAALLLLLY love Los Angeles just as much as I love NYC. But both places are expensive - food costs a lot more, shopping is more - and to even see and do things it costs a good deal of money. Both places are dreams come true for people who can afford to spend ;) NYC is just.....it's honestly like home to me....and with so many different neighborhoods in the city, you're bound to find one area that suits you best (so long as you can afford to live and/or be there ;)). Definitely come visit - there's so much to see, do, eat! :) Every day is an adventure here :) Sean hey there! *HUGS* I use JETBLUE only! And yup my motions almost all went well - one was accepted, reserved for judgment after oral argument, one turned out the guy I was seeking an opposition to he got out on liability, another was denied because of triable issues of facts but I still made good arguments and won brownie points :) And the last one I think after I raised the fact of prior accidents and inability to confirm when those doctor's evaluations plaintiffs had done were actually performed, got the motion adjourned to August for oral argument before the judge on all the merits etc.

Anywayz, I am out peeps. Have a good night!

- Nishi

Wednesday, July 14, 2004
09:59 p.m.

ohhhhhh *hangs head* I am still sooooooo buzzzzzzedddddddddd! After work today, my friends from work James and Jody and I went to Park Bar at Union Square for cocktails and 2 of our intern friends from work, Bill and John, met us there, and lorddddddd after a cosmopolitan and and amaretto sour I was done in! It wsa only afterwards that I learned that a cosmo is one of the worst drinks to have cause it gets you drunk fast - how am I supposed to know that? I drink like once in a blue moon! ;) I'm such a lightweight! :) I don't really like to drink a lot, just once in a while as long as it's with friends or family and even then it's just 1 drink and maximum 2. We had SO much fun! SOOOO much fun! We all sang songs, and traded stories, and just had a wonderful time. Laughed like crazy. The kind of way I only augh with my sisters or boyfriend - those big belly laughs ya know? :) It was a wonderful way to spend a Wednesday night :) Park Bar is on W. 15th and Union Square. Really cool place to hit after work or after exams etc and just down a few drinks :)

Anywayz, work today was nice :) I got to court around 9:15 and after signing in on the calendar and checking in with the clerks in each of my parts of the court I settled in to wait till the calendar call was done, answered my motions and they didn't get called before the judges till after 11am. Argued everything before the judges and 1 clerk and it all went well. As I was sitting there and waiting I remembered why I hate going to court so much - it's such a boring and complete waste of time and I hate the darn stressful anticipation of getting up in front of a judge and co-counsels to argue about things you don't even care about and have no heart for. It's different if it's something you believe in. I can do it and I do a good job at it but it's not something I'm happy doing. I could never do it regularly....it'd make me grey before my time.

Anywayz...as I was coming back to work from court I had to transfer at Fulton to get the subway line that goes nearest to my work place and it's exactly where John Street is where they were having the Bastille Day celebration so i got out for 10 minutes, bought a "Ciao Bella" sorbet ice cream and looked at the festival-related stuff :) They had crepes and lots of other foods and a huge bar and grill with crazy stuff going on - races with champagne glasses - hysterical! :)I saw people dressed up as clowns in the bar! And lord did that bar have some gorgeous waiters! Roman gods in the making ;) Afte rmy short time there, I got back to work around 1-ish and met my friends from work for lunch. We went to this nearby chinese place where they serve authentic and delicious chinese food - none of that greasy fast good yuck stuff - but real, clean, yummy tasting, great value for your dollar food! SOOOO worth it!

I felt peaceful - I love the people I work with - John is just awesome and I adore him, Jenn is super cool as is Delores and Paula and I adore Jody and James and Andrew and I just really feel pretty good going to work. That's a rare feeling to have I think.

I've had 3 bottles of water, a hot chocolate and I still feel buzzed.....how can 2 drinks DO that to me? Am i really that much of a lightweight? This is why I rarely ever drink! Sheesh! So during court I got hit on by 4 guys - 2 asked me if I had a boyfriend or husband ;) LOL! They must've KNOWN they were on losing ground as soon as they asked ;)

My friend Bill's dad drove Bill and me home now and I'm relaxing with my mummy. Going to wash my face, brush my teeth and settle in to bed and get a good night's sleep after waking up early for court today.

Niovi hahahah yeah I wanna do more quizzes too just no time! As for the lawyer bit - lord, if it isn't the "theory" part, so to speak, it'll be the regular day-to-day practice lifestyle that will sour you and disappoint you. Law is not glamorous. It's quite routine, drill-like, and stressful....and just not fulfilling unless you find some area of law that is your driving passion and finding it is rare and takes a LONGGGG time! Micaila Art Institute of CA? WOW! That's AWESOME!!!!!!! Congratulations and please study hard and do amazingly well! I taught myself html and graphics design in 1998 and just kept working at it all since. I'd love to have gone to classes on it! 12-12 is a cool birthday :) Capricorn or Sagitarius? Stephanie please do join again when you have time or inclination! :) I'm happy you're here though *HUGS* Please do visit and comment often as I'd love to hear more from you :) Shinjita thank you so much! I love Emeraude too! I'm an obsessive collector of almost all things Emeraude - have a bunch of production cels from the anime series of her, all the posters and clippings of her and every figurine and plush doll ever made of her. Obsession....definitely ;)

Night everyone!

- Nishi

Tuesday, July 13, 2004
09:46 p.m.

I'm going to court tomorrow! I'm arguing 4 motions, 3 of which are threshhold motions - for those of you out there who care, when a guy sues and brings a case to court claiming he was injured in a car accident, he's got to prove he has serious injuries: permanent or significant loss of bodily functions etc or limitation of their use or that he can't do normal activities anymore and suffered such that he was home or bed-bound at least 90 out of the 180 days following the accident. Well that's some of it anyway. In my motions tomorrow, all the plaintiffs doctors reports show they're all fine, normal, with nothing permanent, no disabilities, and they were all compensated through no-fault benefits so they don't satisfy the requirements for "serious injuries" and being already compensated their suits should be dismissed.

At first when I learned I was going to court I was a little miffed because I'm a motions attorney - which means I do motions all day in the office and I love doing that as I'm a writer and I just like it :), and in the past when I went to Court it was a lot of court hopping and running all over the place and stressful - I didn't like it at all - the whole reason i took this job was cause it was 'motions dept' with occassional court ;) So the occasional court came but ya know what? For once, I'm kinda looking fwd to it :) cause I haven't argued motions in.....10 months! WOW! So it's like a novelty and is fun like that. PLUS I feel threshhold motions are SO EASY to argue. I was reviewing them during my 1/2-hour train ride home tonight and after going through all 4 I was set and ready and thinking "no sweat!" I had MUCH harder motions to argue previously - the ones that always stressed me out were the motions for summary judgment cause the judge and the plaintiffs etc make it so stressful and make you look like an idiot while you're trying to argue ;) Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. When you lose, you really hate being a lawyer ;)

Speaking of tough things, I went to 2 kickboxing classes tonight - the first is the San Shou class - we put on shin guards today in order to learn how to block and kick. I got teamed up with this guy who banged my head and arms so much I'm sore! And I think he was trying to go easy on me! HAH! I think I lost a billion brain cells. Anywayz, it was a very grueling and intense hour-long class and I learned a LOAD of new techniques. Stayed for the next class but only a half-hour of it cause I needed to get home to my mom at a decent time while Papa's in India.

I feel like a woman again now that I finished taking a long, hot shower and changed into one of my pretty nightgowns. I need to do my vocal exercises, eat dinner (am starving after that killer 1.5 hour session) and go to sleep.

Stephanie hi! are you still part of the UMML or the MTMLs? I haven't worked on the sites since March and they very much need to be updated. Agh I have no time between singing, writing papers, all my classes at night and working full-time so it's tough. I hope you're still a fan! Will check out your journal sometime this week! *HUGS* Aishah ok cool :) I can't wait to visit one day. I asked my bg and he knows that area well! :) Micaila aww good for you! Now which school was this and what classes again? What country are you from again? SOOO sorry I forget these things on the journal....

See ya'll tomorrow!

- Nishi

Monday, July 12, 2004
09:37 p.m.

evening everybody :) I had such a nice day! I got so many compliments today on my color coordination and make up ;) LOL! I wore these tan cuff-pant chinos from Arden B. I bought a year ago with this pretty tan and dark pink shirt with my new soft cotton pink blazer over it and my matching pink sandals from Steve Madden. To complete it I wore one of the new butterfly necklaces I got in chinatown while with Ricky last weekend and put pink make up on my face. I love dressing up! And make up - I'm a minimalist when it comes to make up - just a little lip gloss and face podwer to control shine and then when I feel like it, I add a shade of lipstick and some eye shadow and eyeliner. That's about it.

I got so many motions done - the line of law I do is personal injury litigation and deals heavily with auto accidents and our firm does defense litigation on it. It's interesting I think. Anywayz, it's a totally rainy day here in NY and I had a splitting headache towards the end of the work day so decided against going to kickboxing and instead met up with a friend at Union Square to go to the "COFFEE BAR" which is this fun cafe/restaurant/bar on the corner of I think 16th Street and Union Square. The blinking "coffee" sign outside of the bar is the same blinking coffee sign that they show on "Sex and the City" and they filmed a lot of the stuff on that show right there near Union Square cause Sarah Jessica Parker's apartment is in that area - somewhere around Perry Street and Hudson i think? Not sure.

Anywayz, after making it through the puddles and rainy streets of NYC (it's so pretty even in the rain I think) we ate and gossiped, ordered coconut shrimp and calamari and a Bandita Mango drink - I gave him advice on this family set up he's going on tomorrow with this girl his grandmother wants him to marry eventually! LOL! I helped him with - ok basically TOLD HIM- the 'date itinerary' - first he'd pick her up at Grand Central, take her to Chevy's in Times Square and then to go see a movie of her choice also at Times Square and then go to the Empire State Building to get a view of the city from the top (although I just realized now that with it raining and all tomorrow night might not be the best date night to take her to the Empire State Bldg) - it's supposed to rain all week!

My friend Bill, an intern at work, then gave me a ride home from the train station and I just finished having dinner with my mom and am now relaxing and settling in to read and watch tv. Bill has a boat! We're gonna invite my firm's interns at work to come up here and we'll all go on his boat and go to I think Great Neck where he and his dad know a great restaurant to go eat.

Some interesting random stuff about my day: the guy at the fruit stand outside where I work from whom I buy fruit occasionally served in the Gulf War! What the heck is he doing as a fruit vendor now? As I was going to Union Square I saw a couple homeless people - one girl was holding a sign, something about 'this is all I've got' and she looked like ur avg. Union Square kinda girl - trendy with ear piercings etc and this totally homeless looking guys starts throwing garbage at her and she sticks up her middle finger at him. The things I see.....

Niovi awwwww *HHHUUUGGGSSSSS* :) thas all I have to say :)

Ok I'm out. See ya'll tomorrow.

Sunday, July 11, 2004
10:28 p.m.

Today I took the 'Sex and the City' tour through the city. It's this special tour through Screen Tours.com for just $35 which takes you on a 3-hour long tour of a bunch of favorite places used for filming of the 'Sex and the City' show. I saw Carrie's apartment building, the salon where the girls all got manicures and pedicures, where Carrie learned Big was engaged, and all sorts of other things. It was FANTASTIC! One of the places they took us to was the sex shop where Charlotte bought her RABBIT! OH MY GOD! My eyes were bugging out at everything I saw and it was hysterical! I wound up buying (along with the other 30+ people on the tour) 2 things: I got chocolate body paint and fortune cookies with sexual erotic fortunes in them :) It's a fantastic tour and well worth it for anyone who is in the city, living or visiting!

This morning I did my vocals and choreography before heading to the Tour, and said bye to Nith and Mek and Mil. I spent the evening doing a little shopping - bought this gorgeous new soft cotton pink blazer from this boutique called SEARLE on Madison and 59th or 58th I think (cost a pretty penny but SO worth it) - think I'll wear it tomorrow to work. Picked up a new pretty powder blue dress purse while shopping on the Sex and the City Tour from one of those street vendors - it's SUCH a find and was only $15!

I just finished taking a long shower and painted my nails and gave myself a facial. Going to read Bill Clinton's 'My Life', talk to my darling Ricky and head to sleep.

Niovi you're not missing out on anything if you can't sing in public - as with everything in life, you do what you love - so don't feel badly. I have a feeling you are talented in many ways and have tons of courage and bravery to get out to do those things! :) And who knows - maybe one day you just might get up on stage and sing your heart out! Kayla I know exactly what you mean - singing and dancing "makes me feel more like me" too :) Aishah hahaha *HUGS* thank you very much! Where in Singapore are you? My boyfriend used to live in SIngapore for a long time, grew up there for a good part of his life and served 3 years in the army there too. I want to one day go visit. Rachel aww sweetie *HUGS* I love you too! :)

I'm out - see ya'll tomorrow :)

- Nishi

Saturday, July 10, 2004
11:25 p.m.

I've been singing along with the WICKED soundtrack all night....I'm in tears now cause I'm so happy with myself - I'm singing the way I've always wanted to - loud, clearly, perfectly....every note...everything is in almost perfect union with the songs.....I don't know if there are any singers out there who can relate to what I'm feeling...but GOD it is the most amazing feeling in the world when you're singing a song you love, belting it out and are able to hit every note, every sound, inflection, etc perfectly...no glitches, no scratchs...just...perfect...so happy...so happy with how you sound, how the song makes you feel...how it's practically alive in you..........I love singing....I love dancing.....I have to do this...I have to.....I was born to do this.

I have a million things to do tomorrow so am not going to church with my sisters and mom but will be spending the morning working on my vocals and the dance choreography for my dance in 2 weeks.

I'm feeling....inspired.....there's this one song in WICKED where Elphaba finds out the evil deeds behind the Wizard and company and in trying to do good is betrayed and she sings:

Everyone deserves the chance to fly...to those who'd ground me, take a message back from me, tell them how I am defying gravity, I'm flying high, defying gravity, and soon I'll match them in renown and nobody in all of Oz, no wizard that there is or was, is ever gonna bring me down....

There's another song both sing....it goes 'don't wish, don't start, wishing only wounds the heart' and it's about wanting something you most likely can never get and the sad reality of who and what you are and that it is out of your limits........so beautiful...so painful....I can't tell you how many times I cried during the show.

My favorite songs though are 'As Long As You're Mine', 'Popular' and 'No Good Deed' I'd love to do 'As Long as You're Mine' as a duet with someone - it's gorgeous.

Even though the musical had a wonderful happy ending, as it went along I was struck by the theme of the sad realities of life, how our actions and inactions affect everything.

Too often we let chances slip by. We don't tell that certain someone how we feel, what we're thinking, we don't speak out against wrong doings, we don't defend others, we behave indifferently....we are concerned with our own affairs. So much...so much......

Singing..dancing....it's only the beginning for me....I want to sing and dance because it's inside me....I have to get it out....through it so much more will come....my advocacy, human rights, civil rights....it's all about expressing yourself...changing things....causing people to be moved, to be touched, to get up and do something....music and dance alters the mind...it makes people stand up and dance, lifts their spirits, makes them think, dance is a release for the stress and tiredness of the soul, it uplifts as well.....

I'm just talking at random here....

That wrinkle I thought I had yesterday by the way? Gone :) Thank GOD! No more crinkling though - I don't want it ever coming back! We celebrated Nith's birthday today with ice cream cake and went shopping and just hung out and then took Pop to JFK for his flight.....I think we're getting drinks ready - cocktails for the night ;) I'm gonna join them now - I'm a lil sung out now - wanna save my voice for tomorrow.

Aishah hi there! I went to your blog and it's wonderful! I love the layout!! I'm so glad you liked the quizzes - they took me AGES to make :) I'll check back on your blog regularly :) Isabel hi there! movies? oh you MUST see King Arthur, Farenheit 9/11, I heard Shrek 2 is wonderful, go see Mean Girls, heard Dodgeball was fantastic, see Cinderella Story when it comes out and Catwoman too :) Good for your friend who listened to your advice - sounds like you're doing well for yourself! However, I'm sorry to hear about your family member's funeral! *HUGS* I pray you and your family have the strength to continue on and that you're all reunited with that beloved family member one day. Hector which test? I made 3 Quizzes - I am the sole source for both quizzes on royalty and women of beauty but as for the women of legend various sources.

- Nishi

Friday, July 9, 2004
11:53 p.m.

Just got home from a night out with my sisters - it's always so much fun when the 4 of us go out cause we draw a lot attention from guys and we just have a hilarious time together. We went to Applebees to celebrate Nith's turning 23 and we were all complaining about the shoddy service even though this sweet north indian guy was our waiter and we think he heard us complaining and thought we were saying mean things about him but we weren't so when he came around and we made small talk I said 'by the way you're a fabulous waiter' and my sisters told me afterwards that it came across sounding sarcastic and I meant it TOTALLY sincerely! So we agreed I should just shut up and say 'I went there' cause I kept saying 'I went there' to the waiter's asides that he went to St. John's U and had a friend who went to Binghamton. I went to Binghamton University as an undergrad and St. John's University of Law after. 'I went there! I went there!' I kept saying - and I only had one Bahama Mama. (It's a drink)

Anywayzzzzzzz.......the day was a lot of fun - wound up getting a manicure and pedicure instead of bellydance class cause I just felt like vegging and taking care of myself today before celebrating with the girls. Note to self: my twin sisters' boyfriends are muy touchy subjects.

I have a tiny wrinkle. On my forehead. Pigs are flying. I'm slathering the damn oil of olay in gobs on my forehead.

It's cause I've been crinkling my forehead like a nut lately. It's not even conscious. You think of something hard - you crinkle your forehead, you talk about something all expressively - you crinkle your forehead - you get into a fight with your boyfriend - you're crinkling the bejeezus outta your forehead - ugh - basically I need the anti-wrinkle stuff now for real. And here I thought I might just have perfect skin forever.

Maybe it'll go away? Maybe I can move Mt. Everest.

I'm gonna take my jolly ol' self to bed now.

Night peoples :)

- Nishi

Happy Tanabata Festival Day!
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
10:15 p.m.

where do I begin? ok the long 4th of July weekend - Ricky and I had a wonderful time! After the romantic Friday night dinner at Grotto, the gorgeous muscial Wicked, dessert at Applebees, kayaking on Saturday, eating at chinatown, seeing the Empire State Building and going all the way to the top (even though the line took forever) but it was SOOOO worth it, to the 4th of July fireworks at Five Islands and the picnic he and my sisters and I had all together - to the Monday barbeque and us fishing with my dad - to their AWFUL embarassing questions to us about what our marriage plans were (neither Ricky nor I are ready for marriage yet) and to our visit to the Hayden Planetarium - seeing the 'Passport to the Universe' and the Natural History Museum's PETRA - LOST CITY OF STONE exhibit was amazing! Ricky and I ate at Serendipity on Saturday night - had frrrozen hot chocolate and dim sum :) It's on E. 60th b/t 2nd and 3rd Avenue - took Ricky to look out over the East River. We took a romantic carriage ride around Central Park Monday night after walking around in it a little. We're going to go to Tavern on the Green one day. We saw Farenheit 911 on Saturday and it was FANTASTIC! The carriage ride was so perfect....we only did the half hour ride...next time I want to do the full ride.....

I'm home now from work and bellydancing class....hungry as heck. I miss Ricky :( it's lonelier without him. *sigh*

Today was the Tanabata Festival - the Japanese festival honoring the celestial weaving maiden and her lover the shepherd (or cowherd) - the legend is based on astronomy of course :) the two stars Vega and Altair and their constellations and goes like this: Orihime, represented by the star Vega, was a princess and weaver who lived on the east side of the river of the Milky Way with her father, the Emperor. Altair was a very handsome and brave herdsman who lived on the other side of the river. The two met and fell in love, and everyone was happy, including the Emperor. However, Orihime spent so much time being with Altair that she began to neglect her weaving work. This made her father very angry, and he separated the two to opposite sides of the river, so that they could not meet. However, he allowed them to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month - on this day a flock of magpies would form a bridge across the Milky Way, and the two lovers would be with each other again.

In Japan, the belief is that wishes written on 5 colored strips of paper and hung on little bamboo trees will come true on this day. :) So much fun! They were having a kid's Tanabata Festival here in the city today - too bad I was working and had my dance class.

Anywayz, just finished chappati and paera - time for dessert ;) Going to sleep early tonight. Good night everyone!

- Nishi

Saturday, July 3, 2004
11:42 a.m.

Updated at 11:30 p.m. EST BELOW
I love WICKED! I love WICKED! I love WICKED! I love WICKED!!!!!!!!!!!! It's right up there with Les Mis and Phantom! Everybody out there go FREAKIN SEE IT! I cried and laughed and wanted to shout and sing a long. I wound up buying the WICKED cd.

I wore a pretty black and white dress to work and wind up buying a new pair of Steve Madden black heeled sandals during my lunch that would go with the dress. Ricky finally came to get me from work a little after 3:30 and I got to introduce him to a few friends at work :) He played with my little miniature pool table on my desk :) hahaha - we went to this romantic outdoor garden restaurant called GROTTO on 100 Forsythe Street (after Chrystie street in chinatown, near Grand) and it was fantastic - we had glasses of white wine with an appetizer of something-italian-frutta - basically fruits of papaya, mango, something else and cooked bacon. And then a salad of shaved pears with something I didn't like (red leaves with sour dressing) and then a main course of jumbo shrimp with spinach leaves and then dessert was chocolate fondue - hot chocolate we dipped various fruits in. Then we rushed to WICKED and it was so fantasic. Can't tell you how many times I teared up and cried cause I was so moved. Happy ending though :) Afterwards, we walked to Applebees to have hot chocolate, drinks and dessert. Beautiful night :) Full moon......

Now it's Saturday morning - just woke up - day is gorgeous - mummy made upa mav and we'll eat, probably go hiking in the woods and then head to the city to go kayaking on the Hudson River and then eat sea food or down in chinatown and we want to see Farenheit 911 and Spider Man 2.

Hope you're all having an awesome weekend!!! Memory Steve Madden shoes vary from person to person I think - the shoes I buy happen to be very comfortable and last forever but I know of some people who can't stand the shoes - well I bought comfortable ones so I'm happy :) I can't WAIT for KING ARTHUR!!!!!!!! How'd you get your LSAT results come back so fast?? When did you take the exam? Sue hahahah thank you :) ur funny :) I hope all your dreams come true too! I'm glad to know someone from the UK. Lady my friend Jeanne have a wonderful 4th too! *HUGS* Miyu-chan Susan you're so wonderful *HUGS* hahahaha I cracked up when I saw your yaay for me :) Micaila have fun at art school! I wish I could do something like that but no time or money for that now. *HUGS* Darlene definitely got your email but just don't have chance to email back. I'll be slow but a response will come :)

Updated at 11:30 p.m. EST BELOW
Kayaking was AMAZING!!!!!!! We left home in the early afternoon and headed to the city - downtown Pier 26 by the West End and N. Moore/Franklin Streets and after changing into our "wet clothes" got a double-kayak and went out and I learned how to do all sorts of manuevering on a kayak. It was a lot of fun but boy are my arms weak! I can't believe it was all FREE!! And they had a festival going on in the city and Hudson Park had so many fun things going on too! We went to chinatown for lunch then - to this malaysian place and then I shopped and bought 2 pretty necklaces there and then we went and saw FARENHEIT 911!!

EVERYONE GO SEE FARENHEIT 911! I laughed, cried (a LOT) and cheered and applauded with everyone in the theater. It was AMAZING. One of the best films I've seen in a long time.

More tomorrow. G'night.

- Nishi

Thursday, July 1, 2004
09:12 p.m.

what dress should I wear? what dress should I wear? This is so much fun! I went shopping with friends after work today and bought new shoes from Steve Madden and now am trying on all my strappless and spaghetti strap dresses, trying to decide which will be best for tomorrow night.

Why, you ask? Because my Ricky is coming tonight! :D I'm getting him from JFK tonight at midnight!

I gotta clean up my room and get everything ready for tomorrow......aghhhh back to deciding what I should wear. Freaking strapless bras - they never stay on tight enough! I just wanna go bra-less - really! Anywayz....for those of you who sent me emails - if you're awaiting a response I'm busy right now and will be busy for a while so response will be slow but I got your emails. My time on the computer is limited now to just writing in my journal, checking and maintaining my finances, reading email quick and then going everything I need to do with my life. So responses will be slow but they will come :)

It's so hot and muggy with this humidity...blech.....I'm going to wear glitter in my hair & my prettiest jewelry.....and I gotta wear something nice for when I pick him up tonight too....I walked for 3+ hours this evening.....my legs are so tired. Took the interns to CHIPOTLE's for lunch today - Ricky and I went to the chain in L.A. last year and I loved it - was a sit-down restaurant there and so much fun! The one I went to here was more like a Quiznos or Subway the way they had everybody line up to order and then you seat yourself in sparse seating.

Ok I'm off. See ya guys later!

- Nishi

Wednesday, June 30, 2004
10:36 p.m.

an example of one f--ked up sick freak of nature that exists in our world to plague me:

I swear - I wanted to pulverize him. Anyway, I'm really tired. Going to bed in another half hour or so. Micaila hope you're well! Mr. De Lioncourt that's one heck of a name! Thank you very much - your site is wonderful! Alex are there that many good looking men in NY??? Holy hell you have to come here - yes this city is brimming with gorgeous people - almost all working types and professionals or college students, actors or models or young singers. My work place has a good 6-8 cute guys I think. Niovi LOL! hahaha they are yours for the taking :) They may be cute and all but they're just my friends - I'd be happy to set you up :) Kayla thank you sweetie and you have a fabulous week and weekend yourself~!

Wednesday, June 30, 2004
07:20 a.m.

morning everyone :) the sun' streaming through my windows and the lake looks gorgeous....the freakin rabbits are everywhere in the back.

I really need to start getting a full 8 hours of sleep a night. 1am lights out last night 6:30 a.m. alarm blaring. Of course I snooze to 6:45 ;)

I took the interns to their first course at Hayden Planetarium last night! We went to see 'The Summer Sky' - the lecturer wasted a ton of time on the transit of venus pictures - honestly, no one could care about seeing a little black dot against the sun for 14 slides straight. Sheesh. Finally after a ton of extemporaneous topics he got to the issue at hand oh about 30-40 minutes in - the summer sky at night and taught everyone to identify some of the summer sky stars and constellations but I was so disappointed cause he didn't cover 1/2 the stuff I wanted to see in the summer sky. He didn't even give much background to the legends behind the constellations. He had lots of interesting facts - which would've been great for a 2 hour lecture but this was a 1-hour course and to waste it on things....I would make such a better astronomy lecturer.

Last day of June......summer starts tomorrow in my eyes. The first day of July always felt like the real beginning of summer.....

I had such a nice night with Ricky on the phone last night....it was a wonderful feeling of closeness and connectedness.....I love him.

Anywayz, I need to get ready for my day. Got bellydancing tonight. See ya'll laters and will respond to msgs tonight! :)

- Nishi

Monday, June 28, 2004
11:24 p.m.

evening folks! I stayed up till 1am last night working on my songs, writing up new ones and getting them ready to be copyrighted. Woke up today so tired...u know that 'out of it' feeling that you get when u wake up in the morning after too little sleep? it feels like you're disconnected and things are weird? Like you're in the wrong time or something....your brain's basically in a fog ;) Anywayz, got to work and had a very nice day :) I love the people there so much! Jenn cracks me UP and is just so funny to talk to. Same for my friend Laurice - she's hilarious - we teased our intern Bill mercilessly over starbucks because he knows we love iced caramel macchiatos and frappachinos and he didn't even let us know he went so I demanded he go and get me a starbucks as our intern cause that's what interns are supposed to do ;) was hilarious! My friend Andrew at work is by far one of THE funniest guys at work. If I'd ever had an older brother I'd want it to be Andrew - he's so much fun to talk to and it's easy to be comfortable with him. He cracked me up today with these various stories and then I was such a dunce about the hares and hairs LOL! Nevermind I'm too tired to repeat the story.

After work I went to kickboxing even though I felt tired and wasn't really into it - still I worked out good and on my way back bought some pretty flowers (poms) and caught the 8:10 train back home. Showered long, gave myself a scrub and facial, and just finished eating a nice dinner of rice with eggplant curry mummy made and corn on the cob. (curry doesn't always mean curry - it's just our word for every dish we make - whether it has traditional curry spices in it or not.)

My lips are tender - I did an exfoliating treatment on my lips tonight - you take a small end of a clean wash cloth, dip it in vaseline and rub it over your lips gently in circular motions - it exfoliates the skin on the lips and reveals the prettier, fresh and younger skin below. I think I rubbed too hard though - tender. Make sure you put a coat of lip balm or vaseline on your lips when finished to protect the new skin and soothe it.

mmm eating a chessman cookie by pepperidge farm.....I love pepperidge farm bread, chessmen cookies, brussels cookies and pirouline wafer snacks :)

oh speaking of sweets and fattening foods, I was on the way back from the bank during lunch today when I saw a stand for free body fat readings near where I worked. Of course I got in line to have my body fat read (always something fun and crazy like this going on in the city) and my body fat is awful! I'm 24.5%!!! That's a lot for a girl of my height and weight. I should be down in the 18-22% range. ugh! i'm soo working out hard....

speaking of working out, Dark Eyes isn't the only cute guy at work with muscles - one of my friends Sean at work - holy moly - he's got triceps of steel! I joked to him when he said for me to get home safe (or something like that) that I'd be fine but it's him who should worry about getting home safe ;) and he joked back something to which I replied that I kickboxed but I didn't see any muscles on him! UH OH he got a huge determined look on his face and made me feel his triceps. Literally it was like man of steel stuff. So many characters at work.

I'm off to sleep. G'night everyone!

- Nishi

Sunday, June 27, 2004
04:40 p.m.

I've been doing vocal exercises all afternoon and working on my songs....I'm amazed by how much more powerful my voice has gotten by regular vocal exercise.....I worked on the choreography of my dance for a good 2 hours this afternoon as well - it's almost perfect now. I just need to spend the next 3-4 weeks rehearsing it and singing the song at the same time and I'll be good to go. (This is the dance and song I'll be doing for my friend Sheepa's engagement on Friday, July 23 - it's at 6pm at night and I have to be there by 3pm latest so I'll have to leave work early that day. I haven't bought my dress yet - aghh how in the heck did I get roped into this?! Think I'll wear something red and gold to match the fire theme of the song. The dance is good and the song I can sing nice although a couple parts I'm still rough on.....I'm nervous!

I saw Harry Potter #3 last night - the movie was funny as heck but I was still disappointed on how they left out the explanation of the stag as Harry's petronum because his father's petronum was a stag too! And therefore he was the 'moose' identified on the marauder's map - they didn't show peter pettigrew either going back to voldemort. It was a good movie but the way it ended....was just corny....and they spent waaaaayyy too much time emphasizing a Hermione and Ron relationship - c'mon! that wasn't even in the book #3! Good movie but it coulda been a whole lot better. Must've been because they had a new director for this 3rd installment - I say bring back the 1st director who stuck to the books beautifully without embellishments and changes in character.

Ok back to work on my songs and rehearsing them. Suni I loveeee middle easten dance now :) I wish I could spend years studying bharanatyam though! Niovi LOL! ur so funny :) Kayla happy belated birthday :) *HUGS* Isabel you gave good advice to your friend. Hope she heeds it! :) hope u had fun at the beach! Micaila LOL! Actually Ricky would probably love to see me finally flirt with someone in front of him ;) LOL!

- Nishi

Friday, June 25, 2004
10:20 p.m.

mmmmmmm it feels soooo good to be homeeeeee :) it was so gosh darn rainy - pouring like crazy and I got soaked on my way to and back from my belly dance class. I managed to stop by my favorite manga shops today and picked up a TON of new manga :)

Today was such a nice day - we got an hour and a 1/2 for lunch and my friend big Sean at work took me for a fancy expensive lunch at this place called 'Uncle Jack's' - he's such a sweetheart - he comes up and is all 'what're u doing for lunch' and 'wanna come have lunch with me?' :) I totally didn't expect him to treat me. I'll do something nice for him one day next week. He's an aspiring actor and even got a part as an extra in Nicole Kidman's upcoming movie 'The Interpreter' being filmed here in the city at the United Nations.

I was talking to Dark Eyes after my bellydance class. He's a lot stronger than I thought he was which really surprised me and it's a total turn on. He beat me at arm wrestling - that was a turn on ;) And then I saw his muscles - WOW....if I'd thought he was hot before he's realllly hot now ;) hahahahaah :) But seriously I'm not like that :) Waaaaaay too moral to go for a guy when I'm already with someone I love like my Ricky (and besides D.E. has a gf who I really like! she's really sweet!) - I'm attracted but it's innocent - I'd never act on it. :) although it sure would be fun if he ever flirted back! ;) It'd be like one of those fun office flirtations ;) But i wonder if he's already playfully flirting back - I really can't be sure - he always has this really cute devlish fun look in his eyes that's flirtatious yet innocently so :)

anywayz! :) I'm such a typical girl - when a guy I find attractive shows some of his strength - I swoon ;) hahahahahaah i always go wow when ricky does his chin ups and push ups and stuff - he has nice muscles......I'm a sucker for guys who have muscle - don't get me wrong - not guys who are built with muscles - I mean guys who are fit & their muscles show when they flex and do things - THAT is a turn on. Ricky's like that. D.E.'s like that. I see a trend here. ;)

Good lord I need to stop thinking of muscles! Not good! not good! :)

hahahahaha :)

I got the sweetest letter from this girl who's 15 years old today after she read my post a couple entries down about being the best woman one can be and being whole before you resort to men etc. She emailed saying she was inspired by what I wrote and everything I did and wanted to make her life full of rich experiences and activities too so she could be the best person she could be. I was really moved. Lynne God bless you and I think you're already a very cool and amazing girl! :)

ok I am out. Everyone have a wonderful night and weekend if I don't write again. Sanoj thank u for the link! *HUGS* great article! Niovi awww and thank you! I checked out your blog and love the Christina theme :) Kayla I loved what you wrote! God bless you!

- Nishi

Thursday, June 24, 2004
06:39 p.m.

Landira thank you for your thoughts on this matter but we shall disagree. I firmly believe that war is the very last solution to disputes and hold firmly to my belief that failure to understand other nations, their cultures and needs is the root cause of terrorism we are experiencing now and resulted in the many mistakes we made in foreign policy which incurred their wrath. War is all we can do now to end the terrorist ATTACKS - but not terrorism itself. Terrorism will continue to exist because as long as one side keeps seeing things in black and the other side sees things in white - no one will ever see what that both sides are multi-colored with multiple reasons and valid justifications for why they are doing what they are. Terrorists think we're evil and we think they're evil. They think we're oppressors, occupationists, out to push our American way of life and power and economic force upon them (and we ARE doing all those things). Our soldiers over there think we're liberators and freedom fighters when they think we're killing hundreds of innocent civilians and ruining their land and infrastructure (and we ARE). We think they want to attack us for our freedoms, really they're attacking us for our support of rebel regimes, war lords, supplying Israel with weapons and military aids that kill palestinians. The root cause of terrorism is our side thinks we're doing good and their side sees the results and sees it is bad and takes revenge against us. And please DON'T raise the sympathy argument of how many people didn't come home to tuck children into bed from 9/11 - hundreds if not thousands more have been killed or maimed for life as a result of our actions in the middle east since this War on Terrorism began. Countless children have died at the hands of our missles - those children won't be tucked in to bed at ALL. As far as I'm concerned we messed up again, not understanding why those a--holes bombed us in the first place - our operations, both public and covert, in the middle east with various rulers and clans and power struggles, economic and land-wise and of course Israel.

Anywayz, I appreciate your thoughts but I guess we will always disagree on this. While I appreciate your thoughts - if you wish to discuss this further, email me privately and I'll continue the debate there when I have time.

I'm at work now working overtime - thought I'd go to kickboxing but I wound up getting my time of month and my tummy hurts :( (if that was too much info for some close ur eyes ;)) Anyway, took advil and hope this pain goes away. Going to go home soon to work on papers and work on the choreography of my dance. Maybe get a manicure and pedicure too on my way home now - think that salon Green Tea is open till 8.

Hope everyone is well. I might write more when I get home tonight but good night for now.

- Nishi

Tuesday, June 22, 2004
11:21 p.m.

Miyu-chan Susan go to historychannel.com and you can order a copy there. I am doing that :) I couldn't record the show. My sister Mili still has pain on her back but it's better I *think*....will know more tomorrow...*HUG* Callie thank you for caring *HUGS* and I agree 100% :D Kayla thank you for your well-wishes for my sister. Web hosts? I'm with a friend's servers now so I can't help you with the names of any. I'll ask around and get back to you! I'll add your new pitas blog this weekend too! :) Ben Hur Adams umm no way u freak of nature. Jax oh wow that sounds gorgeous! Do you have a scan of it? I love black horses (and white horses) and love dragons too (being a Fire Dragon and all myself ;)) Please do show if you can? Wish I knew how to paint! Sailor Moon what is your real name? It's reallllllly weird to address you as Sailor Moon.....and don't say Usagi or Bunny or Serena - real name please ;) As for your question on Muslims and middle eastern dancing and how they can let women dance like that - it's different when it's entertainment and when it's women who are TRAINED for entertainment purposes. Plus not all Muslims are strict like that - that's only certain religious sects and countries. I have a ton of Muslim friends whose faiths and cultures don't impose such severe restrictions upon them. RMN thank you very much *HUG* How many siblings do you have? :)

I was talking to a friend tonight - she's at that age when a boyfriend and love are all she wants - understandable - almost all girls between 13-23 are hungry for love. "God knows I was a fool - such a fool for love."

After talking to her I started writing some poems which became songs and 'Such a Fool' is now born. I told her what I tell my sisters - a woman needs, first and foremost, to be a whole woman: to be her own person, with her own passions, interests, her own drive. A man is your companion, your helper, your complement i.e. like peanutbutter to jelly. But you are still you! A fully capable individual.

Everyone on earth has his/her complement, someone they want to help complete them. The key is to not let the desire for a companion, to be loved, take over who you are as a person and the strength that you bear as an individual - because you are complete and whole already whether this companion is in your life or not. And if you're not complete and whole - work to become so.

Surprising things happen when you become a woman who is strong and confident in herself - who is smart, capable and does not need a man to complete her world - suddenly, the men come dropping in like flies. Men are attracted to women who are totally together - who aren't all clingy, needy and emotional basketcases. I tell my sisters to follow my example - 1) get a life, i.e. pursue the things you love 2) set goals and work to achieve them and let nothing get in your way 3) make God, yourself and your family your #1 priorities and 4) then when you meet that Prince or King, and if he is worthy of you and completes you and is almost everything you want in a companion, allow him into the 4th category but always maintain everything else equally. In that way, you will have the complement - the companion who fits you - he is the last puzzle piece you need to make yourself whole but you don't sacrifice everything else that makes you a whole person too.

A lot of women, while growing up, have their whole worlds revolve around their boyfriend - they dump their own acitivities, time with friends, etc to devote to the boyfriend. It's pathetic. These young women lack strength in their own character and put up with things they shouldn't: liars, cheaters, abusers or just someone they're not the best fit with because they think 'where will I find someone else who will love me like this?' That's not the question you should ask. There are a million men out there who will love you and be with you. The point is....don't settle. Don't stay with someone you shouldn't be with just because you want to be loved and "together" - it won't make you happy. And more importantly, should you find that prince or a king who is in every way a wonderful loving companion to you, a "he completes me" kinda guy - you better damn well be one helluva woman who can be strong and just as well off without him in case something happens to him or he leaves. You're a lot stronger & better than that.

My first true love - lord how I loved him and still believe I do - S. - I remember how in love I was....I'd written in my diary in spring or summer of 1996 after he and I started being together that after God, and family and myself, S. was the next most important thing - actually he tied in with family is what I wrote. It wasn't until the break ups with S. that I put the ordering as God, my family & I, and then the boyfriend ;) The "I" is a huge part - it's everything I am, all my passions and interests. All of those things integral to who I am as a person come before the boyfriend. Without those things I wouldn't be I. These are lessons learned when a girl grows up - when she gives into a consuming love, when she gets her heart broken by that love....when she finally learns to love herself first.

Now with Ricky in my life, I know that as deeply as I love him, as painful and heart breaking as it could be to leave him - I know I have the strength of being to do so should I ever decide, or should he decide. I'm not weak. I have the love of my family, my friend, my God and my own self. I love myself so much and want my happiness more than anything save the ones I love and God Himself.

At age 25, I wrote in this journal how I hoped to become and achieve so much. I set out a 5 year plan for myself. I've come very very far. I couldn't have done all that without relying on my strength within. Somehow I've always had this enormous strength within....I think all of us have it......it pulls me through everything and pushes me onward.....to bigger and better......

I am....(in no particular order ;))...beloved of Ricky, beloved 1st-born daughter of my mummy and papa, beloved eldest sister of 3 girls, a beloved child of God, and I am.....an attorney, a human rights activist, a writer, a singer, a dancer, a woman who is passionate about world affairs, ancient studies and civilizations, archaeology, astronomy & mythology, a student of martial art forms, a fighter, and intellectual, a girl who loves to laugh at Calvin & Hobbes, the Simpsons, Friends, who loves anime and manga and is a hopeless romantic who loves cheesy songs and actually liked N'Sync and Backstreet Boys! :) A girl who likes to read, draw, to learn latin and other languages, to play games, gamble ;) and anything else that strikes my fancy and I am so much more. And should Ricky leave this huge description of myself, I would still be all these things and more. I love Ricky - with all my heart - would my heart be more empty? Yes. He is a great and vital part of my life but so is everything else on that list. If you take the gift of song away from me, I would be empty as well. The gift of words? I would cry my eyes dry. All of those things make me - me. Take one way and I am less of myself. What are we except everything and everyone that we love? If there was no one we loved, nothing we loved, we would be as lifeless as the desert.

One thing I know - even if all those things were taken away from me.....I would always have God and myself. My love for Him and for myself could never be taken away.

So in conclusion, I told my friend tonight that she should strive to make herself a better person first - to learn more about herself, find herself, and the boys, the love affairs, would all follow. Who knows if she will take that advice. Would I have at that age? No one ever gave me advice like that so I don't know. But then again, I always knew these things deep inside but just failed to follow through on them. I know better now. I wish I had been a more complete person back then. But I was just a child - just a young adult.

I'm still young - I'm only 27 - I'm still growing - we all are - we're all still learning.....and I welcome it....knowledge and wisdom - come to me. Let me wield thee. My goal in life? To be the most amazing person this world has yet to see. hahahaha :) that sounds so silly but it's true. I want to do amazing things - I want to work for human rights around the world, fight to create and change social and international policies, international laws...I want to change the world with my songs, my music, with my words, my writings - with my life and example. There is so much horror and tragedy in this world - so much ugliness, wrong and evil - I want to do as much as I can to change all that - to lessen it - to help those suffering from it. And I want to make others strive to be the most amazing people too so they continue on with my goals and efforts long after I'm gone. You don't become amazing overnight - it takes time, work, and strength of character, principles & conviction. If by age 90 I have made any progress in all of that than I will be happy. God lead me the way I should go.....lead me to my destiny and help me achieve it.

- Nishi

Monday, June 21, 2004
09:00 p.m.

my sister got into a car accident today!!! Mili was on her way to work and was stopped at a red traffic light when a woman rear-ended her! The back of the honda is a mess! Mili was taken to the hospital and she is ok although she's complaining of lower back pain. The doctor had told her that would be normal for the next couple days but if she still felt sore 3rd day on to come back. As an personal injury attorney I deal with auto accidents EVERY DAY and I know that if you get rear ended you wind up with lower back injuries - disc herniations, impingements, disc bulges etc. I am praying Mili is ok and she doesn't develop any lower back injuries. That horrible woman - if I see her I'll slap her. Now Mili is afraid to drive - my poor siser. I just wanna rush to Long Island and take care of her. She's only 20 and is an excellent driver and to have someone hit her and scare her - she's such a sweetheart and such an innocent in so many ways. AGHHHH I'm so MAD! The insurance info was exchanged and our insurance carrier will go after the woman's insurance to make sure the car is paid for and any injuries Mili has will be taken care of too. I spent an hour boxing / kickboxing tonight but I feel like punching the lights out of something now.

I just got home - gonna shower and eat and then call Mil.

- Nishi

Saturday, June 19, 2004
10:53 p.m.

Updated Sunday 11:30 a.m. BELOW
Updated AGAIN Sunday 11:20 P.M. BELOW BELOW ;)
just finished my vocal exercises - voice feels very good now and I'm happy to say my voice bounced back well after this cold and sore throat - was able to still hit all the high notes and hold them well. am getting ready for bed now. sisters came home today and was fun as usual :) I took out my painting kit and we all did water colors. Mekha's really good at painting - I told her she should really take classes and pursue it and get better. It's SO windy outside! The trees have been going crazy shaking. Spent today doing laundry, cleaning the bathrooms and helping mummy and papa. I'm watching Relic Hunter now before I go to sleep. I had all 3 seasons on 9 tapes but am missing 3 of the tapes from season 1 and 2. AGH! Hope I find them. Anywayz, I am out. Hope you're all well.

Updated Sunday 11:30 a.m.
So that was last night - today's Father's Day! HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!! We're have an outdoor cookout for my dad this afternoon. I spent the morning jogging 2 miles (I am so out of shape - I was able to do 4 miles 2 months ago in 45 minutes, and now I barely did 2 miles in 26 minutes. Blech. I popped in 8 minute Abs and 8 Minute Buns and did those workouts too. If I can get back to my regular 4 mile runs every Saturday and Sunday & the video tape workouts after that and stick to the San Shou kickboxing and Fitness Kickboxing as well as the middle eastern dance / bellydance lessons I should be good :)

Happy father's day everyone - see you later

Updated AGAIN Sunday 11:20 P.M.
Hi again everyone! Darlene my friend Stephanie had wanted to go to ANIME NEXT!! I had wanted to go to but it was in New Jersey and my sisters were all home this weekend and we had to do stuff at home so not possible. Tell me all about it?

I just finished watching the KING ARTHUR - QUEST FOR KING ARTHUR - special on History Channel. The guy who plays Arthur in the new Arthur movie this summer is GORGEOUS BUT I think ONLY when he's all unruly and scruffy and stuff with that beard going on. ;) Clips of him in the movie are just....wow ;) Short haired and clean shaven he's not as...exciting ;) The documentary on Arthur was fascinating - I already know a great deal about Arthur having read and studied the folklore and literature all my life and especially in college as an English major so I knew a lot about the historical and literary sources they talked about - the only thing that surprised me was towards the end when they mentioned this guy (forget the exact name) who had been called to come to Brittany / Rome to help and he went across and helped but died on the way to the city of Avalon. That was new. I'm going to order the History Channel special so I can review that again and everything else. I just signed up for lifetime membership in the International Arthurian Society - North American Branch - entitles me to their publications and conferences etc. I'd love to submit an article to them. I've been more an armchair Arthur fanatic all my life and never pursued publishing research pieces on him but maybe I should now - I'm already working on so many other papers so why not this too ;) LOL!

We had a nice Father's Day here. Papa got a beautiful grill which mummy used more and was more happy about ;) we made ribs and chicken legs, salad and stuff and had a merry ol feast ;) Mek and Mil left after dinner and Nith and I hung out watching the Quest for Arthur and doing facials. I'm tired now and it's time for bed. Good night one and all!

- Nishi

this will be a very long entry
Friday, June 18, 2004
11:58 p.m.

I am now, more than ever a NYC girl - I realized it when I juggled my starbucks iced-nonfat-decaf-caramael macchiato with extra caramel, my bag(s), newspaper and was speed walking here and there like nobody's business, swiftly moving in out of vehicle and pedestrian traffic and looping around slow people and the god forsaken people who insist on STOPPING when right in the MIDDLE of the sidewalk surrounded by people rushing to get to trains etc. and getting to the subway learned about someone being sick on the #4 train and all the subway trains that led from Grand Central downtown along the #4, #5, #6 trains being shut down till the woman got her medical attention. I listened to it, sympathized, and accepted it as the normal daily marvels of events that is NYC in a nutshell. I knew then that despite being a NYC girl for 4 years that I had become a TRULY hardcore NYC girl at that moment. :)

Anywayz, new magazine I enjoy reading - although I'm skeptical about a lot of the "paranormal" stuff written about in it - MYSTERIES MAGAZINE - has excellent articles on Amelia Earheart (sp?) and the Lost allegedly 800-ft gold chain of the Incas - as well as articles on how butterflies use sunlight to regulate their flight patterns and a host of other informative and interesting articles.

This morning I walked into work and gasped - turns out Dark Eyes had taken my large azalea potted tree from my desk for "sunlight" ;) I knew it had to be him cause in its place he, of course left an unsigned note note ;), but also left this large paper creation that was like a pseudo-tree - I saw it, laughed and wasn't worried :) I trust him implictly - I thought maybe he took it home but its safe in the other manager's office which has sunlight :) He's a sweetheart :) Only he would have the talent, the sense of humour and the time to create a thing like that and the humour/shock-bent effort of removing my tree ;)

But lord do he and my other friends there rib me about my plans! :) I actually found out through azaleas.org that the plant I have is a deciduous azalea which drops it leaves in the fall or when it's very dry - the leaves were dropping a LOT and new growth was forming on the thick main stm and all over the top so who knows. I'm going to see how the plant fares with sunlight for a month before I accept that I was "killing" the plant ;) Gotta keep up my rep for a green thumb ya know! :D

Dark Eyes, by the way, is back to hot again - he came in this week with his head shaved again - wow ;) hahahaha :) Ricky don't be jealous :) You're my #1 :) I can still have my eye candy can't I? ;)

Speaking of my darling Ricky :) I found a place where he and I can go kayaking for free when he visits me for the 4th of July weekend - Kayaking on the Hudson - that's what we'll be doing Saturday July 3! :) They give us paddles, each a kayak and life jacket and let us go nuts on the River but they also give a guided 3-hour tour and guide us in a large group down the Hudson to the NY Harbor for total 3-5 miles. It's going to be amazing :) I'm going to take him for sea food afterwards :) Can't wait for that weekend - Wicked musical and dinner Friday night, kayaking and seafood Saurday, the fireworks and barbeque Sunday, and Monday I'll do whatever Ricky wants ;) (meant both in the naughty and innocent way ;) hahahahaha) :)

After work today I went to my middle eastern dance / bellydance class and it was wonderful as usual - we learned the cymbals today. I had a fabulous 1.5 hour session. I'm picking it up quickly and happy with my progress :)

In world news: Bush and Cheney are still arguing that there were links between Al Qaeda and Iraq - PUH-LEASE - I remember CLEARLY that after 9/11 happened, 4 months later after bombing Afghanistan to death, the news started talking about how the White House now was moving its eye to Iraq and slowly building up a case as to why we should consider Iraq a threat and soon thereafter validated its desire to go to war by giving immense weight to shoddy evidence and not even disclosing it - trying to garner support of the public by linking 9/11 to Iraq - I remember writing extensively on how Bush had NOTHING to back up his Iraq war claims after Afghanistan - NOTHING to say it had ANYTHING to do with 9/11.

Today's OP-ED piece entitled 'PLAIN TRUTH' in the NY Times said it best: "Of all the ways Bush persuaded Americans to back the invasion of Iraq last year, the most plainly dishonest was his effort to link his *war of choice* with the battle against terrorists worldwide. While it's *possible* that Mr. Bush and his top advisers really believed that there were chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in Iraq, they should have known all along that there was no link between Iraq and Al Qaeda. No serious intelligence analyst believed the connection existed. Nevertheless, the Bush administration convinced a *substantial* majority of Americans before the war that Saddam Hussein was *somehow* linked to 9/11. And since the invasion, administration officials, especially Vice President Dick Cheney, have continued to declare such a connection. Last September, Mr. Bush had to *grudgingly* correct Mr. Cheney for going too far in spinning a Hussein-bin Laden conspiracy. But the claim has crept back into view as the president has made the war on terror a centerpiece of his re-election campaign. On Monday, Mr. Cheney said Mr. Hussein "had long-established ties with Al Qaeda." Mr. Bush later backed up Mr. Cheney, claiming that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a terrorist who *may* be operating in Baghdad, is "the best evidence" of a Qaeda link. This was particularly astonishing because the director of central intelligence, George Tenet, told the Senate earlier this year that Mr. Zarqawi did not work with the Hussein regime. The staff report issued by the 9/11 panel says that Sudan's government (SUDAN a country in AFRICA), which sheltered Osama bin Laden in the early 1990's, tried to hook him up with Mr. Hussein, but that nothing came of it. This is not just a matter of the president's diminishing credibility, the war on terror has actually diverted military and intelligence resources from places like Afghanistan, where there could really be Qaeda forces, including Mr. bin Laden. BUSH is responsible for his administration's actions which includes selling the false Iraq-Qaeda claim to Americans. Either Mr. Bush knew he was not telling the truth, or he has a capacity for politically motivated self-deception that is terrifying in the post-9/11 world."

My conclusion? I believe that the (1) mere *possibility* of weapons of mass destruction, (2) the fact that Saadam wasn't a U.S. "best friend" at the same that he was a leader of a muslim nation with great clout, (3) the fact that *EXTREMIST* Muslims hated America and could possibly receive help from Iraq + Saadam and (4) the pressure of 9/11 to root out terrorism made Bush and his admin decide - ok we don't have convincing evidence to take out Saadam and attack Iraq but we should do it anyway cause we think the possibility & gravity of those 4 things (if he has WMDs and if he helps muslim extremists) is enough to make him & Iraq a huge threat and we'd rather nix the possibility of a threat before it manifests into a real threat.

Why this is so bad is that (1) there were never any weapons of mass destruction, (2) Saadam and Iraq were fully cooperating with the U.S. and the United Nations - lettings inspectors etc in but maintaining their sovereignty and the U.S. didn't want that - they wanted to see if there was any possibility of weapons that could be used against us (3) without Iraq or Saadam doing anything, with no real evidence of wrong doing, we attacked a country and killed thousdands of innocent civilians in the process under the guise of 'we're here to bring democracy and liberate you from a torturer' - that was just the sweetening to make the bitter poison go down smoothly - we wanted to get inside Iraq, remove Saadam cause we feared he might eventually help terrorists, and we wanted to make Iraq a nation that would be an ally of the U.S. to lesson its threat against us and garner its support as Muslim nation.

Bush tried to argue against the commission's findings this week which found that there was no credible evidence EVER that Saadam or Iraq had dealings with ANY Al Qaeda person or organization - in his arguments against the commission for why a war against Iraq was valid Bush said 'Saadam was a torturer!' as if going for the sympathy vein - that reason never moved Bush to save any other nation and give it democracy! He's doing NOTHING about the Sudan war right now - not even labeling it a genocide when 300,000+ people of the Zaghawa, Masalit and Fur tribes have been murdered, its women raped, branded, and then their throats slit, and 4yr old and 7 yr old boy's throats cut by the Janjaweed Arab militia raider thugs hired by Sudan's idiotic government to kill those tribes. Why don't you help Sudan Bush. Put your power where your heart is and maybe then you'll win the respect of those of us who think so badly of you.

To end this long entry of mine, I copy and paste this article I just finished reading about the Sudan horrors. Please read it.

This article BELOW was written by Nicholas D. Kristof for the New York Times today. Before you read it some background on what has been happening in Sudan: a new war erupted in the mainly Muslim region of Darfur, where non-Arab residents rebelled against Arab domination. To suppress this revolt, Sudan's clique of generals and politicians backed a thuggish militia known as the Janjaweed, which had terrorized non-Arab communities. Women had been raped and branded, villages razed and crops destroyed, thousands killed. At their hands now, more than 300,000 people have been killed.

Now the article.....

-------------
I'll post his follow up article tomorrow. Anywayz, I'm gonna sign off now and get some sleep. Callie did you know that a KING ARTHUR special - QUEST FOR THE KING will be on the History Channel 9pm EST on this Sunday June 20? I, of course, will be watching it :) I already know all the theories and explanations of whether Arthur existed or not but never hurts to learn more (and again) ;) Darlene hiii :) so what're ur plans for this summer? Going anywhere fun? MEMORYYYYYY congratulations sweetie!!!!!! I'm sooo happy for u! I know you did great! No I never went white water rafting - lemme know how it is!:)

- Nishi

Thursday, June 17, 2004
09:31p.m.

*SCREAMS* I saw DIDO perform LIVE for FREE tonight at Bryant Park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was AMAZING! My friends and I left work right away at 5 and headed on over to the park and were able to get very close to the front, and I, sitting on big Mark's shoulders, saw her sing all my favorite songs. She was able to sing 2/3 of her songs before it started to rain and even through that everyone stayed and it was just AWESOME. And we stayed till the very end of her performance. After her was John Mayer but i couldn't stay for that. Dido is almost in every way the kind of singer/performer I'd want to be - she sings what she writes and everything in her comes out in her voice and singing. I went and bought her 2 cds from HMV straight after ;) hahahaah till then I only had mp3s of some of her songs but her performance made me rush to buy her cds. She was just....fantastic and the concert was fabulous! I had the best time :) EEEEEE FREE CONCERT FOR DIDO!! AAAAGHHHHHHHHH :D :D :D :D

I abused my voice though tonight and now it's hoarse and I'm drinking some herbal tea to calm my throat etc. Work your magic. I should've been more careful - overusing your voice and speaking loudly and yelling, esp after or during a cold where you had a sore throat, isn't good for your vocal chords - it creates little cuts and scratches in the vocal chords which will then create scar tissue when they heal and it affects the quality of your voice.

As a result, I have to remain almost completely silent from now on for the next couple days till my voice gets back to 100% normal. That will get me a lot of jibes at work ;) I was taught in one of my only 2 voice lessons that you need to speak in a soft tone the way you say "ummm" or "hmmm" - that keeps your pitch nice and your voice good. Most people speak too much and speak too loud and poorly - I am one of them too - we don't breathe enough or properly and we damage our voices constantly. I've been lax and need to be more careful. Starting tomorrow I'll begin speaking in the softer tone....most of the time.....you're not supposed to yell or talk loudly...stressed the chords...it has the potential (and does in fact) affect your vocal strength and vocal pitch - maybe my years of yelling at my folks (ha ha :P :)) and just always talking too loud etc affected my vocal strength and range....plus I didn't take care of my voice from the time I was little...well now is not too late to start! Thankfully I still have a good voice. So silence and soft voice tomorrow at work ;)

Speaking of work, my co-workers are hilarious and boy do they love to poke fun at me ;) But I adore them :) They make fun of me for my plants I keep in the office which are...well....they look like they're dying although they're really NOT! I just cut all the blooms off...and..well...dammit they're AZALEAS! They'll spring back to life. Which reminds me to do some research on them. Anywayz, today we found a cockroach in the office. FREAKED ME OUT! And I had a new box of cereal I opened yesterday and kept stores in my desk drawer. Friends at work scared me silly with talk about the cockroach infesting my cereal. *shiver* I refuse to believe it got that far *sob*

Anywayz, it's 9:30 and I wanna rest so I'll se ya'll later. Sailor Moon that's awesome! and sorry about all those sick people! How long have you been painting and playing tennis? I played on varsity tennis in high school but I seriously suck at tennis :) I still love it though. And I want to one day take painting classes and really become proficient in it.

Night everyone!

- Nishi

Wednesday, June 16, 2004
10:26 p.m.

hello folks! :) I felt a little better today so went to work! I probably should've stayed home and rested but oh well - I decided if I didn't feel well I could always go back home but I made it through and even went to my dance class afterwards! Work was fun and a barrel of laughs as usual. My friend Andrew tells the funniest stories :) During lunch I went over to Midtown Comics on 40th and 7th and picked up SAIYUKI #3, IMADOKI #1, KARE KANO #10 and FUSHIGI YUUGI #11! :) So happy they had everything I was looking for! Afterwards, I met up with Laurice and Tiffany and Daphne and Bill for lunch (BLT) and had a jolly good time ;)

I LOVEEEEEEE my middle eastern bellydance class. I am learning SO much so quickly. It helps having danced before with Jazz and Ballet in college and some indian dance performance experiences and just naturally loving to dance but the movements are still hard to grasp - the finger movements and shoulder/snake arms thing and the belly rolls and undulations. I am going to this class every Wednesday and Friday from 6-7:30 and going to kickboxing M,T and R from 6-7 and to the 7-8 also if I have enough energy and motivation ;)

Got home at 9pm and after helping my mom witht he dishes, ate with my folks - mummy made this fried shrimp thing I LOVE and cheera (beetroot) the special yummy way only she can make it - and some white morih. I'm now relaxing reading 'Living History' Hillary Rodham Clinton's autobiography. It's really good!

Want to also catch up on astronomy news and events. Am staying up to watch 'Fabulous Life of Angelina Jolie' at 11pm EST on VH1!

I got the WICKED tickets in the mail (since I selected FEDEX overnight delivery) and am holding them in my hand. I can't believe I got these seats - I don't even want to TELL you all how much I spent on them but Ricky's worth it :) He's always doing special and sweet things for me - he deserves this in return :) *MWAH* Rickers :)

Going to watch some tv and relax now. Lady thank you! *HUGGG* I do feel better! Your soap is still good :) M_Jade aww don't worry about it! How's work? Where do you work now?

- Nishi

Tuesday, June 15, 2004
1:03 p.m.

I couldn't go to work again today cause I was too sick. This bloody cold. Woke up at 4:30am with a painful sore throat. It seems with colds that as one ailment heals, the other kicks in. It's hard for me to swallow right now and I'm limiting talking so as not to damage my voice. Been taking lozenges and drinking OJ till I turn orange. Aside from the cold - on the good news front - I just bought tickets for Ricky and me to go see WICKED Friday July 2 at 8 p.m.! :) I got us orchestra seats in row S which is pretty good! Would've preferred something in row L-P but it was impossible to get. Ricky really needs that 4th of July weekend to rest - he's working REALLY hard and I want to make that weekend like a vacation for him. So I'm going to take him out to dinner Friday night after work and then to the show. I am looking up restaurants near the Gershwin Theater to have dinner at. I feel like crap. This is the worst cold I've had in forever. Ricky's cheering me up by buying me the Princess of Ancient Greece Barbie Doll :) Makes a beautiful addition to my Barbie and doll collection. I have 7 dolls displayed in my room right now - the 2 Neo Queen Selenity dolls, the dancing Serenity doll, the Queen Guenevere Franklin Mint porcelain doll I love, and 3 of the Barbies (Arwen, Princess of the French Court, and Princess & the Pea).

Pretty neh? Anyway, I'm going back to bed. God get rid of my cold! I feel awful :(

I responded to all msgs in the entry below save for msg to Sailor Moon :) thank u :) I don't know how I do it all either but when you love and enjoy something, doing itjust becomes easy and fun so it doesn't seem hard to do at all. What things do you love to do in your spare time? Hobbies etc?

- Nishi

Monday, June 14, 2004
10:11 p.m.

agh I'm still sick. Feel crappy and awful. I can't breathe through my nose - too stuffed. I practically sneezed and ran my nose off today. Been drinking orange juice and eating well and so