Darkness Before Light

Winter Favourites: A List in Making

tanzilla — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:58:18 +0000

1) Blanket

2) Tea (milky)

3) Flavored tea (hooked on peach)

4) Coffee

5) Morning walk

6) Chocolates

7) Gur ke Candy

8) Socks

9) Red woolly cap

10) Reading a book in the favorite chair which gets lots of winter sunlight

The past collides with the present: Encounter

tanzilla — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:25:32 +0000

I was decked up and dressed up to the nines and going to the nikah of a cousin tonight with family. I saw a car coming from the opposite side while driving in the service lane. there was little wiggling room and I held back and let it pass and mentally patted myself on the back for this nice and thoughtful gesture. Until. to my horror and dismay, I realized who it was. My ex father in law drove by my window looking at me curiously. I glared back and smirked. Bro said my ex too was there at the back seat. The past collides with the present, and it so happens when we least suspect. I looked in the mirror today and decided to glare and not look.

friendship with animals

tanzilla — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:06:37 +0000

Feline Friendship

It’s great having animals as your friends!

Cat Kisses

Sandpaper kisses
on a cheek or a chin-
that is the way
for a day to begin!

Sandpaper kisses-
a cuddle and a purr.
I have an alarm clock
that’s covered in fur!
~ Bobbi Katz ~

friends over for tea

tanzilla — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:56:53 +0000

Some friends were invited over for tea. it was a cosy affair that came together nicely. But i was very tired after wards.

winters are here

tanzilla — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 06:29:56 +0000

winters are finally starting…I have taken out my comforter and socks. I crave for hot green tea in front of tv, a book and a piece of chocolate cake….the comfy life

Thank you allah mian!

tanzilla — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:50:50 +0000

It’s been two years since I came back, the day he threw me out in illness & pregnancy. I have come so far through parents’ and a few good friends’ support and care. I am glad I didnt stay back and walked out…it’s has been hell of a ride, with potholes and bumps, but I am glad to be the way I am and not stuck in an abusive marriage to a bully. Thank you allah mian!

Winner

tanzilla — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:40:02 +0000

So I won an International Writing Competition. After years of struggle on this front, this kind of recognition is most humbling. And I am blissfully happy~

pets~heart breakers

tanzilla — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 20:39:14 +0000

I recently bought a pair of parakeets for my mom, who is suffering from age and illness related depression. Little did I know that the salesman sold me a sick bird. He looked down as soon as I brought him home, an nursing and care routine based on a pet lover neighbor’s side made him a little bit better for a while. He died two days back and the other one is lonely, bored and frantic at times. Now I don’t know what to do. It’s neither easy to take another trip to the other end of the city for getting mates for the remaining one considering logistics and my work and domestic engagements. Both kept as enthralled by the vividness of their colors and their playing and chirping. Pets break your heart when they are gone!

101 WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS

tanzilla — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 05:56:44 +0000

Courtesy of the Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii

1. Get up 15 minutes earlier
2. Prepare for the morning the night before
3. Avoid tight fitting clothes
4. Avoid relying on chemical aids
5. Set appointments ahead
6. Don’t rely on your memory … write it down
7. Practice preventive maintenance
8. Make duplicate keys
9. Say “no” more often
10. Set priorities in your life
11. Avoid negative people
12. Use time wisely
13. Simplify meal times
14. Always make copies of important papers
15. Anticipate your needs
16. Repair anything that doesn’t work properly
17. Ask for help with the jobs you dislike
18. Break large tasks into bite size portions
19. Look at problems as challenges
20. Look at challenges differently
21. Unclutter your life
22. Smile
23. Be prepared for rain
24. Tickle a baby
25. Pet a friendly dog/cat
26. Don’t know all the answers
27. Look for a silver lining
28. Say something nice to someone
29. Teach a kid to fly a kite
30. Walk in the rain
31. Schedule play time into every day
32. Take a bubble bath
33. Be aware of the decisions you make
34. Believe in yourself
35. Stop saying negative things to yourself
36. Visualize yourself winning
37. Develop your sense of humor
38. Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better today
39. Have goals for yourself
40. Dance a jig
41. Say “hello” to a stranger
42. Ask a friend for a hug
43. Look up at the stars
44. Practice breathing slowly
45. Learn to whistle a tune
46. Read a poem
47. Listen to a symphony
48. Watch a ballet
49. Read a story curled up in bed
50. Do a brand new thing
51. Stop a bad habit
52. Buy yourself a flower
53. Take time to small the flowers
54. Find support from others
55. Ask someone to be your “vent-partner”
56. Do it today
57. Work at being cheerful and optimistic
58. Put safety first
59. Do everything in moderation
60. Pay attention to your appearance
61. Strive for Excellence NOT perfection
62. Stretch your limits a little each day
63. Look at a work of art
64. Hum a jingle
65. Maintain your weight
66. Plant a tree
67. Feed the birds
68. Practice grace under pressure
69. Stand up and stretch
70. Always have a plan “B”
71. Learn a new doodle
72. Memorize a joke
73. Be responsible for your feelings
74. Learn to meet your own needs
75. Become a better listener
76. Know your limitations and let others know them, too
77. Tell someone to have a good day in pig Latin
78. Throw a paper airplane
79. Exercise every day
80. Learn the words to a new song
81. Get to work early
82. Clean out one closet
83. Play patty cake with a toddler
84. Go on a picnic
85. Take a different route to work
86. Leave work early (with permission)
87. Put air freshener in your car
88. Watch a movie and eat popcorn
89. Write a note to a far away friend
90. Go to a ball game and scream
91. Cook a meal and eat it by candlelight
92. Recognize the importance of unconditional love
93. Remember that stress is an attitude
94. Keep a journal
95. Practice a monster smile
96. Remember you always have options
97. Have a support network of people, places and things
98. Quit trying to fix other people
99. Get enough sleep
100. Talk less and listen more
101. Freely praise other people

BONUS: Relax, take each day at a time…you have the rest of your life to live!

cookies for my heart

tanzilla — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 05:38:21 +0000

Sometimes, all I want at the end of a hard day is cookies and hot tea to dunk them in….