Us bulletin3

7 dec

Being here waiting to become grand parents is like waiting for dodo.

But the curtain raiser was the sudden arrival of Ayoob from the Tea pots of Bogo, beating the Santa followed by Faz n I becoming god parents to bundle of joy born to an unseen friend here !!

This little one too entered the world, one month early, virtually un announced when the father was in school-not learning but teaching …..beating his grandparents too who were scheduled to arrive later for the big day …. Were still in China………….

Who does the dad phone? …………..Of course ..Yours truly.

So quick advice over the phone by the three experts ,Faz , Aash and I ,Made his entrée easy, while the father was busy .The advisors on call were active for days for Aqiqa, First Shave, dates Zam zam etc

OF COURSE ALL CAME TO KNOW THAT THERE WERE NO PICTURES IN Ameena’s pictures. Just puss wedi…….like Mahinda Chin….

How’s that for starters,

The main course of is still to come,

Whereas, we have seen the snow. and have kissed the snowflakes and even made a snowman whose cervicals were week, And whereas, BRU HAS GOT THE CRIB all done n ready, and whereas Uncles are in waiting….here and in Bangla, Grand ma is anxious, and whereas even the great grandma is counting………not money but the days- and whereas, Mum to be too is ready and I am as cool as a cucumber in wal-mart , . ..

The chief guest is taking her own time. And we r waiting..waiting…..waiting

And then when it is our turn and she arrives, I think she’ll be coming down the mountain when she comes…….we’ve got to go back to another serving of starters and then for dessert ….. it is Skype being the hype, keeping our spirits ripe, while win messenger is the ice breaker, Time is the loser, the lap top the saviour.

Lunch on Sunday looking for Halal food in a food court was like looking for fresh water fish in the deep blue sea – that’s where we are mostly …ended up with our standard sea food of Jap n Chinese mix. Since we were all hungry all got a belly full each. Free from Bru.- Faz and bru busy as bee (chic) and the other three are always free. We even have Zurica’s green tea. I have started midnight yoga to cut the bulge and reduce my sweetness to a manageable level, while Aadil is having a losing battle with Bru for mouth watering chocolates.. The rest are greedily watching –barred from the delicacy for different reasons.

Bye folks .keep smiling \Saturday night fever by fazhilaad

MUM in waiting

This mum in waiting,
What is she really
expecting............?
a baby?


Our daughter..
she is singing...dancing and painting
in a world of her own ...awaiting a baby,

Is she going to be a mum.......
really, is she?
this child carefree.....
waiting for the baby?

We the grand parents
waiting, ....watching and doubting this mum
who is still a little girl.to us
and a wife to him -the expectant father



Is she ready.. we wonder

I know her,
with that secret understanding
she will be steady
when she is ready

and she will deliver
a
GRAND
DAUGHTER
Insha Allah

Waiting in the snow

Tis cold
outside, biting cold ...........
tiny snow flakes
too small to be seen
yet large enough to be felt
like the heart of a mother


looking from my porch
in this, Wisconsin winter...
seated in a sofa
inside the warmth of this nest
my daughter and son in law
are making

waiting.waiting.....and waiting
in hope, fear, anguish and pure love
for their daughter to arrive
suddenly one day
though we are ready...
When will she come..

Is she fair
do we care

does he have long hair
what will she wear
do we care

her uncles not aware
the pains that their sister will bear
to give them a niece
to share n care

Oh god let her be fair
let her care
right and wrong be aware
and not a burden to bear

A week after

Today December first was great, .

It was our first combined family adventure on snow, flakes, cakes and all including our own adorable snowman at the driving seat after a hot hot brunch prepared by culinary queen.. The quiet morning turned into light snow by noon and then it was our first real experience of driving through all white -- a real snow fall - , snow flakes kissing our cheeks.

Bru did well to handle the vehicle on the snow covered roads though my heart was in my mouth and god knows where his was? I came to correct myself that he infact had fresh unpacked grey matter carefully hidden under his post UMRAH cranium with anew lawn, and hardly used..

Our bellies are full most of the time , but we keep on stuffing pizzas, chocks, fruits, cheeses , nuts and anything with calories on it into out non protesting gastric chambers. The soya sausages are like Jamaican bananas that we have come to relish.Yet I get up in the middle of the night for nightcap.

Oh Fazeena's coffee, which Ahsen too has a pack. YOU must sip it in this cold Wisconsin winter to the weather storms. more than the snow



_________________
It is Sunday morning 2/12

We have enjoyed the now snow fall and the snow all around us. The snow has been cleared off the pathways by a small tractor- working throughout the night. Bru made his own omlette as his MIL like starve him for fear of raising cholesterol levels.



....

Milwaukee 2

01 Dec 2007 Our first week has ended with another feast of biriyani - this time home made with the unique culinary expertise of Fazeena. Though sleepy after the heavy gastronomic adventure, we are set to leave for Jummah. IINSHA ALLAH WE WILL COMPLETE THIS LATER. My children are lucky to have a mother and grandmother whose culinary expertise is the envy of many families. The net result is that I had to buy trousers to suit my new waistline which has seen a 5% increase in 7 days. I leave the rest for your imagination. The week has seen some quick shopping rounds to get the daily needs and also to make last minute preparations for the VIP ETA 13./12.. WE HAVE SEEN BARUSHAN'S EXCELLENT HOSPITALITY BECOME AN EMBARASSING INDULGENCE. I finally learnt that he is allergic to my purse. Then there are daily battles between mum and daughter to give each other a rest, but what I see a losing battle of bulging bellies though for different reasons. Fruits - a variety from oranges to strawberries and excellent bananas have kept us company. Of course we have not told you about the secret of our sugar factories working overtime with Aashika's choicy chocolates, and fruit juices. Still adding to our excellent health is our still life. We are like water plants, the difference being that there is no pool and but we are inside the house swaying. All food and no action- lot of sleep and nothing to do.. The days ARE SHORT AND THE NIGHTS ARE LONG., but our bodies are thinking that the day is night and the night is also night. So it is a fight between the body and soul.Usually the soul looses. NOW IT IS AROUND 5.45 pm and about15 minutes more for ISHAH. Last week also saw the ceremonial do it yourself fitting of the cot for the VIP by himself- A singular heroic task unmatched in the two hundred odd year history of the USA. NOW I AM ONCE AGAIN FORCED TO SUFFER THE HOSPITALITY OF MY DAUGHTER AND SIL WITH SALTED PISTACHIO and peanuts. NO wonder I am going nuts as you are now imagining- of course courtesy keeping your opinions private..Even the juicy strawberries cant beat the juicy jokes of BRU. Mum is looking forward to Eid to make watalappam which will be an event to remember, Wonder if Bush could emerge from the bushes to enjoy the feast. My practice session trying to make jaggery flakes ended in disaster this morning with a deep cut in my thumb and a bloody palm. The twice daily Google and messenger interactions is what the doctor prescribed to keep us closer to the Mahinda Chintanaya and home folks . This helps us to KIT (The Dialoge Type) faster than Mihin Air., Aadil's first tour of the West appears to be his best though frighted of the cold wintry winds of Wisconcin State. BRB after Ishah Now we have three important things to do to compete the day. CHAT, EAT N SLEEP and nothing else. QED. That completes this report. Tomorrow we are expecting a snow storm according to Bru, but what I am expecting is some new kits to fit our bulging bellies. Bru is determined not to take us to the gym or for a swim- both being lethal for bulges. See you next week Insha allah FazSulAad

MILwaukee 1

27 NOv 2007 Today we are relaxing on the first working day of the week after arrival at Milwaukee. Had a chat with Shafi and Ahsen in the morning. Barushan has gone to work. Yesterday was bright and sunny as well as cool and snowy, but today looks dull. Our flight from Colombo took off about an hour late with an assortment of passengers ranging from housemaids to houselords and sheikhs and halaal food. The flight meal was fish and lamb. Nothing spectacular about landing in Dubai for a 8 hour transit. Collected our boarding passes to Atlanta and Milwaukee. The airport security process included the removal of belts bangles and shoes. Having cleared all that we had to pray luhr asr combined and magrib isha combined while exploring the duty free from time to time. The cars on the raffle the Benz and the BMW were too tempting to ignore but we did not buy the raffle ticket. We had french coffee and McDonalds snacks to while away the time. Our first attempt to cross the Atlantic started at 11.50 pm and the flight took us over Turkey, London, New Foundland and the deep blue sea, New York etc .We were looking out for the Titanic but could not find it! We had halaal food again and a courteous crew which we did not expect. There was enough to eat and drink for the 15 hour endurance test which was our longest night in our lifetime. Since there were empty seats we could stretch ourselves and sleep in a couch form like the foetus in Aashika's womb and float our way through the skies. We landed at Atlanta at Eastern time 5.50 am Friday morning only to find one of our baggage missing and that too with all the stuff for the intended new arrival to this world. After some worrisome moments and complains we were asked to make a complain at Milwaukee the final destination. The Immigration process and customs checking was made easy by Almighty Allah in answer to our prayer and yours and contrary to what many people warned us of, even our spices went through easily. We have got 6 months stay. Another 5 hours of wait at the airport was cold and long this is when the Sri Lankan biscuits and cream crackers came to our rescue as halaal food was not available. We topped ourselves with American coffee with one large serving enough for all 3 of us. Took train to the domestic terminal and checked in. Our baggage was automatically transferred to the local flight. The flight to Milwaukee took 1 hr 40 mts. and many of the 6 footers could not stand straight in the plane as it was so small. Aadil found it extremely uncomfortable with his long legs and tall frame. We were served with peanuts and juice to the dismay of all of us. There was also a noisy young crowd to keep us awake. This was our first day time view of America albeit from the skies. Flying at low altitude gave us a fairly reasonable view of the topography of the land. Milwaukee is by the side of the beautiful lake Michigan and reminded us of our last visit to London and Paris several years ago. Some trees still had the golden leaves of the autumn and the others were naked awaiting the cold snow of the winter already hibernating. Milwaukee airport was quiet for an American one. Made a complain about the loss baggage and took taxi to Brown Deer Apartment which will be our home for the next 3 months. Barushan had gone for jummah and Aashika received us warmly. After an exchange of pleasantries, news, goodies and gifts Barushan joined us for a sumptuous chicken biriyani which was our first solid meal in the normal position after we left on Thursday morning having had sandwiches for breakfast. Our eyes were heavy with sleep and Aadil was shivering in cold and almost crying. The snow outside was a novel experience but we were too tired to enjoy it. The beds were too warm and inviting. We slept till dinner. Saturday was tiring with jetlag our bodies wanted to wake up in the night and sleep at day time. Yet we did some essential shopping with Barushan and Aashika. The missing bag never came. We had a sumptuous lunch courtesy Barushan The dawn of the Sunday saw the missing bag at our doorstep to our relief. After a heavy breakfast made by Barushan and Aashika did some shopping came home for lunch and slept. It is now Monday night.We went out after Isha 6.01PM and just returned. So lets get this across to first. Looking forward to hearing from you. Hilmi, Fazeena n Aadil