Commitment-phobe?

Had an interesting weekend; got to go see Kathy Griffin in person at Constitution Hall - hilarious!!! I also attended the National Book Festival that was on the National Mall this Saturday and meet one of my favorite authors. I even got to ask a question after her reading. It was so cool!!!

But I do have a question, my mom contests that I am a commitmentphobe. I don't know, am I?

She has a point, guys who like me and would treat me right, I never like and generally I go for men who are a catch and not right for me. But is it asking to much to want a man who is not only good for me but also interesting. I'm finding that every Indian guy I meet is dull or to controlling, or too old fashion. I don't know, am I being too picky? And if so, how does one change that?

My favorite Movie

This is a little something for my fabulous Scottish friend, Kate; who has had some sad news come her way recently.

The Sound of Music is my all-time favorite movie. No matter where I am, what I am doing or how I feel, the songs of the movie always bring a smile to my face and lighten up my spirit. It is indeed my soothing film as well, the one I go to when I am feeling blue. I've watched this film every year at winter break and now associate it with cozy December mornings full of family and hot chocolate. This particular song, "So Long Farewell," I adore and have memorized, often singing it in my head.

I hope my fabulous lovely friend Kate, that it gives you as it has to me (even if it is ever so small), comfort.

Over It

Wanting you,
to be wanting me.
No that ain't no way to be.
How I feel, read my lips,
because I'm so over..
Moving on, its my time,
you never were a love of mine.
Hurt at first, a little bit,
but now I'm so over.
I'm so over it..

These Katharine McPhee (yes that Katharine McPhee of American Idol fame) lyrics to her first single, "Over It," succinctly encompass my thoughts and feelings for my long held crush, that guy from South Africa.

He was here in Washington DC this week and Virginia Gal was unaffected. Yes, I did go to dinner with him one night, but that was it. I did not rearrange my schedule or jump up each morning to call him - progress! Instead he called me to set up the dinner date and than the first night he was here he wanted me to come out, but I said, "no." And than I knew he was alone on Friday night but since I had already made plans to go to my Uncle's place, I did not blink an eye and said, "whoops sorry I am busy that evening." I proceeded to my Uncle's and had a FABULOUS time, and didn't think of said crush once!!

Also, when we did go out for dinner, I realized, much as I like him for a friend. I would kill him, if we were married. He is much to much hung up on looks and being rich. Plus his politics and mine do not agree as well...so while it is ok to be pals (who doesn't like having a hot South African guy as a friend), there is no longer any chemistry on my end.

How's that for being over it, peeps?! If I do say so myself, Virginia Gal is pretty proud of herself!

Women Against Sarah Palin

A friend sent me this link to an absolutely LOVELY blog if you are not a fan of Sarah Palin, as I am not.

Women Against Sarah Palin

The most recent post at the site has someone asking Ms. Palin some real questions that made me smile, i.e.

§ If you didn't try to fire Wasilla librarian Mary Ellen Baker over her refusal to consider censoring books, why did you try to fire her?

§ Forty-seven million Americans lack health insurance. John Goodman, who has advised McCain on healthcare, has proposed redefining them as covered because, he says, anyone can get care at an ER. Do you agree with him?

§ Cindy and John McCain say you have experience in foreign affairs because Alaska is next to Russia. When did you last speak with Prime Minister Putin, and what did you talk about?

§ You are a big fan of President Bush, so why didn't you mention him even once in your convention speech?

§ You're suing the federal government to have polar bears removed from the endangered species list, even as Alaska's northern coastal ice is melting and falling into the sea. Can you explain the science behind your decision?

§ You've suggested that God approves of the Iraq War and the Alaska pipeline. How do you know?

ENJOY!!

Ramadan and Bombings

I am just boiling mad and had to get this off my chest.

Currently we Muslims are observing the most holy of months in our religious calender, Ramadan. It is the month of fasting, when we are suppose to not only physically fast (no food or drink during the day) but also to improve our selves, to be better human beings.

With that preface, I am unutterably disheartened, disgusted, angry about these bombings in New Delhi, India that happened today. Where is the self-reflection of Ramadan in killing innocent people, for God knows what reason?!!!! You freaking morons!!!

And what angers me is that this is happening in India; generally known for peaceful Muslim relations. I know these idiots who claimed to have done this are not Indian Muslims. They are outsiders, namely Arab's or Pakistani's, who have come into India to stir up the pot. What the he$@ is wrong with you?! I'm so sorry your country is f*&k'ed up, but why don't you clean that up instead of wrecking havoc elsewhere. you jerks!!!

As it is Muslims have, in recent years, been the scapegoats in Indian politics. The Indian politic party that was in power for a while in the 1990's, the BJP, was based almost soley on the racist premise that Muslims are bad for India and needed to be explelled from the country (yeah similar to the Nazi's or the Serb's). These stupid outsiders, who did this bombing, are not helping anything (well that is a duh statement in itself) but definitely NOT helping Indian Muslims.

New Delhi is like my second home, I spent nearly every summer there during my childhood. I know these shopping locations where the bomb blasts went off, the shop owners, the cast of characters who inhibit that area. I am broken hearted that this has happened in this location, which I associate with happy memories and I only pray that these a&*hole's are caught and caught soon and as far as I'm concerned, since they are so-called Muslims, they deserve to be punished the Islamic way, "an eye for an eye," (stoning or hanging works for me).

May Allah bless those who were killed and injured in these blasts, regardless of their faith, and comfort their families with His light and grace.

Here is a link on the bombing story -
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/13/AR2008091301215.html

Beautiful Photo

My friend Stella, from Greece, took this picture while she was on vacation last week. It is the tiny town of Hydra, where no cars or motorcycles are allowed. She is not a professional, but this picture just blows my mind - it is so lovely!!

I am going to use this for my mental get away shot, when things get too much over here. Enjoy!

Trying to be happy in a world of sadness

I wanted to write or put something funny up on the blog and I actually went to Yahoo to get a cute image but what popped up was this tragic story about a Mexican immigrant being beaten to death by four teenagers.

It brought to mind the incident when three youth beat up a homeless man (and made me cry).

What is wrong with people?!!!!

This also prompted my thinking of a conversation I recently had with two of my friends who were visiting from Manchester, England, about the death penalty. They were firmly against it, while I am not as nice. In some cases I think people need to be fried (yes I am working on my forgiveness issues).

But what about in this instance; the youth who killed Luis Eduardo Ramirez Zavala, 25, of Shenandoah, PA, a factory worker, are being charged as juveniles, so they will not get death. But instead they will face imprisonment until the age of 21 (considering they are around 17, this is not a lot of time). That does not seem fair to me; they took a man's life, shouldn't they be punished more?? I am not saying they should get death, but maybe at least being in prison till they are say 40 and have missed their entire young adult life?

Also, I am wondering if these boys are white; I ask this because in Florida when a black kid, age 15, killed his cousin by accident in a wrestling move, he was tried as an adult. I don't know, but I wonder if these youth had killed a white man instead of a Mexican immigrant, would they have gotten a harsher punishment? I am inclined to think, "yes."

Lots of thoughts swirl around in my mind but foremost is a prayer for Mr. Zavala, may he rest in peace and God bless him and his family.

Republican Hypocrisy

Sorry for the delay in posting - I have been extra special lazy this week. Second apology for this post if it offends you but come on, I have stated clearly and repeatedly I am a liberal and a democrat, so you knew this was coming!

This is my official rant on the Republicans. I know, out there on the world wide web, others have said this better. But I am not to be denied my two cents as well.

I am appalled by this Sarah Pallin character. She is an evangelical Christian, which always scares me. But moreover, I find her to be one of those annoying PTA/Home Owner's Association mom's who wants to carefully control everything but in the end does not. Reminds me of some of my classmates' moms who never disciplined their children, bought the kids everything they wanted right away and blamed the teacher for any bad grade their kid got.

I know Barack Obama said her family is officially off-limits but I am not official. My thinking with Pallin's family is this - if you wanna talk the talk (by which I mean to force the rest of America to adhere to your fundamentalist religious views) than you must walk the walk!

Why is it always with these religious types the more controlling or hateful they become the less they are able to actually stick to those principles (see numerous evangelical ministers and Republican politicans who turned out to be gay, pedophiles or drug addicts for example).

Finally, I can't believe that any of the Republicans have the hutzpah to mention how they want to fix Washington (which is all I have been hearing at the convention this week). What the hell are they talking about?! They are the ones who broke Washington!

There I am done for now...but more to came as the days lead up to the election.

ps - just for your information, even if we the United States started off-shore drilling tomorrow, we would not get the oil to the consumer for ten years. So please don't fall for that stupid retoric.
http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2008/06/18/offshore_drilling/