Sunday, February 27, 2005

And the Oscar goes too...

Well, Oscar 77 has finally come and gone, and I am proud to say that for the first time in my life, I got to see the the show LIVE (with the 5 second broadcast delay of course), and at a civilised time. The whole Red Carpet Pre-Show started at about 7pm here, so there was a little Oscar get-together organised by the Residence Council people so at least I got to see the show!

So I'm like the first person there, and there are these other two people there busy arranging the food and the drinks and stuff, and they're like "Hey, come on in! The show's just about to start!" So slowly, people begin to trickle in, and we're watching the whole red carpet show for like an hour, when suddenly at 8pm the show ends, and they start showing something else (by this time there were more people in the room). Everybody's like "What the hell?", so people start frantically changing channels until we got what we wanted.

So finally, at 8:30pm, on a different channel, the show finally starts. By this time they had distributed these sheets where we could make predictions on all the winners. So, CHRIS ROCK comes onto the stage and of course, in his usual way, says "SIT YOUR ASSES DOWN!!!"

I have to say, he started off the show really well, but...hmm...he seemed...I don't know... I expected more from him...

Anyway, since most of you wouldn't have seen it, I won't spoil stuff for you, although I'm pretty sure you know who all won by now.

So, nothing much more to say, except that I got 13 out or 24 predictions correct! YAY! Not a bad show, but then again, not spectacularly brilliant either.

Till next time,
take care and have fun!
][mran

Saturday, February 19, 2005


Avi at my place, doin' his THANG!!! Posted by Hello

Reading Week!

'ALLO, 'ALLO, 'ALLO!!!

Hello my dear children! Yes, I'm back, to bring another ray of sunshine into your otherwise miserable lives, and giving you all a reason to live! My last post was...well...looooong back, been quite busy since then. Had a couple of assignments to submit, a presentation to do, then the usual work as well, lots been happening over the past month and a half!

Well, for starters, my parents came over for about a week, so that was nice! Had hardly been two or three weeks since I'd left Dubai anyway, though it was nice seeing them, showing them around York and what not. On a Saturday afternoon, my parents, Avi and I had lunch together, so that was a nice little together.

After that, well, I had work to get to. Of course the work load has increased since last term, since I'm taking 2 more courses, but enough about that. I didn't come here to relate my sob stories to you, that's your job, since you live such miserable lives and have nothing else to write about.

Well, we here celebrated 9 days of what is known as Reading Week. If you're wondering what it is, then let me tell you that it is called by a different name in the United States; Spring Break. Although it hardly felt like spring here... Six more weeks of winter all because that stupid Groundhog saw his stupid shadow! But anyway, enough about that.

Since we had 9 days to lounge about the place, Avi and I decided that we might as well lounge about at Niagara! I hadn’t seen Niagara, Avi’s seen it 4 times I think.

So Saturday Avi came over to York to spend a couple of days. We both had decided that we’d go for a couple of movies this week. So after spending a Saturday afternoon at a shopping mall which we didn’t know existed until sometime quite recently, a place called ‘Yorkdale’, we bought a couple of DVD’s at HMV, and headed back home to watch them. Avi got the ‘Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth’ DVD, while I got the ‘Iron Maiden: The Early Days’ one. I guess so much of detail isn’t really necessary, but what the heck.

So that night, we watched Avi’s DVD, and decided we’d go for Black the next day. The following day we woke pretty late, so by the time we got around to going for Black, it was already 3pm or so. But I must say, the movie is really very good. Nice to see Bollywood making good movies for a change. Some of your might have already seen it, some of you might not have as yet, and some of your might never want to see it. I think that about covers everybody. I don’t quite know why I did that…

Anyway, so Monday we left for U of T, and on Tuesday we left for Niagara. We caught the bus that travels all the way from Toronto to New York, and passes through Niagara. We got off at Niagara, and made our way to The Falls.

Absolutely stunning! I have never seen anything quite like The Falls in my entire life! The volumes of water flowing is unimaginable, and the town always has a low rumbling sound, which is the falls flowing! It’s that loud, yes it is.

So, after we walked around for an hour and finally located our hotel, we made our way back to The Falls and clicked a couple of pictures. I also caught my first glimpse of Bush Country.

By this time, we were rather hungry, so we made our way to T.G.I.Fridays (ring any bells?) and had dinner, after which it was difficult to move. So finally, very tired, we made our way back to our room, and watched T.V. for a loooooooooong time. You have to understand, Avi at least has a T.V. in his Common Room, I don’t even have that…don’t ask why.

Saw the latest episode of American Idol…so incredibly stupid, yet funny, yet we watched it, so I guess that’s why it’s so high on the ratings charts all the time.

After a while, we found out it was going to snow overnight, so we finally fell asleep. Woke up the next morning to find snow covering everything. So after we checked out from our hotel, we had breakfast at this place called ‘Denny’s’. I had pancakes with blueberry topping and whipped cream and honey, and two glasses of hot chocolate. HEAVEN! Of course, I couldn’t finish everything, so I had to give up a large chunk of my pancakes, but it was still delicious. Finally we left Niagara and came back to Avi’s place.

That evening we saw Hitch. I actually quite enjoyed it. The best part was that now they’ve reduced cinema tickets to $9.95 (tax inclusive) so now we’re paying less with tax, than what you pay in Dubai WITHOUT tax. HA! Okay…

While we were waiting in the cinema for the movie to start, this usher comes into the cinema and says, “Guys, could I have your attention please? Um, unfortunately there is something wrong, and we have to move you all to Cinema 4. So could everybody hold on to their tickets and follow me please?”

So after we all filed our way out of Cinema 1 and into Cinema 4, the movie started half an hour late. The funny thing was that I heard people saying stuff like, “This blows!” I’ve never heard anyone say that before! It sounds quite funny, you must admit.

So finally, we have dinner at this Indian place close to Avi’s place, and we go to sleep.

The next morning we both jump out of bed (well I jumped out of my sleeping bag) to this LOUD SIREN RINGING IN THE ENTIRE BUILDING! I ask Avi what it was, and he says, “Fire Alarm.” Well, so we both quickly make our way to the outside of the building where we find most of the students already assembled. After about 10 minutes, they let us back into the building. And to top it all off, I’ve got an aching shoulder (still do, in case any of you are worried).

So I tell Avi, I really need to get back to my own place, and so I left back for York. Been spending the last two days in total rest and relaxation. It’s been a fun trip.

And that my friends, is pretty much how I spent my Reading Week, and everything leading up to it. Hopefully the photos I have posted will whet your appetite enough till I post again. I shall definitely try and not keep such long gaps between posts, but forgive me if I do.

Till next time,

Take care and have fun!

][mran


Avi and me on the coach to Niagara! Posted by Hello

This is the area where the American falls and the Horseshoe falls kind of flow into the same place. As you can see, a lot of the lake was frozen. Posted by Hello

American Falls! That bridge in the background connects Canada with the United States. Posted by Hello

Me acting silly! That's Horseshoe Falls in the background in case you were wondering... Posted by Hello

Up close at Horseshoe Falls! Posted by Hello

Avi and I at T.G.I.Fridays! Posted by Hello

Our Beloved T.V. Posted by Hello

Till next time,
Take care and have fun!
][mran

Friday, February 04, 2005

Joke Time

k since i dont have anything better to post, here's a good one i came across recently:

Two guys were on a ship that sank in the middle of the ocean. They managed to inflate a rubber life raft and grab a box of provisions before their ship slipped under the surface.

After floating under a blazing heat for six days, they ran out of food and water. On the tenth day, bleary eyed and half dead from heat, thirst and starvation, they spotted a small object floating toward them in the water. As it drew near, they were ecstatic to find that it was an old oil lamp. They grabbed the lamp and rubbed it.

Out popped a tired old genie who said, "Okay, I've been doing this 3-wishes stuff for a while now guys, and, quite frankly, I'm burned out. You guys only get one wish and then I'm outta here... so make it a good one."

The first guy blurted out, without thinking, "Give us all the beer we can drink for the rest of our lives!"

"Fine," said the genie, and the entire ocean was instantly turned into beer.

"Great move, Einstein," said the second guy, slapping the first guy on the side of the head. "Now we're gonna have to piss in the boat."

Comments and compliments are welcome...

An evening at BD's!

Hello hello, its been ages...whatever happened to our daily posts system? Oh well, looks like everyones really caught up...

Hmm well lately the only thing interesting that happened was Faisal and Ebaad's Birthday Bash at Barbeque Delights... which was quite nice, apart from the fact that there was no dessert, hmph! no chocolate cake even.. sheesh...

Lets start at the beginning though, first Abeera came over to my place, and it took us ages to find a cab...and even when we did, it was one of those private ones... so when abeera asked him 'Uncle, how much will you take to Lamcy Plaza', he said 'Meri to abhi shaadi bhi nahi hui, aur aap mujhe uncle keh rehi hain!'....sheesh.... kuch zyada he free hogaya!!...

Anyway so then we got to lamcy, checked out the sale for abit.... then Shahlan called and said they were all at BD's, so we walked over (its right across the road, btw)... the place was quite nice....then we got around to ordering...oh and ofcourse, when Fahad asked whether it was all mutton, Ebaad said (this is classic i swear)...'Yeah everything here is mutton, except the fish'...

Anyway, then the food came, we ate, ordered some more (sheesh abeera, kitna khao gi!!)...ordered parathas for fahad which he didnt even eat....then decided to go to some snooker place....packed into shahlan's car.... when we got there, we changed our minds...or actually its more complicated than that but lets not go there... so we went bak to some sheesha place near Lamcy...n then Shahlan dropped me home...

Yup, thats about it...

So, non-dubai gem people? Imran, Avi, Ahmed... what have you guys been upto? Lets get posting again shall we...!
Till next time, take care...
-Ambreen

Thursday, February 03, 2005


Triple treat.. (couldn't think of anything else) Posted by Hello

Shahlan's reaction after he noticed the price on the menu..  Posted by Hello

the good the bad and the smelly..  Posted by Hello

right... that's the menu..  Posted by Hello

19th B'day Fireworks Posted by Hello

Imad and shahlini in Daily...  Posted by Hello