Tough Day

Today, was by no means easy.  I didn't think it would be this tough though. 
It was the hubby's best friend's baby's 2nd birthday.  But there were 6 other couples where at least one of the couples had gone to UCSB with the hubby. And they ALL had 2 kids if not 3.
It was tough - we have been trying forever.  You know you are on tge sane page abd feeling just a tiny bit out of this world when we sit in the car and tears start rolling diwn both our eyes.
But it is in God that we both trust - there is a reason for everything!

What Makes A Great Co-Worker - For Me?

I have worked at many places in the past 13 years. Wow! I cannot believe I just typed 13 years! So weird to look at!!
Not to jinx it, but I don't think I have been any happier with my peers. Not that they are all great, but majority rules and majority of my co-workers at this job are great! I have been with this company for a year now and it took guts to leave the restaurant business! I was married to restaurant management and catering for 12 years. Well, I am still in love, you may say :)
I  am currently an office manager and loving it. So lets get back to those peers. They are surprisingly a younger crowd than I am, but it certainly doesn't feel like it. Here is what I think makes great people to work with:

1. Lend a hand
No matter how insignificant you may think it is, do it anyways. Hold that door open, pick up that pen on the floor, ask if you can help in any way. Trust me, it will make YOU feel better as well. Just try it. Then let me know how it went :)

2. Talk about resolution rather than just complaining
Even if you are not at fault, try to look for a solution. It will save you  the headache of making the same mistake twice. But be nice when you approach someone and be honest. Tell them why you are feeling the way your are. Make them see your point of view. Then come up with a solution as a team.

3. DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONAL - this one is a big one for me, it has helped me so much, and trust me, I would get angry at people to where I turned red!
Believe me when I say IT IS SO IMPORTANT NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING PERSONAL. No two people ever think exactly the same. Rather than taking it personal and acting angry, take the moment to listen to the other person and truly understand where they are coming from. It doesn't necessarily mean that you agree with what is being said, it just means that you have a calm and professional way of dealing with issues, suggestions and constructive criticisms.

Of course, there is more than just the lending a hand, talking about a resolution and not taking it personal. However, I do not want to bore anyone. Let's start with these three ways where anyone can be a great co-worker and take it a little at a time.

I am always open to suggestions! Feel free to add your thoughts!

Fourth of July 2013

I am sad that my dad has to go back to Iran. But what can you do? It is life. More on the family drama later :)
My brother had Fourth of July off this year, which is great, it usually doesn't happen that way!
I always like to plan the Fourth a month ahead and rent a boat for 8-10 people for the fireworks. This year, no one really said for sure they wanted to go and of course on the day of, everyone was wondering about the boat. Typical in-laws!
Luckily the hubby was able to pull some strings and we went on a yacht, which was $70 per person, but we ended up paying $10 per person...YEAH! Turns out they we filming a reality show about nurses on the yacht! It was certainly fun to watch and I made a Persian friend! Yup, I am half Persian myself, but find it very difficult to be friends with the Persians that live in my community due to the fact that I cannot stand materialism or being fake. Many Persians are amazing, hard working people, but not all of them.
Anyways, the yacht was great! The weather was amazing! However, it was from 1 pm to 4 pm and we still had plenty of time to figure out where we wanted to eat and where we want to watch the fireworks.
We all decided on Pita Jungle, which I had never been to.Hubby ordered a pizza that was a special and my father in law ordered a shrimp dish that was fantastic. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of my wrap, but here are a couple of photos from the restaurant:

The Pizza - with ground beef

The Shrimp Dish - spicy but oh so good!

Hubby and I :)

We then decided to go to Newport Beach for the fireworks. It was windy, but gorgeous!

 

 

I was kinda cold LOL

The perfect moment to capture!

Just chilling! Love my Samsung Galaxy S4!!! It takes THE BEST pictures!

I call him my "HAJI"!!! Love!

And then we were off to Huntington Beach for a better view to the fireworks, which I have no pictures of, since I decided to just watch and enjoy rather than take pictures. Figured, there will be enough pictures online :)

Happy Fourth!

Looking Forward? or Anxious?

A week and two days from now, I will see my dad whom I haven't seen for four years. M has not seen him for nine years.

I don't know if I am excited because he will be in MY house? or am I anxious? A dad is always a dad and wants the best for his children. He will probably be his own self who wants me to lose weight and be healthy ... lol....literally... lol .... who doesn't?

I AM looking forward to the fact that he will for once be away from my mom. Not that he hasn't before, but in the sense that he will be vacationing from her!

I just want him to be here already and I DO NOT know how I will react when he leaves. I am already devastated as is!

:(

Deja Vu

I haven't seen my dad since 2009 when I visited him in Tehran. M hasn't seen him since 2004 and the hubby has never met him since we got married 9 years ago. Yes, this October it will be 9 years of marriage!

How we met, the proposal and the day we got married, will be three different blog posts of their own if not more :)

Anyways, I really hope that I am not jinxing my dad's visit. But, after all these years, HE IS COMING! I have been in America since 2001 and my dad has not seen where I live, how I live or with whom I live :(

I titled this entry 'Deja Vu' because I very vividly remember the day M (my bother) was coming to America. My life had no meaning without him in it and the only way that I was able to survive being away from him and away from my family and Homeland was because of MY wonderful hubby. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't have survived anything without him.

Yes, we argue and we have our moments, but WHO DOESN'T? At least we are still married and love each other....haha!

I am getting the same feelings with my dad coming as I did when M was coming. I cannot wait to see him and hug and hold him. I feel like he is a far away dream. I cannot believe that this is happening.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason! Even though I was crying my eyes out the other day just with the thought of having to let go only after 27 days of seeing him. I still tear up and I do not know how to handle it!

I have always had that guilt that I am in a better place than many other people. I have never really been able to deal with good byes either and being away from loved ones. So it makes me really sad. The only way that I have been able to deal with it is by ignoring my feelings and putting them aside. Because if I don't, I'll suffocate from all the emotions. I have never actually said that aloud before.

Thus the reason why I wanted to start a blog. I not only want to share my feelings, emotions and thoughts, but I also want to meet other people that can help me and vice versa! Hope this is a good start :D