The Prophet's b-day and begging

Well today was yet another holiday here in Lahore. Today was the prophet's bday and most everything was closed. Shakil and I had some things to pick up at the supermarket so we headed over to Al-Fatah and they were closed. So we then went to Jalal Sons which is very close to us. They were open. They are actually open 7 days a week where other places close on Sunday. We went out the back way when we finished and Shakil pointed out a street to me that was just lit up everywhere. It looked like Christmas to me. I was surprised with all the lights for the holiday.

You know I'm really starting to get annoyed with all the beggars here. When we left Jalal Sons, I went out to the car to wait because Shakil was going to walk and get us some fresh naan. Now, it's getting very hot and I mean very hot here in Lahore so waiting in the car is not easy to do. But it was my choice. So I rolled the window down and minutes later someone is coming to my window begging or trying to sell something. I can shake my head "no" a hundred times and they still keep at me. It really drives me nuts. So of course I roll up the window and then I just sit there and sweat. It just sucks. Argh!!!!

We slept in today and didn't get up until after 12 p.m. I then made us some lunch and then after that we made Chicken Karahi together. Shakil did most of the work considering he's made it so many times before. After that we headed back upstairs to our bedroom where we napped for 2 hours. That's what was going on here prior to heading for the supermarket adventures.

I keep thinking everyday we are going to hear from the embassy. But unfortunately we haven't heard anything yet. We are going on 60 days since the interview. As the heat rises here in Lahore, I become more and more ready to get back home!!! Thank God for a/c's that's all I can say. :-) I'd be melting here.

Tomorrow is Shakil and I's first day of doing our walking in the morning. We are going to get up at 5:30 a.m. to be at the park by 6 a.m. Yesterday it was sooo hot at the park and that was even at 6:30 p.m. So we are going to give the mornings a shot. I hope it's better because I have built up so much endurance and I don't want to stop the walking. :-)

Until later...

Bye for now.

Post Birthday update!

When Shakil came home from the office at about 5:30 p.m. yesterday we headed off to the park for our walk together. I'm trying to get into better shape. I really don't know how I'm doing it because geez, I've just been so damn tired lately. But anyways, I'm still goin'. :-)

After our walk we were discussing where we wanted to go out for my birthday dinner and Shak had mentioned this restaurant called "Cafe Alanto". We went there but unfortunately neither he or I liked the menu. So then Shak suggested the chinese restaurant that we went to with Linds and Tiff the other day and I said sure. I'm also liking chinese a lot these days or wanting it I should say. So we go there but it is soooooooo extremely packed. It was afterall 10 p.m. and that is when EVERYONE here in Lahore likes to go out to dinner. So then Shak suggested going to "The Village". "The Village" is a huge Pakistani restaurant that is a buffet. I guess Shakil and I were really wanting a buffet. LOL Anyways, by the time we got there it was like 10:30 p.m. or so and it of course was soooo busy but Shakil just went up to the front and told them it was just 2 of us and they seated us right away. Fantastic!! I ate sooooo much and it's hard not to at this place. There is just soooo much yummy dishes. I just mixed up a whole bunch of stuff on my plate. I especially enjoyed the pulao. It was very good. :-)

After dinner I of course had to have some dessert even though I had that yummy cheesecake sitting at home in the fridge. I told Shakil to just go get me some galub jammin but he insisted I go with him and I of courrrrrrrrrrrse came back with more than just galub jammin. LOL I also had to pick up some jalebbi. (sp?) Yum!! Shakil ate so much I don't know how he even drove us home. We were both just ill from eating so damn much!!

Overall we had a great time and I'm so glad that I was able to spend my bday with him this year. Last year was just not the same without him.

Today was Sunday and I cooked up some tasty veggies for Shakil and I and also tried the cheesecake! One word.......YUM!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my!!!!!!!!!!!! :O:O Good thing Shakil and I went on our 3 1/2 mile walk this evening. Shakil's grandfather, grandmother and cousins Samad and Haroon came over this afternoon for visiting. His grandfather and grandmother are leaving for India tomorrow. His grandmother is having another knee replacement surgery.

Tomorrow is the 45 day mark in the "45 day administrative review processing" for Shakil's visa. He will be calling them tomorrow to see what's up! Keep us in your prayers.

Until later...

Bye for now.

Today's my birthday!!!

Today is my birthday!!!!!!! I'm the big 2-9 today. Not too far from the big 3-0!! Ha ha. Shakil came home with a nice big cheesecake for me. Cheesecake is by far my most favorite sweet and is my ultimate weakness. :-) It said "Happy Birthday Tara" on the cheesecake. It was very sweet. It looks so damn yummy I can't wait to dive into it. He brought it home at lunch time and I'm surprised I didn't dive into it while Shakil was at the office. LOL

I pretty much napped all afternoon and slept late this morning. I didn't wake up until 12 p.m. I've been sleeping late for the past week. In fact, I've been sleeping until noon everyday. Shakil and I went to the park again and did a mile and a half walk but I seemed to be moving slower today. Hopefully, I'll pick up tomorrow. :-) I've started taking some more vitamins to get my energy back up.

Shakil is taking me out to dinner here shortly. Not sure where we are going but man I'm still craving Chinese!!!!!! Yum, maybe that's what I want. Last night we stopped for chicken seekh kababs and chapli kababs, fresh naan! Tasty! It was so good.

Good movie coming on tonight. "The Ring" I just love a good scary movie. I've seen it like 2 times but I keep watching a good scary movie!

Until later...

Bye for now.

3 white girls in Lahore!!!

Yesterday Shakil and I went out walking in a park here in Lahore. It wasn't too hot and actually it was very nice. There is a nice walking trail as well. Anyways, the point of this story is that while we were walking Shakil got a call on his cell phone. Surprisingly, it was for me! It was Tiffany, one of the gals from the yahoo group that I'm a part of. She and one of the other girls, Lindsey are here in Pakistan visiting Sialkot. We were supposed to meet up in Islamabad with another girl named Dawn from the yahoo group but unfortunately that got canceled. Her FIL was having some minor surgery. So....these 2 gals wanted to come visit in Lahore!! Needless to say, I was very glad to hear that. They got directions from Shakil and it was all set for today.

They arrived at our house at about 11:30 a.m. I served them some cold drinks and some tasssssty galub jamin!! **BTW they are my fav!!!!** We all just chatted for awhile because it wasn't really lunch time yet around here. So after awhile we all headed over to a chinese restaurant here that is a buffet. I'm a big fan of the chinese food here. They have great soups and the dishes are good too. When we arrived at the restaurant we were still a bit early and they didn't start serving the buffet until 1 p.m. So we had an hour to blow before we could eat. Shakil had them follow us and we drove them down one street here that has all the really good restaurants. We took them to the market we go to called "Al Fatah" and just walked around inside. When we left there we headed back to the chinese restaurant and had a great time just chatting and chatting. We didn't end up leaving until about 3:15 p.m. and overall it was such a great time and I'm so glad they made the trip to Lahore. It was very nice getting to chit chat with someone you can really relate to. If either of you gals are reading this, thank you again! Shakil and I had a great time!!!

Tonight, Shakil and I went back to the park again and did a 3 and a half mile walk. I bet I'll be sore in the morning!! It felt great and it was very nice just walking and chatting, etc. I'm enjoying the leisure while I can! ;-)

Until later...

Bye for now.

Happy Friday!

Being back here in Lahore has been very nice. I just have so much more independence here. Being with the inlaws was nice and it did give me the opportunity to get to know them so much better but I was ready for the privacy again. I am really starting to enjoy it more here in Pakistan. The life here is really so much more relaxed. I guess you can say that I'm going to enjoy it while I can because once back in the U.S., I'll be plenty busy. Speaking of which, my former boss in the U.S. at the doctor's office I used to work for emailed me with a job opportunity starting May 1st. Unfortunately, I had to tell her that I just can't leave here not knowing if Shakil has the visa or not. We should be hearing in less than 2 weeks when the next interview in Islamabad will be. :-) We shall see. Anyways, my former boss did tell me to keep in touch with her and let her know when I'm coming back. She's so good to me.

I've gotten back into cooking, etc. since we've been back in Lahore. I couldn't do any of that in Karachi because MIL was doing allllllllll the cooking and more. She just loves to shove food down your mouth. :p Literally!! 2 days ago I made daal with chavel for the 1st time by following a recipe and it turned out fantastic. I even got FIL's approval on it. He thought it had all the right ingredients. :-) (FIL has been here in Lahore on business) Let's see...oh and I did make Chicken Makhani yesterday and it turned out very well. However, I do think the recipe I have calls for toooo much butter. 500 g just seems like way too much and it did seem like too much when Shak and I tasted it. Well, I'll know better next time. We had it with some tasty naan and it was great.

The married life is just wonderful. I'm so happy to married to Shakil. I think I'm truly blessed to have him in my life. In the beginning when I first got here, I was having several little freak out session and Shakil just didn't know how to deal with me. He's gotten so much more understanding and really has so much patience with me. I had at least 2 panic attacks while in Karachi and he handled me very well. Every evening after we have dinner together, he washes the dishes with me. I wash and he rinses. I just think that is so sweet and considerate. Let's just say I never got that in my 1st marriage.

We are really counting down until we should be hearing from the Embassy. They were doing this "45 day administrative review" and the 45 days is up on April 11th which is 2 days after my b-day! I'm going to be the big 29 this year. Getting close to 30!!!!!! Oh my!! ;-) I'm looking forward to my bday because Shakil is going to get me one of the homemade cheesecakes here. Yummmmmm, I can't wait. I'm such a sucker for cheesecake. It's my ultimate weakness.

Well, today I declared a cooking, cleaning and laundry holiday, which has been very nice! I have just been so darn tired the past few days. I'm sleeping well over 12 hours a day. Hmmm...what's going on???

Until later...

Bye for now.