An Unwelcome Friday

One of the usual Thursday nights, when three of us were home (Oakland, California) - myself, my dog Jovi (super-hyper maltipoo) and my friend's dog Brownie (Shih Tzu mix). Brownie is apparently Jovi's first love. I was sitting in my bed with my blinds all closed working late. I checked my phone, it was 2 a.m. - regular time for me to go to sleep. I turned my laptop off, tucked both babies in and went to sleep thinking 'Yay! It's Friday tomorrow'. Day we all eagerly wait for.

In the middle of the night, I heard someone's voice - a man's voice. First I thought it was a dream but few seconds later I realized it was for real. The voice was coming from my apartment's inbuilt speaker. It was an announcement to evacuate the building. I jumped off the bed thinking it's an earthquake, California being such an earthquake prone area, that was the first thing came to my mind but I couldn't feel any tremor. I rubbed my eyes and looked at the clock, it was 5:00 am and I couldn't understand what is happening. The evacuation announcement was on repeat in the background creating anxiety in me. When my eyes were completely open I looked around in the room and through the window with blinds closed I saw very bright yellow-orange light outside. I panicked thinking "Oh My God, Aliens are real and they got us". I peeked outside through the blinds hoping I may get to see an alien spaceship in this lifetime but what I saw was a high rise building right next door from where I live in huge flames. I am one of those fortunate people who has not witnessed a fire bigger than a born-fire. My once in life time moment to see an alien spaceship had already been shattered. 

However, it was not clear if it's only the neighbor building on fire or our building too. I panicked even more. I picked both my dogs, put on the jacket, picked my wallet and keys and left the apartment. After reaching the assembly area, it was a relief that it's only that newly constructed building where nobody lived yet was on fire and not ours. I thank God that all my clothes and shoes were safe - Female's most valuable materialistic asset. Sorry, can't help!

Standing there in assembly area looking at those huge flames and fire-fighters trying to contain the fire so other buildings don't catch it was overwhelming. I couldn't stand and see it for long, it made me sick looking at that fire thinking how it can destroy everything in seconds.

I saw this building being stood up from nothing. Everyday I looked at these construction workers from my window working hard all day, guards watching over it all night. It took almost two years to reach where it was and all what's left now is only ashes. Time it took to bring it all down was less than two hours. Everyone is glad that no one was hurt or stuck in the fire, neither the neighbor homeowners or buildings.

We were on streets until 10:00 am waiting for an update if we can get back to our apartments, now that the fire is contained. But we were not allowed to return home for another 48 hours as they wanted to make sure there has been no collateral damage that would put residents of this building at risk.

I was impressed to see how my building staff, Oakland Police and Firefighters handled the situation so well. In all this, one of the cutest moment was when a firefighter was approaching all dog owners with water and a pack of dog food since dogs were out without water or food since early morning.

Thinking about this incident still gives me goosebumps but it also makes me feel blessed to be in a place where life really matters, be it human or animal and be reminded that we can have faith in people like police and firefighters who will fight for us and will do what they can to keep us safe.

Thank You!

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oakland-lake-merritt-massive-fire-forces-hundreds-to-evacuate/

Failure to Switch Off

The kind of world we live in today everything is supersonic and if we don't cope up with it we are lagging behind. That's why we have smartphones, tablets and other digital devices to stay up-to-date even when we are on the go. Emails from work, texts, facebook and twitter posts from friends/ family is eating most of our time up these days.
Talking about myself, I have a habit of checking my phone every 5 mins for emails and facebook. Even at 03:00 am if my sleep is disturbed I open my eyes and look for my phone to check my emails. If I read something important or ususual, my sleep is gone for next couple of hours. According to a book by Julia Morgenstern (a productivity expert and professional organizer) - Shed your stuff, Change your life - people like me suffer from "Failure to Switch off". She suggests that for better time management and peaceful mind, emails and posts should be checked only five times a day. She also suggests not to check emails around the edges of the day not only helps us to switch off easily but also allows us to spare time for bubble bath, chick lit and the cute guys around us! 

"Not An End Yet"

This post is completely out of frustration. Although I am back on my feet but I think the real challenge begins now. Yesterday was my first day at work after almost two months and I felt horrible. Firstly, getting up early was totally out of my schedule. I still managed to wake up on time, got ready, called the conceirge guy to pick up my bags and drop them in cab as I still use crutches to walk. Reached office, called my friend and asked him to drop my bags at my desk. Asking help for little things makes me feel disgusted. I spent 9 hours at work and did nothing since everything has changed in last two months and I couldn't get hold of my boss. After reaching home, I had a look at my foot and it was badly swollen which scared me for a bit making me think "Oh!Did I break it again?". I tried to keep my foot elevated all evening and at night it was much better.
The next morning i.e today, I reached office carrying my bag on my own as today I had no laptop with me and finally made it to my desk without any help. And now the gross part is that my freaking laptop is showing me last evening's time 17:23 and I can't do anything. It resumed from the time I shut it down - how craappy! The overall feeling is "Arrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Ouch! My Foot - The End

On 10 April 11.30 am, I came out of doctor's cabin with a smile on my face as he said "I discharge you from further appointments and observations. You are good to go from slow to normal in next couple of weeks".
I never missed walking in my life as much as I missed in last two months. Touching the floor bare foot (right) was joyful enough to forget all the pain I have been through and about the stuff I missed all this while.
To add to overall experience, my last few days in India were quite eventful and priceless. My friends visited me, took me out for drives,took me to watch a disastrous movie and for dinner at my favourite restaurant (malaka spice) where everyone left their meals and started looking at me as soon as I entered (may be because of my rabbit walk) and I was like "Whatttttt?!?". My brother took me shopping on my last day and lifted me up so I don't have to climb up the stairs while coming back home. Mom, Dad, Family all around me in person or on phone/skype, it was like the entire world cares about me. As I always say, I don't want a lot just treat me like a Princess. And That's what I felt like in last two months - The Princess!

Best Friend

Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you'll find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding, but theres also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I feel I am on top of the world, Sometimes I feel there is no world around me & I am all alone
Sometimes my life is spiraling out of control, Sometimes I drive my life like on a freeway
Sometimes I'm a little rude to you, Sometimes it's you who command & I blindly obey
Sometimes my heart stops beating, Sometimes you take my breath away
It all happens but....Sometimes!

Ouch! My Foot - 7th Week

It's the beginning of my 7th week and the feeling is alright. Hoping it to be the last week of my house-arrest. I am planning to bribe my doctor to change his mind if he advises some more rest. 
By end of this week I'll be back in UK getting rid of my cast, walking slowly instead of hoping like a rabbit and will resume work after good seven weeks, not so excited about the work bit though. All in my mind is cineworld, dining out, shopping, catching up with everyone and allowing a break to my friends and family from the baby care. Happiest will be the people who kept saying "J, you injured and sick people are pain in the ass and act too smart. When you see someone else is doing the job for you, you want to get everything done even the stuff you would never do yourself". That's rude but true.... Lol!!! 
My travel plans went for a toss. I'll ensure none of the coming long weekends go unplanned. More than an year in England and not even a day in Europe ...What a Shame :/
> COUNTDOWN ON