Happy 2 Year Blogiversary

Has it really been 2 years since I started this blog. Wow...it really has been. This past year has been crazy in so many ways big and small. I'm not going to list all of them here, but the last 2 weeks were the tip of the iceberg for me, more on that in this post. Sadly, I have not been as active on my blog as I had planned this year, and a lot of that has to do with my work load. A PhD program is not forgiving. I can't promise to be any more active this year, as my one and only new years resolution is to advance to candidacy and that means getting my head in the game and pushing forward. My blog, as much as I love it and love posting things on it, is a distraction, and well, distraction is my way of avoiding work.  I will keep posting here and there, but it won't be a post a day :(

The past 2 weeks have been crazy, not because it was the holiday season. No, that would have been lovely.  It was because 2 days after Christmas our landlord(s) decided our apartment had to be fumigated for termites and by fumigation I mean tenting. Against my wishes, better judgement and wisdom, we had no choice but to accept. I tried to fight it, sent email after email, but being just one person against a board of MORONS who make decisions based on their pocket books, we were forced out. Yes, I know, tenting is common practice for riding your house of termites, but it is the WORST option. I did a lot of research into the harms of Vikane Gas, and I was going to do a post about it, but every time I think about this topic or bring it up I get fuming mad and so, it is best that I just move past this episode. Suffice it to say, we moved all our food out (including freezer and fridge food), plants, fish tank, cleaning chemicals, lotions, shampoo...anything that could have a chemical reaction to the gas and anything that the gas could leach into (plastics!!!!). Don't bother with those nylofume bags...gas leeches into them.

Long story short, they released our apartment for re-entry last week and I got sick - vomiting, nausea, headaches...all the side effects of the gas. We stayed out of the apartment for 2 days after they allowed re-entry, but I was going back and forth moving things in, cleaning, dusting, vacuuming, airing things out...and well, lo and behold, I got sick.

I'm going to leave this post as PG as possible, but there are many a curse word and insults flying through my head that I wish I could spew forth, but being a proper lady (cough), I will keep them to myself.

My holiday was not a holiday and I have started this new year off exhausted and on a bad foot, but things can only get better, I hope.  With that, happy new year to all, happy 2 year blogiversary and wishing everyone a great year ahead :)

Happy Iranian New Year!!

Today is the start of the Iranian new year and the first day of spring.  YAY!  Happy Nowruz! It actually started at 4am this morning our time (vernal equinox as it is also called).  I wrote a post last on year on what it all means and the significance of each item that we place out on our table spread, but I listed it here again.

This year our little haftsin got a bit bigger, not sure why, but of course it still had to go where Fishi is, given she is one of the most important parts of it (as I was telling her to get her all excited and explain why there was a huge mirror blocking her view of the world).  I also added lights this year as I was feeling extra festive (take that school housing!).  My family is coming into town this weekend and my brother-in-law and his three munchkins are also visiting, so it's officially a large family renuion.  I love family gatherings, it's like Christmas but for us Persians...except this year it sucks because Nowruz fell right in the middle of the week :(   

So here is a list of the items included in the haftsin:

    - Sir (Garlic), symbolizes health and medicine
    - Samanu (Wheat germ pudding), symbolizes affluence
    - Senjed (Dried fruit from the Oleaster tree), symbolizes love
    - Sabzeh (Wheat, lentil or barley sprouted in a dish), symbolizes birth
    - Somaq (Dried sumac berries), symbolizes the color of sunrise
    - Sib (Apple), symbolizes beauty
    - Serkeh (Vinegar), symbolizes age and patience
    - Sekkeh (Coins), symbolizing wealth
    - Sonbol (Hyacinth plant), symbolizing the coming of spring (or tulips)
    - Holy Book (Quran), symbolizing wisdom
    - Ayneh (Mirror), symbolizing clarity
    - Sham (Candles), symbolizing enlightenment and happiness
    - Tokhmeh Morgeh Rangi (Colored eggs), symbolizing fertility
    - Bowl of goldfish in water, symbolizing life within life (fish within water)
    - Yummy and delicious Iranian pastries as well as nuts and dried fruit are 

       sometimes also included.

 

 Yes, you can see my camera, yes I tried very hard not to get it in the picture, no I don't care because you needed to see the haftsin from this angle :D

These are some beautiful tulips.  When I bought them, I thought they were going to be pink, but they are a mix of yellow and pink and are just amazingly beautiful.  I got lucky :)

Sabzeh

My glittered eggs from last year.  I'm probably supposed to put fresh eggs every year, but ya...I like my glittered eggs :D 

Sekeh (Iranian coins)

 Sib (green apple), Samanu (the brown pudding) and Senjed (sumaq berries)

The Holy Quran

Garlic and Apple cider vinegar :D 

My huasband asked me why we don't have "normal" vinegar, and I said it's because this smells better, but to be honest, it's what we had and I was really lazy to go buy some. 

Somaq

 

Happy Nowruz!

Eid-e-Nowruz Mubarak! :)