Hey yaars,

Things have been busy on the good ship Naveed over the past fortnight. If work wasn't stressful enough, I finally went through with it and chopped most of my glorious locks off last saturday. I knew about a month ago that my hair was long when I noticed how I could pull it down over my eyes. I really knew a cut was long overdue when I could get it to extend down to the tip of my nose! So with much worry, I asked a friend to help cut it with a subtle change from the trademark desi part. Off to House of Lord's I went, and out I came a punk rock star! OK, I'm no star, but the part is gone and it's a tad more disheveled than before.

On the social front, it seems like my friends have more and more difficulties in life these days. Every friend I talk to seems to be happy, yet disgruntled, while also carrying a large burden on their shoulders. I'm always open to listening and being a good friend, unfortunately the most I can do for them is pray that things get better for them. If only I had a magic genie who could help solve such problems, I'd be everyone's best friend!

Another one of my interesting habits I indulged in this weekend was the afternoon reflecting sessions I go through. I usually take 20 minutes to an hour thinking to myself on anything and everything, from the spiritual to the mundane day-to-day. And in a slight change from the norm, here are a few random musings that were rattling in my head that are a little less humorous than normal...

- is it acceptable to modify your ambitions if it's for the greater good of your family?
- can years of friendship be broken by a mistaken choice of words? and if so, what is needed to mend things?
- is it worthwhile to select a different path in life, not knowing whether the consequences will outweigh the benefits?
- Honouring the family - more important than honouring thyself?
- Am I ugly?

OK, so I admit there's always a BIT of self-deprecation in my quasi-meditating. Nonetheless the weekend relax time usually helps revive my spirits for the oncoming week.

And now of course to the random notes...

- Ottawa lost the cup
- Horray! The look on Jamie's face the next day when I ribbed him about it balanced out all of the Leaf bashing he's indulged in over the past year. And yes, I'm happy they didn't win because I didn't want to have to hear smack from Sens fans for the rest of my life

- Zambrano vs. Barrett :
Let's not get into this. They kissed and made up. They love each other. So we should let them move on!

- General Musharraf placing strict rules on the media, even going to the length of censoring some stations.
This always happens in that country - a seemingly righteous army general overthrows the corrupt, "democratically" elected leader, makes a few subtle changes, and then becomes as corrupt as his predecessor. Your government cannot be legitimate if the rule of law is suspended, which is exactly what happened when he suspended the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. As much as I liked his approach in the first few years of his tenure, I feel his days as leader are numbered.

- If you drive a chick magnet car, or a shitbox - you're a horrible driver! It seems I always get cut off or in close calls with either of these two and I've now come to the point where I make a stand and speed up to cut THEM off too now.

- Paris Hilton
As much as I shouldn't care either way, I do feel she's being treated a bit unfairly because of her celebrity status. She shouldn't be responsible for a sherriff's error. She was given permission to go and serve the remainder of her sentence under house arrest and the honus should be put on the authorities to explain why. At the same time, the images of her crying in the squad car were fascinating to see.

Alright, I'm tapped. In the next few hours I will be going out to see the film Knocked Up and hope it's as good as I expect. I have a tenner riding on it!

Later guys and dolls!