Happy Birthday, aliengirl! :)

[Maximilianus]

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af178/maxicastro/Smileys/smileybdaycommittee.gif?t=1287881190

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8430190191_6e35f96379_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92452799@N02/8430190191/)
SG-birthday-2013 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92452799@N02/8430190191/) by Max in the Clouds (http://www.flickr.com/people/92452799@N02/), in Flickr


http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af178/maxicastro/Smileys/b-day.gif http://www.coolholidaygraphics.com/birthday/animations/animatedgifs3.gif http://www.coolholidaygraphics.com/birthday/animations/animatedgifs5.gifhttp://www.coolholidaygraphics.com/birthday/animations/animatedgifs3.gif http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af178/maxicastro/Smileys/you20rock.gif

[mona amon]

Happy Birthday, aliengirl!

:party:

[qimissung]

Happy Birthday, aliengirl! I hope you are surrounded by the beautiful familiar!

[Snowqueen]

Happy Birthday, Aliengirl!

[aliengirl]

Max - You are the best! :grouphug: Your fantastic card, your cheerful smilies, and the way you remember this special day...all of this left me speechless. But then for some people we never need to say it loud. :)

mona amon, qimiss and snowqueen - Thanks a lot dear ladies. :)

[Scheherazade]

Happy Belated Birthday, Aliengirl! :)


An interview with Aliengirl:

*Why are we doing this interview thing?*
It’s a special occasion when I decided to stay on earth and become one of your own. :)

*So, how old are you?*
Depends upon how you calculate the age. Is it the sum of years we spend on earth or the sum of our experiences? Considering later I’m quite old and if you consider the first one I’m still young.

*Are you male or female? *
Just check my username. ;)

*Would you like to join Maximilianus' Air Force?*
Yes, I am among the first volunteers. :)

*If you owned the site, what would you change?*
I like the way this site works. The admin and the moderates deserve much commendation and my thanks for it. I don’t think any change is necessary except that we need more discussions about literature from other languages. But that depends upon members.

*What was the inspiration for your LitNet username?*
Hey earthlings, don’t you know I’m from the outer space? :alien: Okay, if you don’t get this then I’ll explain it in a simple way. I’m different from the majority over here in many ways. I’m an alien; still I like to be here. :p :)

*Which languages do you speak?*
The language of honesty, wisdom and courage whether the medium is Hindi, Urdu or English.

*What is the last thing that you have done that you have been really proud of?*
Coming to a better understanding of myself.

*If you could live somewhere different, where would it be and why?*
I’d like to live in a greener city with large open spaces because I feel happier in the midst of nature.

*Do you have any pets?*
Not currently but once we had a pair of most beautiful cats – Lippy and Zippy. Zippy went missing and Lippy was killed by a speeding car. But before that she had given birth to four cute kittens. A friend took away two of them and we kept the other two – Joji and Molu. History repeated itself. Molu got missing, Joji got some kind of serious infection. Mom took him to vet, tried her best to get him the best possible treatment; but he didn’t survive. That broke mom’s heart and we decided not to keep any more pets.

*What makes you happy?*
Good question. Spending time with my family and friends, helping them and the society at large makes me happy. As I said earlier I feel very happy in natural surroundings like parks or orchards. Also reading and singing are great sources of joy.

*What's your favourite song for singing in the shower?*
I’ve never done that. Mom would think I’m gone nuts if I ever did it. :lol: My voice isn’t that bad. Won some prizes in school and people really enjoy my singing.

*Which actor should play you in a movie based on your life?*
This gorgeous and talented lady (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1799038/). We have some things in common like long hair and eyes. I think she can do justice if she portrays me.

*How do you like your coffee? *
Black with sugar. Not too sweet though.

*Given the option, what animal would you choose to be?*
Cat! Then I’ll have nine lives and will always be around to bother my foes and friends alike. :D

*When you were younger, what did you want to be?*
There were different aspirations at different stages - superhero, singer, detective, professional badminton player, and explorer. Deep inside my heart I always wanted to be like my father.

*What makes you feel great about yourself?*
I don’t like to brag but my ability to stay motivated and to motivate others is what makes me feel truly great. I can manage to get work done under stress and despite lack of resources. Also my ability to connect with and inspire children makes me feel worthy.

*How did you meet your significant other?*
It’s an interesting story. We were together before we landed on the earth. But being unfamiliar with all the ways of this world, he got lost and we are still searching for each other. Wish us good luck guys. :)

*What are you naturally good at? (Skills, abilities, gifts etc.)*
According to my mom I’m good at lazing around and talk non-stop. I guess I’m naturally good at driving her crazy. :D

*What is the one thing you must do before you die?*
Visit different parts of this planet and connect with people living there.

*If you had to teach something, what would you teach?*
I’d teach people to dream and how to make them come true.

*What would you regret not fully doing, being or having in your life?*
I don’t have much regrets but I wish I had got some more time with my father. A few more years. I wanted to do something very special for him, but I was too late.

*If you were to be stuck at a particular time in your life, which one would you choose and why?*
My school days. Those were great times. My father was with us. We were always upto something or other, enjoying whatever we did.

*What one thing would you NEED to have on a deserted island if you didn't have to worry over food and water? *
A PC with an internet connection and UPS.

*If you were a king/queen for a day, what would you do?*
Send all hypocrites to Jupiter. Wonder how many people will be left on earth!

*What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?*
Butterscotch

*Which book are you reading at the moment?*
Colonialism/Postcolonialism by Ania Loomba

*Which song is in your head at the moment?*
Quite an old one - You needed me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X79Jko9bBI)by Anne Murray.

*What is your favourite quote?*
There are many but the two in my signature are very close to my heart.

I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man's. ~ William Blake

Captivity is consciousness,
So's liberty. ~ Emily Dickinson

]*Favorite avatar on the Forum?*
Quite a few - Qimissung’s, beautifull’s, Delta’s current one, and of course Pensive’s blue bird flying towards Neverland.

*Favorite threads?*
What is your favourite quote and why?
I like the personal poetry and short story sub-forum very much.


*What is your answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?*?
I’m still searching for that. I’ll let you know when I get an answer.

*How could English teachers make reading literature more meaningful to students (young or old)?*
This relates to what I’m currently working upon in my research. There can be multiple ways. The students should have some autonomy over the choice of contents they have to read. For example, reading may be more interesting if the stories are from their own cultural context.

*What are you wearing at the moment?*
A jumpsuit made of very fine platinum thread woven with a secret technique to make the most durable spacesuit ever. The helmet has got a blue visor which turns into a VDU whenever I like. Grey boots...Okay folks, just kidding. :p :D Right now I'm wearing a blue embroidered kurta, leggings, and a pink stole.

*Favorite poem?*
A very difficult question as this list keeps changing over time. Anyway, from English literature –
W.B. Yeats’ A Prayer for my Daughter and An Irish Airman Foresees His Death.
W.H. Auden’s One Evening.
Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.
Also I’m a fan of Emily Dickinson.

*First novel you remember reading on your own?*
An abridged version of David Copperfield.

*What era do you find most of the books you read are from?*
Mostly from 19th century.

*Which Forum members would you like to meet in person?*
I came to know some very nice people here and would really like to see Maximilianus, Hawkman, PrinceMyshkin and Delta in person. I hope the feeling is mutual. There are some other members whom I’d like to know better and anyone who’d like to meet me is welcome. :)

*Are you a winter or summer person?*
I’m a winter lover.

*Last words you said out loud?*
Are you leaving?

*Last person you hugged/kissed?*
Hugged a senior scholar in the department. Kissed my cousin.

*What do you do to be able to keep your LitNet addiction going? And are you happy with your chosen profession?*
Nothing in particular. :lol: Mom pays for the internet connection at home and it’s free at university. But yeah, I’m quite happy and satisfied with my chosen profession. I’m a researcher in ELT.

*What would you like to be if you could change your profession?*
A wildlife photographer.

*What is your most outstanding feature?*
This is an ambiguous question. Outstanding feature like what? Physical or otherwise?
Anyway, I think my confidence and the way I speak my mind is the most outstanding thing about me.

*If you could change one thing about the way you look, what would that be?*
Who doesn’t think that a little touch here and there would make them look perfect? But then, I’m afraid, we’ll be different groups of lookalikes instead of individuals. If there is one thing I would never change about my looks, it is my eyes.

*Which book do you wish you had written?*
Bang-e-dara (by Muhammad Iqbal)


*What book would you recommend to others of all types and ages as a must read?*
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

*What should you be doing at the moment instead of answering these questions?*
This is the right time to answer these questions. I’ve nothing else to do at the moment.

*Describe your ideal day, please.*
Getting up early and having a good breakfast. Reading something interesting till lunch. Talking to mom over lunch and listening to her problems. (Usually ends like...I offer a solution and she tells me to get lost.) So I get lost in the book again. Going out for a walk in the evening and spending some hours on net before dinner. I don’t know whether it qualifies as an ideal day or an idle day. ;) Jokes apart, an ideal day is when I get everything done that I planned for that day; be it reading, shopping, cleaning, or just going to a party.

*Last movie you watched?
RIO

*Wonderful Superman or depressing Batman?*
Neither. I’m a fan of amazing Spiderman.

*Something you want to forget but you never can?*
I’ve pretty good control over my memory. If I want to forget something, I just forget it.

*What is the wisest thing that has been said to you?*
“If you are wondering about how to live just think about how to win hearts.”

If you could relive one moment in your life whenever you wanted to, what would it be?
The evening when my elder sister and her sons were visiting us. My father was feeling better after his second chemo. The little boys were at their wildest best and we all joined in their fun. It was splendid.

What is the best thing that happened to you since your last birthday?
Two things – I reconnected with my loving brother and I got a fellowship to pursue PhD.

*If you could send one thing to the Room 101, what would that be?*
Hypocrisy

Tell us something scandalous about yourself.
As if there is just one thing! I’m afraid this is going to be a long interview. Let’s keep it for next time.

*How long did it take you to answer all of these questions?*
I didn't answer in just one sitting. So I don’t really know. Maybe two or three hours.

*One final word of wisdom for LitNet users?*
Be proud of who you are and appreciate the different qualities of others. The world would not be so interesting if we all think or behave alike.

*What question would you like to ask to the person to be interviewed after you?*
Do you think there should be more discussion about literature of other languages on this site?

[qimissung]

Happy Birthday, Aliengirl of the Blue Planet. Thank you for gracing us with your presence!

(p.s. I like your avatar, too :))

[Snowqueen]

It's really nice interview AG. :)

[Calidore]

Happy birthday!

[kiki1982]

Happy birthday!

[aliengirl]

Thanks a lot Kiki, Scher and Calidore. :)

Qimissung - Thank you very much. :) I like my own avatar too. It is from Max's chest of wonders.

Snowqueen - Thank you dear for taking out time to read the interview. :)

[Snowqueen]

I enjoyed the interview and I confess, I got a bit jealous to know that you have read Bange Dara. Iqbal is one of the great favourites in our family along with Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Ghalib. I had read a couple of poems from Bange Dara when I was a student.

Have you gone through “Jibreel-o-Iblees”? It’s from “Bal-e-Jibreel” (Gabriel’s Wing).

[Maximilianus]

Max - You are the best! :grouphug: Your fantastic card, your cheerful smilies, and the way you remember this special day...all of this left me speechless. But then for some people we never need to say it loud. :)
http://smiles.kolobok.us/standart/friends.gif

I tweaked a few things here and there in the card, and found that Flickr is uploading in a bit of a better quality than Photobucket, so I changed the card's home http://smiles.kolobok.us/standart/ok.gif

Mind you, I found quite a few points in common by reading your interview.


*Would you like to join Maximilianus' Air Force?*
Yes, I am among the first volunteers. :)
http://smiles.kolobok.us/madhouse/crazy_pilot.gif

If you so wish there's also a place for you, Scher! ;)

[aliengirl]

Thank you once again Max. I liked the card very much. :)

[aliengirl]

I enjoyed the interview and I confess, I got a bit jealous to know that you have read Bange Dara. Iqbal is one of the great favourites in our family along with Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Ghalib. I had read a couple of poems from Bange Dara when I was a student.

Have you gone through “Jibreel-o-Iblees”? It’s from “Bal-e-Jibreel” (Gabriel’s Wing).

Oh really? I'm a fan of Iqbal and have read all of his works. I first read Bang-e-dara when I was 13 years old and since then I don't know how many times I've read it. I like it more than any other work of Iqbal because here you can easily observe the different stages of his poetry and his life. I've memorized some of the poems. They are perfect for singing.

Yes, I've read Bal-e-Jibril too and Jibril-o-Iblees is one of my favorites. Some of the ghazals in this volume are superb.

[Snowqueen]

Oh really? I'm a fan of Iqbal and have read all of his works. I first read Bang-e-dara when I was 13 years old and since then I don't know how many times I've read it. I like it more than any other work of Iqbal because here you can easily observe the different stages of his poetry and his life. I've memorized some of the poems. They are perfect for singing.

Yes, I've read Bal-e-Jibril too and Jibril-o-Iblees is one of my favorites. Some of the ghazals in this volume are superb.

Jibreel-o-Iblees is my favoueite too. The character of Iblees has always reminded me of Milton’s Satan from Paradise Lost. It surprises me whenever I read the replies of Iblees, how Iqbal has lent him such a powerful speech though he was a religious man.

Here is a link for you, enjoy.

http://iqbalurdu.blogspot.com/2011/04/bal-e-jibril-147-jibreel-o-iblees.html

[aliengirl]

That's what a truly great author does. Getting into the skin of the character and voicing his/her feelings. This defiant style suits Satan or Iblees.

Thanks a lot for the link. :) Here is one for you - http://www.rekhta.org The ultimate online collection of Urdu poetry.

[Snowqueen]

Thanks for the link, AG. I'm enjoying the ghazals.

[papayahed]

Happy Birthday!