WHY??

Why did people decide to stay in New Orleans during the hurricane, even after a mandatory evacuation order? I'm so mad/upset/enraged right now! (Keep in mind I just spent the last hour reading the news about this). I cannot stand reading testimonials from people saying "oh, well the rain has never come into the house before." Well, you've never had a hurricane like this before either!!!

Why do people think they're smarter than everyone else? If the damn federal authorities are telling you to leave, I think it would be a safe bet to leave! I have trouble feeling sorry for these people when they had the notification, means and time to leave. I'm not talking about those who for some reason could not leave. I mean those who just didn't heed the warnings and decided they would stick it out. Do they think they're stronger than the thousands of people who left? Even if they were, they sure as hell aren't stronger than a hurricane!

People affected by the tsunami had no warning of the danger that was coming towards them. Imagine if they had the chance to pack up and leave a whole day before the tsunami hit. Thousands of lives would have been spared and thousands of children wouldn't be orphaned. These people in NO had this chance to survive and they didn't take it.

I just don't understand the stubbornness of these people. Do they not care for their lives? What about all the lives they're affecting by not caring for their own? What about all the rescue workers who now have to risk their lives to save these people who are trapped in their homes or on their roofs? I just don't understand why people have to defy authority in such dangerous times.

Anyways, vent over. I am truly sorry for the loss of everyone affected, especially for all those who have lost their homes and their businesses due to the hurricane. I hope the recovery is as seamless as it can be for everyone.

Baby shower planning

This whole baby shower thing is tough ... this coming from someone who spent 2 years planning her wedding. My biggest complication is the people who are attending. I have white people, brown people, old aunties, young girls. That's quite a mix of people. It's hard finding games that the older people will get and the younger people won't be bored out of their minds with. I did make a list of a bunch of games and will decide soon. Also need to order their favors .. which would be a lot easier if the damn indians would rsvp! Come on people!

Looking at my sister-in-law's registry makes me want to have a kid. There's so many cute little baby things and of course they pick the cutest, chubbiest kids to model these things. I mean, look at this kid! Aww, I can't wait for the new baby. I'm so excited to see my niece's reaction. I have a feeling she's going to be half maternal and half jealous. She's really used to having all of the attention directed at her.

Ok enough baby talk!

Going going back back to Cali Cali

Yup, I'm going home! Well, for a week =) As soon as I'm done throwing this baby shower, I'm off to Cali to spend some time with family and friends, sans hubby on this trip. I can't wait to spend time with my best friend, SB. I miss her!! And maybe my sister will give me some more material to add to my Blonde Blog dedicated to her.

Looking forward to the nice leathery seats of Jetblue and the tv channels. Why oh why does no normal airline offer free internet access yet? Sigh. Ok, back to work.

Google Talk

So google now has an IM service - Google Talk. I downloaded it yesterday to check it out. I love google (well as long as my website is listed high in results for 'indian wedding'). I'm not feeling the IM service though. It's too blah. And plus, everyone already uses an IM service that I'm sure they're very used to. They have a talk feature which is cool but pretty useless. If I want to talk to someone, I'd rather pick up my phone than use my computer. Let's see how they make this thing better..

Happy Birthday Baby!

It's funny how much joy a kid can bring in to your life. I swear my niece saved me from going insane after moving out here. She's so close to us and completely thinks of my husband and I as her second parents. Yesterday was her birthday and we both took off from work (slightly easier for me) and spent the day entertaining her. She had painting class in the morning where we found that we had raised a complete hog of a child. She followed the teacher around everywhere and I think at times she thought she was the teacher.

Then was a trip to Wendy's to buy chicken strips which we took to the beach. The beach was gorgeous .. perfect weather. Of course she threw a fit when we had to leave. Anyways, then a quick nap at home and then dinner with the families at her favorite restaurant, Jani. What dining experience can be better than one in which a funny man throws egg at you and you have to try to catch it in your mouth?

She cut a gorgeous Cinderella cake and opened all 30 of her gifts (more than half from us, have I mentioned my husband is obsessed with her?). And there's more gifts to come at her birthday party.

Ok time to get breakfast and actually get some work done today.

me and my hubby

Oooh burnt orange sari drapes

Ooooh look what I just won on Ebay!

Aren't they pretty? I'm going to take out my closet doors and replace them with these drapes. On a mission to beautify this room =) Now I just need to find something that matches for the window. Yipppee!

Flat Stomach Here I Come!

So we finally joined a gym!! We signed up for a family membership at the YMCA. I didn't want to join a Bally's or similar type of gym because I'm just too intimidated in places like those. So the Y was a perfect option. We went to work out yesterday and it was cool. I need to make a one-on-one appointment because I was clueless half the time I was there. I've always relied on bhangra to keep me in shape and have only been in a gym maybe 3 times. Sigh, I miss the bhangra competition days.

Anyways, I'm going to sign up for a morning step aerobics class starting in September. That will make sure I get up early and get my work done. And hopefully their trainer can help me work off this newlywed fat. Yes, newlywed fat. You thought the Freshman 15 was a big deal? HA! Get married and say goodbye to your young body. It's like my metabolism just went buhbye the day I got married.

I discussed this at a BBQ with another married friend and she had the same problem. I didn't gain a pound eating fast food everyday before, but now I can eat healthy food and still gain weight. I have this indian outfit I had designed as a part of my wedding trousseau that has a sheer midriff area. I haven't even worn it! And now I can't wear it until I'm as thin as I used to be. Ok I'm done with the weight complaints.

If nothing else, this will force my hubby to be more healthy. He's getting old ;-)

chocolate jealousy

ok time to be jealous of me!! my hubby just sent me chocolate covered strawberries from red envelope (the best along with godiva)!! He's so cute! My husband was a total romantic when we were dating .. much more romantic than me. But marriage changed that =)

Maybe he's changing back to his old self? Haha, I'm so proud of him! Ok off to get fat!!

Pilates

So the hubby and I started Pilates 2 weeks ago with the DVD's I bought like 2 years ago and just found under the bed. I did it once since then. Tonight we both went and did the workout.

Is this supposed to make me thinner? I don't see how. It says it's going to tighten my butt ... uh I finally have a butt, I don't want to lose it. I just want my belly gone. I think I need to do some reading on this. Anyone know anything I'm missing about Pilates?

Boston Trip

So I spent the weekend in Boston visiting an old middle school/high school friend at her place. Another friend of ours from high school was also coming so it was a great reunion. I hadn't seen these girls since my wedding 2 years ago, and even then I barely had a chance to talk to them. It was so great reconnecting and finding out what everyone was up to. A part of me almost expected that they would be completely different people - maybe druggies or bums =) But it's amazing how little people change in 6 years. One of my friends is getting married which is so exciting! I'll no longer be the only weird one =)

It's funny how whenever the topic of marriage comes up with any female friend of mine, I always get asked ... so when I find a guy, you'll plan my wedding, right? And for the millionth time I have to say, no, I run a wedding website but I don't plan weddings. Why? Because brides are bitches. Don't quote me on that or people will stop visiting my site =) But it's true .. the stress of planning an Indian wedding is insane, unless you're the type of woman who just doesn't care and is fine with the parents handling everything. I myself was a bridezilla - just ask my best friend =) Anyways, wedding planners need a huge amount of patience which I don't have ... yet. Maybe someday ... if I get paid enough for it =)

My meeting with a NY fashion designer was canceled today so my plans to go to the city are shot. Might as well go run some errands ...

Word of the Day - Tryst

Anna, this is for you =)

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Dictionary.com Word of the Day

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Word of the Day for Saturday August 13, 2005

tryst \TRIST; TRYST\, noun:
An appointment (as between lovers) to meet; also, an appointed place or time of meeting.

intransitive verb:
To mutually agree to meet at a certain place; to keep a tryst.

And it bothers me that I begin to worry if she's planning a tryst with my handsome neighbour. --Anita Nair, [1]The Better Man

Having left a "[2]Dear John" letter for her husband on the kitchen table, she set off to the airport, where she waited, and waited. Of course, Henry had entirely forgotten about the tryst, and she had to return home crestfallen. --"The serial seducer who took Amis's wife," [3]Times (London), May 17, 2000

Once Nick goes into the kitchen to tryst with Martha, it is Ms. Kurtz's turn to let loose with some fireworks. --Frank Rich, [4]Hot Seat

Scientists are hoping the cosmos will bear witness to a romantic rendezvous today as a spacecraft attempts a Valentine's Day "tryst" with an asteroid called Eros. --Nigel Hawkes, "Eros beckons spacecraft for cosmic tryst," [5]Times (London), February 14, 2000

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Tryst is from Middle English triste, tryste, "a station to which game was driven (in hunting)," from Old French triste, "a station to which game was driven, a watch post," probably of Scandinavian origin.

Blogging is tough

Blogging is really tough. I just started this blogging thing and when I did, I felt like I had so much to write about. But then when I sit here and go to blogger.com - I forget everything. I've been reading a lot of other blogs lately, which I've never really done before. That adds to the pressure! How do I write something I feel strongly about, yet convey it with wit. It really is pathetic when you think about it. So I've decided that I don't care and from now on I'm just going to write whatever comes to me...



starting tomorrow or something.. =)

Dream Houses

My hubby's plans for our Houses in the Future:

• House in the Bay Area
• House on the countryside in Connecticut
• Condo in South Beach
• Penthouse in New York City

Let's just hope we can still walk by the time we can afford all of those.

Oh, and he wants an elephant - inspired by the MetLife (or is it NY Life?) commercials on the Indian TV channels.

Books To Read

Books to Read:

• Asha means Hope - Mitali Perkins
• Babyji - Abha Dawesar
• Bodies in Motion - Mary Anne Mohanraj
• Bollywood Confidential - Sonia Singh (1)
• Brick Lane - Monica Ali
• For Matrimonial Purposes (1)
• God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy
• Goddess for Hire - Sonia Singh (1)
• Husband of a Fanatic - Amitava Kumar
• Interpreter of Maladies - Jhumpa Lahiri
• Junglee Girl - Ginu Kumari
• Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee - Meera Syal
• Life of Pi - Yann Martel
• Mistress of Spices - Chitra Divakaruni
• Serving Crazy with Curry - Amulya Malladi (1)
• Suburban Sahibs - S. Mitra Kalita
• The Namesake - Jhumpa Lahiri
• The Not So Star Spangled Life of Sunita Sen - Mitali Perkins
• The Rickshaw Girl - Mitali Perkins
• The Sari Shop - Rupa Bajwa (1)
• The Village Bride of Beverly Hills - Kavita Daswani (1)

Dan Meth's Animations

Just came across this site through a link somewhere and couldn't resist sharing ... Dan Meth's Animations. He has these hilarious maps of the US and one of the different parts of NY that are hilarious.

• The Smartass Guide to the USA
• The Smartass Guide to NYC

There's more on the site as well ... enjoy =)

Chuck E Cheese's

Chuck-e-Cheese's ... Where a kid can be a kid!

Remember that place? I was thinking about it earlier today. We used to go there every month - myself, my sister and my two cousins - it was a ritual. Every month my aunt would collect all the bottles and recyclables and take them to be exchanged for some moola. It would always come out to about $20. Back in the days, that was enough to get us all pizza and 100 tokens.

My aunt was a cheapskate and this is where she proved it. They used to give us a cup with all of the tokens. So we would go back and ask for more cups so we could split our tokens. But then my aunt would take these cups and get free drinks in them. I was always so embarassed. Fast forward a year or so and there we are asking for cups. But this time ... the twist ... they poked little holes in the bottom of the cups!! Perfect for tokens, but not so perfect for free drinks!

So that's my memory of the day ... now chuck e cheese is just a grimy place full of germs that no one really goes to anymore. Sigh, the good 'ol days.

Free wifi

I'm a sucker for any place that offers free wireless internet - it will literally make or break the deal as to where I will hang out. Here's a handy list of places:

Connecticut

General List of Wifi spots

Milford - Cafe Atlantique
Milford - Panera Bread
New Haven - Koffee
New Haven - Koffee Too (sketchy connection)
New Haven - Kafe
New Haven - Au Bon Pain (next to Koffee Too - you can pick up strong internet)
Trumbull - Trumbull Library

New York City

General List of Wifi spots

Bryant Park
Dunkin Donuts (2nd ave btwn 10th and 11th streets)
New York Public Library
Starwich (525 West 42nd Street)
Union Square Park (Cross section of 4th ave and broadway btwn 14th &17th streets)

My First Post

Welcome to my bicoastal life. My heart is in california but I'm out here on the east coast. This would be a welcome break if it wasn't for the dreadful winters here. For someone who had never seen snow before, it was quite an experience. Anyways, I need to enjoy the rest of summer before I start dreading the winter.

I have my own business and I don't have a 9 to 5 job. I can't stand stupid people telling me how to do my job. I often get lazy and unmotivated while working in my pajamas. But on rare occasions I find myself a public place that offers free wifi and get some work done. Or, in this case, get some blogging done. Hey a girl needs a break sometimes!

So Panera Bread has absolutely nothing yummy to order. I wish Starbucks had free wifi but they try to rip you off. One day free wifi will be everywhere - yes, I'm a dork with a wifi addiction.