The day before Thanksgiving I took a friend to Newark airport, I was shocked by the number of people there. I was stuck in traffic on the way to the airport and on the way home.
I moved about a mile every half an hour (or thereabouts) on the Garden State Parkway to my cousin's house on Thanksgiving Day.
The normal hour and fifteen drive took me three hours.
As I was at a virtual standstill, I took the opportunity to call friends. I spoke with a few (on hands-free). Finally I crawled onto 287N and the traffic began to clear.
The traffic was very frustrating, initially. Then I really started to think about it. All these people (the ones at the airport and on the parkway) were going to see friends and/or family.
On Thanksgiving I was thankful for the traffic because it made me realize that many people had places to be and people to see.
Isn't life grand?
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Alliterative Addiction
OK so I'm addicted to alliterative titles for my blog entries. There has to be a solution to this, right? How about a powerful panacea? Capable cure? An excellent elixir?
Chaos, Colors, and Comedy
One of my closest friends went to India with me this summer. We did a lot of sight seeing, she got to experience what it's like to live with my parents, and we ate lots and lots of food. Jenn absolutely fell in love with India we're planning our next trip; this time we'll do South India.
It was wonderful to be in Delhi, chaos and all. Agra, the city of my birth, was to put it mildly, HOT. I have to admit no matter how many times I see the Taj Mahal, it's still magnificent.
We went to Rajasthan as well : Jaipur and Udaipur.
Jaipur is such a colorful city from the clothes the people wear, to the decorations on the camels and elephants, it's all about color.
While in Jaipur we did a "little" bit of shopping. We were looking for things for my family. We were drowning in colors : reds, pinks, yellows, blues, greens, purples....it was endless.
My dad picked out something for Jenn's parents, my niece, my mum, my younger sister, me, and then he needed to find something for my older sister.
"Do you have anything in black?" he asked.
It was wonderful to be in Delhi, chaos and all. Agra, the city of my birth, was to put it mildly, HOT. I have to admit no matter how many times I see the Taj Mahal, it's still magnificent.
We went to Rajasthan as well : Jaipur and Udaipur.
Jaipur is such a colorful city from the clothes the people wear, to the decorations on the camels and elephants, it's all about color.
While in Jaipur we did a "little" bit of shopping. We were looking for things for my family. We were drowning in colors : reds, pinks, yellows, blues, greens, purples....it was endless.
My dad picked out something for Jenn's parents, my niece, my mum, my younger sister, me, and then he needed to find something for my older sister.
"Do you have anything in black?" he asked.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Madonna Memories
My older sister was in the States for three weeks on business. She and I got to hang out a few times but her schedule was tight and hectic. She spent her first and last weekend in the country with me.
Since her wedding in 2000 this was the first time we were hanging out by ourselves. It was, in some ways like being children again, but without having to ask the parental unit for permission to do things! It's really wonderful to have siblings. We reminisced about the way we fought and the things the three of us did as children. We have a shared history; my sisters and I are the only ones that can truly understand our parents and why we turned out the way we did. (I personally think the three of us turned out great, but I guess that doesn't count.)
You know the word association tests? Well, I think if we had word-memory responses the three of us would come up with similar, if not the same, answers.
So A and I were in the car and she was trying to find a radio station she liked. She stopped on 102.7 because Madonna's "Borderline" was playing. She increased the volume and we both began shouting out the lyrics in unison. As the song was playing, and we were singing, I had flashbacks to my sisters and me as children.
A, M, and I would get up really early on weekends (only as young children, once we hit our teenage years it was very difficult to wake us up before noon!) as my parents lazed in bed. We'd brush our teeth, creep downstairs, and grab a few lollipops on the way. Once we were downstairs we'd turn on the TV or the radio and jump up and down on the sofas, lollipops in our mouths. We loved Madonna as children (I still do) and we listened to her songs all the time.
A put in the tape (it might have been an LP, I don't remember clearly). "Borderline" came on and the three of us continued to jump up and down on the sofas hair flying, trying to see who could jump the highest. We sang in unison, laughed when we forgot the lyrics, and listened for our parents walking down the stairs.
It's not always easy being a child, and it is most definitely difficult being a daughter and a sister on many occasions. But as "Borderline" played in the car in 2005, and took me back to 1983, something really hit me. It may have been the fact that we're old now. Adults. Responsible. We are no longer three little people living in a house with two big people. We have our own lives, and A has her own family now...
"Hey, S," A said mid-thought, "when I hear this song I always think of...."
But we have common memories.
November 22, 2005 in Music
Since her wedding in 2000 this was the first time we were hanging out by ourselves. It was, in some ways like being children again, but without having to ask the parental unit for permission to do things! It's really wonderful to have siblings. We reminisced about the way we fought and the things the three of us did as children. We have a shared history; my sisters and I are the only ones that can truly understand our parents and why we turned out the way we did. (I personally think the three of us turned out great, but I guess that doesn't count.)
You know the word association tests? Well, I think if we had word-memory responses the three of us would come up with similar, if not the same, answers.
So A and I were in the car and she was trying to find a radio station she liked. She stopped on 102.7 because Madonna's "Borderline" was playing. She increased the volume and we both began shouting out the lyrics in unison. As the song was playing, and we were singing, I had flashbacks to my sisters and me as children.
A, M, and I would get up really early on weekends (only as young children, once we hit our teenage years it was very difficult to wake us up before noon!) as my parents lazed in bed. We'd brush our teeth, creep downstairs, and grab a few lollipops on the way. Once we were downstairs we'd turn on the TV or the radio and jump up and down on the sofas, lollipops in our mouths. We loved Madonna as children (I still do) and we listened to her songs all the time.
A put in the tape (it might have been an LP, I don't remember clearly). "Borderline" came on and the three of us continued to jump up and down on the sofas hair flying, trying to see who could jump the highest. We sang in unison, laughed when we forgot the lyrics, and listened for our parents walking down the stairs.
It's not always easy being a child, and it is most definitely difficult being a daughter and a sister on many occasions. But as "Borderline" played in the car in 2005, and took me back to 1983, something really hit me. It may have been the fact that we're old now. Adults. Responsible. We are no longer three little people living in a house with two big people. We have our own lives, and A has her own family now...
"Hey, S," A said mid-thought, "when I hear this song I always think of...."
But we have common memories.
November 22, 2005 in Music
Friday, November 18, 2005
Reality Check
Have you seen Born into Brothels? I, generally, find documentaries on India and other "third world" countries made by people from the "first world" to be patronizing; however, this film moved me.
The film has an impact because of the children in it. Some of the most profound and powerful moments are when the children comment on each other and their situation.
In the film Avijit, (one of the children) an immensely talented artist and photographer states,
"There is nothing called hope in my life."
Later, as he examines a photograph taken by another child photographer he declares that,
"...there is sadness [in the photo] and it's hard to face because it's the truth."
Most of us do what we can when we have the time to help out with charitable causes. Some people help out more than others. Zana Briski (the photographer that taught the children) shows us the challenges of trying to help. Her organization, Kids With Cameras is committed to helping children all around the world.
It seems as if her organization reinforces what Robert Motherwell once said, "Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it."
The photographs give new meaning to the lives of these children. For every child Briski helps though, there are a million that cannot be reached. Yet this film depicts clearly the difference one person can make.
November 18, 2005
The film has an impact because of the children in it. Some of the most profound and powerful moments are when the children comment on each other and their situation.
In the film Avijit, (one of the children) an immensely talented artist and photographer states,
"There is nothing called hope in my life."
Later, as he examines a photograph taken by another child photographer he declares that,
"...there is sadness [in the photo] and it's hard to face because it's the truth."
Most of us do what we can when we have the time to help out with charitable causes. Some people help out more than others. Zana Briski (the photographer that taught the children) shows us the challenges of trying to help. Her organization, Kids With Cameras is committed to helping children all around the world.
It seems as if her organization reinforces what Robert Motherwell once said, "Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it."
The photographs give new meaning to the lives of these children. For every child Briski helps though, there are a million that cannot be reached. Yet this film depicts clearly the difference one person can make.
November 18, 2005
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Star-Studded Strife
I get a horoscope in my mailbox every morning. I usually read it; sometimes I just delete it. I believe astrology works to some extent, especially the way Hindu birth charts are configured. (OK. OK. Yes! I am hiding the Linda Goodman's Sun Signs behind my back.) However, I wouldn't live my life according to what the stars might have in store. Don't we, as individuals, carve our own future? So anyway, I opened up the daily horoscope this morning. Here's what it stated:
Dear SBT,
Here is your horoscope for Tuesday, November 15:
There are usually a few sentences here about how my day will be or something about my personality. But today...nothing...nada...zilch.
I'm still trying to get over the fact that a generated daily horoscope is telling me my day is worthless. Maybe it's insinuating that it's my last day. On the other hand, it could be a new beginning - tabula rasa; however, there may just be a glitch in the matrix.
Lets take a moment now to ponder our existence.
OK. Done. Thanks for listening.
November 16, 2005
Dear SBT,
Here is your horoscope for Tuesday, November 15:
There are usually a few sentences here about how my day will be or something about my personality. But today...nothing...nada...zilch.
I'm still trying to get over the fact that a generated daily horoscope is telling me my day is worthless. Maybe it's insinuating that it's my last day. On the other hand, it could be a new beginning - tabula rasa; however, there may just be a glitch in the matrix.
Lets take a moment now to ponder our existence.
OK. Done. Thanks for listening.
November 16, 2005
Monday, November 14, 2005
Anagrams
I've written my last name a million, billion, gazillion times and I've seen it written just as many times. So you can imagine my surprise when a student said to me, "Hey, your last name is an anagram of waiter!"
Is your last name an anagram?
November 14, 2005
Is your last name an anagram?
November 14, 2005
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Ms. Communication
I love having people over. I had everything in place, there was a nice spread, a great range of beverages, and the candles were lit. Everything was going well. As I went around doing the last minute check on things, waiting for people to arrive, I realized I didn't have any ice. So I got in the car and drove to the STOP and SHOP (maybe it was a SUPER STOP and SHOP, but I guess that doesn't really matter, right?)
I got the ice (and some other random things which I didn't need but I felt the urge to buy in any case). There was a family in front of me paying for their groceries. I put everything on the counter ready to check out. The gentleman looked at me and stated something in Spanish. I replied with my standard answer, "Lo siento que yo no hablo espanol" (Which is a pretty lame response because I'm saying it in Spanish. A more accurate response would be "Lo siento que yo no hablo espanol bien" or "Lo siento yo no entiendo completamente espanol". But, that's not the point and I'm digressing).
So I smiled, feeling inadequate, as I'm a communicator I'd lost an opportunity to help someone out. As the woman and the child packed the groceries, the man approached me. Here's what I heard him say to me, "Where did you get those eyes?"
I was shocked. I was dumbfounded. I had no clue what was going on. The few seconds between his question and my response felt like an eternity. How could he ask me that with his wife there? What kind of question is that anyway?
"Ummm...from my parents." I responded curtly.
He gave me a quizzical look. I looked at the cashier, she was grinning from ear to ear. "What the hell is so funny?" I wanted to ask her; but I didn't.
The man looked at me again. He pointed to something on the counter. "The ice. The ice." He stated, " Where did you get the ice from?"
November 13, 2005
I got the ice (and some other random things which I didn't need but I felt the urge to buy in any case). There was a family in front of me paying for their groceries. I put everything on the counter ready to check out. The gentleman looked at me and stated something in Spanish. I replied with my standard answer, "Lo siento que yo no hablo espanol" (Which is a pretty lame response because I'm saying it in Spanish. A more accurate response would be "Lo siento que yo no hablo espanol bien" or "Lo siento yo no entiendo completamente espanol". But, that's not the point and I'm digressing).
So I smiled, feeling inadequate, as I'm a communicator I'd lost an opportunity to help someone out. As the woman and the child packed the groceries, the man approached me. Here's what I heard him say to me, "Where did you get those eyes?"
I was shocked. I was dumbfounded. I had no clue what was going on. The few seconds between his question and my response felt like an eternity. How could he ask me that with his wife there? What kind of question is that anyway?
"Ummm...from my parents." I responded curtly.
He gave me a quizzical look. I looked at the cashier, she was grinning from ear to ear. "What the hell is so funny?" I wanted to ask her; but I didn't.
The man looked at me again. He pointed to something on the counter. "The ice. The ice." He stated, " Where did you get the ice from?"
November 13, 2005
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Technology 1 Humankind 0
Four months ago I had trouble with my cell phone. How did I survive without a cell phone? Here's the email I sent out at that time. I did get a new phone. However, on Diwali my phone acted up. It didn't send the "Happy Diwali" text message to everyone until three days later, at 7:00a.m. Needless to say everyone thought I was either crazy, had amnesia, or both. For some, I think the delayed text message just confirmed what they had thought all along.
My dear family and friends:
I just spent two hours of my life talking to a Cingular Tech Support individual and guess what? My cell phone still doesn't work.Why couldn't he have just said to me, "Look lady, you have a ghetto phone and a lousy phone service company,let's not waste each other's time" ? But no! He tried to troubleshoot. Two hours later he tells me he's putting in a trouble ticket order and someone will call me in 2-3 days. (Ummmm...excuse me sir, why didn't we do that 118 minutes ago?) TWO to THREE DAYS? Does he not realize what that means to my existence? *sigh* So if you've tried to call me in the last few days and I haven't returned your call, it's because I have no idea you called. (If you called before that, I'm sorry and I will call back soon...well, maybe...you know how it gets, right?)
Please don't abandon me in my time of need. Please call me on my land-line (yes, some of us still have those ancient things):
In agony and anguish, contemplating the dependence of humankind on technology,
SBT
PS how can this little thing be so powerful?
PPS Oh, right, hope you're all well.
November 12, 2005
My dear family and friends:
I just spent two hours of my life talking to a Cingular Tech Support individual and guess what? My cell phone still doesn't work.Why couldn't he have just said to me, "Look lady, you have a ghetto phone and a lousy phone service company,let's not waste each other's time" ? But no! He tried to troubleshoot. Two hours later he tells me he's putting in a trouble ticket order and someone will call me in 2-3 days. (Ummmm...excuse me sir, why didn't we do that 118 minutes ago?) TWO to THREE DAYS? Does he not realize what that means to my existence? *sigh* So if you've tried to call me in the last few days and I haven't returned your call, it's because I have no idea you called. (If you called before that, I'm sorry and I will call back soon...well, maybe...you know how it gets, right?)
Please don't abandon me in my time of need. Please call me on my land-line (yes, some of us still have those ancient things):
In agony and anguish, contemplating the dependence of humankind on technology,
SBT
PS how can this little thing be so powerful?
PPS Oh, right, hope you're all well.
November 12, 2005
One Being 'Geen'
I spoke with my sister and my niece a month a go (Yes. I have spoken with them since then). Riah's favourite colour is green, she wears "geen" and loves to eat "geen" vegetables. Everything "geen" is wonderful.
My sister made stuffed karela (bitter gourd) for dinner that day. Riah was all excited about eating a new "geen" vegetable. "I eat geen" she declared to me on the phone. So as I'm speaking to my sister, Riah takes a bite of the karela and spits it out. "This no geen! No geen!" she started to cry. "I wan bhindi. Bhindi geen."
Ah the sweetness of child-logic.
November 12, 2005
My sister made stuffed karela (bitter gourd) for dinner that day. Riah was all excited about eating a new "geen" vegetable. "I eat geen" she declared to me on the phone. So as I'm speaking to my sister, Riah takes a bite of the karela and spits it out. "This no geen! No geen!" she started to cry. "I wan bhindi. Bhindi geen."
Ah the sweetness of child-logic.
November 12, 2005
Of life, love, lunar calendar, and laughter.
My older sister’s sister-in-law (there has to be an Indian term for the relationship between my sister’s sister-in-law and me, anyone know it?) and I were speaking on the the phone (yes, some people do still do that) a few months ago.
We spoke about:
1. Our adorable 21 month old niece (she really is the most beautiful child in the world, and if you have doubts, I have an arsenal of photos to prove my case). (note : she is now, 3 and a half.)
2. Work (“Yeah it pays the bills” “Oh the other day my boss said…” “I love it when…”)
3. Trip to India (“Remember to eat chaat at SouthEx…” “Don’t forget to check out GK I market…” “Will you get____ for me from Janpath?”) (I did all of that.)
4. We also spoke about hair, nails, make-up, and massages (we didn’t really speak about these things, but I imagine most men think women do, so I added it for effect. OK. I lie. We did speak about massages.There is a massage school near me and you can get a one-hour massage for $30).
5. Finally, we spoke about boys, men, the XY chromosome beings, the Martians (I heard that John Gray who wrote, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus is divorced. If that’s true, I’m glad to see his advice worked for him!) She stated that as she just bought an apartment and work was going well, those aspects of her life were taken care of; now, she would channel her energies to finding the right guy.This would be the year of the boy.
I replied, that this year would be great to concentrate on that. According to the Chinese Lunar calendar it’s the year of the Cock, you know, Rooster. I swear she laughed so loud, even if we weren’t on the phone, I would have heard her laughing from Brooklyn all the way to the Jersey Shore. I wonder why she thought it was so funny.
(It's the year of the pig now 2007)
http://www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/calendar.htm
November 12, 2005
We spoke about:
1. Our adorable 21 month old niece (she really is the most beautiful child in the world, and if you have doubts, I have an arsenal of photos to prove my case). (note : she is now, 3 and a half.)
2. Work (“Yeah it pays the bills” “Oh the other day my boss said…” “I love it when…”)
3. Trip to India (“Remember to eat chaat at SouthEx…” “Don’t forget to check out GK I market…” “Will you get____ for me from Janpath?”) (I did all of that.)
4. We also spoke about hair, nails, make-up, and massages (we didn’t really speak about these things, but I imagine most men think women do, so I added it for effect. OK. I lie. We did speak about massages.There is a massage school near me and you can get a one-hour massage for $30).
5. Finally, we spoke about boys, men, the XY chromosome beings, the Martians (I heard that John Gray who wrote, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus is divorced. If that’s true, I’m glad to see his advice worked for him!) She stated that as she just bought an apartment and work was going well, those aspects of her life were taken care of; now, she would channel her energies to finding the right guy.This would be the year of the boy.
I replied, that this year would be great to concentrate on that. According to the Chinese Lunar calendar it’s the year of the Cock, you know, Rooster. I swear she laughed so loud, even if we weren’t on the phone, I would have heard her laughing from Brooklyn all the way to the Jersey Shore. I wonder why she thought it was so funny.
(It's the year of the pig now 2007)
http://www.new-year.co.uk/chinese/calendar.htm
November 12, 2005
Bandwagon
OK. So here it is: my official first entry into the world of blogging. I'm probably going to post a lot of things that some/most of you have already seen in some shape or form to begin with.
Friends, family, random individuals be warned I may use you as material for my blog.
Get ready to read all about my life from breakfast to dreams and nightmares. I'm going to make a note of it all. Do you think I can do it? A friend stated I didn't have to post "religiously", so I'll see how long I can keep this up. This is exciting. Consider yourselves warned.
November 12, 2005
Friends, family, random individuals be warned I may use you as material for my blog.
Get ready to read all about my life from breakfast to dreams and nightmares. I'm going to make a note of it all. Do you think I can do it? A friend stated I didn't have to post "religiously", so I'll see how long I can keep this up. This is exciting. Consider yourselves warned.
November 12, 2005
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