Today morning 18th of october we started our respective journey’s.Sudhar flew to Florida for a 3 days official trip and in the meantime I decided to visit Sushi.She has been asking me to visit her for a change, and this was the right time for me to do it.
So in the last minute I planned my trip and decided to come.I remember the old times when I always wanted to travel alone to prove that I am grown up and brave and after a long session my mom would agree to it.This time it wasnt like that and I could come on my own.The thought was good.The tomboyish feel and the excitement of meeting sushi hanging out with her and her friends and also missing Sudhar added to it.
We started in the morning around 5.30 Sudhar dropped me at Newark PennStation and I got into Path train to reach WTC and from there a subway train to 42nd and Port Authority.Sudhar left me and drove back to Newark International Airport.His flight was at 8.05 am and my bus was at 8.00am.
It took me 30 mins to get to WTC from Newark.Again another 15 misn to 42nd and Port Authority.I reached and bought my tickets.I was ready to board the bus at 7.15am.
I thought I would call Sushi and Sudhar and let them know, but as usual my bad luck with payphones.Everytime i dialed the number the lady said “please deposit one dollar for the next 5 mins”… what the hell???? who wants to talk for 5 mins when in a hurry and using a pay phone.The irony is inspite of depositing one dollar it wont let me talk even for a single minute.If i tried using my card it kepts saying” please press 1 for english and 2 for espaneol”….I pressed so hard that the button went in but stilll she kept saying the same thing.Does is happen only with me or its the same story everywhere??I wasted $1.00 changed some 5 phones and finally on the 6th one I got the call .
After telling her that I am going to catch the 8.00 am bus I also called Sudhar and informed him about it and told him that I wont call him again from the Payphone:) as early in the morning itself it tested my patience.Both of us were right in front of our respective gates to get into the bus and the flight.
Anyway I bought something to eat and drink and then got into the bus.After reading my book for the initial few minutes I started sleeping.Got up inbetween and ate something and again read for a while and slept .But after a while I woke up in some place where few people got down.The bus was almost empty and I got the whole seat for myself.I happily started enjoying the fall colours and the beautiful scenic view .We changed the bus in Binghampton and again started.
Reached Ithaca about 15 mins late,around 1.15pm. Sushi was already waiting in the bus stop .To my surprise she told me that I have lost more and I look thinner, I was shocked as I was thinking that I would ahve put on weight sitting at home.:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
She had cooked nice bhindi with pyaz ki sabzi and roti. Had lunch and she left for her class, she had no mind to go but then somehow she decided to go and now here I am posting a blog.

Catch you Later!!

Strange right!!! There are so many things to look fwd to but sometimes you just run out of everything unknowingly.You dont realise that you have not been doing anything and suddenly one fine morening life becomes dull, boring and monotonous. That is the time when we should start looking into new things , many ways to make life exciting instead of cursing the fate. I know this sounds like a noble thought but trust me its not mine!! It’s Sudhar’s thought,whenever i say i am bored at home he comes up with so many ideas and encourages so much , that I start thinking of them even though i dont do many of them but atleast i spend time thinking about them.

After coming to Bridgewater I find myself home arrested, its very unlike Jersey City where i could go out anytime I wanted.To avoid all this I started driving ,I never took it so seriously before it.I am doing ok! I was so bored that I stopped doing my regular stuff which i loved doing and added more to the boredom. No baking, No painting and No Toy Making.

But I got a new tool……………………… somehow while playing with the site yesterday I suddenly thought of HTML , I remembered few of the commands and thought I should modify my page according to my own likings and wish.Colour/designs categories and what not. I have even started working on it so am hoping to do something there before i get bored of this one as well!!

I also contacted a lady nearby in Bedminister who takes some music classes and is an active participant in the Temple Activities. She told us about the Dolotsavam happennign this weekend and has asked me to help her with some shopping,and other things.I was more than eager to help.

So now, I have sudharshan coming home for lunch, but with my handpain i havent cooked anything major but still something…………. I am going out with her tomorrow for some shopping , she is going to pick me up………..Thursday I have my driving class………..Again Friday she has asked me if I am free in the afternoon to help her…………..

Saturday might be the usual but again Sunday is the Dole so gotto help her with that………………..Thats why I said lots of things to look fwd to in the coming few days……………And ofcourse the most important ……………….. What sarree should I wear on sunday????????????

TOY MAKING

Toy making is my favourite passtime.But I hardly do it these days:)…….
I should thank my mom who insisted that I learnt it.I remember when i was npot doing anything and bored of life my mom introduced me to a lady who used to teach soft toy making.I had stopped stepping out of my house those days and i hated going there, but my mom took the initiative went to that lady’s house booked appointment bought me the material and made me learn it.
I agreed on learning just 3 of them, but once i started learning it I was so much into it that I couldnt stop myself from learning more and more.
After a little while i learnt all the toys she knew and my house was full of them…….
after I came to US I even tried getting inot FIT for toy design course but may be it wasnt my cup of tea ….but still its one of my favourite art…………..something i am proud of that i know.
I brought my daisywith me while coming here as she was one of my favourite toys I had made although everyone hates it !!!!

She is still a part of our little family
She is a lazy baby!! She doenst like taking bath, she is always sleeping in the corner of our computer room….and now that she has been doing all this she has a big tummy!!!Better she starts dieting and going to the GYM…

Cell Phones are a very big mania in the world today.People find themselves uptodate and modern with these cell phones.No matter what age group everyone carries one.
Well i wont deny even i had a major craze……but probably not anymore.
In India cell phones work very differnetly than in USA.There all the incoming calls are free and a person is charged only for the outgoing calls.SMS comes in a package deal unlike here where you have to pay few minimum dollars to get it included in your package.
Every Person in USA keeps track of the mintues he is using per month, because once you exceed you gotto pay more.
Same thing happenned to sudharshan when he changed his plan from anytime 1000 mins to 300 mins.
This time he finished his 300 mins in the first 10 days of the month, and he blamed the house deal as he had to make a lot of calls.
So now whats the mode of communication??????????????????
NO U cannot guess…………
we decide on things like whenever he is starting from a particular place he will give one ring and cut.Now that he has only 3 mins left, once he did the same and as he didnt stop on one ring i picked it up at the 3rd ring.So he lost 1 min(I am sure he doesnt even know it:)) .Then he had 2 mins.Now today when he was supposed to do the same thing he again didnt stop at 1 ring and it went onto voice mail so now he has only ONE MINUTE.
He is stuck in the traffic jam and he already told me that as he gets delayed he will give me a ring for every 10 mins.
We are supposed to go out and i am waiting for him, what to do asusual impatient me started msging him(thanks to the free incoming text msgs in his cell phone).
But inbetween some confusion happened and someone else called………and it went onto the voicemail, again after a while i got another 2 rings which sudhar was to give to convey that he is starting…….OH MY GOD
I msged him and again he gave one ring, now i didnt know what that ring was for?????????????
As i was sending the msg i got one more ring so i thought may be he is waiting downstairs for me, so i imd ran down and after waiting for 10 mins I came back and msged him, then i came to know that he is still in the traffic and that was an indication for the traffic jam…………..and as i am typing this i got another one ring…so i have msged him again asking if he is still in the JAM………….

Let me see how it goes and get back to you………
What an IRONY inspite of having the cell phone we r playing this one ring game!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers…………..:)

Well after reading sudhar’s hilarious blog i felt like writing something, as he said we have been a little busy for the past few weekends, well i know that its not a very good excuse for not writing …….. :)

Well the house deal is finally over and dana and lavanya visited us last weekend it being a long weeknd, and also monday being the krishna jayanti we had a gala time.

While we were sitting and talking suddenly i remembered an incident when we had been to times square the other day.
We saw a guy carrying big fat PYTHON around his neck and walking on the streets and the public was litrally running here and there but the guy was least bothered casually walking on the streets.
I was polambing to sudhar that we go to times square so many times and we dont do anything .We just go walk around and come back,and i wanted to do something better than that.
While talking i suddenly said what if i take an elephant to the times sqaure.
Dana and sudharshan started making fun of me, as always they didnt want to miss a chance to pull my legs.But the better part was my second question when i asked if i take the elephant through the holland tunnel(Tunnel connecting NYC and NJ) will it have to pay the TOLL?????????????????????????????????????
Sudhar suggested hanging an EZPASS(auto generated toll system which deducts money from the credit card)on its forehead.

But will the elephant maintain the speed limit inside the tunnel where everyone will be driving at 50mph this guy would be walking at 5mph .
Dana said that elephant might break the toll gate itself,and there might be a traffic jam in the tunnel because elephant would get stuck :)……

Well the story still continues ………..and my dream of sitting on top of the elephant and roaming in the times square still exists.

Great People have said that we should keep dreaming, because only if you dream you can expect your dream to come true.

Waiting for it to come true:)

Nothing!

Driving tests are a big deal here in America.
In India i dont remember anyone making a big issue of it, but here if you dont get that manual and read it you are screwed.Well i also got the manual some few months and ago andit was sleeping with me for a long time, but 2 months back i finally decided to read it .I read it while going to work in the train and somehow managed to finish it.
This was all fine, but being a non citizen and getting a permit for the driving test is a pain especially in this state.We went to the regional centre , for which we had to start at 6 in the morning , we reached at 6.45 and then itself we were 60th in the line we managed and reached the counter after standing in the line for 4 hours.
But badluck we didnt take Sudharshan’s passport, so we came back empty handed.
Luckily we came to know that they started the services for a non citizen in Jersey City as well, so we went there 2 weeks back and got the permit after standing in the line for few hours.
I was to go on 14th but as Radha and Sushi were here i couldnt do it, so suddenly last night we decided to go today and finish it off.
With my phobia for exams and nervousness we were both tensed, Sudharshan dropped me at the center and went off,i went in and started the test.Being a weekday and also having the permit already it didnt take me long.
As i sat on the Comp, i saw some organ donar exam, i was shocked,i started wondering whats happenning i asked her but she said its normal dont worry.I didnt remember reading anything about organ donation in the manual.At some point I even thought that getting a license in NJ has a rule of organ donation.Anyway i was lucky and it was only one Q which I was asked and it was “if I was aware of Organ Donation in NJMVC i said no and it allowed me to proceed”.
I started the test and the first answer was right!
The worst thing about these tests is that it says if the answer is right or wrong imd after you click the answer.
I proceeded to the next one which was wrong, thats it my BP was high now, i could hear my own heartbeat.
Again the third was right!!! Great ! I thanked god.
I started counting the right and the worng answers, i saw 4 were wrong and i remembered that i could only do 5 or 6 wrong to pass, i also skipped one Q, and almost all the answers were right after the one i skipped.The skipped Q came back and may be that was the deciding one, i clicked and it was right.
Imd it said i have passed , that was the moment i was so happy.I was almost in tears , as i could beat my phobia and clear it.
Anyway i got cleared got my permit to road test and also the appointment for nov.Thanks to www.edisondriving.com
When i was standing in the line to get my eyetest, i saw many people failing and going back with sad faces,i even heard a guy ask how many attempts he can take and she siad it was only 6.
Better luck next time.

I came out and called Sudharshan he was very much releived as he was equally tensed about it, am sure i was the culprit as i had made a bad stressed face which could tell anyone that my BP was 500.:)

Anyway all’s well that ends well!!!!
This is just another step to being self dependant.

Wow! I am able to post much faster and quicker!

Blogging has been a favourite passtime of sudharshan he loves to read and write spend time doing something useful(very unlike me!!!) and from sudharshan i also caught it but unfortunately stopped writing inbetween but after lot of thinking and analysing am starting it again and as a result i posted my columbus mail which i wrote to all the family members as a blog.

Well i am home these days, and am just passing time doing some baking, making toys and doing some crafts and ofcourse!!! Chatting with Mummy,Sridhar,Kritika and Amma.Also phone chatting with Tamilselve and Lalu.

Today I was very bored, and i didnt know what to do, after checking my yahoo mail and messenger nth time i suddenly thought of a toy Pappu which Sushi gave us and its company which is called Applause.www.applause.com
I visited the site and found that they r based out of california and they had a wide range of toys.I went mad, as toy making has been my favourite hobby so far.
I remember how my mom forced me to go there and how unwillingly i went but once i went there i was so happy and learnt so much that now its a unique thing i know that probably not many atleast in my circle know.

Anyway, i visited that and from there i got the link to www.dreampets.com they are also a part of applause,it was another cute site.

I wonder how many talented people r there who do so many things and fulfill their creative urge.
It really makes me feel so small that inspite of knowing it i dont do anything.
I hope one day i will also do something.Lets see!!!!

Other than this we had a good time with Radha and Sushi, which i will write later as its going to take long!!!

This time its the trip to columbus, we have been
planning this trip ever sine we came to USA.This was
my school friend’s wedding, who studied with us till
7th std.All my school friends who are here in USA had
planned to come.They also wanted to meet my HERO :).

As ususual till last minute we did not decide
anything, and finally the week before we boooked the
tickets, and planned the trip.
Friday was a working day, and after finishing work i
reached home at 5.40pm, Sudhar came home a little
early and he was all set waiting for me with a cup of
tea.
I quickly had tea and started collecting the few
things that were to be packed.
After all the last minute packing we started to the
airport, we parked the car there and reaced the
terminal little early, as we were hungry we grabbed
something quickly, and boarded in.The flight was
empty not many people were travelling that day, but a
lots of air-hostesses and pilots were going back after
finising their duties.
We reached cleaveland hopkins international airport
around 10 in the night, boarded onto a shuttle service
bus to the car rental area.
In the meantime i called up my friends to see if they
have reached, only one guy had come and he was waiting
in the columbus airport, and he complained that he had
read 6 papers already :),his name is supratim.Others
were to reach only around 11.30pm almost the same time
as we were to reach columbus,the drive from cleaveland
to columbus is of 2 hours.
WE took the car and started, we were again hungry so
we decided to go to some fast food restaurant, but our
luck we saw a subway on the way, and quickly went in
to grab a sandwich.(SUBWAY is a very famous chain of
restaurant, and they have healthy food like salads or
vege sandwiches.)
We started again after finishing the meal, we called
Sushi and told her that we were in columbus, and i
think sushi was in deep sleep as she blabberred
whatever she could, and made us laugh to the core.
She asked me where i was staying, if its in kalyanam
chatram……… my god!!!!!!!and then i said we r
driving to columbus, she thought we drove from new
york itself, but i told her no we flew to cleaveland
and then we r driving, but she forgot everything and
asked if i was calling from the plane…..
i think the PHd is slowly showing its effect on her
:)).

Well after pulling her legs for somemore time we
finally reached columbus at around 1.30 in the
night.My friends had already called me 5 times asking
where i was and that they are waiting for me.
After we reached there. we asked those guys to come to
our hotel as we were tired.They came around 2 and we
started chatting after the initial session of
introductions and normal talks and they decided to
leave around 3.We slept that day and the next day was
the marriage.
I woke up at 6.30 asusual and started looking around
for something to do, but after a little bit of
scolding from sudhar i slept again, and finally we
woke up at 8.15am.
I got up took bath and was ready when sudhar woke up
and we went down to have breakfast.It was too much for
my standards, and i couldnt finish it :(.
Anyway i called these guys and woke them up,Smita my
friend was to come to our room as she didnt know how
to tie SArree and she wanted my help.Shalu was in her
parent’s place and she decided to come only around 12.
Supratim(Suppi)has not changed a single bit,he got a
denim shirt for a formal wear and came with a hawai
chappal.After scolding him and making fun of him,
those guys decided to go and buy him something.They
also had to pick up Saket(another guy from
pittusburg)on their way.So after much confusion they
left Aditya drove(he has come from louisiana)and suppi
and smita jumped in, once they reached bus stand and
waited for saket outside for a long time but finally
came to know that he was sitting in the restroom(that
was for about 15 to 20 mins).Thats it he was the joke
of the day.They dropped smita in our room and went
off.WE got ready, i had taken my green and maroon
saree, she had a light blue one.Both of us were ready,
sudharshan also got ready, the time was 12.15pm then.
We called those guys to see if they are ready, but to
our shock we found out that they had finished their
shopping just then and were on their way to the hotel.
We were really angry as the marriage was at 1, and it
was another 20 mins drive from our hotel room.
Anyway Shalini(from North Carolina)had to come with
her parents, so she reached the hotel around 12.45 and
all of us(me, sudhar, smita and shalu started
together).
Shalu’s parents, her sister,had come to drop her.It
was so good to see all of them after so many years.
Well after all milna julna all 4 of us started.
WE were already late and we reached the auditorium
just in time for the wedding.they were exchanging
their garlands.(This was the bengali style wedding,as
the guy is a bengali and the girl is an
american.)Luckily no one noticed that we were late.
We met Gautam’s mom(he is the bridegroom)she was so
happy to see us, she hugged me and was almost in tears
and started saying that when she last saw me i was a
small girl, and then she took us to introduce to her
friends saying that we are his school friends.
There was a woman who said that we were looking
very beautiful and she imd asked if i can give her my
saree as she liked it so much.:)Guys reached a little
late but were there right for the food.
as we went in for lunch we found that it was the
american style, with fruits and drinks.I couldnt eat much there.
After that was the American WEdding.
This was the first time for all of us to see these
kind of marriages.especially the american one.
After that we came back to our room to have a cup of
coffee and to change again and get ready for the
reception.For the wedding all of us were traditionally
dressed the boys wore kurta payjama and the girls wore
saree and lehenga.
Sudharshan was the same for both as he didnt want to
change.Well dress doent matter its only the person, so
let be kurta pyjama or suit handsom guys always look
handsome :).He bagged lots of comments for being
handsome and responsible.My friends felt very happy
and safe in his hands :).
Well after having a cup of coffee we again had to get
ready for the reception.
we had to change into the western clothes which was
much easier than wearing a sarree, so it was quick but
the guys they can never change, no one can stop them
from getting late.
They took a lonnnnnnnnnnnngggggggg time to get ready
and the irony was that none of the guys knew to wear a
tie,all of them were trying, but fianlly somehow
luckily i knew so it was quick.They also got ready we
started from our rooms only at 6.30 for the 6 o clock
reception.
The American receptions are different and u need to be
there in time for the toast and the table
arrangements.We missed it all, we reached there when
all others were having dinner.The dinner was good,it
was a mix of indian and italian food.
We saw Gautam’s sister, she is married to a srilankan,
so sudharshan had a company.They live in Toronto
Canada.
After the dinner was the dance,All of us had to pay 1
dollar and to dance with the groom or the bride for a
minute.:)
That was fun we all had a dance with gautam and the
guys had a dance with nikki(his wife).
While Dancing Gautam told me that my husband is very
nice and who picked him up :)..
After all this ball dance was the usual hungama and
the dance,loud music was playing and all of danced,
initially i was a little hesitant as its been ages
since we did this, but then all of us danced , yes
even sudharshan did, we also had a ball dance later.
The evening was over by around 11 and we decided go to
the room and play cards for sometime,we went to our
room changed and reached their room.
Everyone started playing cards, but i was so sleepy
and i slept off.I woke up around 2.30 and still these
guys were playing and fighting,after this we reached
our room around 3 and slept .
Woke up at 9.30 and we had to vacate the room at 12.We
quickly rushed to mcdonalds, another famous fast food
in America and grabbed something,came back got ready
and were ready to leave around 11.45.
WE checked out and reached my friend’s room and again
they were not ready.Around 12.30 we started from there
and reached a mexican hotel, CHIPOTLE .The food was
good there but i was too full so i didnt eat anything,
all of them had food and now was the time to part.
WE all said bye to each other and started on our ways,
Those guys are taking off till tuesday and they will
be hanging out there for some more time. but we had to
come .We started and reached Ganesh’s house around
3.30pm and spent sometime with them, had upma and
puff.
Again we had to start around 5.30 as our flight was at
7.10 but luckily ganesh’s house is just 30 mins away
from that airport.
We were just in time for the flight when we reached as
we got delayed in the rental car return process.
We had to sit seperately in the flight, because we
were late.
The flight was delayed by 30 mins, and we reached
newark new york at 9.30.
WE were hunrgy grabbed something, and were praising
new york, as it was the same time when we reached
cleaveland airport but all the shops were closed, but
here it was still open and lively.Nothing can beat NEW
YORK.
Came home around 10.30.and slept.
That was the end of the 2 day small vacation.

Finally I did something useful adn uploaded the DC Snaps….Thanks to Sushi, she did a great job in downloading them form her Digital Camera naming them patiently and sending them to us :)…..
Please take a look at them and wait for the Columbus snaps

Bye

No I am not going to illustrate something and bore you, by Illustration here i mean the course illustration.
Its may be called the illustration because it illustrates ones feelings, what he thinks and how he wants to present his views to the world.It makes things easier for the people to understand.
Its not very easy according to me, because drawing something and copying something is easy, but to draw something which is in your mind, and that too with the right perspective isnot very easy.But because its not very easy we take it up !!!!!

We(me and sudhar)have been thinking about taking up some course for a long time, but i think things are bound ot happen at the last minute.I remember how i felt when Judy Ellis @ Toy Design FIT asked me to learn illustration before taking up toy design.
I never thought i would learn this,but slowly over a period of time i thought i liked it and wanted to leanr more about, thats even after being keen on learning interior design i couldnt start it.
Yesterday my mom told me that one of my glass paintings with tom and jerry was very good and may be i should think of improving my skills there.
This was enough to motivate Sudhar.More than me he is enthu and excited about it.Well now after going there even i am,but earlier i wasnt able to decide on it, but yesterday around 5.30 we decided about it, and we realised that the class was starting only yesterday.We thought its better to start from the first class than to join in in the second class or to wait for another semester to begin.
WE rushed spoke to someone in the school over the phone registered over the phone , sudhar dropped me at the station as i insisted its better to catch a train to drive.
Luckily i found the place reached got my schedule and attended my first class.
There were other 10 people, most of them are elderly ones, but all have the desire to leanr and to do something, which is most important.I joined in a little late but enjoyed my class thoroughly.
Once he spoke about the colours to be bought, i was in full spirits, as colours always excite me.
Till now i have been drawing and painting looking at something and colourin it accordingly, but this is the first time i am going to be learning something new.When i was young i always wanted to go to drawing class which i never could, probably my dreams are coming true now.
Thanks to Sudharshan to motivate me and stand by me.When he said lets go now, i was not very keen on running then, as i generally dont rush into things, but after 5 mins into the class i was happy he did it, otherwise i would have missed something very good.
And its always better to start things when in mind, before you lose the urge to do it. :)….
Well things seem to be falling in place, i joined the class, my baking class is starting this sunday.I am going to be back in ym beautiful office opposite Empire State… into the NEW YORK CITY.
They called me back, i am happy i made a plce for myself although the work wasnt very hectic, but whatever min i did they were happy about it and want me back ASAP.
That itself is an acheivement on its own :)….

Things seem to be moving at a good pace, another shopping spree lined up …….
At this point only one thing comes to my mind….
ALL ‘S WELL THAT ENDS WELL……

Thanks
bye

As most of us know it was a memorial day weekend, and in the process of doing something useful this weekend we decided to visit Sudhar;s friends in Akron Ohio.
Ganesh and Nagalakshmi, they have had a baby girl very recently.We have been wanting to go and see them for a long time now,but somehow time didnt permit.
Hari and Sushi joined us on our trip.Trip was wonderful, the long drive has its own charm ,the only thign was that the drive was getting longer and longer.
We decided to start on saturday at about 7 in the morning, and sushi reached here on friday night(The best thing she said was that i have lost a lot of weight and look a little thinner now :)))))!!!), we got into some discussion which went on till 1 in the night, as a result of which we woke up only at 6.30.Hari said he will come early in the morning.Somehow we managed to get ready by 7.30 and started around 7.50 am.
As soon as we started we got hungry and wanted to take a break, we stopped at Dunkin Donuts and had a good coffee and bagels.
Again we started and took many such breaks on our way.
In the highway we saw one accidents and were very upset, the van had toppled and it was lying upside down.We went helped a little and started again.It was easier for us to start from there without getting stuck in the traffic as we were on the very begining and near that accident spot.
Well accidents are very common on these highway here.
I had taken Spaghetti with me for our lunch, we took a break had spaghetti and drove again, this time it was sudhar’s turn to drive.All of us in turns took short naps.
After a really loooooong drive we reached their house to meet a very chweeeet baby.(You can see her in http://vplganesh.blogspot.com/ )
Baby seemed ot adichufy kottam with us, she didnt sleep properly all the time waking up and crying:))….Hope she enjoyed our company and is missing us now ;).
Ganesh , Nagalakshmi and her mother all gave us a warm welcome, and we enjoyed our weekend to the fullest.
Sushi also seemed to have a good time.All of us were mesmirized by the baby Shruti.
That day we played some games went for a walk watched tv and slept only aroun 2am.
I woke up around 5.30 and couldnt sleep again but all others woke around 9.
We had planned to leave on sunday thats the next day, but then ganesh insisted and we also changed our plans and decided to start on monday early morning.
Sunday we went to some parks there had good food after a long time!!! :)
Slept early in the night and started around 7 in the morning thinking that we will reach home around 3.
All the time it was raining and one more accident on the highway.
Somehow we managed to reach home around 5, had a hot cup of tea.
The wonderful happy weekend was over now, and everyone had to get ready for their respective routines.
Hari started after the tea as he wanted to finihs his regular weekend routines and get ready for the office next day and sushi said she will catch the 8.30 pm bus.
We dropped her in the train station and went to get some grocerys.
Watched NBA for sometime and went to bed.
Yet another weekday has started and we wil be able to breathe peacefully only on friday night.
Till then
Bye!!!

People often refer to deadlines as their project deadlines, software deliveries etc, but i refer to it in terms of posting a blog.STRANGE !!! I know but what to do, we made a rule that we should post a blog atleats every 2 days, and i must say Sudhar has been doign really good, updating all the news.As a result of which i get lazy and dont feel like writing anything, but today i had to……..
Well as he said we had a good time this weekend,
I got a pay hike, which isnt too much but still good enough to appreciate my work…..I sometimes fail to understand if its the reward for my hard work or if i am getting it for hardly working……
Bonus was that i got off on friday……….Visa was going to india on friday they came home and Sudhar also came hoem early to say bye to her…..Hari joined us back after sending her off, and we all went for Yuva ………..I dont know what to say abt it,but i definitely dont expect this type of a movie from Manirathanam…….Full of Violence ………
Anyways i dont think we were missing anything ……….still
came back woke up late next morning,didnt do much………..
Then on sunday we thought of going to the Aquarium……it was a fun trip, Seagul show was good, i have always seen it on tv , seeing it live was very enjoyable.
The weekend got over, but i decided to enjoy one more day and bunked on monday, and to my surprise none of them came to work so it was like an extended holiday for all of us….
Am back at work today and need to sort out few issues…..
Gotto go now, i know this isnt a veyr good blog but i promise ot write something better next time, and that too well in advance :)…
Please Adjust

Yes its been a long time and all these days i have been wondering what I should do?
my oppurtunities are very few.You can either study and learn something or you can sit idle at home and put on weight.
But as all say empty mind is devil’s workshop, i dont suggest sitting idle at home.Thats of no use.So what to do?
I know a few things which are very basic.Now if i think of improving on my skills and getting furthur i will have to spend a huge amount, which might not be worth as i might not really make a career out of it.So what is it that can be done at small scale ….I dont know….I tried getting into a school but my bad luck they thought i wasnt skilled enough to join them.
With all this in mind i started applying for a few jobs and got one,its a smal indian advertising agency and i started working there. At the same time, I am thinking of doing something else, again what?
What is it that one can comfortable do in this country?withou any hassels?
I am not able to think of anything, starting a business on my own with all the small things isnt very easy.But i definitely need to think of some better option to keep my self occupied and earn my pocket money.
Lets see…..

Hi,
Its been long,i wanted to write in detail about “Bombay Dreams” but somehow didnt .I am glad sudhar did that job and its come out really well.
Yes i have some news other than this.The much awaited FIT Interview is over and i didnt get it.They feel that my drawing is not professional and i need to improve on it.So its better i join illustration and do it for an year and after that if i want i can apply in Toy Design.She also offered to help me with it and that she would speak to illustration chairman.Well right now i am not interested.
But its over, uncertainity is bad so this way or the other its over.
I sound very bold saying all this isnt it?Well i wasnt but now i am a little better and thats y felt like posting it .Sudharshan was very upset but i know once i control myself he will feel much better, he has exam on 10th.
Sushi called up and she also sounded a little dull.But in the end all of them feel better and releived to see me controlling myself and feeling better.
Thanks to sushi and sudhar for all their support.Irina also called up and spoke for a few mins.I am glad i am getting all their support.
I havent yet spoken to my mom, i want to speak to her only once i control myself,bcos i know that i will end up crying and will spoil her mood also.
I have mailed her.Ok lets look forward to something else which might be on its way.
bye

Santa Fe is in New Mexico.We decided to go there after we returned from Ithaca after dropping Sushi.It was a last minute plan.As we didnt want to waste sudhar’s vacation and at the same time we wanted to visit a new place, Sudhar has been wanting to go there for a long time it seems.
We booked the flight and had to start from home at around 5 in the morning.We woke up at 3 and were ready.But as we reached the Path Station and missed the train by just few seconds.It was the 5.18am and the next was only at 5.48am.
We had to check in at 7.00.Yes it was a big mess, we got into the next train, reached Queens, again started looking out for the bus stop.We were lucky one guy told us the right bus stop as we were waiting on the wrong one.As we reached the airport they were announcing our names and the flight was ready to take off.
Fortunately we reached jsut on time.
To reach Santa Fe, we have to get down at Alburquerque airport and drive to Santa Fe.
Its so unlike America, its in the middle of no where, oh my god!!!! fully surrounded by mountains, cacti, trees and desert nothing else, i dont know if many people even live there. Most of them were tourists .
Spanish is the widely spoken lang there and mexican restaurants are famous, but many of indians have also settled there, we had food at a good punjabi restaurant one day, having all this around food wasnt a major problem there.We could eat variety of food there.All sorts of restaurents were available.

The most popular thing which could attract people is ART , every nook and corner of that place has an art gallery or a museum. We definitely need to learn a lot about promoting ART from them.The thing which pinched me was that, there are so many good things in india, but who is there to promote them, artists struggle to survive their living, but no one helps, and even if someone does they mostly endup in scandals ,scams and controversies. Art and culture is almost extinct there.In order to change and adapt to new surroundings and become modern people are loosing their culture traditions and values…………

Well coming back to Santa Fe….The weather there was unusually cold.We expected it to be a little more warm but it wasnt.We were lucky that we took our sweaters and jackets.
They have an ancient train which is used for tourism development.Its probably maintained by the government there, and on payment of few dollars we can have a ride on it.It takes you through the desert of Santa Fe.We cannot get down from the train but once they reach the end they stop it for a while and we can take a look at the place and again back to the yard.
Next day we decided to visit “CHIMAYO” this is a place in mountains.
First we went to this place called Chimayo de mayo.This is a holy church and was built in 1857, its a wonder how they preserved it for so long, and there is a holy dirt which people bring home.Its made up of mud and bricks.Their beilf is that dirt never gets over, it keeps coming.At the same time few people say that the priest fills it in.
After finishing that we went to a very famous Spanish Restaurent there, which is i guess always crowded, we had to stand in a line to eat there.Very sweet lady was hosting us…. I was looking at the chweet frilly dress they wore.The typical frock with laces and frills worn in France.It was nice one, even i bought a similar top from there….
After our lunch we started again towards Taos, but we lost our way and were running here and there, and the worst part was that gas was almost over…and it was getting dark.
But finally we managed to find out the way and reached the gas staton exactly when the tank was empty.haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa were saved.The adventure ended and the day was over, we were not ready for anymore thrills for the day.
Plaza is another happenning place there in Santa Fe.So we decided to take a look at that.It was a nice place always crowded, we had been there for new years eve as well.People were praising the Plaza New Year Celebrations, but to our disappointed we couldnt find anything .
Nothing seemed to be happenning in the most happenning place.
During the whole errands here and there we wanted to buy something which would remind us of Santa Fe.
We decided to buy a wooden Red Indian Guy.It was hand made and was very beautiful.We were keenon buying one of those.We ran from one shop to other searching for the best one and at the same time we didnt want to spend more than some 30 dollars.On each one the prize was written and it said $2500 or $1900 so we thought of looking into something better and more realistic…………………………………………
We got the shock of our life when we realised that $2500 was actually 2thousand and 5hundred……
It was atrocious, how could anyone pay 2500 for a small doll which is jsut of our fist size.
we immidiately dropped the idea and came back with made in china, doll.His name is 6Feathers and he is the chief of the gang.
With all this we didnt know how the time went off, and we realised that the vacation is over and we have to start the next day.As ususal we woke up and started early around 10 so that we can reach the airport well in time.But we just cannot do it.On our way we realised that we have to fill in the gas tank before we return the car.I dont know why we always have problems with Gas.Now the search started for the Gas Station, well luckily we found it soon, and reached just in time.(I remember when me, sushi and sudhar went to the Revelon Store we had the same problem with the gas……..and we couldnt reach on time,it was their closing time and we were thrown out)
With this our vacation ended,we came back to Jersey City.Reached at 12 in the midnight and our bad luck had to sit seperate in the plane.:)
It was a great jolly trip Had Fun!!!!!!!

For the past few weeks nothing was happning,life was asusual without much of activity.But the last few days all of a sudden lots of things have been happening.

Sushi had come.I went to Port Auhtority to receive her.Its so good to think that here in America i am able to manage myself and go out do things.Well Sushi reached safely.We were all having fun,Sudhar wanted us to leave him alone to study.So we decided to go out on our own.That day we didnt do anything much.Sushi wanted to sleep as she was tired of the bus journey.
In the evening we had to go to Suresh(Sudhar’s college friend)Daughter’s Birthday Party.It was her first birthday.
It was fun, initially Sushi hesitated but after going there she realised that it was worth coming.We had a good time.The little girl was looking very sweet and luckily she didnt cry much.
The next day Sushi wanted to go shopping, so sudhar came up with a wonderful idea of going and exploring Flea Market(may be he suggested it to send us far off from where we wont return for the next few hours and he can continue doing his work peacefully).To be frank it was a total waste going there, she got upset that it was such a waste .But it was a good experience.
From there we reached mall finished her shopping and came back.The same night we went out for dinner in a nearby Thai restaurant.The food there was good.
Well i was tired and a little dull, probably i hurt Sudhar and Sushi.I didnt want to do it intentionally but it happenned.
The next day again we went out shopping for Sushi and myself(Sudhar was a little upset that i ddint buy anything for myself the day before),she had to start that evening.After finishing we reached Port Authority.
Sushi gifted me a small doggy we have named him Pappu.
After Sushi left things were back to the usual.On tehwhole sushi’s visit was a welcome change and asusual FUN……..
Another surprise was that all of a sudden things with FIt started moving .I was worried that even after 10 days they havent received the application i posted.I was about to go myself to fill it up but i got a mail from them that they have received the application.I have also received the take home.
Now i gotto work on that.
I hope i will be able to do it.Lets see…
I have not been drawing for the past few years, so need to refresh everything. But am glad i am able to do it, i tried few things yesterday.Sudhar felt much confident about all this after seeing my drawings.I am happy and excited, and also we have decided to take up a few drawing and painting classes to improve my skills furhtur.Colours drawing etc excite me a lot :) I am happy .We are going to buy few more colours today.
Today i have a lot of work, washing, cooking, gym,drawing, searching for a drawing class,grocery………………the list is endless.I dont think 24 hours are enough but shall try to manage with it..
Have a good day!!!!

Honeymoon is i am sure everyone’s dream and its a much awaited event after one’s marriage.
It was the same for us if not for any other reason but mainly for some kind of a relaxation and peace.
Our marriage was a very traditional one and had too much of bhaaga daudi(running around).Especially for Sudhar it was all the more tiring because he had arrived only a week back.And spent most of his timing talking to me over the phone that too till 2 in the morning :) without taking rest…. :)So once we were done with marriage ceremonies and all the temple visits, we headed back to coimbatore.We had a great grand reception waiting for us.We hardly knew anyone.I knew no one,but sudharshan knew few people so it was the ususal thing. And as i dont like posing for snaps, i had minor problems wiht the photographer for which i was upset the whole time during the reception.
Well it also got over and now was the time for us to get ready for our honeymoon.
After long talk and discussions about it, we had decided to go to a small place called “Coconut Lagoon”. Its in Kerala and is situated in an island in the midst of gorgeous back waters.
After lots of running around and fighting with the tiredness, we started packing and to our shock we realised that we havent washed our clothes and sudharshan also wanted to buy few shirts. So as usual last minute washing and running to the shop.
Finally we were done and started around 3am on Nov 10th morning.
Sridhar had booked our tickets in AC. We had to get down in Kumaragam .Its a town in Kerala.
I remember initially we couldnt sleep in the train so we called up chithi and wished her. It was her B’Day.
But slowly our bodies started realising that we woke up at 3 and need some rest. So we slept off.
Finally reached Kumaragam around 11 or may be 12 noon.From there we got into a taxi and it was a drive of about 1 hour to that beautiful place. Again there we waited at the lake front before a guy came in one water taxi to pick us up.
We were all thrilled and looking forward to this much heard about place.
We went through the beautiful kerala and saw all beautiful house boats and the wood houses, which we generally see in TV or read in books. We were lucky to see them live.
We didnt know which side ot turn to, One moment we would be astonished at the hosue boats and at the same time we would want to look to the water canal and the beautiful sun glowing through the tall palm trees.
Well somehow managed and reached the wonderful place.I have never been to such a beautiful place. I dont know what heaven looks like but this was nothing less than that……….we were so happy that we decided to go there.
It was equally expensive but after sometime we realised that it was worth the money we were paying.
As we got down from the boat, a young lady, well dressed in a traditional kerala outfit came forward to welcome us and greeted us with Coconut water and flowers.
As we were waiting for our paper work to be done we saw so many more people roaming and enjoying the scenic beauty of the place.
Mostly they were foreigners who came for relaxation or honeymoon couples.
Well finally paperwork was done and we headed towards our cottage house. The walkway was also very nice and lush grassy. eye catching flowers all around.
There were 3 types of rooms available. One was the normal single bed room. The other was like a small house with a hall downstairs and a bed room upstairs.(this was the one we had taken) and the third was the beautiful whole house wiht dining room and swimming pool included.
We reached our room and were more than happy to see it.
But before we could relax….bells started ringning in our stomachs.
They had this grand buffet with all sorts of food. Indian, eastern, western, veg and non veg you think of something and it would be there.
We reached there and were really excited to see the good variety of food. People serving there were too good, frankly these words are just not enough for them.
Sudhar was a little upset as he had mouth ulcer and was not able to enjoy the food…………poor guy somehow managed with the food.
I remember the best thing about it was the special jeera water they gave us. We literally loved it and got it to our room in a bottle.
And somehow they also knew that we liked it because the moment we would enter the dining hall they would instantly get us this hot Jeera Water.
Among the people serving, One young lady was very sweet and got very friendly with us. Had a very pleasing smile too. There was another woman who was all showing off, and we didnt like her, as she was biased and would only help and talk to foreigners :)…silly people still live with that mentality.
I also fulfilled my dream of tasting RED WINE there.:)
Well as these surprises and happiness came along, we also had a little problem which kept bothering us on the whole trip. Although we never spoke about during that time, I am sure both of us were equally worried about it and that was our VISA!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, sudhar’s visa papers were in the consulate and even after 2 or so weeks we didnt receive it and imd from cochin, we were going to chennai for my Visa Interview…but I need his papers to get mine.
Well not thinking of it we continued to enjoy the wonderful place, the good food and the nice peaceful atmosphere.
Our room was situated just next to the back waters and we could see the happennings in the lake from our room. Occasionally the local fishermen passing thru would stare at us, perhaps wondering how much we would have paid for something they live out everyday.
There was also an Ayurvedic healing centre where we got medicine for sudhar’s throat ulcer.
We also had a hammock tied outside our room so spent a lot of time there too, mostly after dark.
Well we didnt know how the time passed by and finally it was time for us to start.
We also went out in a boat to see the very famous yellow sunset there. It was defintiely an eye capturing scene. we wont forget that moment for sure.
we didnt get any info about our VISA yet, so we decided to cancel my appointment because if we won’t cancel it before 24 hours we might not get an appointment for the next 90 days.
So we cancelled my appointment and headed back to chennai.
We half heartedly got into the boat reached the land exitng the island. The young lady from the dining hall, rushed out to wave a happy good bye to us. It was so nice of her. We told ourselves that we should visit again just for that nice lady’s hospitality. We got into a car at the other end of the lake and after a drive of about 1 hour, we reached cochin airport.
This was my first ever flight trip, but as usual i didnt react much,. I was in a dilemma between feeling happy abt the trip, my first flight, and feeling dull and morose about the visa issue.
We reached chennai and I was in severe ear pain, not bearing the air pressure difference inflight. Spent few days at my home luckily. As we were planning to postpone our tickets, we got a mail saying that sudhar’s papers were cleared and that it will reach us in a day or two.
We heaved a sigh of releif. Again more confusion……….we were never free of it!!!!!
Preponement of the tickets, again reschedule my appointment. Oh My God!!!!!!!!!!!! can’t really express how we felt then.
But we were so lucky that I got an appointment. I remember the day we postponed my appointment there were no dates available inbetween, but fortunately the day we wanted to prepone my interview we got just one date that too 2 days before our original trip.
Another major Block…getting the VISA and by God’s grace I cleared it. I still remember how much we avoided to talk about what would happen if I didnt get the visa. I also remember how impatiently sudhar was standing outside the consulate and was not even able to react even after he saw me smiling while coming out of the main entrance.
But yes i got the visa and the paper back on time and everything had fallen in place at the right time.
We went back to coimbatore, in this running around process we couldnt spend time there with them, we had decided to stay 2 more days there but alas!!!
As also we had another short trip to kumbakonam temple and to sudhar’s native village.
Little confusion…..and it spoilt the whole plan…..We will surely make it up next time…….
After all this, Everything worked out and we reached Newark Airport..That story i shall continue some other time……
I think as sudhar’s friend, ganesh suggested ‘Coconut Lagoon’, we definitely owe a big thanks to him :) for introdcing this wonderful place to us..
I also wanna add something here……….
During all this i missed my grandfather veyr much who left us all just 2 months before my marriage.I know how much he was excited and looking fwd to it .He would have been very happy if he would have been here with us today.But somehow i feel he is with us mroe now, he went up there and requested god to help us and thats how everything is good and in place today.We r together and with us my grandpa is…….
I miss u thatha……..miss you very much..please be with me forever and ever!!!
Bye
Good night

I know its been ages that i posted my blogs but its jsut sheer laziness nothing else.The thing is that when i am eagerly waiting for something to come my way i just cannot concentrate on anything else.Sometimes i myself think how am i able to carry on with the other things like cooking tv etc.
I remember the old days when i was with my mom and family back in india, and if i was sulking for something i literally wont do anything.
I will switch on the tv swap channels for 10 mins and then switch it off go to another room switch on my comp, login and imd logoff now what?? go to the kitchen open few boxes and peep in looking for something to eat and also crying that there is nothing good in this house to eat.Again go to someone and start a dumb conversation which will have no meaning and scope…………
This is how my life was in those days.Howmuch ever people would try to help me i wont take that help and will stick to my sulking and brooding mood.
Now its a little different i dont know if marriage changes a person so much, i still want to sulk about not getting an apointment with the FIT Chairperson but somehow dont feel like doing it.May be because i dont want to give a big shock to Sudharshan but still even now sometimes i do that unknowingly and unwillingly poor soul manages it really well.
I havent yet got the appointment with the FIT and i wanna do the same thing, i almost did the same the difference was that i didnt create that much of scene…..Saturday and sunday were like 2 centuries but somehow the weekend passed peacefully.
Saw Kuch na kaho.We were just home the whole weekend, went downstairs and captured the most beautiful scene “Skyline of Manhattan” into our new Handycam.
Came back had something to eat .Sudhar was busy with his studies most of the time.
I was asusual logging into my messenger some 100 times.Spoke to Sushi and gave her some advises….ha ha ha cannot believe i am doing that.There was a time when every single person used to give me some advise and i used to hate that and today i am doing the same….Hope sushi doesnt feel the same:)
Spoke to Nagalakshmi, she was asking if i am willing to sell my toys, but i siad i havent yet decided.May be i can, it seem to be a good idea…………lets see what i have in store for me…………..

I think this blog is going total meaningless , i started it somewhere and its going somewhere else.
I am sorry for the bore…………shall try to write something useful and meaningful next time
By the way wanna say thanks to all of those who posted all encouraging comments and thanks for your wishes too……
Today morning Sudhar said that he feels that this week is gonna change everything in my life for something very good…Just waiting for that…..
bye
Tata