I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself...

Where I find myself sleeping, eating and being thoroughly spoiled.

I am back home after almost 2 years and for the first time in 2 years I have had one WHOLE week of uninterrupted sleep at night. The weather in Kolkata has been perfect (by which I mean slightly warm of course.) Its been in the 70's and the sun is up every single day. That does wonders for my mood.

I also get tea made for me, exactly the way I want it. And lots of fish...

I have ventured into the city twice and plan to do a lot more venturing soon. However, next week I am heading down south to Kerala. Looking forward to another trip. I like how I have already been travelling a lot this year... I hope to maintain the pattern.

P.S. I have a new interest and it makes my Dad very happy - gardening.

2011 - Year of Learning

Clearly I should not attempt to do anything semi artistically. I was trying to make a collage of the events that were highlights in 2011.

Some of them that made it to the list before I gave up on being creative:

1. THREE trips to California - January, March and August. I was SO lucky I got to go back to SF and Monterey and Carmel each time. Just really blessed.
2. My 8 mile runs around the DC national mall. There is absolutely nothing I looked forward to more after a day at work. Even when it was hot as hell outdoors I made it for my run because the mall never fails to overwhelm me.
3. Friends - Old and new!
4. Trips to NY - in winter and summer. Walking around central park with Shady, eating an ice cream and watching the boats and ducks in the sweltering heat is such an experience. However the best memory from the summer trip was definitely Williamsburg and the Tenement museum. If you are in NY you absolutely HAVE to go.
5. Surprise birthday trip to Chicago for the boy! Terrible weather all around made sure it was not a surprise by the time I landed. Memorable nonetheless!
6. Yoga- Hot, hard and sublime!
7. Puerto Rico - Beach bumming, kayaking, eating, walking, drinking and waiting for buses endlessly! Such a great great vacation.
8. Jewellery! Rings - diamonds, turquoise, silver and gold.
9. Loved ones - people I love and care about and who love and care about me. What would I do without you in my life?

Our Obsession With Our Early Ancestors

I have never understood our obsession with dieting and exercising the way our early ancestors did. Why should we do it? They didn't look good, they lost all their teeth young, most of them died young from unknown causes.

I am yet to understand why we obsess with what they ate and try to replicate that. 

Scott Schuman and Garance Dore Are Making Me Broke

Yes, they are. I am sure I am not the only one either. But what a happy way to be broke.

I started the new year with a resolution to pay off all my student loans and to make more of an effort in the fashion department. Clearly no goal congruence there. So I started with the easier one.

I love clean cute and paisley. Here are two pictures of things I bought:

 The dress is a Diane Von Furstenberg - so cute and clean cut. I wear it with a big black belt and black knee high boots. Its still cute.

The coat is from Anthropologie. It looks much better when I wear it than in the picture. Its cute and snug.



Hmm.. what next? I am thinking some very 60's dresses. I am talking clean cuts, bold patterns and fun! Something like this (not exactly that fabric)

The Sweetest Text You Ever Received

For me it was the 10 days that we were separated for in 2008. He sent me one reason everyday- one reason he loved me. The one on the 10th day blew my mind. Best separation ever :) 

Just Your Regular Sweet Nothings

Me and Shady have a HUGE fight in Chi. It is epic. It is all because he wanted to go running for 15 mins before we headed out. We were already late. I really wanted to see the city. He wakes up at 11.30 and goes: I am going to write a paper, work out, take a shower, eat lunch and then show you around. I go storming out of the door.

Later Mike acts as duck tape and brings all of us together. At this time the sulker in me is having multiple orgasms because I haven't had so much to sulk about in ages. Still giving the boys my somewhat silent treatment. This is one conversation I remember:

Me: (Gazing away at the city skyline)
Shady: (A little scared about approaching me, knows I am crabby crabbyson)
Shady: (Bites the bullet. Thinks its best to try and get shot down than not try at all)
Shady: What are you thinking about Boo?
Me: (Calmly) It is illegal
Shady: O! God. That was quick. You must really be thinking about killing me seriously.

We both burst out laughing. It is exactly what I was thinking about.

#laloca

Things That Keep Me Up At Night

Everyone is going all braveheart on the Republican nominees and their ridiculous opinions. Now they found some support from an unlikely source - Pat Robertson. I hear Jon Stewart and a lot of my friends on Facebook going - well if Pat Robertson says you need to tone it down you must really need to fucking tone it down. 

That doesn't make any sense. Here is why:

Pat Robertson thinks homosexuality and bestiality are one and the same thing. They are not. 

Pat Robertson thinks that Haitian's sold their souls to the devil to buy their freedom from France and their payment was extracted in the form of the devastating earthquake. They did not and it was not. 

Pat Robertson is a raging lunatic. 

He is the opposite of someone whose opinion should be quoted.

If he asks the Republican nominees to shut up - they shouldn't. They should do the opposite. 

The only reason the Republican nominees like Rick Perry should shut up is if sensible people ask them to shut up. If they aren't listening to the voices of reason why on earth would they listen to the senile voice of Pat Robertson. 

It is a little bit ridiculous that this is keeping me up at night!