Laughter

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ~e.e. cummings

When you laugh, laugh hard. From the soul. Even if that means snorting :)

I love my friends and family. We could be doing the simplest of things or an adventure of sorts but its all about the who you are doing it with, not the what. At the end of the day, you must find the people that make you laugh, smile, and feel good. The ones you can be yourself around - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the uglier. Hold on to them. They are the ones worth keeping around forever.

A day in Georgetown with Tayyaba. Couldn't have been lovelier. We laughed a lot. And had yummy yogurt.

Mommy's garden

Since the family left on vacation last week, watering the flowers and plants has been my duty. And I must say, I thoroughly enjoy it. It's funny what happens when something becomes your responsibility. As silly as this may sound, I think about the garden all day. Especially on the hotter days as I sit inside and picture them burning up in the sun. I usually wait until the evening to water them but I can't wait. They need me! I spend a little time with each of them, including the ones in the house. It's such a peaceful time for me.

What will they do when I leave and we are all gone next week? Actually, what will I do without them.

Following the mad hatter...

"There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger. Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter. Which luckily I am."

A green sky

Sisters

Sisters. Yes, we're just sisters.

Our story is not heroic, not even

memorable. But when I need

support I sense you quietly by me.

I always will.

-Helen Thomson-

"Earth laughs in flowers"

Mummy's potted flower plants in the backyard.

Zip and swing

A wonderful day with good friends at Terrapin Adventures.

I love the outdoors. I love adventures. If you do too, then go to Terrapin Adventures at www.terrapinadventures.com/ (Maryland). They have everything from zipping and swinging to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. And many more things if you're interested. They also have awesome guides like Richard, who help with activities and guided tours.

We had an awesome time making fun of and cheering each other on. We laughed. We joked. We played. Ah, to be among my friends again!

One of those days...

Moving goodbyes

Today we helped my cousin Gopal move into his new apartment. He graduated from Virginia Tech this May and is now entering the workforce. It all seems so familiar because Kavi, Arti, and I have gone through it as well. Imagine how many moves per person that is counting college and for our jobs (our poor parents!) Moving in and out is something we have gotten quite used to - college dorms, apartments, even homes. Up next, this fall, we have Kishan, destination away.

There is a difference though, in moving from home to home than moving in and out of college dorms and work apartments. I remember our first big move from Tennessee to Virginia. After thirteen years in one place we were moving, not just houses but states! I felt like we were leaving our childhood behind, our memories, our home.

In retrospect, it was the best move we ever made. Every place you live adds to a lot of who you are... I soon realized that in Tennessee we had the perfect childhood full of laughter. But, we grew up in Virginia. You see, Tennessee gave me the feeling of "forever childhood" - innocence, wander, play, freedom. All the same, Virginia ignited passion - an insatiable desire for all things, beauty, love, curiosity, happiness, hope, and much, much more.

We moved several times in Virginia and after that one big move, all the others became easier. Did we just get used to it? Or was it something else? I think it was the realization that wherever my parents are is home. Wherever our family is. That is where our memories lie, within us. I also know that every step forward is full of possibilities and opportunities (but never forget the past).

We have all dealt with some type of moving. Whether it's moving on from relationships, homes, careers... And some moves are harder than others. Some moves stay with us forever. At the same time, who knows what wonderful things are ahead. Because, the beauty in all of this is that moving away just means that you're moving closer to something else. After every goodbye is a hello waiting just around the corner...

Gujarati khadi magic

I used to compare Indian cooking to Chemistry. And lord knows Chemistry wasn't my thing. I thought I would never get it. Even with the book of recipes I made, it still felt impossible. The most anticipated moment would be (and still is) when Bapuji took his first bite. Within the first few seconds, you would know - yay or nay. The nays outnumbered the yays by far.

Would I ever get it? All the different spices had to be measured perfectly, knowing which amount to put in each dish. The real kicker was that 'measure' didn't mean 'measure'. The art of cooking is just knowing based on the size of the pot, the proportion of spices that it would need. It is also important to know how to cut the vegetables (size, shape, etc) and how long to cook everything - from vagar, sautéing and frying to cooking in a pressure cooker. You also want to know what else you could add to enhance the taste or alter it to mimic a dish from another region (i.e. gujarati, punjabi, south indian, marathi, etc).

My mom has all of this down to a magical science. Not only has she perfected Indian cooking, she can do it all. Italian, Mexican, Chinese.... She is a wonderful cook. She has been trying to teach me since I was twelve or thirteen. But, our student teacher relationship just didn't work in the kitchen. Cooking meant that at least one of us would end up in tears.

After all these years, things finally started clicking. My meals have gone from throw away to edible, good to great, and now I can maneuver around the kitchen and cook meals viscerally. I know the amount of spices needed and what it takes. I can look in the refrigerator, see what we have, and know what can be used to create a dish. Success. According to mom, I can cook a meal for guests. More importantly, I can cook a meal for Dada and Ba (my grandparents).

This magic that just happened, didn't just happen. It's thanks to my mom. She never gave up on me. I also wanted to please my dad. There is a happiness that comes from knowing that he is enjoying what I made.

Through it all, I fell in love with cooking. I still have so much to learn but I know when the day comes, I can cook wonderful meals for my own family. And I can only hope for yays.

Take me back to the beach

Wishing I was knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze and it don't seem fair
Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise there's a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high
And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

--Zac Brown Band/Jimmy Buffet--

Hello, world

Thank you, Sprint, for connecting me and my family to the world! For the longest time, my family and I were on AT&T. We had to watch our minutes and limit our use to little or no data/web etc.

Arti and I switched first since we were on our own family plan. We decided that regardless of our contract with AT&T, being with Sprint would still end up cheaper. And it is. With Sprint's $69.99 Everything Data Plan, Arti and I have an AWESOME phone that connects us to everyone and everything without having to think TWICE. Plus, with the HTC Evo, we can take great pics (better than most cameras) and videos on the go. We have google at our fingertips. GPS. Games. Unlimited texting. AND unlimited calling to and from any mobile in America. More than what I need. Sigh.

I opted in for phone insurance too (Arti encouraged me to do so). And thankfully I did, because I'm on my third one! The first I left in a taxi and never got it back. The second fell in the toilet, don't ask... And the third one is still going strong. I've been through these phones in less than a year!

Today, the rest of the family switched over. Bapuji is trying to learn texting and all of the functions of a smartphone (Samsung Epic). I love showing him all the features and seeing his eyes light up. He gets so excited. Welcome to the 21st century, Bapuji! Haha. Mom and Kishan got the Samsung Replenish, a phone made from recycled plastic (a totally green phone).

The nice thing about the rest of the family switching over is that our bill per person is going to go down! Yay! The more lines you add, the cheaper per person. Of course its obvious, but I wanted to restate the fact so I can get excited all over again. And also, Sprint gives you a $125 credit for every phone that switches over. I think for friends who all have single plans, this would be a smart way to combine in a family plan, and get all the features you want at an economical cost! Then, each individual pays his/her part of the bill.

Now, don't expect my phone answering habits to change. They are still the same. I just have a cooler phone to leave around.

Love

Miscommunication

Always say what you need to say. Then, be done with it.

City lights

I dropped Arti off in Baltimore on Sunday and I realized that I've missed the city. It was quite a year, quite an adventure, quite... I've especially missed the harbor and the view from the apartment at night. I remember just staring out of the open window and being able to see the whole city. It was the city lights that put me to sleep at night.

But now, those city lights have faded into country skies and bright stars. And even though I miss the lights, I breathe deeper here and sleep a bit more peacefully. There is no where else I'd rather be.

No shoes, no shirt, no problems

Just spent a wonderful day at the beach in Ocean City this past weekend. We planned a 'girls getaway' in honor of Tayyaba. It was absolutely lovely - the hot sun, cool ocean, and the companyof amazing peeps (Tayyaba, Rashida, Nisha). Rashida and I had ocean talk, Tayyaba immersed herself in the water, and we think Nisha will be a seagull in her next life. It was awesomeeeee.

Honestly, who needs an expensive day at the spa when you can roll around in the sand, rock in the sea, and laugh with your friends. Some good life medicine, I tell ya.

At the end of the day, we stopped by a local produce stand on the side of the road and had delicious, juicy plums. What an amazing day!