Finally! Cowboy boots

Finally, I got a pair of cowboy boots for myself! Well, Jeff bought me the pair and gained like a gazillion points.

Stuck in Des Moines

I am typing from Des Moines, IA. I had a flight out of Detroit to Phoenix to Burbank, CA at 4:59 p.m. We left at 6:20 p.m. because of a clogged toilet. About an hour or so into the flight, we get told that we are descending into Des Moines, Iowa because of a windshield "problem." Now I am in Des Moines and it is 9:10 p.m. (E.S.T.), and they are flying in a plane from Cleveland which will take 2 hours (that's what they say).

Des Moines? I have never ever felt the urge to visit this city, and as if wedding plans (which is in 2 weeks) weren't nerve wracking enough!

They are ordering us pizza and soda mmm wonder if they have a NYPD here ...

UPDATE (8:14 a.m. E.S.T. Sunday):

After the pizza arrived from Papa Johns, we were able to board a new plane sometime after midnight. We got to Phoenix at 6:20 a.m. I got a hotel voucher, and a new flight for 8:18 a.m. So, I am typing from the hotel after a shower and change of clothing. I'll get to Burbank at noon E.S.T. It will have taken me almost 24 hrs to take a 6 hr. flight. Whopee!!!

UPDATE (10 p.m. E.S.T. Sunday):

I finally made it in to Burbank at 12 noon Eastern time. WOWEE!!!

Tired?

For my infoviz individual report, I have caught myself having written this:

1) I knowed that this was going to happen ...

2) Before this class, the only visualization I had ever scene was ...

think I might be just a little tired!

Bridal Shower

Tonight was my bridal shower (for my parents and sis, that's like a Ladies Sangeet), arranged by Christy Eyre and Erika Doyle and attended by:



Christy had everyone introduce themselves by telling their name, how they know me and what they were wearing that reminded them about me (that was part of the invite). Apparently, I wear a lot of black, jeans, jingle-jangling bangles, jewelry, and country music related things.

It was also surprising how people remembered meeting me first or how they remembered me. The following were common themes: parties, shopping and linedancing. Something that shocked me was being described as "bubbly." I don't think of myself as bubbly at all. In fact, I think I am one of the subtly sullen people at SI (nobody can beat my friend Choi, but then again, he's not so subtle).

As I was thinking of this, I also realised that I seem to be losing patience as I get older. Maybe I was bubblier last semester, but those bubbles are all gone now. I am more likely to get annoyed at people's little stupidities and less likely to tolerate it. I am less likely to talk to people and "get it out" and more likely to just let it go because I don't feel the need (I do however feel the need for Greed!!!). Maybe, it's because as I get older, I have less mental and physical energy. Maybe, I have just learned that I have to pick my battles and have created a prioritized list of people in my life who I'll spend time on.

Additionally, I am not THAT old. what's going to happen in a decade when I have little kids? I am not going to turn into my mother - I am going to be worse! What do you think, my not-so-constant reader?

Name Change

As far as University of MI is concerned, I am now Sylvie Khajuria Williams. They even give me a new MCard tomorrow. I didn't want to keep my maiden name just because it's not the easiest name to pronounce/spell. However, after realising that the Internet has a lot of historical information about me as Sylvie Khajuria, I decided to keep it as my middle name.

How the Web controls me!

Apartment on fire

yes, MY apartment complex was on fire. Apparently, some faulty power strip in an aprtment up front caused a fire which led to that apartment and the one above it to be completely gone. We are kitty corner to it behind, so our apartment does not seem to be damaged. We had to stay at a friend's house last night when they told us we'd have to find new residence for the rest of the school year. However, this morning, they told us we could move back in by 5 p.m. So, hopefully, nothing's happened. Here's an article quoting me: Apartment on fire!

Googling ourselves

I was motivated to put my name in Google after reading Erika's blog entry. what I found is that I take up 2 whole pages on the Google results and the first one is my portfolio. What that means is I need to redesign and do it NOW!!!

Graduation speeches

So, as president of SISA, I am supposed to speak at both graduations - Winter and the Regular one. However, because of my impendign marriage, I am flying out to CA before the winter graduation and so I asked David Choi, the SISA Treasurer to do the speech and this is what he comes up with: David's take on the speech!

So, I am scared, to say the least!!!

It's started!

Interviewing! That's what's started. Informational, informal, formal, first tier ... there are so many types of interviews. And, I need to buy another suit. I cannot depend on one, especially since now, for most interviews, I'll have to see the same people twice.

A Blast From The Past

I went through an old suitcase and found some of the things I am working towards being able to wear again.

These were the pants I wore on my first date with Jeff.

My favorite jeans; the flares are over 15 inches.

A leftover from my goth days.

Amy is 25!

God! When was I 25? Only 3 years ago and it seems like decades have passed. Must be a result of going to school all year around. Anyways, Amy is just a baby and she turned 25 last saturday. We (Autumn and I) threw her a surprise (she pretends she kinda knew) and invited people we thought she was friends with. The really good freinds showed up early enough to yell SURPRISE!


Christy baked her a huge pretty cake.


We had more friends show up a little later:

The REAL wedding dress

Family, earthquakes and arranged marriages!

So, after I came home from the ER a few weeks ago after my kidney stone episode, I was in a blue funk. I think for a week all I wanted to do was cry because I realised that if I die in Ann Arbor, it would take my fiance at least a day to get to my body and my parents wouldn't be here at all! It's a morbid thought, maybe too morbid for a kidney stone but I felt really homesick for the first time in my life. It's weird; the older I get, the more I lean towards things that I was running away from only a decade ago. Overinvolved, nosy, Indian family! I couldn't wait to get away from them in 97 and now I can't wait till they finally move here.

Another reason for this rambling thought is the earthquake that hit Pakistan and India 2 days ago. My parents are currently in Jammu, which is only about 50-60 km away from where the epicentre was. My dad is actually going to Srinagar today and that's the hardest hit in India. My sister lives alone in Punjab without even a roommate. I saw them last in 1999 (dad and sis) and 2000 (mom). It's just really scary not knowing what's happening, knowing they're in an unstable environment (both geographically and politically), knowing I wouldn't be able to get to them fast if something were to happen and vice versa. It doesn't help that historically my parents have tried to hide all bad news from me till iti's inevitable that I'll find out from someplace else.

Note: I did talk to my parents yesterday and for now, all is good!

Note 2: My mom has assigned me the job of finding my sister a husband in the U.S. Does that seemw eird that they're letting me marry a white boy on my own terms but they're arranging my sister's marriage? I guess as long as she's ok with it, I'm ok with it. Plus, this way, I get to pick somebody who I'll make sure will geta long with me and Jeff as well :-)

Death by gunshot!

This is thanks to Beccacat:

You scored as Gunshot. Your death will be by gunshot, probably because you are some important person or whatever. Possibly a sniper, nice, quick, clean shot to the head. Just beautiful. Posion 80% Gunshot 80% Natural Causes 73% Cut Throat 67% Suffocated 60% Accident 60% Eaten 60% Disease 47% Disappear 40% Drowning 33% Suicide 27% Stabbed 27% Bomb 20% How Will You Die?? created with QuizFarm.com

My wedding dress

Kidney stones, root canals and allergies

I feel like I should donate my body to science right now. About 3 weeks ago, I had to call a wonderful friend, Olga, over to take me to the ER because I had these horrible pains in my lower tummy region. I thought it was appendicitis for sure since two of my cousins have had their appendices removed in the last 2 - 3 months. However, it was a kidney stone and I was sent home with strong pain meds and meds to help the stone break down. My roommate, Autumn, sent out an email with the subject "Bad news about Sylvie," which we laughed about later and my friend Amy came to pick me up with Olga. Erika brought me cheesecake, mmmmm. I am pretty sure I am rid of the stone by now! However, I have to say that morphine is the best invention ever. And, thanks to everyone who sent me well wishes.

A week before my kidney stone, I went in to have an allergy test done at University Health Services. It was an experience. They told me to lay down on my stomach and proceeded to prick 43 tiny holes into my back and then put 43 different allergens onto them. Apparently, my body is very, very allergic to cats and grass. It also doesn't like many trees or plants. It's a little less allergic to dogs. Now, I get to go back and find out what I can do coexist not only with animals I love but also with nature (it would be tough to hide from mother nature).

Last but not the least, next week is my first of three appointments to start work on a root canal. Jeff, my husband to be, has absolutely no reaction to novocaine. What that means is he feels everything that the dentist does in his mouth. Oh, I am so glad that novocaine makes my face go numb!!!

Trip to the Bay Area

I visited the Bay Area after exactly one year. Jeff and I drove up on friday, the 12th at 6 a.m. We got into Pleasanton at noon, picked up my bets friend and went to gorge ourselves at a wonderful Indian buffet, Bombay Garden, in Fremont. Then we went to the mall where we completely irritated Jeff by spending 45 minutes in the Sears shoe sale section hehe.

We had dinner with our friends, about 10 of us at Chillis and it felt like we'd never left. You don't realise how much you miss something till you are near it again.

We spent saturday in Manteca with Jeff's friend and his fiancee who are getting married next month. I spent most day with an uncle and aunt while the "boys" went to look at tuxes. Jeff came back and told me we just HAD to go to the Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto. I bought my wedding dres, woohoo - a red indian dress with gold and beaded embroidery. They are going to shipo it to me after some alterations (it was sleeveless but came with material for sleeves and I wanted sleeves).

We spent sunday at my uncle and aunt's in Fremont. My little cousins, aged 8 and 11, adopted Jeff as their own and tortured him enough. Everyone seemed to like him so the first meeting with the family went well.

We drove back on monday; me 3 pairs of shoes richer and Jeff 2 sleeping bags. We can'ty seem to go on any trip without major shopping!

1 down, 3 to go!

So, I went to Marshalls with a friend from school today, not intending to buy anything. But, hey does that ever happen? So, I took a pair of jeans, 1 size smaller than what I went in wearing (which I have done before) and totally expected to come out depressed. I also took in a pair of shorts smaller than the last ones I bought. And guess what??? THEY FIT!!! I am down 1 size in 3 weeks. I could cry!
I swear this will not turn into a daily monologue about this but the first aim completed and I just needed to shout it out to the world without actually shouting it out. Y'know what I mean!

Do I look like a guide?

In the past 24, no not even 24, in the past 18 hours, I have been asked for directions 8 times. Now, I am not a native Ann Arborite, so I don't think I give out inherent vibes that say "hey ask me, I know where everything is around this town." Maybe I just look REALLY knowledgeable?

Engaged!

Trying this again! On July 4th, Jeff took me to the beach and surprised me with a diamon ring!