So much to say, so little time

We just got back from Key West and Cozumel Mexico (4 day Cruise from Miami) and then 2 days at Miami Beach last Sunday. 372 photos and some videos of parasailing but I have been too tired to do anything with them. I promise to have them up by the end of this week.

Today's my first day of in-class class. I am signed up for 3, 2 of which are online. This will be my first in-class class since I graduated from grad school in 2006. I had a mixed experience with my online classes last semester. One worked out very well, the teacher and TA were both awesome and I ended up with an A. Second one, the teacher went missing for 7 weeks and I got a B. No feedback on assignments = no motivation to do assignments, you know? We'll see how this semester goes, especially with 3 classes.

And, I really want my part time job at Bed, Bath and Beyond back. Not just for the discounts. Really, the $5 off $15 coupons they send out are better than the employee discount. The extra money was good too. But, having never worked in retail, I enjoyed the experience. Since it wasn't my full time job, I could take the daily weird happenings and just enjoy them. I also made some really good friends. It's totally different from my day job and a place where my brain was really only working at 50% capacity. Felt good to just do something physical after spending all day sitting at a computer, thinking. (Really, I don't think all day at work but hope you understand).

I also want to keep volunteering with Neighbor Ride. It has been an awesome experience and a humbling one. I complain a lot about our lack of finances and opportunities to do things we'd like to do. But, after you've talked with somebody who has to chose between groceries for the week or seizure medication for their daughter, my situation didn't seem that bad. It also feels really good to be able to do something as small as giving somebody a ride to their church but know that that small action makes a huge difference in their lives.

I also need to get my exercise routine jumping. I was going 2-3 times a week before the Christmas holidays. Then, we were getting ready for the cruise, then we went on the cruise and this week I am sick. Result: haven't gone to the gym in a month. I have lost about 65% of my excess body weight, which has culminated in some loosey goosey skin around the tummy and hips (awesome mental picture, ain't it?). The doctor has talked about going in and fixing that but he doesn't want to do it till I have reached the 70% excess body weight loss since that's the number most people keep off for the rest of their lives. I am still losing weight, but at the rate of 1/2-1 lb a month. If I want to reach my goal, I need to ramp that up to 5 lbs a month. Which means I might need to start running. Like walking very fast, like both feet off the ground at the same time, like sweating and heart rate up and body fat melting (mmm another awesome mental image).

I also would like time with my husband, dog and sister and not go days without seeing or eating a meal with them. Don't really have to explain that one, do I?

Now, if you read all that and are asking yourself if my particular world has more than 24 hours in a day, don't worry. That's the same question I've asked myself. I do thrive when things are hectic and my plate's more than just full. I got the best grades in school when I was taking classes at both a community college and a state university and working at both places too. But, I wasn't married. So much to do, so little time. I wish there were some things I could do while sleeping - showering, eating breakfast, getting ready for work etc. Sleeping, I feel, is a giant waste of time, so if I could at least multi-task while sleeping, it would make things easier. Or, if we could come up with a rejuvenation pod where you cna take a power nap for an hour or so and get out feeling like you had a 6-8 hr sleep, now that would be a worthwhile invention.

Since I can do neither of those, I have to look at everything I WANT to do, figure out what I NEED to do and cut out some things from my schedule. Sucky.

Thankfulness and Resolutions

I know I am a little late for the usual Thanks stuff but the start of a whole new year makes one reflective and I figured why do the usual resolutions that break within the first month anyways?
So, here are a few things I am very thankful for:

1) Jeff: It's been 5 years since I met, 3 years since we got married and 2 years since we ghot married again ;-)। Some days it feels like I have known him forever; other times, I feel like we met so late in life that it's not enough time together. Either way though, I couldn't imagine life with anybody else. He's a calming force in my whirlwind life. Anyone who knows me closely knows that I am at my best when I have multiple things going and maybe even when there's a crisis looming on the horizon. I am sure if that's how I lived my life all the time, I'd crash and burn soon. But, Jeff's always there to slow me down, make me relax and just enjoy life.

2) Suheir: My sister moved in with us earlier this year and I wasn't sure how that would work out। I felt a little trepidation; understandable since we hadn't lived together in 11 years. We've had our tiffs, she's the younger one so she reserves the right to be a pain in the butt and I reserve the right as older sister to be the know it all :-). However, it's been really good to have her here. She's known me the longest next to my parents, she's heard all my secrets and she's still my biggest supporter. I couldn't ask for a better younger sister.

3) My parents: All I have to say is they seem to have forgotten anything I did to make them tear their hair out in my younger days। They will always be in my corner, applauding my successes and sharing in my losses. I love and miss my parents.

4) My in-laws: What a word "in-law" is. I don't know how it is in other cultures by Bollywood has perpetuated this image of an in-law that makes us cringe at that word. I am very happy to say that my in-laws are nowheer near those images। I got lucky in that area. I have the most loving and caring in-laws: parents who care about us and have even taken my sister under their wings. I have also gained 2 sisters who share embarrassing stories about Jeff from his childhood. And their husbands couldn't be nicer. So, all in all, I might have picked the best in-laws in the whole entire world.

5) Friends: I have moved around so much I am surprised I have any friends. But, it says something about their tenacity that they've stuck with me through all my adventures and misadventures. I thank all of you for being my pillars and my crying shoulders. I thank you for coming over sick in the rain to help put lights up. I thank you for letting me call you in the middle of the night and complain about anything. I thank you for spending hours in the aisles of DSW helping me find the perfect shoe। I thank you for going to Indian restaurants when you don't even like the food.

6) Co-workers: For my first job, I sure did get lucky। I have a boss who's also a friend. Our puppies are in love with each other. I have coworkers I can tolerate on weekends too.

7) Smokey: How could I forget him? I never thought an animal could invoke the feelings of love that Smokey does. And the love he gives back; it's unconditional and completely trusting. He is the bestest puppy in the whole entire world (as we tell him again and again).

My 1 resolution for the new year would apply to everyone named above: try and be more patient. I am impatient with a hair trigger temper. It does come down as fast as it goes up. But, i resolve to work on being a little more patient with all the people who matter and to stop and smell the roses (cliche but true) every now and then.

With that, I wish you all a happy ending to 2008 and a wonderful beginning to 2009।

सब को २००९ की शुभ कामनाएं!

New Green Card

Got my renewed Green Card. Now, I am legal here for the next 10 years, yay!

Also, big difference in photo:

Holiday Festivities

Even though we've alternately been sick in our household, with me almost well and Suheir on her last leg of sickness (Jeff started it all), we've managed to have some fun in the past few weeks.



We got a tree and decorated it. This was Suheir's first Christmas tree decoration at her house (we both went to a Catholic school and would decorate trees at school every year). She got a couple ornaments, one that says "SISTER" and one that is a doctor and has her name on it. Jeff got a Starbucks cup ornament with his favorite beverage on it. Even Smokey got in on the action :-).



Then, Jeff and I got to go to the Lockheed annual holiday dinner and dance. We enjoyed that so much, we danced for close to 3 hours, including to some awesome bhangra music the DJ played. In the 3 years I have gone to this event, this year, I felt the best about myself and in turn, enjoyed myself so much more. And, that was with only one drink the whole night.



Last but not the least, we went to what's becoming an annual tradition at my boss and friend, Kathi's house. She hosts a holiday dinner and gift exchange/steal, where we each bring a gift and then pull numbers to see who goes first. The second person onwards has two choices - pick up a wrapped gift or steal somebody's already unwrapped one. Just like last year, the booze and chocolates were much fought over. Jeff came away with a Magic 8-ball and Suheir stole a Starbucks gift card from Kathi (which I somehow imagine will land in Jeff's stocking). We also surprised Kathi with a candle on a cookie cake, since it was her birthday 2 days later.





As you can see in the pictures, I did not go with the jeans and t-shirt look. I wore a sari. Yay! There's still a slight belly bulge but I felt comfortable enough to wear one and that says a lot about how I feel about myself on a whole. I haven't talked about it much but since the surgery, I've now lost 90 some pounds. I still have 30 to go but having lost what I have, I have so much more energy and pep that I surprise myself. I have loads more self esteem than the same time last year. I think that makes for a better relationship with my family, friends and even coworkers.

My first Thanksgiving dinner

Jeff's mom and dad visited for a few days the weekend before Thanksgiving. Jeff doesn't get time off around the actual holidays so it was nice they came the weekend before. We did a pre-Thanksgiving dinner with them. We roasted a chicken, had crab stuffed mushrooms for appetizers, enjoyed some nice wine, a good football game and wonderful company. Even Smokey ate well that night.

Just an example of how well we dined: