Travel to “CHI” Town!

Chicago the windy city is named so for a verrry good reason. The day I landed, it was (weather) forecasted that the temperature would be in the early 60s (F) with a 30% chance of precipitation. In Lubbock, a 30% chance of precipitation translates to a “dry” day.....so there I am sure that it was going to be a bright sunny day! Instead I am greeted with gusty winds and lots of dark clouds... that brought a big smile to my face (I am a rain loving person). Regrettably my cheery mood lasted only till the end of the conference (I was in town for the WEFTEC thing). The silly rains did not stop as the weather person had predicted but continued to do so for the rest of the evening. The soggy evening ruined my plans of riding the wendella boats... something that I had been craving to do ever since I had googled ‘places to visit in Chicago’!

So all sad and dejected.... but determined to atleast see the boats... I programmed the GPS to take me there. Unfortunately the stunning Chicago sky line prevents the GPS from receiving any signals in the downtown area and consequently I got hopelessly lost in the underground maze of tiny streets। In utter frustration I took the first way out only to end up at Navy Pier (the big smile returns)! Happy once again... I decide to park and stroll a little... but it was soooooooo windy and chilly that I was forced to return!

Now completely out of patience I decided to just drive around near downtown and admire the architecture.... its spectaculer even to a layman with no architectural background. To my architect friends....it’s a remarkable feast for your eyes. The buildings are a medley of classic historical and modern architecture... very stylish!

Michigan Avenue is a must visit for all on the Chicago tour. I stumbled onto M.Avenue by quiet an accident. After multiple failed attempts of finding the wendella boats, I drove to downtown and parked at the nearest parking center.

<<Michigan Avenue

After bundling up,I was strolling around aimlessly in search of a bistro that had caught my fancy minutes earlier, when I discovered M.Avenue by sheer dumb luck!

Indeed........Michigan Avenue = Magnificent Mile!

It was spectacular, with all the top of the line stores and offices calling it home; the avenue was dazzling and full of life। I crossed the Michigan river to see the empty wendella boats bobbing up and down near its edge! YEAA... mission partly accomplished! I also saw Chicago’s “river walk” area all dark, damp and deserted; little scary actually!

I passed the royal Chicago Tribune building and a local radio station (very chic) just around the corner. Finally I saw a bakery and sandwich place which made the most amazing sandwiches....(had the ambience of a French café)....really wish could remember the name...this would definitely be at the top of my list of my recommendations of “things to do in Chicago”! After another quick walk and a heated debate on “is this Sears Tower or not”.... I unwillingly decided to call it a night. If I wasn’t alone, I would definitely have roamed the streets longer...sigh!

>>> Sears Tower in the background

Much later when I was seeing the pictures I had shot, I realized that I had seen Sears tower when I first parked my car... and here is the picture... dummy me!

Drive to Holiday Inn which was a good 30 minutes away was dull in the absence of the grandeur of M.Avenue! The hotel was comfortable and pretty nice. After a hurried dinner I watched W.A.L.L.E.! Had been waiting so long to see it, that my expectations had rocketed upwards... that kinda made the movie mundane... a robot with feelings; a lonely robot in love.. not the most original script I think! I also watched Namesake...Tabu was brilliant as ever... and PLEASE .... I DO NOT LOOK like her! GRR.... to whoever, who had said that!

The next day was bright and sunny contrary to my expectations of another soggy day. I had decided to sleep in late and laze around! But after seeing how sunny it was I practically ran all the way to breakfast and back and was all packed and set to go site seeing! I visited the “Millennium Park” and “Navy Peir that day”. Millenium park was nice... not very impressive... apart from the fact that it was on Michigan Avenue! I absolutely loved the Crown fountain with its face। There was this apartment on the other side of Michigan Avenue which I think I loved more than the park I believe! If there was this wish I could have granted.... it would be to stay in those condominiums!

>>>Crown Fountain at Millennium Park

>>>On my wish list!

<<Cloud Gate

The cloud gate is an ultra modern sculpture by some Indian architect. There might be some significance to it... but honestly it was vague and to me... all it does is shows you a distorted version of you...that too from 360 degrees ! I did not have to travel 2000 miles to see this! But it was on the way to the crown fountain and I did click a few pics... so herez a glimpse of what I think is the over-rated thing in Chicago!

After a lot of debating on “would I miss my 2:15 flight” if I run to the Navy Pier..... I beat my opposing "practical self" down and hurried back to the car. Following the GPS’s lead I reached Navy Pier with its bright red giant wheel (or as J puts it “laal laal” in his whimsical accent).

The Giant Wheel at Navy Pier!

The lakefront was dotted with white sailboats with little ripples lapping away at their edges...so picturesque। Wish wasn’t driving and could capture that scene on film which is now only stored in my memory

Navy pier was like a fair at a sea shore.... wonderfully colorful and bustling with activity. I got my caricature drawn there... which sadly doesn’t not even remotely resemble me...waste of $10!

Bought a bunch of postcards and souvenirs and rushed back to the car for my return trip to good old Lubbock। That’s the most I could sight see in a day’s visit to Chi town... really hope to return again this time with J to make the trip even more fun!

PS: I owe my trip to Anuja and Paru for helping me plan everything... they were my tour guides!

The trip was successful solely due to them! Kudos to Anuja for taking time to help me plan inspite her bad schedule! Also... I stole some of Chicago’s “pet names” from her!

Thanks a million dears.

Friendship!! मेरे सरे सहलियों के naam

Good Friends in life are like parachutes that make your sky jump a truly memorable experience. Friendship is an extra special relation because good friends transform themselves into the relation that is missing in your life... they take a role of your mum and nurse you when you are sick, a role of your sister and let you pour your heart out without any judgment....they are your family away from home. Staying with friends strikes a perfect balance between being independent and having your safety net at the same time.

Years ago there was another forward about “GIRLFRIENDS” and the special role they play in a woman’s life.

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

"Don't forget your girlfriends," she advised, swirling the tealeaves to the bottom of her glass. "They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you'll have, you are still going to need girlfriends. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. And remember that "girlfriends" are not only your friends, but your sisters, your daughters, and other relatives too.

You'll need other women. Women always do.

What a funny piece of advice,' the young woman thought. 'Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake, a grownup, not a young girl who needs girlfriends! Surely my husband and the family we'll start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother; she kept contact with her girlfriends and made more each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, girlfriends are the mainstays of her life. After 50 years of living in this world, here is what I know about girlfriends:

Ø Girlfriends bring you chicken curry and scrub your bathroom when you need help.

Ø Girlfriends keep your children and keep your secrets.

Ø Girlfriends give advice when you ask for it. Sometimes you take it, sometimes you don't.

Ø Girlfriends don't always tell you that you're right, but they're usually honest.

Ø Girlfriends still love you, even when they don't agree with your choices.

Ø Girlfriends laugh with you, and you don't need canned jokes to start the laughter.

Ø Girlfriends pull you out of jams.

Ø Girlfriends help you get out of bad relationships.

Ø Girlfriends help you look for a new apartment, help you pack, and help you move.

Ø Girlfriends will give a party for your son or daughter when they get married or have a baby, in whichever order that comes!

Ø Girlfriends are there for you, in an instant and when the hard times come.

Ø Girlfriends listen when you lose a job or a friend.

Ø Girlfriends listen when your children break your heart.

Ø Girlfriends listen when your parents' minds and bodies fail.

Ø Girlfriends support you when the men in your life let you down.

Ø Girlfriends help you pick up the pieces when men pack up and go.

Ø Girlfriends rejoice at what makes you happy, and are ready to go out and kill what makes you unhappy.

• Times passes.

• Life happens.

• Distance separates.

• Children grow up.

• Love waxes and wanes.

• Hearts break.

• Careers end.

• Jobs come and go.

• Parents die.

• Colleagues forget favors.

• Men don't call when they say they will.

BUT girlfriends are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

Memoirs of (my) childhood!

Being the only child.... I was indeed a spoilt brat in many regards. I was given the first priority and everyone doted on me! Some incidents are very special to me for reasons unknown and they form my most coveted memories. Here are the top 3!

1. Age 3-4: Excursions with mum to the temple and garden.

I remember (mostly cause my mum brags about how much she did for me as a child in an attempt to blackmail me to do something I don’t want to!) going to this temple with mum...its a tiny place in the middle of a ‘basti’ literally and I used to love it... somehow I felt very much at peace there.

Another memory is playing at the Johnson and Johnson garden in Mulund W... and please it was not as shabby as it is now.. it was really lovely and was rather far away from my home... so visits to this garden were not so common a trip. I was little older here...may be 6 or 7... and I adored it... because it was huge with a big lawn and comparatively smaller play area... I even remember wondering why anyone would build a smaller play area and waste space on lawn instead! (giggles!)

2. Age3: Lunch with ajji.

After the morning nursery session I was brought home to my nani’s (maternal grandmum) place for lunch. And believe it or not feeding time was the hardest... and a challenge then literally (so I hear now!). But nani used to serve me lunch and fed me too... I remember the way she used to arrange everything... which kind of tricked me into eating!

When I was little older... she used to narrate a story about her, ajjoba (grandpa) and me. The three of us ran a restaurant “SUPUSHRI” wherein

SU= sumati (my nani), PU=POO= Poorva; SHRI = Shrikrishna (my nana)!

The aim of the restaurant was to earn enough money to buy a brand new red maruti (very popular then)! The story was all about how my nani cooked and the food serving arrangements. Will never forget those days! Sometimes even today we discuss those recipes. BTW: my nani is the bestest cook ever.

3. Age 5-7: Trips with papa to sarvajanik Ganapatis during Ganesh chaturthi.

I was super doooooper excited because I was out late with papa. We had a two-wheeler then and I used to sit on top of the petrol tank and ride to the Ganesh celebrations. The roads were all lit and crowded with people. Peddlers selling cheap toys, whistles, balloons and many other colorful stuff littered the street. It was amazing and I think I had more fun then, than on any other trip. Sigh.... REWIND PLEASE.

Lady-Like!

Often as a little girl... I was reprimanded for being “unlady-like”! Whenever I heard the term “lady-like”....a “lady finger” {aka Okra/bhindi} would form in my brain and the whole thing would made me laugh.

My grandma and mum tried hard to change the tomboyish streak in me and I always wondered what the big deal about it was. Why was it necessary to act a certain way...sit, walk and talk a certain way. No swearing, no bad-mouthing! Unfortunately I have this rebellious trait in me which made me act the opposite of what was being ‘preached’ to me!

However, over the years... I kind of mellowed down and gradually learned how to be ‘lady-like’! I did change my thought and action processes which kind of make life easier and prettier for me!

I learned to forgive and let go... learnt to hold my tongue and bite back strong repartees {not always though}, learnt to wish the best for my competitors... learnt to think of the bigger picture and compromise.. learnt to stay away from gossip {again... not always!}, learnt to understand the other person’s point of view and not sulk when I do not get my way {I resort to pouting instead!}.

Over all... I think being “lady-like” is hard in the beginning ... but real fun once you learn the ropes... because there is always room for recuperation! All in all it’s about being an adult which you do... once you grow up!

Child's Definition of Love.

This was a forwarded email. Worth spending sometime on!

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds,
"What does love mean?"
The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
See what you think:


"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca - age 8

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy - age 6

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen," Bobby - age 7

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6

"There are two kinds of love. Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds of them." Jenny - age 8

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore," Cindy - age 8

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine -age 5

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." Karen - age 7

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." Mark - age 6

Yeh hain America mere jaan!

Staying in a foreign country has its effects on the thoughts of an average Indian mind. Unknowingly they compare things in the US (Still a Foreign country for me) to things back home (Bombay). It starts with prices… and all of a sudden your mental mathematics expertise shoots up as you keep converting every dollar to rupee, regardless of the the buying power of a dollar. Economics governs everybody’s world unless ofcourse…u were born with a bunch of platinum spoons in your mouth! Hence money comparisons cross every NRI’s mind!

The next BIG comparison is ‘lifestyle’! Life in India is full and practically overflowing with people. The huge population kinda takes the personal space concept out of one’s life…and after living like that for 23 years….having a little too much of space….scares me! At first it’s great….you have the supreme authority and are answerable to no one…but as the initial novelty wears off… one (specifically me) craves for the familiar intrusions and unsolicited advices forced upon you by “well-wishers”. Honestly…lack of these so called well wishers has taken the element of gossip out of my life!

Another thing I compare with the American way is potential vacuum in place of rituals and prayers! Total lack of festivals…except for Christmas which too is a “holiday”! Festivals were a time when all family members and friends came together and gossiped and yelled and cheered together. The excitement is missing and I really, truly miss that!

I miss the seasonal monsoons….. don’t get me wrong. I love the fact that it can rain any part of the year here in the US…however there is no gurantee….atleast this way in Bombay you know if its June-Sept. it will rain! Miss the trips to Khandala to watch the fountains, the fog almost among us! The garam batata wadas…the hot cappa chais! Miss the local trains (thought have a sneaking suspicion that the only reason I miss them is..that I never travelled in rush hours!!) Miss my school days…where there wasn’t a worry in the world…miss the college days full of outings with J! Miss late night movies and visit to aunts place with mum n dad! Miss being ** kgs!! :D

All in all Bombay is where my heart is…and sincerely hope that I return someday to stay there….forever!

Fairy Tales and Magic!

I am a firm believer in fairy tales….Atleast I like to think that I am!

I strongly believe in Cinderella and her prince [guess thats y I love shoes!!! ;) ] I believe in magic and the flying broomstick… n then when I do see a reflection of that reality somewhere in real life….in some tiny part … my heart soars….high above and I suddenly I am flying among the stars!

This illogical belief is what keeps me going….what keeps me strong…may b its faith..may be its hope! I will truly never know…but one thing that i know is….when something happens to prove my belief….my faith…my unrealistic fairy tales….I am filled with pure unadulterated joy ! n….if it means feeling like the world is going to end the rest of the times when the fairy tales do not happen….I am willing to struggle through tough times, just to wait for the ‘happily ever after’ part to come and carry me half the way across the galaxy!