What's Love Got to Do With It?

Sorry to not put up meaningful posts lately. I read Arches' stuff and then feel likeI have nothing to contribute or good to say to the e-world.

I've been in a contemplative mood lately - thinking about a lot of things, more specifically what's really important. I think wedding planning has brought that out in me. There are a billion options for what you can have accompanied by a billion prices. Truly, it doesn't matter. Having a psychotic Bollywood wedding doesn't matter. All that matters is that at the end of that wonderful day, NC and I are husband and wife and that we have our closest family and friends there to witness it.

Which brings me to the topic of friends. There are some friendships that I've had in the past year or so that have fizzled. I guess there's an ebb and flow to everything, but I've never been an ebb and flow kind of gal. I like to be just a flow person. I hate it when people say "it is what it is" but I guess for all intensive purposes, it's true.

To snap myself out of whatever that was all about, I made a list of 10 things that make me happy.

1) I knitted a baby blanket (my first!) and it's gone to one of the most precious little girls I have ever seen.
2) I got a nice dose of the South this past weekend. And I got to see the parents and grandparents.
3) Mom is doing quite well and has more endurance than me. I'm happy for her, but not so much for myself. Makes me look bad.
4) Two people other than my biological parents consider me to be their daughter. (already!)
5) I'm going to Richmond to see Jay graduate with his MASTERS in Advertising Design! I'm a proud big sister!
6) Mala gets married in T minus 10 days. I couldn't be happier for her.
7) I got to see my cousin Bryan's band (Collider) play last night - they effing rocked!
8) It's been one year since Aunt Carol passed, but the beautiful memories I have of her and the tenacity she had with regards to setting me up with a good Konkani boy still make me smile. I think she'd be proud of my decision.
9) I like the fact that our schedule is packed, and I have yet to coordinate our Boston and Detroit trips.
10) When I was taking my contacts out, I randomly started singing "What's Love Got to Do With It" (because I always have a song in my head) and NC joined in with his vocal stylings. It was so freaking funny.

Pure Sugar

There's really nothing like it.

This is me operating the cotton candy machine at an employee event.

Ground on Down

Still up on cloud 9, however, also trying to keep both feet on the ground.

I hung out with Anuzi and Mr. Bhat the other night - they took me out for a celebratory dinner (thanks, guys!). Unfortunately, NC got the 4p to 2a shift this week, so he couldn't join in. No worries, I ate enough for the both of us. Anyway, I got a lot of great advice from them about wedding planning. Lord knows I'll be picking their brains a lot over the next year or so. I also got to talk to Mals, who is at the home stretch - only a few days until her nuptuals.

This weekend we'll be going to my hometown to look at four venues and also have our engagement photos taken. There's also a side trip planned to go see Ajja and Mamama! It's going to be busy, but I know NC and I will have loads of fun.

There are a gazillion questions swirling around in my head about everything, so as a great distraction, I was tagged by Arches to list seven things that people don't know about the mkp.

1) When I get writer's block, I have to step away from the computer, sit with a legal pad and write it all out by hand. I did many of my papers in college this way. Even with pieces that I write for work, I'll take this approach.
2) I. must. sleep. with. socks. on. If I don't, then I have nightmares.
3) Speaking of sleep, if I'm almost entering sandman's world and I feel like I haven't locked the door, I have to get up and check it. Sadly enough, 10 times out of 10, it's locked. You would think that I would have learned my lesson by now.
4) This is going to be the same as Arches number 6 - I can't stand it when people touch my feet. NO TOUCHY! Pedicures (all 2 of them that I've had) absolutely kill me. My heart starts racing and I get all squirmy in the chair.
5) My brain never shuts off. There's not a time that I'm not thinking about something. And a majority of the time, there's background music, too. Occasionally, it sounds like narration of what I'm actually doing (sometimes it's in Konkani).
6) If I'm running a race, or if I'm just running for kicks and giggles, when I get to the last part of my run, I sprint like crazy.
7) I was a big kid (ages 10-12) - like round big. Big, big. Cute, but big.

I'd want to tag Priya for this. Work it for me, mama.

2-7!!!!

What a great birthday! And what a great year.

Thanks to those who called/e-mailed! I appreciate your b-day wishes.

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"Where ever you go, there you are." A shout-out to my parents for their advice and wisdom for the past 27 years.