Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Does anyone remember the movie Sixteen Candles when the Donger says "Automobile?" It's seriously had me cracking up for the past few days, especially because I've hit the point of delerium.

I have done so much traveling the past couple of weeks that I don't know:
1) Where I am
2) The actual time (since I've been traveling outside of my time zone)
3) The date

It was really pathetic when NC came to pick me up from Dulles airport and I actually asked him what day it was -- I guessed Saturday when it was really Thursday. Oh dear. I have hit the point of exhaustion where I can't actually sleep but I can't stay awake either. The adrenaline still comes in waves, so eventually I sputter out and can only do low level activities like knitting.

I really can't complain though - I've been doing some really neat stuff, one of which was media training for disaster season. I was briefed on a disaster scenario and had cameras in my face and had to speak intelligently when a reporter grilled me with some pretty difficult questions. The hard part is the play back when the former anchors and top of the line producers critique your work. We were scored during these exercises and I did pretty well, but seeing myself on TV creeps me out.

NC and I went kayaking on the Potomac last Saturday - it was so much fun. We haven't gotten to see much of each other lately with my travel and his 4p - 2a shift, so we squeezed several dates into one day. It started with kayaking to Roosevelt Island to see the monument out there and also take a short hike around. We kayaked back to the main land, ate lunch at Chipotle and then went to Dr. D's pool party. After the pool party, we saw Knocked Up which was hilarious. This was followed by a Washington Nationals baseball game. Late that night, we ate dinner outside at my favorite Thai restaurant (and for SK's knowledge - we had Drunken Noodles, Penang Chicken and Plum Wine). Yum. I'm still not sure how we fit all of that into one day, but we can make most anything happen so it shouldn't surprise me too much.

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I took a train for the first time ever this past week - it is as glamorous as it sounds, much more reliable than a plane and truly a fun way to travel.

You're Next

I used to cringe when I went to an Indian wedding and heard the words "You're Next." This started circa 1999. It does get a little annoying when you're only 19 and people are talking about you getting married and all you want to do is just make it through school. Now that we're engaged nothing comes in the form of question, but more in the form of statement and subtle suggestions with something inane thrown in i.e. "Spring is a nice time to get married, the flowers are blooming." Both question and statement are equally absurd, but it's nice not to have to hear the "you're next"-- and of course, when these words were uttered, I was usually single and those words would just rub it in that my cousin or friend was moving along with their life and leaving me to my singleness. Now, I just feel bad for my younger cousins who are going to start hearing these words soon.

Not the point. Went to Mala's wedding and damn if she didn't look just spectacular. Everything was gorgeous, she was gorgeous, the setup was gorgeous and even A was...well not gorgeous, but handsome. I had a blast hanging out (and sometimes running around) with them before the wedding. I also got the chance to meet many of their friends from college and other Konkanis that I hadn't met before.

What really struck me though is seeing where Mala grew up. I spent most of my days at her parents home in Cali. I could picture a little Mals running around that house with P and playing on the patio. I also got to meet her grandmother (Ammama). It's the little things that end up having so much significace and for me that was the real wedding - when the families got together informally and just had a blast. Of course the Hindu ceremony is nothing to sneeze at - it's full of meaning/symbolism, but in my mind, it was all the interaction between families, extended families and friends who were like family that made it a true marriage.

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Mala and A - Congrats! You guys rock!

Mals - I can't believe P used THAT picture of us in the slideshow. haha!

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Clarification - the questions I refer to in the beginning weren't clear - I never spelled it out - I'm referring to the ones that are in the family of "Why aren't you married yet?" hahaha - I'm sure all of my ladies have heard something along those lines at one point or another.