and its done!

Cant believe how fast time flies!

I have already come to the end of my B.Ed.... keep thinking this is a dream, and I'm going to wake up and it will be time to go for the inauguration ceremony...

As I sit in my sari, waiting to leave, this past year has been filled up highs and lows, laughter and tears and everything else which comes as a side order with LIFE!

Today is the Valedictory ceremony, we dint take part in the official college convocation ceremony because our semester started later. So next year May if I'm still in Bangalore, I will do the walk, with the whole gown hat etc.

But for now this is my graduation!!!! I know I still have my exams left, but this a big deal! I did it!

Survived!!!!

Christ University is interesting to say the least. It was hard to get back to the whole being a student thing and especially in a place which is such a stickler for rules and regulations..

Looking back at my blog, I realize I never really did a post on college life etc.

Well here goes :)

Being a student was fun again, but honestly I like being on the other side of the table. And now my degree allows me to do that! Can you say Teacher aunty?

I took part in my fair share of events in college - Mono Act, Dumb Charades (yes I am the drama diva)

I became the official designer for the department, worked on the newsletters, brochures, posters etc for the School of Education.

Thanks to all my experience in Kodai and BY's amazing design skills I did learn some thing...

We went on trips, we attended classes, we bunked classes, we submitted assignments (late but never the less), went to the library, googled every thing!

Made friends with people I never expected to do!

All in all, apart from what I was taught in class I learnt a lot...

learnt how to use the Indian loo! (seriously major accomplishment!)

learnt how to wear a sari (properly and now can say I can put on a sari in 8 minutes!)

felt domesticated at times - making my lunch, packing it, watering the plants all in a sari...

felt like crap at times

Frustrated at times...

But overall I'm happy its done!

Dee, Pinks, WC and N came for the function! Surrounded my friends and family I am happy.

While every one else brought one or two guests I came with my whole posse and as one of the teachers very politely put it "They are quite the lively bunch aren't they?"

From taking a million pictures to hooting every time my picture came up on the screen, it was a fun day..

After which we went to our favourite watering hole, High Note for a lovely lunch.

The party continued on at WC's place in the evening, going into the early hours of the morning (as usual :))

I finally came home today 5 days later, after hours of WII and cooking for the boys, the past week has been a blast..

Toodles from the graduate

Happy Tuesday

Celebratory lunch at High Note

Bring on the drinks :)

Lookie here, I won some thing :)

Student teachers of Mary Immaculate School

Teaching aids, a teachers best friend!

and what a weekend it was...

Ah Monday nights, enjoying some down time, with Chinese food, chilled beer at home... this weekend has been packed to say the least!

Friday night, I was official baby sitter for Akku and we had quite the blast. Watched a movie, made Dee's birthday cake and chilled :) I got done with that at 11 and headed to WC's house for what I thought was a quiet evening of poker with the

guys... Walked in the house to find 25 people there and the party in full swing.

Lots of laughter, poker and drinks later, the party finally ended at 9am. Breakfast, movies and

some Xbox later, finally managed to get some sleep at 3pm... only to be woken up at 5 for the next party.

And while I slept the boys played cricket on the xbox... will the fascination for cricket never stop. From playing on the roads, to the comfort of thy home. Technology never ceases to amaze me.

Saturday was Dee's birthday and we had the first official Above The Knee's Party at our place. The party was destined to be great, because I found two day

s earlier I had won a radio competition (yes I do take part in them a lot!)

And what did I win, the alcohol being sponsored for the party!

I do love Radio Indigo... so we were all set for the party...

It was a blast, expected! And around 10pm, in walked in Kenny Jones and SriRam with our goodies...drum roll please...

3 bottles of whiskey

3 bottles of rum

3 bottles of vodka

1 crate beer

1 crate energy drinks

2 hard rock tshirts

2 CD's

and other indigo goodies!!!

Now we were set to Partaaay!!!

Had a blast with the radio indigo RJ's and after a whole lot of drinks, jokes and laughter it was time to bring in the Birthday girls birthday!

The party finally wound up at 3am and I headed back to Ian's with the gang...

Finally some sleep at 5am, after making Maggie and peanut butter sandwiches for all LOL

Sunday was relaxed, waking up at 2 and then spending the rest of the day in bed watching random stuff on TV... just what the doctor ordered.

And the week begins again, my last week in Christ Univers

ity. Graduation is on Friday! WOHOO

Off to bed now at a reasonable hour for once!

And here some pictures from the Winner of the first Radio Indigo Party Patrol :):)

My pretty flat mates!

SriRam, Shreya, Stanley and Kenny

With the boys :)

With the girls!

The gang with the goodies

and the finishing line is in sight...

35 days left and it marks my one year of living in Bangalore..

With the highs and the lows the city has put me through, almost a year later as I stretch out in the comfort of my humble abode (yes my house still makes me smile!) I say,

I am settled

.

I am happy

.

But enough of my contemplative nonsense, this past month has been super busy and one wonders where time has flown...

I am almost to the end of my B.Ed degree..cant believe its almost over... the major hurdles have been crossed and now the finishing line is well in sight.

My student teaching is over, and boy did it go quick. For an entire year we were bombarded by the teachers in our college, telling us how tough it would be, the sleepless nights, the hard work and the stress we would be dealing with.

But honestly it was not as hard as they said it would be...

I was teaching in Mary Immaculate School - Wilson Garden. An all girls school and your truly was teaching 9th grade girls - English and History..

My first day of class, boy was I nervous.. but as soon as I entered the classroom all the nervousness disappeared and I fed off the girls responsiveness!

Smart bunch of kids, with loads of questions and always keeping me on my toes!

I got great feedback from my teachers, teachers from the school and my fellow classmates! I was happy, excited and satisfied with what I was doing!

I think the biggest boost to my ego was that teachers from the school were asked to sit in my class since my classes were so interactive! Modern ages is not an easy topic to teach... I always hated history in school, so my form of teaching was to do the opposite of how I was taught :)

Worked well enough I say :)

Even the principal was observing me on the CTV cameras (creepy but got good feedback!)

As you can see I am still feeding off the high from my student teaching...

Oh and also the whole I have to wear a sari every day... which was totally freaking me out... easy peasy... am now proud to say I can put on a sari, in exactly 7 minutes wohoo!

In other aspects of life... seaman went and had an accident, he is now nursing a broken elbow... layla is gone but she saved his life!

He's in Bangalore, home bound and getting a bit cagey now days, understandably!

Its been movies movies and movies for him... along with games of poker... he aims to win enough to buy a new car, and with my luck in the cards looks like its all from me !!! :)

My past couple of weekends have been spent at WC's house watching 2 and half men and chilling... My weekend house to get away from the city !

I know have a week off before my practical exam, theory exam and valedictory day... 36 days and I am done!!!

Looking for a job, fingers crossed that everything falls into place...

Well thats all from me for now, how do you like the new blog look?

*Listening to Smile by Uncle Kracker

And its 2:30 am

The title says it all, 2:30 am on a Wednesday morning, and I cant sleep!!!!

Tried watching twilight, but my fan is too loud for me to hear what's going on... So what to do... blog of course!

One week since class got done, my how time has flown...

Today also marks the one year anniversary of CNSVC... like I said before how time has flown...

The week has been good, relaxed... hanging out with some good friends always makes life much nicer!

Hung out with Happy couple 1 & 2 this past week... D was my date for the weekend! Like always we had fun :D

Wore on a dress on saturday! Gasp I know... There is a girl under this creature called shreez!

Here's a picture to prove it happened...

Watched Iron Man 2 - good movie, not as great as the first, but Robert Downing Jr. - is FINE!!!

Also watched Badmaash Company - a semi decent movie, and even portrays Michael Jackson LOL

Happy Couple 1 and 2 are coming to Kodai this weekend. We all travelling up on Thursday night and they will be there till Sunday night. I will be staying on till graduation.

My kids graduate... yay!

Looking forward to the trip... should be fun :)

My new happy songs:

Say Hey (I love you)

Smile

Wavin the flag

Well thats all the randomness from me for now...

Happy Wednesday... its all down hill from here...

Hope your weekend is as exciting as mine will be...

Toodles

My favourite people

Ala-bama has arrived! And the past 48 hours have been so much fun! From talking all night long, to getting massages and then getting ready for going out! I missed this girl so much!

You know there are some people you can be completely your self with. And no matter how crazy / weird you act they stand next to you and be the exact same way:)

Those are true friends.

Its been wonderful just hanging with these special people, they always know how to bring a smile to my face.

Yes this post is blatantly advertising how absolutely, fantastic, super awesomely my friends are!

Thank you guys for being there for me through thick and thin!

Went out to blue bar with Seaman, The happy couple and Ala-bama last night. Wonderful evening with great friends.

Blue bar is quite nice, and citrus vodka with cranberry juice is yummy. Us girls bonded, like girls usually do and a girls night has been planned for the coming week! Yay!

So I sign off happy and content (even with my exams starting monday!)

and the hostess is back :D

You know how much I love hosting parties and my house. I love cooking and taking care of people and in general being the little hostess. Sometimes I think I should have been born in the 1950's :D

Yesterday had Seaman, the happy couple, and small over for dinner. I was so happy to be bustling around in my kitchen listening to music while I cook away.

The house was spotless and I was exhausted :)

It was so nice to have S around. He approved of the house (phew) - gotta love younger-older brothers.

This is the first time I have officially cooked in Bangalore, I mean I have cooked in Ian's place quite a few times, but this was my house done my way.

Oh yeah the menu:

Devilled Eggs

Penne and Chicken

Garlic Bread

Fresh Mangos and Ice Cream

YUM!

It was a quiet evening, some music, great conversation and lovely company.

Shreez is a happy girl...

No photo's since S insisted I did not take out the camera (I only listen to him!)

PS - Ala-bama arrives in 10 hours wohoo:D

Give it to me, one time..

Ever had a song which makes you happy every time you hear it!

Well my happy song for the moment is 54-46 was my number by Toots and The Maytals, heard it at Beady house and fell in love with the song.

So for the past few days, the song is on repeat on full volume!

*twirls around happily*

So my loyal readers what's your happy song - comment and share some music with us all!

My site meter says I have readers from all around the world: California, Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Ontario, Senegal, Slovakia, Istanbul, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, Bombay, Gujarat, Delhi, Bangalore, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Japan and Australia.

Pretty extensive I say!

So comments are more than welcome, what are you listening to today!

Life in Bangalore is going good, talking to goldfish today I mentioned how suddenly it hits me that I have grown up. Yeah I know what your thinking, at 25 I should not be having these thoughts.

But as a kid, I remember watching my cousins and brothers living the life of 20 something year olds and being like I cant wait to be that old.

Now I think I have done a post very similar to this, when I was living in Kodai.. But living in a city relates much better to my childhood memories.

Last weekend, Angel and I were at home, and after dinner and some bonding we decided to dance. Cue chick flick moment. Music on full blast while these two delhi'ites 'just letting go' to quote my ding relations.

Talking about ding's - well Anglo Indians are known as dings - and I am proud to be one child :) With coconut rice and bobo curry and jiving! Whats not too like :D

Shout out to all the ding-dongs out there!

Now I am just rambling, because instead of studying I am procrastinating and blogging instead!

So shall sign off now.

Two days left for ala-bama to arrive!

Signing off now, go listen to your happy song and have a happy Tuesday !

I heart Bangalore

So when I first shifted to Blore I hated it, well hate is a pretty strong word, I guess I just found it hard to adjust after Kodai. Dint have too many friends, my house was not a home and all in all I just felt out of place.

But 236 days later - I have to admit I love Bangalore.

I have friends and am constantly make new ones. I love meeting new people, new ideas, thoughts, views and just in general hanging with different people.

I am also fortunate to have great room mates as well. Another 'delhi-ite'! Isnt it weird that I have met nicer delhites in blore than I have in Delhi!!!

But what I love about Blore in the culture... even tho things close by 11:30 here, there is still so much to do! Good music, great places to go dancing, decent food (nothing compared to delhi, but cant complain :))

Today was beady's birthday - she has this wonderful 1BHK, well set up. Met loads of her friends, lots of drinking (the rum punch was potent!), lots of dancing (so nice to jive!!!) and a whole lot of laughter!

Came home and made dinner - while laughing hysterically and managed to cut my thumb and drop red chilly powder over it! Yeah I am THAT clumsy!

But all in all - a great day!

Ciao for now

Shreez

Pictures speak a 1000 words - my trip to Kodai

Coming back home.

Am back in Kodai and it is absolutely fantastic. I knew I missed the place and the people, but man did I really miss them. I arrived here on Thursday morning and was in Hoops house bouncing off the walls!!
I MISSED HER!
We went for lunch to ES and came back to main campus, while walking up from the KMU, I hear my name being scream, and the quintet come running up. I cried.
I missed 'my kids'
The hugs
The screams
The more hugs.
deep sigh, I am back home.

I have been here for a week now. Its weird being in Kodai and not having a job or my own place. But I spend the day with Hoops and M. We work out in the morning, then chill the rest of the day watching movies, chatting, facebooking lol, beauty treatments..rem avacado and oil :)

Seaman arrived yesterday. So happy to have him back. We went to the Carlton for a drink. so many memories.
Then him, Layla, M and I went to ferry point. Again so many memories. No I did not cry, tho I did mist up. Yeah yeah I am a wailer, get used to it :)

I have a few more days left making the most of it. Kinda sucky being on house arrest (long story) I miss the kids so much, but next trip up I guess.
Well thats all from me.
For all the people I have shared good times with in Kodai, where ever you are in the world, I miss you.
xoxo

Just popping in to say hello

Yeah I know, I last did a post 2 months ago. Shame on me.
So whats going on in the life of Shreez. A lot and very little at the same time. My time in Kodai has finally come to an end. Its weird knowing that I wont be there for opening assembly or getting ready for the staff welcome back dinner. But like all good things, this too needed to come to an end.
The last month and half was crazy.
New friendships were formed.
Old ones further developed.
And now I look back the bond which has formed, in every part of the world, someone awaits.. my friends.
I am back in Delhi now. Its weird, after being constantly around people to now becoming pretty much a recluse. Not that I mind it. But it sucks being unable to talk to CNSVC anytime I want. So its online chats at different times of the day (and night) to cover all the time differences.
Life in Delhi is pretty chilled out. Stay up late, wake up even later. Read. Eat. Chat. The usual schedule of the unemployed.
Well I have a month to enjoy it. And then my next adventure begins.
I am off to Bangalore in August, to start the student life again. I am getting my teaching degree from Christ College. So now am in the midst of finding a place to stay.
If anyone has any ideas - please email me :) and too all my friends in Bangalore I hope to see you soon.
Been hanging out a lot with Blondie. Best friends, you gotta love them! Movies, Pedicures, Nights out... the city life is good :)
Nothing more to say really. Just thought I'd pop in and say hello.

Listening to ~ Stu's song (from the movie the hangover)
Loving ~ skype and its video option. So kicked to talk to Wiggles, Kiwi and Mendhi Girl

xoxo
S

and they say women cant keep their mouths shut

Enter - Wiggles and Dreads.
Well it is my fault for telling them about my love life.
The tale is now regaled at gatherings and facebook.
Lovely :)
.
.
.
.
But you gotta love them!
I love my friends...

Of course New Zealand has electricity, I saw it on the world map… at night!

So the past two weeks have been fun! Hanging out with friends and enjoying the last few days we have together. It always happens .. get to know people really well at the end of semester and wishing we were this close at the beginning of semester.

We have been planning to make pizza since Friday. We were going to do it at Benderloch. So we arrive there at 6 ready to make some pizza. In walks SuperMario – our chef and goes so where are the ingredients?
Me: Uuumm dint you guys go buy them this afternoon?
SM: Yeah they are at Mehendi’s house.
Me: Dang!
SM: Ok, so we will just walk down and get it.
Me: What about the vegetables?
SM: Oh wiggles is getting it
Cue entrance – wiggles
SM: where are the veggies
W: what veggies?
Oh shit!
So there goes the plan of making pizza. We stick to tibbs instead.

Sunday after Frisbee, we decided to have another go at making pizza and head out to Kiwi’s place. (which btw is a gorgeous house!)
Plan was to be there at 6, start cooking and eat dinner by half past 7.
In walks in SM at 7!
Okay so we are a bit off on time, but hey no issues…lets get this pizza going.

So we chop and we dice and we grate, and its all ready to go.
Unfortunately the oven does not work!
Slight problem right… anyhoo… we will just ask the dorm if we can use their oven.
No such luck – they don’t have an oven!
Strike one

We’ll just call on the neighbours says Kiwi.
They are not at home
Strike two

Frustration rises!
Lets call Margaret and being the lovely lady that she is, calls us down to bake the pizza.
Remember that we are walking through a campus, which is known for bison roaming around, oh and let us not forget Bison Bob (he was attacked by bison!)
Make it to M’s safe, the oven is on… lets get this show on the road!

Step 1: open oven door
Step 2: put tray in
Step 3: scream in frustration because the tray does not fit

Can you say strike 3!

After laughing out of sheer exhaustion. We become creative. Lets just say hunger pangs make you think way out of the box.
So tray one is put in at an angle – yes! At least one pizza will cook.
Now what about tray 2? Too big to put in.

Just fold it in half and make a calzone !
Not as easy as it sounds.
After some clever manoeuvring, its pushed into the oven and now we just wait.

Well to cut a long story short, 20 min later, we have one pizza and one…I really don’t know what to call it.
Let the picture speak for it self.

Walk back up… hoping no bison were around.

Made it back safe, ended up sitting on the kitchen floor eating the ‘pizza’
Playing with left over dough
Just another Sunday at Kodai
“No honestly, looking at it – I don’t feel hungry” – Margaret

Erh Eh and all that!

It’s been too long! And with so much happening, I am going to have to resort to photographs and bulleted points to cover the last few weeks or so…
*THE EUCY IS DONE. Its at the printers as I type J gets back in 3 weeks and the fruits of my labour shall be seen
*Impromptu get together’s at my house. Wine, tequila and gin involved
*Just chatting about random things till one in the morning
*Hiding eggs, bread and sprite in a bullet
*Watching movies with really bad acting
*That’s what she said!
*The all school play is DONE. Was in charge of make up. Good fun! Always a blast hanging out back stage. Just let’s say some of the videos are hilarious!!!
*Waking up at 5am to go for sunrise service on Easter morning, then deciding it was going to rain, so instead dropped other people off. Leaving the house in my pajamas and hair a complete mess, and going for a drive around the lake with hoops and then stopping off At a dhaba and getting chai. I love moments like that
*Watching a movie with male frontal nudity for the first time. Yeah forgetting sarah marshal isn’t that great!
*Making a rock garden
*Having a rock dropped on my finger
*Realizing that every finger on my hand is injured in some way or the other.
*Realizing that I have really weird fingers
*KFCc
*FML

*WC
*Am back to crocheting. Yay me! Did 4 hats in 4 days.
*Am now god mother again. Looks like I am headed to Hyderabad for the christening next week
*Laughing hysterically in the staff lounge
*Going crazy on coffee highs (note to self, no more days of 8 cups of coffee and no food!)
*“Can you say Cat Face”
*“Wiggles have you arisen?”
*CSC
*Crazy nights at the golf course
*Ali baba pants
*Coffee at quicky’s

*Long weekend in Bangalore. The most relaxing holiday ever. Thank you Rays for making it an amazing weekend!!
*Nervous about the future
*Emotional about the past
*Trying to take in every thing of the present

"Spicy Goat"

"Thats all!"

You know what...

Just a short post, before I head to bed.. but here is a shout out to hoops and dreads..
Even with all the teasing, you guys always look out for me and I love you'll for that. Thanks for being fantastic friends.
This evening was nice and even though I ended the night being completely mortified and red in the face.. its only you guys who can do that.
Cheers to you'll

The year that was

As usual this post is a wee bit late.. but better late than never right ?
So 2008 - this year did go by really quick. It was filled with lots of ups and downs, like any year usually is. But on the whole the year was good.

~I had my health (with a few injuries thrown in here and there)
~I had my family (and through all the trials, love underlines everything we do)
~I met new people (and made good friends)
~I let go of the past (both people and situations)
~I went through the tears (from the sad moments, the frustrating moments and the funniest times where you laugh so much you have to cry)
~I discovered more of me
~I travelled (alot!)
Delhi .. I consider it travelling as now Kodai is my home
Goa - absolutely fantastic! long way to travel just for 2 days but totally worth it. Beach..sun...friends..bonding..partying..and the other 'interesting' aspects of the trip
Bangalore .. meeting with family and friends all in the span of 36 hours, because I live on top of a mountain and we travel 12 hours one way to get to a decent city
Chennai .. same as above
Turkey - an amazing place. I loved it. Hot air ballooning was the highlight of the trip
Chidambram - this time it was much better..knew what to expect and having friends around always helped
Pondi - one of my fav places in south india. This place is gorgeous. Paper factory is a must along with satsanga (fantastic little restaraunt)
Madurai - for my exams. Thanks to JP and Hoops I made it through those days
Kerela - canoeing on the backwaters of kerela for 6 days. Fan-bloody-tastic. 65kms baby!
Thekkady - you got to love friends who take you for a holiday when the know your down. Added bonus was staying in a fantastic resort. Chilling near the pool, drinking beer, hiking in the forest, dealing with leeches. Got to love A&A
Varanasi - the interview with the people from the leprosary colony was an eye opening experience towards understanding human nature and ability to deal with adversities

~Visitors to Kodai included my bro and then my dad surprising me on my birthday
~Best moment - dad walking in on the birthday song
~Work..goes on. Now incharge of the yearbook and looking forward to learning why I try to lead.

~Technological advancements
Getting my laptop
Learning how to hook up my laptop to my TV
Harddrive :)
Swapping software with J3
Getting itunes and finally putting music and pictures on my ipod by myself

~Technological boo boos
Deleting my recovery folder from the D drive (luckily I dint delete it from the recycle bin, its now back to my D drive)

~Crazy moments
Sneaking out a swan paddle boat at 4am and going around the lake with C
The week of Yaka in May
Categories
Pen 15 club
Cafe Mondys
TGIF and ultimate margaritas
Bad Jokes R US
Laughing till I fall over and cant breathe
TC ... just call me the wing man
...and so many more

~Beauty & Styles
My hair has been cut, coloured, straightened, braided, conditioned with avacado and egg
Pushed my limits (and it dint hurt as much as I thought it would)
Pierced my ears again (and this time he said my ears have lost weight)

I love
.my family
.my nephews
.my friends
.crocheting
.cooking
.hosting parties
.being me

and that was 2008 ladies and gentlemen
To the new year
I look forward to change and new opportunities
Raise my glass and wish you all a wonderful 365 days ahead!

İyiyim, teşekkür ederim.

So life has been pretty hectic over here, with hot pink birthday parties a girl barely has time to blog.

It’s Monday evening and I am sitting in front of my fire place while the rain begins and the wind howls and I am glad to be in my pajamas and pretty much done for the day.
This weekend has been pretty hectic – the film crew were up here to make the alumni film and moi was the creative director / assistant / task master / person who makes puppy dog eyes to students so that they will do what we ask. What can I say I am multi talented!

So it was on the go since Friday and my body and mind have been begging for a weekend but that’s not going to have for a couple more weeks now.
Am looking forward to seeing how the films turns out and yeah they have asked me to do the voice over. 15 minutes of fame here I come.

The last week has been a whirlwind. Friday – dreads left for the states, well technically left for Chennai and will be flying out for the states this Wednesday. We had his farewell party at my place and showed the video I made. FYI I love windows movie maker. I can spend hours playing around with it.

Independence day weekend had lots of people up and a whole lot of partying. Sailor (who shall now be renamed semen .. thanks dreads) finally came back to kodai after giving his exams, which he passed. Wohoo

A couple of alumni were up as well. We started the weekend festivities with lunch at Margaret’s house. Good food, great company, awesome weather – just a perfect afternoon.
We then went on the hunt for coffee, we decided on pastry corner, we reached there only to find out that it was closed. We then headed to wiggles house and I proceeded to make coffee and half way through the boys decided my house was more conducive to chilling out and away we went to drive to my place. Now lets review the distance from wiggles house to my house – a 4 minute walk tops. We left his house, but due to the parade going on with independence days we had to take a million detours and landed at my house 45 minutes later. Back in my house and after some coffee, fried eggs, wai wai noodles we were out again. We went to raj’s place for the night. Relaxed company and some games. The night ended pretty early and I was tucked into bed at 12:30pm.

The next day I helped wiggles with his advisee dinner. 3 hours with middle schoolers man was I pooped. We headed back to raj’s house. Learnt a new game – the paper bag game. The idea behind the game is to pick up a paper bag with your mouth only while balancing on one foot. Each round involves tearing off a part of the bag until there is a sliver of the bag left. As you can imagine we dint get very far. We then headed out, the lake and the 10 mile round. Ended up coming home at 4:30 am!

Sunday was pretty relaxed, we chilled at my place and tried watching a couple of movies but they all were so pathetic we gave up and listened to music and had a couple of interesting conversations.

So that’s what’s been happening on this side of the mountain. Have been for a couple of hikes but don’t foresee that happening now since the next couple of weekends are taken.

This weekend I go for camp, with grade 11. If the weather is good camp is an awesome place, with a rock climbing wall, zip line, a raft and volleyball. Looking forward to it.
I get back Sunday afternoon and on Tuesday I am off to Kerela for some work. Will be there for three days and then flying out to Delhi. It’s the schools 50th anniversary and the whole gang will be there. Bhaiya, cousins, family friends and Ala-bama. SO excited. She is coming back to India for a month and is flying into Delhi and we will come back to Kodai and on the way we spend a day in Coimbatore chilling with raj etc.

I am barely in Kodai for three working days and then that Sunday I am off for a 6 days canoeing trip on the back waters of Kerela. Its going to be a blast.
So yeah that’s my travel schedule for the month ahead. Lots of work, lots of partying, lots of fun. What more could a girl ask for!

Till the next post adios

Listening to: No ordinary love
Eating: pasta
Drinking: wine
Accidents: none apart from a light bulb exploding in front of my face thanks to wiggles

*have you figured out what the title means?

Happy birthday to you!!

You know its surprising how much there is to do in Kodai. Insert *gasp*.

But honestly the past three weeks here have flown so quickly. Starting from the most recent happenings yesterday was dread's birthday.

He turned the big two five! Quarter of century – happy birthday to you

Now turning 25 is a big deal. People do crazy things on their 25th birthdays. Unfortunately he was not into the whole thing and wanted a quiet affair.

Isn't happening yo! (As hoops would say)

The birthday celebration began at 11:50 pm on the 4th of August with H and I walking to main gate to get the keys from the watchman for the other gate. He looked at us as if we were bananas to be roaming around in Kodai nearing midnight when every thing closes at 8pm.

So we get the keys and drive over to BW, where we quietly sneak up the stairs as I keep my camera ready and burst into his room screeching happy birthday. Only to find a sleeping dreads. Who even upon having people scream in his ear, pull off his blankets and take non stop pictures (with flash) continued to sleep.

Well we trudged down the stairs and had a muffin (which were warm from the oven, needed some thing to keep me awake till 12) and H and I drove back home.

Now we all know how much dreads absolutely loves hot pink (sarcasm detected) we all decided to wear pink on his special day. We tried spreading the word among staff but dint follow through however there were an unusually large number of students and staff wearing hot pink that day. Go figure!

The idiot however dint show up for lunch and when we finally saw him on the basketball court H&I wished him on the top of our lungs and had students go up and say "happy birthday and pink is hot!" That should pretty much have been the warning for what was to lie ahead.

The evening was full of laughter and lots and lots of hot pink! Every one got into the swing of things and I managed to get D a hot pink shirt (and I mean hot pink!) from Spencer's. Kudos for him for putting it on and wearing it the whole evening! Along with allowing me to take a number of pictures. I see age is making him more cooperative

There was fantastic food (chicken fajitas and biryani)

Great company

Lots of reminiscing – monkeys, bandicoots and charades…

A whole lot of teasing – M and me being the main targets… (I need to get my hands on that video!)

All in all a fantastic evening

And to top it off it was all in pink!

Zee puurrfect!

Muah

Just trust, give it time, no matter how long it takes

Have not blogged for ages, tho I have been lugging my laptop with me every where I go. So what is happening 7000 feet above sea level you ask?
Quick update:
* Back in Kodai, last year here now (or atleast I hope) Not to seem negative but its time to move on. Move on to bigger and better things - where shall I be next year this time and like the title suggests - just trust, give it time, no matter how long it takes (in every aspect of life!)
*Back in Kodai, getting back to the usual grind of things, been pretty busy and am enjoying the feeling of having a constant stream of things to do. Work hard and party harder.
Talking about partying harder - Kodai saw its first ever lungi party and I must say it was quite a success! Every one came in a lungi and the boys took to the whole folded in half lungi quite well. American style barbeque with an indian flavor of fashion. Being multi cultural is quite nice.
*New semester mean new people. The good and bad of Kodai - people come and people leave. Like I was telling hoops one afternoon while we had coffee in my house - the situation is the same but the faces keep changing.
*Hoops now has an even bigger pair of hoops (found them in turkey in the summer)
*Alabama might be coming to India in Sept. Cant wait to see her! Its amazing how even just 6 months can make you so close to some one.
*Beavis sent me a link to his post - to the women he loved. Miss him like crazy! Constant texting to meeting up at cup of tea for the first time. A great friend.
* Back to frisbee and volleyball. Good fun as usual! No major injuries till date - well apart from Aaron running into me.
*Talking about injuries I managed to fall in the office. Was walking in J's office and managed to slip on absolutely nothing (like i said shreez does not need any external forces to injure her self) while I lose my footing I twist my body to grab on to some thing to stop my fall, only to end up bumping into a table of pottery - breaking quite a few items in the botique. In this process I bruise the bone on my left foot and then fall into J's office on my bum and knock on my head on the edge of the chair. Solid bump on the head and a swollen foot is what I end up with. (lovely to have friends around, they will always be there to help you up but also be there to laugh at your clumsiness)
While I sat in the doctors office I have hoops laughing at me, while my foot has an ice pack around it and I hold another ice pack to my head. Talk about being injured from head to toe.
*My TV has not been working for 2 weeks now. IG you will be happy to know I have not watched TV for 14 days now and instead spend my time reading.
*JP leaves this monday for Kolkatta. Every one seems to be leaving.
*Lynea and her hubbie have now joined the ranks in Kodai. It is absolutely great to have her back. And K seems to be absorbed in to the group quite seamlessly.
*Wiggles is absolutely hilarious. And hoops and I now have some one to tease relentlessly. Check out his blog. A good read.
*Had a relaxful saturday. Woke up at 9 completely refreshed. Chatted with wiggles over a cup of coffee, lunch, coffee with the gang in my place and then pedicures for hoops and dreads (I find it so relaxing to give pedicures) and then dinner with some people. Found a place for great tandoori chicken in Kodai. And I even ate chicken on the bone!
*Sat in the same room with a Bombay earth snake. Freaked out every time small chap brought it near me. Yeah I am petrified of snakes. My heart races and tears instantly form. I will get over this fear. some time...
Well thats pretty much the end of the random post. Will update you more on the turkey trip and the turkish bath in my next post.

Listening to: You can call me Al by Simon and Garfunkel
Last movie watched: Chicken run (right after Runaway Bride..two movies in one day!)
Laughed pretty much thru out dinner
Baked whole wheat raspberry oatmeal muffins
and to end it off, wishing Blondie a very happy birthday (love you sweetheart!)

Uh uh uh uh oh ooh --- Why'd you have to go-oh --- Away from home -- Me love

Things that make me smile:

Staying up till 4, because I want too
Waking up at 6, to get ready for work, because I have too
Going for late night drives
Playing random games in my house
Random arguments, which lead to google'ing questions to prove who is right
Blogging
Singing off tune and having no one care
People letting me sing off tune, cos they know it makes me happy
Dressing up and feeling great
Honest compliments
Talking to old friends
Making new friends
Cooking / baking
Inside jokes
Funny moments
Random notes on facebook
Pictures
Having people chill in my house
People being completely at ease in my house
Making fried eggs
Having a productive day at work
Superlatives on facebook
Laughing at my self and the stupid things I do (which I do many!)
and so many more.. to the people in my life, thank you... cos with out you, the memories I have would not exist!