Staying here in America , I realize the value of Indian festivals.....I kinda see them in a different light......back home it was always about getting chutti from school or college.....Diwali was special because Dad and Chacha would be home for 4 days and it was all about spending time together....those late afternoon lunches followed by naps.......once I came here to Akron, I hardly even realize when Diwali whizzes past......the first year I hardly remember doing anything during Diwali....then last year us roomies decided that we shall have a nice dinner at home....so we cooked up some nice food and it felt kinda good.......

another festival which is totally different here is Ganesh utsav.....back home I would be all excited about it.....days before apna galli ka public would start playing the dhol and tasha and anger the neighbors....that was so much fun.....if there was nothing to do...dhol bajane ka.....and then the dancing and the variety entertainment program........like the last two years this year too we are celebrating Ganesh utsav here at our home on Torrey Street.......its an occasion for all students to meet ......the new kids are feeling homesick and it surely makes one feel a little more at home to see Indian festivals celebrated here with quite a lot of enthusiasm.....though we don’t have the dhol and the tasha and the variety entertainment program.......but it still works.....for these few days I look at the Ganpati ka idol in our living room and close my eyes and I can hear the dhol ring in my ears.....and I have this smirk on my face imagining the irritation on the faces of my cranky neighbors back home.......as of now this is the closest I can get to bliss......

Went to the Astronomy Club of Akron (ACA) last night at portage Lake Stae Park and saw Mars........I was told not to expect too much, but all in all I was quite hapy with it...the last time I went there to watch the Leonid showers it was quite cloudy...but then through this small patch which was not covered with clouds I saw Saturn ....it was awesome....I think if I end up in Akron for a while then I might just become a member of the ACA

I have not yet unpacked after a week ........I need to do that today......

My Chacha once told me this............
"wish there was a button sayin press 'continue' to go to next level in real life too....."

That's exactly what I want now........

My Guest List for my graduation

-R and Kiki.......
-My Mama and Mami from Cleveland (My family here)..........
-Shash (a great friend of mine from Akron now in NYC....and an even dearer friend now that he is the proud owner of a BMW Z4).......
-And apne Akron ke pyare dost........

Plans for the Day

-Commencement ceremony from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm......
-Late lunch party at Dr. G's place for us (Nihir Phani and me..we all graduate tomorrow).......
-Party hopping in the evening in Akron....parties thrown for various reasons....birthday bash...farewll party....
-Setlle down on the proch of ma House for another one of those glorious evenings at Torrey (some people would call it just another Torrey party)......however ....I ,...... my dears would beg to difffer.......

Back in Akron after nearly 3 weeks........am quite excited about being back because I graduate this weekend......R and Kiki gave me a very pleasant surprise by announcing that they will be in Akron for my Graduation.....Mom aur Dad nahi a sake........lekin R (Bhaiya) and kiki (Bhabhi) will be there......Jhakasssssssssssss

I look back at the last two years and I feel it was only a few months back that I came into Akron or rather US.....and there are soooooo many people who have made these last two years memorable....

Thanks you guys......you rock......

Ala Re Aala!!!!!

well....last three days in India...actually less than that......but i think i enjoyed this stay more than my last stay here......leave aside R's shaadi.....other than that i spen a lotta time at home .........parents wont complain this time around about me not spending time at home.......shall start packing tomorrow....

other than that....i was going through my stuff abhi and i came across these snaps from my junior college days......and i realized everyone has changed soooo much.....most people have gained weight...some like me lost hair......others I dont see anymore..........i cant wait for public to come home tomorrow and show them those pics...im sure everyone is gonna die of laughter...and the best part was one night I sat with this friend neeru and we wrote down comments on the back of most pictures....and to read those was even more fun.....I dare not leave these here at home.......if my folks here change houses im pretty sure these will be lost.......I think I just increased my luggage by about a kilo.........who cares.......back then when i saw those pics I thought to myself "What a waste of money!!!!"..........I take my words back

And am looking forward to get back to Akron and begin that job search again........and play some cricket........Akron here I come.......Tintinz you can start saying to yourself............." Ala re Aala!!!!!!!"

Happy Independence Day ppl................Bharat Mata Ki Jai...........

Monday was the reception day.....R and Kiki arrived from Mumbai in the afternoon....from then on it was chaos in the house.,...people getting ready , shouting, fooling around.....shaadi vala ghar is the most awesome place to be in.........the reception was a big hit...we invited 225 people and expected about 180.....223 people turned out.......and we had a scare when food ran out...luckily the hotel ka owner was dad's friend and he made provisions and everything went smoothly.....a fresh batch of pulav was made....once we ran out of modak's he repalced them with gulab jamun and the once we were out of palak paneer we had batata ka suka bhaji......came back home around midnight.....and from then on spent a lotta time chatting and catching up with R and Kiki.....when we hit the sack it was close to 5.30 in the morning...

All in all after looking back at the last 11 days...all the functions are over....and i might get some time to relax before i leave......and I think I did have 'The Time of my Life'............

I am ok Fine.......

Went to see Hungama....saw Darna Mana Hain instead.....was somethin like 'jaate the Japan...pahuch gaye Cheen"......no regrets.......nice movie......surely worth watching once........

Tonite is Mastani nite.........am soooooo looking forward to the Mastani at Sujata Mastani house...*drooooolll*

Other than driving what have I been upto...someone asked me......I miss riding the bike there.....so wherever and whenever possible I take my bike.......other than that Bharry my classmate from my undergrad days got married today to his college ki sweetheart...attended that....cant believe that apne umar ke log ki shaadi hone lagi hain.......anyways my brother got married last week and now the pressure is on me......though I am not of the opinion "manu tera hua ab mera kya hoga"............I think Im happy the way I am ....for a while atleast......

Other than that I try and spend a lotta time at home so I can be with Saul and Rhea my cousins......they are just too adorable....have not been really upto it to go and hit the waterholes in the city...lack of sleep prior to leaving for India and then the sleep deprivation in Mumbai during the wedding really took its toll...spent two days catching up on sleep.......went today to Shreyas Hotel to decide the menu for R reception in Pune......he and Kiki and a whole lotta family ppl arrive in Pune on Sunday....so till then I have time to myself....so am gonna make the most of it.........

Ohhhh and I bought myself some cool cricket gloves...then I sent mail to my captain/friend in Akron asking if the need any leather balls for practice and I also promised him that next time I go out to bat I will reach double figures for sure....plans to see Hungama tonite with the galli gang.....its been ages since I saw a tapori movie with my favorite tapori people.......

OK then.....the mother calls and says "beta sabzi lene le chalo".....deva re deva.....see ya later ppl

Its been less than a week in India....have spent a lof time with my parents....however the mother has a her first complaint for me this morning...."Beta you dont speak much!!!!" ....."At this age you must be more lively".......

I still end up driving on the wrong side of the road...i.e the right side......(as J rightly pointed out)........

Ohh and I have forgotten the Indian drivers license in Amrika.....and I need that so I can get my International Drives Permit(IDP).....cause I cant get an IDP without my Indian license and my passport(which I thankfully have)..and why do I need an IDP???????...well with all the driving I do there there is a possibility of being caught by the cops.......so for every offense you commit you get points on your license and 12 points is suspension for a year or so.....leave aside the suspension........even one point is enough to raise your insurance by a few hundred dollars and sometimes even a copule of thousand depending on the car you drive and the area you live in........so I need the IDP......have asked N to send me my Indian license by speed post.......so till then I am driving/riding without a license.....and I hate paying the cops (who doesn't)......and to avoid being caught I find myself using the most obscure routes........but then there was a time when I used these roads because I actually did not have a license then......so I feel like a teenager all over agin trying to avoid the cops....albeit with no tension of being busted at home because I took the car/bike without asking.......ahhhh the pleasures of being back home:)........and Im loving every moment....

I'm back....

The last 4 days have been the most awesome ever....I finally made it to India for my brothers marriage.......and at one point it looked like this would not happen....I think it was Monday night that I finally decided that I can afford to leave and make it in time for the wedding and thats when I called everyone in India and told them about my plans......was amazing to hear their response......though I had a ticket in hand for a very long time I was undecided about going...I had inversted in the tikcet in advance so that i done end up paying a fortune if I decided at the last moment that I could make it....and thats exactly what happened.......bottom line...I dont regert the decision at all........paisa vasool ekdam....and the vacation has just begun....abhi tak to have not even reached Pune......which shall be done this afternoon...so till then folks....!!!

Pune here I come......:)