No..I'm not a statistic!

It's just been one of those months. October is just a blah month overall...every year. I've definitely had some unforgettable moments that have helped pull me along though. So I can't really complain a whole lot:)

anyways, since the last time I made an appearance here, a lot has happened. Some of which I can share, and others that I choose not to on a public portal. Some of you have been updated:)

Navratri: My favorite festival in the whole wide world. Beats Diwali! It always makes me nostalgic. Takes me back to good old Awir grounds...I can still feel the sand cushioning my feet as we danced the night away. So much prep for a few hours where nothing mattered. Time stood still and songs like 'pari hoon main' and 'khali wali' took over:) we'd start from the morning assembly discussing what color to wear today. Crushed ghaghras or threadwork? baandni or sarees? For 9 days, recess was more about learning new moves and passing on the color decision to the rest of the group than it was about 50 fils samosa and areej:) come home and our mom's had the time of their lives because they could get us to do just about anything. The infamous "if you don't finish your hw, no dandiya tonite", "if you say you're sleepy in the morning, no dandiya tonite" lines took over:) and then the toughest of them all, but the most exciting:) telling 'the guys' what color we were wearing so they could match their chunnis! craziness.

I miss all of that. The fun, the group, the steps, matuki, the music etc....
I've had a good time for the most part in the US, and this year was definitely on the top 3 'best garba experiences in the US' list, but it's just never the same. And the sad thing is, those memories can never be re-lived again. Friends have moved on, times have changed...

ok snapping out if it:)

Colorado: I was there for a week for work. Recruiting high school juniors and seniors to The University of Arizona. It was a great experience and I luved the weather:) it snowed!!!!!!! I know I'm crazy, but you already know that, so nothing new there. The trip ended in a Sai retreat, which is always a plus in my life:)

Diwali:
I was in tune with my homely side. Made sweets the night before, rangoli outside which I thoroughly enjoyed even though my ankles and knees were sore for hours. Woke up like a good Tamil Brahmin girl at 4:30am! no that's not a typo:) am, not pm! had my customary head oil bath thing, did my puja, lit all the lamps outside and at the altar, made phone calls, and then I was done. and bored as usual. That's what I don't like about Diwali. Wake up early, finish everything before sunrise and then nothing! At least in Dubai we'd go to the temple and there was always something or the other going on in the evening.

Anyways, a bunch of us were bored, and it was our last Diwali together, so we took off and drove to the mountains - yes there are mountains in Arizona:)

We had a fun time. Had pie at Mt. Lemmon cafe which is a visitors' tradition there, took a ton of crazy pics (almost 200 pics!) had several girly moments and headed back down. We had dinner at Delhi Palace (I finally found desi food that I like in Tucson!), swapped pics and called it a night.

ok, long post. I'm done. Since October is almost done and November is around the corner, I should be blogging more regularly. But don't hold me to that... life has different priorities now!