Hecticity

Ah a lot happened in the past few days..It's been a hectic week for my family. Two days ago (Thursday) I got into a car accident..nothing too serious but my car needs some major repairs. I was slowing down with traffic and the car behind me wanted to switch lanes but she wasn't keeping an eye on what I was doing, just on the lane to the right. So she rammed into the back of my car. I was driving an SUV and she had a small Volkswagon so her car pretty much went under the back of mine. My exhaust pipe is bent and smushed up and the rear passenger side light doesn't work. And the tire may be misaligned. So that car is pretty much not safe to drive right now.

Oh and the first thing the tow truck guy says to me...."Are you a fan of Michael Jackson? He just died." Uhhh, WHAT?! I think I may have been more shocked to hear that than I was when I heard the sound of the car smashing into mine. It's kinda weird to think that he's dead. Like, I'm no huge fan or anything but who doesn't like him, you know! And regardless of any individual opinion, he is definitely an icon, a legend. It is weird when people that represent a certain time or era pass away.

Ah so that was Thursday. And then Friday, my sister had an allergy attack because she may have eaten something with peanuts (the allergy, allegedly). She was having difficulty breathing and so we ended up at the emergency room for a few hours. It wasn't anything too serious but it definitely scared all of us! She is fine now, just exhausted and resting up.

My guru has arrived and I have been going to morning and evening prayers everyday. It makes my day longer and a little more tiring, but it's definitely the most welcome part of my summer. The big program for our religious group is on July 4th, which is next Saturday. So there's a lot to do in the upcoming week!


Yesterday we had a palkhi, which is a parade of sorts. A palkhi is a platform on which an idol is placed. There are a few wooden stick type things jutting out that are carried on the shoulders of a group of men. (See picture above) We had a bunch of people playing the drums and we were all singing and dancing down the street. It was a lot of fun. I love when we have those because it makes me feel like I'm in India. There is colored powder being thrown and bells jingling and people clapping and dancing and singing. The only clue that we're not in India are the onlookers from the neighboring streets that want to see the festivity. It was a really great time!


Oh and one thing I've neglected to mention..I read Better by Atul Gawande. I really liked this book and recommend it to anyone who wants to be a doctor, or really, just anyone (but especially if you wanna be a doctor!). It addressed performance in a field where lives are on the line and every decision carries a considerable weight. The topics discussed are very interesting and well put together. Every chapter has a sort of general setting in which medicine is practiced and a different aspect of performance analysis is brought to light in each. It was thought-provoking but nothing too scientific, making it accessible for all audiences. I just really enjoyed reading it and I'm hoping to read his other book, Complications, sometime soon!

Now I have to get started on the dance for next Saturday..

Noise, noise go away

Did we fit this many people in my house?

Ah, things are hectic. Way too hectic for my taste. I am busier than I've been in a long time (maybe even more than I've ever been!) and it's overwhelming. I don't know how my parents are able to keep their composure and energy up. I come home from work, mentally drained from the boredom. My eyes are seriously glazed over as I walk from the hospital doors to my car, and even along the hour drive home. I look out but I don't really see anything, I don't focus in on anything.

I come home and then I help out in the kitchen, preparing for dinner. Then I help serve the three families that dine together. And then I eat within 5-10 minutes and start cleaning the kitchen. By the time the kitchen work is done, it's like an hour to an hour and half before I should go to bed. Should being the operative word there (in case the italics didn't do it for you) And then I finally sit down on my bed, waste a bunch of time on my laptop, sleep way too late and then wake up groggy. The working life sucks!

Which is why I can't wait to get back to my familiar routine of studying! I am seriously so bored by the life I live right now. I get alone time at all the wrong times and when I want the peace and quiet more than anything, I'm surrounded by a horde of kids. It is ridiculous!

Oh and I haven't played tennis in over a week now. I don't know if I'll be able to play anytime soon since there's always so much to do around the house (and my Jimminy Cricket LOVES to work overtime!) I need to figure out a new workout schedule. I don't even wanna bother trying to use the on demand videos I get because I know every single person in the house will just sit there, observing me as I (try to) contort my body into whatever shape the shapely pilates instructor effortlessly adapts. Privacy is a lot to ask for these days.

I guess the bottom line is:
Anuja, where are you?

Pomp and Circumstance

Today was my sister's high school graduation! I was a little late because I went there straight from work so I missed some of the beginning stuff (guess I lucked out hehe) but I made it in time for all the important stuff. Yup that's right, I heard them announce all four hundred and some graduates, of which I knew...three. Either way it was interesting because I actually missed my high school graduation. We left for India the day after my prom so I wasn't here for graduation. I guess that made this a little more special for me, because since it's the same school and a lot of the same teachers, I felt like I was graduating! I saw a bunch of teachers I've been meaning to visit so that was nice!

After the graduation we came home and had a really hectic dinner (I don't know when dinner won't be hectic now that we have 15 people eating together!). One thing I'm not a huge fan of is how noisy the house is. There are always a lot of people in the house and they are always making noise! I miss the quiet and the solitude. I am really appreciating the alone time I get when I drive to and from work. I miss having time to myself, to collect my thoughts and just daydream. Even now, as I type this, I can hear every word that is being shouted downstairs and I just wish I could go somewhere more isolated at night. Ah, well it's only a few months..

Tomorrow morning I am going to sign my lease for my apartment for med school...I think the changes that are going on in my life are a lot more realized when there is tangible evidence attached to them..Signing the lease tomorrow will really drive home the fact that I will no longer be driving home after August. It's so weird to think that I'm moving out again and that this time, home won't be my bi-weekly (or whatever the word for every two weeks is) retreat. I'll have to stay at school more because of the exams and studying. It's gonna be different, that's for sure..

I know most of this post seems like I'm not happy with where I am. That's not the case. I just have some adjusting to do. Things at home are different and pretty soon, my home itself will be different. It's just a lot to grasp and having work all day doesn't leave much time for grasping. Ah, I'll get it by the time I have to leave in August. Okay I am so tired now so off to bed!

We are Family

Life has changed drastically since my last post! My relatives from India arrived yesterday and all of a sudden my life just seems completely different. There's nothing by way of events or happenings to share so I will stick to what there is an abundance of--thoughts and feelings..

I have never really known what it is like to have extended family. Don't mistake what I mean...I have a HUGE family (I am Indian, after all!) but until yesterday, my mom's entire family was in India. My dad's family isn't the really close-knit type so even though I see them every month or at least every few months, it doesn't quite have the same feel as...My Big Fat Greek Wedding. But I have no doubts that this has all changed.

I always found it interesting that there is any closeness at all between me and my siblings (in one category) and my cousins. The first time we met them was in 2005, when we went for a family wedding and my brother's janoi (sacred thread ceremony for brahmins). It amazed me how the SECOND we stepped foot into the airport, they were filled with awe and respect and adoration for us. I really don't know why. They had never met us..they had only ever talked on the phone and even that, it was just small talk. Yet, somehow, they loved us before they even knew us. You could see in their eyes how curious and amazed they were by us, by our lifestyle, but most of all, by our relation to them. They had older cousins that held a special position in their lives. A position that I never even knew about! And what surprised me even more was that I felt all of those things as well! I had been filling that position more than adequately all of my life, and I never even knew it!


The bond between family members is something that science has tried to decipher and unsurprisingly, was unable to. There's something special about kin that is beyond the particles that compose us. There is a special connection that transcends anything that can be measured, or even observed. I don't understand it, but I do not doubt that it's there.

I know things will be tough with so many people living in a single house. Egos are bound to clash and there are going to be some compromises for everyone. But I think ultimately, the fact that we are family will keep us together. I am going to try to be extremely patient with everyone and I will try my best to help them adapt. I know this is my lesson in patience and trust me, I am going to take very good notes!

Okay so enough of my thoughts...I don't really have much else to write about. I have been going to work and playing tennis and helping with dance/drama practices. That's about it. I am happy and I guess that's the whole point isn't it?

I'm Vicariously REALLY lucky!

So I have finished Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!! And I want more! I am going to get the next book in the series from the library so I can continue the story. It's a really quick and easy read and very amusing. There are some parts that actually made me not just smile, but laugh out loud! I just wish I didn't wait so long to pick it up!


In other news...as always I went on Colbert Nation this morning and clicked on the tickets tab. I know it's kinda impossible to get tickets, but I still have hope. THERE WERE TICKETS AVAILABLE TODAY! For two different days!!! Except those days are during the first week of medical school!! I was so disappointed! I was SO close to being able to see the taping of the colbert report! I guess the good news is that I was able to get one of my close friends to get on the site before they were taken and he got the tickets! So at least I get to go vicariously =D

Speaking of Colbert, I LOVED the episodes in Iraq! I thought the haircut was a nice touch and it really showed his support for the troops. It's so great that he went there to entertain them and make them laugh. They need it and deserve it! I love that he was able to show his feelings on the war and yet still support the troops wholeheartedly. Man, what an awesome guy! And when he showed that picture of himself wrapped in the American flag...mmmmm ;)

There is A LOT going on in life right now. That's mainly the reason I haven't been able to post as consistently as I keep promising to! Remember the family from India that I was talking about? Well, they're coming on Wednesday!!! That leaves 3 days to cram in whatever other preparations there are left to do! We spent the day cleaning out the basement and the garage today. It was a LONG task but it definitely feels good to be done with it! Tomorrow's project: the attic (eek!).

Yesterday I had to drive down to Rutgers Camden with my sister to take her there for her placement exams. It took up most of the day, especially cuz we hit traffic on the way back. I parked in this lot but I didn't know if it was allowed without a permit. And I didn't want to get my car towed (at my expense of course) so I decided to sit in the car for the 3 hours. Um yeah, okay so much for that! I had to go to the bathroom an hour in and I gave up and just left the car. Luckily, parking was allowed during weekends without a permit and the day didn't turn into an entry on FML =)

Work has been going pretty well. There's not too much to do so it's not all that hectic. But there is something to do everyday since it's a hospital-affiliated practice. It gets boring sometimes, but that's why I bring a book! One of the people I work with is very amusing too. She can talk A LOT about nearly any topic so whenever I'm bored, I just say a word to get her started. It works out really nicely!

I am also busy preparing for Dada's visit this year. (For those who don't know, I have a Guru who lives in India and comes to visit every summer for about 3 weeks. He will be arriving at the end of June and leaving in July.) I am doing a dance with my sister as well as helping out the aunties with their dance. Also, there's a bunch of one-act plays that I am helping narrate. It's fun with all these people coming over for practice. This busy schedule of practices has defined my summers for as long as I can remember and it's so comforting to be home for it all again. It's always a great time and definitely filled with lots of laughs! We are completely done with the aunty dance so that's exciting. Next up: the little girls' dance! Following that: me and my sister! It's gonna be a busy month =D

Well I think that just about sums it up..OH I started a new book. What They Didn't Teach You About the 60s. It's interesting and I'm not far enough into it to write any more haha!

Thoughts of a Working Girl

Oh man so it's been a really busy couple of days..I started work on Monday!! I work in a molecular oncopathology lab which basically means we test patients' urine samples and heme and look at other tissues for any abnormalities, aka cancer. So far I've been training to sort of learn everything that is done in the lab, basically so I can do anyone's (more like everyone's) work. I learned how to run the urine samples for FISH and I learned how to type up diagnostic reports for patients whose results have already come in. It's kinda interesting in the abstract but actually doing it = repetitiveness. The good thing is I have a couple of coworkers and they are pretty entertaining. So the days don't seem interminable. I just wish I wasn't the inferior haha..

Also, I've gone to play tennis yesterday evening after work and just before I sat down to finally post. My game is really improving and I'm SO happy with my progress! It's really frustrating not being good at something I'm "supposed" to be good at so it's refreshing to have my talent back again, even if only partially (and even if it took 4 years -_-).


In other news, I've been reading Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and it is definitely amusing. There's a lot of humor in the way it's written and so that always gives me something to smile about! I'm about 8 chapters in and I have about half an hour to read everyday so it shouldn't be long before I'm done reading it =)

Okay serious realization: I have been coming home grouchy/grumpy (Think Oscar the Grouch^Grumpy the dwarf..that's right, raise it to that power!)..I give a lot of credit to people who can drive an hour to work, sit around at work for 8 hours and then drive an hour back and still be cheerful. I'm thinking it's because it's all new to me, this routine business..but once I get used to it, hopefully I'll be less drained by the end of the day. All I know is I fall asleep willingly at 10:30 every night. It's a beautiful(?) thing.

Alright, I'm pooped. I'm gonna watch a Colbert episode and then get some sleep. More later (tomorrow hopefully!)

More of the Usual

Ahh it's been a few busy days so I haven't had much time to post. I've just been busy doing the usual house preparation stuff and landscaping stuff. One exciting thing though---yesterday was my sister's prom! I did her hair and makeup and she really looked beautiful! I was especially glad because it was my first time doing anyone's hair in a formal updo. I guess I'm a natural..but I was seriously just relieved it looked good haha!

We got two BIG rugs for the living room and formal dining room so we set those up today and also moved a bunch of furniture around. It was a hectic day but we accomplished a lot so it feels nice to be tired in a productive way. I start work on Monday so that's really gonna change up my schedule. Today I did a practice drive up with my mom cuz I'm not used to driving her SUV and also I've never been there so I wanted to see how to go since I'll be going for work on Monday. It's gonna be a smooth ride (and not just cuz of the lexus..though that does help hehe)

I've read over half of A Brief History of Time at this point and I'm really enjoying it. I love thinking about black holes and antimatter and so this book is really stimulating. I know a lot of the facts but I know through time I'll probably reread this book to the point that I have them memorized (yesss! with every day and every page I'm one step closer to being a wise old person!) I am speeding along nicely at my rate of 1.3 chapters a day! I think after this I'll switch gears and reach for a different field since I've been gravitating (haha appropriate word!) towards physics lately. I've been meaning to pick up an Atul Gawande book from the library so that may be next!

Alright well not much else to share today..time is just creeping along as I struggle to squeeze as much work and fun and responsibilities into the days. But man, I am loving summer weather right now! I hope I get to go play tennis or at least toss a football around tomorrow. Well, tata for now!

Haha this is kinda cute:

On to Hawking!

The rain just won't let up...I keep waking up to the same shade of gray, unsure of when it will downpour and when the clouds will contain themselves. Today's tennis plans are once again up in the air! I did end up playing yesterday surprisingly, so maybe today will be another one of those surprisingly pleasant days. It's really all about the timing =) After tennis last night, I made ravioli with spinach and corn for dinner along with some homemade garlic bread. It was yummy!! And I was definitely hungry after my workout! After dinner I threw around a football with my brother. It was a gorgeous night and I had a lot of fun. I love spending evenings outside!


So since I finished the Feynman book in the morning yesterday, I started The Illustrated A Brief History of Time & The Universe in a Nutshell last night. I am LOVING it. I read the first two chapters, so roughly 50 pages last night. Not much that I've read so far is news to me but every time I consider all of these ideas about space-time and the expanding universe, I get really excited. A part of me really wishes I was a physics major. I LOVE theoretical physics! I am planning on finishing this book quickly haha (Feynman only took a couple of days so hopefully this will too, it's much shorter!). I am tempted to take notes as I read; I guess you can't get the student out of me! (Good thing too, considering I am going to med school).

Today's plans are more of the usual..TV, reading, eating, playing tennis, helping out with dinner, and some more reading haha! Oh and can't forget the daily crossword! So tomorrow is my sister's prom and I am in charge of getting her ready! I'm going to curl her hair and do her makeup. I'm really excited for it! I've even figured out what purse and jewelry she should wear. Reminds me of when I went to prom..doesn't seem like it was so long ago. Man, I am getting old!

I am really enjoying this week off. I am ridiculously glad that I wasn't able to start work yet. I really needed this down time after all the studying I did and things just worked out well. I honestly don't even care about working..it's just a source of money. That's how I'm seeing it. I don't even know what I'll be doing yet but whatever...just want to save up some money, that's all!

Okay my stomach is grumbling and I need to get some food in me. More later =)

Up and Feynman

You know when it rains and it's just warm and soothing...it's one of those rains outside. It's calming and gentle and unless you look really hard you can't even tell it's raining...The only bad thing is that my tennis plans for today are interrupted. But it's okay, at least it's for a nice rain and not a mean one!


So I ended up seeing Up with my brother and sister yesterday. It was really good! It was a little more serious than what I would've expected but I think that added to it. There were some sad parts in the movie and I felt...sad. But there were definitely enough funny moments to compensate. The animation was really good and the plot was nice. There were points that I thought would be a little too scary for kids but I was able to make it through those by watching through the slits between my fingers as I covered my eyes hehe! But yeah so DEFINITELY worth seeing!! And it really made me want a balloon hahaha!

After the movie I ended up going to play tennis...it was so odd! When I walked into the theater it was pouring outside. And when I walked out, it was bright and sunny and you couldn't even tell it had rained! So weird. But I definitely took advantage of the dry weather and played tennis. It was a perfect night for it too...the air was cool and there was just the slightest breeze. There were a bunch of people at the courts so we had to wait for about half an hour for a court but it was definitely worth the wait! My game is improving with every time I go..I can't wait to play at my high school level! =)

This morning I woke up and finished the Feynman book I was reading. It was sad to finish it. But I really enjoyed it. He made my list of favorite men. (Top contenders on that list are Stephen Colbert, Thomas Friedman, Jim Henson, Paul Krugman, Bill Clinton, Jack Sparrow, Clive Owen, Bill Cosby and now Richard Feynman). But yeah so that book was entertaining and amusing and I felt so privileged to know the thoughts of someone who really 'lived'. I was just thinking of how maybe I knew more about him than some of the students he had taught and how weird that is. Definitely read it!

I spent some time doing a crossword and watching TV. Now I'm off to play tennis. More later =)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Summer

It's definitely summer. I spent most of yesterday working outside--mowing the lawn, watering the vegetable garden, planting a bunch of trees. There's nothing more 'summer' than dirt under my fingernails, grass blades in my hair, and some light brown icing on all of my already brown skin. Let's just not think about the mosquito bites!

I have this comfortable ache in all of my appendages and my lower back..and a blister on my hand. I also managed to finish cleaning my room, yayy! Oh and what's sad is that I'm getting so close to the end of the Feynman book. I am really not happy about almost being done with it..it's been an excellent companion for the last few moments of my day, just before I drift off.

The most exciting things that came from me unpacking my stuff is: 1.) Speakers! (my laptop speakers haven't worked since...a while..but now I've set up my speakers!), 2.) My husband pillow thing that makes reading SO much better, 3.) King Julian masks that I promptly turned over to my brother and sister (my delivery was excellent, complete with the fake accent and dancing), 4.) Boo Bear! (self-explanatory), 5.) Turtle! (not so self-explanatory...it's a stuffed animal duck)


So today my plans are to relax! I haven't really gotten much relaxing in since I've been home but that'll change today. I plan on watching reruns of all those corny shows--Full House, Sister Sister, Saved by the Bell, and of course Arthur! And then I'm going to see either Angels and Demons or Up with my brother and sister after they get home from school. I am super excited about this! The movie we watch depends on what time they can get home. And after that, I'll either do some more gardening or I'll go play tennis..we'll see which way the wind blows me.


Oh so let me update you on my outdoor projects since a lot of my time is devoted to them: We have nearly an acre of land and well mowing that is definitely a task. So I've decided to help my dad out with the mowing since I'll be home all summer (and since my brother is especially lazy about that). Also, we are growing eggplant, cucumbers, okra, peas, tomatoes, and peppers in the backyard. So I am in charge of watering the plants twice a day. So my backyard is sort of shaped like half a baseball diamond (a triangle, in simpler terms)...the far end is home plate and it gets wider as it approaches the house (which is the pitcher's mound). Along the stretch from third base to home plate we want to plant a row of trees. Mind you this is not to scale so really we are planting a LOT of trees. Also, it slopes upward a little bit as it approaches the back point so it's a little harder than it sounds. We planted like 8 trees or so yesterday and my parents had already planted 2-3 before I came home. We're making some progress! Another task we have is to lay out weed-blocker (the black sheets) in our front landscaping and then cover that with stones. The stones are kind of pretty so it looks nice. We have a huge pile of stones sitting on the driveway and with every wheelbarrow-full of stones that is transported to the front of the house, I see a little shimmer of hope that we're almost done. We did finish about half of the weedblocking/stone transport so now we should be done within a week or two maximum. Okay I think that's it haha!

Alright time to get a work out in before my day turns into a tv/movie marathon. Yay so excited! =D