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Name: Nishi
Where: New York
Faith: Christian
Sign: Aquarius
CH-S: Fire Dragon
AIM: SelenityHime
ICQ: 21380169
MySpace: Nishi's MySpace
FaceBook: Nishi's Facebook
Email: be83398
The Story Thus Far . . .
In addition to working full-time as a lawyer for the past 5 years and pursuing a career in music at the same time, Nishi is also a writer and working to publish several illustrated children's series as well as several other fiction and non-fiction projects. Join Nishi @ YahooGroups to be updated on these projects; to be updated on music join NishiMusic @ YahooGroups.
Jogging, Martial Arts Kickboxing, Dance - currently middle eastern dance & bellydance, Tennis, Singing (of course ;) and working on my songs, Reading & writing about all the things I am interested and passionate about, watching tv and movies, painting, drawing, astronomy, rollerblading (and trying to get better at it and ice skating!), obsessive anime and manga fan and professional web designing, ancient studies / ancient civilizations, history and archaeology, world mythology, politics and world affairs, international law, human rights, studying many languages (have studied and continue to study spanish, mandarin chinese, japanese and hindi).
1/1 - 2/21 |
3/5 - 3/30 |
3/31 - 4/18 | 4/19 - 5/10 | 5/13 - 6/22 | 6/22 - 7/29 |
| 7/30 - 9/13 | 9/14 - 10/11 | 10/12 - 11/12 |
11/13 - 12/18 |
12/19 - 2/5 |
2/6 - 3/17 |
3/17 - 4/21 |
4/24 - 6/19 | 6/20 - 8/4 |
8/6 - 9/14 | 9/16 - 11/3 | 11/4 - 12/31 | 1/1 - 5/3 | 5/6 - 7/22 | 7/25 - 10/30 | 10/31 - 12/28 | 1/5 - 4/14 |
Entries from 4/24/05 to 9/8/05 gone due to computer crash
| 9.10.05 - 2.9.06 |
| 2.12.06 - 5.16.06 |
Entries from 5/17/06 to 9/8/05 gone due to computer crash
| 9.9.06 - 12.25.06|
| 12.26.06 - 5.19.07 |
| 5.24.07 - 9.06.07 |
| 9.7.07 - 12.30.07 |
12.31.07 - 3.25.08 |
3.30.08 - 5.15.08 |
5.15.08 to 8.5.08 |
Personality Quizzes I Made
The Royalty Quiz
The Woman of Beauty Quiz
Woman of Legend Quiz
Books / Stories
King Arthur and all things Arthurian, Merlin, light and dark; The Crystal Cave, The Dark is Rising series, most anything to do with magic, vampires, werewolves; anything fantasy and romance-like: EMMA, Jane Eyre, Phantom of the Opera, Count of Monte Cristo, The Cask of Amontillado; almost anything Shakespeare wrote; The Harry Potter series; my childhood stories - Sweet Valley High, Twins, Kids, Babysitters Club, Boxcar Children, Bobbsey Twins, RAMONA QUIMBY series; SHERLOCK HOLMES, NANCY DREW; all books dealing with things I love from art, mystery, religion, magic, mythical creatures such as "DA VINCI CODE" and "Interview with the Vampire"
Movies
Emma, Contact, Ever After, Farenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine, Legally Blonde 2, Princess Diaries, Sweet Home Alabama, Matrix: Reloaded, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Staw Wars: Episode II, TOMBRAIDER I & II
All-time TV Shows
Three's Company, The Nanny, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, FRIENDS, Relic Hunter, Buffy, Xena, Clarissa Explains it All, OUT OF THIS WORLD, Wings, Mad About You, Simpsons, Married with Children, Carol Burnette Show, Anamorphs, Punky Brewster, Smurfs, Rainbow Brite, and the list could go on forever ;)
Musicals
Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, WICKED
Favorite Drinks
In the summer: starbucks' iced caramel macchaito - decaf and nonfat; lychee, boba/bubble tea/pearl milk tea; thai iced tea; lipton lemon and raspberry iced tea
In the winter: hot chocolate and starbucks' white chocolate mocha non-fat
Fave Alcoholic Drinks
Margaritas, amaretto sours, singapore slings, rum & coke and white wine - pinot
Music to relax to:
The slow version of the sailormoon theme song, the theme for Phantom of the Opera, the theme by Mono from Great Expectations and theme from Romeo and Juliet....so many more.....I can't live w/o music.....
A Fan Of:
I'm more a Democrat so I'm a fan of Bill & Hillary Clinton, Madeline Albright, Margaret Thatcher, Lee Iaccoca
Movie Actresses
Drew Barrymore
Kirsten Dunst
Kate Hudson
Nicole Kidman
Demi Moore
Gwyneth Paltrow
Julia Roberts
Reese Witherspoon
Renee Zellweger
Movie Actors
George Clooney
Johnny Depp
Matthew Goode
Tom Hanks
Ashton Kutcher
Brad Pitt
Keanu Reeves
Adam Sandler
Robin Williams
Magazines etc.:
Vogue
Cosmopolitan
Shape
Glamour
Bazaar
Fitness
Allure
Elle
Marie Claire
Archaeology
Mysteries
Foreign Affairs Journals
The Economist
Discover
Astronomy
Sky & Telescope
National Geographic
New York Times
Commondreams.org
In Style
US Weekly
PEOPLE
Reminders:
Salons in NY to try:
Buff Spa at Bergdorf Goodman: 754 5th Ave $$$
Tiffany Nails: 903 Madison $$
Soho Sanctuary: 119 Mercer $$
Maximus Spa - Massage: 15 Mercer $$
Just Calm Down: 32 W. 22nd $$ - get grape gatsby with Essie Bordeaux polish
Ajune Spa: 1294 Third Ave $$
Frederic Fekkai: 15 E. 57th - Mandarin Supreme Pedicure $$
Salons in L.A. to try:
Kathy's Nails: 7967 Melrose $
Salons in Paris:
Mr. Ho: 3 Rue Washington $$
La Bulle Kenzo: 1 rue du Pont Neuf $
Stuff in NY
Nobu - Sushi
TrapezeSchool.com
Things to Buy
HairArt's T3 tourmaline blow-dryer
Skin Ceuticals C + E Antioxidant Treatment $115 or
Renee Rouleau Vitamin C & E Complex $60
Neutrogena Active Breathable Sunblock SPF 30 $10
Whipped Shea Butter Body Cream
Nippits
Boot Shapers
Hollywood Fashion Tape
White Pearl Bra
Bubble Maker
Lilac Round Rug
Voting Related
Vote-Smart.org
Rock The Vote.com
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Saturday, June 13, 2009
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09:06 p.m.
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thank you Raman for giving me a little nudge :) *HUGS*
I have been very busy with my full-time job as an attorney here in NYC while taking theater classes, working with new producers on my new albums, and my children's book illustrator and I are nearly 50% done with the 1st children's series I hope to have published this summer (or at least this year). I am studying Hindi on Tuesdays and Cantonese on Fridays while theater is on Saturdays and am very busy with my non-profit human rights foundation, Leading Light,
I have missed blogging incredibly but am almost ready to come back - just a few more weeks time to get things done in my personal life and get back to "square one."
I have missed my normal life so much.
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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The Hills, MoMa, Zimbabwe's PM Tsvangrai
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Monday, April 6, 2009
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11:18 p.m.
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just finished watching The Hills season premiere and I've gotta say, I love Lauren (that's a given - fellow Aquarius) but I've also always rooted for Heidi and Spencer's relationship. They're not perfect and they've got HUGE problems, both as individuals and as a couple, but I think they are an example of a couple that will last the test of time, no matter how many hurdles you put in front of them. Right now, they're so *young* and watching them struggle to grow and mature and become better people and a better couple/boyfriend and girlfriend to each other, is something we can all relate to - it's what we *all* have gone through - albeit not in front of a camera. I feel like these 2 kids have been through a helluva lot figuring out their relationship and their lives, but through it all, they really love each other.
We all know couples who we pass judgment on, thinking they'll never work, and then surprise-surprise, they marry, have kids, and never divorce and are happy and successful partners. Part of being a better couple/bf-gf/husband-wife is overcoming a lot of difficulties. You're lucky if you get along perfectly but often, perfect doesn't last. Struggles and fights test commitment, test if you really want to be with this person through it all, and when you work past the fights, problems etc., (the key words being "work past") your relationship is 10x stronger than before. But there's gotta be real love there and real commitment. Hey - look at Tim the Tool-Man Taylor and his long-suffering wife ;) hahahah :) whoda ever thunk that relationship, even in TV-land, would work ;)
Spencer is starting to show maturity through real love for Heidi but he's still got a lot of growing up to do - however, that said, what he was doing at the bar with that waitress was *nothing* - seriously, they made it out to seem like such a huge deal but the way he talked to the bartender was harmless - he wasn't *truly* flirting with her at all - the truth is Spencer would never go after the bartender because he loves Heidi. As for Brody? Dude - the guy totally SET SPENCER UP! What kind of friend tells Spencer to get out of "being with Heidi" and live it up at a club/bar? Even Spencer was shaking his head thinking that's not something he should do. Deep down, he knows what's right and wrong and won't cross that line.
Waxing philosophic over the Hills - shows you what a really fun and worthwhile show it is to watch (at least to me personally) ;) You may disagree ;)
So did you hear that MoMA is doing Ride Your Bike to MoMa Monday Nights? Starting tonight and every 1st Monday of the month, the Museum of Modern Art here in the city will give 1/2 price admission and free bicycle valet parking to anyone riding their bike to MoMA from 5:30-8:45. :)
After work, walked to Grand Central in slightly drizzly weather (after it had been pouring all day) but just as I got there, the sun started breaking through the clouds. By the time Mek and I and our friend Bill all got back to Westchester, the sun was out and it was perfect weather for me to go running! I ran 6.5 miles almost every day for the past week and only the rain would've kept me off the pavement tonight :) Came home after my workout and mummy had made the most delicious asparagus curry which I'll take for lunch tomorrow and made upa mav for Mekha and I to have for breakfast :) I made myself a gigantic spinach salad filled with broccoli sprouts, mushrooms, tomatoes, red, yellow & orange bellpeppers, celery and sliced almonds, drank a hot cup of cinnamon apple spice tea and finished a 6 oz dish of my favorite Chobani Greek Yogurt (plain non-fat) with a generous hand of cinnamon on top - feel healthy :)
Been catching up on the news and Prime Minister Tsvangrai's tragedy seems to keep unfolding. First his wife died in a car crash and now, today, it appears his son drowned. Tsvangrai is the PM of Zimbabwe which has been making headlines for months now due to political turmoil and warfare related to power struggles - mostly involving Mugabe - the president.....
Must head to bed. *HUGS* to all and azure kaze thanks sweetheart :) what a wonderful message you left for me :) we should definitely talk more one of these days - soon!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Sunday, April 5, 2009
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11:59 p.m.
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I am sooo up late - way beyond my bed time but I have a good reason: am working on a series of articles I am writing on the Dalits of India for publication in my non-profit foundation, Leading Light Foundation's Journal. The articles each focus on different aspects of the issue and are research intensive, focusing on news stories from the past 10-15 years, along with research into how International Law is violated in each instance. Super tired and sleepy now and must get up for work in the morning - have a ton of Reply Affirmations on summary judgment threshold motions to do - going to bed in a few but first must write a little! :)
Yesterday, I began the new spring semester of classes at HB Studio - a professional actors school in the village. I am studying technique with the amazing Michael Beckett who I think is phenomenal - he's immensely talented and wise - everything he said resonated with me and spoke to my soul. Classes at HB will keep me busy on Saturdays but during the week, I will be back to my studies in Japanese, Mandarin, Hindi & Cantonese with classes 5 evenings a week and my friend Rose will be tutoring me in French as well during my lunch hour on Wednesdays! :)
After Technique class, I went to Spanish Taverna on the corner of 38th Street and 7th Avenue where I had the most delicious Mariscada Diablo (shrimp, mussels, clams in spicy tomato sauce) served with salad and an appetizer of pulpo a la gallego (galician octopus with paprika) followed by the superb Crema Catalana a custard dish with athin layer of caramelized sugar on top (the sugar has been burned in a broiler or with a blow torch).
Then went to my fave Japanese bookstore, Kinokuniya, where I found a fantastic book on Indian folklore to help me research and write my Indian historical fiction epic I have been working on for the past God knows how many years - it began as a story on Jahanara back in '98 and has now developed into an all original epic story of a woman from childhood to old age - will take me many more months (or more years) to complete because of the research and detail involved, but I think the end result will be worth it.
Am meeting with my friend Rosalyn this Tuesday to work on my children's illustrated books - I want to get at least the 1st book in the series (3 written so far) published this summer so she and I are going to work to a tight May 1st deadline to get manuscripts completed.
Next weekend, will meet with Joe, a producer in New Jersey, to work on music he is doing for film and television - he is also going to help develop my own music as well. I hope to meet my other producer Manoj soon as well - orchestrating time with him is so hard but he's a phenomenal musician and worth working with.
It's hard when you work full-time as an attorney to pursue a music career, write and fulfill all your goals, hopes and dreams, but the one thing you can't do it ever stop or give up. Even if it means staying up past your bed time until midnight and 1 a.m. ;)
Sweet dremas all and good night.
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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The Winds of God are Always Blowing, but You Must Set the Sails
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Saturday, March 28, 2009
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10:58 p.m.
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It has been forever since I sat down at this computer and wrote and tonight I wrote a new piece for my column, Nishi's Niche, at Bravura Artist Magazine. My own computer is still down with that virus and I have been so busy with various other life aspects (personal issues) that I have not felt the overwhelming desire to be glued to my computer - I check email when I can at work or through my phone or on my dad's computer. However, the writer in me is screaming to get out and I must get my computer fixed to finish writing my stories and get them published this summer. My heart is clamoring to work on my websites, my writings, to immerse myself in creativity, song, music, etc. once more and I know that what I had to go through since December (without a computer) was necessary in order to reach this stage.
Here is the article. Once I get my comp fixed (hopefully with the help of my friend Alexi) I will post pictures and many other tales and adventures I have had in the past few months. There is much - MUCH - to tell :)
The Winds of God are Always Blowing, but You Must Set the Sails
by Nishi Rajan
There is an ancient Arabic saying I came across years ago and which I have never forgotten because the words were so powerful and meaningful. I would write this expression down as a source of inspiration - it can be found in my diaries and on my walls. The author has never been known, but, whoever he or she was, had this wise message to share: "the winds of God are always blowing, but it is up to you to set the sails."
To the extent that we have the ability, we can accomplish or obtain almost anything we truly desire in our lives. All we have to do is "set the sails.”
Easier said than done? Not at all. I will tell you the secret. Where the desire is strong, the will to accomplish that which we desire must match in strength and, just as importantly, in perseverance; therein will lie the measure of your success.
The only two reasons why a person with freedom and ability, with sufficient intelligence and a healthy body, cannot accomplish his or her desires in life are a lack of will and lack of disciplined dedication. To the extent we are able, with either persistent hard work or persistent pursuit through connections and privileged access, or a combination, as long as we persevere, our desires can become reality.
I qualify success, however, on the extent of our abilities. Life is a gift, but it is not fair. Some are born with more privileges, talents and freedoms than others. Then there are those who are born into lives where freedom is not even an option - where survival and life itself are the only goals.
Life can be beautiful, wonderful and joyous, but it can also be hard, unjust, ugly and brutally cruel. Luck of the draw determines our lots in life, but, once we are given life, those of us with the ability can shape our lives into whatever we wish it to be.
What if we lack ability? What if we desire to write, to sing, to act, to start a business and become a millionaire but do not possess the talents or connections for it? The world and all of human history are filled with the stories of men and women who had not wit or intelligence, who were poor and destitute, but who accomplished great things with their lives. They all had one thing in common: a desire so great that, no matter rejections or failures, nothing stood in their way - at least not for very long.
You do not have to be a good singer, or even be able to carry a tune, to record an album, but if you desire to be a great singer, work to become so. The same is true of being a musician, after all, Beethoven was deaf. The real keys to singing or creating music lie in the song or composition and the will in your heart to convey it properly. Vocal or musical lessons and proper training can help you become a better singer, pianist or violinist but no one will listen to a singer or musician who sings or plays tiresome or passionless songs.
Similarly, you do not have to be a great writer to pen a story - the story itself is what is important - writing can always be improved. The desire to tell a tale that you are compelled to tell takes all precedence. Likewise, acting is a calling where the desire to act and lose oneself in another fictional character and setting, and convey what is needed, is what will determine the measure of your success - not talent.
The desire to achieve what is at the very heart of your wish is what you must focus on.
If you desire to be rich, create your own ideas for successful ventures or support someone else’s. Invest in your own education and that could be as little as the cost of buying a book or going to the library or simply searching the internet for ideas, advice and options.
You have to accept that when trying to shape your life into everything you ever wished it to be, you will fail multiple times. You will be rejected, lack money, time, often lose your motivation and spirit, even your hope, but if there is something you want so desperately, keep at it and never, ever, give up.
We who have working minds, arms, legs, hands and feet, with the freedom to live and be, we are the privileged compared to those born into lives of poverty, disease and misfortune. There is truly nothing and no one stopping us from accomplishing that which we choose to in our lives - other than our own conceived limitations. Obstacles can be overcome. Limitations can be overpassed.
What of those who are limited and blocked by obstacles not of their own creation? Those who live in war-torn countries, under oppressive regimes, or under difficult life or financial circumstances? They lack the ability and those of us with privilege - of any kind - can and should intervene and make another human being's life better - be their wind of opportunity. All humans should have the right to know a life where they can be happy, know love, joy, peace and harmony, at least for a little while. If circumstances had been different, it could be any one of us who were the less fortunate without ability to capture opportunities that others have much more access to.
So take heart, you have the ability to “set the sails” and accomplish almost anything you wish to in your life and should not let anything stop you, if you truly desire something. Do not forget, however, the plight of your fellow brothers and sisters in humanity. Once you accomplish your goals, or even during the pursuit of your goals, cast a glance upon those who did not have the means you did, or the freedom to capitalize on even a fraction of the abilities or freedoms you were born with and set their sails for them, as well.
The winds of God are always blowing, and you and I can also be the breath of opportunity - for ourselves and others.
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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In Florida :)
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Saturday, March 7, 2009
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02:46 p.m.
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Bags are packed & ready to go! Am on my way to beautiful sunny Florida for a week! See you all when I get back or hopefully I can write from a computer there (and hopefully my own computer will be back to normal when I get back so I can return to writing normally again - gaahh I miss it!).
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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10:45 p.m.
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goodness since my computer got that virus I haven't blogged regularly in forever! I have to put up my photos from my birthday party and write soooooooo much - so many things I did over the past 4 weeks - I am going to Florida with my folks this weekend so perhaps I will write from there. Love & hugs to all!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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My Birthday is Today :)
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Friday, February 6, 2009
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6:00 p.m.
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I am back home after a lovely day in the city with my mom and am getting ready to head back out again to the city to meet my friends and sisters for dinner and then go out dancing afterwards! Took the day off from work so I could spend my birthday with my favorite woman on earth: my beautiful mom. After getting in late last night, I woke up at 8:20 a.m. and opened my mom's bedroom door and hopped into her bed, waking her up and saying 'It's my birthday!!' :) hahahaha I made her and papa breakfast (scrambled eggs, toast, chai) and then mum and I got ready and went to the city to go to The Rubin Museum of Art for their special exhibit on Kathmandu - Land of the Gods - the Rubin Museum is devoted to the art of India and Tibet, Nepal and that region and it is beautiful. However, the only downside of the trip was eating at the cafe - the staff was curt and a tad rude to me and my mom and the food - while it tasted good - was not enough - the 1/2 naanini sandwich was so small and I really wish it had been a bigger serving and the muligatwany soup (while plentiful) was really just daal (lentil soup) and it was sooo rich due to the coconut - for $10 it was too expensive - I could get a much better, healthier and more filling Indian meal elsewhere for equal or lesser cost so while the museum was great - the cafe was a let down and we were more upset by the rude/curt staff than anything else. If you're in that area, I recommend that you dine instead across the street at CREMA which will be MUCH better for you - they offer a HUGE spread of food for a prix fixe of $19!
After the exhibit, mum and I went to Macy's where she bought me the JESSICA SIMPSON FANCY perfume, body wash and lotion set which came with these 3 gorgeous traveling cases! Love love LOVED it :) Went to Midtown Comics then and purchased my ticket for New York ComicCon which is taking place today, tomorrow and Sunday and I plan to attend Saturday with my dear friends. Afterwards, I head to Queens to meet with my producer for work on music tracks and on Sunday my sisters booked me EQUUS! We'll do brunch in the city and the museum (Guggenheim). Can't wait to see EQUUS! :)
Ok am off to get ready now. *HUGS* to all!! And thank you for everyone's birthday wishes!!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Super Bowl Sunday! Woo HOOOO :D
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Sunday, February 1, 2009
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3:30 p.m.
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I am heading over to my good friend's apartment in the city for his superbowl party and bringing along a healthy soy-cheese organic pizza. Can't wait to see the superbowl commercials - they're my favorite part! Cardinals vs. the Steelers - going to be a great game! :D
This Friday (February 6) is my birthday and I am planning a birthday party with my friends and family - going to beautiful Japanese-Peruvian restaurant KION for dinner Friday night, and then on Saturday, attending New York COMIC CON festival with my food friends before coming back home for a birthday celebration with my entire family. Next Sunday, I'll be seeing EQUUS (final performance). Going to be a great weekend next! :) Not to mention the GRAMMYs are next Sunday as well I believe! :)
Met my friend Javier on Friday for dinner at SURYA (great Indian restaurant over on Bleeker Street in the village) where we feasted on warm lentil salad, shrimp biriyani and salmon curry before and trying ALL their desserts (the ghulab jamun and rice pudding was the best) before heading to Brooklyn to the art gallery where his art exhibit was being held. Javier is an amazing artist who is Spanish (from Spain) and incredibly talented - his works were featured in magazines, shown throughout Madrin and Spain and here in the city! He gave me the honour of gifting me with one of his works on Friday night - a gorgeous work on the mind/brain and connection on neurons - I hung it up over my night stand next to my bed - it's stunning! I LOVE his art works and am going to be designing his website to show case his works.
Ok I have to take a hot shower now & get ready for my friend's superbowl party. Have a great night all!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Sunday, January 25, 2009
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07:40 p.m.
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oh my god my thighs and knees feel like jelly! I just finished a 100-minute long (1 hour & 40 minute) workout on the brand new Health Rider elliptical machine my 3 sisters and I bought for papa and mummy as their christmas present this year. Dude - that thing's "weight loss workouts" are *tough* and I'm someone who runs 7-12 miles on a regular basis! Hope I see significant results - although it was definitely tough on my thigh muscles, I don't feel like I got enough of a heavy breathing cardio workout. Tomorrow I'll do its "cardio workout" and compare ;)
Am going to take a quick hot shower and watch the Screen Actors' Guild Awards tonight. Love Awards season :)
This weekend was such fun! We celebrated mummy and papa's birthdays combined and my 3 sisters came home (2 bringing along their significant others whom papa and mummy *adore*) and it was like we were all already one big huge happy family. Papa went to his friends Mario's and Jose's places where he was taught the Italian-art of making meat-filled bread - papa got to make real dough and fill it with bacon and that along with garlic bread rolls were his contribution to the birthday feast Saturday afternoon. The rest of the meal consisted of delicious baked chicken, beans, and my favorite: the fish curry! Dessert was the delicious cinnamon-pumpkin cake with real cinnamon chips that Mekha was able to find again at Stop & Shop :) Afterwards, we all played papa's favorite Indian game: CARAMS! If you don't know what Carams is, it's like shooting pool only you use your fingers to flick these disks into the pockets and there are specific rules - awesome game. Nith kept getting the Doritos on the board and mixing it with the talc powder you have to dust onto the board to make the disks move smoothly ;)
This morning while mum and pop went to church, Mil made us breakfast of omellettes with tomatoes, peppers, garlic and onions, we toasted up multi-grain bread, I made coffee and we breakfasted over the newspaper. Lunch was again a feast of spaghetti with tomato sauce, my favorite shrimp curry, broccolli, chicken breasts, and dessert was assorted cheesecakes and chocolate ice cream.
So you see now why I did a 1-hour and 40-minute long grueling workout on the elliptical tonight ;)
Hope you all had a wonderful weekend - back to work tomorrow - le sigh.
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Thursday, January 22, 2009
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10:51 p.m.
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I have a brand new favorite body lotion: Jergen's Naturals Renew - it has the most beautiful light scent, is completely moisturizing and nourishing, and it is 93% organic and free & clear of parabens which are known to cause breast tumors.
Ran 7 miles tonight when I came home before heading out to pick up Mek from the train station and pick up bananas for mummy from Stop & Shop. While there I went to the sushi section and picked up a seaweed salad and a rainbow roll :) Just finished this lovely meal and am going to head to bed soon.
I am coveting Fendi bags right now and am addicted to Goop.com - Gwyneth Paltrow's Blog.
Looking fwd to the weekend: heading to B.B. Kings tomorrow night to see Collie Buddz and on Saturday heading into Brooklyn for Adrian Grenier's band Honey Brothers. This weekend is also going to be spent with family celebrating mummy and papa's birthdays combined. I plan to get up early on Saturday and make banana-apple-almond pancakes and scrambled eggs :)
Am totally going to catch up on my recorded episodes of Gossip Girl, Privileged and 90210 this weekend, not to mention catch up on the eps I missed of Bromance and the City and how in the world can I catch Monday's Bachelor!? Must watch online!!! :)
Ok off to bed. *HUGS* to all!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Happy Obama Inauguration Day! :)
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Tuesday, January 20, 2009
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05:06 a.m.
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Good early morning - woke up at 1:30 a.m. and couldn't really fall back asleep and lay partially awake all night until I couldn't ignore my rumbling hungry stomach anymore and got up at 4:30 a.m. to help myself to a bowl of Grape Nuts & soy milk. Came downstairs and have been looking up this cafe/breakfast/brunch spot I found once and I believe it's called the Cupping Room Cafe over on West Broadway. Mekha and I spent Monday, January 19th, 2009 (Martin Luther King Day) having a "Chechy & Makkie's Day of Fun in the city" where neither of us had to work and could walk around the city without rushing, take it slow and drink everything in like we always wish we could on our usual hurried morning commutes.
We slept in till 9:15 and got up, got ready and onto the 10:30 train in, walked it to the Shuttle and took the 1 down to Christopher Street and after walking up West 4th Street, settled on I Tre Merli on West 10th Street for breakfast. Arrived just after 11 a.m. to a beautiful spot by the window to watch the snow fall lightly - it had snowed all day Sunday and we were surprised to find it still snowing (lightly) all day today as well - but it was soooooo gorgeous to watch the snow fall on the city streets while we stayed warm and cozy inside there. Mek and I said more than once we wished we could just stay there all day with a good book and a cup of cappuccino!
Anywayz, only one other couple was dining there that morning and it was warm & cozy, with lovely music playing which made it feel like it was still Christmas. Out waiter was attentive and delightful. I ordered the french toast with fresh berries, my sister the waffles - everything was prepared healthy & perfectly. French toast was soft, moist & melted in my mouth. The 1st cup of coffee was delicious. The bus boys refilled our waters every time. We were never rushed out, and were able to linger with our 2nd cup of coffees a long while. At about 1pm, just when we were ready to leave was when the restaurant got jam-packed! Couldn't believe how crowded it got so we were happy to have enjoyed the restaurant when it was quiet. I highly recommend the restaurant - was beautiful with delicious food. Loved it!
I then took Mek for a walk around that part of the neighborhood, introducing her to the cookies and confections at BATCH, CITY BAKERY & CORRADO BAKERY & showing her the famous STONEWALL INN and KETTLE OF FISH. We browsed books at THREE LIVES bookstore on Waverly Place and before we walked down Bleeker Street and I took her to my other fave bookstore 'PARTNERS & CRIME MYSTERY BOOKSELLERS' where I found 8 of the 10 books of 'World's 100 Best Detective Stories' series in original hardcover 1929 book print editions!!! I got them for a 20% discount too and at such a bargain price! :) Love that store. We then headed up to Union Square and did some shopping - Mekha hit Forever21 while I went to BEBE which was having a huge sale taking an extra 50% off its already discounted merchanfise. I splurged on a gorgeous black dress coat (original price $269 and I got it for $119) as well as a silk cream beige jacket and this flowy silky black & purple & magenta dress. Then after checking out Diesel (nothing today), we took the subway up to MoMA for the Marlene Dumas exhibit and Mek and I LOOVVVEEDDD it! It was so dark and macabre and some pieces could have been disturbing if you took them that way but Mek and I appreciated it with an artist's eye and with a focus on what the artist was trying to accomplish and convey. I wound up buying the Exhibition book so I could remember some of my favorite paintings - I'd love to own 1 or 2 of my favorite pieces of her works one day. I loved that Marlene Dumas' exhibit was titled 'Digging Your Own Grave' and made people contemplate and confront dark themes and their own dark thoughts.
After MoMA, Mek and I headed in the now very heavy snow to Serendipity because Mek had never been there before and it happens to be one of my favorite places to eat! It's famous for its Frrrrrozen Hot Chocolate! :) Normally the place has a huge line but when we got there (around 6-ish) no crowds and no wait and we were seated upstairs. Mek ordered the Curried Chicken Almondine which was this amazingly delicious chicken and noodle casserole dish with toasted almonds on top and which came paired with a mango chutney that I *loved* but Mekha didn't (she doesn't like her chicken to be sweetened but I thought it added so much to the meal) and with a large salad for her before it. I ordered the DIM SUM (shrimp dumplings) and this very large salad of spinach, tomamto, fruits (strawberries, blackberries) and avocado and almonds - was soooo delicious - with a pot of jasmine green tea and Mekha wound up having the amazingly delicious Chocoliccino for dessert (no dessert for me - I ate like 9 desserts at Mark's wedding on Saturday! Although I did wind up running 12 miles on Sunday to make up for it).
I'm pretty sure the Jasmine Green Tea is what kept me up tonight - ah well. :) Just finished my cereal and am munching on a slice of toast with some of that mango chutney on it (yum!) :) Mek and I had such a lovely day in the wintry city today (yesterday).
It's now January 20th, 6 a.m. almost and time for me to get ready for work. Today is the day OBAMA becomes President!! :) I'm going to see if I can get a blank VHS tape and set my VCR to record everything since I'll be at work all day while the ceremony and parade go on. So excited! We have a president I love! :)
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Saturday, January 17, 2009
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09:49 p.m.
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Came back from my friend Mark's wedding - was such a wonderful and beautiful wedding held at the Riviera in Massapequa, Long Island. Drove out in the morning and reached there by 11:30 a.m....so many of my good friends from work were there and we had such a fabulous time dancing and talking. Mek (my sister Mekha who was my date for the day ;)) and I ate until our stomachs could hold nothing more - seriously! And even then we kept eating! hahahahaha :) The cocktail hour was fabulous with every kind of food I loved! From shrimp rice, to shrimp cocktails, a carving station with tons of delicious meets, pasta and salad sections I devoured, and the desserts - oh my GOD the desserts - from eclairs, to red velvet cake, to other chocolate and vanilla cakes, to pastry puffs and a chocolate fondue fountain which we dipped Rice Krispie treats and marshmallows into.....I tried to run on the treadmill tonight when I came home but gave up after a paltry mile - I'll try running again tomorrow ;)
Last night Mek and I went to Tiffin Wallah over on 28th & Lexington (in Little India here in Manhattan) and we feasted on Navratan Korma, Uttapam and Mysore Masala Dosa and of course masala chai :) the chutney and sambar the latter 2 meals came with were fabulous! Think Mek and I will try Handii next and some of the other delicious-looking Indian restaurants around there in the coming weeks.
After all this rich eating I *have* get back on the running routine now ;)
Mek and I might go to the city tomorrow to get free ice-skating lessons at Bryant Park and do Sunday brunch in the village - be nice :) or maybe we should do Monday instead since we have the day off? Ah shall see. I want to see the Marlene Dumas exhibit at MoMa (The Museum of Modern Art before it closes next month.
Drove Jose, Kerry & David back to Jackson Heights where Jose lived and dropped Kerr and Dave by the subway before Mek and I drove back home....we had planned to stay over at our other sister Mili's in Long Island but decided best to go home....I wanna do another weekend in Connecticut at our sister Nithi's. Mark & Marie's wedding was just beautiful :) Was a wonderful day to celebrate with them.
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Sunday, January 11, 2009
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11:07 p.m.
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Just finished watching the Golden Globes and cannot believe how amazing it is that Slum Dog Millionaire won so many awards including the final and most important: best picture! :) I can't believe Shah Rukh Khan actually introduced it!!! I have been saving that movie to watch with my sisters and Mek and I are going to see it this Friday - I am going to take her for dinner to Tiffin Wallah beforehand (this awesome Indian restaurant over in Little India on Lexington that I LOVE) :) I was also happy to see Happy Go Lucky earned its star the best actress award - that and 'I've Loved You So Long' were on my must watch list when I saw Vicky Christina Barcelona a few months ago. All 3 movies won awards or earned nominations! Love movies. Love Hollywood :)
Spent today at home with the fam, did laundry, wrote to friends, as always the weekend ends too soon. The moon was a large golden yellow tonight. Have to call my friend Alexi tomorrow and see the status on my harddrive. I'm tired of not having my computer. I want to get back to work on my books, writing, music and everything. It's time to get my life back in order already.
Next weekend. Saturday I'll be attending the wedding of one of my best friends: Mark Stamps who marries his love, Marie :) Mekha is accompanying me out to Long Island. In anticipation of it, on Friday during my lunch hour I walked down to the Meat Packing District and hit the Catherine Malandrino store over on Hudson and scored this beautiful red dress I had had my eye on a couple months back when it was on the store window's mannequin. Catherine Malandrino is one of my favorite designers!! Occasionally, the store has some of its dresses on huge sale and imagine my surprise when I walked in and found out they had the Ruffle Sleeve Shirt Dress in Pomegranate - the exact dress I had so coveted - available in a Size 0 and on sale??? :) Original price: $425 - sale? $159! HELLO!! :D Done & bought! It needs to be hemmed because I'm so short but it fit perfectly and is BEAUTIFUL! While there I also tried on this red white and blue flag dress I saw Kelly Ripa wear on Regis & Kelly but the dress was waaayyyy too humongous on me - sometimes it sucks to be so petite and short but it's better for my wallet ;) hahaha :)
Next Sunday I had thought of performing for my producers' new gig (they're doing another charity show at The River on 10th Avenue) but no time to rehearse means no way I'm performing. It's so frustrating not being able to perform at shows without proper musicians to rehearse with on a regular basis. *sigh* I really, REALLY need to put together a solid roster of musicians willing to accompany me as a band - it is definitely time.
Anywayz, also time for me to head to sleep. *HUGS* to all!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Saturday, January 10, 2009
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10:51 p.m.
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It snowed all day here today and I spent it sleeping in late, breakfasting with the newspaper for hours, and then lunching on delicious fish, cuppa & sauteed mushrooms like only my mum cane make while I opened the new January & February 2009 issues of RIBON, NAKAYOSI & CIAO I picked up from Kinokuniya the other day and I am in love with all the new series featured! Will re-start my subscription through Sasuga ASAP (will be so expensive because the rates have increased so much since my subscription ran out)! The furoku though is soooo worth it - the January issues included great calendars and CIAO had this beautiful mechanical pencil for Kirarin Revolution - has that been licensed in the U.S. yet already?? I'm so excited because I learned that Ciao's Gokujyo!! Mecha Mote Iinchou has been made into an anime! And also that Mamotte Lollipop has been picked up by FUNIMATION and will be released here in the U.S. as Save Me Lollipop! :D
Ribon just started a new series by Arina Tanemura-sensei called Sakura Hime Kaden which so far looks sooooo good :) Full of shoujo goodness! I also like the MOMO series, CRASH, Petit Parade, Fly High and Patissiere Yumeiro.Sad to see Love Cotton ended though :( CIAO also has a new series featuring the Japanese boy band HEY! SAY! JUMP! whose lives and careers have been made into a manga! I'm also loving Ultra Hanamaru Z Gumi by Mariko Kosaka whose HAPPY HAPPY CLOVER is going to be published by VIZ in May (yaaayy!) :) Ciao's MAID JA NAI MON (I'm not a maid) also looks great! :)
Ate yummy onigiri on Thursday - delicious Konbu onigiri and seaweed onigiri from Cafe Zaiya on 41st Street before heading over to Kinokuniya's own Cafe Zaiya and treating myself to a slice of Pear cake and Ambrosia tea :)
After running 3 miles tonight, watched the full 2-hours re-play of The Bachelor tonight on ABC and can I just say I am SOOOOO going to watch this season's episodes - I think Jason is the best Bachelor EVER!! And the things those girls said! The "VISION BOARD" girl HAHAHAHAHA oh god I could not stop laughing when she said "good things come from the vision board" :)
Looking up all the manga now and trying to figure out the titles - am going to re-enroll in Japanese classes soon so I can really focus on learning the Hiragana and Katakana and learn to read and write for myself. Will be back at Hindi & Mandarin as well at the end of this month :) Off to bed soon. *HUGS* to all!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Wednesday, January 7, 2009
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11:59 p.m.
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went with my good friend Pete and his brother Steve to see GYPSY on Broadway tonight - it's the famous musical starring Patti Lupone which (after a very long run) is closing on Sunday. I've been lucky to see a lot of good Broadway lately :) Worked late until 7:20 tonight before hopping on the subway and joining the fellas.
Yesterday was Papa's birthday and I picked up the most delicious all natural cake - Cinnamon Pumpkin Cake with cinnamon chips! It was soooo delicious :) It's sitting in the fridge right now and would make such a good late night treat ;) hahaha it's almost 1 a.m. right now and I soooo need to hit the sack - LONG day....
Finally used up all my gift cards at Borders & Barnes & Noble today - Borders was having their buy 1 get 1 50% off and I stocked up on a TON of manga!! Can't wait to finally read them all! Got the new Jade of Bongo series, Aspirin, Bogle, Time Stranger Kyoko, Mamotte Lollipop, completed my Sugar Sugar Rune set, and the first books in the Captive Hearts and one other series I forget right now....manga manga I loveee manga :)
Ok my stomach is growling - must eat and sleep. *HUGS* and good night to all!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Monday, January 5, 2009
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11:58 p.m.
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OMG tonight was the most awesome night of Monday night TV - seriously. I got back from working out (7 mile run) and after a soothing hot shower and dinner, settled into bed to watch BROMANCE, The CITY, and switch back and forth between Bachelor and True Beauty and Momma's Boys and Daddy's Girls (MTV keeps making such great entertaining shows - I'm actually serious here!) and I love them all!! Tonight's Bachelor had this girl talking about how she could not believe that she was rejected (none of them ever seem to believe it) but she went on and about how great she is but guys keep rejecting her because she's not great enough. I seriously wish I had TiVo so I could just rewind and write down the things she said - they were soooooooo quotable and AMAZINGLY hysterical. Someone tell me you recorded it and PLEASE write down what that girl SAIDDDD for meeeee??? :D
I am such a fan of BROMANCE and THE CITY - Brody Jenner's series about guy-friends is funny as heck and Whitney Port's The City is just delicious fun to watch for all the clothes & new drama! And Daddy's Girls? I had no idea I would like it but seeing it brought so many memories of L.A. back - Griffith Park especially - and the girls and their interactions with Daddy (the super-rich Russell Simmons) was so cute and sweet! And Momma's Boys and True Beauty? Again - SOOOOO much good entertainment - these are the reality shows you SOOOOOOO want to watch because they are just that good! HYSTERICAL STUFF! Where do they find these people with such immense personalities?
Seriously you couldn't pay me to leave my TV tonight. Oh and the FIESTA BOWL was happening tonight as well so I was tuning back and forth from the Ohio State game as well (I love football).
Saw the final closing performance of Young Frankenstein on Broadway yesterday and it was so great :) Had no idea it was such a sexy/erotic-themed musical but it was a hoot and a holler and it's pronounced 'Fronk-en-steen' ;) This Wednesday, my friend Pete and his brother and I are going to see GYPSY starring Patti Lupone - that show closes on Broadway next Sunday and I am sooooooooo happy Pete got us all tickets! Now all that is left is for me to see EQUUS before it closes (the play starring Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe and his controversial nudity that is much hyped about).
Agh almost midnight - must get to bed or I will be zonked tomorrow. *HUGS* to all!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Happy New Year's Eve!
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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07:38 a.m.
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Last night I saw Liza Minelli at the Palace Theater - she is a phenomenal performer - such energy, such a voice! I took my friend Mona there for her birthday and we had a BLAST! Love, love, LOVE Liza Minelli - watching her makes you feel *good* - as in HAPPY :) She's so vivacious and infectious with her charm and pizazz! Yes Pizazz!! :D
Speaking of performances, on Saturday night I went to support my producers Manoj and Pramanik of BrownSkinz Music at their show in the city at The River on 10th Avenue b/t 42nd & 43rd Streets - didn't leave there until midnight and didn't come home until almost 3 a.m. but it was awesome! Mona introduced me to these 2 new producers from Queens who wanted to work with me and I asked a new producer I will be working with named Joe from New Jersey (who does music for TV, Commercials and Film) to meet me at the show to talk about working together on music.
Lots happening on the music front - all good :) Today is New Year's Eve and my dear friend Alexi said he will help fix my computer!! :D I hope he can get all my data recovered!! That will be the BEST New Year's gift!
Ok am off to the train station. *HUGS* and love to all!
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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12:42 a.m.
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good god not again - I screwed up my computer once more on the eve of a brand new year. ya know how my computer got a virus? I spent this morning uploading some of my files that I absolutely needed and hoped to get an 8 or 16GB flash drive to save the rest of my files tonight - well I didn't get it and I foolishly loaded my computer up again using safe mode to check my email before bed....the keyboard wouldn't work and the screen froze and so, frustrated, I pressed the main power switch on the comp to re-boot it and SYSTEM32 corrupt error. God no. This is what screwed up my last harddrive. When I think about how much data and important stuff I had on that comp this is NOT NOT NOT FAIR. UGHHHHH. Now I *have* to go back to BestBuy and pay their ridiculous sum to see if they can back up the data and restore my comp. God this sucksssssssssssssss.
I'm going to see what I can do before I go to bed.
Tomorrow night, I am going with my friend Mona to see Liza Minelli at the palace! :) Can't wait to see her perform! Hopefully, it'll take my mind off my computer worries.
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Merry Christmas :)
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Thursday, December 25, 2008
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10:00 p.m.
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(Mekha, Nithi, me, mummy and papa - only Mili was missing because her train couldn't get to the city until 6:20)
My Christmas Gifts to my family this year went perfectly! It began with a fancy dinner at the Russian Tea Room on Tuesday night & it was simply wonderful :) The night before (Monday night) I had stayed up until 1:30 a.m. pouring through the menu and selecting the best items and how to order them by combining prix fixe and main-menu items so that we could order the best dishes at the most cost-effective basis and I worked it out beautifully! I made a gorgeous menu, printed it out, left it for the fam to find the next morning and during my lunch hour at work on Tuesday, went to 57th street and spoke with the manager of the Russian Tea Room and ensured that the items on my menu would be prepared beautifully - light on butter, oil, etc. because of papa and mummy's health concerns. I asked everything to be finished by 6:30, that the dishes be brought out together so we could all share - they did the most beautiful job!
Here was my menu I designed:
Appetizers:
- Buckwheat Blini & Caviar Crepes (wild alaskan salmon caviar with chopped egg, red onion & sour cream)
- Goat Cheese & Wild Mushroom Blinkchiki (chestnut crepes filled with mixed mushrooms, melted onions with a mulberry & pomegranate reduction - looks like folded ivory pancakes)
- Red Borscht (soup of red short ribs broth with pickled red beets, vegetables, dill & beef pirozhki)
- Pelmeni (a soup of oxtail dumplings in beef and foie gras with root vegetables & truffle essence)
- Maine Lobster Salad (poached Maine lobster with mixed radishes, celery root, fennel & blood orange broth)
Entrees:
- Market Fish - Daily seasonal preparation of a current market fish -- which was salmon
- Chicken Tabaka (flattened mushrooms & truffle-oil marinated cornish hen with butternut squash & whip-creamed/egg-white-whipped kohlrabi & wild mushrooms)
- Roasted Venison Loin (spiced venison loin with squash barley, chestnut flan, brussel sprouts & huckelberry sauce)
- Duck (pan-seared breast duck, red lentils, curried cauliflower & spiced chocolate reduction)
Dessert:
- Czar’s Gold & Caviar Parfait nougat cream, toasted almonds, chocolate sauce
- Hot Plum Crumble sauteed plums, port reduction, spiced granola crumble, crystalized ginger icecream
- Fall Citrus Tart - confit kumquats, blood orange & spiced pistachio
The Czar's Gold & Caviar Parfait was boring - but the Hot Plum Crumble was AMAZING :) We ordered Darjeeling Tea, St. Petersberg Tea, Prince Vldamir tea and the Lung Ching Green Tea - all of which came with trays of cookies (madelines and biscuits) with these beautiful cherry preserves the waiter told us went in the tea (a Russian tradition) - well I liked it better on top of the biscuit cookies actually - much tastier :)
After this delicious dinner - and honestly, everything was prepared exactly as I wished - light, healthy, clean, there was nothing creamy, buttery or unhealthy - simply perfect - we walked down the 10 blocks on Broadway to see WHITE CHRISTMAS! :) The seats I had gotten - Center Orchestra row S were PERFECT! And the musical was wonderful from start to finish - TONS of dancing, singing, the story was great (if you saw the movie starring Fred Astaire & Bing Crosby than you know what the musical is about) and it was updated for present-day NYC.
Mili wasn't in any of the pictures because she had come in from Long Island straight from work just to see the show (she absolutely LOVED it) and had to run back to Penn Station to catch her train. Incidentally, my beautiful sis passed the 3rd part of her CPA exam! She got a 91!! How amazing is she? :)
Anywayz, papa had parked at a parking garage on 56th Street and I navigated the way home on the West Side highway - the city was SO beautiful - we had so much fun walking down Broadway with all the city lights, flashing neon signs and the magic of Broadway in front of us - I held papa's hand for a couple blocks - was SUCH a cute father-daughter moment :) It was SUCH A COLD night too but my mom had on this beautiful coat I had gotten her few Christmas ago with a hood so she was good :) On the drive home, they told me that this was what was most important - the memories - all of us doing this together as a family :) I was so happy :) We didn't get home until 11/11:30 and the next morning went to work and on Wednesday night (Christmas Eve) we went to church - beautiful Christmas service - LONG night, didn't get home until again past 11 and WE OPENED PRESENTS!!!
It's a tradition in our family (most christmases) that we open up presents on Christmas Eve night right after church (but some times we have managed to wait until the next morning ;) hahaha) well - in addition to the dinner & show (which had cost me a fortune) I still wanted the girls and papa and mummy top open up something but because of the late nights, I hadn't gotten a chance to wrap their small gifts or make these special memory-keepsake presents I had also planned and designed.
That day (Christmas Eve) I had went to Duane Reade's photo center during lunch and designed these beautiful greeting cards, collage matte prints and bordered photos. And on Tuesday when I had gone with my instructions to the manager of the Russian Tea Room, I had picked up their beautiful cards, postcards, etc. My plan had been to design and create a beautiful frame-able or other keepsake that my family could keep around to remember our night together.
So after opening presents (I got a Borders Gift Card, 2 Visa Gift Cards, a necklace, JESSICA SIMPSON's FANCY perfume, a beautiful magenta sweater from Forever21, Victoria's Secret hand lotions, and money from mummy and papa), and making my family believe that I had nothing to give them except the dinner & the show (which was a LOT considering how I'm broke now from spending so much on it but convincing them, nonetheless that I had no little stocking stuffers even) I stayed up until 3:30 a.m. wrapping the small gifts I had bought them over the past couple weeks - I got Mekha TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD (to complete the Harry Potter collection) and the 2nd novel in the "FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB" which I loaned her to read and she loved it so when I saw the 2nd book came out, grabbed it for her, I got Mili got a gift card to H&M (one of our favorite stores), I got Nithi a Victoria's Secret lotion gift set in a pretty bag, Papa got the DEAL OR NO DEAL electronic game, and mummy got perfume I bought her.
This morning, I got up early and snuck downstairs and piled the presents on the formal living room's center table. It took me a long time to glue the cards and tape the photos - I put the tickets for the White Christmas show on the bottom so that the cards would stand up and inside, I placed the photos from the night. The greeying cards also contained matchbooks from Russian Tea Room on the back.
Mummy made putih and piarih for breakfast and after everyone had woken up and come down, I took them to the living room where they LOVED the cards and the keepsakes and the presents even more :) hahahahaah they were definitely completely surprised :)
After making some hot coffee and reading the paper, I went and helped mum with Christmas lunch - cut up, washed & made delicious healthy broccoli and helped her make curried tilapia cooked in olive oil and make pork and beef kebabs on these skewers Mil had bought over the summer. Mum had already put a turkey in the oven for dinner so that was set. We ate lunch together with papa's friend Mario's home-made Italian white wine. And I read poems at the table from this small book of Christmas poems - I read Come, Bring With a Noice by Robert Herrick and Minstrals by William Wordsworth.
Nith then made drinks - martinis for the girls and papa, mum enjoyed white wine, and I poured myself some cherry-flavored brandy and we all gathered in the living room to watch old home videos. We put in these VHS tapes from way back in the late 80's/early 90's...such a treat to see ourselves to young...vacations in India, riding bicycles in our old home in Carmel....celebrating birthdays...I got all teary-eyed at one point while one video showed us celebrating Mek and Mil's birthday and papa was making sure group photos were being taken with the automatic camera....
I appreciated and loved my family so much today...we have been through so much together.....despite how we get angry at each other some times, how annoyed we get, sometimes we can fight very badly - at the deep heart of it all is such a great, great love we have...we are family, no matter what - through thick and thin.
After the videos, papa and mummy watched their AsiaNet movies while the girls and I played PASSWORD, writing up words on pieces of papers, using my cake-shaped timer, and we had a blast.
Right now I am preparing for bed...it has been a wonderful Christmas and I have to work tomorrow - sadly, our company did not give us the day after Christmas off :( I wish they had - all the attorneys have to come in and work who didn't request the day off. Ah well. What to do.
One of the main "lessons" in the musical White Christmas comes to mind right now - it said that if you're having trouble sleeping, count your blessings instead of sheep, and you will fall asleep counting your blessinggggsssss.....my greatest blessing is my family.
This has been a HUGE long entry....I am off to bed. Hope your Christmas was beautiful. *HUGS* to all with special love to Sarah Beth, Azure Kaze, Caroline, Miyu-chan and Callie. God bless.
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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Christmas is almost here!! :)
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Monday, December 22, 2008
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10:00 p.m.
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god I can't wait to fix my computer and have it back working in my bedroom again - it hasn't been that bad actually considering I can check email at work and on my dad's comp at night but it's the little things I miss - like being able to check 'weatherbug' in the morning to check the temperature and forecast, being able to sit in the early morning and write while I gaze at the geese and ducks on the lake outside my window...stupid viruses that infected my comp grrr . . .
Tomorrow after work I am taking my family out for Christmas! As my gift this year, I bought amazing Orchestra seats to an evening performance of Irving Berlin's Broadway Musical: WHITE CHRISTMAS! :D And before the show? I reserved us a table for dinner at the incomparable Russian Tea Room. Yes, I am very broke now from spending a lot on this but to see my parents and sisters with me in my beautiful NYC enjoying a fancy dinner and a broadway musical show at Christmas time - makes it all worth it. :) I'm wearing this super pretty silver dress and matching brocade dress I bought as a set from Victoria's Secret a year ago and super warm gray suede boots.
Today was unbelievably cold in NYC - 14 degrees and the wind made it even more bitter! UGH BY JOVE I hate this weather.
This weekend, Mek and Mil and I drove up to Connecticut to join our sister Nithi for her Christmas party - was SUCH a good time and I had waaayyyyy too much of Three Olives Triple Shot Espresso Vodka oh my GOD WAS THAT GOOD!!! I am soooo buying that and stocking my cabinet with it :D hahahaha :) Anything chocolate or mocha flavored - gimme :D Plus the drink matched my chocolate dress I wore with killer high heel brown soft-faux leather boots :)
Connecticut was fun - driving there and back in heavy snow and icy, slippery road conditions? Not so much. The # of accidents we saw on our drive up and back was ridiculous.
Here in NYC, the big news is Bernard Madoff and his Ponzi scheme which has affected almost everyone who had money to invest. He was at the federal courthouse over by Centre Street last week to sign over his apartment on the upper east side on Lexington (he also has homes in Palm Beach and in Hamptons). In other news, the Yankees are asking the city to use more than 1/2 of the $370-MILLION in bonds it's given them to finish the new stadium to pay for "enhancements" that weren't part of the original deal including a "banquet hall" and costly audio/visual equipment. Now, I'm a Yankees fan but come on!! Governor Patterson's just proposed RIDICULOUS taxes where we - the citizens - are getting royally screwed - and here our baseball team is taking hundreds of millions of dollars for a fancy stadium that many of us won't even be able to afford to go to!
Don't get me started on Gov. Patterson's taxes - I am, like everyone else in the city, steamed about them. He wants to cut $698-million in school aid (I'm an advocate for education) and then hike our taxes on everything from soda and movie tickets (which already cost $12!!) to clothing less than $110 by eliminating the current tax exemption - I mean COME ON! We weren't the one who put a $15-billion deficit upon the city! NYC is already an expensive place to live and work - the # of taxes he's proposing will make it down-right insufferable! And this combined with the rate and fare increased on public transit? Seriously! And yet, somehow we'll get by - we'll complain and grouse but us New Yorkers are a rare breed - we pull together in good and bad times and truck on through. I love this city, heart and soul.
Anywayz, I'm off to bed *HUGS* to all and will report tomorrow night with news of the show & dinner at Russian Tea Room and hopefully with lots of pictures :)
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Have you 'Sloohed' yet? If you love astronomy like I do, then you have to try the *LIVE* telescope missions at Slooh.com! Sign up for a free trial and see nebulae & galaxies right on your computer *LIVE*! I'm there most evenings & weekends. Join the Chat!
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