Life works in such funny ways sometimes ...

... And you realize all the waiting and all the heartbreak was worth it to be in this moment, at this place, with this person. 

What an incredible feeling. 

Uh oh

I think I might actually have a crush and really like someone. Scary. Fun! But scary ...

I've started on my book!!

Only a 1,000 words in to what needs to be a 100k manuscript, but hey it's progress!

Another update post - 9/2/13

Been up to a lot over the last 10 days or so so I thought I'd document it here. 

Last weekend my friend graham (from South Africa!) was in town so spent time with him. Susan was also in town so I dragged then both to bingo in queens :)

 

And then we walked the highline. It was crazy crowded but I got a pic of one of my favorite views:

Then a bunch of us went to dinner on Saturday night and it was soooo hilarious. Just a random group of people and lots of fun. 

On Sunday I re-started two of my favorite activities - volunteering with Special Olympics and taking tennis lessons. Felt really, really, really great to get back into both. 

Then on Sunday night poops and I went to the MTV VMAs! It's always been a dream of ours to go so we are really glad we did. And JT gave the performance of a lifetime including a reunion with nsync!

Then I worked Monday but took off Tuesday - Thursday to chill out and hang with Annie. I stayed at her house in the burbs which was nice and relaxing. 

Tuesday we went to the beach and Wednesday we just chilled. 

Then on Thursday I convinced her to go to bingo too:

Then on Thursday night I had a rowdy night out with my college friends. We started off with bowling and then ended up at karaoke. Along the way Rashmi lost her computer, passport and us open ticket, we spent a collective g and got home at 3 in the morning. So worth it though. The only evidence I have of the night is:

And Ellen's picture:

Then labor say weekend has been pretty chill. Stayed in on Friday and Saturday day. Then went out with poops and her friends and then with Patrick and his brother and called it early.

Sunday cooked with poops and Preeti and called it early again ... Cause today dad and I went to the us open. And got rained on. All day. And left after only seeing an hour of tennis. But I was wet and soon to be crabby. 

And those were the last busy, but fun, 10 days. The next weeks are looking to be more chill, less travel, and just living life in NYC. Hopefully ...

And in a side note emotionally doing ok. Better actually. Missing him but way more functional. And debating no more contact or texting because damnit, I deserve a guy that appreciates me. 

Listening to this song on repeat on my phone, in my head, in my heart ...

Ingrid Michaelson - Maybe

Oh, the only way to really know is to really let it go

Maybe you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back

You're gonna come back

I still feel you on the right side of the bed

And I still feel you in the blankets pulled over my head

But I'm gonna wash away, oh I'm gonna wash away

Everything till you come home to me

Maybe in the future you're gonna come back

You're gonna come back

In the future you're gonna come back

You're gonna come back ... to me

An update post - 8/23/13

Been up to a bunch of stuff over the last week or so. 

First celebrated moms birthday at the start of the week. We got her a subscription to Birchbox and a photo book of our girls trip to London and Paris (which sadly came in 1 day too late but we showed her on the computer!)

Then the rest of the week has been chill with work so I decided to go to bingo in Brooklyn. It was some old. school. bingo. 

Then today we woke up and found out a taxi had crashed into the side of our building overnight!! Wtf!!

Have a busy but fun weekend ahead of me ... Can't believe summer is coming to an end. 

Emotionally I've had a bit of a rough week. I think I'm past the devastation and now am just sad and trying to cope with that. Especially every night before I go to sleep. And hoping I can win him back somehow. Lame but true. Step by step and day by day surviving ... And hoping. And coping. 

One of my favorite quotes ...

"They say that you're the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. Think about that for a minute: who would be in your circle of 5?"

From Drew Houston's MIT commencement speech, 2013

San Francisco

Was in San Fran for work this week and decided to extend the stay to see some fabulous friends - SR, SHC and NG. It was really nice to see them all even though one night I had to cancel because I just wasn't feeling up to it and needed some time to be sad and alone. I felt bad (and still do a little) but alas such is life and I can only do what I can do. Some pictures:

Me and little Dylan. Could eat this kid up. 

Me and roomie number 1, miss her lots!!

Me and roomie number 2, miss her lots too!

BBQ-ing in the park for roomie number 2's birthday!

And playing piñata!

T minus 16 hours ...

... Until a long stressful 2 months of work ends and gets back to some regularity. Right now I am coping here: 

Quote that would be my Facebook status right now

It's looking like a limb torn off
Or altogether just taken apart
We're reeling through an endless fall
We are the ever-living ghost of what once was

View from my workspace now ...

My view as I work this evening and mehndi from BP's wedding

Family friends wedding - so fun!

Last night we went to the wedding of a family friend we grew up with. It was so awesome hanging out with and dancing with friends that are like cousins and that we have known for ages. Definitely burned off some good calories too. Looking forward to taking trips to Florida and stuff to stay in touch even better - and maybe even planning yearly reunions. Congrats BP and R and thanks for a fabulous time!

Pic of us at la Quinta inn on the way to the beach the day after the jt/jz concert!

Back at it

Since I'm off Facebook for a while I thought I'd reactivate this to at least keep a log of what I've been doing lately. Looking back at Facebook is kind of looking back at a journal and I don't like not having that. Can't promise much in terms of regularity or great writing since its basically for myself. 

Here's some random stuff:

Last weekend Annie, Poops, Arpi and I went to Hershey PA to see justin timberlake and jayz on concert. They were AMAZING. and then the next day we went to the beach, which was pretty awesome too. 

Traveling - another reason I love Italy

There are soooo many comfortable places to sit, relax and wait for your flight at the Napoli airport. In fact right now I am lying down on a comfy leather couch reading. And I am not in any sort of lounge or anything. I'm literally in a normal waiting area. I wish us airports were this nice.

On top of that airport food is pretty damn good. I just had a pizza because I'm trying to keep it low key but even that was made from scratch just how I wanted it! No wonder people feel like American food is so processed, unhealthy and fake. This trip will definitely affect my eating habits when I get home. (well, whenever I can eat full meals again).

T minus 25 hours until I am home! And I get to see Corrin again tonight, yay :)

Day 17: 9/30/12 - I'm ready to go home

I had an even more chill day today - got up, lazed by the pool, ate some lunch at the marina, did some souvenir shopping, sat at the beach for a bit (rocky and cold water, boo), came back and napped/read, had dinner at the marina and am about to call it an early night.

The biggest thing that happened today is that I decided to cut my trip short and not do Rome. It was a sad decision but definitely the right one. My stomach and energy levels aren't nearly right and feeling sick after I eat anything and only being able to do stuff for a few hours a day is just not a state I wanted to be in while trying to explore Rome and enjoy wonderful Italian food. So I spent a bunch of time doing research and thanks to wonderful skyscanner.com found airfare that was not that expensive and bought a flight it for tomorrow. I have an overnight layover but if I can convince the airline to let me fly standby then I can avoid it. Otherwise ill hang with a friend that night and still get home 36 hours earlier than I was supposed to.

I know 36 hours isn't a lot and that I could have toughed it out but I realized that there are two ways traveling can make a person feel - free (95 percent of the time) and trapped (5 percent of the time). Right now I feel trapped, because I'm not feeling well, I can't do what I want to do and I don't have my regular comforts around me. And, well, what is the point of traveling an couple more days if it makes me feel that way? Why force myself to see stuff in Rome and not really enjoy it? I'd rather come back when I'm a hundred percent than do it like this. So, Jyoti looking out for Jyoti, I'll be home soon. And. I. Can't. Wait.

Oh below is a picture of my view from the marina during dinner today. Astounding sky eh?

Day 16: 9/29/12 - I <3 Capri

I'm writing this on 9/30 so will be short but had a wonderful day in Capri yesterday! My stomach is still bothering me so I was only up and about for 5 or 6 hours but I made the most of those!

I am staying near the port so when I woke up I took the Funicular (a tram) up the mountain to the main plaza in Capri. Now I know why everyone always says capri is so ritzy - because it is! All the streets surrounding the plaza had designer shops and even the restaurants were super nice and also super pricey. But I figured since I would be having my first real meal in days that I would treat myself.

I ate at this restaurant that Corrin recommended called Aurora. It. Was. Delicious. I tried to take it easy and so just had a little mozzarella appetizer and then half a thin pizza, but even that was a lot for my tummy to handle. the restaurant was also on a cute little side street, see a picture of my view during lunch below.

After that I wandered the town, ambling in and out of shops and eventually started searching for those handmade Capri sandal shops. Not only did I want a pair for myself but I thought it would be the perfect gift for Poops.

There were a couple of shops but I picked the one where I liked the styles the best (I don't have the name handy, I'll add it later). Basically I picked a style and then they handmade the sandals right in front of me! I could pick which leather straps I wanted and they custom fit it to my feet. Which, if you know my hot dog feet, was a deal-maker in itself. Check out a picture below of the guy (cobbler? That doesn't sound meaty enough ...) making my sandals.

The only sad part about this story is that I wasn't able to get a pair for poops. They are quite pricey, which I didn't mind, but I think a lot of the value is being able to custom fit them to your feet, which we obviously wouldn't be able to do for her. Ah, I guess we will just have to come to Capri another time.

After that I grabbed a quick bite of gelato, but only ate a couple spoons because my stomach was still iffy and headed back down the mountain to my hotel.

I spent a couple hours reading on my balcony with a view of the sea, which was great except that I got EATEN ALIVE by Mosquitos. And those who know me know it isn't a pretty sight when that happens. I have bites all over my body and the worst one had swelled up to now 3 inches in diameter and is red, rock hard and hot to the touch. Yummy, I know.

Anyway later that night there were random fireworks over the sea for some reason so those were cool to see and then I went to bed, super popped from such an eventful day. Note the sarcasm.

Day 15: 9/28/12 - Danke Berlin, Ciao Capri!

Well friends, it took a LOT of really slow walking and wearing my backpack without the hip straps but I made it to Capri. If there is any place to recover this is it.

Capri is a lovely little island off the coast of Naples and from what I have seen so far it is beautiful. Check out the picture below from the port, breathtaking.

Getting here was pretty easy too - flew into Naples, took the Alibus to Molo Beverello and then the quatrefoil fast-speed ferry to Capri. Oh and as a bonus picture, below is also the lady sitting in front of me on the plane. Check out her scrunchie. And shoulder pads. In a knit shirt. I can't make this stuff up.

I got here pretty late in the afternoon and the combination of my stomach/intestines still screaming at me (I had to take meds again, booo) with being exhausted from not having eaten anything except pretzels and water made me know that I had to take it easy today. So I just sat on my sea-facing balcony and read for a while and now am going to go to bed early. Tomorrow will be a day for some exploring and hopefully even some true delicious Italian food and gelato. A girl can dream can't she?

Day 14: 9/27/12 - One of the worst days ever

I really like traveling alone. I enjoy the me time and don't really get lonely or crabby. This day was different. This day was one where I would have paid millions to be able to be teleported back to my parents' place and be under their love and care. All that makes me happy about it is that it is now the next day and I am writing about it after the worst is over.

I woke up early this day, without an alarm, which, if you know me, is very very unusual for me. I quickly realized why. My stomach and intestines had raged a war. Let's just say for the next 5 hours I was in the bathroom at least every 20 minutes, expelling everything in my body, including 2 sips of water and even "nothing" when I hadn't ingested anything. Let me tell you, there is not a much more miserable feeling that that, and I didn't even have the energy to cry.

I reached out to my friend in London who had had something similar recently and she not only told me what OTC meds she took but was kind enough to call the concierge at my hotel who was then able to go get them. I tried those and they didn't work either.

After the 6th or 7th hour straight of this I decided I needed to see a doctor. Luckily the concierge (who I HAVE to write a thank you note to) was able to call one who came to my room in an hour or so and spoke some English. This guy was my savior. He gave me two injections to stop everything and the prescribed a bunch of meds to help on an ongoing basis (both of which I have taken multiple times over the last 24 hours). He said I had some gastroenteritis but that I wasn't too badly dehydrated and that I didn't need to go to the hospital (thank God). Also, he had to give me the injections in my vein (he had to mix it with some of my blood?) and I have to say, this guy was so skilled at that, more than most of the phlebotomists I have ever been to. I wish he was my doctor in the US!

After he left I basically slept for the next 16-18 hours only getting up to print my boarding pass, pack and expel everything in my body only 2 or 3 more times (that is progress my friends!). By the time midnight rolled around I was feeling about 50 percent better and knew I would be able to continue on to Capri but holy moly, that was awful. Like one of the worst days I have ever had. I'm so glad it is over.