Mihir and Steph

It's been a long time...

2009-05-01T02:12:00.004-05:00

Wow! I hadn't realized four months had passed since my last post. I apologize. Most of you may know that I began my own law practice late last year and it keeps me quite busy. Overall I am pleased with my decision--I learn a tremendous amount every day.

We recently enjoyed visits from my friend Beth and Mihir's mother. What fun! We love visitors. The picture of Mihir and me was taken at Billy Bob's Texas, reportedly the largest honky tonk in the world. I have no way of verifying this information, but I will say that it is very difficult to imagine a bigger honky tonk. I think it fulfilled a long-standing dream of Beth's to actually go there, but she was very disappointed that they didn't have a mechanical bull. I guess I'll have to search for one for her next visit.

And here is an adorable picture of Alfie and one of his favorite people: Mummy:

Holidays and a visit with Aditi

2008-12-29T08:38:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas! As usual, the Texas weather precluded me from really feeling the Christmas vibe. Friday, the day after Christmas, broke a record with postings of 83 degrees. Bah. I miss my snow. Mihir and I managed to have a nice Christmas in spite of that. The highlight was a visit from Mihir's cousin Aditi, who flew in from California to spend the weekend with us. What a lovely excuse to check some things off our "to-do" list! On Friday we finally went to the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. We have mixed feelings about it, primarily because Tutankhamun himself was a no-show. The PR folks at the DMA craftily lead D/FW residents to think the mummy of King Tut himself would be on display and if not that, then at least the famous golden death mask which is featured very prominently in all of the ads for the exhibit. Well, allow me to spill the beans: The mummy is still in Egypt and the death mask is also conspicuously absent. We felt slightly scammed. It was a great exhibit, but probably not worth the $32.50 per person price of admission. Not to mention the inflated ($20) parking fees. The next day the Dallas Morning News ran a story about low attendance at the exhibit. Hmm. Can't imagine why. But I'm never one to miss a cultural event and I suppose this still counts as such. We also went to the Nasher Sculpture Museum, which was nice. This Picasso especially caught my eye:

On Saturday we saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the new Brad Pitt movie. Again, mixed reviews. The film is about a man who was born with the wrinkled body and ailments (cataracts) of a man in his 80s. As he grew he aged backwards. Perhaps I'm missing some deeper meaning but I can't help but think it was nothing more than an attempt to tell a love story (that of Benjamin and Daisy) with a certain creative twist. I'm not sure it worked.
Yesterday was another nice day, with highs in the 60s. We went to White Rock Lake in Dallas for a walk. Aditi took the above picture of Mihir and me. From there we went to the mall, and then to the Preston Hollow area of Dallas to see this house, which may or may not be the future abode of a certain President when he leaves office in a few weeks:

Today everyone goes back to work, including me. With that in mind I really have to go to the gym so I can get ready to meet two new clients. Happy New Year, everyone!

What I'm Reading

2008-12-29T08:22:00.002-06:00

Life has been very busy lately for both of us. Mihir's job keeps him constantly engaged, so much so that he is rarely without his laptop computer, even at home. And since starting my own law practice I find myself without a moment to spare. Most days I'm so fried from hours of drafting documents or conducting legal research I can't stand the thought of reading anything more. And I regret that. Mihir loves to read Agatha Christie mysteries (they remind him of childhood, I think) and he's always able to do that. I, on the other hand, have gotten lax about my reading. Anyone who was present for my childhood knows what a voracious reader I was. Now I'm taking a vow to be that again. I've joined a reading challenge (again) in order to commit myself to reading at least six books during 2008. Here's the list:

1. A book with a profession in the title: The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman;
2. A book with a time of day in the title: Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie;
3. A book with a relative in the title: Difficult Daughters by Manju Kapur;
4. A book with a body part in the tile: The Frontal Lobe by Katrina Firlik;
5. A book with a building in the title: A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul;
6. A book with a medical condition in the title: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Curry Turkey Burgers

2008-12-21T15:32:00.002-06:00

Mihir and I never eat red meat anymore. There are many reasons for this, with health and ethics ranking at the top of the list. There are times, however, when I really miss sinking my teeth into a burger. I am American, after all. Luckily, I found a great recipe for turkey burgers one day while perusing the Whole Foods website. I've toyed with other turkey burger recipes but I always fall back on this one. I especially love how it blends Indian flavors with an American classic. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients
1/3 cup plain breadcrumbs
1/3 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
1 tablespoon mild curry powder
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds ground skinless white-meat turkey

Method
In a medium bowl thoroughly combine breadcrumbs, carrots, raisins, cilantro, curry powder, ginger, salt and pepper. Add turkey and gently bring all ingredients together with your hands, being careful not to overwork the meat. With dampened hands, form turkey mixture into 6 patties of even thickness. Arrange patties on a lined baking sheet, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Light the grill or preheat the broiler. Cook burgers, turning once with a spatula, for 6 minutes per side, or until no longer pink inside.

The original recipe calls for dark-meat turkey, but I can't justify adding extra fat when white meat works just fine. I also use a dollop of ginger-garlic paste (available at any Indian grocery store) instead of plain ginger. AND I think I use more than one tablespoon of curry powder--just a tad. We love to eat these with sweet potato fries. Yum!

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-28T08:00:00.004-06:00

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. It was another quiet one for us, but we did enjoy some great turkey at Avanti Neighborhood Bistro in Addison, Texas. There were a handful of restaurants open for Thanksgiving dinner, and we decided that was the best option for us. Although I love to cook, my one foray into cooking a Thanksgiving feast resulted in way too much leftover food. I made the reservations during the Cowboys football game, which meant we had the restaurant mostly to ourselves. Immediately before dinner we finally got around to seeing the new Bond movie,
Quantum of Solace. Again, we were he only people there.
Still, we took time to reflect and give thanks for our good fortunes. For those of you who don't yet know, I officially opened my own law practice this year and so far everything is going very well. I practice family law and already I have had my share of high-drama moments. Mihir continues to enjoy his work at River Logic. Alfie probably doesn't realize the luxurious nature of his life and rarely seems thankful for anything.
We hope the holiday season got off to a nice start for everyone! Mihir and I are thinking about everyone, especially family members in Mumbai as they persevere through this senseless attack on their city.

We are proud

2008-11-05T07:41:00.001-06:00

Turning 30 at The Grape

2008-08-30T17:10:00.009-05:00

It happens now and then that my birthday falls on Labor Day weekend. It would seem that my 30th would be more tolerable if it passed discreetly during the middle of the week without much fanfare or notice. But surprisingly, turning 30 during a holiday weekend has been quite pleasant. Mihir and I went to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, where we perused their ongoing Impressionists exhibition. I suppose Monet is the most famous Impressionist painter, but my personal favorites are van Gogh and Gustave Caillebotte. I can't say this often enough--I love D/FW for giving my opportunities to see art like this once in a while.

For dinner we tried a new restaurant--The Grape . I love to try to restaurants. This one was no disappointment. My appetizer was crispy corn and peeky toe crab patties; Mihir had mushroom soup. Our entrees were quite unusual for us because we both had meat. I ate steak and bistro frites (French fries) and Mihir had a pork chop with a habanero/Dr. Pepper glaze. And dessert--warm apple pie for me, creme brulee for Mihir. It was a great meal. Our constant point of comparison for restaurant meals, however, is Nick's Fish Market in Maui. Even though the Grape was fantastic, Nick's still reigns supreme for us. But Dallas has so many great restaurants, I'm sure someday we'll find something to top it. I can't wait to try!

Campion Trails

2008-08-18T22:33:00.003-05:00

Finally, some relief! This past weekend finally saw the temperatures dip into the low to mid-80s. We took advantage of the break by heading to one of our favorite places in Irving--the Campion Trails. Part of the Irving Parks system, Campion Trails are approximately 7 miles of natural area right in the heart of Irving. It's the only place I can think of where it's actually possible to smell nature--leaves, grass, water, etc. We even saw a snake! We normally cycle the entire route two times around, which is approximately 20 miles. Sunday, however, we walked the more lengthy section of the trail, which was probably about 5 miles. It was fun. Words can't express how nice it felt to be outside for the first time in weeks.

Update from Texas

2008-08-03T15:34:00.003-05:00

Hello All: I know it's been a long time since I updated, but it has been a pretty quiet summer for us. Currently we're enduring the highest temperatures I have ever experienced in my life. At this moment it is 105 degrees, and it feels like 109. Apparently. I wouldn't know, because I have not ventured outside the confines of this air-conditioned house since this morning. But it was 100 degrees at 11:30, when I came home from the gym. It's CRAZINESS!

I'm continuing to do some fascinating work with Legal Aid of Northwest Texas and Human Rights Initiative. I stay busy. I am representing a young man who is seeking asylum in the United States, and his trial is coming up in September. I'm excited and nervous, and above all grateful that I believe in the work I'm doing. It's certainly not making me rich, but I enjoy every moment of it. It's easy to forget that sometimes. I have to make an effort each day to reflect and count my blessings.

Alfie turns 2!

2008-06-02T11:18:00.002-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOY!

Our first magazine cover!

2008-05-29T13:16:00.001-05:00

Weekend Excursion

2008-04-22T13:41:00.002-05:00

Here is a picture of my boys at the White Rock Lake Dog Park in Dallas. In the picture, Mihir is trying to persuade Alfie to play with the other dogs. He declined to do so.

Favorite D-FW Restaurants

2008-04-17T17:17:00.008-05:00

If there's one thing I love, above all else, about living in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, it's the wide variety of restaurants. We discovered some favorites, although I have a list--about a yard long--of places I still need to try. But these are the ones we go to over and over again:

1. Madras Pavilion, Richardson, Texas: There is no better place for South Indian vegetarian food. Their weekend lunch buffet is amazing--that's what we most frequently eat. But the a-la-carte menu is actually very tasty, too. Mihir usually gets an idli platter, while I opt for a dosa. Also enjoyed: the mango lassi.

2. Queen of Sheba, Addison, Texas: Ethiopian food! When I was in college, I ate at an Ethiopian restaurant in Ann Arbor. I thought it was to-die-for. I'd never eaten in a place with such an ethnic ambiance. And, I guess, it was good. But it was NOTHING compared to Queen of Sheba. I think part of the reason I love this restaurant so much is because the people are so nice. But, of course, the food is superb. If you have never eaten Ethiopian fare, you should try it. It's a very unique experience. There generally aren't any utensils, just spongy porous bread called injera. You tear of a piece, use it to collect your morsels from a common platter in the center of the table, and eat! Sometimes we indulge in lamb (my true food weakness) but their vegetarian dishes are very light and healthy. I definitely don't feel I'm sacrificing great food if we order the vegetarian plate.

3. Ferre, Dallas, Texas: This is where we went for our wedding-day dinner, so obviously it has a special place in our hearts. We went back for New Year's Eve and for our first anniversary, and it never disappoints. It's a seemingly authentic Italian place. Having never been to Italy, I can't be certain, but it does seem rustic. I've eaten steak, meatballs, pasta, and margherita pizza--all divine. The waitstaff are also very knowledgeable about wine, and they help me pair.

4. Bread Winners Cafe, Dallas, Texas: This place is a little gem. It's a local chain, with 2 locations in Dallas and one in Plano. We go here primarily for brunch on the weekends. My favorite is the Normandy French toast: sourdough bread, cream cheese, raspberry jam, and fresh berries. Mihir enjoys the Bananas Foster waffles--which are very good. I've tasted them. We also enjoy the mimosas and pomegranate margaritas. They are also a bakery, so we buy fresh bread when we visit, anything from gingerbread to pumpkin streusel, or just plain old whole-grain. We once bought Alfie some gourmet dog biscuits which had been dipped in carob, but he didn't care for them.

5. Obzeet, Dallas, Texas: I think this might be my favorite just because it's the wackiest place I've never seen in my life. You can't help but smile when you walk through the door. Picture silk plants, strands of white lights, healing crystals, plastic yard furniture complete with gaudy plastic tableclothes, plastic parrots, yard gnomes, and any other kind of kitsch you can conjure. Obzeet has it all. The full name of the establishment is Obzeet Restaurant Tropical Bar Furniture Home Decor and Gifts. And it really is all of the above. The food is truly junk food, but it is good. Sometimes we even share dessert, a slice of one of the dozens of beautiful cakes they have that day. After lunch, we peek in on the store. We once bought ourselves a bronze Lord Ganesha statue, one of the best we could find anywhere. The owners, I believe, are Turkish and they import beautiful handcrafted furniture from all over the world, most of it with an Eastern flavor. It's awesome. You'd think you were in a museum.

HONORABLE MENTION

*Avocado California Roll & Sushi: This place would probably be on the list above, but Mihir hasn't been there yet. I went with friends, and I'm hooked.

*Our Place: This is the Indian Restaurant across the Street. It's good, even better because it's right across the street.

*Gueros: Mexican Food. Their tortilla soup/chicken taco combo is our favorite.

*Hunan Dynasty: Chinese Food, also across the street. Come to think of it, I think it's the only Chinese place we've ever gone to here in Dallas. It must be satisfying!

Spiced Salmon with Mustard Sauce

2008-04-15T19:10:00.004-05:00

Mihir and make every effort to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. We eat organic food when we can. Our main source of protein is plant-based, mostly beans and lentils. We never eat red meat, just the occasional chicken and white fish. Lately, however, I've made a concerted effort to incorporate salmon into our diet because it contains omega-3 fats, a valuable nutrient. This isn't always an easy task. We very much prefer milder-tasting fish, such as tilapia or mahi mahi, so it takes come great recipes to mask the strong salmon. Well, I think I found a winning recipe. I was planning to make salmon for dinner last night, and this recipe literally came to my email just as I was about to surf the Internet for something quick, easy, healthy, and tasty. I get daily recipes from this website and, lo and behold, there it was when I needed it most. And it was great! Last night we feasted on spiced salmon with mustard sauce, wilted spinach with tomatoes, and couscous. Here's the salmon recipe:

Ingredients
2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
Cooking spray

Preheat broiler.

Combine first 6 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well with a fork. Rub mustard mixture evenly over each fillet. Place fillets, skin-side down, on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray. Broil 8 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.

That's it! It's that easy! It's a 15 minute meal. Note on the ingredients: I only prepared two 6-ounce fillets, and the mustard mixture was just about enough to coat them evenly. My fish turned out looking exactly the the photo above. For the mustard, I used Grey Poupon harvest coarse ground. It has whole mustard seeds in it, which I think is essential for flavor and texture.

I ♥ Jhumpa Lahiri

2008-04-11T10:04:00.007-05:00

This isn't the kind of entry I normally post on this blog, but I am so overwhelmed by the gravity and perfection that is Jhumpa Lahiri's writing that I just can't help myself. Everyone should read her latest book, Unaccustomed Earth. It's been awhile since I read something so obsessively. Come to think about it, the last book which captivated me so completely was another of Lahiri's, The Namesake. Even Mihir, who generally eschews fiction, read The Namesake in a single afternoon.

Jhumpa Lahiri is Indian American or, more precisely, Bengali American. Her books have that strong "stranger in a strange land" theme, but I happen to believe she is darned good at writing about people, emotions, marriages... life.

Unaccustomed Earth is Lahiri's second collection of short stories. The first part of the book consists of five unrelated short stories and most of them are very strong. My two favorites are "Hell-Heaven" and "Only Goodness." Overall, though, the characters in each and every story live and breath until the end, when you're sad to see them go. The second half of the book is three interwoven stories, a novella of sorts, about Kaushik and Hema. The stories span the course of their lives, from New England to India to Rome. They're wonderful.

I just finished this book 15 minutes ago, and now I'm so bereft, as if a close friend has left me. It's rare, these days, that I connect to a book so strongly. But when I do...boy, do I cherish it. I can't recommend this book, this author, any more wholeheartedly.

Jhumpa

Dad Visits Dallas

2008-03-26T23:43:00.005-05:00

My dad came to Dallas to visit for 2 weeks in March. Finally! The timing was perfect; the weather in Dallas was just becoming consistently warm and sunny. We did, however, have one very rainy day. Overall, I think dad fell in love with Texas weather--and maybe even Texas itself. We did the usual tourist stuff: the Stockyards, the Fort Worth Zoo, and attempted to take a trip to the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Instead, we treated ourselves to one very long day in the car, driving to Houston and back again the same day. That's a long story. Here are some pictures of the better days of his visit:

An orangutan at the Fort Worth Zoo

Old-fashioned candy store at the Stockyards

The marching herd, again at the Stockyards

Nerds' Night Out

2008-03-20T11:35:00.007-05:00

In case you haven't guessed, Mihir and I can be downright nerdy at times. We just can't hide it. We're bookish grammar czars who spend weekends in museums and bookstores. It was during our trip to the Dallas Museum of Art in January that I noticed--with great surprise and delight--that one of my favorite authors, Tracy Chevalier, was coming to Dallas for a reading at that very museum. Not being a fiction fan, Mihir has never read her books, but I certainly have. Her best known novel is Girl with a Pearl Earring, which was adapted into a film starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. Her lasted effort, Burning Bright, is about the 18th century British weirdo William Blake, and it's just recently out in paperback. The timing of her appearance was a little inconvenient--just 3 days after our return from India, and only an hour after Mihir's flight from Atlanta landed at DFW. The poor man hadn't been home at all since we left for India, and I whisked him off to this reading. He was a good sport. What a great husband I have. The reading didn't disappoint. As someone who would love to write, I'm always enthused to hear about authors' inspirations and work habits. Ms Chevalier is very inspired by art and the process of creating art. While I don't necessarily share that affinity, but she did validate my suspicion that inspiration comes from a variety of places, and few authors are the same. It was a great evening for me. I've long wanted to meet her, and she made it an experience to remember.

Tracy Chevalier

Subir and Roohi's Wedding

2008-03-19T08:58:00.002-05:00

We're back from India! This was the shortest trip ever - barely 5 days.
We were there for Subir's wedding. The festivities were on Saturday and Sunday and left Wednesday. We had American all the way to London and then Jet Airways to Mumbai. Jet was a pleasant surprise - Great food, good service, new planes, complete AVOD (audio video on demand) and it took away from the pain of the long journey. We landed without issues and quickly went to my grandmother's place. My aunt had it nicely set up for us and we were insulated from the hubbub of Mumbai.

The next day we had dosas for breakfast and decided to go to Churchgate where Mummy was staying. We had to go by train (it would have been 1.5 hrs otherwise) so Steph got her taste of Mumbai trains. The fast local to Churchgate from Andheri was jampacked. Steph had to ride with me in the general compartment inside of the ladies compartment, and I'm guessing the phrase "packed like sardines" was totally experience. But it was short - 30 minutes (the drive back that evening took 2 hrs) - we parked down at Churchgate with Mummy, Subir, Poonam Aunty, Angie, Emily, Kirk and Molly - the tourists had just returned from Elephanta island and were exhausted and just willing to chill out for the afternoon.

The evening was at Roohi's place - the haldi (turmeric) ceremony and Steph got to wear her new salwar and participate. The first two pictures are from that event.

The next two are from the wedding the next day. It was a great event. We met all my Mumbai relatives and the food was great. Subir looked very happy and so did Roohi. Both looked great. The nice thing about Maharashtrian weddings is - they aren't long! We were all dressed in our finery. The final event in this ceremony was the "pangat" - the traditional lunch where all the groom's and bride's side sit and break bread together - in this case, more like chapatis and cauliflower and rice and varan.

We had to ride a bus back to Pune. A bus ride together is always fun. We had several stops - including one for masala popcorn. We finally reached at 9:30 and got ready for bed. The Nadgars were Steph and my hosts, and we quickly hit the sack.

The next day was more casual. Angie and Molly needed some blouses, I needed to buy some food and we hit Laxmi Road and ended it with lunch at Vaishali. The reception was in the evening and Stephanie got to wear her first sari. The reception was a smaller affair - 150 people or so, and the hall was beautiful. The crowd here was mostly our neighbors, Mummy's colleagues (also my teachers) and Pune friends. It was fun. Mummy was much more relaxed - weddings are always stressful on the parents, and I had a good time mingling and introducing Steph to our friends. The last two pictures are from the reception.

Monday was more casual - we hung out with Aditi and chatted with the gang at home. Subir and Roohi had to leave for Goa in the afternoon and the place already looked empty. We also prepared for our evening ride back. It was just too short! Next time, we'll make more time....

If you're interested, the rest of our photos from this trip to India can be viewed here.

Coffee Conneseurs visit the Dallas Museum of Art

2008-01-28T09:58:00.000-06:00

We're one month into 2008. So far it's been a quiet new year. January is always the coldest month here in North Texas, so that precludes a lot of outdoor activity. We had some below-freezing mornings and 30-degree highs of late. I know it's still much warmer than Januaries of my childhood, but the body loses tolerance for the cold quite quickly! Last night, however, Mihir and I went for a long walk around our Valley Ranch neighborhood. It was warmer, and we needed only a sweater. It was nice. We're lucky to live in such a nice, walker-friendly neighborhood. The canal is especially nice.

We've finally broken down and acquired a coffee pot, mostly to conquer our growing Starbucks addiction. We're enjoying it--a lot. We bought one that grinds the beans immediately before brewing coffee, which is fun. Currently we're brewing French Roast. I take mine with a splash of soy milk and Splenda; Mihir prefers black coffee.

Last weekend we visited the Dallas Museum of Art to see a special exhibition of Indian painting and jewelry. It was an impressive collection, but just short of rivaling what we saw in various museums in Mumbai and Pune last November. We always appreciate the endless opportunities to experience art and culture in Dallas-Fort Worth. I spent my entire life wishing I could have more access to such cosmopolitan experiences, and now I finally have. In just under two years, we been to several museums, the opera, the ballet, and a wonderful rarely seen Tennessee Williams play. Life is good in Texas!

Holiday Cheer in Texas

2007-12-31T12:51:00.001-06:00

Happy holidays! Mihir and I settled in for our second Christmas in Texas. Personally, I'm not used to the weather. Obviously, there is no snow. Visually, the DFW area resembles a Michigan October. The leaves are turning orange-brown and falling. The air is finally cooler. We've had a couple of overnight frosts, but as I write this, we're anticipating a high somewhere in the 60s. Not holiday weather, as far as I'm concerned.

We've had fun this holiday season. In mid-December, we attended a Christmas party at the home of Mihir's new boss. Kevin and Connie Howe were very gracious hosts, opening their beautiful home to Mihir's colleagues and their guests. They gave us a wonderful bottle of Blue Rock wine, which we intend to enjoy tonight, along with some cheese we bought.

It was Mihir's idea to concoct this triple chocolate trifle. We had dinner with Mihir's colleague, Alex, and his lovely family on Christmas Eve, and we took this for dessert. We made the whole thing, absolutely from scratch. We even melted the chocolate for the brownie base, and the chocolate pudding. It was hard work, and we made a colossal mess in the kitchen, but the result was to-die-for. Dinner with the Kolvalskys was sushi, salmon, and Saki to drink. It was wonderful.

Our Christmas day was quiet, just the two of us and Alfie. We saw a movie, Charlie Wilson's War, with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Charlie Wilson was a Congressman from south Texas, so there was a great deal of buzz about the film in these parts. It was only an okay film, in my opinion. After Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, and all those other movies, Tom Hanks is always just...Tom Hanks. He was far too recognizable to make me believe he was Charlie Wilson. Oh well. The story was interesting. Earlier, we saw Atonement, based on Ian McEwan's breathtaking novel. It was a wonderful film, but of course it wasn't as masterful as the novel, which I read earlier this year.

So that's a recap of much of what's kept us busy during December. Tomorrow starts a new year. Stay tuned for our adventures in 2008!

India, Part III: Day Trip to Mumbai

2007-11-22T20:31:00.000-06:00

We took a train (the Deccan Queen) to Mumbai for a day of sightseeing. Because we didn't have a lot of time, and because Mumbai is the epitome of urban sprawl (and more traffic than you can ever imagine), we stayed in the area near Victoria Terminus, which is South Bombay. As it turned out, it's a great area with lots of stuff for tourists like me to see and do. The Kala Ghoda, or arts district, is there. It was very hot and humid, but I loved Mumbai.

India, Part II: Deolali

2007-11-22T20:25:00.000-06:00

We spent an idyllic four days in Deolali, a small town of about 100,000 people. We were very graciously hosted by Mihir's Uncle Subodh and Aunt Asha.

India, Part I: New Delhi

2007-11-22T20:21:00.000-06:00

Mihir and I had a day-long layover in New Delhi, so we took the opportunity to do some sightseeing.

Off to India

2007-11-01T22:36:00.000-05:00

Mihir and I leave for India on Monday, November 5th. We'll be home in the late afternoon on Tuesday, November 20. Be patient! I promise to post about the trip (with lots of photos) as soon as I can!

Loyal Hearts will Cherish Ever / Thoughts of Thee Throughout the Years

2007-10-16T13:05:00.000-05:00

That's me singing you a song. It's the Alma Mater from my alma mater, Alma College. Why? Because I'm just back from a fantastic weekend in Michigan. It couldn't have been more perfect unless, of course, I'd had more time to spend with family and friends. There's never enough time. I celebrated homecoming at Alma with my dearest friends Beth, Amy, Beth, Danielle, and Laura. The 5 of them of been my friends since my first week of college. Eleven years later, we're still tight. It's amazing to see your families grow, girls. And, I have to say, we're all becoming even more beautiful as we age. :-)

With Amy, the first friend I made at Alma. Also has a degree in English.

Mad scientist Beth, who travelled to Texas in the dead of summer and lived to tell about it

The whole gang: Laura, Beth, Amy, Danielle, Me, Beth

WELCOME, CAMERON!

This is Cameron Christopher, the newest addition to our Alma family. He was born to Beth and Chris on August 31, 2007. I shall never forget the little fellow's birthday, as it's the day after my own.

We eagerly anticipate the arrival of Baby Williams next spring. Be well, Laura!

Other highlights of my journey: seeing my family (obviously), sleeping in the place where I was born (always good for the psyche, I say), and eating homegrown acorn squash for the first time in too long. Thanks, Grandma. :-) I met my niece Evangelene for the first time (she turns 1 November 1 and is the most beautiful baby in the world) and see my nephew Korbin, who is now a toddler. He couldn't walk when I saw him last. Come to think of it, I don't think he even had teeth. Pity I missed his brother Lennon, who may be the only one in the whole bunch who remembers me!

Eat, Drink, and be Texan

2007-09-14T22:43:00.000-05:00

Grapevine, Texas: The name alone has enchanted me since I first began familiarizing myself with the D-FW Metroplex nearly two years ago. So named because of the prevalence of wild grapes, the city hosts an annual GrapeFest in September. The festival is meant to honor and showcase Texas wines. Last year we missed it; this year we didn't make that mistake. Friday night (September 14), Mihir and I met our friends Carlos and DeAnna in historic downtown Grapevine and set out to sample some of the 122 Texas wines from 37 different wineries. We also had our share of fair food: crepes, corn dogs, funnel cakes, ice cream, and lemonade. It was a great night. Can't wait 'til next year...

The city of Grapevine is fantastic; the historic downtown is adorable. Though it has a population approaching 50,000, to me it still has a small town charm that reminds me so much of the towns of my youth--Alma, Greenville, maybe even Carson City. We parked the car in a wide open grass field and took a shuttle to the festival. It was the first time in months I consciously inhaled the smell of freshly-cut grass. It took be straight back to the country. Don't get me wrong: I love Dallas for its arts, culture, and shopping. But maybe I'm not such a city girl, after all. I'm flying home to Michigan in October, and I can't wait to appreciate the charms of small town life again. The one thing I can't wait to do? Look up at the sky and see the stars rather than the harsh glare of city lights.

We love visitors!

2007-07-31T19:12:00.000-05:00

The month of July brought us a few visitors, which we loved. First, Mihir's Uncle Subodh and Aunt Asha, and cousins Aditi and Niyati came to visit mid-month. Aditi first made the trip to Dallas in 2006, and the three of us travelled to San Antonio. But this marked Subodh, Asha, and Niyati's first trip to the United States, and we were honored that they chose to spend a weekend here with us. Mihir and I were glad to take them on a tour of the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Fort Worth Zoo, The Sixth Floor Museum (the site of President Kennedy's assassination) and the Museum of Nature and Science. We tried to give them a true sampling of Texas culture. I'm pretty sure the Fort Worth Stockyards are something they won't see anywhere else, no matter how far and wide they travel.

Niyati with a Native American in Fort Worth

Later, during the last weekend in July, my friend Beth came to visit from Michigan. Again, we followed a very Texan tourist agenda--the Stockyards, Sixth Floor Museum, and a visit to the Southfork Ranch in Plano--the mansion used for exterior shots in the famous long-running soap opera Dallas. Beth loved it.

Come visit us! We'll show you a great time!

Me at the swimming pool at Southfork Ranch

Beth helping herself to a "Squishee" at a 7-11 turned into a Qwik-e-Mart in honor of The Simpsons Movie

Hand in Hand: Checking out Willie Nelson's (known here as simply "Willie") handprints at Billy Bob's Texas Honky Tonk in Fort Worth

Summer Reading

2007-06-21T17:51:00.000-05:00

This post deviates slightly from the norm--rather than being about our lives as a married couple in Texas, I decided to post about my summer reading plans. I was an avid reader growing up, and for the most part I still am, but I have let it lapse of late. I could go on and on about the reasons I've identified, but I won't. Instead I'll focus on the solution: I've joined an online reading challenge. The theme of the challenge is travel, so I've selected six books (to be read between July and December) that are either about or are set in a place I'd love to visit. Those of you who know me best realize that no place is truly off limits... Here are my six choices:

1. Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah MacDonald (India)

2. Maximum City by Suketu Mehta (India)

3. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (Cornwall, England)

4. Age of Iron by J.M. Coetzee (South Africa)

5. Ice Road by Gillian Slovo (Russia)

6. Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb (Ethiopa and England)

**Alternates: Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria), Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies (Wales) and Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje (Sri Lanka).

By the way, this brilliant idea comes to me from a blog I visit regularly: A Life in Books. Thanks!

Hawaiian Vacation, Day 4: Haleakala National Park, Tedeschi Vineyard

2007-06-03T13:07:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, our fourth day on Maui, we decided to drive to the summit of Haleakala, which happens to be encompassed by Haleakala National Park. I was a bit hesitant to drive to the summit because the previous day's drive to Hana left me exhausted and car-weary, but I knew Sunday was our last full day on the island. It was the last chance I'd have. As it turned out, the drive wasn't so bad--probably because the road wasn't quite so curvy. And it was well worth the time in the car. The journey to the summit (the depression/crater area of the East Maui Volcano) took us from the lush, overly-developed coastal lands of Maui to the remote, native, high elevation area protected by the federal government. At 10, 023 feet, summit of Haleakala features a landscape unlike any I'd seen before. I felt certain I'd left earth.
From the volcano, we drove to Ulupalakua to visit Tedeschi Vineyard. It was a beautiful side trip! The drive was scenic--we could see the ocean the whole time, yet somehow it seemed less tourist-driven and more "local". The papaya, mango, flowering jacaranda, or eucalyptus trees were plentiful, making the air smell sweet. We tasted four different wines, including a delicious raspberry dessert wine. But in the end we purchased a true novelty--pineapple wine. It's still chilling in the refrigerator, waiting until our taste buds need a reminder of Hawaii. Here are some pictures of the Tedeschi grounds:

Dinner that night was another delight. We dined at Nick's Fish Market at the Fairmont Kea Lani Maui. Scrumptious! I had snapper, Mihir had mahi mahi. We're still thinking about that meal. Here's a picture taken at the restaurant:

Hawaiian Vacation Day 3: The Road to Hana

2007-06-01T13:17:00.000-05:00

This picture depicts the reason we went to Hawaii: unspoiled natural beauty. Truth be told, Mihir and I don't consider ourselves "beach people". To us, Hawaii represented a place where we'd get views unlike any we'd see here on the continent. During the entire 5 day trip, we spent perhaps 2 hours on the beach and the rest of our time seeking opportunities to commune with Hawaii's nature. Having said that, I was surprised to see evergreens growing in Hawaii! His photo was taken as we drove along the Hana Highway, a journey that consumed most of Day 3.
Road to Hana: Hana Highway is a famous stretch of road travelled by most tourists who visit Maui. Just over 50 miles long, the road twists and turns (600 turns) and includes enough one-lane bridges (54) to require an entire day of driving. That, dear reader, is the beauty of it. You see, Hana Highway meanders back in time, to a slower-paced Hawaii. By taking our time and stopping every few miles, Mihir and I explored unspoiled rainforests and lava rock coastlines we'd never have seen otherwise. I can't adequately describe the scenery, so I'll post photos instead:

Hawaiian Vacation Days 1 and 2: Late Arrival, Sunrise Bicycle Trip Down Haleakala, Hawaiian Luau

2007-05-29T14:26:00.000-05:00

Aloha! Mihir and I just returned from our much-anticipated vacation on Maui, Hawaii. What a wonderful place! Because I have so much to say, and so many photos to post, I'll probably post the details of this vacation in a few installments.

Days one and two: The trip didn't get off to a great start. Our flight from DFW to Maui boarded right on time...but took off five hours late. We were forced to sit on the runway for a very long time waiting for some stormy weather to leave the area. As a result, we didn't land on Maui until 8:30 PM Hawaiian time, which felt like 1:30 AM to our bodies. Needless to say, we were exhausted. We checked into our hotel (the stunning Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa) and were pleasantly surprised to find that we had been upgraded to an ocean view suite! But it was dark outside, so we couldn't see the views. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and went to bed. That was the first time in my life, I think, I actually fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. So much for Day 1!

The alarm clock went off all too early the next morning. One of the first excursions we planned upon booking this trip was a sunrise bicycle ride down Haleakala, one of Maui's two volcanoes. We booked this adventure through Maui Downhill and they arranged to pick us up at the hotel at 3:30 AM (it was a bit of a drive to the launching point of the tour). We were still quite fatigued, but knew this was a rare opportunity to see Maui's true beauty, so we dragged ourselves out of bed and got on the van. Just as we expected, it was a worthwhile endeavor. We drove to a scenic spot on the side of Haleakala and watched the sun rise over the Hawaiian coastline. It was cloudy and misty, so the sunrise wasn't the splendid display of colors we were hoping for, but it was still lovely. There is never an ugly sunrise in Hawaii. After that, our tour guides distributed bicycles and helmets and we cruised 22 miles downhill, taking in some stunning views along the way. Don't be too impressed with the fact that we rode our bikes 22 miles. It was all downhill, and required only about 100 feet of peddling. But it was fun! Here are some pictures:
When we got back to the hotel we were finally able to take in the view from our suite. It was, to be brief, very nice. We showered, went to breakfast, and then headed to the beach to relax and play in the ocean. I was surprised to find that saltwater stings the skin. Here are some pictures of our view. You can see the beach in the picture on the top:

Dinner that evening was a Hawaiian luau on the hotel lawn. The food was delicious! We indulged in pulled pork, mahi mahi, poi (a traditional Hawaiian dish made from taro leaves), fresh tropical fruits, and many other wonderful dishes. The meal was followed by an hour of Hawaiian entertainment. It was a truly wonderful event. We went back to our room happy and, still on Texas time, went to bed quite early. Below are pictures of the luau entertainment.

Congratulations, Graduate!

2007-05-10T11:26:00.000-05:00

Alfie graduated from Beginner Education tonight! Thanks to the expert tutelage of instructor Michelle Robinet, Alfie can now sit, lay down, stay, come when called, and (usually) drop items of contraband that mysteriously wind up in his mouth. We couldn't be more proud. But, as you can see from the photograph, he didn't learn to wear hats.

Mummy and Subir's visit to Dallas

2007-04-22T09:59:00.000-05:00

In the first week of April, Mummy came over to spend a week with us. I had taken the week off and Subir was to visit us over the Easter weekend. Since April is usually mild, we thought it would be the best time to spend some time with the extended family. When Mummy arrived, Alfie had to be gated while we had dinner. Since he usually has the run of the apartment, he wasn't too happy and growled at us. Finally when he came out, he was all excited and jumped all over Mummy. She's comfortable with dogs, so we weren't too worried. The only fear was that she would trip over him, but she managed to hold her own. Mummy brought us a lot of goodies and lots of cool jewellery and bags for Stephanie.

We spent the Sunday at the arboretum. It's a long drive, but the flowers were much prettier compared to the last time Steph and I were there. The week was leisurely, we went to Michael's, bought some arts and crafts work and Mummy made me two little Ganapatis with Sculpy and a Mayan Mask. I also took Mummy to "The Name Sake" and spent some time at bookstores. We had a very relaxing week including a visit to Fortworth where we saw Japanese Art at the Kimbell and also some cool bronze cowboy sculpture at the Amon Carter Museum. The highlight was Mummy's cooking, we picked up a few tips, but what's better than eating good homecooked meals? We had a great time sampling different things including stuffed eggplants (my favorite) and baked shrimp.

We had plans to go to a ballgame Saturday, but the weather dipped into the 30s and no one wanted to sit outside for 4 hours. So instead we went to the zoo! The Fort Worth zoo that is, where we had lotsa fun watching a gorilla eat (look at that cutie) and a really majestic lion.

It was freezing at the zoo, but some Starbucks warmed us up. We came back home to some baked Mahi Mahi. Subir and I watched "Lage Raho Munna Bhai" and we had quite a few laughs.

The next day we spent some time at the "Body Worlds" exhibit at the Science Museum - its quite a work of art and science - they had real bodies which were filled up with silicone to show the structure and contours of the muscles, cartilage, capillaries - The details were quite graphic. Its also scary to know how smoking affects your lungs - the smoker's lungs were coated with tar. The week was fun and ended too fast. I'm still recuperating, which is why this post is a couple of weeks old!

Mihir

Alfie goes to school

2007-03-22T19:57:00.000-05:00

Alfred has been part of our family for nearly seven months now. We've become accustomed to his personality quirks--the growling, the greediness, the puppy tantrums, the clever manipulation of our emotions. Alas, we knew we had to grow him up somehow--for the sake of everyone in the world other than us. The solution? Pet Smart Beginner Education . It's an 8-week program designed to teach dogs basic commands using positive reinforcement. Admittedly, we've let Alfie control us more than we should. Mihir and I are both prone to jump at Alfie's every request, which isn't a good idea. Sorry, Boy. It stops now! We're very fortunate to have a Pet Smart store across the street, so taking Alfie to class every Thursday night is very convenient. The trainer, Michelle, is fabulous. We heard raves about her every time we took Alfie to visit the store. I think enrolling Alfie in this class will prove to be a very wise decision. Stay tuned--Alfie should graduate in 8 weeks' time!

The Dallas Auto Show

2007-03-20T08:42:00.000-05:00

I should be writing more - I thought I'd tell everyone about our visit to the Dallas Auto Show this weekend. Coming from a couple of years in Detroit, auto shows will always fall short, but we had a dual interest in the show, I wanted to see the cool new concept cars, and Stephanie wanted to be able to check out mini SUVs ( I know they've been around for a while now, but both of us are behind the curve when it comes to car trends, and vehemently anti SUV and minivan, so its a big deal!)... The show was small but representative of all major manufacturers. The big presence was the big 3, and big shiny Cadillacs greeted us when we entered. Somehow, not my kind of car, and I'm sure Steph agrees. We did make a quick stop at the Chrysler spot, the cars are very muscular, though the Caliber does look cute (even though the ads say it isn't). However, the real joy came when we sneaked into an S series Mercedes - legroom in the rear seat is a joy. Of course the price is stratospheric, but yet, one can dream. We liked the Honda CRV - we will totally put that one up on our must have list when we are ready. The Toyota RAV4 was pretty nice too, so so the Mitsubishi Outlander. The Murano was attractive as well, though a bit out of our range. All of these had great rear visibility, which is important for the both of us, being used to small cars. My fave in terms of coolness? the Mazda CX-7, though its a turbo engine, and my misgivings with that are just historical.

We did go to the Audi section, I love the A4 and the new A3 (someday!) and the new fangled GPS systems impress me. Power seats rock too! There now you guys know we are just out of touch. Hopefully in a few months we will report on decisions ensuing from this trip. Happy Spring Break!

Dallas Zoo

2007-03-19T12:14:00.000-05:00

We're back, as promised. The weather here in Dallas is nearly perfect currently. The temperatures are in the high sixties or low seventies (we've had a few 80-degree days, too) and for the most part it's sunny; however, as I type this the clouds are very pregnant with rain.

We spent a wonderful day at the Dallas Zoo a couple of weekends back. It was a surprising treat. My zoo experiences are limited. I think the only other zoo I've ever visited is Lansing's tiny Potter Park. I may be wrong about this, but I think Dallas is more involved in conservation and species preservation. In any event, I had a great day. I was able to see gorillas for the first time in my life, and I won't soon forget how special those animals are. I was most encouraged by the fact that one of the four gorillas they have in Dallas was actually born in a zoo--a good sign, considering how threatened they are in the wild. Mihir and I were also quite taken with the warthog. Somehow, he reminded us of our dog, Alfie--probably in the sense that sometimes attitude triumphs over intelligence. But there's hope for Alfie. He's set to start obedience school this week. As for zoo photographs, I'm afraid there aren't many. It's frustratingly difficult to get good pictures at the zoo, as the only option is to take pictures through wire fences or glass of some sort--or from a great distance. But here's a picture of the warthog.
Visiting that zoo also made me incredibly ecologically conscious. Mihir and I have recently started recycling, but since the zoo visit I've become quite the zealot. We don't have curbside pickup at our apartment, so we have to make frequent trips to the recycling center. It saddens me to realize how much plastic we use, just as a two-person family. Recycling is only half of the battle. The mere production of these bottles requires a trememdous amount of energy. I've committed to reducing the amount of plastic I purchase. The easiest items to eliminate were bottled water and sodas. That alone is a sizable personal contribution for me. It's a start.

We're still here...

2007-02-23T10:02:00.000-06:00

...just a little busy lately! So sorry about the lack of posts. Hang in there, and I'll give you a nice long update soon! It's spring in Texas. What a wonderful time of year!

2007, so far

2007-01-19T11:04:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year, a little late. January in Dallas has brought us some reminders of what it was like to live in Michigan during winter. We've had several days of freezing rain and general cold weather--exactly the kind of weather I DON'T miss. Sometimes I yearn to see a new, fresh snow (at least knee-deep, not the dustings we've had on occasion in Texas) but I can survive without ice and dangerous driving conditions.

We enjoyed a wonderful New Year's Eve dinner at Ferre, the same restaurant we visited on our wedding day. I had crab cakes, Kobe beef steak, and a lemon tart for dessert. Mihir ate the same crab cake appetizer, lamb chops, and a wonderful custard/fruit concoction for dessert. It was a very memorable meal. There's a picture taken at the restaurant at the bottom of his entry, but I have to say that my belly is not that big. Honest. I guess I need to work on my posture, because the way I was sitting made my profile appear less than flattering.

Last weekend (January 13) we attended a performance of Mary, Queen of Scots by the Dallas Opera. I was very exited to see this particular opera, since I'm fond of Elizabethan history. Unfortunately, the writers took great liberties with the history of Mary and Elizabeth I. A good portion of the second scene was a dramatic meeting between Elizabeth I and Mary, during which Mary angered the Queen, her half sister, so much that it was only then that Elizabeth was persuaded to sign the death warrant. Essentially, they were fighting over a man, Earl of Leister. The reality is, the two women probably never met, especially not as adults. And the wrangling over a man? Nobody knows for sure how Elizabeth felt about Leister, but I would to think that Queen Elizabeth had a better reason than that for ordering her sister's beheading. Several pages of the program were dedicated to explain what really happened, which parts of the opera were false. The way I see it, the true story is replete with drama and would have made a fantastic opera. Oh well. At least the singing was good.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T17:20:00.000-06:00

We hope your holiday was as relaxing as ours!

Sheaves of Wheat and The Nutcracker

2006-12-10T12:02:00.000-06:00

As usual, Mihir and I are keeping very busy. Of course, we only have weekends to spend together, so we try to make them as restful and entertaining as possible. Last weekend we visited the Dallas Museum of Art specifically to see a special exhibition of Vincent van Gogh's paintings. I was lucky to visit the van Gogh Museum in the artist's native Holland three years ago, and that was wonderful. But this exhibition was the largest van Gogh collection on display in the southwestern USA in many years, and I felt so fortunate that it was a mere 30 minutes from our home. They had several paintings depicting rural Dutch and French life in the nineteenth century, by van Gogh and some of his contemporaries, such as Monet, Gauguin, and Millet. We had a nice time browsing the collection. After that, we drove to our favorite Indian restaurant, Madras Pavillion. That is always a treat! They have the most wonderful vegetarian food I've tasted. The biggest challenge, for me, is not to overeat at the buffet because everything is so delicious.

Last night, just in time for Christmas, we went to the Texas Ballet Theater's production of The Nutcracker. I saw a college production while I was studying at Alma, and I fell in love with the music and the dancing. The college does an absolutely stunning production every two years. I was excited to see how professional dancers could do it, and I wasn't disappointed. The venue was Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, which is a truly beautiful theater. It was a beautiful production. It even snowed on the audience after the dance of the Snow Queen!

Thanksgiving

2006-11-29T12:30:00.000-06:00

Let the holidays begin! Last Thursday Mihir and I kicked off traditional American holidays with our version of a Thanksgiving dinner, complete with the all-American roast turkey (my first!), stuffing, cranberries, and dinner rolls, along with Indian-style potatoes and green beans. I made a pumpkin pie, and Mihir made a beautiful blueberry cobbler. It was all delicious--good thing we hit the gym early Thanksgiving morning!

The next day, Black Friday, Mihir and I braved the crowds and did some shopping, first at Willow Bend mall in Plano, then at the outdoor mall in Allen. The most bizarre part, for me, was the weather: as we meandered through the outdoor mall, listening to Christmas carols, it was probably close to 80 degrees. Strange! I have to admit to missing snow and crisp cool air, though I understand that even my friends and family in Michigan have yet to experience too much of that weather. Everyone, think of me as you scrape snow off your cars this winter!

We rounded out the weekend with two movies: Stranger Than Fiction and the new James Bond movie, Casino Royale. Both were good, but my favorite was definately the Bond movie. Daniel Craig makes a great Bond!

The pictures, clockwise from left: Mihir carving the turkey, the Thanksgiving table (notice the patio door is wide open--it was about 75 degrees) and Alfie enjoying his Thanksgiving feast--a pig's ear.

Deepawali - Diwali, the festival of lights

2006-11-20T16:13:00.000-06:00

Better late than never! After a long hiatus, I'm back again to report on our Diwali party. We were determined to do the whole shebang, in terms of decorations, and sweets and cooking. We invited Carlos and Deanna over for dinner and brought out our new dinnerware. After much hunting, we located Royal Sweets, an authentic mithai store in Irving and got some samplers. We also found ourselves an "Aakashkandil" (literally a hanging lantern, in this case one made of paper) - combined with the lights, this Diwali was sure to be a bright one. I tried a mix of pav bhaji, some poriyal, jeera rice, and some sambhar. It wasn't too bad! Steph made some carrot halwa (which like always, obeys the law of diminishing returns, and looks smaller than the effort put into it- it was perfect!). Alfie was a good boy - we had to gate him, but when we let him out, he took a liking to Carlos - they are dog people too! We hope to have many more such dinners again.

- Mihir

Enjoying the rich cultural scene in Dallas-Fort Worth

2006-10-09T12:04:00.000-05:00

I'll be the first to admit that I did not expect the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area to have much to offer in the way of culture. I'm so glad to say I couldn't have been more wrong. In recent weeks, Mihir and I have visited the Kimbell Art Museum, where we saw an exhibition about Hatshepsut, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh, along with other wonderful, famous paintings. Last night, we were lucky to see the Tennessee Williams play Vieux Carre at Theatre 3 in Dallas. It is a rarely seen Williams play, largely thought to be very autobiographical, and we really enjoyed it. I'm hoping to convince Mihir to see the British play Frozen, which is coming up soon.

Next weekend, we're venturing out to the Texas State Fair. Stay tuned for details on that!

Gratuitous picture of Alfie:

Ongoing Adventures of Alfie the Dog

2006-09-13T17:46:00.000-05:00

A word about our dog: CURIOUS. I suspect he's like a child in that he has a keen sense of what he is not supposed to touch...and promptly snatches it as soon as he's able. But he's having fun. I suppose, in spite of all his shenanigans, I am having fun, too.

Here's a picture of Alfie playing with a proper dog toy, courtesy of my friend Katharine:

And here's a picture of Alfie with his preferred type of toy: something forbidden. (Note the puppy chew toy in the foreground)

Meet Alfred!

2006-09-02T22:14:00.000-05:00

As some of you may know, Mihir and I decided to add to our little family--by getting a Lhasa Apso puppy, Alfred. Little Alfie, as we call him, is 3 months old and weighs in at 6.6 pounds. He'll grow to approxmiately 15 pounds, but right now he's a bundle of furry joy. In the week that we've had him, we've already witnessed some milestones, such as climbing the stairs all by himself and taking his first "big boy" walk on the leash. A lazy boy, Alfie prefers to be carried. Here are some pictures from a recent trip to Cimarron Park here in Irving:

Congratulations, Emily and Kirk

2006-08-30T16:51:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, we had the pleasure of attending a wedding in the beautiful North Woods of Minnesota. The bride and groom were Emily Farrell and Kirk Madsen, friends of Mihir's for many years. It was a truly spectacular event in a beautiful natural setting. All seemed perfect We wish the couple many years of happiness! Thanks to that trip, Mihir and I hope to return to Northern Minnesota next summer. We figure it'll be the perfect place to retreat from the hot triple-digit Texas temperatures. Below is a picture of Mihir and me posing on the shores of Elbow Lake, the backdrop for the wedding.

Back in the World

2006-07-27T18:29:00.000-05:00

Hello! As most of you know, I sat for the Texas Bar Examination last week. It was a grueling 3 days, and while I can't guarantee the results (keeping fingers crossed), I CAN say how relieved I am that it's over. I studied incredibly hard, and because of that, Mihir and I were unable to fully enjoy the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area has we had during our first couple of months here. We did our best to make of for it during my first weekend of freedom by dining out at Queen of Sheba, a wonderful Ethiopian restaurant in Dallas. It was SUPERB--one of my definate favorites so far. Mihir also surprised me with tickets to a musical called Brooklyn. It was a great show! Former American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo was the star, and she really has a great voice. We also did lots of shopping--we finally got some much needed bookshelves for our study. We got unfinished wood so we can paint them any color we want. We're hoping to accomplish that next weekend. It feels so good to have free time again!

Cow pokes

2006-07-03T21:23:00.000-05:00

We spent a good part of a lazy Monday on this long July 4th weekend exploring the stockyards of Fort Worth. It was a bit cloudier with intermittent rain, a good thing for Texas, but it wasn't heavy enough to disrupt our plans. We started off with a good ol' cow herding demonstration and then sauntered to some Texas style barbeque meat.

I had half a chicken, and Steph ate a chicken sandwich - what can we say, we avoid red meat, and even this occasion wasn't a good enough excuse. We then spent a good few hours visiting the knickknack stores searching for a replacement for my armadillo keychains which broke last week. Armadillos are out of vogue though and we had no such luck. We got Steph a nice cowgirl boot keychain. Myself - I'm stuck with a plain label type :). We then had an even more fun time building a bear in the Build a Bear workshop for some friends of ours.

Oh, to have a new green couch

2006-06-20T15:11:00.000-05:00

Two months ago, when Mihir and I moved to Texas, we were confronted with an unfortunate catastrophe: our couches could not be maneuvered up the stairs and into our second-floor apartment. When I stepped into the apartment for the first time I knew almost immediately the full-sized couch wouldn't fit, but I was surprised when even the two-seater couldn't go around the curve. To this day, those two couches are stacked neatly in the garage, waiting for a new home. Luckily, we had a futon to fill the void, at least temporarily.

Almost immediately, we acquired some lovely rattan pieces from Pier 1. I think they remind Mihir of India--we even chose lovely Indian-inspired cushions. Luckily for us, South Asian decor is all the rage right now, so there was no shortage of cane-style furniture or Asian-inspired accessories. Luckily for retailers, popularity allows them to charge high prices.

We still needed an upholstered couch to complete the room. Fully aware of the tight fit up the staircase, we decided it would be wise to find a couch that A) could be disassembled at least long enough to come inside our apartment and B) looked nothing like a couch that could be disassembled. We found what we were looking for at IKEA, a ridiculously popular Swedish furniture chain. We went to the local IKEA, in Frisco, Texas, and there it was, the couch of our budget-conscious dreams: the EKTORP, available in about 12 colors. We chose Idemo light green. Ideally, you buy it, throw it in the back of your pickup truck, haul it home, drag it up the stairs, spend days putting it together, and voila! you have sophisticated furniture. Simple? Not quite. Mihir and I don't own a pickup truck (how very un-Texan of us!) so we had to order it. So order it, we did--SIX WEEKS AGO! It turns out IKEA isn't nearly as convenient when you don't have the proper mode of transportation. After many agitated phone calls and emails to find out the status of the missing couch, they told us it was "unaccounted for" (Translation: They lost it.) and they had to start from scratch with a whole new Idemo light green EKTORP sofa. I was MAD. To say the least. But finally, after all these weeks, the couch is here, fully assembled and gorgeous. I've taken a photograph of how the whole room turned out. It wasn't a conscious plan on my part, but I managed to put together a room with a very pleasing autumnal overtone. I find that comforting, since I do not believe a Texan autumn can hold a candle to what I've experienced in Michigan. We'll see about that. In the mean time, I'm just glad to have a couch!

In other news, Mihir is no longer traveling to Ohio every week for work. He has moved on to the lovely (if not lively) city of of Baltimore. I'll have opportunity to visit after the bar examination. I promise to tell you all about it.

When I'm not studying, I'm usually at the gym. When I'm not studying OR working out, I try to read a little non-law material. Lately I'm completely absorbed in a book entitled Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside by Katrina Firlik. Ms. Firlik is one of a scant 200 (!) female neurosurgeons in the country. I don't know how she found the time, but she has written a darned interesting book about the human brain and her rather mysterious medical specialization. It's good. So good, in fact, it inspired me to read AND work out at the same time. Not every book warrants being propped on the elliptical trainer while I pursue the Body Wonderful. ;-)

--Stephanie

More Wedding talk

2006-06-11T15:21:00.000-05:00

Mihir and I have been married for almost a week now (already!) and we're both floating above the earth. All the cheesy stuff you hear is true...I could go on for hours about how profound the vows really are. I'll admit, there were moments just before the ceremony when I regretted now having a normal wedding, but I honestly haven't thought about it once since the moment I said, "I do" and I don't expect it to be a lingering regret as the years pass. All that matters is that we're married, I didn't stumble over my vows, and the day was perfect right through dinner at Ferre, a wonderful Italian ristorante in the trendy West Village section of Dallas. Sure, it would have been nice to be surrounded by family and friends, but at the end of the day we were happier than we've ever been. Besides, how many people get to have a tiramisu wedding cake?

As long as we both shall live...

2006-06-09T14:20:00.000-05:00

We got married this Monday! Stephanie had been trying real hard to get a justice of the peace and behold, there was one in Irving who would marry us on June 5th at 3:30 pm. Ravi and Asmath, friends from my early days at i2, agreed to be our witnesses. The ceremony was short but very powerful, the judge told us about the importance of love and those words still resound. The gravitas of the ceremony is not diminished by the lack of pomp or rituals. We celebrated at Ferre, an Italian restaurant in the West Village, and began the week as a newly married couple.
-Mihir

Memorial Weekend in San Antonio

2006-05-30T08:38:00.000-05:00

Hello! Memorial Day weekend is over. It was a good one for us. We had a visit from Mihir's cousin, Aditi, and the three of us travelled to San Antonio, Texas. We spent Saturday touring the Alamo and San Antonio's lovely River Walk area. Aside from extreme heat (even by Texas standards) the day was good. I've posted some of the pictures taken near the Alamo. We would have taken more pictures of the actual fort, but they've actually banned photography in most of the interesting parts, such as the Davy Crockett shrine. Any photos taken from within the walls of the Alamo would have been pictures of tourists milling about--nothing interesting. Note to all future San Antonio tourists: If you hope to sample some of the region's famed Mexican food, be sure to make reservations in advance. We tried to eat at Casa Rio on Saturday evening and faced a 30-minute wait to put our name on the list for a table--after that, the wait to be seated would have been at least an hour. We're sure the food was lovely....but we opted for the restaurant at the hotel instead.

Mihir and Aditi saw The da Vinci Code Sunday evening (I was studying contract law in preparation for the Texas bar exam). In spite of poor critical reviews, they seemed to enjoy it. Maybe I'll see it on DVD later this year.

And so it begins . . .

2006-05-23T17:08:00.000-05:00

Greetings! Mihir and I wanted to create a website to document our ongoing adventures here in the wilds of Texas. We realize that almost everyone we love is far away, so we hope this website helps everyone stay connected to our lives. Hopefully, we won't get too lax about updating it, because our life together is sure to provide endless entertainment for those of you who faithfully read the site!