Thumbelina and family

Had a rare sighting of Thumbelina and her adorable family this afternoon and couldn't resist sharing the pictures with you...

When was it?

Where was it?



Israel, Sharon, Rachel & Joshua!



Who was it?

Them all!

Now freeze that smile! It looks great on you!

What have you got?

Nine years ago on my birthday (August 10th) I'd spoken to my Papa last. Four days later Papa passed away.

Life has lost it's luster since then. The sky appears a shade greyer the grass a tint paler, my heart somewhat harder and my head a bit heavier (I guess it is a byproduct of the harder heart).

Overall life as I knew it is sadly changing.

Living, loving and laughing came natural to me then; now it takes effort. To draw comparison from Winnie-the-Pooh it's like going from a jumpy jolly care free Tigger to a grumpy, moody Eeyore is how it is trending.

Pause, clarify, repeat was how our conversations went then unlike the hurried to-the-point "conversations" of now...

I feel stranded at times with everyone rushing around me, in their own course of life, with less time to talk, lesser still to listen and none at all for the details.

Often times I find myself rushing too, rushing thru' the day's events, rushing thru' traffic, rushing thru' conversations...Why such a hurry? Where am I going? No clue.

Then I was a child, now I have grown; that's the only reasoning I could think of.

So today for a change I am going to kick back - all the way back - and relax. So, tell me what have you got? Whatever I missed please bring it on!

Fondly,
~ NRIGirl

Fit for a King!

Great morning everyone! This post is more for my Mom than others. Just to let her know I am on a good start... Returning home tonight!

~ NRIGirl

Breakfast in bed!

Greetings from Melrose of Dallas, Texas! Considered a luxury hotel but everything is to be paid for. No free WiFi or movies or any of those cool stuff. For a bottle of water they charge $7; for 24 hours Internet service it's about $12!

All my complaints vanished however, when I was woke up with the most delicious breakfast ever! Breakfast in bed! The highlight was the fresh flowers; how very thoughtful. It made my day!

Couldn't help but share the joy with you...

 Promise to write a nice long post when I am back. Till then, be good! :)

~ NRIGirl

Dear Sakha!

Dear Sakha! How are you? Fine and wish the same.

I am so sorry I missed your call the other day. Even more sorry for having not returned your call or at least write an email or as much as an FB message. Today I have kind of forced myself to respond to you and hence this mail - blog!

So, how are you? How is the family? Job? Abu Dhabi? Along those lines, let me answer too: Fine. Well. Busy. Humid and scorching!

Children are midway through their summer break, which explains why the house is upside down and downside up! This is one main reason why I can't function as "normal". Knowing me you would understand how very important it is for me to keep my surrounding in order. When it gets out of control I fail to function in my cheerful mode. (Sigh!)

Finding the time to bring it back under control seems to be ever evading, especially with my long hours away from home and the never ending shopping sessions in the evenings.

We are invited for a wedding (American) this Saturday. Picking the right dresses for girls proved to be more challenging than I had thought. I have scored the aisles of Macy's, JC Penney, J-Crew, New York and Company, Dress Barn, Forever21  and countless other boutique shops in the mall but haven't found the right ones yet. For now we have settled for a red wrap dress for Ray and a golden polka dot one for Sharon. One can't be too sure till the very last minute in our household. (more sigh!)

Okay dear, enough of grumbling I guess. Tell me about your girls? How do they like the new school year? How is the weather like in Abu Dhabi? How is Mom? Is P behaving? :) Israel is! :)) Regards to all.

With that I will wind up for now. Ping me your number; I'll call.

Take care.

P.S: Just for a perspecitive I googled us up, where you are (B) vs. where I am(A); picture enclosed.It seems almost virtual Sakha, don't you think? Yet, across the miles (6842 to be exact!) we will carry it on. Stay in touch!

Friend always,
~ Queen

Window

It's hailing outside with peeling thunder and lightening. From my tenth story office it looks pretty amazing. The sky scrapers look so dim as if in a dream of sort. Yes, this time I tried my hand at the black berry camera so that I can share it with you.

I have been extremely busy at work and almost exhausted at home which explains why I haven't been writing as much as I would like to. To tell you the truth a lot of "writing" has been happening in my mind but then either the subjects are out of date (such as the Quebec trip) or I myself have lost interest and scrubbed it off. Is that someone's sigh of relief I hear? Oh well!

It is only 4:19 PM and I have few minutes left in the day that I decided to write to you folks... Sorry it took me a few days to post this though.
 
Hope all is well at your end. Take care!
 
~ NRIGirl

Pride came tumbling down

Remember my boastful posts on how I was the "only one" out there when it came to lending a hand to the less fortunate in NY trains and streets? Not any more! Let me explain.

Not too long ago something unique happened. In my morning rush I encountered this voice, "Can someone buy me breakfast?" No, I could not ignore that.

First someone was hungry. Next I was hungry myself, so I knew exactly what it felt like. (I was hungry because they had promised us breakfast at office that morning).

So, I stopped on my track and said, "Sure, what can I get for you?" He said, "Anything". We were right in front of a deli/donut shop. It was a breeze I thought. Give some money and move on. Unfortunately though when I fetched for cash didn't find anything! Just that morning I had switched bags and had only grabbed my cards and no cash. Alas!

What am I to do?! Can I possibly walk away? I looked at him again, he really truly seemed hungry and I couldn't excuse myself. The only way out was to go and buy the breakfast myself paying by credit card - which I did. Thankful him and relieved me went different ways.

The same evening on my return I saw a police man giving a ticket to a very pregnant beggar who was claiming she had lost her job. Since then I see her in different locations with the same hand written board.

These incidents caused a stir in me. First my pride came tumbling down! Second, I have learnt to walk past most of these pleas - just like most. When I did that I can see so many other hands reaching out; I was not the "only one" out there after all... 

All aboard the chu chu train!

Happy July 4th to all my fellow citizens.

Greetings from Adriondack, destination Montreal. It is said to be a scenic route and sure it lives up to the expectations running alongside the Hudson river with the Adriondack ranges to one side.

When we boarded we were little diappointed that we all couldn't sit together. But soon we found an alternate solution. We decided to occupy the cafe car where we are free to enjoy the wifi.

We are only about two hours into the journey and have finished most of our food! Why, were we starving? Hardly... we are traveling with the Edwards and the Mrs. is a great cook and we couldn't hold our temptation to share in her delicacies.

Children tried their hand at a card game and soon settled for their handhelds. In order to keep them involved in the journey we are coming up with a quiz for the kids. At the end of the journey we are to pick a winner for $20! But the first thing is to come up with the quiz. Not sure what will motivate us parents to work on that...

The journey continues; will share whenever possible...

My python print hobo

Few days ago I bought my first ever Coach bag! Never before. Never after. The first. Will also be the last! A beautiful python print hobo with leather handles. Absolutely adorable. The price? Don't even ask! Not a single soul knew - except of course you all now...

Having had no inkling towards the brand, I'd never even cared to glance in that direction in the past. Lately however, I have shown some interest in the collection at the local stores but would soon walk away calling those "sour grapes". No amount of justification would ever truly justify my purchase if there was one.

So it came as a surprise even to me when I fell in prey this time for the python print hobo! Why, am I a fan of pythons? Not at all! Hobos? Sure! Coach? Sort of... It was at the full retail price and without any second thought I bought it. Only to be tormented over the next few hours of "owning" it, with so much guilt leading upto a nightmare of not pythons but frogs!

With the new day came a new resolve. I would return it! Realized I could not possibly live with that kind of guilt rest of my life. Also, definitely would not stop with just this one, if at all I give in. The only right decision was to go without it!

Trust me, it was a HUGE relief when I got the whole amount credited back! I sleep so much better now and feel that much lighter... which is of course priceless!

Happy July everyone!

Me, Myself and I

What am I upto these days? Well, since you asked... I would like to know a little more about Me, Myself and I! If you have a clue please share but first let me explain...

Say, you called me. I say "Hello?" You ask, "Can I speak to Hephzibah?" Do I now say, "It's me!" or "It's her" or "It's she" or "She is me" - see how complicated and out of control it gets all of a sudden...

When Israel takes me out and I want to tell you about it, should I say,  "Israel & I" or "I and Israel" or "Myself and Israel" or "Israel and myself" ? When do we use what to refer to Me?

Which one of these is correct - "I think so" or "Me thinks so" or "I thought so myself"? Yes, I was attentive in grammer school; no, I do not recall an explanation on this.

Why oh why is this so complicated? Or is it just me? or I? or should I say, myself?

On a different note, if you haven't already tried Google Translate on your blog I highly recommend it. For a sampler try translating this post in your mother tongue by choosing your language from the drop down on the right panel... I am sure you will have a hearty laugh!

New England

Greetings from Acela again, this time heading towards home sweet home! I am wide awake to capture the New England country side I had missed during earlier part of my trip.

The captain is announcing that the train is speeding by 150 miles per hour and to make sure the overhead bins are kept shut. At this speed I am sure to miss a lot of scenes but will try to capture as much...

Wow! It's absolutely breathtaking! The ocean or backwaters whatever you want to call it spreads on one side - my seat unfortunately is on the land side; I am determined to make the most of the trip - looking both ways!

There are plenty of boats in the waters most of them with hoists and it makes it more dreamy like an exquisite painting! On my side, just passed a green river tumbling down towards the ocean - I am sure it runs into the ocean on the other side but I can't quite see.

We are now passing through wide open lush green area with huge trees. The tracks run on elevated grounds from where we can easily trace the tree tops and the clouds hovering over the trees - which are both below our eye level. The sky is overcast; looks like the sun took an early leave.

Every now and then I look at the other side to see what I might be missing there. Anytime I see the ocean and boats I feel bad I am not seated there and then take comfort in the streams and rivers rushing to merge from this end!

I am sorry, I must take back my words about the sun leaving early. Just from there to here, he is out and shining bright! Can't believe my eyes. The dark clouds are nowhere to be seen. So I turn my head and look back and there it is - the huge dark clouds that had covered the sun! Wow! Now I get a glimpse of what 150 miles an hour actually mean...

The houses look pretty with most of them having a curved semi circle room in it - I can tell by looking at the castle like bumps on the exterior walls. I am sure these are sun rooms or breakfast nook. Some have a small round or hexagonal glass window on the side of the house - like you would see on a ship! Seems to me there was a liking for these windows at some point in history - even in New Jersey you can find these...

Now I see some boats on my side too! I am happy. Very happy. Looks like it is a Marina. Quickly noted a few boat names - Cloud Nine, Lady Mine, etc.

Sun is gone again! Huge dark skies above. Soon it will be bright!

More rivers, more boats, some cranes, few standing on one leg, some on both, one flying...

Boulders on both sides...

Just passing the Police head quarters in the city of New London!

Muddy Waters Cafe, Crocker's Boat Yard, Rachel's Marina, a Salon, another cafe, Ocean Express Food Store....

The sun returned!

Kids playing at park.

Train whistle continuously blowing (wonder what for?)

A pond, another crane flying, another park, more whistling ( at this I make a mental note to google up when and why the whistle blows).

More boats, pond, cranes flying, cranes on one leg, on both legs, driving school, river, river bed, sun, cloud...
Crunch, crunch, crunch...(from the passenger next seat)
Chips, dips, crunch...
Chips, dips, crunch, smack!

That reminds me! I have a tuna sandwich! Let me get started on that!

You've got enough of the New England country side, I believe! If there is nothing more interesting to share we'll meet in New Jersey... Appreciate your company during this trip! Thank you!

Onboard Acela

Can't believe I have become such a show off lately but can't quite help sharing this with you. I am onboard the Acela on a business trip to Boston! "You? Business trip?", chuckled my friends and family. It is difficult for them to imagine my professional side having always looked at my domestic side. I am up to the challenge though.

Acela business class is great - with lot of leg room (for those who need it) and comfortable seating with wide windows. As much as I like train journey I find no thrill in traveling alone amidst serious looking business clan. I miss my family already. Mhmmmm...

However modern a city looks from the street level, the rail path reveals its other side - the broken buildings, the garbage dumps, the power transformers, the warehouses, the metal recyclers etc. New York city is no exception either. It has been over an hour and there seems no end to these ugly sights. My eyes are keenly looking out for the New England country side.

Ha! There goes the familiar highway! I believe it is I 95 but can't confirm. I 95 revokes the same memory for both of us (Israel & I).

It was on I 95 we were almost hit by falling furniture from a truck in front of us! The year was 1999! What was so unique about that journey was that we didn't have an address to call as our home then!

We had just married and arrived in the United States of America when we learnt that Israel had lost his job! Upon hearing the news we couldn't possibly move into our booked apartment in Boston or bring home our picked out furniture. Friends offered us boarding for few days.

On that particular day we were traveling to Harrisburg, Maryland for greener pastures. Our hearts were heavy from disputes with friends, wallets were empty, minds were preoccupied with endless worries and Rachel was on the way!

We were tired when we crossed New Jersey and had even ran out of topics for conversation. That's exactly when the furniture started to tumble down from the truck in front of us! We veered off in zigs and zags to escape the hit(s). It was a miracle we escaped any crash that day. I 95 - will forever keep us humble and grateful to God Almighty.

Now rolling the cameras back to the reality, looks like the ugly sights are all gone during our flashback above.... The New England country side is spread so beautifully out there - with boats and back waters and clear blue sky and beautiful trees and buildings rimming the water, etc. But unfortunately I can't stay wide awake to indulge in the beauty as my eyes pull in for some rest.

While you guys enjoy the sights around let me get some shut eye; trust that you'll keep me posted later...

P.S: Acela is an express train by Amtrak connecting Northeast United States. Here's the link for more...