Fall

Gosh it is Fall here now! The days are still warm but the nights are cooling off think they are in the 70's now.

I had a facial yesterday. It was so nice. The place I have been going, The Final Touch, has relocated and opened a full spa. Tanvi, the owner, has done an exceptional job. It is like the spa in Chennai at the Park Hotel. It is definitely better than any other "spa" here in Ahmedabad. I loved it.

Before I went to the US, I had noticed the peacocks were losing their tail feathers. I mean drastically. I am posting before and after pictures. The reason I am saying this is today my friend, Nancy and I went shopping for an "Indian" gift for one of her husband's co-workers. At the shop they had lots of beaded peacocks with real tail feathers. So I guess I now know where "my" peacocks tail went.

Trip to USA In Oct,2008

This is the lastest photo of the family. We had a blast with this get together. I really miss doing this and seeing these silly faces on a regular basis. Thank you all for coming over. I love you all and miss you more! Of course, you see everyone is listening to Tammy except Chet. Imagine that!!!!!

Back in Ahmedabad

Hey all we made it back safely and are trying to get back in the "swing" of things. We arrived two hours earlier than we originally thought but were unable to make a connecting flight from Mumbai to Ahmedabad that night. We had slept most of the flight so we stayed up until around 2:30 and then fell asleep and had to get up at 3:45 to make the 5:40 flight to Ahmedabad yikes. All our things made it safely and still Frozen Yeah!!!!!
While we were in the US one of our friends here Dad passed away. We thought we would visit for a minute last night then return home for a early night-----remember what I said about plans here -----well when we arrived at his home that had company from Mumbai and it was his daughter's birthday. They had a dinner planned and insisted we join in. Well guy guess what I ate???????????????? They are originally from Goa. They had a lovely platter of what looked like beef tenderloin with vegetables and of course I took some and then asked what it was-----to my surprise it was--------------------------------------------tongue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did taste it and it was surprisingly very tender but I could not eat it all just a couple of bites. I am really learning to eat alot of different things. The reason I said the were from Goa is that this is a very common dish there and I never knew that but I do now!

I really did enjoy seeing all of myboys, daughter in law, sisters, Mom and Dad and of course my brother. My guys were all good and enjoying life and I am already missing all. I will be back in December so let all plan more get togethers.

Well better run and finish unpacking.

Love you all.

Plans

I should really know by now that you can not make plans to do anything. I have just finished putting my bread up to rise the second time. Yesterday was a total wash on all my plans except going to the gym. Sophia came in with problems and had to talk to her to try and reassure her. Even though he is gone Stephen is still causing problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But last night I sat down and made a to do list of 20 items and so far I have accomplished only nine and we are having company for dinner so I will not finish the list today.

I had an exciting time today in the gym--------or let's just say everyone knew I was there today. I was riding the stationary bike and trying to email Brendon for a favor of a friend of ours. Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a black "ball" go under the bike next to me, which a trainer was riding. (The trainer is a great guy. He has a physical handicap but still is a hard worker in the gym and he speaks very little English) Well I just keep typing my email and I see the "ball" go toward the window and hopped right back out and head straight for me-----yeah it was a black mouse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Needless to say I threw all my things and stood on the bike and scared the life out of the poor little trainer. He kept trying to say calm down and shout for help because he didn't see the mouse he had no idea what had happened. Real entertaining for everyone but me. They took me to the free weigh area and captured the mouse under a treadmill. I would have broken my neck if I were on that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bill and I are having Claudio, the new Operations Engineer, over for STEAK tonight. We are being generous because we know we are going to the USA soon and can bring more. HA

Yikes just smelled burning green beans I was making a green bean casserole but there again PLANS CHANGE!

Still have not learn to post pictures right but will post of picture of Pranil (on left), me, Claudio(on right). Pranil is the Operations Engineer we were supposed to get last year but because he is Indian he didn't want to work here. He came on a emergency job. He is a great kid (Nicholas's age) and is getting married on November 30. Bill and I are going to the wedding. I am so excited. That was one thing on my list to do today ---booking rooms in Baroda for the wedding. (Not accomplished) I know a little about Indian wedding and am excited to witness one. His future wife wants me to wear a saree. Yeah right.

Bill is home from work so I better plan something else to go with the steak.

See ya

White Zinfandel

Here is a picture of the other homemade item I have tried. My friend, Sylvia gave me the recipe and of course I had to try. HAHAHAHAHA

Need more things to keep me busy.

Take care

Jealous

These are some of the trainers here at the gym. Bhakti is the one of the left.

This the first sour dough bread I made -----really don't know how to post it where i wanted it but you can read about below. Well it is almost perfect!!!!!

This morning I read a post from a friend in Africa -- Malawi to be exact. They have a Seven Eleven and BBQ Fritos I am able to find alot of things but have to search all over town for them. It does pass my time but now with a new driver who doesn't speak English IT IS DIFFICULT to say the least.

I am glad we did fire our first driver---he was difficult and always stirring up trouble and asking the other helpers to lie for him. He should have been gone after our leave in January but he did have two small daughters and of course we felt sorry for them. I really think that he thought he was secure because he spoke English but enough problems are enough.

Today I am making pimento and cheese ----from stratch of course and baking sour dough bread. This is my third time to bake the bread. The first time was perfect so I had my confidence up and the second time it was a flop! Don't know what I did but it didn't rise at all . Hopefully today will be a repeat of the first time. The pimento and cheese will be my first time. I found pimento at the dollar store here. It isn't a dollar store really because every thing is 99 rs. about 2 dollars HAHAHA. Now the pimento was 66 rs ($1.56) so not quite as expensive . I never liked pimento and cheese until I went to work at BHS and Mrs. Bonnie made it all the time for lunch and shared with us. I love her pimento and cheese and am going to try to copy it.

Got to get busy so I can make it to the gym for cardio today. Yesterday was suppose to be cardio but my trainer, Bhakti, called and rescheduled it for today. She will be taking her first aid class today so I did backs, traps, and biceps yesterday. I am loving this and hope that I will continue with the gym when I go home.

First Post

I have had this blog established for a while but my husband thinks it is crazy thing to do but I have decided to go ahead with it. I have had many memorable adventures here in India and will more than likely go back to things I have saved and add them to this blog later.
I am getting excited. I go to the USA in two weeks. I will go on Oct 7 to Huntsville, AL to see our youngest son, Ryan. Ryan is working as a Victory Field Director for the AL Republican Party. He LOVES his job. He is always exciting to talk to and talks ninety miles a hour so I have to ask him to slow down at times. I think I will enjoy volunteering for him and also cooking him some meals to put in the freezer to eat when I am gone. He is a great cook but is too busy to cook. On Oct 12 I will go to Jackson, MS and hopefully be met by my two other sons and daughter-in-law. I am excited to see them also. I have not seen Nicholas and Juliana since they left for their honeymoon but then again I have not seen any of the guys since the wedding and leaving to come back. seven months ago. Brendon is always fun to see and really can't wait to see my baby, Rivers and his pal Brinkly. I know that I will have a great time at home and can't wait to cook for these guys also even though they both cook extremely well also. I guess they learned to cook so they would not starve when they were teenagers and I got very slack on my cooking.
Today I am going shopping with my friend, Nancy. We are going to Old Ahmedabad to get nice sheets made and some embroidery done on some gifts I have bought. This afternoon it will back to gym for cardio.

Take care