Holiday Cheer in Texas

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

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

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

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

Off to India

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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...

...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

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.