Books, books, books!

Amit asked me again today whether I wanted a kindle and I replied again with a firm 'NO'.

I love books. Their smell, their covers.... as a matter of fact there are people whose entire careers depend on designing those covers. Oh, how I love browsing through a "real" library and not a 'virtual' one. I could spend hours there. Just for the record, I am no nerd. Actually not even close. But I think libraries are real cool places.

Every city we move to the first thing I do is get a library card. Free books, I mean you can't beat 'FREE'! I know internet has lots of free stuff too, but it's not the same. It does not have the personal touch. Internet has a non-living search engine, compared to a hardworking, passionate librarian....

Lately libraries are closing down, librarians are losing jobs and counties are cutting down on their budgets for libraries. I hope by the time the next generation grows up, libraries are not extinct! That will be a shame. A real big one. One day I would like to take my children and/or grandchildren and teach them how to look for a book in a shelf!

I hope libraries will be forever and to show my support I shall issue a book from my local library right away and maybe donate some old ones!

Achievement.

The alarm went off at 3.25a.m. It was November 7th 2010. It was time. I had had a fitful sleep all night, partly because of my nerves and partly the darned daylight savings time change. Also, iPhone got a bug where it would not update time on its own. Perfect timing! Anyways, I was up on time. I got dressed in many layers, it was going to be a cold day, with a high of 49 and winds at 15 miles/hr. I didn't eat anything. I had not been eating well since Thursday. Anxiety. Amit dropped me in front of New York Public Library and in no time I was headed to Staten Island, to fulfill my dream. Yes, I was about to run the NYC marathon. The race I had been dreaming about for years.

The villages for each corral in Staten island looked no less than Refugee camps. Inside were hundreds and thousands of runners, huddled together, sharing blankets along with race stories. I had some coffee and a bagel and sat in a tent thinking of all the mornings I had been up at the crack of dawn to run. All the hot summer days when I was pounding the asphalt when I should have been sitting indoors with the air on. The cold and snowy winter last year, when I was getting off the couch and on the streets, how I would juggle work, friends, family and train....all for this day. It had been a long and hard journey.

I made some friends in my tent and five hours passed. At 10.10 a.m. my corral started the race. It was quiet on the bridge. I looked at the water and the city skyline and soaked in the sight.

After the long Verrazano-Narrows bridge (2miles) we entered Brooklyn and were greeted by hoards of cheering crowds. There was a reason I loved this city. The first 10 miles were spent giving high fives to the little children in the crowds and just waving in general. I felt on top of the world.

Queens was just the same. There were cheerleaders and rock bands and more people. I was keeping great time. Doing less than a 10 minute mile. I truly felt like a rock star!

As we entered the Bronx, the body was feeling the brunt of all those miles. I had hit my 20 mile mark in 3.35. ( I did 3.53 in training) but now I was slowing down. As if they knew what was on my mind...

As soon as we touched Manhattan, the cheers grew louder... I have never seen so many people with so much positive energy. I was just inching my way forward at mile 23 when I saw Amit. He was trying to click my picture and I seriously could not muster a smile, but I was happy. I was so happy. Every part of my body hurt, but I was still going on, I was not going to stop. The memory of those last three miles in Central Park will be etched in my mind forever. The pavement, the fall leaves and the cheers in the background!

I sped up the last one mile for no other reason but to end the pain sooner. Then came mile marker 26...400 yards..300 yards...all the hard work that led me up to this point flashed across my mind. 200 yards....I was going to do this....100 yards...I did it.

My official time was 4.53:26.

The next few moments are a blur. The mind was numb with joy, the body with pain. But nothing mattered anymore. Nothing. I knew it right then.

I wanted to experience this feeling again.

On being an adult

Back when I was in grad school and working full time, life was not easy. It was just one disaster after another. After one such incident, I was very upset, must be my all time low. Then one of my dear patients told me.." Hon, if money can fix it, it is not a problem". Then she told me how her financial problems seemed like nothing when she was holding her bleeding daughter in the hospital. I don't think she realized, but she taught me a great lesson.

Now again 5 years later, I find myself thinking of that day. Experience is the best teacher they say, how true that is. When I was a kid, I always wanted to grow up because, grown ups seemed to have no problems. They were so calm and in control. They never cried or whined for things. They always had everything. Funny how a child's mind works. Now that I am a grown up I would love to be a child again, for the very same reason, that kids don't need much! Guess it is all a part of growing up.

(When I read this entry few years from now, I will probably smile and wonder what I was thinking of).

Blizzard of 2010

Yes, it is all over the news. Every news channel. The nation's capital is buried in snow. Can't believe we moved from Michigan to catch a break from the snow. This is the second blizzard of this winter and it is only early February. We have gotten about 18 inches so far and might get up to 24 or more. I guess, it doesn't make much difference after 12.

I have already read one book, watched three movies, had three cups of hot beverage and still have a day and half to go.

But despite all the mayhem outdoors, I am thankful. I know, sounds lame, but I am. Thankful for this home, warm feet and food in my belly. Life's simple pleasures.

Reminiscing

It is almost the end of 2009. This has been a very eventful year for me. Not too long ago I was wondering about life being too stagnant. Not anymore.

I started running and even ran a half marathon. I learnt ballroom dancing. I worked in three different states, three different jobs and traveled too.

Surprising as it may seem, I really felt sad leaving Michigan, our'home' for the last five years. There were a lot of 'firsts' there. The life changing five years of my life so far. Wherever I go in life, Auburn Hills will always have a special place in my life.

Also, this past year, made me feel like an adult, for the first time. I always heard people say, one has to make compromises in life, it was my time to make one I guess. I made the right choice by wanting to be close with my loved ones.

This year brought me some really good friends. It is so nice to be surrounded by people who care for you.

There is less than a week of 2009 left and I feel happy and grateful for the life I have.

My new year resolutions are already chalked out, but more about them later...

( not so ) paranormal activity

After all the box office raves and Amit's constant nagging, I finally gave in to watch the movie. We rushed to the movies( which is across the street from home!) on a Thursday night. There was just one more couple in the theater. It was the perfect ambiance..

Well, the movie started and I kept waiting for the activity to begin. Finally there was some action and it was good. But by that time, I was suffering from motion sickness. The handy cam was awfully shaky. I looked at Amit and he was worse off. So we opened our eyes only for the night scenes. After an hour into the movie, I lost interest. It was the same old story. One could predict the end. What happened later was pretty stereotypical, but to my surprise Amit liked it.

I can see how it can be a creepy movie but really not as scary as the reviews say it is. I thought good ol' Norman Bates' mother was more of a surprise than the ' demonic force' in our new flick.

All in all, a decent attempt towards changing the trend of horror movies. Definitely better than the bloody gory monster flicks out there.

A good watch.

Runner's high!

I had always heard of it. Last Sunday I felt it. I ran my first half-marathon. It was an awesome experience running in front of the Capitol. I was holding on a great 9.40 pace till the 10th mile and then my right hip started hurting and slowed me down. I met one of our past patients' en route. She was finishing up a relay. She kept pushing me and brought me close to the finish line and then all of a sudden, when I saw the finish, I sped like I was on drugs and for a minute felt like I had a whole new body and that I was ready for another 13 miles. I was high!

Just after the finish line, it all came back. My aching hip, knees and calves... but that last minute was something else.

A few shout outs to Linda for the pep talk, Chandu and Malli for being great friends!

Run Maddy run...

Last year I watched the movie ' Bucket list' and made one of my own. One of the first few things on the list was running a marathon. As a kid, I was always into sports. I was a good runner, even in college. But nothing ever came out of it. Last year I did some contemplating. I thought I was getting lazy. I was too complacent. So, I embarked on this journey...

In April this year, I bought a pair of New Balance and started running. The first day I ran 1 mile and was sore for two days. Ever since then, there was no looking back. I ran my first 5K on May17th and finished in 25 minutes. First 10 K on May 31st and finished in an hour. I would call myself a slow runner, averaging at 10 minutes a mile. But as stereotyped as this may sound, running has set me free. It has changed my personality for the better and has done everything for me that I had hoped for and more. I have had my set of setbacks and injuries and will continue to have more, but, the joy of finishing a race is unparalleled. I am headed towards my first half-marathon in less than 6 weeks from now and can hardly wait to run in the nation's capital.

What makes me feel even better is that I am not lazy. Pushing myself during the runs, and going on long after my legs have given up is not easy. Choosing the harder path, is something I never thought I could do, but I do it. Every time I run. It has brought out the best in me.

And now for the lack of better words... three cheers to Running, hip hip hurray!!!

Shall we dance?

I've had the writer's block for a year now. Thank goodness I kept my day job!
I have had a really exciting year since September'08.
I learned Ballroom dancing and realized I did not have two left feet anymore!( finally understood the meaning of that phrase) In ballroom dancing, ladies start dancing with their right foot and gentlemen with their left. It is THE golden rule. So, if someone is a bad dancer, they would not use their feet right, thus the term!
Ballroom dancing was fun. It was hard for me to let go of the control, as gentlemen are the 'leaders'!
The Rumba is my favorite dance, which is Latin, but still ballroom. Our instructors were so graceful and for some reason, very nice too.
I wish the classes went on forever, if it was not for their cost! Maybe when I am rich and old I will be able to afford them again...
But till then, whenever I hear music, I will ask Amit, ' shall we dance'?

Love you Maggy

Its' noon on a gorgeous Friday. ( my day off). I am lazing around in the living room watching "Forbes top 20 cash queens". The rest of the family is away for the weekend, its just me and Maggy. She is in vacation mood too. We just had breakfast and are ready for bed again. I have known Maggy for the last 5 months and have no clue what life was before I met her.
In any other situation, I am a very practical person. Ruthless sometimes, but this is one part of my life I have no control on. Yeah, this 20lb, hairy little creature owns me! She is a parti color american cocker spaniel. We got Maggy after my husband's year long persuasion. I love pets too, but wasn't sure if I could care for one. Well, we got her anyway. After the initial hiccups with potty training, it was a smooth sailing ride. She fit right in. With my husband out of town a lot, her and me became best friends and pretty much inseparable. She follows me EVERYWHERE.
She amazes me. How is it possible for a little thing like her, to be capable of so much love and devotion. There is so much to learn from her... whatever happens on day one is completely forgotten on day two. She starts with a clean slate every morning! Always happy and eager to please. She is sad when I leave everyday but never holds a grudge if I am gone for too long. She is elated to go out and exercise and passes out when tired! She is very health conscious too, she stretches every morning and keeps herself as clean as possible. Her antics are so funny I could go on forever. Her latest one is holding her own leash in her mouth while walking!!!

For all those who think of having a pet, take the leap. It is worth it. They are definitely a joy.