I can’t believe that the Thanksgiving break is almost here. I think Neeraj and I are both ready for it. Work has been really busy these days so it will be nice to have a break. I am glad for it being Saturday too. This is finally a day that we are not traveling anywhere, and we are just home to get stuff done. One of the things on my list was to write this post, so now I can mark it off.

So Om Shanti Om is playing at the multiplex here, but I don’t think Neeraj and I are going to go see it. Neither of us are really interested in the movie, I would have gone just to see that song, Deewangi Deewangi. No probs, we will watch it when it comes out on DVD.

The parents are going to India next week. I am glad that they are going because they will get to see everyone (especially nani and Funny Aunty), a visit a new place (Nepal), and even get my brother engaged! Brother engaged???? Nah, I am just kidding. I don’t think my parents would make a move so quickly and without letting Suraj meet her first.

With Thanksgiving around the corner, that means Black Friday is also here. I always look forward to it because of the deals. I did a quick check a few days ago on what the deals might be on the Internet, but I am going to have go into a bit more detail one of these days to decide if its worth it to go out that morning.

Here’s another reason why I will make sure that I don’t travel Air India. Air India really needs to get their act together in order to be competitive in the airline market.

I started this post on one day..ending it on another day. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

This is my first post from Neeraj’s iPhone and also from a car! We reached Vegas yesterday morning and now today saw the Hoover Dam. With that done, we are on our way to the Grand Canyon. So far it has been hot with the temps in the 100s, but very enjoyable!

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

Hopefully you all enjoyed looking @ the pics of the anniversary party. Neeraj and I were happy with the success of it. Now our home is back to being empty - with just the two of us, as Neeraj’s parents have gone back to India. They left the day after the anniversary party as we drove up to Chicago to drop them off at the airport.

In a way it was perfect timing for them to be back home with Neeraj’s elder brother and sister-in-law because very soon after the state of Rajasthan was closed due to the rioting of the Gujjar community. It hit the heart of Rajasthan, and also the heart of Neeraj’s family, as the cities affected were all around Hindaun City (Neeraj’s hometown). Thankfully Neeraj’s family (brothers & sisters and their families) are all fine and safe. The atmosphere is much better but for a few days the market was closed, and it was very tough to leave the house.

So now what are Neeraj and I doing with the time? Well we have been relaxing. But we have lots to do — such as look for a house!! Yes, Neeraj and I are getting ready to move into our first house. Since the past few months, well actually ever since we have been married, we have been leaving in various apartments. Now we have found the city where we want to settle (O’Fallon) and so we are looking for a house near our office. Currently we have a mere 1 minute commute, and we would like to keep it that way. That being said, we have slowly started looking at various homes on the Internet in our area, and soon will go physically to look at the houses. We hope to be moved in by the end of September (our lease at our current apartment will end then).

Neeraj and I haven’t bought each other an anniversary gift yet, as we were waiting to buy a new plasma or LCD TV once we move into our house. Looking forward to that.

We haven’t seen any movies for a while either!!! Neeraj and I both want to see Shootout at Lokhandwala and then once its released, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. There are some great sequels that are out in the English front such as Shrek 3, Spiderman 3, Rush Hour 3, Ocean’s Thirteen, and Pirates of the Caribbean, One of these nights will be movie night for us.

Its my dear brother’s birthday today!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Suraj!!!!! I hope that you had a great day today. We celebrated with him and the parents yesterday which was lots of fun. Neeraj and I love getting together with them. We gave Suraj half of his gift (a baseball PS2 game) yesterday and will give him the rest of the gift next month when we go to a Chicago Cubs baseball game.

So I guess that’s it — I want to make some changes around this space, so keep in eye out. Nothing is easy and nothing works quickly, but definitely I am going to try to stay on pace and keep writing more often.

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

The family (both set of parents, Neeraj and myself) are traveling to Niagara Falls, NY this morning and will be gone till Sunday. I have my Aamchi Mumbai post just about ready to post…but unfortunately there is more to add. So you will have to wait till Monday.

Enjoy the weekend, and see you back here on Monday:!:

OH — the photos on Yahoo are finally ready too - send me an email or hit the Contact Us, if you would like the link to the India Trip pics.

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

12.23 am. Neeraj is asleep, what am I still doing up??? Our lives just hit another level. It has hit a level of busyness that I think I have never felt before. Do you know how many things are going through my head right now? I would like to write by priority but dang it, its past midnight and I should go to sleep, I have an 8.30 am meeting that I need to reach the office on time for tomorrow.

Visitor Visa
This is a beast. To make it even more interesting, Mitu Didi’s (Badi Masi’s daughter) mother-in-law (M-I-L for short) went for her US Visitor Visa interview three days ago at the US Consulate in Mumbai, and her visa was rejected due to having insufficient funds to survive in US. This has caused a bit of a scare to Manoj Bhaiya (Mitu Didi’s big bro) as he has already paid the fees for himself, Bhabhi, their daughter Aayat, his mom (my Badi Masi), and his dad (my Mausajii). That would be a whopping Rs. 25,000 for fees, and anyone who has paid that much $$ wants to make sure the investment is worthwhile. So the past two days Neeraj, my parents, and I have been dissecting piece-by-piece the interview that went on with the MIL to understand what might have been the issue for insufficient funds. The story is too long to write about now, but we have come to the conclusion that you shouldn’t hide anything during the visa interview, and you should make sure that your sponsor’s papers match exactly with the visa application form. This visa stuff is never easy and really time consuming. It will be worth it when I see Manoj Bhaiya and all of their smiling faces @ my house though. So we are not only sponsoring Manoj Bhaiya and family, but also Lata Didi/Kishore Jijaji, and then Neeraj’s parents. So we are going to know the process in/out by the end of this. Anybody else going through this, you should check out this and that websites for solid information.

NP.com would like to wish all of our readers a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Current Tune - Come On Come On - Baabul

NP.com would like to wish all of its readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. All in all, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Current Tune: Mujhe Haq Hai - Vivah

Writing a post is much easier with you and I being near. I don’t even need to write.

For the first time I can say……

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAR SWEET WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!