Current Tune: Tere Bina - Guru

The last few days have gone by like a whirlwind. There is a lot that has happened with us, and its amazing how quickly it has flew by.

Midwest Gets Hit with the 1st Snow Storm of the Year!
There was a feeling since the beginning of the week that there would be a snowstorm on Thursday/Friday, but I don’t think anyone was really aware that it was going to hit this hard:!: Neeraj and I smartly completed all of our major grocery shopping on Wednesday night, thinking that if there this level of murmur going around about a storm, its better to be prepared than to be wishing that we should have been. It rained throughout the night on Wednesday turning into freezing rain and ice on Thursday morning. As we reached the office, the talk was just about the weather.

Just when I think I like a template and begin to download it so that I can start customizing it — I take a closer look at it and change my mind. Why? Why am I so picky? Anyway, it will happen soon.

It snowed on Tuesday. Out of nowhere — it snowed about 5 inches. We needed to get to the office (as usual) in the morning. I spoke to Neeraj prior to him leaving his apartment and told him to drive carefully. When he reached my house, I was outside clearing the snow out of our driveway so that he would be able to drive the car up closer to the home. He got out of the car to help me clear some snow, and that’s when I asked him whether I should drive to work today because the roads most likely weren’t cleared, and it would be slick. He said, how will I learn to drive in this weather if I don’t practice? So I told him, okay. We make it on the highway, and he’s doing really well, but the roads weren’t clear like we thought. The big trucks are passing him as Neeraj is driving around 40 mph (speed limit is 65 mph). There are two lanes, and Neeraj is in the left lane, otherwise known as the fast lane. He decides to move over to the right lane, so that other cars can pass him properly, and that’s where he made his mistake. The car goes out of control, and we land in the ditch. Thank goodness that we were both wearing our seatbelts, but the car would not budge at all. So we called emergency 911, and a police car showed up. He asked if we were okay and called for a tow truck. After a long time, the tow truck finally came and helped get the car out. There wasn’t much damage except for the fact that the outside passenger mirror was broken.

So instead of going to the office (which would have been atleast another half hour drive), we decided to go home. Neither of us were really in the mood of going to the office after that moment. So I drove us both home, then called the auto repair shop that I knew Papa always used. He told me that he had to order the part and to bring the car tomorrow.

Now that it wasn’t going to be fixed the same day, we had no transportation for the next day (which is today). I called all of the car rental places but no one had any car available. Finally I remembered that one of the girls that I work with lives very near us, so I called her and asked if we could ride with her. She obliged and so we made it to the office today.

Now the weather has gotten better — I don’t know why this weather is so wacky. Sometimes its sooo warm, and sometimes its as cold as freezing. I wish it would stay a bit more constant.

Bridal Shower photos will be up soon.

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

Neeraj started his driving classes last week. The car that he is learning on is the Santro which is a nice car. I think he is really enjoying it, and I am glad that he is taking these classes. He goes for a half hour on Wed, Thurs, Sat, and Sun. He has 20 classes that he has to attend to finish the course.

Its funny how in India mostly manual transmission cars are used where in the US its the opposite, automatic transmission are more popular. I wonder why that is. It definitely doesn’t have anything to do with speed because speeders are everywhere. Maybe it has more to do with the fact that the roads in the US are better hence changing gears isn’t as important here.

Its good that Neeraj is learning manual transmission so he can teach me when he comes here. I will teach him how to drive in the US, and he will teach me how to drive manual transmission. I just want to see what is the huge deal about changing gears when you can get an automatic that does everything for you.

I have only tried to drive manual transmission once, and that too it was pathetic. The car kept on stalling every two seconds. For a person that prizes herself in her driving, it was quite a frustrating experience.

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

If in case you don’t know who that one great driver is, read on.

In India, you can drive @ 100 mph on the highway and not worry about getting caught by the police. By chance if you do get caught, you give them some $$ and you are off scot free.

In Germany, you can drive @ 100 mph on the highway (what a rush! ) and not worry about getting caught by the police because everyone is going so fast. Going 100 mph in a 55 mph zone is child’s play for them.

In USA, if you even think about driving @ 100 mph on the highway, the police will stop you and give you a ticket. By chance you forget and think that this is India and give the police some $$, he will give you some jail time.

Think before you drive.

My strategy when driving in the USA, if you follow with the traffic (a.k.a one other car ) the cop can’t stop you because there are now more than one car going the same speed. So what I do is on the highway I spot the car that is going the speed I want to go, usually 80 mph (the limit is 65 mph). Then I follow that car until he/she gets off the highway, and then I find another car. I never pass the car, just stay close enough distance that if there is a cop, he/she will get caught before I will.

Smart eh? Yes, I am one great driver!