Had a nice two - three days with the Pumpkin Festival wrapping up on Saturday and celebrating Ganesh Chathurthi at the temple.
Beth called me at 7.30 pm, and I went to pick up her, her two roommates (Rachel and Julia), and her friend Molly. We drove to the P-Fest (hardly five mins) and walked around for two hours. They were all hungry so the first place we went was the food tent (the line was outrageous, but it was fun :smile:). There is always some entertainment going on in the food tent and there was a band playing some nice music. Next stop was the merchant’s tent which was basically next door the food tent. One of my good friends, Heidi, always has a booth setup with her mom as they do Creative Memories (scrapbooking and how to make albums), but this year was the first time they didn’t have a stall. 
I am not sure why. Next we saw the Pumpkin Decorating Contest that were done by all youngsters. They are so creative with a pumpkin — unbelievable. With the theme being, Under the Sea, many kids made Nemo from the movie, Finding Nemo. Very cute.
We usually run into a lot of our high school friends at the P-fest, this year we didn’t see many. Sarah Eades and Janea Rogers we talked to, who were there with their boyfriends. Kristi and Darla we also caught up with, and Jennie & Betsy; that’s about it. Not sure where the crowd was this year. 
I had a great time with Beth, as always, and her roommates plus Molly. I hope they had as a good of a time! 
6 am: My alarm goes off. Why you may ask? I told Beth and her buddies that I would meet them at the P-fest @ 6.15 am. So early?
6.15 am: Still in bed. 
Aargh. Ok, so I got up and brushed my teeth and was out the door.
6.20 am: Dang. No cash. ATM here I come.
6.25 am: Parking the car and walking towards my friend Jillian. She and I were going to go to the All-You-Can-Eat Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast. So we got into the line — whoa, there had to be about 70 people in front of us. Craziness.
Got our food and tried to find Beth — BUT they found us. We had an enjoyable breakfast with them. Jillian and I caught up with everything that is going on with life.
Beth and her friends left to go see the craft sale, and Jillian and I sat and talked. We stayed for maybe till about 8 or even past that. Then I got home. The big Pumpkin parade wasn’t till 10.30 am so was not sure what to do next. I had sent a message to Neeraj that I was leaving for the breakfast but he didn’t reply back. So I called him. He was @ home as his cousin, Sunil, had come over. After speaking with Neeraj, I went back to sleep waking up right for the parade.
Mumma, Papa, and I walked to the parade which is up the street. It had already started and it was fun watching all the nice floats and seeing all of the different people in the community. Mumma and Papa thoroughly enjoyed.
It was over by noon and off I was to talk to Neeraj once more.
Saturday Evening
Ganesh Chathurthi pooja started at 5 pm at the mandir. I got there about 5.30 pm and perfect timing for the aarti. It was the typical Mumbaiya Maharastrian style pooja and aarti — very enjoyable.
Then the cultural programme. Just before the start of the programme, Prabhakar Uncle asked if I would help Kavita and be in the MC (Master of Ceremonies). Kavita was quite nervous and so I would just be support to her as I had been an MC for many programmes at the mandir. The show started off with a bang — with all of the children dances and songs. Before the start of the adults singing (basically Kavita and three other Maharastrian singers) were going to sing old film songs, they had decided to have dinner.
Major problem @ our mandir with cultural programmes are: audience and children do not stop talking! 
So that’s why we thought that those who just came for the dinner can have it and then be off if they like. Noise pollution problem solved. Well, it didn’t work that way and me being the MC was being shuffled around not knowing what was going to come next.
Finally dinner. Maharastrian khana - moong, aloo ki sabzi, puri, papad, raita, and gulab jamun. Masti aayi. It was very good.
Then the singing. Kavita, Aarti, and Dr. Deshpande all sang very well. Kavita and Aarti sang Kajra Mohabbat Wala and I even danced on the stage. 
Not only I, but Sudhanshu and Prasad also joined me in the song. It was great fun! Lopa and I even danced on one song together. There was a lot of dancing, basically done by me. Hey, its hard to just stand there when they are singing such great dance songs!
I was definitely thinking about Neeraj throughout my dancing (I wish he would have been with me :sad:) but especially during the saigai verse of Kajra Mohabbat Wala. 
Sunday
Sleep. Talked to Neeraj. Slept the rest of the day away. 
Watched most of Kyun Ho Gaya Naa. Only most because I fell asleep once again. Ha. Had pizza. Now calling Neeraj again. Then sleep.
Overall fun time and a fun weekend!
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
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Aah those were the days. 
