Reason

It's Friday.

I'm not planning to work tomorrow.

I'm getting on a plane headed homeward in 27 hours (but whose counting.)

One suitcase is packed.


Ain't no reason for this song, other than the fact that I love it.

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Glee

Have you seen it yet?  I laughed so hard at this scene I cried.  And I'm still singing along 12 hours later.

If you aren't watching yet, make it a priority next week, you'll be glad you did.

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Did you know it is National Singles Week?  Here's what I learned about single life in the US:

• 92 million Americans over 18 are not married (42% of the US adult population)
  
• For every 100 unmarried women in American there are 86 unmarried men
• 60% of unmarried Americans have never been married

Suddenly I don't feel quite so alone in my singleness.

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Love

I'm in love.

I'm in love with the Genius button on my iPod.  It made the most amazing playlist for me today.

On Monday I hit shuffle and then a few songs in got stuck on "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles.  I must have listened to the song 5 times.

Today during my commute I pulled the iPod back out and "Gravity" was still playing, but this time I hit the genius button, and look at the amazing messages I found in the music I listened to on the way to work.

Here I am and I stand so tall

I'm just the way I'm supposed to be

I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none

 Everything's falling, and I am included in that
Oh, how I try to be just okay

I asked God who I'm supposed to be.
The stars smiled down on me, 

God answered in silent reverie. 

I said a prayer and fell asleep.

Afraid to see that she's lost her direction
She never stays the same for long
Assuming that she'll get it wrong
Perfect only in her imperfection

An entire commute full of beautiful music with lovely lyrics that kept me going all day long. Pin It

Thirty-Six

For most of my life my lucky number has been 36.

It started when a fortune cookie that told me 36 was lucky.  But I also like the number because of the orderliness of it.  You add the 3 and the 6 up and get 9, which can be divided by 3.  You can divide 36 by 6, by 3 and by 9 - as a bonus you can break it apart and divide the 6 by the 3.  For a former math geek like me it is a cool number that is the answers to lot of multiplication and division problems.

The real reason I’m going on and on about the number 36 is because today I am 36 and I’ve decided that this is going to be my lucky year.  I’m looking forward to the adventures that are coming my way and I’m determined to make it the best year of my life.

One of my favorite musical discoveries this year is Missy Higgins.  She has an amazing voice and some incredible songs.  One of my favorite is "Steer."  Its lyrics are perfect for the way I feel today.  I've decided this will be the best year of my life, and I have the power to make it happen.

But the search ends here
Where the night is totally clear
And your heart is fierce
So now you finally know
That you control where you go
You can steer

Last year I enjoyed celebrating my birthday in Kathmandu so much I decided a repeat trip was in order.  Early Saturday morning I’m setting off for Nepal.  I’m hoping to catch up with friends, see  new sights, turn off the computer, and get a head start on the best year of my life.

 

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Balance

In our neighborhood in Delhi, most houses/apartment buildings have a guard at the gate. I suspect it has more to do with status than actual protection - but at least there are enough of them they can keep each other company on our very quiet street. The lucky guards have a small shack to keep them dry in the rain and to give them a place to keep a few of their things.

Our guard has a shack, but as you can see in the photos, the shack straddles a ditch in front of the house. To keep it level, Delhi ingenuity was put to work. Now, to me it seems a bit unstable, but I haven't seen it move or tip in the nearly two years we've had this place.

A beautiful song that popped up on shuffle today while I was at work proofing a document.

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Ewww

This sign has popped up all over the office. Enough said.

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Skin

The one thing I love the most about being back in Delhi is getting a facial from Tania. She is the amazing. I met her at an expat women's meeting last year and my skin has never been the same. Not only does she give amazing facials, she has developed her own line of skin care. All organic and ayurvedic - I stock up regularly and haven't found anything I like better anywhere. I know they work magic because several times in the last year I've been having a conversation with someone and they've stopped in the middle to tell me how nice my skin looks and considering I wear far less make-up now than I did in my teens and twenties that is saying something.

When I get homesick I try and remember the good things about living her and visits to Tania is at the top of the list.

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