Spent the evening with friends watching them play Cleopatra and playing 1/2 a game (don't remember what it was called). I liked Cleopatra, especially collecting the talents and more so the corruption coins. It was weird just watching the game. I would rather be playing. But, I did not make in time for the instructions. Ah well! next time.

After Cleopatra was done, I joined in for another game, (for the life of me, cannot remember what it was). If you are reading this, and know what this game is, do let me know. The game dealt with each player (in our case 7) picking from a set of card, one whose identity you were going to be for the round. The identities were Assassin, Thief, Bishop, Merchant, King etc etc. Each of the identity had the order in which the players played. Assasin (1), Thief (2) etc etc. The person who picked Assasin goes first and names a identity to kill. If you are the one called, then at your turn, you miss the turn. If you are the thief, then you collect gold coins from the person you named to steal from. In your turn, you can use the coins to pick cards to build, and build with the coins you have. I forget who wins, but then I couldn't stay till the end, so no clue what is criteria is to win. This is sloppy. Why am I being sloppy?

This evening, it was great to be there, but felt I needed to be somewhere else. Sorry, Jess/Amy, it was just weird.

For the game party I made Chicken and Mushroom puff pastry. The receipe was okay, nothing too spectacular, and I think the receipe called for too much corn starch. Note to self, next time put less. There was plenty to eat and drink and all of it very tasty.

Enjoy! (More pictures)

9:00AM: Last day of vacation, and Allegra is done. A day to celebrate! I am proud of this one. I had completed the back and front sometime back and somehow just could not get myself to complete seaming. I think it sometimes needs destiny to kick in, well, this morning it did. Around 6AM, after a cup of coffee, I got down to the business of seaming. After roughly three hours, it was done. I could wait, needed to take a picture. After couple of silly self pictures, I ran over to my neighbors', bare foot and fingers crossed (hoping to catch her at home), and had her stop breakfast and take a picture. So, here it is!!! This is how it all began: 1. Friday, July 10th: Concept to project 2. Wednesday, July 19th: Back made some serious progress with Allegra back progress 3. Saturday, August 5th: Back completed! Front is where it is at. Allegra front progress 4. Sunday, August 20th: Front completed! Knitting done 5. Several days: Got lazy and/or blaming destiny for not completing the seaming 6. Monday, Sept 11th: Done...... this is it. Roughly two months, with off and on knitting.

The Pink Velour Crape Myrtle bloomed! I planted a small shrub, about 8in tall, which is supposed to grow to about 10 feet. The plant is just about a foot, but it is blooming! I have two other Crape Myrtles, another Pink Velour and one Red Dynamite. So, far they are growing but they are not as ambitious as the first to be flowering. But I am not going to force it. I had planted three other small shrubs, all three Lilacs (Miss Kim), they were in their temporary planting location. They don't appear to be growing (or dying) where I planted them, so, they have been transplanted to new locations. Lets see how they do there. But, I am encouraged to plant blubs this fall, and then some serious planting in spring 2007. Oh, finally the yard work with the retaining walls is complete. One huge to do item checked off from the list. Now, I have to keep up with weeding, and that will keep me busy for the next two months.

What happens when this innocent crop called corn is grown in fields? Sometimes, it is eaten by humans, sometimes cows and sometimes one or more wooden bridges are built and paths are cut and if it falls in the hands of Adrian Fisher, then it turns into aMazing Cornfield Maze!

A very eventful afternoon with friends at Davis' Mega Maze, in Sterling MA. This year it has gone Hollywood, with Box Office (Special Edition) called The Great Movie Maze. This maze is designed by Adrian Fisher (England), the world's leading maze designer and holder of 7 Guinness World records. The Davis' Maze is unique, because it has the ability to change everyday, so no two trips are the same.

This was my first visit ever to the maze and was glad I did not go alone (as previously planned). We started around 2pm and were still in the maze around 4pm. I don't think we had a goal, but after a while it became a quest to cross all 10 bridges, and we did. Along with that we completed all 6 Hollywood Walk of Fame Maze Map stamps, collected all five Star Search stamps. Of the 12 Star Profile, we got 11, and had to back track to the beginning for the last one. Maybe backtracking was cheating for the last one, but after being in there for so long, I think we deserved a a break and a treat.  This was fun, and walk did us good too. We were lost so many times and felt trapped and felt like we were going round and round in circles. The sheer complexity of it was indeed awesome. I am pretty sure I am going to go again.

According to Guinness Book of World Records: The world's largest temporary corn maze measured 89,901 m² (22.21 acres) when opened to the public on August 13, 2005 in Flanders, Assenede, Belgium. The maze was designed and created by Workgroup Labyrinth. And the world's largest permanent hedge maze is the Peace Maze at Castlewellan Forest Park, Co. Down, Northern Ireland, which has a total area of 11,215 m² (2.771 acres), a total path length of 3.515 km (2.184 miles) and opened on September 12, 2001. The maze was designed by Beverley Lear (UK) and created by, Northern Ireland and members of the public.

My Star Profile: (in Brown is what I would have liked to have chosen, given the option.) 
Screen Name: Captain Julia Apple Jolie (Ghani) The Melodramatic (??? Jury is still out)
Movie Genre: Animated (Mixed, but mostly intelligent, mystery and thrillers, that sounds interesting, but really whatever.)
Agent: Secret Agent (Shhhh!)
Job Preference: Supporting Role (hmmm, all sorts of role, I am up for anything)
Look Alike: Halle Berry (! I don't think there is anyone)
Motto: Here's looking at you kid (Aww, love that line)
Celebrity Sighting: Private Island (Not seen anywhere!! Now, won't that be wicked cool)
Dwelling: Bungalow (this one is where we backtracked)
Costume: Evening Gown (Evening Gown)
Transportation: Private Jet (Private Jet)
Dating: George Clooney (Possibly! nah not really, but that was the nearest to cool option I would have chosen, my choice in no particular order: Gerard Butler, Matthew Macfadyen, Matt Damon, and well someone closer to home.)
Rehearsal Strategy: Read the script (Read the script, define options, prep for the outcomes and accept what it really turns out to be)

It is 6:00 in the morning, and I cannot stay away from a computer (promise no work, only play). As I was sipping my coffee, I got worried about my Maidenhair Fern. It is started to turn white. Oh dear! humidity low? water low? I dashed them off to the kitchen watered and misted them. Hmmm, if this is the state in the beginning of fall, I am going to have to be doubly vigilant in later fall and winter. It is going to get dry. One option would be to migrate them to the bathroom, or maybe get a humidifier or humidity trays. What are humidity trays anyways? Perhaps I can make them! I think it is a tray, and a rack to allow water drain off, so the plant does not sit in water. Hmmm, not rocket science. I am going to try making one. Perhaps the maidenhair fern needs some light. So, by 6:30 they are watered, misted, plonked in a white tray and relocated to dinning room window for some east-northeast light.

But, wait, I did not get on the computer to blog about ferns, but to research about humidity trays, when something unexpected happened. Baxter (Bunny), came sat next to me, looked at me, butted his head against my arm, and when I moved to scratch his head/neck, he clambered onto my lap and curled left, curled right, stuck his butt in my face, curled again clockwise and settled himself on my lap. Ohhhhhh! priceless, so utterly priceless. When finally he appeared settled, I asked "Comfy?", I got a very resonant "Meow". How can one not fall in love with him? Something is definitely up, Bunny has been following me all morning and getting quite comfortable in jumping onto my lap anytime I am stationary for more that five mins.

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Thank you De's (especially Anup & Anish), Father, Leader Bank, Steven, Valerie and Heather for the warm wishes. Special thanks also to Veebs and Bunny for waking me up to great vocal "Meow" (I like to think they are wishing me).

The day started with me driving over to work, just because I absolutely detest the silly b'day sheet that Judy puts up on all our computer desk. And I wanted to get it down as I am going to be on vacation for next four days. Well! She was not in, Maureen was, but there was no sheet, AWESOME!! Hmmm, why am I surprised, I shouldn't be, Judy put the sheet up for the next two days, and perhaps I was lucky and she was on vacation too. Awesome! I knew this was going to be a great day.  I drove over to home town and lounged in Panera bread for a great cup of Hazelnut coffee and Oatmeal (Apples and Cinammon).

I was going to treat myself today and go Peaches picking on a farm in Concord, and also help on their farm (to pick fruit) for their stand and just maybe they would assign me to tend the pigs (being the rookie). But that did not happen. I landed up driving to Barnes and Noble and spent couple of hours browsing through loads of books. I got a list to buy using my personal development money, but did not buy any. I almost bought a book on mixing drinks. I really want a good book on cocktails and Liqueurs. Beer: whatever, Wine: nice, Champagne: hmmm yum, Liqueurs: god I am in love.  It is just the sheer variety of it all, is just so amazing, love it all. Current favorites are: Sambuca, Ameretto, Galliano (I know, I know, better in mixed drinks, but oh baby, this is nice), and oh, schnapps (especially peach and peppermint), oh oh and anytthing with Vodka. Oh dear! how did I ever get side tracked with alcohol. My resolution this year to keep and maintain a well stocked bar. Good one to have.

Well, after just browsing in Barnes and Noble, I swung by to the AMC theaters to see, if anything interesting was playing, nothing was, so got back home. Lunch was a simple affair with Bean soup and summer squash. Highlight of the afternoon was watching "Mad about You" season 1 for couple of episodes and playing with Veebs and Bunny. Bunny has started walking over to me and flopping for a good tummy scratch and I love to do that. They (VanBurren and Baxter, the cats) are so adorable and so understanding and so loving, and give so much unconditionally, it is insane.  I think I should get a cat, but, I think I am allergic, I have not stopped sneezing since they have moved in..... Dan/Li, what was that allergies medicine again? I'll call to find out. As I am writing this, they are slumped over and sleeping like babies. Aw, they are so cute together (pics coming soon). 

Evening, I cannot decide, whether I should go out for dinner on the town or stay indoors. I might landup going out, but don't know yet.  I have opened a great Sauvignon Blanc from Oyster Bay and love it, it complements peaches so well. Well, the night is really young, so we'll see.

Update: I did not go out for dinner, settled for a second glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a large bowl of Maple-Brown Sugar Oatmeal with Peaches and Nectarines. Yum, so much better.

4:45AM: Me, asleep, all cuddled up under fall blankets, catching all the ZZZZ's possible
4:50AM: MEOWW! Purrr! MEAOWWW!
4:50AM: I open my eyes, I see two sets of gleaming eyes staring right back at me. WHOA!! Right over my  head, two cats, sitting and looking down at me, staring at me, commanding me to get up. What a fright!
4:55AM: Ahhhh! After a few mins of catching my breath, being startled out of some dream or the other, into a reality of two gorgeous cats trying to get my attention. I remember, oh yeah, Veebs and Bunny, of course, oh, they are here, so sweet. I think I can retire my alarm. Hmmm, talking of which, how do they know, I will be up in a few mins? I did not tell them. Hey, they seem to be morning people. :) We'll get on just fine and dandy.
5:00AM: Some where in the house my alarm goes off to blaring music from Mike FM (93.7 FM). It was loud enough for all us to jump. And we are all up!!

6:20AM: I am still at home, (usually leave to catch 6:00-6:10AM bus to work), the two meowing their headoff, knowing (I like to think) that I will be gone for the day (I like to think they are going to miss me). I felt my heart thumping with just the thought that they will be alone. Finally,  after a good conversation with them (call me loony!), I head to work.

(Couldn't wait for 3:00PM), ran home (not literally, took the bus), and played with kitties.... :) 

Partners in crime, this is how I find them..... when I get home. Do they really care that I was not home? Why was I worried?

They are here! Oh! My house guests have arrived.

Prep work: I tried to get my house presentable for my guests. This is first time they are seeing the house, and their approval means a lot to me. I cleaned and scrubbed some parts, but could not get to vaccum the carpets. I hope they wouldn't mind. Around mid-morning, I got the initial checkin to see if I was ready for them. I think I was, and conveyed that the house is ready for them and it will be great to have them over. I just hope I live up to their expectations.

They arrive: They arrived will little fan fair, as royality do. I drove over and got some of their luggage and then they arrived. Initially they were tentative about the new space, and needed to acclimatize, and inspect every nook and cranny. But, soon they were up and about the house. Within few hours, they were home, it took me a little longer, to have them around (having two more souls in the house, is an adjustment for me too).

I think this is great! Welcome Veebs and Bunny!

   <== Baxter (Bunny/Sweetie)

   <== VanBurren (Veebs/Pumpkin)