Jamie - your new home sounds wonderful! I am a hardwood floor freak and like LeeAnne I am sure it is because I like area rugs! LOL When would you be moving? Ha.. you saw an 8 ehhh? Sneaky.. LOL - I am crossing my fingers for you!!! I usually sneak on the scale on Thursday mornings to see how I am doing for the week and when I snuck on this morning I was pleased with what I saw too.

Mags - just jump right on in! Sometimes we are pretty chatty (sometimes?) even the rambler that I am has a difficult time keeping up.

LeeAnne - Congrats on the 1.6!!! AND the new clothes! Aggg.. I am so jealous! I am afraid of buying any cute new stuff! I am just buying to get by for now but am going to have to look at getting some new tops soon. The ones I am wearing I could fit two of me in - comfortable yes, flattering no.

I have an eclectic taste in music - there is a lot of music that I like that surprises many people. I have a teenager who is into musical angst at the moment and she laughed as I sang along with one of her favorite bands Slipknot. LOL I like Rammstein too.. LOL Du hast!

Magz - I feel the same way when I don't go with what I have planned for the day - I am sure I go over, but then upon review I realize I am more on target than I thought I was.

sotypical - I crochet hot pads.. that is it. I just make a chain and go around both sides until they meet again and then 'sew' the seam up with yarn. It makes a square and they are wonderful to put under hot dishes (if made with rug yarn) on the table or depending on the yarn very nice potholders that are easy to wash in the washing machine. Besides, I don't have to count.. lol

Jen - How'd day 1 end up working out? On to day 2 now, right?

LeeAnne - Awesome on the 1.6!! What a milestone you are about to achieve! As for photos, I don't have any at the moment... Even if I had taken some when we visited you wouldn't want to be subjected to the current tenant's decor - yikes. Not the cleanest person alive, that's for sure. Once we get set up I will take a couple of photos.

Magz - That is awesome about the girls at work! It's like a snowball rolling down a hill. And hey, if tossing out the ice cream will keep me from eating the whole carton in one day, I will toss it. But others may have more self-control than I

Courtnie - That blanket looks adorable, from the little piece in the photo! I am impressed!!

So I don't know how to crochet, but I hear it is faster than knitting? I tried once - I made the first stitch in a chain - but then for the life of me couldn't figure out what to do to make a second stitch! I was so confused I gave up on it. I would love to actually learn, you can crochet some really neat stuff that is harder to do knitting.

Chey - We are moving next weekend. It all happened so fast... I am still so happy for you, with what you posted in the other thread - you are awesome!


Well, this weekend is going to be pretty boring. We're going to start packing up everything... We have so much stuff! Books especially! I also have a project for work I need to finish. between working and packing we'll just be a barrel of fun...

We are thinking of hiring some guys to come help us move. It's kind of an unnecessary expense but since it has to happen over a weekend and it's not exactly easy to get everything over to our new apt, it might be best if we don't add that stress to our lives, and let others handle it. Sure it'd be great exercise but... I'd still rather not At our new place when you go in the front door you have to go up a flight of stairs before reaching the apartment, and really the last thing I want to do is push a dresser up those stairs... or carry 50 little boxes of books up those stairs....

Anyone else have weekend plans?

Chey - my dish rags could probably be used for hot pads as well! They are pretty easy, I just do a chain and then go back and forth in rows until its square, lol.

Jamie - I don't know if it is faster then knitting... I figure that blanket took me approx 12 hours. It was a fair size.... 36 by somthing - I find that cotton yarn sometimes hard to work with, but it turns out so beautiful after and I love the feel.

When we moved we hired movers... oh it was so nice. I had my boxers packed but then they came in the house took everything into the truck and then put it all into our new house... did it in one trip, set up our bed, put our furniture where we wanted it... I would do it again, it was worth it! We just helped the people moved into our basement suite and it took lots of trips and took all day, it was such a pain... our move was so much easier and we had more stuff and had to take everything up a flight of stairs.

So I was at Zellers (like a canadian wal-mart but more expensive, lol) last night and they had bins of yarn that was 50% off. There was a bunch of just a variegated regular yarn - its brown/blue/beige - so I got 8 balls of that to do my dad a blanket! I might end up needing more cuz I want to double it so it goes faster, LOL. Hopefully I won't need too much more.

I weighed in this morning and the scale was up a pound... from like over 4 weeks ago (last weigh in) - blargh. Anyway whatever, hopefully it doesn't go up much more when I am in vegas. I finally caved and made a doctor's appt for next week to get a referral to get some blood tests - just to make sure there is a thyroid problem or something.

As for this weekend... my friend wants to go to the river Saturday night but I dunno... with going to vegas next week and being busy all last weekend I might just want to stay home. Sunday my dad and I are going to visit some family friends for lunch... of course they live aways away so it turns into an all day event..... LOL I just want a relaxing weekend of sitting in the yard, sun tanning, cleaning, reading and crocheting, lol.

Hi all! Decided to just jump in and say hello! I finally decided this morning to start Flex and so far so good. I've enjoyed lurking this site -- it's given me the encouragement (more of the kick in the pants that I needed!) to get started what with all the success I've been reading about. Wish me luck!
Since you started talking about crocheting, I was wondering if anyone did any quilting. Since I enjoy sewing, about 8or 9 years ago I attempted my first quilt and have been making patchwork quilts for all the new babies that have come along (friends, family) since. I was not very successful at crocheting; took too long and I was not great at following the directions. Knitting was eaven worse!
Anyways, I've got 48 pounds to lose (sounds better than 50) and if you guys can do it, I'm gonna do it too!

JoJoLo.. Fellow quilter here!!!! Now we are talking! LOL - not that I don't like crocheting, but I LOVE to quilt! As soon as number two son finally gets done with college and gets a place of his own, his old room is mine! DH got number one son's room for a computer room. My room is going to be a sewing room! Good for you for jumping on the wagon here! Yes, if others can do it you can too! It isn't always easy, but this place here and the people can make it fun.

LOL... sotypical - I do the round and round thing because mine don't end up being square. Something about counting....

Jamie - I would hire movers too! So much easier and less stressful. That way all you have to worry about is cleaning the place up and unpacking. Heck - the unpacking is probably worse than packing IMO. Thanks for the kudos too. I am still giddy about it. I just can't believe how shocked I was. I think that was what made me cry so much.
__________________________

DH and I had date night tonight. Went out to dinner and then shopping. I HAD to buy new clothes for work. Officially we start back on Monday and my baggy jeans just aren't going to cut it as we have to 'dress professionally' during contract days. That is difficult for me as I crawl under desks, climb ladders running cable and move computers around so clothes have to be pretty sturdy and no skirts or dresses.. lol. This year is going to be so much easier for me than last year! I don't mind getting on the floor and crawling around so much now.

Anyway... I am officially out of the women's section of the stores!!! DH made sure I tried everything on and then went into the 'regular' section and found some slacks and asked some lady to bring them to me.. I tried them on and they were regular 16's. The tops are 1X now or XL depending on the style. I am also down 2 sizes in my bras, but the cups size is the same.. Panties are also 2 sizes smaller. I was wearing 24 pants and 3 or 4X tops.

Even my shoe size is smaller! This is very strange to me because when I was thin, my feet were the same size that I had been wearing. I tried on new shoes and I had to go to 8 1/2 instead of 9 1/2 or 10. Has anyone else had that happen?

Courtnie - Yeah, I think crochet is faster than knitting, or else I'm a very slow knitter! I expect my baby blanket (36 by 42 or something?) will take me at least 24 hours. Smart to go to the dr to make sure everything checks out, I hope it goes well for you!

JoJoLo - welcome! I don't quilt but I would love to learn. I have been collecting pieces of fabric for a long time, so sooner rather than later I ought to do something constructive with them!

Chey - Great news on all the clothing changes! And yes, I have had my feet shrink some too. Think of all th weight you don't have pressing down on them to make them spread out!


I am having a hard time focusing today at work, so here I am. My mind keeps running back to all the things we need to do at home. Plus we haven't actually been "verified" by the new leasing company so while we have signed a lease we don't have the go-ahead to actually live there til they do credit check, employment verification, landlord references, etc. I expected to hear back from them by now, hopefully they call soon. We have great credit and references so I don't anticipate a problem but it's still unnerving to be making plans to move this weekend when we haven't technically been approved for the place!

I made lots of good progress on the baby blanket this weekend. When faced with the alternative activities - working or packing - I chose knitting This is the most complex pattern I've ever tried (it involves counting! Usually I just go knit knit knit knit until I run out of yarn...) and it's really fun to see it work, to see the pattern emerge behind my needles.

I am just a ball of nerves today. Maybe I'll go make some tea and try to settle in here, I have a ton to get done..... Hope everyone had a great weekend!

JoJoLo - Welcome!

Chey - the only time I count is when I chain But even then, I normally just go till it looks good, haha.

Congrats on the smaller sizes! My feet haven't seemed to shrink much, but I heard that it is common to lose a shoe size!

Jamie - you must post a picture when you are done! I have never done a pattern (only made two blankets and a few dish rags! lol)! I started the blanket for my dad but I am going to start over because I think I am making it too big (read, will take too long and use too much yarn!) Good luck with everything! I can NEVER focus at work!

This weekend wasn't too bad... I think I ate not bad, expect maybe last night. But overall it was better then normal! I started reading a book 'Mindless Eating' - started on that blanket for dad, and finishing up one more dishrag for my friends birthday present. Today I had tons of laundry to do and need to pack for vegas!

Hi Everyone! I just popped in to say "Hi!" and post about India. I wrote this a couple of days ago, but hadn't gotten a chance to post it. I'm catching up on quite a few things right now. (Lots of busy work at the office.) But, I'll pop in when I can this week. And try my best to keep updated.

India:

I stayed in Chennai. A major business district city in Southern India inside the state of Tamil Nadu. They speak Tamil there (not Hindi). In fact, there are a lot of languages in India... and people from different states often have to communicate in English, because that's the only common language they know. (I found that so... weird.) Almost everyone we ran into spoke some English. Don't get me wrong, it was convenient, but a little disappointing. I somewhat liked the idea of having to learn more to get around. That aside...we traveled to a few places. Went to Pondicherry to see an ashram of a mentor-type woman called "The Mother". She designed a place called Auroville. Where people of all different countries come to work and live in peaceful soul-searching & self-finding. Yeah, it's a hippie-commune. But, it really is cool. And part of me always wanted to join a hippie-commune.

We (co-workers & I) also traveled to Kodaikanal. A gorgeous hilly/mountaneous area with these beautiful views. It was so ridiculously wonderful.

Within Chennai we got a chance to see the Theosophical society where we ran into an elderly New Zealand man named Conrad who proceded to twirl his knarled crooked cane at us while preaching life advice. "Don't worry if someone else is having a bad day, don't give it back to them. Instead say 'I'm sorry you're having a bad day, brother,'" he used brother, like Desmond from Lost uses the word, "'I hope that your day gets better.'"

One of the most unexpected part of being in India was how much attention I got for being light skinned. This is just something that never occurred to me. Here's the background: Having fair skin is considered an attractive feature in India. Almost like having tanned or bronzed skin here is the cool kid thing to do. (One always wants what they don't have, isn't that the case?) I even saw some people walk around under parasols.... Parasols! Okay so, knowing that, and the fact that there aren't exactly an overabundance of caucasians walking about India, meant that suddently I was some sort of pseudo-celebrity. Coupled with my blue eyes & (albiet fake) red hair, people actually asked to pose with me for pictures. They'd come up to us out of nowhere and talk to us in (limited) English. The strangest part? They'd touch me. I got used to the stares. (Smile and wave back.) But I was in a store and distracted looking at clothes & things when I felt someone touch me. Not in a "Oops I bumped you" way, but in a "Hey I just really wanted to touch your forearm" sort of way. I looked back, a little confused, at a smiling woman who was just staring at me as she put clothes back on a rack. I mean, I guess I was flattered. But, it was also just the tiniest bit creepy. >_>

The driving was crazy. If you don’t know, they drive on the left. Not unusual. But, they don’t actually follow many rules of the road. They push through wherever they can get through, they honk… constantly… they swerve to avoid the various cattle & animals running all over the road. Lots of scooters. And not just one person on a scooter, no. But entire families. I saw five people on a scooter… several times.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of poverty. It was a heartbreaking juxtaposition to come from a 4 star hotel and watch as families sleep on the street. To have beggars, often crippled, come up to your window during stopped traffic…Even in the street, there’d be women who would send their toddlers up to beg.

Trash is left on the streets. There aren’t many drains, so when it rains it floods a lot of the streets. There’s lots of construction there, as there is in the US, but stuff actually gets done there. Many things are in disrepair, though. Old posters are plastered over all the buildings.

India is a strange, beautiful creature. Where the people, land, and surroundings are an odd mixture of both from the 1970’s and Ancient. Temples next to cell phone stores. Women wearing saris, men wearing wide-lapelled floral shirts and flared jeans. Dust covering just about everything.

Everyone has a cell phone. Everyone.

Men… this is an oddity for me, because guys in America just… don’t… do … this. Men in India think nothing of frequent skin contact. If men are close friends they think nothing of walking arm in arm, or even hand in hand down a street. They grab each other, wrap their arms around each other, lean on each other… It’s so strange, this very playful & touchy behavior. Like young boys. I guess I’m very American. I’m used to my personal space, where few people are allowed to venture.

Which reminds me, forget personal space in India. There are far too many people for that luxury. Masses & masses of people. I come from a relatively populated area of the US, and the amount of people there are in India still overwhelms a bit.

There is also bargaining in India. There are stores that have set prices… but there are others where they’d think you were an idiot to buy at the price they ask. You can usually haggle them down to about half. But, I have to admit, living is cheap in India. Even the starting price of most of the goods is low for what it’d cost in the US.

(I bought plenty by the way… I bought a beautiful sari to wear for giggles, and some Indian silk scarves to give to the women in my life. Lots of treasures for family & friends. I had to buy a whole ‘nother bag to fit all the crap inside. Also, I ended up leaving India with a fetish for small bronzed Ganesh statues.)

And then of course, every area of the world has its own unique smell.

I finally put my finger on it in my last weeks there. India smells like jasmine, cardamom and body odor. Now, wait, hear me out. It’s not wholly unpleasant, and the smell of India is a fond memory. (It’s a fact of life that plenty of people do not wear deodorant.)

Well that’s about all I can type about India right now. It was a fantastic place to go. I was so happy to have the opportunity. I loved the culture shock. And now I just have to get back to see the Taj in North India.

I could get addicted to this whole “travel” thing.

Courtnie - Sounds like the concert you are going to will be a lot of fun. What is it you're doing in Vegas when you go?

Jamie - Are you all packed for the move? I am so sick and tired of moving. I don't envy you. When I moved to Philly, I immediately painted the walls of my place hoping that it will make me stay for longer than a few months. So far it's working. I fully support hiring people to move everything for you. The last time I moved, I sat around sipping some lemonade while these two big burly guys set everything up for me. It was awesome. I am not the type to get a U-Haul because, well, I do not haul. I get a 'someone-else-Haul'.

JoJoLo - Welcome! Looks like you have found a buddy already in Chey. Good luck to you!

Chey - Congrats on the new clothes! It's about time you went shopping. I hope you were thrilled leaving the store with your purchases. What I don't understand, though, is why you would be upset over not losing cup sizes in your bust. I lost a cup size and, quite frankly, it was a size I didn't want to lose! I went from a C to a B. I hope they don't continue to shrink. The other thing that shrunk for me, like you, is the size of my feet. I didn't notice it until I had lost about 80-85 pounds but now I know for sure that all of my shoes are too big. It's a shame, too. Ever since I started working professionally and making a decent wage, I treated myself to nice shoes and handbags. As a single girl with little responsibility, I ended up with a lot of expensive shoes.. and now none of them fit. It's really a shame because they range from my favourite Steve Maddens to "only worn them three times" Christian Louboutin's. Chin up--better to spend money on new clothes and shoes than on medical treatments, right?

====================

So.... WOW! What a weekend. Driving the 3 hours to VA to see John Butler Trio was totally worth it. It ended up taking longer than 3 hours, of course, but we made it with some time to spare and made our way into the venue. The venue itself is gorgeous. If I had known about the chill scene there, I would have gotten lawn tickets and brought a picnic like a lot of others did. Oh well. There's always next time. We left halfway into G. Love's set because we weren't feeling it and decided to beat the traffic. A lot of the crowd had thinned out and it was clear that most people were there to see JBT, who stole the show. We drove back and made it home around 1:30. We went right to bed and then the alarm went off at 4:50 AM. Yikes. We got dressed, made some coffee and were on our way to the airport to fly to Houston! We spent the day there shopping around and then went to the Nine Inch Nails show. Ha, what a show. The band was fantastic and the crowd was really interesting to watch. I love people watching and this was the place to do it. After the show, we walked around until we found El Ray Taqueria. I had been looking forward to this place for some time and it did not disappoint. I had planned for this well in advance and I happily ordered the three taco special. I carefully made my selections: a grilled fish taco with a touch of habanero mayo, the Cuban taco with chicken, plantains, black beans and a touch of sour cream and the summer special taco with grilled shrimp in corn tortillas with tomatos, cilantro, avocado and mango. It wasn't that these ones sounded "healthiest", it's just that they sounded the best and most interesting after pouring over the menu. SO. DELICIOUS! It was hard to decide which one was the best of the three! They all had their strengths. My BF tried a bite of each one with me and we decided that while the habanero mayo was the best individual element, the Cuban taco stood out as best overall. I'm surprised he was even able to help me with the taste test--he ordered this thing called The Giant Burrito (everything is bigger in Texas) and he couldn't finish it. That's the first time since he was in middle school that he hasn't been able to finish something. He looked very defeated after it was all said and done. I couldn't help but laugh. I know that with all of his progress, his stomach just couldn't handle it!

I would go back to El Ray Taqueria in a heartbeat. The restaurant and it's flavours inspired me to create a Spanish/Mexican/Cuban influenced menu for the week.

On Sunday, we woke up early at the hotel and all was back to normal. I had a great breakfast at the hotel loaded with fresh fruit, cottage cheese and some coffee. After our food settled and we browsed the Sunday paper for coupons (an obsession of ours), we hit up the gym for some solid cardio. I wanted to go for a swim after that but it was too late. We showered and left for the airport to catch our flight. Lucikly when it was time for dinner, we found a Quiznos where I safely ordered the Honey Bourbon Chicken sub for 6 points. Not bad for an airport meal.

Even though the tacos were delicious and the first planned 'cheat' I've had in a long time, I was glad to get back home and start my morning with my usual coffee and a bowl of melon.

Now I need to have a good week although I am sure the scale won't be very kind. TOM is due tomorrow or the next day and then I have my WI on Thursday. Friday afternoon I leave for Columbia, SC to have another big weekend--my sister's 30th birthday. It never ends!

Faerie, I have to make my response to your post my own post on here. I don't know if you (or any of you) know this about me but I was born to travel. I have a lot of knowledge of India for someone who has never been there but it's planned as my next big conquest. I don't know that it will be my next trip, per se, but it's my big fish. I won't go unless I have 6-8 weeks off to tour around the entire country to the best of my ability. I also don't want to go with anyone else.

Anyway, on to my reply. I'm in love with your post and it's possibly one of the greatest ones I've read.

This surprised me as well. I work with a number of consultants who travel stateside from India to work on site with us here. I have made friends with many of them and have learned some cool tidbits about the country. One man knows 22 state languages, insists they're all drastically different and is glad he can use English on a day to day basis. Whatever works, I guess. I hope you picked up some useful Hindi phrases.

Me too! Then again, I am a hippie so that's really no surprise.

I experienced the same thing in Indonesia! I also experienced the touching--both strangers touching me and men touching one another. I think it's heartwarming to know there's a broad spectrum of people out there who don't have this misconception that they're entitled to their own personal space. I think they must have a much greater sense of community for their lack of fences and dividing arm rests.

Did you have the people who would take your picture like the paparazzi? That's the only thing that bothered me. I didn't mind stopping for photos when I was travelling around Indonesia or even Malaysia but, especially in Indonesia, some people would run up, flash their camera in my face and then run away.

Did you see any girls in skirts or saris riding side saddle? That really bothered me in some Asian countries I've been in. At least throw your other leg around! The other thing was the smell of the scooters. I think they burn diesel.

This is sad and unfortunate. One thing I always hear about India is that there is no middle class and it's fairly obvious that people either have money or they don't. Truth?

This is my favourite thing about Asian countries! You don't get this kind of stellar treatment in Europe or North America. When I travel, I carry a little pocket calculator with me so that I can type in the new price I wish to pay and take the haggling from there. You never know when someone is going to "forget" how to speak English or start using lots of slang in their local language--making it impossible for me to understand. I love to haggle, though, and have gotten a lot of good deals because of this. Good for you for building a collection of bronzed Ganesh statues!

The only thing you left out of your post is the one thing I want to know: did you get the $hits? According to travellers lore, it's a right of passage to get the runs when you go to India and have their street food, water and local fare. Even fruit! I want to go there and get it over with on my first day there! :lol

sorry just a quick vent, lots of LONG posts i can't read right now, so no replies.

but here - i'm driving around the other day running errands and i'm DYING of thirst. being short on cash i stopped at cumberland farms (local gas station/mini mart) for their 79 cent ANY size fountain drinks. i've been trying to cut back on soda (which i only drink diet ever anyways) but it was cheap and i was poor so i got a HUMONGOUS diet pepsi. (32 oz to be exact) i start drinking it and it tastes kinda off .. but i chalk it up to the fact that it was cheap, fountain, and i haven't had soda in a while. i drink it throughout my time driving around and stop home then get back in the car and i start noticing my teeth feeling grimey... i think 'weird... my teeth feel super grimey (like that just ate a pound of candy feel) for not having any sugar today...' shrug.. move on.. take another sip. then bam. guess what i realized when i had about an ounce left of that soda?! IT'S NOT DIET! IT'S REGULAR!! someone not caring or thinking must have put the regular soda into the diet soda compartment/fountain. SO I JUST DRANK 400 CALORIES WORTH OF SODA!! THAT I DIDN'T EVEN ENJOY!!! ahhhhhhhh!! i could have had two handfuls of m&m's, or a burrito, or a big bowl of pasta if i really just wanted to THROW AWAY 400 calories. needless to say i was PEEVED and i thought i would just vent it here to some people who could appreciate the annoyance of this occurance. haha

thanks for listening.

Fairie - your business trips sounds wonderful. You did so well only gaining what you did! Granted, you were initially wanting to continue to lose, but 5.8 lbs isn't as terrible as you thought it may be?? It sure isn't in my book.

LeeAnne - I would love to lose a cup size or two or three. I am very very well endowed. I have to find an F cup and the only place I can do that is if I order from catalogs. I would LOVE to be a C or a D. What makes it difficult is that it is hard to find a 38F. (not a typo F) It is also difficult to golf or shoot a bow & arrow. LOL LOL LOL

Jamie - the delay in authorization would make me a little nervous too, but I am sure you have nothing to worry about. Maybe give them a call to see what the holdup is? I am not a patient person when it comes to waiting and sometimes I can make a nuisance of myself.. lol

Tarah - been there done that. I always have a taste tester with me though, very seldom do I get fountain drinks although I like those better than the canned or bottled soda. More carbonated water I think. I think it is kinda neat though how much more we are all aware of those 'empty calories' since being on WW's. Before I wouldn't have blinked an eye, but now.. hmmmmmm 400 calories is a lot of nothing with soda.

Good Day Everyone!
Here I am... trying to get back into the swing of things ^_^

LeeAnne - Little more about India: They speak Tamil where I went (one of the many Indian languages) and I learned just a couple of things. Nandri = Thank you. Mali Vanakkum = Good Evening. Cali Vanakkum = Good Morning. Vanakkum = Hello. (Basically) But of course, they say these greetings with both their hands together (prayer-like as westerners may see it) over their heart.

I did experience some paparazzi-like people. There was one time, though, when we were in Kodaikanal, we stopped off at this beautiful waterfall (which was most unfortunately littered with trash... *sigh* as usual... *more sighs*) when a small group of guys asked some of my co-workers for pictures. They refused, kindly. But, the guys snuck behind them and tried to get pictures with them anyway. That was a little rude. At the same place, some other people were video taping us. (Without asking.) That stop was one of the least pleasant on the trip. ... Anyway!

Saw most of the women and girls wearing skirts & saris riding sidesaddle on the scooters. I don't know how they did it. Some barely holding on at all!

I don't know about no middle class. I believe there's a growing one. (Especially with outsourcing being an expanding industry.) I worked with a lot of people who would probably be considered more middle-class. But, you can definitely tell who has & who has not. It was a city, so my perceptions may be off, but it seemed to me as though there were more poor people there in Chennai than there are here.

I must admit, I'm not very good at bargaining. But, if I go any other place, at least I've tried my hand at it.

HA ha ha ha! The sh$ts. Okay, here's the deal (and I knew I forgot something). Long story short, I did get sick in India, but I don't believe it was due to food or water, but rather that I caught something. (It was only for 3 days but involved fever, amongst other bathroom unpleasantries.) However, that being said, I certainly didn't feel "right" some days. Things didn't move as they do when I'm home. Was it from the food? Was it accidental water consumption? (I only used bottled water... ever... even for brushing my teeth.) Was it that I wasn't home and everything was different so of course my body was going to react differently? I just can't say.

... OH you know what else I forgot to mention? Finally... NO, a red dot between a woman's eyebrows doesn't mean she's married. In fact, a dot or design there means absolutely nothing. Nothing! It's decoration. It's make-up. As we may put on eyeliner.

A white, red or gold smudge there (and on men, too) means... something... that relates to being of the Hindu religion, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to find out before leaving.

So... how does one tell if a Hindu woman is married? A smudge of red pigment at her hairline. And they wear a marriage necklace. I can see how the stereotypes got confused. (Diagram below.)

How can you tell if a Hindu man is married? Ha! You can't. Since men aren't approached for marriage, it's not necessary to know.

Tarah - Ahhh That SUCKS! Here you are trying to do the right thing. Trying to make better choices, and someone else's mistake (or indifference) causes you trouble. It's okay! One pepsi will not ruin all your hard work no matter how frustrating!

Chey - Certainly 5.8 lbs is not as bad as it could have been. Oh goodness... I can just imagine. I could easily have gained 20 pounds in that amount of time if I really didn't care! (How sad!) I'm just happy to be back and seeing everyone else's progress. It gets me excited & keeps me going

When I was backpacking around Malaysia, I wandered into a Hindu temple to look around and be off the streets for awhile. I was sitting there, minding my own business, but it was clear that I stood out as a single white woman in the temple as much as I did in the streets. After awhile, I made eye contact with a man who took me under his wing and invited me quietly to join him for the noon pooja (prayer service/worship). I joined and, when it was all said and done, I'd cried twice and had a new red smudge on my forehead. I didn't cry because I was sad, I cried because I was overwhelmed.

The smudge you were wondering about is called tilaka and some wear it on a daily basis to show their worship. It's a mixture of sandalwood paste, sindhoor, clay and ashes. The ashes come from the incense that is burned during the pooja. Some Hindu people wash off the tilaka as soon as they leave; some get the mark on the bottom of their foot so it's less visible. It's just a cultural thing.


I seriously love reading about your trip. If there's anything else you want to share, feel free!