The Blizzard of 2010

This was the sight that greeted us this morning at my folks place. We expect we got a little over 2 feet, at least.

The backyard

The snow drift by the neighbor's house

My family put up a valiant effort to liberate us (and the cars) ... but frankly, when no one from the city has come to clear the street, I'm not sure we'll be able to get out even with the clean driveway. Are snow plowed streets another victim of budget cuts?

But who cares right? We're warm inside* and have plenty of food (thanks to our milk and bread run during the beginning of the storm) ... we're all on vacation anyway right? So let's hear it for puzzles, games of cards, and Wii battles!

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* I would just like to point out to our friends back in India, that yes, Allen is wearing a T-shirt indoors despite all the snow outside ... Gosh we love central heating and insulation!

Christmas Miracle(S)!

I'd say it was pretty much a miracle that we were even home for Christmas at all! We're both still floored that we're here -- really really here for Christmas this year.

But so many exciting things have happened since we got back to the States: so many ups, downs, and full-out miracles that I had to share.

Firstly, of course, was Richard and Mary's wedding - without which we would not have been home for the holidays! What an absolutely wonderful excuse to come back; "You mean we get to come see our families for the holidays AND get to participate in this really important day for the family!?" .... win win, as far as we were concerned.

The handsome couple

It really meant the world to us that we were able to see their nuptials in person. Better still was all the time we had before and after the wedding to mix and mingle with Mary's family. Mary and Richard just seemed so happy together ... we can already tell that she'll be a great addition to the family*

I had a hard time choosing which pictures I should post from the wedding ... but figured the ones showing how much everyone was enjoying themselves would be the best. And the winners from "the-most-fun-at-a-reception" are our nephews Joseph and William ... give 'em a hand folks!

"Look, Mom, I'm having a great time!"

The second Christmas miracle was all the fun of Christmas morning, including a visit from Santa Claus!

BELIEVE!

The toys that made the biggest splash this year were two ROBOT DINOSAURS that could roar, stomp and walk by themselves. Seriously cool!**


And who could forget the greatest Christmas miracle of all... SNOW ON CHRISTMAS!

Got you Daddy!

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas...

But ... umm.... wait a sec. Weren't we flying to NJ that afternoon?

Ooops!

Which brings me to our final Christmas miracle... despite being delayed 2 hours and Allen having the beginnings of strep throat (poor baby!) ... We made it to NJ safe and sound. In fact, we were pleasantly surprised by all the workers at the Asheville airport - despite the delays and the poor weather everyone was cheerful and doing their best to get everyone home for Christmas***

So I hope that wherever you were, that your Christmas was as happily surprising as ours was!

Merry Christmas, Everybody!
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*Nice pick, Rich!
** Some of you may be aware of my completely normal obsession with robots
*** Maybe the last real miracle was getting out of the airport without seeing tempers flair or fights break out

Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays Everyone!

We've been trying to come up with a good idea for our annual holiday greeting. In the past we've used photos from Santacon and our travels around this time of the year. This year, we got our idea from a local photographer who does portraits in his stall on the side of the road. We've always chuckled about how serious everyone looks in portraits - but, it is just different culture. From their point of view, a "good" photo is one where you're acting serious and not goofy. So here below is our attempt to recreate our own pucca (right) hindustani portrait. Sparkly sweater and all....

So from our family to yours... whether you're celebrating religious or secular holidays... whether you're lighting the menorah or the kinara, whether you're waiting for Santa or watching the ball drop... we hope that you have a wonderful, joy filled time with your family and friends this holiday season.

Much love and respect,

Nikki and Allen

P.S. Here are some of the outtakes from our photo session at home today. I hope you appreciate all the detritus in the background... including Allen's old Halloween costume, which sometimes also operates as a sheet.

Bomb Blast in Banaras: We're OK, so don't worry

News just broke that there was a bomb blast during the Aarti ceremony at the Dashashwamedh Ghat this evening. Thankfully, neither of us was anywhere near the site. From what we can tell* several people were hurt in a "low-intensity" blast.

I'm very distressed by the idea that they (the unknown they) would target something like the Aarti, which attracts both Indian and foreign pilgrims alike. It is by far Banaras's biggest tourist attraction.... the Broadway show of Hindu religion, maybe would be a good way of describing. I've never been to the Aarti, but we had planned on going together sometime because Allen says there is musical accompaniment - and maybe an opportunity for more research.

Who knows if we'll go back. I guess a lot depends on what the fall out is....

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* I know we complain about 24 hour news channels in the States, but seriously, it doesn't come anywhere close to how crazy and disorienting it is to watch Indian news channels --- especially when something serious is going on.

I'll be home for Christmas...

A present of a Christmas tree from home*

What a crazy couple of weeks! Whew! I mean, as wonderful and exciting as some of our ups and downs have been... I'll be honest, I'm sort of looking forward to things settling down again.

So what's been going on, you ask? Well, shortly after getting the sad news that Allen's grandmother had passed away we found out shortly there after that Allen's brother is getting married (yeah!) --- in like 3 weeks (yeah!... wait, what?)

Weddings are so exciting - but they are even more exciting when you're working on a time crunch! (giggle) Thankfully we're not in command central (sorry Jane!) ... but we still had some serious logistics to work out if we were gonna wing coming back to the States for the nuptials. Rough guess is that Allen had about 4-5 panic attacks while trying to sort out our itinerary back to the States ("16 hour layover in Mumbai, you've got to be kidding me!", "38 hours from Delhi to Asheville with 5 different layovers, no thanks!", "OMG! The prices keep rising every time I check! ACK!")

Thankfully after hearing Allen say yesterday, "Oops, I think I just bought the tickets for the itinerary that I happened to have open right now, I hope that is OK" ... we now have tickets to come home for almost 2 and a half weeks!!! Wedding and the first part of Christmas with the Roda clan and then the second half of Christmas and New Year's with the Candelore crew.

We're so happy and excited .... and quite honestly, getting more and more homesick as each day till our departure inches closer.

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* Just for a sense of scale... this is where our little tree is ... next to our filtered water cooler on top of the fridge.

A Tribute to an Amazing Grandma

Dear Friends,

We are sad to acknowledge the passing of one spectacular Grandma, Olive Perrigo Roda - known to her loved ones as Mutti - may she rest in peace, she will be missed by many.

As a tribute to her and the lives she touched during her nearly 104 years with us, we decided to put up some videos of happy memories. The first is Mutti at 102 yrs old reciting the story of "Little Dame Krump." (which we posted last year). The second is a song that Allen wrote for her 100th birthday party back in 2006, "My favorite Centenarian." (we've pasted the text of it below)

The Story of Little Dame Krump from Nikki on Vimeo.

Come on down the mountian Mutti Roda from Nikki on Vimeo.

My Favorite Centenarian

Mutti Roda is my favorite Centenarian

There’s none other I like more than her

That’s why I wrote this little love song

So you ain’t gotta ask me what fer!

Olive Perrigo was born up in Rochester

To Huldah Hawley and Henry Lemuel

When she was 10, they moved off to Pittsford

Them Perrigos ain’t nobody’s fool!

Mutti went to school when she was too young

But that’s just because she was too smart

She fooled the teacher in that one room school house

And she got herself a head start!

Oh Come on Down the Mtn. Mutti Roda

Oh Come on Down the Mtn. Mutti Dear.

Can’t you see that your whole family loves you.

And we’re all so Very glad you’re here!

Break 1

When Mutti started college at Mt. Holyoke

It was nearly 1924

When she was done she went back to that one room school house

Where she had been a student not long before

Now one day Olive Perrigo was teaching English

But the next day they made her teach Biology

When she often saw birds she couldn’t recognize

She’d say that looks like a female to me.

Now Mutti’d been teachin’ nearly five years

When one summer she went on a trip

It was up there at Lake Ontario

That she met her future husband Dick

Oh Come on Down the Mtn. Mutti Roda

Oh Come on Down the Mtn. Mutti Dear.

Can’t you see that your whole family loves you.

And we’re all so Very glad you’re here!

Break 2

Mutti Perrigo soon became a Roda

Boy I sure am glad she did

I wonder what would’ve happened to me

If she ain’t never had no kids

Fortunately they had a son named Peter

But I sure like to call him Dad.

They had a couple girls named Lynn and Trudy

I reckon they didn’t turn out half bad!

Now Her Children They had all done grown up

When Mutti moved in 1964

She and Dick had had enough of Snowy Pittsford

And didn’t want to be there no more.

Oh Come on Down the Mtn. Mutti Roda

Oh Come on Down the Mtn. Mutti Dear.

Can’t you see that your whole family loves you.

And we’re all so Very glad you’re here!

Break 3

So Dick and Mutti they moved down to Asheville

Where they were destined to stay

Lord knows it’s nice up here in the Blue Ridge

Who’d want it any other way!

Well that about sums up my little story

About the oldest woman that I know

I’m always so excited when I see her

And always so very sad to go!

Photographic evidence that Nikki has ridden a bike in Banaras

The other excitement from today was that Allen and I took a bike ride to Banaras Hindu University. The ride is only about 1.5 miles from our house, but to get to the campus - which is like a little paradise in this crazy city - you have to go through several large intersections. The ride isn't dangerous per se* but because of all the traffic, and horn honking, and hazards in the unpaved roads ... well, let's just say it can be a little bit intense.

Riding a bicycle around town is nowhere near as cool as driving a scooter - but beggars can't be choosers.

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* Depends on whether you're asking Allen or Nikki