Happy Birthday to Me!

I turned 23 yesterday! Of course, I missed everyone back home, but I had a great day! Thank you all for all the gifts, packages, flowers, cakes, cookies, phonecalls, voicemails, emails, facebook and myspace messages! Thanks for making my day special! Here are pictures from my birthday. We actually celebrated for 2 days. The first slideshow is from Thursday and the second one is from Friday.





A special thanks goes to my amazing roomie Alicia! She is the one who planned everything. Thanks for making my day special Sug!

The Post Office

My sweet parents bought me a new computer! Yay! The package made it to India. I've opened the package, held the computer, etc. However, the computer is still not in my posession. It was stopped my customs and I received a letter saying to report to claim my package. The following is my day that followed. I arrived at 11:30 and left at 4:30...empty handed. I already had a strong aversion to post offices here, but my dislike has intensified. The people here are great about some things such as hospitality. However, customer service is definately not a strong point.

1. Went to the Foreign Post Office that is in a different part of the city.

2. Went inside this dingy warehouse type building that reeked of urine. It felt like those places that kidnappers keep their hostages.

3. The people on the ground floor sent us to the first floor.

4. I gave the guy my piece of paper and he tells us that they will not look at my package until Oct. 3. It is sort of like a court date or something for my package. Apparently they only examine 10-12 boxes a day.

5. Mona, my neighbor, very sweetly explains that my birthday is on Friday and my parents just wanted their baby girl to have her present before them. I tried to look as sweet as possible. The guy says okay, go to the 5th floor.

6. We go to the fifth floor on the elevator that gives you whiplash everytime it stops. The fifth floor has a lot of packages sort of strowed everywhere. People were opening some and others seemed to just sit around. I should also add, that the Indian postal system is not electronic. They use the paper and pencil method, which now explains why some mail just never makes it here.

7. We explain the story to them once again and the new guy agrees to open the package.

8. We wait around for a while as they look for the package. Looked to be quite the feat.

9. The bring the package over and we wait as they finish up with another box.

10. They call me over to watch them open the package. It was my computer. They acted as if they had never seen a computer before and couldn't figure out how to open it. They all stare at it for a while and proceed to discuss what to write about it. I think they decided on writing Dell.

11. A man comes over and says I will have to pay a custom fee - 22% of the purchase- $300

12. I say that is okay and pull out my wallet (I know it more important to just get the box), but they say I can't pay here. They say it must be cleared by a customs comissioner and then I can pay and take the box. They say this will take 2-3 hours.

13. We wait for awhile and someone comes and tells us to go to the 2nd floor to see Mr. Brumbee. He will be able to let me get the package fast.

14. We got to 2nd floor, but he is eating.

15. We wait some more and then talk to Mr. Brumbee. He tell us that he can't do anything and that people are not allowed to take their packages from that building. They must be delivered to your home. He said that the 5th floor people were just trying to rid of us and sent us to him for no reason.

16. We go back to the 5th floor and a man tells us to go to the first floor to get the commisioners signature.

17. We go to the 1st floor, but he was not there. However, we were assured that he would arrive any minute and once I got his signature I could pay and take my box. \

18. We wait for an hour and then got a coke.

19. We came back and wait for awhile longer. We ask again if we will be able to get the package today. We are assured that it will only take one minute once the commissioner arrived.

20. I convinve Mona to go home because she had other things to do that day. They assured her that they would help me and get me the package. They just needed a passport copy.

21. They direct me to a room to get a copy.

22. They lady who is supposed to copy, makes a different copy and it comes out a little dark. She then shuts off the machine, tells me it is broke and walks out.

23. I follow her and say, "Excuse me Mam, where is another copy machine?" She tells me to go to the 5th floor.

24. I go to the 5th floor and they direct me to another room. I don't think there was hardly electricity on that floor much less a copy machine!

25. They tell me I needed go to the 1st floor customs office. I told them that is who had sent me!

26. I go back to the lady on the first floor and ask again about another copy machine. She then directs me across the hall to the actually copy machine. (Why didn't she tell me this to start with).

27. I get the copy and wait a while longer.

28. Finally a guard comes and gets me and takes me to an office (1st floor customs office). A man there says, "Lindzey Sellers". I said yes. He said okay, it is cleared. Go to the postal department and pay the fee.

29. So I was directed outside around the building, to some windows.

30. I told them I was there to pay and they directed me back inside the building to a room on the ground floor.

31. I told them I was there to pay a custom fee and to get my package. They asked me for papers, which I was never given. They said they didn't take the fees there and I couldn't get my package there either. They said I needed to go to the first floor customs office. I said, that is who sent me here. Then they said, you need to go see Mr. Brumbee on the 2nd floor. I said, I've already seen him too. Along with some man an every other floor of this building.

32. At this point I am shaking and about to cry, because when I get really frustrated I cry. It had been 4 1/2 hours of this run around. I told them I had been here 4 1/2 hours and just wanted my packages. I told them I had talked to every person possible and every person has told me something different. One of the men had pity on me and said I'll help you.

33. Then I back to every floor and office I had already been in and he talked to all the people again. By this time, the commissioner who cleared it was gone, so there was no one there who originally told me I could have it today.

34. I finally realized that I wasn't getting my package that day. They all promise that it will be delivered to my house. The only problem is that I probably won't be home when it is delivered, which means that I will get another letter sending me to another post office to start this cycle all over again! Needless to say I was really frustrating, and tried really hard to hold back the tears.

35. I finally left there, teary eyed, and wanted nothing more than to go somewhere by myself and just cry. However, I live in a city of 14 million people so that was not an option.

36. At this point I only had one option left. I did what any other woman of integrity would do........

37. I went shopping.... :)

Hopefully, I will get my computer soon! However, my other birthday package arrived today! I was worried that it was going to be stopped also. It made it though!

Bella

This post is to announce the opening of my sister Lori's new salon! The name of it is Bella, which is Italian for beautiful. Lori is amazing at what she does and is already doing a great job at her new place! If you are in the area, you should go see her new place and set up an appointment with her! If you are not in the area, you still should see her place, and maybe one day you will get to meet her! Here are a few pics.



I love you Lori and am so proud of you!

Huge Milestone

I had a huge milestone in my life this past week. I mean, it was gigantic, and it involved a ham and pinapple pizza from Dominoes. For the story, check out Alicia's blog. www.namaskarsa.blogspot.com. For those of you who know me well, make sure you are sitting down to read it :)

Favorite Places in the World

I was reading my amazing friend Julie's blog the other day. She posted a blog that I liked, so I am stealing this one from her. Julie actually took it from another friend of hers. This blog post originated from Julie and her friend. Here goes...
What are your favortie places in the world? At first, that seemed like a simple question, but then I started thinking about it. That's tough. I like so many places! I attempted to start a list anyway. You will notice that it has a lot of variety. Some of my favorite places have to do with the actual place and some have to do with the people I associate with those places. However, I love all these places. Of course, this list is not exhaustive, its just a few of the top ones that I could come up right now.

729 Slade Woodward Road
Broadway New York
Road to Hanna, Maui
The British Museum, London
Paul B. Johnson State Park
The little bridges of Venice, Italy
Dirt Cheap – Lumberton, Mississippi
Outdoor cafes in Florence, Italy
The Olive Garden on the Coast (not there anymore)
Riding a ski lift in the Alps
The Lake at Mamaw's and Papaw's
Trafalgar Square, London
Café du Monde – New Orleans, Louisiana

Okay, I'm going to try this whole interactive thing now.... So what are your favorite places?

Pic of the Week



The pic of the week goes to Kiran C. Isn't this the cutest picture you have ever seen? This was after her first bath. I actually stole this picture from her parents blog, but I thought everyone needed to see it.

Picture of the Week

I apologize for not having posted much in awhile. I go through phases where I just don't seem to have much to say. Thanks to the people who still check regularly though! I am going to try to do better. :) Even as I am typing this though, I have no idea what to write about. I guess I have writers block. So, I have decided to do what I always to do when I don't have anything to say.... break out the pictures! I am going to start a Picture of the Week blog. So here is the first one:



Yes, this is an ambulance for cows. This was definitely a first for me.

Our First Game



Today Alicia and I played our first softball game. Unfortunately, we lost, but only by 1 point. Of course, we only scored 1 point also. lol. The score was 2 to 1. The C. Lal team beat us - the Vijay Jewellers Team. Yes, I realized that 2 to 1 is a very low score for a softball game. One reason for a low scoring softball game could be that both teams were so awesome and their defense was so great that neither could score much. That wasn't necessarily the case today. lol. However, it was alot of fun. It was the first game and the rules had to be explained/discussed quite frequently. Many of the woman had never played. I almost got promoted to coaching our team simply based on the fact that I understood the game. lol. Yeah, that is a scary thought... It was definitely the most relaxing game of softball I have ever played. It was just a bunch of ladies from all over the world who just wanted to have fun. That goal was accomplished. I must add though, that Alicia respresented us quite well on third base and got several outs. I played centerfield, but only got to touch a ball one time. (Most hits never made it into the outfield). I'll let you know how our team shapes up throughout the season. I would post pictures, but they don't allow cameras inside the American Embassy where we play. It is actually quite a hassle just to get in, but I'm going to try to find some way to show our fabulous softball skills in action!

No, the pic above is not me, its just some random pic I got off the net.

We're aunts!

J & K, are friends here in the city, had their precious baby girl this Thursday! Kiran Elizabeth was born around 11:55 pm September 7th, and she is perfect! (Kiran is Hindi for "ray of light") Alicia and I got to spend the first day with J, K, and Kiran, and they were able to go home today. All three of them are doing well! It was just really neat be there with them to celebrate this new life! Life... Its quite an amazing thing. Seeing Kiran's little fingers and cute little nose just reminded me again of just what an amazing King we do serve! Congratulations J & K, and welcome to the world Kiran!

Death of an Icon

On the news yesterday they told of the death of Steve Irwin, The Crocodile Hunter. He was killed by a stingray while filming a documentary of the ocean's deadliest. Its really sad... He was definitely an icon of a sort in our culture. He just did what he loved - although alot of what he did was crazy. He was a passionate person and in the end he died doing what he loved. Isn't that what we all want to be said about us in the end?



On a lighter note... All the pictures of the Crocodile Hunter made me think of a particular picture of mine. In high school Daniel and I once dressed up like the Crocodile Hunter and his side kick. It just makes me laugh. lol. Dressing up in crazy costumes is another simple of joy, along with having someone willing to dress up crazy with me. Memories...



This is a shout out to my forever partner in randomness!

My Latest Randomness

For those of you who keep up with my blog, you may be wondering how the whole attempt at art is going. I know you are all anxiously awaiting my next masterpiece. Don't get too excited. A few weeks I went out and bought a lot of art supplies. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, but I was determined, so I just bought a lot of stuff: acrylic paints, watercolors, paintbrushes, coal pencils, a paint plate, special painting paper, canvas paper, etc. I imagine to the store worker I really looked like a serious artist. Boy was he fooled... So got home and took out all my stuff and said, "Okay, I'm going to create a masterpiece." It was not until that moment that I realized that I had no clue how to paint or where to begin. I was not to be deterred though. I just began to paint. I experimented with different brushes, colors, etc. What resulted was not exactly a Van Gogh replica or anything. It could maybe have won a art contest if all the other contestants were first graders. lol. Yes, it looked like a really good 6 year old had painted it. Alicia and I had a good laugh about it. I think I even briefly hung it on the refrigerator. (Notice that I'm not posting a picture of it. It was that bad.) Okay, so maybe I'm not going to be a Monet or Picasso, but it was still fun. I am not giving up though. The next day I went and bought some books and am going to try watercolor next. I'll let you know if I am any better with those and with instructional books. So for now, you can put your checkbook away. I'll let you know as soon as I have something good enough for you to buy. I know you are all anxiously awaiting.

As you can tell, I like to try new things. I like variety in activities and have interests in alot of things. This week I've broadened my interests even more. Alicia and I joined a softball team at the American Embassy! Yes, this is about as random as it gets. For those of you saying, "You play softball?" the answer is no, or at least not in 10 years. Luckily, this is not any type of hardcore league or anything. The lady we talked to said the fact that we had ever attended a softball game put us ahead of alot of people! Apparently its ladies from alot of different countries that just come out to have fun. It just so happens that Alicia and I like to have fun, so we joined. Also, green grass is a very special sight to see around here. The thought of running around on a green field sounds amazing. We have our next practice next Friday, so I'll keep you updated on how it goes. I'm sure some pretty funny stories will result.

Our New Edition

I've never been much of a T.V. person, so this past year, not having a T.V. has not been a big deal. However, in the recent weeks Alicia and I have realized just how much we are hooked on our computers. With no T.V., and since our computers are our only link to the outside world, at night and when we have downtime, we are always on our computers. That is not a bad thing, but it was absolutely driving me crazy! I was attached to my computer. To combat this attachment, Alicia and I finally broke down and bought a T.V. and DVD player. Here it is below:



It was raining today (Saturday), so we slept late, stayed in, watched a movie, and some American sitcoms while drinking sweet tea! It was great! It felt almost like a lazy Saturday at home. There is a certain comfort in normality and simple joys in things that remind me of home. I realize that T.V. can be just as addicting as computers, but at least with 2 ways to waste time and do nothing, we can add a little variety to our life. Not that we do this alot, but everyone needs a way to relax, and for that reason our new edition makes me smile!

Oh, and cable is only about $6 a month for about 70 channels. Of course, 60 of them are just in Hindi, but it is a steal nonetheless!

Alicia did a post about our new t.v. also, but there is also some pictures that tell about our most recent babysitting experience and introduces some important people in my life. You should go to her blog and check it out: www.namaskarsa.blogspot.com. The blog is called Babysitting and Television.