I am worried that I look like a linebacker today. I bought a really cute brown short-sleeved button up shirt that has a row of brown ruffles on either side of the top 4 buttons. It also has slightly puffy sleeves. While I still think it's adorable, I'm not sure it belongs on my body... Maybe I don't care, since it it is cute and it looks even cuter with my metallic gold flats with brown bows. I'm getting girly on your asses!!

Okay, the Universe is officially on notice. No more Buffistas or loved ones of Buffistas in the hospital or hurt, dammit!!!

((((Bev)))) I will keep the positive outlook along with you and continue to hope for the best.

((((Calli)))) May you and your family find peace during this difficult time.

((((JZ and Holloweenie)))) Rest up and be well.

((((Sean and S.)))) Please remember that you have friends nearby. Let us know what we can do, okay?

And on a completely different note, Happy Empress Day!!! I have a little prezzie for you that I will drop off at your place later today...it's something that must be worn tonight, I think.

YAY PREZZIE!

{{{Bev}}}

{{{{{Calli}}}}}

Much ~ma for S and Sean!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AIMS!

I've never read any Virginia Woolf.

My parents found out about the new apartment, and they're still acting like it's some huge fucking surprise ("Do you know how expensive it is to live in the Bay Area?"). Blah blah polysyllabic b-lah. My mom called when I just woken up, and I told her I didn't want to talk about it at that moment. Not looking forward to the stupid call I have to make.

Also, this month is killing me with the expenses. Now that I have a job, I'm actually expected to give away loads of money to my cousin ($25) and sister ($51) AND, if she happens to show up, my uncle's daughter ($21...after having given her $25 for her birthday five days ago). It's a yearly ceremony called raksha bandhan where the female cousins and sisters tie a little bracelet around their brothers' wrists as a symbol of their affection, and then we vow to protect them, and then we pay them because we love them so much.

And I'm required to adhere to these payouts because otherwise blah blah polysyllabic b-lah.

I need to convert to Indian.

About every third page I try to load - no matter where - acts like it is loading so there is no "connection/server timed out" error message yet does not actually load up. Seriously, I look at the clock, get out a book, read for ten minutes, check the clock again, and the damn thing is still not up. It has been like this since just after Daniel went to bed last night. It kept me from going to bed at a reasonable time, because there was a certain amount of reading I wanted to do online, and got wayyyyyyy frustrated waiting for it to load.

And I'm required to adhere to these payouts because otherwise blah blah polysyllabic b-lah.

I think that any of us who have a family could make a list of these rituals. It's payback for having once been the recipient of family generosity ourselves, and and the price of knowing that our own kiddos will get the same feeling of belonging.

I need to convert to Indian.

Yeah, you'd get money ALL THE TIME. Also, I'm supposed to send money and/or gifts to all my female cousins and my sister just because I got this new job. I haven't gotten around to that yet. But technically, I'm still an intern anyway.

Of course, you pay for it by being part of a culture that thinks, "Hey, if your husband dies, you might as well kill yourself too because there's no use living after that. Also, when you get married, you take not only your husband's last name but also his first name as your middle name, because the patrilineage is the only thing that matters. Also, when you're ovulating, you're unclean, so stay out of the temple. Plus, you pretty much exist to cook your husband dinner, so just do that."

I think that any of us who have a family could make a list of these rituals. It's payback for having once been the recipient of family generosity ourselves, and and the price of knowing that our own kiddos will get the same feeling of belonging.

Yeah, I know, it's just that it's all coming at the same time, and I barely have a sense of budget since I'm still in transition, and spending money freaks me out.

It's a yearly ceremony called raksha bandhan where the female cousins and sisters tie a little bracelet around their brothers' wrists as a symbol of their affection, and then we vow to protect them, and then we pay them because we love them so much.

Wow. Harsh.

Is it a very shiny bracelet?

Is it a very shiny bracelet?

Did you go to the website? There are pictures. There are all sorts of varieties. I opt for the more boring ones myself because, really, the shiny both itches and falls off in the shower after a day anyway.

It's fun to wear as many as possible, though. You have to keep them on for about a month, until Navratri.

It should be noted that I actually really like the ceremony and think it's very sweet. I'm just having a very spendy month, what with outings planned for the next two weekends and a move in three weeks that requires me to finally buy my own monitor and then a lot of furniture.

Also, I hate being told exactly how much to give because that means I have to give that amount.