Christmas Activities

This holiday has been super busy for me! On Friday, Matt and I met up with Mona, Sujith, Ashwin and Sabrina at Cherry Blossoms, a sushi restaurant in Novi. It was really good food! We looked up reviews beforehand and everyone seems to pick this one as their favorite sushi. There's always Japanese businessmen there so you know it's authentic. So much so, that when Matt asked if they could make a certain roll served at their sister restaurant in Troy, they refused because it was "too American"! Luckily they had my favorite scallop rolls, and we also got salmon skin, lobster rolls, snow crab rolls, and vegetable tempura, yum! It was definitely a feast. Afterwards we bowled at Novi Lanes. I am not a fan of bowling and after sucking in the first game, I was unstoppable in the second! I got spares almost every other frame. Mona got 5 spares in a row! It was girls vs. guys so we won the second game!
For Christmas eve, after Matt and I went to church, my family played Texas hold 'em back at my parents' house. We played with pennies, but it was still a competitive game! I got a few good hands, but my mom is always lucky at cards. She got pocket aces several times, soooo unfair! Matt and I opened each other's gifts when we got home. After opening gifts on Christmas, I still think Matt's gift is my favorite! I got TIVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!





I've been wanting it for a while and I figured we would just wait until we get a house. Luckily, Matt thought otherwise. We're going to activate it tomorrow and then I'll have to play around with it to fully understand its capabilities.
On Christmas we spent the morning at my parent's house and the rest of the day at the Hersteins. Some good gifts I got were a coach purse, a Victoria's Secret peacoat, a few books I wanted, and of course the skis we got a week ago. I was really looking forward to seeing my family open their gifts from us and I didn't really care what I got (although it's still a plus).
Yesterday, Matt and I went out to dinner with Mona, Sujith, and her friends. I know them all really well, so it was a good time. We met up at Mitchell's Fish Market at Birmingham. I was going to get the shrimp and scallops but I wasn't super hungry so Matt and I shared Blakened Sea Bass. I had never had it before and really liked it. I don't think Matt liked it so much!
Tonight, we're supposed to get together with Erika and Pete in Troy. And on Friday, Heather, Steph and Courtney are coming over!
I'll be really sad when I have to start working again!
Sidenote: I had a doctor's appt today but he called in sick! Isn't he supposed to see this coming?

7th Book

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

It'll be weird when the 7th book comes out and then there will be no more.

Matt's Birthday/Tree Pics

Today is Matt's birthday!!! Here's a picture of Matt getting his cake and in a few minutes, eating it too!



We're going to the Melting Pot for dinner, one of our favorite restaurants.

And while I was downloading pictures I also have our tree to show you! Isn't it cute?

Update on our skis!!!

My skis (I got the black version of the Olympia FOX): http://www.nordica.com/ski/scheda.php?s=8

Matt's skis (if it doesn't link directly, go to products->skis->speedwave 10): http://www.elanskis.com/pcc.asp?xpath=&xpathid=&xpathid2=&xpathid3=&lang=usa

I recommend the ski shop we went to (see my last entry) if you live around here. They were very knowledgeable and helped us out a lot.

I hope the weather gets a bit colder so we'll have snow on the ground!

Reindeer Quiz/Skis

You Are Cupid

A total romantic, you're always crushing on a new reindeer. Why You're Naughty: You've caused so much drama, all the reindeers aren't speaking to each other. Why You're Nice: You have a knack for playing matchmaker. You even hooked Rudolph up!

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

I had to go through the list of reindeer to remember there was a Cupid!

Matt and I are going to buy skis!

"If you don't come across, then I'll feel down"

I just finished the documentary "Wordplay," which is an inside look at crossword puzzles. Specifically, it is about the holy grail of crosswords, the NY times, and the people behind it. It's really well done and because I love doing crosswords, it made it that much better. Each person interviewed confessed that they were "dorky" or "nerdy" but it really is an admirable skill to be able to complete the puzzles, especially a Sat or Sun one! The documentary doesn't make fun of any of these people, rather, it identifies "puzzling" as a fun, challenging pastime. It was interesting when they found out that statistically, the best puzzlers have been musicians or mathematicians (such as actuaries, teachers, programmers). Most thought it would be people in the field of English or History because of the vocab and facts, but going about filling a crossword out is methodical and more of a problem solving technique. Honestly, anyone can be a good puzzler if they practice enough. I started in college when Heather and I used to do the LA times almost daily, via the Michigan Daily. I sucked and then just got better and better, and I don't think it's because I do calculus. Anyways, I recommend this documentary to anyone who will appreciate it.
I wonder if there is a way to do the NY Times puzzles while in Michigan. I think there is an online version, but I prefer pen to paper. What was nice at UNL is that they put the Times crossword in the campus paper.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I've read a few books in the past month. Digging to America was pretty good. I was expecting some sort of plot, but the author, Anne Tyler, writes more about day to day experiences. The book was really well written and I'm amazed how she was able to speak from an immigrant's point of view when she has no first hand experience. I also read Tales from the Crib. The author is from UofM which is why I read the book in the first place. The book is pretty good but she only mentioned AA spots a few times. It was funny when she talked about going to Dominick's or shopping at Middle Earth. But most of it takes place in NJ or NY. There were a few others, but they're not worth mentioning. I joined a book discussion group specifically for a book they are going to discuss in January, which is Time Traveler's Wife. I haven't gone to the other meetings, haha.

All of the Christmas stuff in stores and TV is getting me excited for the holidays! Usually I am just excited about getting a few days off but this time I'm actually excited to celebrate! I think it's because I get to be with my family and we haven't all gotten together since my wedding.

I wrote out Christmas cards to family members from both Matt and I for the first time. It's amazing how many cards have to be sent when two families are combined! And I assume the list will just keep growing with more friends and family added down the road.
Matt and I put up our Christmas tree a few days after Thanksgiving and decorated it with all of Matt's ornaments that he received over the years. My family has theme decorating so one year we'll buy blue and silver tree ornaments/garlands and another year we'll have purple and gold, etc. Our trees always look like they could be on display at Macy's with all the effort we put into it. I told Matt that one year we'll have to do a "designer tree" in the Gupta tradition. But for this year, it's hallmark ornaments. We'll have to get an ornament symbolizing our first Christmas together, awwww. Our tree is so cute. It's small to fit in our apartment space and really easy to store. I don't do real trees, never ever.
I put up my nutcracker on our sofa table. I knew that it would come in handy as a decoration someday. I bought it when I went to see my ballet instructor in the Nutcracker downtown. She's in it every year and I always wished I could be in it when I was young, but you have to start on pointe when you're like 5 to get in.
I usually buy gifts starting very close to Christmas, but because we knew we were buying 80% of them online, I started right after Thanksgiving. Although our Christmas shopping ended a few weeks ago, we're still waiting for 2 packages. Now we have to wrap all of them, oy!

I gotta stop typing and get something to eat. See ya later folks!

My favorite college player today is McNeil of UCLA!

Over-rated!! All right Bruins, thanks for helping Michigan out

Update (12/3): Okay now we have to play against sucky USC, how boring.

Weather

The weather was out of control today! The temperature was actually fine. But it was the downpour and wind that made it horrible. There was some flooding down Crooks so everyone had to get in the left lane, except the morons who think it's safe to drive fast in bad conditions and then collide with the water. And the wind got up to 40mph! My umbrella was useless. The wind would blow it everywhere and the rain would still manage to soak me. Needless to say, my 1st hour class looked like they had all been slip and sliding!

Tomorrow afternoon, we're looking at some houses so I hope the weather calms down. I'm having a few friends over tomorrow night so the weather definitely better be calm by then!