Memories

6 years ago today, at 8:42AM - I was a senior in college at IU. Sitting on my couch in my apartment, eating breakfast of lox and cream cheese on a bagel, watching Good Morning America, and contemplating whether I wanted to skip my 10:10AM Psychology class.

At 8:46A - there was an interruption to the program - a plane had just "run into" North Tower of the World Trade Center. The broadcasters at the time were wondering if it were an accident, issues with the plane navigation...

At 9:02A - everyone's fears were confirmed - this was no accident, a second plane hit the South Tower, with the cameras still rolling.

The rest of the day was a blur of news stories, friends coming over, parents calling, consipiracy theories and finger pointing as to who, what, and mainly, why?

Today, I woke up in a very different place and it struck me how much as changed since that day, 6 years ago. They way we think, feel, assume, and live, is all shaped by what happened that day; in that span of less than half an hour.

I will be using this day as one to reflect and remember. How about you?

Good news

Two VERY good news items for today (like a "yay!" Friday):

• I wrote a while back about my friend that is running in a very special marathon. She reached her goal of $5,000. Now she's upped the ante, continue to be generous and join the community, donate!
• Vinay, who has been profiled on numerous Web sites, blogs, and if you are from the Bay Area and reading this, you should have attended at least one of the drives in his honor, has news. He found a match. Yes, you read that right, a match.

I'm so happy for both of the individuals and what that means for the community. How we all had to get together, for two separate causes, and how far both causes have come is amazing.

It's a good day.

And something so cute...

Puppy Whistle - video powered by Metacafe

Harry Potter Friday

Harry Potter has taken over my Friday. I can't work... all I can do is think about how the book I pre-ordered is sitting in San Ramon (oh, believe me, I tracked that sucker) and it won't be delivered till TOMORROW!!! Grr...

So, I'm going to the Harry Potter party tonight at Border's near my apartment. I think. I'm a HUGE fan, but not really sure how well I will do that late at night, after a long week at work, and entirely too long of a month of weddings and other family events. I'll try though.

Things that have been happening to and around me because of Mr. Potter:

• My supervisor and I will talk about it, but only talk about how much we can't talk about it and how we don't want to know anything.
  
• I've been avoiding the NYTimes, WSJ.com, and any other Web sites that dared to put up reviews and articles that are GIVING AWAY THE ENDING... who does that?!


• My friend who will remain nameless (but his nickname rhymes with "Ash") sent me a supposedly leaked copy... I stupidly opened it and started looking around, then realized what it was and closed it immediately. I'm going to assume he was being eager when doing that, so all is forgiven and we are still speaking.

Ah, Harry... he has been with me as I grew up from a college drunkard to a working, suburbanite. It's been fun. Looking forward to this last adventure.

How excited are YOU?!

Harry Potter in India

Happy Birthday Ma!

Wishing the very best to my favorite lady in the whole world! Thank you, for being you.

Movie Review

I saw Transformers last night. Wow. That movie was fantastic. I read the NYTimes review yesterday and was a bit scared. I imagined this overly testosterone filled movie with robots, lots of crashing around and cliched lines from the characters. Instead, I saw a movie that was overly-testosterone filled, full of robots, crashing around, and tons of cliched lines. But it was fantastic!

Review for the boys:

2 hot girls - Megan Fox and this other chick that speaks with an accent. A hot blonde and a hot brunette, both in fairly tight clothing that breathe heavy at all the right times.

2 badasses in Josh Duhamel and Tyrese - army guys, guns, and no fear.

Robots, nice cars, lots of great explosions, damaged property, etc.

Lots of great lines for you boys to repeat from here on out.

Review for the girls:

The 2 hot girls - they are actually pretty cool and have good character in the movie. And the brunette is the lead girl. Yay, for brunettes.

The 2 badasses - oh wow. Army boys, handling big guns, muscles flexing, and one of them is a family man. Nice.

The cars are sexy, and the explosions are spectactular to watch.

And the lines, some of the best writing I have heard in an action movie yet.

And for both sexes - the breakout star, Shia Lebouf, he's fantastic. He's the underdog that you root for the entire movie.

Good stuff, go see it. Now.

Please help a fellow South Asian

Joining the bone marrow registry is not hard. I did it on a Saturday morning a few weeks ago, it took about 20 minute total - filling out paperwork, swabbing inside of my cheek, closing up the envelope, handing it in, getting back into my car and then going on with my day.

I post this to please urge you all to register. Someone from our community needs our help, and it is up to us to rally behind him and provide the support he needs.

In addition, once you register, be aware that you may be called upon to help. Although it sounds scary, it is the step that needs to be taken to save a life. Please read about donating bone marrow to alleviate any apprehension. It is not an easy process, but remember, those suffering from the disease are having a much worse time then a donor will ever have donating.

Find a registry in your area.

Any other information you will need is available here.

It is a privilege, not a choice, to be able to help another human being.