I am amazed that I can be this cheap with technology. Example: I'm am writing this post using free Netzero dial-up (which is slower than a snail!) and my 5-year-old laptop is whirring every 5 seconds as it dies a slow death.

It's actually been dying since spring 2007. In fact el laptopo did die then (it would not turn on), but Kent brought it back to life. And since it is not used frequently, it gets by. Just don't make it work too much; the fans will fail and then it will be dead for good!

There is a plan to purchase a new machine. I'm hoping Kent will advise me. I'm looking at IBM Thinkpads since Kent says they are good. He has two of them - one for work and one of his own. Plus, we have a hook-up and can get a discount. Yay! Though I will miss the "Windows" key, since I use that a lot.

So hopefully when I get a good functioning laptop loaded with lots of goodies (and high-speed Internet), you will see more blogging, a cleaner and more updated site and lots more photos.

Until then I'll do a quick update on my main men, aka my nephews.

They are as adorable as ever. The third one, Dylan, came along on my birthday. Talk about a birthday gift! Hopefully he'll have more patience than me and be less stubborn. I hear he is already quite loud. Uh oh.

Aidan and Nikhil are so scrumptious it's so good it's almost bad. The little guys are getting chubby and developing personalities. They are ever so curious and just happy happy babies. You just want to look at them and wonder how they see this world. Can you imagine having their delight and curiosity for everything that surrounds them?! If you're on Facebook, you will see recent photos of them under my profile. I hope to take photos of Dylan and Kush when Nisha and I visit Philly in the next few weeks.

Mark Bittman of the New York Times does it again. He now has a list of 101 Simple Appetizers in 20 Minutes or Less. Sounds delicious and fairly easy!

December is half-over. Christmas is in a week. And I'm spending my last 2007 hour in Rolla. My mum is preparing lunch and then we'll be off to St. Louis International Airport.

My trip here was fabulous — as always. Coming home to see my folks is great. I eat good food, read my dad's magazines, chat with my mum and just laze about. I don't feel 25. Instead, I'm transported back to the days of my youth where I didn't have to worry about anything but homework.

I didn't do much while I was here. I took some photos. Updated the Rustic Motel's web site. Ate delicious homemade food and talked to a few family friends. It may not sound like much, but it's a perfect way to spend a few days and relax.

One cool aspect of this trip was my dad bought me an awesome Blackberry Pearl as my new phone. It's superfab. Only sad thing was changing networks and phone numbers.

I had noticed lately that I wasn't being as productive or energized as I generally am. I wasn't sure what was going on until Kent made me realize all the stuff that has occupied my time in the past two months.

It turns out that this whirlwind of activity from the first week of September on —both work and non-work related — have left me really worn out. This has caused my body and mind to go on strike; it seems like my body is refusing to budge out of this funkiness. Which is causing the apathy. Not good.

So I took today off from work and am going to have some me-time. I've scheduled a massage and plan on going clothes shopping too. And I may drive to Oak Ridge to try some of the ice cream Kent has been raving about. Now if only I weren't spending my own money doing this. (hi, Dad! I hope you're reading this!)

Hopefully this will do the trick or at least begin to partially undo the funk. And here's hoping I score some good clothing deals and actually find things I like and can afford.

I'm looking back at older posts and noticed I have a tendancy of always blogging during Diwali and the new year. So to keep with tradition:

Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak!

And this post wouldn't be complete if I forgot to mention how fast this year has gone. I'm not kidding too. I can't believe it's already November. It's been about 10 months since I left India. And the mother of the them all: I've been in Knoxville five years! Are you as amazed as I am? Seriously, where has the time gone.

I don't like time and age creeping up on me. It's freaking me out. And the sad part is every year will feel faster.

Enough of my depression about time. I'm wishing you a terrific year ahead! xoxo