Leaving On A Jet Plane

"All our bags are packed, we're ready to go
we're standin' here outside your door
we hate to wake you up to say goodbye"

We got 3 hours to go before we leave for the airport and we cant believe the day is already here. We hope we got everything in place and we think we do. We are going to miss everyone back here and not to hurt anyone's feelings but we are going to miss Marsh the most. The fact that he is in very good hands will help us board that plane.

Now, looking ahead, its going to a long trip but its going to be a great trip. My folks and my best friend are going to be at the airport and not to forget the heat wave :)
We are going to try our best to stay up all day on Monday and try and adjust to the time difference as soon as possible but who knows how that is going to go.

Maybe some nice indian food and some Kingfisher beer will help :)

Four on the Floor

Man oh man... I'm having a terrible time concentrating at work. With the trip just days away everything is a buzz... last minute thoughts of things not packed, items not bought, and those darn weight restrictions!

Just two more sleeps until Ajay is home again, and four till we leave for India, well four till we leave for Montreal, Frankfurt, Dubai and then Chennai! lol quite the adventure indeed.

Six of One, Half Dozen of Another

I know, I know.... we've been incredibly slack in adding content over this past week, but truth be told, we've been pretty damn busy too.

Everytime I think the last minute shopping is done, there is more... yes, more. Crystal and I ran around on Saturday picking up gift bags, extra markers, and an electrical converter. What fun! We went to The Source in search of the appropriate converter for India... one that will handle extended usage, like battery chargers or Ajay's PS2...yes he's brining both of his girlfriends home this trip :) The staff at The Source were not exactly the brightest, and weren't clear on which converter/adapter we required. Apparently they had conflicting resource lists... which left me paying $49 for something they weren't even sure would work. Ajay will have to check it when he comes home this week... which may include yet another, last minute trip to the shopping mall. Yee haw!

In addition to the above I have been hopelessly packing and repacking our bags in an attempt to accomodate all of our stuff, the gifts and the donated clothes... it's quite the battle... but I'll shall be successful! Just wait and see.

I can't believe that in just a couple of days Ajay is going to be peeling my arms from around Marshy and dragging me off to the airport! I'm going to miss our little beggar SOOO MUCH.

Lucky 13

Ajay came home this weekend for Easter :)

I drove to Saint John on Thursday afternoon and picked him and all of his luggage for our trip and brought them back home. All in all it was about 7.5 hours of driving... and by the end of it, I was truly sleepy. However, it was fun to have our first road trip together... Ajay gives fairly decent car concerts! The best thing is that we share the same tastes in music, mostly ;)

Friday was spent chilling out, lunch with my parents and a birthday dinner for Wendy with friends.

Saturday was a true thriller, shopping... picking up the last of our necessary items for India, on a Saturday, before a holiday! It was insane... the traffic was gross, the lines at the cashiers were disgusting... and low and behold I continued the ongoing tradition of picking the wrong line EVERY time ;) It always starts out looking like the shortest, or quickest, but for one reason or another it turns out to be the one where they need a price check, or the scanner stops working, or their coupons aren't valid... truly frustrating. We made it home in one piece though, and spent a lovely night home with dinner, a couple of drinks and curled up on the couch with a movie (The Greatest Game Ever Played). We also shared some wonderful time practice packing our luggage... trying to work out the weights, and spreading the gifts amongst the all of the bags incase one gets lost on the way there. There was a lot of "discussion" around the allowable weights and sizes of the baggage permitted on the flights. Their website said one thing, and their reps in Toronto said another. It was great fun! But thankfully we worked through it together and came to an amicable resolve. :)

It's Sunday again, and the hours are pressing towards the time when Ajay has to board the bus back to Saint John. :( This time though, less than 2 weeks till he's back and we head to India.

Every Bit Counts... 18

Let me start out by saying that I mention this for the acknowledgement of everyone who has contributed thus far, and not to toot our own horns.

Ajay mentioned a couple of days back that there is a needy orphanage that he visits annually to make a donation to in Chennai, and that he'd like to do the same when we are there. I thought it might be nice to take it a step further and donate some tangible items too, like clothing. So I sent an email around at the office to solicit used children's summer clothing for us to bring with us to India... and low and behold, the donations started coming in today. I've had numerous emails from friends of people here from the office with kids who were forwarded the original request by our staff. I was so thankful today to be surrounded by such generosity... two bags and a box of beautiful clothes, some I'm sure have never been worn... and even a bag of disposable diapers!

Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised at the kindness of others, but the thing is that I've only been at this location for two months now and maybe know 5 or 6 people... I can't explain how happy I am with their donations to date.

Thanks to everyone who made a contribution!

Nanette & Ajay

18 Days to go!!!

I can't believe there are only 18 days before we leave for India. I can't wait to get home and see my family. People say these 18 days will fly past but I dont think so. It's moving so slow. Spoke to my parents and my niece on Skype yesterday and it made me so happy to think of everyone at home :). I still cant believe I have been away from home for more than a year and a half but there were things to be done and there still are some things to be done.

Eureka! I Have Found it.... 24 To Go

I have found it!!!

The mother of all sites on India...

India's Culture, Art, Architecture and Fine Arts

Lots of awesome facts... basically everything about India without the 36 hours of travel time to get there. :) Ok, so not really, but still it's pretty comprehensive... although the "India Quiz" isn't functioning.

Enjoy! There will be a test. :)