Boston Confidential

March 3 in Mysore - Funkytown Part II

2007-04-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

Most of the Westerners I have met here, the ones who come to Mysore to practice yoga, are quick to start a conversation and engage any other Westerner . It's great for me because my friend is basically working all the time (they work 6 days a week here in India - from 9:30 am until 9 pm. Tough for an American) so I'd be alone all day if I hadn't hooked up with this crowd. Now everyday is booked but even though I only do about 3 things a day, yoga class, meet for brunch Gokulam, go to a bookstore and sit by the pool, it takes all day to accomplish all of these "chores". Nothing is easy here but I love it.

One of the pics here was taken outside of Pattahbi Jois's shala where I am sort of an honorary member because I meet the girls there everyday after class to go to brunch. Another is of Mysore city center where we browse the bookstores for counterfeit yoga books and cheap ($1) yoga mats. The thing about this pic is that there are women in the street; first time I have seen women walking around in crowds. The streets here are typically teaming with Indian men and I wear dark sunglasses to avoid eye contact as it is considered provacative here in India to look into a strange man's eyes. I think this part of the city has more women because of the marketplace. Someone has to to the food shopping.

March 1 in Mysore - Another day, another random ox

2007-04-11T10:21:00.000-04:00

We walked down the most dung-ridden street last night on the way home from the yogashala. Nathalie was actually put off by it b/c of the filth and the cows tied up all over the place but I loved it. It was just full of families, you could look right into their home and see the laughing kids, dinner being made, etc. A lot of people sit outside at night too so there were groups of old men, young kids...the real India.

India is best experienced at night but my camera does not have the capability to take sopisticated night shots. I so wish I could capture the people and the shops but I could never get the sounds and smells in a snapshot.

Feb. 27, Mysore, India

2007-04-11T09:54:00.000-04:00

Here is a picture of Nathalie and I outside of my yogashala. I have been practicing at Mysore Mandala Yogashala with Sheshadri after P Jois told me I could only practice with in his daughter's class which is not until 8:30. Everything happens for a reason though as Sheshadri is the nicest person and his shala has a really friendly vibe, so unlike Pattabhi Jois's. The crazy thing is, I got the feeling that Pattabhi Jois liked me in spite of his rejecting me but his disposition is unlike and Indian person I have met here and he is very gruff. His daughter was nice to me but I still felt like the whole place had a snobby vibe. I am no stranger to coldness, being from Boston where snobbery rules the day but I did not want to deal with that in India.

These boys in the pic live near my Shala and they are among the privileged here in Mysore. They have servants and go to an all-boys school near the shala. I like their confidence but I know now that confidence comes with being in a higher caste than most people. They like to hang around the front of the shala to talk to Westerners and practice their English. At least, I think that is why they engage us. Most of the time, white people here are treated with the same "hands off" policy that the lower castes have with those above them so no one, other than those in the upper class, ever starts a conversation. Could be a language thing too although most people seem to speak a least a little English.

I thought I'd lose all kinds of weight when I got here because I'd have to avoid getting sick and eat only certain things but that has just not been the case. The hotel has na amazing breakfast buffet everyday and they give me a plate of cookies and basket of fruit every night. When I first got here, I would only eat fruit that had to be peeled but now eat apples, grapes and these kiwi-type things I get from the hotel. I eat salad everyday at the poolside restaurant. After spending 4 days, watching all of these skinny yoga chicks eating salads, I figured it was safe to have one myself and I have been lucky so far. It's a good thing but I was sort of counting on dropping some pounds when I got here and told my boyfriend how thin I was going to be when I got home. At this point, he won't notice any difference from when he last saw me. It's all good though.

Feb. 26, Mysore, India

2007-04-11T09:45:00.000-04:00

Day 4 here in Mysore and I love it more everyday. Spent yesterday afternoon with my NBF Natalie (British chickie); yoga, shopping, taking rickshaw rides all over the place and arguing with rickshaw drivers.

I had to take a rickshaw home by myself from Gokulum after dinner at the Grene Leaf and the guy DOUBLED the price from last night. I know the drill now so I only had 40 rupees in my hand and he was trying to tell me it was 80 rupees b/c it was after 10 o'clock (lie) so I acted upset and said, "I only have 40 and it was 40 yesterday so how am I going to get home so late??" and he said OK. There were, no kidding 9 or so rickshaw guys, lazing around, laughing and a fare comes along and they act like supermodels that don't bother getting out of bed for less than 80 rupees a pop.....

I took three showers ysterday. The "sidewalks" are clay and there is just dirt everywhere. The constant traffic of scooters and rickshaws kick up dust I come come absolutely filthy everytime I leave the hotel and I love it. Still only wash my hair every other day though. This isn't a fashion show!

I still take pictures of cows and pigs in the street b/c I just cannot get over it. Took about 14 pics of monkeys yesterday at Chamundi Hill. Just in case I forget what monkeys look like when I get home.

Utterly. Totally. Devastated. But Back in Action!

2006-09-29T12:33:00.000-04:00

OK - they say bad things happen in 3's and I hope to God it's true because that means I have had my share of crap for 2006. To bring you up to date:

My cat became terminally ill
My boyfriend of 2 years and I broke up when a friend called to say she'd seen his profile on Match.com
I lost my job

And that was just in May.

Since that time, my cat has had 2 blood transfusions, I've lost 19 lbs by running and eating right and I've started my own business. Haven't felt this good or looked this amazing in a long time. I was a real rut there and sometimes you need to just lose it all and build things back up to get what one wants. What I want is good health, a steady income and good times. I thought I had everything when I had a boyfriend to ski with every weekend and a high-paying job. Now I truly have it all and I did all on my own. No boss, no guy, no problems.

At least I have a backup plan

2006-05-02T15:43:00.000-04:00

All of the fans who have to drive to the Yankees/Red Sox game tonight? Not so much.

It looks as though we'll actually have to go to Fenway and pick up our tickets whether the game is cancelled or not. You have to feel for the fans who pay a non-refundable $90 to park tonight and end up drowning their rained-out sorrows in a Landsdowne Street bar.

I am actually glad that we did not have tickets for last night's game as I could not stand the booing of Johnny Damon. Just hoping for the best here! GO SOX!

That's What I am Talkin' About!

2006-04-28T09:16:00.000-04:00

The office is a morgue on Fridays as about half of the staff (including me) works from home. Not today though. I made my way in here after taking a few days off this week to take care of my cat. Anywho, I just turned on the radio to liven this place up and the Beastie Boys are on. This is the way to start the day!! I am going to bring in my Paul's Boutique and crank it on those crappy that invariably occur around here.

I need all the good vibes I can get as I just had a shocker. G. & I were walking on Comm Ave. on our way back to my place after dinner when I heard someone call me name. I turned around to see a vaguely familiar girl jogging with a strange guy. As she got closer, I saw that the reason she was "vaguely" familiar is that she has lost a lot of weight and is absolutely stunning. Her running partner and she were all smiles and it was good to see her. She lived in Brussels last year for a few months and I had not seen her since she came back.

She asked how I was doing and her running partner said, "Don't you have something to say?" She laughed and said, "OK, we're getting married! In July." OK, OK, OK, they met about 3 months after I met G. and they are getting married. This is the THIRD couple that met about when we did and are getting married (the other two already made it to the altar). What the hell is going on with us? With him, I should say. C'mon, if we don't know by now, what are we doing together? This is just getting old.

G. knows that I was affected by this chance encounter and tried to be extra sweet and upbeat the rest of the night but I was in a daze. I think the fact that I did not comment at all or take the opportunity to "talk about us" scared him. I have noticed that guys are more unnerved by silence than by a straight on "talk". Let him think I am questioning everything. I have nothing to say.

It's a great day to be alive but...

2006-04-25T09:44:00.000-04:00

When I walk to work a beautiful spring day such as this one, I can't help but be happy.

I need all the assistance from nature that I can get because something very upsetting has happened: my little cat Chester is sick. He's only 9 and I do not know how this could have happened. Paxton (my other Siamese) is totally fine but Chester is really skinny, weak and citically anemic. We've already had one emergecy room visit to Angell Memorial (I went home with a still-sick cat and $581.00 poorer). I never thought we'd be going through this anytime soon as his live expectancy is 20-25 and he is and an indoor cat. I have to give him pills and liquid medicine which is just a nightmare for all of us. I am cautiously optimistic about his chances for recovery and we're seeing his vet Thursday for some more tests.

G. proved himself (AGAIN!) to be a dope guy and has gone by my place to check on Chester while I am at work and has even helped me give him his meds. This from a guy who is allergic to cats. And he's a handsome fella to boot!

Having a sick cat has made me sentimental and understanding. Even the beggars howling at me up and down Boyslton and Newbury streets don't bother me. I just just rudge home after the gym, afraid of what I am going to find when I open the door to my condo...

Good time had by all, except for the all the losing going on...

2006-04-13T11:18:00.000-04:00

After the game last night, the Blue Jays awarded David Wells with an MVP award. I knew he was Toronto’s best player on the field but still, I was shocked.

At least we had some fun people in our section. Just for yucks, we'd chant "Wily Mo You're Da Man!" to make him look at us. It worked! One guy took it to the extreme though by running out on to the field (from our section - we were in a field box) to high-five Pena. News Flash for Jackass Fan: Pena hates you and so do we.

Miracle of Marlborough Street

2006-04-12T11:19:00.000-04:00

I actually got out of bed at 5;45 and made it to Healthworks for the 6:30 running club departure. Incredible. I have so many people to thank: the makers of Ambien, the author of "Snow" (puts me right out) and of course, my significant other for shaming me into getting my getting-fat ass into gear this spring.

So much to look forward to today. This'll be my first Red Sox game of the season and we got box seats right in front of the right outfielder. I know that Trot Nixon is out of commission so I guess we'll be getting to know the new guy (Adam Stern?) pretty well as we'll be staring right at him for most of the night.

Nothing compares to the feeling of following the crowd up to Kenmore Square, grabbing a bite at Game On and then giving the ticket taker our Golden tickets on Yawkee Way.

OK, I have to go concentrate on not overeating. I read about this lip gloss (Promise) that curbs appetite and "promises" thin thighs. Anyone who buys this must immediately surrender her high school diploma to the issuing high school. No questions asked.

God, I miss binge drinking!

2006-04-07T14:03:00.000-04:00

So I thought that cutting down on and ultimately eliminating, my binge drinking would cause me to shed "those unwanted pounds" we all hear so much about in the "Special Advertising Section" of magazine. No such result here though. Eleven weeks without a drink and I weigh about .5 lbs more than I did after my last black-out.

There are upsides of course: no hangovers, no regrets, no requisite morning-after apology calls to make to Bush-supporters and others I may have come across whilst on a bender. Oh, and I spend a lot less too. When the happy hour / apres ski check comes the conversation goes something like this: "Ok, looks like everyone owes $32 each, tip included. Except Mia who only had a seltzer water. You owe $5. Me: Sweet."

Maybe I am eating more than I normally do because, hell, you have to put SOMETHING in your mouth at a bar and now that I have quit smoking and drinking, my choices are limited. I am all about excuses, folks!

When it's over, that's the time I fall in love again...

2006-04-03T15:53:00.000-04:00

For all of my complaining about how we had to spend every friggin' weekend in Vermont this winter, I am sad that the season is over.
The skiing this past weekend was "Southern-Vermont-in-April's-Finest" with bare patches and mud everywhere. I only did one run in the slush and my little quads could not take it anymore. G. did about 8 runs while I soaked up the sun from an Adirondack chair at the base of the mountain. All in all, a good season as I finally conquered my fear of the Black Diamonds.

Now that Spring is in the air, it's time to concentrate on getting out of this hellhole of an company and to start running after work. First things first: I am on my third interview for the
Dream Job of a Lifetime. Please help me God. As for the latter goal, Healthworks starts its running club this Wednesday morning. I plan to make a pathetic attempt at doing 5 miles. If I run anything like I did in the Run to Remember, it should take me about 50 mins (I said my running was pathetic!).

Should I be worried about this?

2006-03-02T12:44:00.000-05:00

So, all I can think about today is going to see Seinfeld tomorrow night at the Wang and, because we could only get single seats, Mr. Wonderful and I are 4 rows apart. Very sad and much of today has been spent dreaming up my fantasy pitch to the usher and other singles who may want to switch. High hopes here!

Last night I had occasion to use my boyfriend's computer to check my email and (this was not planned!) his email happened to be minimized. I clicked on it. And read it. Seems he emailed Amanda Congdon from Rocketboom to see if he can get a tour of the Rocketboom "studio" (which we have both laughed about as we think it's her apt.) when we are in NYC in a few weeks. He has never mentioned this to me. Now, Amanda is a super-cool chick and we are both card-carrying members of Cake and I straighten my hair just like hers so we have a lot in common but what's up with the email? He has a snowball's chance in Hades of every meeting this girl but I am thinking this email thing is taking to too far.

I guess I should just be glad he is not emailing chickies from Match and Yahoo personals. Sad story here: an amazing, beautiful trusting girlfriend of mine just got totally screwed and caught her new guy with another woman. Seems he never took his Match profile down and, after 3 months of dating, she understood why when she saw the girl leaving his apartment. That she had just stayed in the night before. (Vomiting right now) He fessed up and said he did meet the girl off Match a few weeks ago. The worst part? He let her go and wants to pursue the new girl. Maybe that's the best part (for her in the long-run) but the whole thing just stinks.

Crate & Beggars

2005-11-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

Just called Crate & Barrel, my favorite retailer (not!) to see if the rug I ordered (and paid for in full last week) is "in" so that I can schedule my the delivery of the rug and the dining room table. Guess what? It isn't.

The saleswoman said the rug was promised "mid-November" and I pointed out that it is the 14th. I was advised to wait for a phone call from the tomorrow. Why oh why does this company have merchandise in the store hat is does not actually have available within a week?? We aren't talking a custom couch here. Just a plain old, 6 x 9 rug. Did they not expect that anyone would actually puchase the rug? Of course the dining room table is in stock but I am not getting htat delivered separately and paying the $60 delivery charge twice. They should be glad that customers are willing to walk to the gauntlet of beggars just to get to their Boylston Street location and bend over backwards but I guess they don't see it that way.

On the subject of the Boyslton Beggar Gauntlet, this week's Boston Courant has the story on the front page. Boston Police are actually encouraging retailers to put ATM's in front of their storefronts as no loitering is allowed within 10 feet of an ATM. If that is the case, I respectfully request that Crate & Barrell, CVS, and Trader Joe's put ATM's out front. All the bars on the strip should as well. Nothing like seeing all the poor tourists, just stepping out for a smoke, being accosted for "spare change!".

On a more positive note: had another great weekend at the Vermont house. My boyfriend planned a horseback trail ride for us and it was just gorgeous. Perfect fall weather and the horses were sweet. The saddles were Western though and now I know why most women prefer riding English and why cowboys walk bow-legged.

Everyone should be eating and drinking at Match

2005-11-10T14:52:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love that new place Match on Mass Ave. My girlfriends and I are averaging one visit a week at this point and we have had the same waiter each time (Hi Kevan!)

Last night I had the tuna sashimi burger with wasabi and a side of asparagus and my friend had the lobster burger with a side of spinach. I could eat there every day and already have my next two meals planned there (spinach salad the first time and salmon steak with spinach and risotto cakes the second if you must know!). The sad thing is: our bar tab consistently exceeds our food bill. We have good reason though! The food is cheap-ola while the drink prices are kind of steep. Truth be told; we do drink a lot. Each of us owed $48, tip included last night and we each had three drinks at about $10 a pop so you do the math...Another bonus - even the most unattractive people look good in the glow of the massive electric fireplace in the dining room. Not that any of us needs soft lighting to look good but some folks out there may benefit.

Not so fast W!

2005-11-10T14:33:00.000-05:00

Very exciting news: We may not be drilling in the Arctic after all. I am just as shocked as you are but the WSJ tells me:

House GOP leaders agreed last night to strip plans to permit oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in the offshore continental shelf from a $54 billion budget-cutting measure, probably securing the votes to pass the bill today.

One for the good guys! Here is my favorite quote:

"The move is a blow to President Bush, who has made expanded oil exploration a priority since he took office." Too bad! Sucker!

Coulda' Woulda' Shoulda'

2005-11-10T13:13:00.000-05:00

Today's Globe reports that the company behind the little red robot that keeps my floors so spankin' clean is also cleaning up on the NYSE.

Shares of iRobot climbed $2.70 to $26.70 from their opening price of $24. The company and its insiders sold 4.3 million shares on Tuesday, in an initial public offering seen as a test of the appeal of robotics to investors. The company said its share of the offering was about $72 million, and yesterday's trading gave it a market value of $621.8 million.

As I write this, the stock is trading at $34. Why, oh why didn't I buy some yesterday at the IPO? I thought about it. I can still pick up some shares but this is like buying a coat right after the 20% off sale ended...

Nice Try Jen

2005-11-09T10:09:00.000-05:00

Tivo caught a snippet of Jennifer Anniston talking to Diane Sawyer about her divorce and refsing to talk about her new role as Vince Vaughn's beard. In the 16 seconds before my boyfriend changed the channel, the-former-Ms.Pitt said something about how the public insists on making her divorce out to be "some soap opera" and mentioned that she still talks to Brad Pitt.

Hellooo! When your movie star husband screws his co-star and the co-star is Angelina Jolie, aka every woman's nightmare, and then you get divorced and he moves in with the pinnacle of female sensuality, that is a soap opera!! And there is no way she is talking to Brad Pitt regularly. Does she really expect us to believe that she psyched when the phone rings and its Brad talking about the funny thing Maddox said and how cute the new African baby is? I call "Bullcrap"!

Civic Duty - Check!

2005-11-08T13:43:00.000-05:00

I can relax and enjoy the day as I just got back from the polls. Unfortunately, I had to go all the way to the Fenway to vote as I never did change my voter registration to the Back Bay. But it's all good now and next time I won't have to go any further than the Copley Library - Tres convenient!

When my boyfriend and I decided to cook Thanksgiving Dinner (rather than have both of our mothers cook which I what happened last year) in an effort to prevent having to drive to two different states on the same day as we did last year, I had no idea how collaborative an event this was going to be. Just about everyone has weighed in on my decision to buy an organic, free-range turkey (general consensus - expensive and unecessary. Outcome: buying orgainic free-range turkey) to our announcement that we needed to borrow a turkey baster (general consensus: basting not necesary. Outcome: not basting but rather building turkey foil tent (?)). I called a few supermarkets to put and end to the families's endless speculation about whether or not an organic turkey comes frozen, will they run out of we wait until a few days before the holiday and exactly how much is this free-range turkey going to cost. Outcome; Only Wholefoods has the right turkeys, $1.99 a pound and there should be plenty to go around up until the Big Day. Geez!

You are either with us or against us!

2005-11-07T13:57:00.000-05:00

I am so ready for the Pats game tonight. Tom Brady v. “Jesus Christ” Manning (aka, “Son of God”).

By kickoff, I’ll be on my couch, snacks close at hand with a couple of cats, screening my calls and cheering on the hometown team. Anyone who does not also do this is un-American and supports the terrorists.

Another Vidal Sasson Success Story

2005-11-04T13:46:00.000-05:00

Must give props to Nicole and Amy at Vidal Sasson for once again working their magic. Just left the salon and feelin' good!

Boston Police Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole was also getting her hair "done" (no details - must protect fellow celebrities's privacy) and quietly took a lot of calls on her cell. She also has aBlackberry that she kept checking and I wish I knew her email address as I would've sent her an email to thank her for being such a great commissioner. "Dear Kathy: I think you are doing a great job and totally blame do-nothing Mayor Tom Menino for our city's high crime rate and lack of adequate numbers of police. Signed, Girl in the Next Chair".

On a somber note, I was troubled to see the picturesque mountain vista in the newspaper today with the caption below: "Senate OK's Drilling in Alaskan Wildlife Refuge". Why does this country have to suck to much sometimes? Hearing news like that is no way to start the otherwise bright and shiny weekend planned in Vermont.

Why is this so bad?

2005-11-02T10:54:00.000-05:00

According to the very-reliable Boston Globe, immigration rights groups are railing at Kerry Healy because she suggested children of illegal immigrants attend private colleges rather than get in-state tutition at state schools. What is wrong with this statement? Nothing.

Hey, if you want to advocate for a change to the immigration laws, making it easier to become a legal alien, be my guest. The fact is, the laws exist and the Govenor has to uphold them and Tom Reilly has to enforce them. Black and white issue here, Folks.

On a more serious note, my skin is just falling off my face at an alarming rate. I totally blame this on three-straight days of being subject to the wood burning stove in Vermont. Is this what I can expect all winter? My water consumption rate hit an all time high last weekend at the ski house but all that hydration did not make one bit of difference. We are heading up there again Friday after work so I have to go google: "dry skin hydration winter".

Vote for Menino as Worst Mayor of Boston

2005-11-01T15:49:00.000-05:00

The Boston Herald endorsed Do-Nothing Thomas Menino for Mayor today with this slam on City Councilwoman Maura Hennigan.

I am going to go way out of my way to vote for Maura next week and I think you should too. This city is filthy and crime-ridden and last I heard, Menino was trumpeting his plans to develop the Waterfront area as a reason he should be re-elected.

He needs to hire a new focus group because who gives a rat's ass about the Waterfront? How about less-bomb sniffing dogs at South Station and more cops on the street? How about doing something to control the crazy-beggar-on-every-corner-in-the-Back-Bay trend that makes running errands after work akin to walking around Calcutta (expect our beggars have limbs).

Why not fund an elementary school for those of us who live in the Back Bay and Beacon Hill so that if we can't afford private school, we don't have to move to the suburbs after we start a family? We're taxpayers too, Jerk!

I could go on and on about how I have had my headlights stolen twice because thieves know they'll never come across a cop on Comm Ave unless there is a construction detail and how we were BURGLARIZED at 8 pm because the city has the same No-Cop-In-Sight policy on Marlborough street but actions speak louder than words.

VOTE FOR MAURA ON NOVEMBER 8th! At least she is making the right campaign promises. Menino is just living on another planet at this point.

By any other name...

2005-11-01T15:39:00.000-05:00

The crazy thing about this article is, although it happens to be about a country full of religious extremists, I can easily envision it taking place in Alabama. Now that's scary!

What the F*%# ?

2005-10-18T13:31:00.000-04:00

No sooner do I post about prostitutes on Craigslist and about how Johnnie Law looks the other way than a bunch of chicks get busted in Braintree for soliciting on Craigslist.

Officially, I applaud any law enforecement agency that earns its paycheck but isn't this like shooting fish in barrel? Come on. I could pose as a prostitute, arrange to meet my johns (I know the lingo!) and call the cops when they show up to arrest them but should I get a medal for it?

This just seems like a waste of taxpayers time. If they had busted up some sex-slave ring which exploited illegal immigrant women (which I am completely opposed to by the way), I would consider that a job well done. A bunch of bored housewives having sex with guys at the Days Inn in Braintree is just so not on my list of gripes. Now if the Braintree police could get rid of the beggars that yell shit at me whe I refuse to give them quarters every time I walk through Downtown Crossings, I'd be totally psyched!