Is it global warming, or it's just Chicago?

Weather has been more and more unpredictable nowadays. I still remember my first Winter in the US. It didn't snow until end of December. In Spring, beginning of May, I had my final exams, and there was snow!

It was Thursday, August 23rd.

Today, it started with a bright, clear, and sunny day. My project team had a send-off lunch for a friend, who will be rolling-off the team end of this month. I came out the building happy, as it was warm outside :). I forgot my jacket today so I felt cold in the office.
Anyways, it was warm and the sun was playing outside. We walked for about 10 blocks (yeah, it was quite far) to Michigan and Ontario. We're going to California Pizza Kitchen, but ended up in Grand Luxe Cafe instead. Inside the building, it looked very similar to Cheesecake Factory. The menu was similar to that in Cheesecake Factory. The model and color of the plastic bag was similar to that in Cheesecake Factory. I was puzzled, but later I found out that both restaurants have the same owner. That explains why!
I had pasta fresco, which I like a lot because it's quite light: spiral pasta, olive oil, roasted eggplant, roasted tomato, etc. I ate only 1/3 portion of it and packed the rest home. A good deal!
Walked back, still bright and sunny. The heat my body generated after the long walk kept me warm until 2.30ish.

Around 3.15 pm, my friend walked towards the glass window, and said, "Oh, look at that!" I didn't realize what he meant, because all I saw was that it's foggy outside. People started to watch outside, too. Then I realized that it was not fog, but a heavy rain with strong winds. On the 26th floor, I could see nothing but.. smoke-looking air. It was a thunderSTORM. Now everybody looked outside the window. Five minutes later, the building alarm beeped. "Attention, attention. This is building security. There has been a tornado warning in the area. Stay away from the glass windows, glass doors, ..."
In another 10 minutes, Rainey came up from the 25th floor, asking everyone to move out to the elevator area, which is in the center part of the building. Ah, my pants have no pocket, so I decided to leave my cellphone there, and of course other things, too. A few people grabbed their bags and decided to go home. I don't know how they'd manage to get out of the building, though. But they were recommended not to take the elevator, so they took the stairs.
There were about 20 people there. Nobody seemed worried, so I was cool, too. I leaned on the wall, and I could hear creaking sounds from the wall. One guy said that it's the sound of the building moving. That's scary :D, but I don't feel it moving so it was okay :)
We wondered how long we had to stay there. Good thing in 20 minutes the alarm beeped again, and we could go back to our place. There was no more rain outside. The sky was still cloudy, but I could see the clean air.

My team had no more bug to work on that day, so I decided to leave home early. I took the 5.16 pm express train. Yes! Express!! I was hoping to get home by 5.49 pm, as the schedule suggested, but due to the rain and probably slicky track, the train moved slowly. Slow enough that I got off around 6.20 pm. I couldn't walk to home right away because it was raining quite hard, and I was cold with no jacket :\. I waited for almost half an hour then started walking. Ahh.. finally. I usually took Williams Ave, the road that's straight out from the station and to my neighborhood. But before I went far into Williams Ave, I saw a part of the road that was flooded, and the water was ankle-high. I wore high heels, so it's a no no. Alas, I decided to turn around back to Nw highway, then took Wilke Rd. It was a really long walk. I arrived home at 7:20 pm.

The next day, I realized that my leg muscles were a bit sore. I've worked out! :D

Hyderabad Trip (2nd Day)

I still remember Aloka's mom came into the room we slept in at 7 am that morning, calling us to get ready by 8 am to take a walk in a park. She said it's going to be great. We were so tired that we didn't want to wake up. I thought for a while.. and said, "Okay.. we'll wake up by then."
:D I kept getting back to my watch, but no one else woke up. 8.30.. 8.45.. 9.00.. ah, I guessed the plan had been cancelled.

The first thing we caught after getting ready is: breakfast!! We certainly woke up late that it was about time for lunch, too -- thus it's a brunch!
The place is called "Little Italy". It's a fine chain restaurant that serves buffet of western food every Sunday morning. A nice break of Indian food :p. I had everything that's custom-made: salad, crepes, pizza, and mongolian stir-fry. The food was delicious! and the price is comparable. This brunch costs 560 rupees (= US$ 14).

The day before we went sightseeing for the whole day. Today was time for shopping.
The first store we hit was Fab India. It was my first shopping in India, but not bad, I got a mini kurta for myself, which costs 560 rupees (about double that of other kurtas, because this one is nicer). It is pink/red in color, has some Indian patterns on it, and has golden linings. It does not have the neatest seamings, but I like it.
Then we went to a department store. I'm not sure what it's called, but it sells luxurious fabrics, rich in colors, patterns, and beads. Very georgeous. The store also sells Indian party dresses. One suit costs between 1000 to 5000 rupees. Even in US dollars they are very expensive.
By this time we were quite tired, but didn't mind to see more, so my friend took us to a craft exhibition. It was outdoor with lots of booths that sold shawls, clothes, clay crafts, other small hand crafts usually for gifts. One friend bought five shawls, for gifts :). Few others bought some shawls, too, but not me, not yet.

That's it! It's time to shower, pack up, and go back to Bangalore. For some reason we didn't go out for dinner, but only had mango. Then we rushed to the pick-up place.
The bus was crazily fast. I was shaken front, back, left, and right--all directions! It made me dizzy, plus I was hungry :'(. At least after 10 hours I arrived back in Bangalore on time to wash up and prepare for the 9 am training.

Ah.. couldn't wait for the day to end and to get rest that night

It's only the 4th day and I'm back to what I've been trying to avoid for 6 weeks

Six weeks ago, I had big big hopes.

Weeks to learn, weeks to change
Weeks to live on my own, weeks to feel that life
Weeks to care for myself, weeks to care for others
Weeks to feel free and happy
Weeks where people hate me because I do something wrong, then I learn
Weeks where people openly give me feedback, and so do I to them
Weeks where people motivate one another, and I am encouraged

I hoped to change... and for you to change, too
But it was six weeks ago

Now I learn
Nothing changed, nothing might ever change
Your live is still the same
Your perceptions are the same
Your words are the same
Live that makes me anxious, perceptions that look down upon me, words that hurt me

Yesterday was only the 4th day since I came back. I cried.
Today is the 5th. I cried.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It's a very tiring day. I had to wake up at 4.30 am to continue my reading before the training at 9 am. My stomach hurt, and I got a little diarrhea (don't know why). I strive to stay awake, as my eyes were a bit swollen and gosh.. it's only 4.30 am. I managed to get to the train station on time, but I was sleepy throughout the training. Lunch was provided and I was extremely hungry (due to cold office temp..), so I ate a lot (like those times in India). I left the office yawning every 2 minutes. "I'm going home and sleeping early," I repeated it to comfort myself. As soon as I got home, I smelled good food. You were cooking.
I felt full earlier, but my stomach felt weird at that moment, so I decided to eat something, but not as much as you had taken for me. Two eyes stared at me, as if warning me if I would reduce my food. The black cloud had come. I would have loved to run away, but there was no other place -- as always. Your words were like sword; your tone was its swiftness. Which reminds me.. you don't do this to your friends, ever. Well, hopefully not.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Is it a favor if I'm not around. Is it a favor if you win. Is it a favor when I cry and you laugh. Or Is it a favor if I were a doll, always happy and smiley, no effort to love and no care to be loved?
Maybe I should take the offer to work in India. Maybe it takes much longer than six weeks for anything to change; maybe.. or will it?

Maybe, I should just let go of my big big hopes.