Back in the Swing

Feels great to enjoy the warm almost-spring sunshine in DC with a return to the M Street courts with Andrew. Strange to think, but this spring marks the start of the fourth year of our Rafa-esque rivalry!

Here's the statistical update since 2010:

2011 - or "Enjoying Hyderabad's one outdoor leisure activity to the max"

Hot damn, 194-290 in an amazing 62 sets. That's a whole lot of tennis, and a increasingly getting-better 40% win percentage.

2012 - or "Somewhat more distracted and/or reluctant to leave the house"

Well, way less tennis for whatever reason, but 71-89 is at least a wee improvement to 44%. It's even better when you take Steve, who way outmatches me, out of the mix. How does 49% sound?!

ski weekend

wisp resort in deep creek, maryland is a great weekend trip from DC. a relatively scenic 3 hour drive to the great little resort community nestled pretty close to the mountain. the hill's really nice, has a good variety runs and a nice lodge. best part, of course, a great two nights in a beautiful rental cabin with Darren, Kaitlin, Sean, Andrew, Chris, Al, Barrett and Katie.

How many languages are spoken by that crew of globe-trotters? great question, glad you asked: Arabic, Chinese, German, Farsi, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Nepali, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Tajiki, Telugu, Urdu. Or, when you do the math, an amazing 54% of the world's population...

surprise headlines

orange you glad it's 2013?

a new year, a new city, a new adventure. as the black book of all things important from three years of diplomacy, telugu and india is now more than full, it's time for a new way of organizing, analyzing and commemorating the adventures ahead. thanks rhodia.

debrief by collage

how to understand two of the most amazing years of your life? the ups and downs of the extremes of india? only the best way i know: collage. A Scotched and Taped Evening.

until i find a scanner:

one last goa-round

one last trip to goa, my only three-peat destination in India. overnight bus from HYD-Panjim was do-able. unfortunately we had seats rather than a sleeper berth, but it didn't become uncomfortable until MULTIPLE folks started to vomit as we enjoyed the sunrise while snaking down the Western Ghats just a dash after dawn. the reason for the trip? David Guetta on the beach. nicely played, india, even if the disasterous entrance line and bar set-up were enough to be my final-straw of sorts here in india. it's simply time i go home now, i think.

a semi-charmed kind of life

Wait. THE third eye blind? Yes, THE third eye blind, in Hyderabad, on a four-stop swing through the Hard Rock Cafes of the world's largest democracy.

Hyderabad turned 1998, give or take a few years, for a brief evening. the lead singer man might have said it best..."Wow, this feels like a basement party from years ago." truly a semi-charmed kinda life.