It was a rainy afternoon in Milwaukee- rains with wind and snow feels like the wrath of nature has poured down on mankind. I had finished packing and put the box of warm brownies on top of my bag with a chuckle. Wouldn’t we relish them in the middle of the woods, before a fire place in our log cabins, after a race on our snow mobiles??!! I was all set to leave for Chicago to catch up with one of my greatest buddies from college, and her co-workers- and from there drive up north to Paradise, Michigan for a snow mobiling expedition over Christmas. Sounds like a plan for the long weekend!! The Amtrak train tugged into Union Station, Chicago in 2 hours and I met up with the gang in downtown. Once home, Sachin and Prajyot called up Paradise to confirm our snow mobile bookings and they gave us a little piece of news- the rains had brought about a major drop in the snow levels as a result of which snow mobiling was closed for the weekend. To hell with Paradise- we thought and ate the brownies in the living room to fight our depression. I went a step ahead and insisted going to church that evening, since I had 2 full days left at Chicago anyways. The gang cheered me up and assured me 48 hours of useful time-pass to make up for the loss. I gave a discontent smile. But the hosts resolved to make their guest feel better.
They dropped me at church and set off to pick dinner from Garib Nawaz@Devon- when I got home, I was digging into hot spicy mutton biriyani in no time with Dada…while Sudha, Sachin and Prajyot ate rotis. After dinner I was back to my older mood and asked about the plan for the next day…Prajyot suggested Villa Olivia at suburb Chicago for snow tubing. I cried out cribbing and exclaiming I’d done that umpteen times in Milwaukee...they smiled back at their unruly guest and we started discussing trip options from Iowa to Wisconsin to Ohio till we feel asleep. I woke up to smell Dada’s fresh ginger tea brewing in the kitchen and noticed Sachin preparing brunch for all of us. I picked up one of the think pads and started checking my emails and trip options again...In a chat with Sachin over upma; I learnt he was Pramod’s junior in college. A small world indeed!! Time rolled by and it was very well past noon and we were hungry again…With no other plan materializing, I was doomed to snow-tubing at Villa Olivia- will never forget that name- the brutal substitute to Paradise, Michigan. I cursed the rains and tried to improve my mood over some pancakes, omelettes and chocolate sundae at my all time favourite- IHOP. From about 3:00pm we kept tubing till dark and my physical battery was down- I refused to stop tubing and was having a swell time in snow with the gang!! The evening moved on with few hours of pool and a satiating Indo-Chinese dinner at Hot Wok.
Next morning Sudha and myself decided to spend some time together in our girls’ world and went to a Salon for my haircut- got one of the shortest cuts I’ve ever had, that left me with steps that I still carry on…we then proceeded to Victoria’s on Michigan Avenue and spent hours on productive shopping end of which I was completely thrilled….Sachin picked us up and promised good dinner at an Italian place. After a carry out from Taco Bell, we lazed around at home and by evening Sudha wanted ice creams. We drove miles to catch some delicious Sundaes in a small corner shop in a Mexican locality. Watched Shrek before dinner on home DVD and walked to Maggianos for the best Pastas and desserts I’ve ever had. Way back home I gave them a content smile. The gang insisted on driving to Milwaukee that night to drop me…and when they left my apartment I said a sad goodbye. Our long weekend fulfilled the definition of a perfect holiday and the gang is simply amazing in their own ways!! They had treated me to the best hospitalities making my Christmas weekend unforgettable!! And I promised the gang a trip to Water Street and tons of beer....at Milwaukee!!
Sachin is joining b-school at Virginia, Dada successfully continuing his stint at Blue Cross Blue Shield, Prajyot left for India 3 days before I did, and Sudha is getting married tomorrow at her home town in India. Hey Sudha- Cheers to the good times we’ve had together since time immemorial….and good luck as you embark on this new journey!!!!
They dropped me at church and set off to pick dinner from Garib Nawaz@Devon- when I got home, I was digging into hot spicy mutton biriyani in no time with Dada…while Sudha, Sachin and Prajyot ate rotis. After dinner I was back to my older mood and asked about the plan for the next day…Prajyot suggested Villa Olivia at suburb Chicago for snow tubing. I cried out cribbing and exclaiming I’d done that umpteen times in Milwaukee...they smiled back at their unruly guest and we started discussing trip options from Iowa to Wisconsin to Ohio till we feel asleep. I woke up to smell Dada’s fresh ginger tea brewing in the kitchen and noticed Sachin preparing brunch for all of us. I picked up one of the think pads and started checking my emails and trip options again...In a chat with Sachin over upma; I learnt he was Pramod’s junior in college. A small world indeed!! Time rolled by and it was very well past noon and we were hungry again…With no other plan materializing, I was doomed to snow-tubing at Villa Olivia- will never forget that name- the brutal substitute to Paradise, Michigan. I cursed the rains and tried to improve my mood over some pancakes, omelettes and chocolate sundae at my all time favourite- IHOP. From about 3:00pm we kept tubing till dark and my physical battery was down- I refused to stop tubing and was having a swell time in snow with the gang!! The evening moved on with few hours of pool and a satiating Indo-Chinese dinner at Hot Wok.
Next morning Sudha and myself decided to spend some time together in our girls’ world and went to a Salon for my haircut- got one of the shortest cuts I’ve ever had, that left me with steps that I still carry on…we then proceeded to Victoria’s on Michigan Avenue and spent hours on productive shopping end of which I was completely thrilled….Sachin picked us up and promised good dinner at an Italian place. After a carry out from Taco Bell, we lazed around at home and by evening Sudha wanted ice creams. We drove miles to catch some delicious Sundaes in a small corner shop in a Mexican locality. Watched Shrek before dinner on home DVD and walked to Maggianos for the best Pastas and desserts I’ve ever had. Way back home I gave them a content smile. The gang insisted on driving to Milwaukee that night to drop me…and when they left my apartment I said a sad goodbye. Our long weekend fulfilled the definition of a perfect holiday and the gang is simply amazing in their own ways!! They had treated me to the best hospitalities making my Christmas weekend unforgettable!! And I promised the gang a trip to Water Street and tons of beer....at Milwaukee!!
Sachin is joining b-school at Virginia, Dada successfully continuing his stint at Blue Cross Blue Shield, Prajyot left for India 3 days before I did, and Sudha is getting married tomorrow at her home town in India. Hey Sudha- Cheers to the good times we’ve had together since time immemorial….and good luck as you embark on this new journey!!!!
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