Saturday, February 28, 2009

50 is the New 30



A few weeks ago, my mom turned 50. Daddy was going to be out of the country during this momentous occasion, so we had to find an EXTREME way to celebrate. Dad and I (along with help from friends) came up with the idea of a spa weekend. Now, I wanted to go to one of those really amazing spa resorts in Arizona or California, but we just couldn't shell out $2000 a day. So we decided to stay close and settled for Hot Springs, AR. I know what you're thinking - "Arkansas?" Well, history will tell you that Hot Springs was the location for the first natural spring "spas." Daddy booked us a room at the Arlington Resort that included a bath and spa package. Don't worry, I'll get to the bath part. 

So on Saturday morning, I drive to Little Rock and pick Mom up from the airport. She thought that we were just going back to Memphis to hang out for the weekend. Please, Mom. Is that anyway to celebrate a half-century of life? So she thought I didn't know where I was going. She kept saying, "Kris, Memphis is the other direction." "Mom, I know where I'm going."  We got to Benton, and I spilled the beans over lunch. We were both pretty excited. Besides the occasional iffy massage in Asia, neither of us had been through a real, luxurious spa experience. 

About an hour or so later, we pulled into Hot Springs. We were both laughing so hard, I almost peed my pants. In our heads we had pictured a beautiful, tourist city. Somewhere along the way, we had forgotten that we were in Arkansas. On our way to our resort, we passed the Palm Reader, the Wax Museum, and a brothel or two. But once we saw our resort, we felt a little better. It looked relatively nice. 

We were a little uncertain starting out, but it turned out to be a great weekend. And we almost forgot how ghetto the rest of Hot Springs was, since we left our hotel maybe once. The first night was our "bath." This is how they did spas in the old days (I'm talking late 1800s when this resort was built). They pump natural spring water from the Hot Springs into this "bath house." When we first walked in, I felt like I was in a scene from A Farewell to Arms. (And Mom said she felt like she was in an Indian hospital in the 80s) There were little gurney-like beds lined up, and women wrapped in what appeared to be gauze from head to toe. On closer look, it wasn't actually gauze, it was towels and sheets. The ladies that worked there sent us into the dressing rooms to get undressed and wrapped in our sheet. Then they directed us into a stall with a bath from 1902. Then my attendant told me to drop my sheet.... WHAT? Let me have your sheet, and step into the tub. Um...ok. I'm naked in front of a complete stranger. So it's a little awkward, but I get into the tub and try to relax, she starts the jets (I mean boat motor stuck into the tub) and I lay back and enjoy my private little hot tub. After about 10 or 15 minutes, she's back. "Are you ready for your scrub?"  ???? She proceeds to get a loofah, douse it with soap and start scrubbing me down. In the tub. Naked. AWKWARD. When I finally got out and had my sheet back on, I felt much better about the experience. Then I got to be wrapped in hot towels (gauze) and lay on a bed (gurney). After about 10 or 15 minutes of relaxing in my gauze, I got to go in for a short massage. All in all, it turned out to be pretty wonderful, and when it was over, Mom and I went straight back to our room and went to bed. 

The next day, we decided to also go into the beauty salon and get the full package spa treatment. This lasted about 4 hours. I'll spare you all the details, but basically we got smothered in 3,000 year old mud and then wrapped in plastic. It was pretty amazing. 

I had an wonderful time hanging out with my mom and we got to be treated like rich queens. 

Moral of the story: If you go to Hot Springs, try not to leave your hotel.

Monday, February 16, 2009

The Obligatory 25

I have not had time to make a real post in several days, so maybe this will tide you over until the weekend.

1. I grew up in Bombay (Mumbai), India and spoke 2 languages other than English - Hindi and
Gujarati. Now I don't even speak English all that well.

2. My greatest ambition in life is to be a mom.

3. I LOVE big dogs. Michael and I have a 7 month old harlequin great dane named Annie. One
day soon, she will be taller than me and weigh more than me. She is on track to get up to 130
lbs - small for her breed.

4. I am on a mission team with Michael and two other couples. The 5 of them are some of the
funniest, most genuine, most wonderful people that I know and are quickly becoming my
family

5. I am a daddy's girl, but my mom is my hero and my best friend.

6. I'm a hopeless romantic. I believed in fairy tales until I got my heart broken in college.
When Michael and I started dating, I became a believer again.

7. I love to read - almost to a fault. It is my escape (and evidently I like to escape a lot). Jane
Austen is my favorite (see #6)

8. Going along w/ #7, I have always dreamed of having my own "library" - think the beast's
library in Beauty and the Beast.

9. If I'm in the U.S. too long, I start going stir-crazy. I prefer to leave the States at least once
a year. Someday, I hope to leave indefinitely

10. I was abducted once during my junior year of college. I was hog-tied with zip cords, had my
face smeared with toothpaste, was forced to eat honey buns, pooted on, smacked in the butt
(not gonna mention names!!), hosed down, thrown in the back of a truck, and left for dead
behind a huge air-conditioning unit. I think all this was filmed, but I've never seen it... I miss
those guys!

11. One of my life's goals is to see the 7 wonders of the medieval world and the 7 new wonders.
I have already been to 2 (the Taj Mahal and the Colosseum), but only count the Taj because
I was too young to remember the Colosseum.

12. I am bi-cultural - I identify with two cultures.

13. Mother Teresa is my hero (along w/ my mom)

14. I love Texas Longhorns football! It used to be an obsession (I knew the depth chart thru the
3rd and 4th string) but now I have it under control... sort of.

15. I harmonize with the radio. And I used to stand on top of my dresser and sing Celine Dion in
front of the mirror (I would also take breaks to say, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Makin
Music Showband!")

16. I was born in the middle of a "blizzard." Probably the only one Lubbock, TX has ever had.

17. My first passport (I think I've had 4) picture was taken when I was 1 day old

18. I grew up in a city of 16 million people. It was loud 24 hours a day. Now I can't sleep if it's
too quiet. I owe Ashley HUGE for the fan she got me as a wedding present that I fall asleep
to every night.

19. My first life's goal (that I made when I was like 5) was accomplished a few years ago when I
met Ozzie Smith and got an autographed baseball.

20. I'm an introvert. That's why I only answer my phone if it's my mom, dad or Michael.

21. I was once sued for $50,000. Luckily (some sarcasm intended), it settled for $15,000.

22. I am an amazing driver. (Although, Jill can attest to the fact that this has not ALWAYS been
the case!) I have never gotten a ticket. I've only been pulled over once, and didn't get a
ticket because, when the officer asked for my registration, I asked him what it looked like.

23. I once worked at a library. I was a librarian's assistant. Everyone thought I was a nerd, but
it continues to be the greatest job I've ever had.

24. I love my brother, but I always wanted a sister. Now I have 2! One is the best sister-in-law
(to-be) ever! The other is my cousin who now lives with my parents whom I consider to
be my sister.

25. The Lord is my light and my salvation... The Lord is the stronghold of my life. (Psalm 27:1)
The Lord my God is in my midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over me with
gladness, he will quiet me by his love; he will exult over me with loud singing (Zeph. 3:17)

Friday, February 6, 2009

Tomato Jello


Yes... I succumbed. There was too much pressure - I was basically forced to start a blog. But I must say I am kindof having fun with this :)

So, today I went to a lunch that our work board provided for all of us at the office. It was a cute, kind of girly place. The kind of place with fancy food in small portions that makes me feel a lot more womanly and mature than I actually am. As I was perusing the menu, I noticed a term I was unfamiliar with. Did you know there is such a thing as tomato jello? It's true... I would not lie to you. They try to hide its true identity behind a fancy name: Tomato Aspic. But, "that which we call a rose...," ya know? Let's call it what it really is, people! It's TOMATO JELLO. And yes, I believe it IS as disgusting as it sounds. And I thought Avocado Milkshakes were the weirdest thing I'd ever tried!