halloween and las vegas

The UT Health Sciences Center hosts an annual Halloween Party. This years, and the last several, have been at The New Daisy Theater in downtown Memphis. Vik and I thought we were going to be out of town and unable to attend but plans changed at the last minute. So, we had to pull a costume together at the last minute. We decided Vik would be Gold and I would be the Digger. We headed to Michael's for gold glitter, gold [matte and glitter] spray paint, cardboard, ribbon and anything else we thought would make us gold and a digger. Dad let me wear is coveralls and Steven P happened to leave his MLGW hat at the downtown condo so I threw it on at the last minute. We had lots of fun at the party knowing it's the Class of 2010's last med school Halloween party. I can't believe med school is almost over!

At the beginning of November, Dad, Keely and I headed west to Las Vegas! We went for Dad's business, good food, perfect weather, old friends, Cirque, penny slots, roulette,black jack, shopping, and good 'ole daddy-daughter time. Dad struggled to let his [adult] daughters loose in Vegas...last time we were all there together I was 16 years old and not allowed to find trouble.

Why didn't Mom go? She got to stay home and watch her grand-dogs.

Other current happenings...Residency interviews! Vik began traveling around the south and the east in early November to interview at various residency programs. He will continue to interview until his 'rank list' is due January 7th. Just 54 days until he finds out!!

recently

I paid off my car! Whew, I'm so glad it's over. Obviously I was excited to get the title in the mail!

Now what do I want to drive next?! Yeah right...I'll be driving the green box for several more years! I gave her a good scrubbin' the other day and she's just like new again.

Koozy didn't place in the races this year. Actually, she did quite terrible! Last year she placed second in her heat and got to take a ribbon home. Oh well, it will still fun!

Check out the "Grannies" with their weenies!

In September, I went back down to visit Vik Tampa. One of his college roommates, and his wife, also came down and we enjoyed catching up. Picture to the right is Clearwater Beach.

My birthday was at the beginning of October. All I wanted was Mexican and Margaritas for dinner and then a night out downtown. It's been so long since everybody was in town and got to hang out so the night was so fun!!

welcome 70s high/50s low

Welcome Fall [picture from Franklin, TN]!! I love this time of year. There are just so many wonderful things: Cooler Weather, Changing Leaves, Football, Sweatshirts, Uggs, Sitting Around the Fire, New TV Series, Leggings and so much more. My favorite part is the cooler weather. We are going camping at the end of October. I'm really looking forward to it because we used to go camping all the time; this will be our first time in about 10 years and it will be the first with Vik. I can't wait to see what Dad cooks up with his kerosene grill and cast iron skillet.

wedding

Whew! All things said, all things true...about wedding planning that is. Stress, Joy, Anger, Thrill, Rush, Happy, etc. You never fully understand until you are the one who is making the calls, scheduling the meetings, tasting the foods, visiting the venues, scanning the albums, etc. The colors, the papers, the fonts, the dresses, the jewelry, the flavors, the flowers, the ribbons, the chairs, the linens, etc. Why is there always an etcetera in wedding planning?! Don't get me wrong, I love every aspect of it! Ok, maybe not the guest lists and the details noone can agree on. Whenever I start getting irritated I stop and remember that I'm planning MY wedding and what is more awesome than that?! Sometimes I really do feel like the cartoon to the left. Fortunately, I know what I want. Every shop, boutique or store that I'm in the sales person says, "Well, you certainly know what you want and don't want." I haven't quite figured out if I should take it as a compliment or take offense. Overall, I am having an amazing time throughout all of it!!

Here are a few notable items:

• We have our website up and running: http://www.karaandvikram.com/
• Reception will be at Memphis Botanic Gardens
• Flowers will be by L & J Productions
• Ladies' wedding attire will come from All About Weddings
• Photography will be done by Skip Baumhower and Sara Beth Raab
• Videography will be done by Russ T
• Cake and Catering are still in the works
• Registries are complete
• Coordinating/Planning will be done by Amy T and Lori H
• Bridal Party is almost complete
• Save-the-Dates to arrive soon

We have 271 days until we are married and I still cannot believe it's actually happening! Things are flowing so well and it really feels like another step in our lives together. I have really missed Vik while he's been in Tampa and can't wait for him to be home! We are anxious and excited for the next 8 months!

tampa

Labor Day weekend I went to visit Vik in Tampa. Vik is in Tampa for the month of September completing an away rotation in ophthalmology. We enjoyed touring the city that could be a potential home for us one day, if his residency takes him there.

My first evening we had dinner at Jackson's Bistro. Jackson's is located in downtown and is waterfront (which in Tampa means at the marina/port...not beachside). We enjoyed the weather on their patio and ate until we almost burst. For appetizers we had Duck Quesadillas and their Volcano Sushi Roll; for main course Vik had seafood but I can't remember which one and I had the Grilled Chicken on Focaccia Toast Sandwich; we had mojitios and JWB for drinks and then we topped it off with seriously the best chocolate cake ever! We practically had to be rolled to the car .

Saturday we headed to Clearwater Beach and St. Petersburg. I have to say we were pretty disappointed at what these beach towns offered. I guess we are just used to the gulf and Destin area. We did eat lunch at Central Avenue Oyster Bar in St. Petersburg which was a nice place for a cold drink and light lunch. We didn't spend much time down there and headed back to Tampa to go shopping. We went to International Plaza, which is where I had previously stayed for work meetings. Before we pulled into the parking lot I spotted Crate & Barrel and was able to convince Vik that we needed to go in and register for wedding gifts. We had a blast! Then we headed into the main mall which was huge! We window-shopped, Vik bought a new wallet, I found new perfume, registered at Williams-Sonoma, played with iPhone cases, and more. It was exhausting. Our dinner reservations were not until 9pm at the Columbian, in Ybor City. Ybor City is a historic Cuban part of town. The Columbian serves Spanish foods and has Flamenco Dance shows. The restaurant is over 52,000 square feet but it's so intimate because there are multiple dining rooms. Again, mojitos and JWB completed our night.

Sunday we had brunch at The Cheesecake Factory, back at International Plaza...I know it's a chain but I love it so much and he's only been there once before. There's nothing bad on that 20-page menu and it always fills you up. Then we headed about 45 minutes out of town to the Prime Outlets in Ellenton where we shopped some more. Boy am I glad Vik loves to shop too!!

After getting back into town we stopped at Chili's for queso, Happy Hour and football but couldn't believe it when they were actually showing the Memphis vs. Ole Miss game! We ended our night with a movie on the laptop and ate leftovers.

I was so sad to leave on Monday night but didn't have a choice. I am really looking forward to travelling with Vik in the future. We both love to travel to all kinds of places.

Couple Survey

1. When is your "engagement" anniversary? June 21, 2009
2. When is your "marriage" anniversary? Will be June 19, 2010
3. How long have you known your spouse? 18 years
4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged? It will be 11 years
5. Where did you meet your spouse for the first time? Mutual friends in elementary school
6. What is your spouse's full name? Vikram Tejinder-Singh Saini
7. Do you have any children? No
8. How many - boys/girls?
9. Do you have any house pets? Of course! Koozy, the mini-dach
10. Do you own a house or rent? I rent, he owns...separate for 9 more months
11. Do you live in the country or town/city? In town, no other option we hope
12. What is one of your favorite activities together? Being with friends, Hanging out at our parents', watching movies, travelling
13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot? We both love the Caribbean
14. When did you first kiss? October 1999, I think
15. What church do you attend? I attend Highland
16. Did you get married in a church? We are getting married in the Botanic Gardens
17. What town is your current address at? Memphis
18. Do you work or stay at home? I work, he's in his last 8 months of medical school
19. Where did you go on your honeymoon? We haven't decided yet
20. What was the funniest gift you gave when dating? He gave me chewable gas-x one year
21. How long have you been together? 10 years
22. How long did you know each other before you started dating? 8 years
23. Who asked who out? Wasn't anything official...we were in high school so we just "hung out" and then all of a sudden we were a couple
24. How old are each of you? We're both 26
25. Where do you each work or go to school? I'm in home health, He's at UT Memphis
26. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Medical School for sure
27. Did you go to the same school? Elementary and High School, Yes; College, No
28. Are you from the same home town? Yes
29. Who is smarter? He is
30. Who is more sensitive? Definitely me
31. Where do you eat out most as a couple? Westy's, Mexican
32. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Italy
33. Who has the craziest exes? No exes for us
34. Who has the worst temper? He does
35. Who does the cooking? Both of us
36. Who is more social? He is more outgoing but I like the social scene
37. Who is the neat-freak? We are pretty much the same
38. Who is more stubborn? Both of us
39. Who hogs the bed? Separate for 9 more months
40. Who wakes up earlier? He does
41. Where was your first date? The Summer Drive-In probably counts
42. Do you get flowers often? Valentine's Day
43. How do you spend the holidays? With all of our families
44. Who is more jealous? Neither of us is a jealous person
45. How long did it take to get serious? A couple of years, so during college
46. Who eats more? We eat the same, he's just healthier
47. Who does the laundry? Separate for 9 more months
48. Who’s better with the computer? Both of us are computer geeks
49. Where do you see the two of you in ten years? With a couple/few kids and super busy

limerick to koozy

Koozy is my red, dapple mini-dachshund and she is the best wiener dog ever! At only about one-and-a-half-feet long, half-a-foot high and averaging nine pounds she makes quite the impression.

Koozy loves to fetch, loves to go (anywhere!), loves to sit in laps, loves to chew on panties, loves to lick people, loves to play hide-and-seek with her cousin. Koozy hates to be alone, hates to miss her dinner, hates to be away from her cousin, hates not to sleep in bed with someone.

Koozy will be racing in Running of the Weenies on September 12. She finished second in her heat last year but we're hoping for first this year! There are ten heats with ten wiener dogs in each. So about one hundred dachshunds, and their biggest fans, get out in the Memphis heat and race their little hearts out. (We can talk later about the breeds people bring claiming to be dachschunds...).

Last night she said "Bama, eat my dust!" Woah, watch out