blog crack

a feast! 

To my faithful readers: I'm sorry I haven't updated since last week (the shame! the shame!) but I was once again slammed with work, partying, and party recovery.* Hopefully the five pieces I've posted today will make-up for it. At least it settles my conscience.

Saturday night I held my annual Diwali dinner (the actual holiday was on the 1st) and it was a success!

It was pretty small (18 people) and I've come to the conclusion that smaller, more intimate parties are the best. There're just enough people that you don't know everyone but you can still mingle and have actual conversations. Plus, my place isn't that big and there're only so many people you can stuff inside!

I was a little stressed out about making enough food, so I made it into a semi-potluck (I cooked a whole bunch and everyone brought something). As you can see from the photo above, there was a cornucopia of culinary delights! And that isn't even all off it.

The guests all stuffed themselves silly and then lounged about like beached whales (as you can see from the following photos) -- a sure sign of a successful pah-tay.


lounging. 


more lounging... 


me eating lots of cake... 

Diwali is the biggest celebration in Northern India. People don new clothing and family and friends get together (kind of like a cross between Thanksgiving and New Year's). Basically, it's just another reason to eat, drink and shoot off fireworks.

Culturally, the festival represents the triumph of good over evil, and is rooted in the folklore of the Ramayana. After Rama defeats the evil über demon Ravana and rescues his wife Sita from his clutches, he and wife and bro Laxman make their way back home to Ayodhya, his kingdom (he's a prince and also a form of god on earth, it's a long story). But it's dark outside. REAL dark. So people and communities put out candles to light their way. Thus, the Festival of Lights - Diwali.


sparklers! 

I hippyfied this a little bit and think of Diwali as a way to honor your closest friends and your family. It's a way to acknowledge those people in your life who have guided you and given you light in your times of darkness.

I love Diwali. And I love my friends and family.


*Please note: I'm going to London tomorrow for two weeks (!!) but I'll be working (ah, the glamorous life of a writer) and I'm sure enough weird things will happen to me during the trip that I'll be posting regularly.