Happy Holidays!

To all my family and friends and loved ones,
Wishes of a wonderful holiday season filled with love, laughter, and joy :-)
to you and yours
Happy Holidays
:-)
~Anisha~

Happy Winter!

Hii y'all,

Happy Winter!!! This is my favorite time of the year, and I get to experience a real, true winter in the freezing temperatures of New York City :-) Yes this is very different from a California "winter" hahaha. But there are lots of fun things to enjoy, even admist the icy winds, and as the snow begins, it's a beautiful season :-) I absolutely LOVE the holiday spirit and feeling of this time of year :-)

I hope that wherever you are, and no matter what you are doing, that you are warm and cozy, cuddled up to someone special, spending time with friends and family, drinking hot chocolate, shopping admist lit trees and tons of decorations, listening to the holiday music all around you, warming your hands by a fireplace, being extra joyful and merry, and if you are near snow, then enjoying snow activities like skiing, snowboarding, and building a snowman or snowwoman :-)

Looks like winter has arrived :-) YAY!
Happy Holidays! xoxoxo

Happy Thanksgiving!

To all my friends, family, and loved ones, Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving today :-) Remember and cherish all the things and people that you are thankful for in your life, today and always, Enjoy feast of food, football, family, friends, and fun!!! :-) hugs, Anisha

Hope

Poem for Hope
A Hong Kong Proverb

As long as we have hope, 
we have direction, 
the energy to move, 
and the map to move by. 

We have a hundred alternatives, 
a thousand paths and infinity of dreams. 

Hopeful, we are halfway to where we want to go; 

Hopeless, we are lost forever.

History & Change

History has been made, and it is happening all around you. If you voted, you contributed to be a part of that history. Yes it is amazing, especially when you hear Reverend Jesse Jackson share his story of how he stood on stage when Martin Luther King was shot, and now he is here to see our nation's first African American president.

However, the vote is now over. The hype will fade away. And the hard work begins for President Barack Obama. And if you haven't realized this from history, one single person - alone, even the president, cannot change a nation. Yes one person can bring about change and make a difference. People like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King - none of whom were president. And even while one person - like these individuals - can make a difference, they cannot change the lives of all individuals of a nation, or in the world.

We wait for a leader who will bring about change, when we can be leaders ourselves, as individuals, and bring about change in every moment of our lives. Why are we waiting for someone? If you keep waiting, you will be waiting your entire life and never see the change that you wish to see. 

As Gandhi said, "You must be the change that you wish to see in the world."

So start today and as an individual, work towards the change you wish to see in the world, in your life, and in the lives of others. Do not base all of your hopes and dreams on one person, whose main concern is to protect this nation, and cannot fix the lives of every individual in this country. Instead, use him as an inspiration to take action yourself, in every aspect of your life. You are responsible for your own life, dreams, and the power to help, heal, and bring about change, for yourself and for others as well.

Do not depend on this one person, or on anyone else. Depend on yourself. If he contributes to the changes that you already make for yourself and your life, all the better. But do not wait for one person to change your life or other people's lives or this nation. If some things happen and get better - that's great - but don't wait for it, and don't rely on someone else. Rely on yourself. Look not to the president to change your life. Look inside yourself. And start there.

Have faith in yourself. Anything is possible. Work hard. And believe.

:-)

Sharing

I've realized that throughout life, when something makes us laugh, or really excited, or happy about any small or big thing, we think of things we want to try, places we want to go, see, experience - and we want to share all of these things with the people that we are closest with and to - our friends, family, and that romantic special someone ~ these are all the people that we love the most. It's like we think of them first, and there are a special few out of all of these people, whom we think of first to share it all with :-) whether that's your BFF or your soulmate <3

Vote

You have the power to affect change, in this country, and in the world.
Stand up and use that power. Use the rights that were given to you.
And help to make a difference, for you and for everyone.

If you are American, 18, and registered :-)
If not - encourage others to
VOTE
Tuesday November 4th

p.s. not trying to push politics on anyone - just trying to support positive change in our nation :-)

Spontaneous surprises

So yesterday, Mohit and I went to the grocery store to get some food. We wanted pizza :-) We were both starving after work for me and class for him, and they were cleaning the floors in front of the freezer area where the pizza was. So we patiently waited and walked around. There was this random bin of sports balls, like basketballs and football. So in the middle of this empty store, at like midnight, we are tossing the football and playing keep away with the basketball.

I love spontaneous surprises in life - things you don't plan - but just happen. And I remember thinking "here I am playing sports at midnight in the middle of an empty grocery store while we wait for the pizza aisle to be mopped up. This is fabulous!"

Love it :-)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

if you had the chance to wipe out your entire memory, forget what you have said, done, forget who you were, and start over...would you do it?

are the good memories worth the bad ones?

don't we all deserve a chance to start over?

i thought that our past makes us wiser and stronger.....

9/11 in New York City

Today is the 7th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. There was a big memorial event today, where all the victims names were read, and all the countries of the world were represented. Mohit and I went to Ground Zero to say a prayer, but didn't know about the memorial that was earlier in the day. One woman who had lived through the attacks told us about the memorial and showed us some pictures that she had taken with her phone. Her office building overlooks the site. She had been right there when the planes had crashed on that day. Hearing her story was intense, and the entire experience of being there on this day and saying a prayer, was overwhelming for both of us. What a difference to be here in this city on the anniversary of the attacks.

Prayers for humanity. Hope for peace. Love shall conquer all.

how I feel "In This Life"

Watch the beautiful Video :-)

by Delta Goodrem

I was nurtured I was sheltered
I was curious and young
I was searching for that something
Trying to find it on the run
Oh and just when I stopped looking
I saw just how far I'd come
In this life
In this life

You give me love
You give me light
Show me everything that's been happening
I've opened up my eyes
Following
Three steps fight an honest fight
Two hearts that can start a fire
One love is all I need
In this life

I have faltered I have stumbled
I have found my feet again
I've been angry I've been shaken
Found a new place to begin
My persistence to make a difference
Has led me safe into your hands
In this life
In this life

I was put here for a reason
I was born into this world
And I'm living and I'm believing
I was meant to be your girl
In this life

NYC - I am a settler :-)

"There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born there, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size, its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter--the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something. Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness, natives give it solidity and continuity, but the settlers give it passion."
~E.B. White "Here is New York"

Me walking across the Brooklyn Bridge

I'm Alive - life is good :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y10J2O1oTA

"Take a walk
We can hardly breathe the air
Look around
Its a hard life everywhere
People talk but they never really care
On the streets theres a feeling of dispair
Everyday theres a brand new baby born
Everyday theres a sun to keep you warm
and its alright
Yeah, its alright
Im alive
And I dont care much for words of doom
If its love you need
Well I got the room
Its a simple thing came to me
When I found you
Im aliveLook around theres a flower on every street
Look around and its growing at your feet
Everyday you can hear me say
Im alive
I wanna take all that life has got to give
All I need is someone to share it with
I got love and love is all I really need to live
Im alive"
~David Cook

NYC Batman premiere....just minutes from my apt!

The Dark Knight’s Star-Studded NYC Premiere
by The Gossip Girls, Celebrity-Gossip.net

With the normally red carpet turned funeral black in honor of late actor Heath Ledger, the New York City premiere of “The Dark Knight” turned out to be quite the star studded affair.
Held at AMC Loews Lincoln Center on Monday evening (July 14), the movie’s stars Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman and Maggie Gyllenhaal were joined by Hollywood guests ranging from Blake Lively and Lauren Conrad to Emile Hirsch and Edie Falco.
And with Heath’s role as The Joker receiving rave reviews, the “Brokeback Mountain” actor’s co-stars have had nothing but praise for their fallen friend.
“He was wonderful. He was talented beyond belief,” said Bale, who plays Batman in the movie. “His immersion in the character was a greatly satisfying thing to work opposite.”
Maggie Gyllenhaal, who plays attorney Rachel Dawes in “The Dark Knight”, added: “He did something that is difficult even for every great actor. It’s still very unusual to hit a stride that is so free that you can really do no wrong. There’s no way to judge what he did. He was absolutely free.”
“I would love to be right here with him. And I thought I would be,” Bale added.

Oprah speaks at Stanford commencement - some quotes

Winfrey challenged the crowd to think about the future and what each of them can do to create positive change in the world.
"The secret I've learned to getting ahead is being open to the lessons," she said. "It's being able to walk through life eager and open to self-improvement and that which is going to best help you evolve, because that's really why we're here - to evolve as human beings."
Winfrey was reflective, honest and self-deprecating. In short, she was the same Oprah who over a 22-year period has won three dozen Emmy Awards.
"I believe that there is a lesson in almost everything that you do and every experience," she told the new graduates. "Getting the lesson is how you move forward, is how you enrich your spirit. And trust me; I know that inner wisdom is more precious than wealth. The more you spend it, the more you gain."
"Money is pretty nice," she said, drawing knowing laughter from the crowd. "I like money. It's good for buying things. But having a lot of money does not automatically make one a successful person. What you want is money and meaning - you want your work to be meaningful, because meaning is what brings the real richness to your life."

David Cook is the new American Idol!!!

I'm SO HAPPY AND EXCITED!!!!!!!!
Since auditions and Hollywood week, I had my eyes, ears, and heart on David Cook. He was my favorite since day 1 all the way to the finale today, where he won by a landslide 12 million votes, and deserved it more than anyone else! Not only is he mature and versatile in his singing and demeanor, he seems most ready to take on the tough music industry and really record an amazing album. I LOVE how he can turn any song into a rock rendition, and is a total rockstar, inside and out. And when I saw him go from singing Mariah Carey (his rendition of my all time favorite Mariah song "Always Be My Baby" is the ringtone on my cell phone) to The Turtles to Lionel Richie to Michael Jackson to Phantom of the Opera, I knew that his vocal range and diversity in song choice and arrangement made him the best contestant to win Idol. And I just love him since the beginning and have been voting weekly for him to stay in - and now he's won! My favorite thing about him is how he picks songs and bands that aren't the most popular, that not everyone knows, and that he takes risks to sound different and choose an offbeat arrangement. And he has proved to be a superstar each and every time, with every song, and I know he will go on to do fabulous and great things in music...I will definitely be buying his album, seeing him in concert, and following his career! He reminds me of Chris Daughtry - my other Idol fav :-)

"The grown-up rocker triumphed over the smooth-voiced kid as David Cook claimed the American Idol title Wednesday. The former bartender from Blue Springs, Missouri, beat out David Archuleta of Murray, Utah, to win the seventh season of the show. Host Ryan Seacrest says 97.5 million votes were cast, beating the previous record by 23 million votes. Cook won 56 percent of the vote, while Archuleta got 44 percent. Cook beat Archuleta by 12 million votes. Cook was overcome by emotion, bending toward the stage after his name was announced."

BFF Priya visits me in NYC!!!

So my best friend Priya visited me in New York a couple weeks ago. We BFF's had SUCH a blast together from walking, shopping, and eating chocolate on 5th Avenue to going to her friend's NYU film screening to eating all the time at all times of the day and night to having coffee at cute cafes to taking the subway to hanging out at fun clubs and lounges and dancing the night away to late night chats with champagne to shopping in Soho to being a tourist in Little Italy and drinking Boba tea as well as more shopping in Chinatown. It was very spontaneous - she booked her flight on Tuesday and flew out Wednesday morning from San Francisco to New York. We had a fabulous 4 days together :-) I've been here less than two months and 3 friends and lots of family have visited me from out of town, including BFF Priya and my parents this past week, and more are coming from Europe and other parts of the US - later this summer, so if you come visit me too, we shall have a blast! They are proof of that :-) This really is the greatest city! woohoo!!

The Pope in New York City!

Hey y'all,
The Pope is in NYC today!!! and for the rest of the weekend as well. Woohoo excitement in my city!
For those traveling around the city, esp by car or bus, tons of streets are closed off, so give yourself extra time. Subways should be fine.

http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=11735

Today he was at the U.N. And tomorrow, one stop is at St. Patrick's Cathedral - just 2 miles from my apt!!!
(isn't that exciting fellow roomies?!)
ooooooooohh!!!!
and Sunday he speaks at Yankees Stadium.

:-)

I love NYC :-) my new home!

leaving for NY...taking risks and giving back :-)

Hi y'all,
As I close my suitcases and put my bags in the car, I send you this email before leaving for the airport.
I am moving to New York City, my biggest dream since I was 16, and I'm now I'm finally making it come true.
So much is going through my mind, so much excitement and anxiety, but one thought really stands out that I want to share with you, about risks. And a quote at the bottom that sums it all up, and one we should all follow for life :-)

Someone I love recently asked me if i am someone who takes risks, or who will start taking risks. I wasn't sure at the time, but now i've realized, the answer is yes. And i think a lot of it comes from moving so much, different cities, states, houses, and schools, having to be brave, start over, meet new people, make new friends, over and over, my entire life thus far.
Until college, it was out of my control, due to my Dad's job transfers, but post college, it has been due to my choice to travel and live in cities I have always wanted to live in, follow my dreams, achieve my goals, etc.

And now I am leaving the comfort and stability of my friends and family in CA, to move 3000 miles to NY, by myself, without a secured job or finalized apt, and doing everything on my own, with my goal and dream to live in Manhattan, and support myself 100%
that is a risk

and this quote motivates me to always take risks:
Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
~Mark Twain

Also, a SUPER AWESOME video shared with me by my BFF (and initially given to her by Erwin - thanks yo!) is a must watch - from an Oprah guest lecture - the best summary of how to live life to the fullest - only 10 mins long but so worth it!!! http://youtube.com/watch?v=kjZwhcWY-KE

Now to keep in touch with me - email, AIM/ichat, phone calls, text, snail mail letters, and video chat! So download skype, video skype, or get a webcam (or if you have a built in one), we can talk on video chat! woohoo!! It's like I'm right there :-)

And btw, huge opportunities to give back are coming up: YOU CAN SAVE LIVES and MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!
1) Idol Gives Back, April 9th, FOX at 8pm: http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/
(watch the promotional video on this site - it made me cry!)
2) And March of Dimes's - March for Babies: http://www.marchforbabies.org/
(go to the donate tab and help to save babies!

I hope all is fabulous with you and much love and hugs to all,
And come visit me in the Big Apple!
xoxoxo

tragedy continues

After I sent out my email about the tragedy with my Uncle, as well as the drug reaction I had, I started hearing back from other people who knew of similar situations, just as horrible and tragic, like perfectly healthy people who mixed medications without knowing, and went into a coma and died.
JUST CRAZYYYY!!!!

STAY AWAY FROM PRESCRIPTIONS MEDS / MIXING MEDS!!!!!!
as much as possible
and read to inform yourself

do not blindly trust your doctor!!!!

tragedy - everyone be careful

*I'm writing this so that you and your loved ones can avoid being in a similar helpless situation, and possibly save yours or someone else's life. Be VERY careful of what medications you are being prescribed, whether you are taking one, or more than one*

Some doctors don't pay attention to drug interactions, or don't pay attention to signs of a reaction from mixing/taking multiple medications. As in the case of my Uncle, he was prescribed more than one medication, and the doctor even saw signs of a reaction and ignored them, and my Uncle passed away today :-(
I'm more angry than anything. This is so unnecessary and it takes peoples lives more than we realize.

DON'T MIX MEDICATIONS unless you know what you are taking - and even if your doctor seems to know what they are talking about, READ online about it, and you will be amazed to find people in similar situations, and people whose lives have been ruined by medication(s).

I recently took an antibiotic for a sinus infection (and I couldn't even finish the course of Rx cause I couldn't function due to side effects - I am allergic to the medicine now) and now weeks later, it has completely wrecked my body and I am still recovering from the long term side effects. When I read up online about it, I found out that people who had taken this drug had suffered serious neurological damage, and other problems. I read like 500 testimonies- all negative.

So before you take anything, no matter how fabulous you think doctor is, read up on it, esp if you are taking more than one medication. Don't be a victim, in a big or small way, from the health care system that pumps us full of drugs without knowing the reactions and interactions. By default, "okay lets try this drug." Avoid it if you can.

P.S. If you can, natural meds are the way to go.

exciting news

My friend got into Harvard for grad school (although she may choose to go to UCLA :-) and my other friend is marrying her college sweetheart in Florence, Italy, where they first started dating :-)

So happy for wonderful life news!

Dance & music is life :-)

If you love dance music & dance moves, you will love this ~ it premiered on American Idol tonight!

Paula Abdul's Official Music Video "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow"

OMG I LOVE DANCING!!!!!!!!!
:-)
DANCE FOR LIFE!!!
wooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!

risks

someone I love recently asked me if i am someone who takes risks, or who will start taking risks. I wasnt sure at the time, but now i've realized, the answer is yes

and i think a lot of it comes from moving so much, different cities, states, houses, and schools, having to be brave, start over, meet new people, make new friends, over and over, my entire life thus far.
Until college, it was out of my control, due to my Dad's job transfers, but post college, it has been due to my choice to travel and live in cities I have always wanted to live in, follow my dreams, achieve my goals, etc.

And now I am leaving the comfort and stability of my friends and family in CA, to move 3000 miles to NY, by myself, without a job or apt, and doing everything on my own, with my goal and dream to live in Manhattan, and support myself 100%

that is a risk

and this quote motivates me to always take risks:

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didnt' do than the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
~Mark Twain

Airlines ~ Pack Less or Pay More

By GARY STOLLER, USA TODAY
A growing number of fliers are finding there's a price to pay for checking bags. Airlines are charging for bags that once were free to check and raising prices for fliers with lots of luggage, overweight bags and oversized bags. In May, United Airlines will become the first of the big traditional U.S. carriers to switch from two free checked bags to one. Last month, Southwest Airlines and ATA Airlines switched from three free checked bags to two.

Beginning May 5, United will charge passengers with non-refundable tickets on domestic flights $25 for a second checked bag and $100 per bag for a third, fourth and fifth checked bag. United now charges $85 for a third checked bag, the highest rate of any airline. Not all United fliers will pay for a second bag. Passengers flying in first or business class and those who have elite status in United's frequent-flier program or its Star Alliance partner program will not be charged.

Also on May 5, the airline will increase its overweight-bag rate (for bags weighing more than 50 pounds) from $50 to $100.
United says that one of every four passengers checks a second bag.
Most of the cost savings will come from burning less fuel because of fewer bags and reduced weight in the cargo hold.

Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures

Love Day - Valentines Day

We have a lot of love in our lives within many different relationships.
The love from friends, family, teachers, mentors, romantic, and more.
So just because you do not have one of these, does not mean you don't have love or aren't loved. Just having one person, one loving relationship, whatever type of relationship may be, is a lot. Just one.
Everything else is extra love and blessings.
Love with your heart and soul. It's worth it.