Bonding

Hi.

Even though it's the start of November, I love how we've been graced with beautiful 70 degree weather. Welcome fall much? (don't even get me started on the post-Halloween rush for a certain end of year holiday...)

Of course that is when I am graced with the flu. But before I succumbed to the worst of the symptoms, I managed to have my first grown-up get-together.

Now don't get too excited, it was just a small potluck with a couple of my co-workers that live nearby. And I don't exactly have the largest place. I think realistically, I could have 8 people over at the most?

But regardless, it was actually a successful night. I honestly didn't think everyone would stay as long as they did (especially for a work night). But the evening lasted 3 hours and I wasn't even the one who suggested a repeat performance - albeit at another's apartment next time.

[Oh and in case you're wondering, I made spiced apple cider, black beans and rice + fresh salsa, and spicy drinking chocolate for dessert. Yeah, there was definitely a spiced theme.]

Shot of Bond

WARNING: slight spoilers ahead 

No plot details, but hey I figured I should just give you a heads up :D

Obviously, I can't not mention my favorite secret agent - I went to see it this morning and LOVED it! Which absolutely made up for the fact that this is the first Bond movie I ended up seeing alone. My dad definitely infected me with a love for all things 007, and since then it's been a family thing - but of course, waiting to Thanksgiving to watch it would have been a bit of a stretch. It's the one movie I will always see on opening weekend/week.

Back to the movie, not only was the theater awesome (all reclining seats + convenient trip downtown where I was able to get some things done), but they finally returned to the classic format of the original Bond movies.

Don't get me wrong I definitely enjoyed the Daniel Craig movies (except for the horror that was Quantum of Solace). But the classic opener followed by a high-energy action scene (with or without explosion) just gets you in the mood.

Maybe because I'm a little less locked into what I enjoy, I definitely enjoyed the alternate take leading up to Spectre, especially the set up to explain the new set of actors - very fluid. And I was enthralled with Skyfall - it took you all over the spectrum.

But just as with the previous 3 films, Spectre was very much Bond on his own against a ridiculous enemy, the finale of a story that started with Casino Royale. I almost wonder if this means there'll be a new "Bond" for the next film... Regardless, I'm definitely ready to go back for a second dose ^_^.

I didn't mind the song - but not really one of my favorites 

Friendship Courtship?

I am not going to really meet anyone at this start-up. It's a realization I've come to ever since I started working at NanoCytomics. We are a small group and well, it's hard to click with a potential someone/friend when you're going from a pool of 6 people?

Sure, now we're more like 9 - but it really doesn't help that I've basically been the only single person (newest hire last month not included). 

The problem? Well, I can't really use my co-workers to meet other people that I can actually hang out with. Most of them either grew up in the area, are married with kids, or have networks of people from college in strong force around the city. And well, frankly my college does not have that great of a network... (There is a chance that I haven't really looked into it. For some reason, I'm still not in a position where I want to be hit up for money... :P)

But regardless, it means that I have a lot of work to do myself to meet more people - and well, meet more diverse people.

Right now that means I'm stuck figuring out just how to do that - aside from hitting up my current friends to hit me up with theirs... which is most definitely not the best route.

So let's dig in to the matter. One avenue available is to get in touch with the local alumni association for my college. Might as well get to know what other blue-jays (not that I was a stellar go-team-go kinda gal) live in the city.

Hilariously, another possible route is by going to husband hunting events. I know, finding friends there seems like a stretch, but according to one of my friends, those guys probably won't fit the bill as husband material, but they're great to hang out with. I have no idea what that says about the Indian population in Chicago... perhaps it's worth a look just for that?

Also viable might be joining a dance team in Chicago. The only thing holding me back is the potential for politics/drama... yeah we'll see about that.

Alright, so a plan - but really, am I going to go through with it? There is a high chance that my lazy nature will usurp the whole thing and I'll get to it next year.

Socially Dis-inclined

Facebook is one of those devices that really brings your past into the present. And it's always interesting when you get a bit of insight into those years. Earlier this year, I had one of those moments when I came across a previous classmate's blog post.

It was his look back on his friendships in high-school - before he came out. Reading it was pretty interesting (I mean we were locker neighbors throughout high-school), but it got me to thinking about friends that I had at that time.

Looking back I know I was definitely an outsider - but for different reasons.

One of the hurdles through grade school was the fact that I joined in 2nd grade. That meant I didn't have the kindergarten friendships, nor did I join at a time of transition. Add on top of that, I was quite socially shy and just not naturally at ease with social interactions (yes, those of you who know me now may chuckle or raise an eyebrow). Essentially, I never had that clique I could rely on through the grades.

Add on top of that, that I was so different from the rest from how I was raised to just how brown I was. And trust me, I did not strut it - I was embarrassed because it made me stand out from the sea of white (I mean I basically was the multi-cultural show at a point in time).

I mean till 4th grade I didn't have any intellectual peers let alone extracurriculars with my age group (I was always placed in the age group one lower than mine).

Even a group that I thought would carry me through pretty much pushed me out - largely, I suspect, due to a certain straight up jealous party. If I was smart, I should have probably stepped back and let her come out on top, as the smarter one - after all, being the smart "Asian" was basically her thing , and I couldn't really help being "South Asian". But hey, it was sixth grade and I didn't exactly have that kind of social dexterity.

With my eclectic interests, I made friends with a lot of different people, all across the social  and age spectrum. But with the lack of free time outside of class, they were really just acquaintances.

I can clearly remember the times where I just alone. Literally alone in the crowd. I mean, there was a lot of angst going on - I was a teenager going through puberty. But I didn't really register it till the end of high school.

I wonder if it was always there, but I never really stopped to acknowledge it. As if I went through the entire 10 years in denial.

Ok, correction: it was always there - I guess I just accepted it and kept moving forward by closing myself off. Cause being ostracized didn't just happen in high school, it also happened in the Indian community outside of class - another case of jealousy gone wrong.

So despite how much I craved it, I just stopped trying to fit into a group, saying to hell with it and just dealing when I had to.

I go back and forth between writing all those people off and wanting them to know just what an amazing person they wrote off.

Yet, I guess I can thank them. Without that, sure I might have been a more trusting/open person. But I wouldn't have figured out how to be confident - or at least fake it till you make it :P.

Cafe date

As I mentioned I would, I am officially going around trying a cafe/coffee-shop/tea-house every week, to I sit down to write these posts. So first up is Labriola Cafe on the Golden Mile.

I was actually considering a different place for the first location, but since I was downtown already, I figured I'd go for this one first.

As the name suggests, it is a cafe, not a coffee shop - but they do serve Intelligentsia coffee (of which I had a cup - and as always was very good). They have a selection of bakery items and gelato in addition to a decent sized menu with quite a few vegetarian options.

I tried the kale-veggie burger (quinoa, beans, and walnuts among other ingredients on a brioche), which was quite delicious - aside from the fact that I forgot to ask them to leave out the raw onion on top. The side of fries was a tad too salty, but the food came out almost immediately after I sat down - so not bad at all.

The ambiance is definitely a deli/Italian style cafe with the black&white tiles, wood finishes, red cushions, and brass detailing. My only quip - the lighting is pretty dim. While it holds well for the ambiance, I would have preferred a bit more lighting, while I sat to work.

The music, on par with the decor, was old style Sinatra jazz - but it did have to compete with the fans in terms of volume (also meant I was freezing half way through... and it's below 50 outside...).

But it's definitely a great place to catch up or go on a date, given the flexibility - you can enjoy a meal or just some coffee and snacks/dessert. But it is pricier for a cafe - but considering the location I can see how they can get away with it. There is also a connected restaurant for a full sit down service.

Happy November!
Though I do hope it's not a no-shave-ember... unless you have an impeccably groomed 'stache and beard. In which case go right ahead and keep rocking it.