Joel & Judy Forever

Good morning all!

No, I do NOT know how to wrap that beast of an outfit... :) I love beasts so that is only a compliment. It is pre-hooked and pre-pleated. They offer this now-a-days. Many of the younger generation are not skilled at this, so they make it easy. I may need to pin it if the pins are not placed in spots that fit me comfortably. And on the top for the larger end piece that hangs over your shoulder.

I was at my tailors a few weeks ago and an Indian teenager was having the tailor put hooks in the part that goes around your waist but also the piece that would go over her shoulder. It would be pleated and hooked. I think it would be lovely, but I wonder if that would limit her options of wearing in the future??

I will have a training session or two to help me get the pre-hooked correctly. SHEESH, imagine what it would be with no pre-hook. Watching these guys do it at the stores is cool. They put a belt on you to represent the petticoat waste line for tucking and in 30 seconds you are all Saree suited up! THESE are the boys one needs as a brother around here. I think you may be able to have a person come from the store to help you the day you wear it. I SO should still take this option.

I am having an additional Saree blouse made in case, which I hope to at some point, wear this in the US. The one they made is very short, as you can see in the picture. Here in India Back fat is sexy and a sign of wealth. :-) I'd be front page with Britney Spears if I wore this at home. Reason 128 why India ROCKS.

"SHAHKEETAAAAAH INDIAaaaa".
(aside for Joel and the other travelers. I don't have proper translation to explain. That will come later)

The Saree is kinda heavy, but not too bad. Some of the non decorated ones are very light. And there are some that are much more worked then the one I have so they can be pretty heavy.

I have to go in search of some jewelry and bangles to make my outfit complete to Indian traditions. I have done a little searching and see that there are some amazing pieces to choose from for necklaces. No thin chains with little stuff on the end here. They are pieces that are pretty full. Some gawdy, but much more often then not, very well done.

We know little about the wedding.
Suchitra, the lovely, and talented material shopper is taking 6 weeks off or so to get ready for her wedding. Here it is pretty common to hire a wedding planner. She is being brave and doing this all on her own. We don't know a lot about her wedding as far as how traditional it is and such. If it IS traditional, part of the tradition, as we understand it, is the week before the wedding the bride and groom do not leave the house. If they REALLY need to, they have to ask the priest type person for permission. She has been all quite about this event, so we know little about the groom besides he is a doctor. We don't know if it is love or arranged and no clue how to culturally ask that or if it is OK to ask. Love marriages are still not encouraged but a bit, but probably not too much more common then they used to be.

I started my shoe shopping yesterday for something that will look good with the Saree.
HUH!
Guess I should have packed those sandals from home.
So, I wear like a 42, and if I am lucky a 41 here. I go to the store yesterday and asked if they have 42. The lady looked at me and firmly said "NO".
I asked if she had 41s.
She said she'd go look. She found one pair in the back and managed to scare up a pair of sandals. The shoes would SO not o with the Saree and had a heal I wasn't gonna deal with. The sandals were an OK length, but way too wide and not safe to wear. So, wish me luck, THIS should be interesting. I should go back to Jaipur and have a few more made I guess. They managed to made them long and skinny for my uniquely individually designed feet. When they say God designs each one of us individually... I believe I am truly the embodiment to prove it... either that or s/he was training someone in.

Hopefully they think tennis shoes with a Saree is sexy too. If so, I may outshine the bride. :)

We're looking forward to the wedding. It is November 21, a popular wedding day around here. So, it will be fun to be traveling through the city to see other celebrations along the way.

I go apply for my visa extension next week. If that doesn't work I have a choice of Indian prison.... (I've been reading Shantaram so I'm prepared!) Sleeping at the airport. This means 5 days with out food, so not my favorite. Of course, when I think of it, so does prison pretty much. OR head off to China and Tibet. I could go hang out with the monks!! The Ayurveda Hospital has prepped me for that already We'll see!!