"So a Brahmin, a Kshatriya, and a Vaishya walk into a bar..."

I'm pretty sure that's what this says in Hindi...or at least the part that I can make out. This is the archway from a tomb at Lodi Gardens. The kids were just below the archway. I told them that they couldn't have their picture taken until they'd translated the joke completely. As of this morning, Julie was still running food out to them. I'm kidding, of course. They translated the joke pretty quickly, and it turned out rather crude.

Ahhhh, good times. Nothing new to report, really. We're all still adjusting to life in Delhi. For the kids, some days are better than others...Olivia has hit the occasional rough patch, but we're rounding out the edges. Eli is happy so long as he can ride his skateboard or his bike or go back to Dilli Haat (he's had me haggle for a wooden alligator, a traditional Indian hat, and a piece of carpet shaped like a car...so far). Alise is happy so long as we're not driving anywhere...she's cool just hanging in that carseat, but the minute the car starts moving...wow. Julie is throwing a Lunar New Year gathering tomorrow. Julie insisted we call it the "Lunar" New Year as opposed to the "Chinese" New Year, so that she wouldn't have to continually answer the question "So, are you Chinese?" She's not, as far as we know. I insisted we call it a "gathering" because the word "party" carries with it so much expectation. "Gathering," however, implies that it could be really dull and that would be okay. We're trying to get all of our social events out of the way early...we figure that once everyone realizes that we really can't throw a decent party, then we'll never have to worry about it again. We may not get any invitations of our own, but that saves us the trouble of "conversation," which requires effort and consciousness.

Work is...work. I'm enjoying it, for the most part. As with any job, I find the hardest part isn't the actual work, but all of the personalities and egos you have to dance around. I commented to a friend earlier this week "the world would be a much better place if everyone could just put down their egos for half a second." That includes me, of course, because even as I write this I think "That's very insightful...if only more people thought like YOU!" I am egotistical and arrogant, but I think acknowledging that is the first step toward recovery. "An Ego-less You: A Guide to a Better Life through Recognizing You Don't Know Shit, in the End." Man, I'm smart.

I digress. We're currently taking orders for Pashmina shawls. I know a guy who knows a guy who came across a whole truckload...kidding. We can buy really nice ones for next to nothing, so order now while we're feeling generous. Also, friends and family, you only have a couple more months before the heat from Hell emanates upward and cooks Delhi, so you really should consider visiting soon. Furthermore, visiting while we're still "getting acquainted" with Delhi is probably a good move because than we'll all be excited about exploring and traveling. If you visit us when we're a year in, then it will be like when you visit someone you know in D.C. and you suggest "Hey, can we go to the National Mall," and your friend responds "Sure, YOU can go to the National Mall, I'll be at Starbucks."

Anywho...Delhi, OUT!!