Raspberry Lemon Cake

I was going to write a serious post about labor unions, 28 years of communist rule in West Bengal and pragmatism in politics that was sparked off by this article (its in Bengali so I apologize to those unfortunate souls who don't read it). However my lunch buddies at work wanted to go get a cup of coffee/sundry sweet stuff from the Starbucks downstairs. As usual when faced with a choice between blogging (or any form of activity) and raising blood sugar levels, I chose the latter and got myself the yellow bar of Diabetes that I mention in the title.

In other news, I will be going to Vegas and then Grand Canyon over the Memorial Day weekend, i.e., the one that starts day after tomorrow. Hopefully I will be posting Grand Canyon photos and blogging about it too, though not about Las Vegas. As everybody knows, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. ;-)

I'm back!

Hiya all, I have been having fun and staying busy and not updating my blog! Sorry (not!).

My uncle was in town and we drove up to Monterey Bay and then drove back down the PCH 1 - which is surely one of the most beautiful drives anywhere. We had cliffs to one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. I have to say, it wowed my cynical heart...

We stopped at the Hearst Castle in San Simeon on the way back. The only word I can use to describe my reaction to the place is stunned. The huge buildings (truly a castle!) are covered with Flemish tapestry, Spanish furniture and French cathedral doors. Ultimately though it is very American in its excesses. Things which were beautiful by themselves or in their original contexts took on a troubling tackiness when all squeezed together. The fact that Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo were guests there make it much more interesting and beautiful than all the dazzling old museum-quality antiques in the world. A truly beautiful garden and an amazing underground swimming pool are totally worth the tour though.

I will be blogging even more infrequently the next few weeks as one of my two oldest friends (as in the ones I have known the longest, not necessarily geriatric) is in town for a month. Home-cooking and lots of adda - I am happy :)