Happy Birthday Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso!

Also known as our 14th Dalai Lama. May you enjoy a life as long as your name!

A Rainbow Birthday

Yesterday started out with a rally against Proposition 8 in front of San Francisco's City Hall. It was also my birthday. 

The end of the rally turned into an impromptu march/gay-pride parade down Market Street. Perhaps the leaders had not planned where they were going because midway through the march there was a complicated U-turn and people started chanting, "U-nion-Square!" Let's just say the tourists waiting for the cable car got a real San Francisco treat when a couple dressed in drag shook their hands and welcomed them to their fine city.

But, the best part of this rally was the posters. For example:

"Don't take away Dumbledore's rights"

and...

"Want to stop gay sex? Legalize gay marriage"

and my personal favorite...


Which was reminiscent of a poster at the next place we visited:


Sachin and I met up with Zac and Kirstin at our newfound hangout, Crown and Crumpet. Honestly, it looks like you walked into the decor8, sfgirlbybay, and yvestown blogs in Ghirardelli Square. 

  

Images from Crown & Crumpet and Ruby Press

No detail is too small - There's even little sugar shapes hidden in the sugar bowl!

After getting high on caffeine and scones, we sidled over to Greens, an all-vegetarian restaurant.

Image from Green Beans in Writing

The food was absolutely delish. I think all of us can recommend the wilted savoy spinach salad as an appetizer. Our waiter was the real treat of the evening, mostly because of his Irish accent. Okay, entirely because of his Irish accent.

And finally, a night cap at Absinthe Bar. 

Image from Absinthe Gallery

All in all, a wonderful wonderful day. And Sachin and I crashed on the BART ride home.

Congratulations!

Congratulations, Mr. Obama, on your presidential nomination!


Now for the love of god, please pulverize McCain.

08.08.08

Happy Olympics!

Here's to Beijing on the luckiest day of all!

Forget the white wedding...

Cultures can be colorful, but think how much more we can get when multiple cultures get together for something as fun as a wedding? Take the joy and promises of your average wedding, add a mehndi ceremony, a Chinese bridegroom, a dancing Spaniard, and the Bollywood hit, Kajra Re, and you have a wedding I would die for.

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Happy Pi Day!

Women's Day

Happy International Women's Day!

Isn't it amazing what women can do?

Shirin Ebadi
Iranian lawyer and human rights activist.
In 2003 she became the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her dedication to democracy and women and children's rights.

Wangari Muta Maathai
The Tree Mother of Africa
Founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977.
In 2004 she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her dedication to fighting political oppression within the Kenyan government, and her call for womens' equality.

Aung San Suu Kyi
Leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma
In 1992 she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her nonviolent struggle for democracy in Burma where she has been under house arrest for 12 years.


Kurdish women in northern Iraq demanding respect and equal rights.

Katheeja on the left and my mother on the right.