Happy Halloween

Halloween Update: Lovely Lady Bug falls for the Mangled Mummy

For the past year I've been living with my boyfriend Josh. However, we had been having problems the past few months and separated in August. I had moved back in with my parents and been spending a lot of time out of town working. It was really hard and I distracted myself with work and friends. I even ended up dating someone else for a short time, but things ended up not working out. Even though he is a terrific guy, I realized we were much better as friends, and as Halloween grew near I started to really miss Josh. Halloween is both of our favorite holiday and I was really sad to not be spending it with him. I tried to avoid this sadness by staying out of town, but it turned out that I came home on the 28th and ended up spending Halloween in Tucson. Since I was home, without any plans on Halloween, I couldn't avoid seeing Josh. We spent the holiday together and ended up having a great time. This lovely little lady bug couldn't resist the mummy's charm. We had a blast all night carving pumpkins, dressing up and watching horror movies. By the end of the weekend we realized that we both missed each other immensely and we should try to work on our relationship. I'm nervous about how things will turn out, but I'm going to throw my cards to the wind and see where they fall!

Pickle Shots!

While I was staying in Atlanta, a good friend/family of Satni and the SKW crew, Lauren Skinner, came to visit from L.A. Santi through a surprise party for her and I got to help set it all up...I love parties! It's too bad the surprise was ruined though... Lauren found out about the party the day before. It was kept hush hush for two weeks, but when Santi sent out a reminder text to everyone the day before, Lauren had her sister's phone in her lap and intercepted the message. So, the surprise was a bust, but the party was still a success. Lauren was excited and quite taken back that there was a party for her. Everyone that came had a super good time!

During the party Lauren's sister Kimmy decided to make pickle shots. I was surprised that there were pickles at Santi's house...since he hates them so. When he heard what was going on he darted out of the kitchen screaming as if someone was running after him with one! How can someone be so afraid of pickles!? They're so yummy! Anyway, I was down for the shot! Let's do it!




A shot glass, tomato juice, vodka and a pickle...there you go! You eat the pickle after the shot. Just like a lime after tequila!

Back to Georgia

After spending two weeks in Texas I was supposed to drive with Kim back to AZ for the Arizona Shootout, a 3 day glamor modeling event in Phoenix. However, how our schedule ended up working out, we would not end up getting there in time to make it to the first day of the event, the meet-n-greet. This is a huge part of the event for me where I make a lot of contacts to work with throughout the year. It is also the night of the clothing swap between all the models which is a big reason I like to attend. I didn't really want to go if I couldn't be there the first day. Plus we would have to drive straight from Dallas to Phoenix in one night, a 14 hour drive, and then work the next morning. I was not looking forward to that. So, I decided not to drive back to AZ with Kimberly. Instead I flew out to Georgia to work with Sleeperkids World again and hang out with all my great Atlanta friends.

London In Austin

Got to spend a few days with London and her boyfriend Pat at their new home in Austin. This is London's first "real" home after living on the road for two years. She did live in Cleveland for a few months, but I don't really count that. She never really seemed happy in Ohio. Austin is much much different. She's bouncing off the walls with joy to be living here. Plus, she's been wanting to live here for awhile. After traveling around the country she decided that this is the best place to be! As far as I can tell, she isn't wrong.
There is always something to do in Austin and it has fun community that strives to Keep Austin Weird. So far we've gotten some great BBQ, walked around downtown and checked some of the several bars and shops, scoped out the state capitol building and watched the bats fly out from under the bridge at sundown. I love hanging out with Jes and Pat and am so happy they found a great place to live. They also found some kick ass roommates that are pretty cool to hang out with. I wish them the best of luck in this city and I can't wait to come back and visit once they're more settled in!

Driving to Texas

I sure notice once I cross the Texas border! I start seeing large stars everywhere, billboards cluttered with "Lonestar State" and "Texas", big T's displayed in windows. Texas definitely lets you know that you are in Texas, lol! I'm on the road with Kimberly Marvel for the next two weeks, while we visit Austin, Houston and Dallas. I have a few shoots lined up in each city and we will get to visit London at her new house in Austin!

Kim and I have worked together a few times before and recently roomed together in Tampa during Fetishcon in August, but this is our first time traveling with each other. Actually, this is my first time traveling with another model other than London. I love working and staying with other people, making new friends. Its one my favorite parts of my job. However, traveling with someone is a whole different story. To be with another person 24/7 can be trying, no matter how well you get along with that person. London and I have traveled so much together, that we just fall into a groove and don't have any problems. We just lucked out that way to be natural travel buddies. I'm curious at how well Kim and I will get along on the road.

So far, traveling with Kim has been good. I can tell that we are very different types of people and have different work styles. Traveling with her is going to be different than traveling with London, but I think it's going to be fun! I'm looking forward to having a new travel partner! We spent the whole drive from Tucson to Texas chatting away, catching up on each other's lives, making each other laugh. One thing I love about Kim is that she is silly fun :) She just says and does the silliest things sometimes that just makes me laugh. I hope we can continue to get along this well throughout our trip!

WrestleMania!

Here are some photos from my wrestling shoots with Sleeperkids' World.

ATL!

I've been spending the past two weeks in Atlanta, GA with Sleeperkid's World. Santiago, the owner and producer of the site invited me out to stay at his place and shoot for his website. It was a blast! I love wrestling! I had worked with Santi and a few of the SKW girls before when they came to Arizona this summer. It was nice to see these friends again. I also made several new friends! The SKW crew, all friends/family of Santi and Sleeperkid's World , is huge! There are so many loving people in Atlanta that I had a great time getting to know and spending time with!

The night I arrived, Santi had arranged a Welcome Party for me. I was welcomed with friendly faces, warm hugs, cold beer and Rockband! He even had a new puppy for me to play with. Life was awesome! I felt like a queen or something...I had never really had a party thrown for me before. I was very excited to be there and make new friends. And to think, this was all just part of my job...Yep! I sure do love what I do :)

The next day started work. It was hard work too! I spent the next few days training in wrestling manuvers and wrestling in videos for the site. Sometimes I would wrestle one-on-0ne versus another model, other there would be several of us in a shoot. The shoots were long and kept me active. I had to remember the moves I was doing, the moves that were being done around me, make the moves look good, act tough, not get hurt or hurt others, and try to stay looking pretty through it all. It was a lot to remember, tough to do, but oh...so much fun!

I loved learning all the moves! I had a great time getting thrown around the wrestling mats. Santi has a great mat room/studio at his house, which is a great place to work in. There is plenty of room to be tossed around. At first, I was beat up and lost most matches. But eventually, I got to win a few! Another great part was that I got to work with several other models, some long term SKW wrestlers and even a few pro wrestlers. I learned a lot from the people I worked with and had so much fun. It seemed as if we were always laughing and having a great time during the whole shoot. This tends to happen when you get several of us models together, but usually not much work gets done. Santi does a great job at getting the work from us he needs, while having fun too. We got several videos completed in efficient time, despite all the fun we had while shooting. It was great to be a part of such a great team! After a long day of shooting we would usually go out to dinner with everyone from the shoot with drinks and Rockband to follow afterward. I have never had so much fun with a whole week full of shooting before!

I had a few other shoots around Atlanta while I was there. I shot in a haunted house that was being constructed for Halloween. That was creepy, but cool! I also had a shibari ropework photoshoot with PassionAndSoul and Photognome. We shot at Joe's (Photognome) house and he had a suspension hook, so I was suspended by the rope up in the air. It was a really awesome experience, and I got some great images too!

Overall, I had a fabulous time in Atlanta. I was surrounded by wonderful people, made tons of new friends and got lots of work in. So, I'm able to pay my bills this month and come home with a little extra money! Yay for ATL!

Culture of India

The term culture refers to a state of intellectual development or manners. The social and political forces that influence the growth of a human being is defined as culture.

Indian culture is rich and diverse and as a result unique in its very own way. Our manners, way of communicating with one another, etc are one of the important components of our culture. Even though we have accepted modern means of living, improved our lifestyle, our values and beliefs still remain unchanged. A person can change his way of clothing, way of eating and living but the rich values in a person always remains unchanged because they are deeply rooted within our hearts, mind, body and soul which we receive from our culture.

Indian culture treats guests as god and serves them and takes care of them as if they are a part and parcel of the family itself. Even though we don’t have anything to eat, the guests are never left hungry and are always looked after by the members of the family. Elders and the respect for elders is a major component in Indian culture. Elders are the driving force for any family and hence the love and respect for elders comes from within and is not artificial. An individual takes blessings from his elders by touching their feet. Elders drill and pass on the Indian culture within us as we grow.

“Respect one another” is another lesson that is taught from the books of Indian culture. All people are alike and respecting one another is ones duty. In foreign countries the relation between the boss and the employee is like a master and slave and is purely monetary whereas in Indian culture the relation between the boss and the employee is more like homely relations unlike foreign countries.

Helpful nature is another striking feature in our Indian culture. Right from our early days of childhood we are taught to help one another in need of help and distress. If not monetary then at least in kind or non-monetary ways. Indian culture tells us to multiply and distribute joy and happiness and share sadness and pain. It tells us that by all this we can develop co-operation and better living amongst ourselves and subsequently make this world a better place to live in.

Even though India is a country of various religions and caste our culture tells us just one thing 'phir bhi dil hai Hindustani '.

Religion and Mythology

A swastika or an Om is a revered sign and mentioned as prosperity. There are many symbols like the Trishul or the Trident which is not displayed everywhere as it is considered aggressive. It is customary to smear ash or sandalwood powder in the forehead as it cools the mind.

Swastika

Om



Trishul

These are beliefs turned to tradition and most of us follow the rules and codes.

The latest generation is quite inquisitive about facts yet totally appreciates the quests of Lord Rama, the slaying of the ten headed Ravana, the piousness of Sita and the loyalty of Hanuman. Animation flicks are being created showing characters like Gathotkach the son of Bhima, Hanuman and Ganesha. Though these are kid specials, this would be the best way to teach them about Gods and religion.

Ten Headed Ravana

Sita

Hanuman

Ganesh

Dashavatar is a wonderful combination of story and the magnanimous nature of Lord Vishnu. Each avatar or creation has a set nature and character. It is mind blowing to see the story narration and is well received by the all of us. Our art and culture have direct relation with the mythology. The Shravan month is a holy time where people get religiously and maintain fasting. This is also the time for the beginning of all festivals.
Magic or splendor is what we see at the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in India.

The Durga Puja is another feat. South traditions relate to Lord Muruga( Karthik) or Lord Ayyappa. The shrine of Vaishnodevi in Jammu involves climbing a steep mountain of 14 kilometers bent and the mission seems accomplished once we see the holy pind. People hold allegiance and complete belief in miracles when life challenges them. Mythology is the treasure of Indian religion and must be given to our progeny.

Lord Vishnu

Lord Muruga

Lord Ayyappa

Temples In India

India is known as one of the few countries in the world that has a heritage dating back centuries ago. Well it can be proved till date as the temples stand witness to the rich cultural heritage of our country.

Travel to the north of the country or the south there are temples and heritage sites that will take your breath away. Some are so profound with beauty that they are made tourist spots for people not only in the country but for tourists from abroad too.

Some famous temples to mention are the Khajuraho Temple, Badrinath, Pushkar, Tirupati, Kanyakumari, Srimahavirji, Kedarnath, Dwarkadeesh, Ajanta Cave Temples, Kalkaji, Birlamandir, Lotus temple and Meenakshi temple.

Khajuraho Temple

Badrinath

Pushkar

Kanyakumari Temple

Srimahavirji

Kedarnath Temple

Ajanta Cave Temples

These however are the very famous ones. But if one loves to take a tour of temples then South India boasts of the best the country has. They are beautiful with architecture resounding from the tip that rises meters into the sky to its very edge that settles on the ground. Inside, outside there is drama in every window, door, steps and even in the bells that complete the temple.

Also the rituals are very simple and temples are less orthodox in the North as compared to the South, where the rituals are elaborate and very long. The stone deities are dressed in the best and taken for processions during the year. The richer the temple the more elaborate is the festivities. Also the temples in Kerala are starkly different from the temples in the other three states.

The temples are so large down south that they become mini complexes and serve as a place to feed people, wedding grounds, conduct festivals, hold kitchen wares and even religious schooling.

Indian History

History of India . An overview : The people of India have had a continuous civilization since 2500 B.C., when the inhabitants of the Indus River valley developed an urban culture based on commerce and sustained by agricultural trade. This civilization declined around 1500 B.C., probably due to ecological changes.

During the second millennium B.C., pastoral, Aryan-speaking tribes migrated from the northwest into the subcontinent. As they settled in the middle Ganges River valley, they adapted to antecedent cultures.

The political map of ancient and medieval India was made up of myriad kingdoms with fluctuating boundaries. In the 4th and 5th centuries A.D., northern India was unified under the Gupta Dynasty. During this period, known as India's Golden Age, Hindu culture and political administration reached new heights.

Islam spread across the Indian subcontinent over a period of 500 years. In the 10th and 11th centuries, Turks and Afghans invaded India and established sultanates in Delhi. In the early 16th century, descendants of Genghis Khan swept across the Khyber Pass and established the Mughal (Mogul) Dynasty, which lasted for 200 years. From the 11th to the 15th centuries, southern India was dominated by Hindu Chola and Vijayanagar Dynasties. During this time, the two systems--the prevailing Hindu and Muslim--mingled, leaving lasting cultural influences on each other.

The first British outpost in South Asia was established in 1619 at Surat on the northwestern coast. Later in the century, the East India Company opened permanent trading stations at Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta, each under the protection of native rulers.

The British expanded their influence from these footholds until, by the 1850s, they controlled most of present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In 1857, a rebellion in north India led by mutinous Indian soldiers caused the British Parliament to transfer all political power from the East India Company to the Crown. Great Britain began administering most of India directly while controlling the rest through treaties with local rulers.

In the late 1800s, the first steps were taken toward self-government in British India with the appointment of Indian councilors to advise the British viceroy and the establishment of provincial councils with Indian members; the British subsequently widened participation in legislative councils. Beginning in 1920, Indian leader Mohandas K. Gandhi transformed the Indian National Congress political party into a mass movement to campaign against British colonial rule. The party used both parliamentary and nonviolent resistance and non-cooperation to achieve independence.

On August 15, 1947, India became a dominion within the Commonwealth, with Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister. Enmity between Hindus and Muslims led the British to partition British India, creating East and West Pakistan, where there were Muslim majorities. India became a republic within the Commonwealth after promulgating its constitution on January 26, 1950.

After independence, the Congress Party, the party of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, ruled India under the influence first of Nehru and then his daughter and grandson, with the exception of two brief periods in the 1970s and 1980s.

Prime Minister Nehru governed India until his death in 1964. He was succeeded by Lal Bahadur Shastri, who also died in office. In 1966, power passed to Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977. In 1975, beset with deepening political and economic problems, Mrs. Gandhi declared a state of emergency and suspended many civil liberties. Seeking a mandate at the polls for her policies, she called for elections in 1977, only to be defeated by Moraji Desai, who headed the Janata Party, an amalgam of five opposition parties.

n 1979, Desai's Government crumbled. Charan Singh formed an interim government, which was followed by Mrs. Gandhi's return to power in January 1980. On October 31, 1984, Mrs. Gandhi was assassinated, and her son, Rajiv, was chosen by the Congress (I)--for "Indira"--Party to take her place. His government was brought down in 1989 by allegations of corruption and was followed by V.P. Singh and then Chandra Shekhar.

In the 1989 elections, although Rajiv Gandhi and Congress won more seats in the 1989 elections than any other single party, he was unable to form a government with a clear majority. The Janata Dal, a union of opposition parties, was able to form a government with the help of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the right and the communists on the left. This loose coalition collapsed in November 1990, and the government was controlled for a short period by a breakaway Janata Dal group supported by Congress (I), with Chandra Shekhar as Prime Minister. That alliance also collapsed, resulting in national elections in June 1991.

On May 27, 1991, while campaigning in Tamil Nadu on behalf of Congress (I), Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated, apparently by Tamil extremists from Sri Lanka. In the elections, Congress (I) won 213 parliamentary seats and put together a coalition, returning to power under the leadership of P.V. Narasimha Rao. This Congress-led government, which served a full 5-year term, initiated a gradual process of economic liberalization and reform, which has opened the Indian economy to global trade and investment. India's domestic politics also took new shape, as traditional alignments by caste, creed, and ethnicity gave way to a plethora of small, regionally based political parties.

The final months of the Rao-led government in the spring of 1996 were marred by several major political corruption scandals, which contributed to the worst electoral performance by the Congress Party in its history. The Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged from the May 1996 national elections as the single-largest party in the Lok Sabha but without enough strength to prove a majority on the floor of that Parliament. Under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the BJP coalition lasted in power 13 days. With all political parties wishing to avoid another round of elections, a 14-party coalition led by the Janata Dal emerged to form a government known as the United Front, under the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, H.D. Deve Gowda. His government lasted less than a year, as the leader of the Congress Party withdrew his support in March 1997. Inder Kumar Gujral replaced Deve Gowda as the consensus choice for Prime Minister of a 16-party United Front coalition.

In November 1997, the Congress Party in India again withdrew support for the United Front. New elections in February 1998 brought the BJP the largest number of seats in Parliament--182--but fell far short of a majority. On March 20, 1998, the President inaugurated a BJP-led coalition government with Vajpayee again serving as Prime Minister. On May 11 and 13, 1998, this government conducted a series of underground nuclear tests forcing U.S. President Clinton to impose economic sanctions on India pursuant to the 1994 Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act.

In April 1999, the BJP-led coalition government fell apart, leading to fresh elections in September. The National Democratic Alliance-a new coalition led by the BJP-gained a majority to form the government with Vajpayee as Prime Minister in October 1999.