Chess

Off and on I have played chess since I was a child. I don't remember who first taught me to play, now I wish I could remember so that I could thank them.
It is one of those things that I think will stay with me, a hobby that I absolutely enjoy every time I play and though I take breaks from playing, (months and even years) I always come back to the game.
Right now I am playing online correspondence chess using the GameKnot website (www.gameknot.com) but I have previously played Chessmaster and Fritz.
I find myself enjoying correspondence chess much more than the rapid fire games (especially Blitz); I only play one or two games at a time, really studying the position- both the history of moves as well as analysing (using Gameknot's 'Analyse board' feature) the various options for future moves... answering questions such as what move would I make if my opponent made this move or that move... each game being a suspensful journey, one to which I can't wait to see my opponents response.

I also enjoy how each move changes the game's future, if a choice of move is not made, that choice may no longer be available or appropriate for future moves. This then carves a story or a timeline - where multiple timelines exist - but only one can be made.

This therefore parallels life, where a decision, based on previous history, experience and future predictions are used to make a decision for the next 'move', an option pulled from the millions of choices available... well you get the idea.

Back in the US

It is pretty incredible to be back... we have been through crazy 3/4 days so far (our final flight is in the afternoon on January 4th)

The main problem is that flights into and out of Delhi were delayed and canceled due to the fog (that we now find is the case every year during these dates) - people had to stay in airports overnight for several days in some cases.

In summary, Air Sahara (http://www.airsahara.net/) customer service is about as bad as I have seen of any company and even American Airlines in India were not great either. Unfortunately I believe this to be the case of most if not all domestic airlines in India (as I heard similar reports from people flying with other airlines)

After many hours and days of arguing we managed to receive one night hotel stay in Calcutta from Air Sahara and (even though American Airlines in India said we wouldn't) received one night hotel stay in Chicago. The really nice thing in the US is that we did not have to argue to receive the hotel room, it was provided as standard.