I received an invitation for the trip of a lifetime last summer, when my Northwestern University friend Shanik Patel announced he was engaged to be married in December of 2012. Although he and his now-wife Hiral live in the United States, the wedding was to be held in Rajasthan, India. I did not need to be asked twice to go. What better way is there to cap off my final semester at Claremont Graduate University than a destination wedding?
I decided to block out 3 weeks for the trip
I was about 14 years old when I discovered the music of Frank Zappa and his band, The Mothers of Invention. I always felt that life would be more enjoyable with more humor and creativity, and Frank’s music provided me with that. It was often crude humor, and as a youngster perhaps it was the shock value that amused me, but Frank and the band’s overall outlook and attitude towards life seemed to match my own quite well.
Enacted by the state in 1972, the Mills Act grants participating cities and counties the authority to enter into contracts with owners of qualified historic properties who actively participate in the restoration and maintenance of those properties. In return, the property owners receive a reduced property tax. The Mills Act is a vital economic incentive in California, and specifically in Claremont, for the restoration and preservation of qualified historic buildings by private homeowners.
