Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Happy New Year!
If the image is not clear it says "Have a refreshing year ahead"
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Christmas Spirit!
Denaryane det jave
Ghenaryane ghet rahave
Gheta gheta ghenaryane denaryache haatach ghyave.
Simply translated this means –
The giver should keep giving,
The receiver should keep receiving
And while receiving, the receiver should take a giver’s hands or in other words should himself become a giver!
What thoughts! While what we did for Christmas at office this year is not as magnanimous as this saying, it was certainly a pleasant way of celebrating the Christmas spirit. This year around, the idea was to give gifts to children at some NGO. A local NGO- Akanksha's Muskan centre was zeroed in where they teach underprivileged children from the surrounding slums. Notices were put up and announcements made asking for gifts that could be handed out to these children. The response was overwhelming. While plenty of gifts were received, those who could not get gifts gave generous cash contributions. Then it was time to hunt for good gifts. This was an exciting activity where thought had to be put into the gifts that it would make them suitable for a child, gender neutral (no girl activity kit should be handed to boys etc) and that no bulk-ordering-everything-is-the-same-kind gifts. Each gift was hand picked and the store employees did a great job of wrapping each gift in a very short time period. Then a whole bus load of us from office which included carol singers, volunteers, volunteer photographers et al went to the centre. Our visit was kept as a surprise and the children were busy in their activities. That is when the carol singers, all adorning Santa-caps entered the hall.
What is worth noting here is that though the kids come from slum areas, all of them were very neat and clean and more importantly well behaved.
It was very difficult to leave and some of us wanted to stay back and play with the children but alas, there was work to do back at office and we had to return.
And nay sir, we didn’t come empty handed. We received a very nice thank you card from them – handmade!
Friday, 19 December 2008
The Last Sparrow…
As kids we used to get a lot of these teeny tiny visitors. They used to be everywhere – on the trees nearby, on our balcony railing, in the hallway to our home – just about everywhere chirping their merry songs. We used to leave food grains out on the window ledge or the banisters for them and it used to be fun to watch them pick the grains. There is a tree in very close proximity and these birdies use to come and gather soft twigs for their nests. So all was well then.
Then sometime about 2-3 years ago I realised I had not seen a sparrow in a long time. I even discussed this at home and everybody agreed. True the trees around were almost gone. The only exception of this huge fig which still lies in close proximity to us. In fact it is so close that we need to sometimes trim it thru our window so that the branches do not grow inwards(towards our house that is). So coming back to the main subject, we all began missing the sparrows and used to wait for a sighting which used to be so common.
I still miss them. I was reminded of this because a couple of days back I spilled over some wheat grains on the floor. Now we didn’t wanna use them so I placed them on a platform outside my door. 2 days hence, the grains are still there. I am ready to swear, this would not have happened had it been a few years ago! We must be doing something verrrry wrong to drive out these harmless little ones don’t u think?
Now I wish to say –
Long Live the Sparrow!
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Percy Penguin
I am born. After my birth, my mother has gone away in search for food. For her and for me. Before that she has safely transported me to my father. They make sure that I am protected from this cold that surrounds me and I am not exposed to the harshness that surrounds us, just yet!
Fast forward
When: 1 month ago.
My mother returns. She has food for me. I get to know my mother. I am glad she is back. I look around, some of my friends’ mothers have not returned. Some have returned to see my friends have not survived. My lessons on the race of survival have already begun. I have understood that family and friends matter a lot. My mother and father underwent through a lot of hardships – just so that I may survive! My friends /community also had an important part in my survival. We had to stay huddled together to fight the cold.
Fast forward to present.
The cold has subsided a little and greenery begins to show. I now play with my friends. My parents teach me basic skills, they tell me how to be a better penguin. Here I have climbed a rock which is my throne. Note the little gold crown on my head. I am the king! I rule!
I wrote this story for a creative writing site http://picturespoetryprose.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Made by Me - Black Rose and a Butterfly
I discovered that the shadow of my cut out looks good (almost like an art in itself) so I had to take a picture of that as well!
Monday, 8 December 2008
Slow down now… will ya?
So ‘Speed’ is newly released and our whole gang decides on that one. It is only 20 mins for the next show and we have to speed! We reach this theatre ‘Alaka’ – now we were in college and with so much movie watching and partying, we could not really afford multiplexes! Not that multiplexes were a rage then anyway.
So there we reach the movie hall with about 2-3 mins to spare. With half of us parking our bikes, we send the rest to get the tickets so that we do not miss on the beginning (I hate missing the start of a movie). So we meet at the entrance and get into the movie hall just in time for the last trailer getting over.
The movie starts. There is this teenager who wants to apply for a driving licence. He somehow manages to clear his written test and for the practical, he gets a tough instructor. The cop places a cup of coffee and asks this teenager to drive, the condition being that not one drop has to spill. This guy (who was cute) does ok but as the test is about to be over and he has to park, a huge truck comes in the way and the coffee spills. This guy flunks the test. He does not tell this at home and his folks think he has the licence. With the new rage of being able to drive, he speeds and so the movie continues.
It is interval time and we discuss the 1st half of the movie. We keep wondering this movie – Speed is like a teenage flick and why so much hype! Anyway it is quite cute and we continue watching it. This guy keeps speeding and finally manages to secure a licence for himself.
The movie gets over in a while and we walk out. On coming out we watch the movie posters and lo what do we see. The poster for Speed does not have any of the characters from the movie we watched! What? Then what were we watching all this while?
It turns out we watched ‘Licence to Drive’ and the whole gang of us burst out laughing. Of course we do not leave the chance to bash up the friends who got the tickets without checking the show!
What confusion! Have you had any incident like this?
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Of open fires and attacks
Last night in very unfortunate happenings Mumbai, the financial capital of India was attacked, yet again. Though this is not the first time of this kind one can never (and in my opinion should never) get used to these.
I always fail to comprehend what lies in the minds of those taking lives of the innocent. How can this ever be justified? When would all this stop?
Salute to the heroes who put themselves up in the line of fire, fully knowing what lies ahead.
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
Hilarious!
Its been a long time since I watched a light movie with the subject handled so well.
I went crazy laughing well almost the entire theatre was roaring with laughter (so those who have seen me laughing and are thinking that I cant stop once I start, its not just me). I admire the talent of the writers and the director to handle a delicate subject in this manner. They have gone all out but not over the top. It is commendable given that it would only be a thin line that would have to be crossed and the movie would turn out gross! But no! It is cute and funny. The movie goes on with a fast pace.
Priyanka Chopra looks good. John looks hot and both he and Abhishek have acted well.
For those who have not watched it, just go! Be prepared for riots of laughter.
Monday, 24 November 2008
I cant help falling in love…
I just love how these chocs are made each layer intricate. With so much detailing going in I think they deserve all the attention they get – from me anyways!
I prefer eating them while I’m on my own (or with family who tolerate a lot of my non-sense). Why – that way to give each piece full justice, I manage to eat each layer separately.
Ferrero – Are you looking for a brand ambassador by any chance?
Ok… before it this starts sounding like I am going to blog about chocolate reviews, let me stop… and maybe eat one more of those rochers.
Friday, 21 November 2008
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
The everyday journey
Whoever heard of that?
Well, yes we did have a celebration in the bus!
Yesterday one of my colleague celebrated his birthday and among the options of choosing for the celebration we hit upon this idea of having a breakfast party! So the birthday boy (of course he was the host!) was to pick veg puffs and cup cakes from a local bakery and bring in for all the travel companions! It was fun!
Our bus gang (yeah I dare call it that!) is cool. Some time back, due to road works our travel time increased considerable and the bus we had was not in too good a shape. This necessitated us to make the journey tolerable if not interesting. As they say necessity is the mother of all invention – I introduced the game of ‘Dumb Charades’ during our daily journey. Not that this game needs introduction much less is it my invention but I used the word ‘necessitated’ earlier on and it needed company! So there we go – playing charades on our way back home from office. The daily play instilled camaraderie among us and we started to enjoy the travel.
We usually occupy the last seats – reminding me of a term we used a lot in school/college days. We used to call ourselves (yeah I’ve always been that) ‘LLB’ (not the law school type) aka ‘Lords of the Last benches’. That’s where you get to be naughty and playful and make all the noise you want!
Since it is thanksgiving month (that’s what is going on around the blog world) I thought I might as well thank my travel companions (who are my colleagues) for making the journey so not-a-rut (wish I could think of a suitable word there)! It so helps to leave work and office and go ‘home’.
I sometimes think that this Thanksgiving tradition in the Western world is needed here as well. (Or maybe it’s just me – I don’t thank people in my life enough!)
Isn’t it amazing that small things can make a huge difference!
Monday, 10 November 2008
Made by Me Monday – Quilling
So I did and what you see is my piece of art!
I used strips made from the fliers/pamphlets that come in the mail for this – of course with my reuse-recycle mantra you would not expect me to buy paper strips :)
This will most probably be given to a friend from office.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Strangers – Random acts of kindness
So this is about some strangers I have encountered who have done nice things!
We were on our road trip to Kerala -India and driving towards our next destination – Munnar. Instead of taking the 4 lane highway, we decided to take an off route which would be shorter and more scenic. We were to meet the city road at one point and then head off in the required direction. We touched the road and started on the journey further. There were no directions for about 10 km and when we did hit upon one small milestone it displayed a town name which was not supposed to be on our route. A few km further and we saw another big city milestone which was not supposed to be in our route. Finally we decided to stop and ask a traffic policeman. This was a small town. We had communication problem since we did not understand their language and neither did he understand ours (Marathi/Hindi/English). He collected some other townspeople in that area to help us out. One of them understood some English and comprehended when we showed him the map and our destination. He translated it for the rest of the crowd but unfortunately none of them knew the directions. We were confused but decided to go further till we hit proper direction hoardings. We were backing our car and slowly moving ahead still discussing which way to go when in the rear view mirror my sister who was driving saw a man frantically waving to us on his bicycle. We recognised him from the crossroads back where we had stop to ask the direction. We waited and he asked us to go back to the crossroads as we were on a wrong route. Reaching there we learnt that the traffic policeman had asked some other people, came to know of the correct directions, stopped a passer by on bicycle and sent one of the men we were talking to behind us to get us back. Then the man who knew directions, helped us out, then wrote the names of all the small towns we would pass on our way in Malyalam (for other small town folks to understand if we were to ask again). What nice gesture and all this for strangers!
Another incident happened to me when I was in the US. One weekend we decided to go skiing. Well it was my first time and we took lessons. After a while we went to the beginners slope and the one a littler harder than that. On my way down the fifth or sixth time, I fell down. I could not get up on my own and neither would my skis come off. My back hurt (though thankfully not much). I kept sitting there hoping that one of my friends would spot me on their way up through the cable or down the slope and help me. One of my friend saw me while zooming past the slope but she thought I’d just fallen and would be ok. Then a small girl ski-ed past me. Apparently she saw me on her way down earlier too and so she slowed down and asked if I needed help. When I said yes, she stopped and tried to help me get my skis off or get me up standing. That did not work so she went down and got an older person (her dad I think) to help me. He helped me get up and took my skis off, carried my skis to the ground while I walked back down. Thanks to them I was back down safely.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Made by Me Monday – Bookmark
After all my talk of being environmentally aware etc, there was no guilt factor here as the paper was recycled – it came from invitation cards – base paper as well as the one where I’ve drawn cup and coffee beans and appliquéd on the base.
Friday, 24 October 2008
Monday, 20 October 2008
Made by Me Monday – Wall Art
So had to think up of something that would cover up the patch and not really look patched up!
Came up with a lot of ideas and finally zeroed in on this. It would not be correct to say that only I worked on this, my sister helped out on this too.
It was like going back to school again, and if you were to visit me then, you would have caught me red handed – literally.
Here it what the process of making it was like –
This is the outcome, with a few birds appliqued to the tree. It now sits on the wall, and you can see the wireless phone's wall socket attachment.
Friday, 17 October 2008
Monday, 6 October 2008
The world is a small place…
Mine is...
I visited the supermarket the other day doing some chores for mom. There sitting on the shelf I saw this coffee mug painted with reddish brown on the inside and off white on the outside and it was just screaming “Pick me up”. Well it was plain and ever so often I need to give vent to the creative juices trapped inside of me.
So before I knew it, I had visualised how to style this mug and personalise it and viola it was already in my shopping basket!
I thought since I love visiting places and every city/country I’ve been to holds a place in my heart, why not imprint that on the mug. I wanted to draw the landmarks but didn’t know what would go in for the not-so-famous places. So I’ve a mix of both – famous landmarks and the names of places.
If I can be a little boastful, I was happy with the outcome, loved it!
Now the only thing I don’t know is whether this ink will stay on the mug. I know it does not wash off. Some might go off when heated though so I need to use it carefully. But hey it’s a mug and I shall use it and if this wipes of, I can maybe imprint some other design on it!
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Bare… feet!
Well coming to the point, I received a lot of sympathetic glances when I didn’t need them. I had to drag my foot not because if was hurt but my chappal strap strapped! I had no option but to drag that broken sandal on my feet.
What option had I? Walk barefoot you say? No sir, not me! I have always tried to take good care of my feet. And from my childhood too! My mom tells me (I was too small to remember this!) that I used to not walk on the floor at home at all. I used to walk only on the beds and mattresses. And then when the others in my play group in the society used to play barefoot, I used to be the one with shoes all the time!
Well then there came a time when I had no option but to shed the shoes. I have once had to descend the Sinhagad barefoot. I have! Let me tell you it was not easy but even more difficult it would have been if I tried climbing down with bad floaters. We were 1/3 from the top and to go back up and take a cab down was not feasible. That was one time I was mighty proud of myself and my blistered feet.
That was also the time that you thank God for his grace as that is when you remember all the poor you have seen countless times passing you barefeet and you not giving them a second glance!
Little things
I lost one of my hairclips yesterday. I had it pinched on to my purse as I had carried it as a spare and in the rush of boarding the bus, I don’t know when and where this one fell off.
Well what of it, you might think! I’ve been trying to convince myself the same.
I’ve been sorry about it ever since. I even mentioned it to my sister saying I would not mind missing the one she was wearing (which was mine too) and she could have put this one instead. Not her fault of course but she could not understand my glum over it.
Come to think of it, it was in mixed hues of brown and deep orange, had no sharp edges, lovely texture, and it was plain nothing very ornamental which is why I just loved it!
Its not that it was new – I’ve used it atleast for the past 6 months if not more. But somehow I cant get it out of my mind – not yet that is.
These small things, mean a lot… to me… and maybe for a lot like me!
Call me possessive. Call me material girl.
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Twists and turns and somersaults
--I wrote this some time ago but it never got posted - due to blocking of blogger from office!
Time: till about 10-15 days ago
Extreme water shortage. Pune city which normally gets 24 hrs water supply suddenly faces the situation where people are forced to store water, conserve it. Power cuts are on the rise affecting business. Households are not spared either – electricity being cut during the morning rush hours as well as evenings as load shedding measures. This affects water supply two folds – no pumps to pull water!
China sends rockets (1104 no less) to deter the rains. India, this being monsoon badly awaits rains. Like it or not, India still is very much dependent on the rains!
Time: Cut to about 4-5 days ago
The reservoirs of the dams are more than half empty. No signs of rains. Whatever water is available would have to be frugally used and has to last for a whole year ahead – till the next rains at least. State government declares the impending drought. All the news papers flash the news that all over the state is drought situation. People dread to think about the effect on the agriculture industry and the crops failing, the imminent inflation!
Time: About 2 days ago
When it rains it pours! Yes. Here the weather takes a turn.
There has been lashing rain all over the state. Almost all the rivers in the state are now flooded. Lots of towns/cities under water. People need to be evacuated for the fear of drowning. The dams which were partially full have now the need to release water. This may lead to more flooding! New measures have to be taken to deal with this crisis situation.
Weather was never predictable. But this level of uncertainty where situations change in a matter of 2 days – is this something that we have drawn on ourselves? Is this also an effect of global warming?
Friday, 18 July 2008
Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu…
At school we were taught to pronounce circle in a very specific way. We used to call it ‘sek kel’ – with the ‘r’ being silent and the k heavily pronounced. As happens in childhood, whatever is taught in school, I used to come home and repeat (read teach) to my younger sister and parents! Now imagine the plight of my parents when they used to pronounce ‘circle’ as ‘seRkal’ and I used to ask them to repeat it over and over till they get the pronunciation right!
The next incident is told to me by mom and some of her friends (me being too young to remember it – 4 year old to be precise). Mom had come to fetch me from school when it was closing time one day. Our teacher was leading us from the play area back to the classroom. Mom was their with some other student’s mothers (who turned out to be great friends later on). As instructed by our teacher, we all (at least the obedient ones) were walking with our hands folded and fingers on our lips – to curb the noise and limit the ruckus created! Mom spotted me walking in the line and called out. And what could be my reaction? I tell mom – ‘Shhh. No talking while walking back to class.’ And I just walked off while mom and friends burst out laughing after recovering from the initial shock!
Why am I reminded of these incidents now? Well, today is Guru Pournima. How much ever we write about our gurus or teachers it would never be enough! We can never thank them enough either. Thus, I decided to muse upon (on a light note) the earliest incidents relating to the impact that a teacher could have on the students!
My sincere regards to all the teachers, mentors and not to forget the first ever teachers- our parents.
Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheshwaraha
Guru Saakshat Para Brahma
Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha
Meaning:Guru is verily the representative of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He creates, sustains knowledge and destroys the weeds of ignorance. I salute such a Guru.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Cleansing
I was cleaning out all the e-trash from my machine. I have a lot of old-stuff hanging about and it was time I cleaned it and made some space. I had some idea of how much of old data I have been carrying but I did not realise the magnitude till I actually started the clean-up drive! Phew! Its gonna take me days.
One thing led to another and I started cleaning up my mails as well. Now that was a mammoth task. Consider some mails lying around since 2002 – yeah that’s what I said 2002! I have been pretty organised (some modesty huh!) but that sometimes is a curse. I have some 20 personal folders (pst) files to be cleaned. Now you know why I say it’s a curse! I wish it were as easy as deleting the whole pst at one shot. Alas! I compel myself to keep some important communication and delete the rest.
So there its quite a bit of stuff to keep me occupied for the rest of the week, if not more. I have no reason to complain (you would know if you have read my t…i…c…k… t…o…c…k… blog). So what is this all about?
The point to ponder on was – while I was cleaning out some of the old mails, I realised it is not only the mailbox or the machine that needs a clean-up. I need to de-clutter my mind too. This led me to thinking -
Maybe its time to cleanse my system as well.
Maybe its time to stop dwelling in the past.
Maybe its time to move on.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Utterly Butterly!
I shall not talk about butter though and only about Amul butter as a brand. I am very much impressed by the advertising agency who works for Amul. They come up with the campaign with the most recent topic for the week and it is linked to Amul in an amazing way! For quite a few months (years is it?) I have been noticing this hoarding at the main crossroads at Deccan – just at the onset of the Lakdi pool. The spot they secured was great too as it is a busy crossroad and the waiting time at the signal quite a bit.
They say you don’t miss something until you lose it! How true it is. It is a treat to watch this and I quite look forward to it. I had not realised that I like to know what is the latest that they have come up with. This was until sometime last month or before that, the hoarding I am referring to was pulled down. Some construction work began at the location and I started missing this Ad campaign. Last week, on my way back from office, looking out of the bus window, I notice this black and white billboard! From all my ranting above you would know that this was for Amul and I was glad about it!
A tribute was being paid to the great Sam ‘Bahadur’ Manekshaw who recently passed away.
This week the theme is – There is an arena and a person sitting on a bull (as it is so closely associated with Spain!). He has tennis gear on him. Clearly they are celebrating Rafael Nadals’ victory at Wimbledon. And the punch line says 'Rafa ka Lafa' and tag line says Amul ‘Fed on it’ so honouring Federer as well!
Delicious I would say!
Dictionary:
delicious
(dĭ-lĭsh'əs)
adj.
Highly pleasing or agreeable to the senses, especially of taste or smell.
Very pleasant; delightful: a delicious revenge.
Monday, 14 July 2008
Bright Yellow
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
T…………i…………c…………k ………………… T…………o…………c…………k
Time, they say, does not stop. But it sure varies its pace. Seems so to me at least!
When there is loads of work and long lists of tasks to be completed, the time just flies by.
And then when there is not much to do it seems you have all the time in the world AND it does not pass!
Here I am counting seconds go by – waiting for the work day to get over and there I know of a few friends who have their hands so full, they can only pack so much in one day!
Perspective?
Or the time is not right?
Monday, 7 July 2008
Exhausted but refreshed
Every year around this time, we have these incorporate sports tournaments with matches for badminton, table tennis, football etc. Every year, this time few enthusiasts (sport enthusiasts will not be entirely correct – please read on for why) like me pick up the badminton racket and are all charged up to play! Further to explain why I can’t call myself a sports enthusiast, I held the racket in my hand last year and then now. In this meanwhile I have not taken any efforts to work on my stamina and neither my shape. Needless to say, you can imagine the quality of my game. And then I show up on the day of the tournament and face what comes my way. Brave eh? Nah – stupid is more like it!
This time it is a little better though, I have actually played twice before the actual tournament. After the first practice session, I knew the worth of my game and was all set to quit. Yeah I played that well! Then thanks to mom, I did not withdraw entirely (though I did from the singles event). Nonetheless after the second practice game, we all were shaken and decided that we just have to play – tournament or no tournament. So it goes that we played for a good two hours on Saturday. That felt good – physically and mentally. I was dead tired and all the body parts aching but happy all the same – Pleasure in pain as they say!
Thus we have decided we shall play every Saturday (at least if not more) to keep up our energy levels. Am not sure if playing once a week will do the wonders of keeping me fit, but its not too bad for the first step (shot if you please) is it! Also keeping up the hope that our resolve to play would not die down like all the other plans.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Hair and Now
We girls share a love hate relationship with our hair. I mean all the girls I know have at some point or the other complained about their hair. Girls with short hair want a longer mane, the ones with curly envy straight hair (I’m one of them), straight haired girls want curls. If nothing else, brunettes want be blondes, red heads and all. And then there is this inevitable ‘I’m greying let me colour the hair’!
All this no doubt gives huge income source to the fashion industry.
Whenever I get bored of my look (basically looking at myself in the mirror) I turn to the easiest and the sure shot way of changing the look which is to get my hair cut. So it feels nice when I walk out with the new style – and it feels nice only then since it is nicely styled. Day 2 and the style goes sloppy and washed away and it ceases to look nice. My sisters keep telling me – the only day my hair looks good is the day I have a haircut!
This blog would be incomplete if I do not mention an incident. This was a couple years ago and a friend of mine Dee and I used to be flatmates in the US. We used to grumble and whine about the hard water and how it is bad for the hair (though for credit, somehow hair grows in length there!) So there we were getting ready to go for a party. Dee was trying to set her hair and most of you would agree, when we want the hair be set in a particular way, it never does, so she was not happy with the result of her style. She blurted out ‘I hate my hair’. This was not the first time I’d heard this from her and this time I joined in saying ‘Me too.’ First she thought I’m being sympathetic to her saying ‘I hate my hair as well and it’s the usual story etc’ but then she looked at me and I with a straight face said ‘Yeah, me too, as in I hate your hair’. We just burst out laughing at this and this has been our long standing joke since then.
I have been obsessed with those tresses for quite some time now. A few of my friends sail in the same boat. Every now and then comes up this topic where somebody says she is suffering from hair loss and the rest join in the cribbing. Some bold souls try to chip in with remedies – eat this, apply that. But the saga continues.
Sometime I wonder, am I losing hair over stress or am I stressed about losing hair!
Friday, 27 June 2008
You look nice today!
More important is the question, how often are the compliments that we give truly heartfelt?
A few years back, it was Diwali time and festivities in the air. Girls don’t need a reason to dress up anyway and it being festival time, it was decided that we all would be adorned in our best festive and traditional attire. Thus, there we (me and a friend) were heading to office in sarees!
Along came some gals we knew – and then as is customary, we appreciated each others sarees and jewellery and looks. Its kind of a deal – you say I’m looking nice and I say you are!
And then came a couple of other girls and again they complimented us on well we looked etc.
Then amongst the two of us we started talking and saying that these girls don’t mean what they say. So just as a sport for that day, we started categorizing the compliments! So here were our categories –
Artificial – just because I saw you and you have done something different, I must tell you that you look good!
Envious – You are looking nice and I don’t like it but I shall not say that to your face!
Return Compliment – You complimented me so I just have to pay back!
Rare and Genuine – This one speaks for itself!
Some things are so etched in your mind! Since that day whenever I receive a compliment, I can’t help but categorise and it is instinctive! And when I give one I try that it be only when I genuinely feel so…
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
What’s in a name?
Again for the record, the title still remains the same as still ‘its only words’!
I’ve wanted to do this since ages but somehow or the other it got procrastinated (ok I’ve been lazy)! The main reason being the want of a good name.
Ok this calls for a look in the history. Some of my friends used to address me as ‘prax’ and I started writing blogs in the month of may and so when the time came to name the url of my blog, it turned out to be praxmay – well not very creative and not very attractive (I know). Since then this feeling of changing the name! Earlier I thought it there may not be a facility to change the url once published and also to think of reposting all the blogs held me back.
After contemplating a lot I decided it should have an element of confusion – well to signify the hoards of ideas floating around in my head at any moment. So came up with hotchpotch, mishmash, medley etc. But then that wouldn’t be entirely true – I do try to put these musings in order and try to make some sense of it! So there just like they show in the cartoons – a light bulb flashing on in my head –I struck upon the new name!
Lo and behold – here I am offering to you some ‘sensible gibberish’…
Monday, 23 June 2008
Of Movies and Travel
So what is common between movies and travel? Hogging... Yeah well food and lots of it!
I remember the time when as kids, during the vacations we used to travel to my grandmom's place. The journey used to be by train and it would take us 4 and a 1/2 to 5 hours of travelling to reach Mumbai from Pune - yeah just that and I'm not even talking of long distance travel!
It used to be a big event - along with our clothes and stuff required for the entire 2-3 months we used to spend at granny's, there used to be one bag full of goodies to munch on. We used to usually board the 6 O'clock Sinhgad Express. In about an hour, some of the munchies used to come out of the bag. By the next hour, the train pantry department used to start sending out breakfast and the smell of it, made everybody want it. In another hour's time we used to reach the Karjat station where we just had to have the famous 'Batata Wada'. We would find that invariably spicy (but in spite of that we couldnt miss it!) and then to pacify ourselves - there use to be the biscuits or the chocolates. Next some tea/coffee or cold drinks and by the time all this wrapped up, it was time to descend and proceed for home.
Same was (and still is) with the movies - you sit in the theater and within half an hour of the movie starting, you can hear packets opening, and the crunch crunch crunch sounds surrounding you. There is popcorn which is like the must have for movies. Then during intervals - samosas or sandwich and later coke/coffee.
I wonder how did we then (and even now) managed to eat so much in that span of 3-4 hours! I believe mom too must've had this bothering her as she used to have a tough time otherwise to even make us drink a glass of milk before packing us off to school!
Friday, 20 June 2008
The Pause
I read and finish the book. Most of the times it takes a long time to finish the last few pages (as I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs – ‘For a few pages more’).
Even so I usually take a ‘pause’ after reading the book in hand and picking up the next one. At this time, I think about the story, the characters, go back and read some of the incidents/interesting chapters again.
That is also the case with movies. If I’m watching a particular movie for the first time, I prefer not to watch another movie back to back. Some high impact movies, I play the movie in my head lying down on my bed.
Sometimes I wonder, is it only me who needs this pause?
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
I drag myself to the finish line (somehow)
I just finished reading the Zahir by Paulo Coehlo. I may not be right in saying that I was disappointed. Well I had not read very good reviews of the book to have any hopes on anyway!
I didn’t much like the book. It takes off and reaches its peak in the first 2-3 pages. After that it’s a lull, nothing really happening in the story and the same lines being repeated over and over again. There is no build of the story and at a point it gets quite boring. I am a compulsive-till-the-epilogue reader – by which I mean, I usually don’t leave book half read – I need to complete them till the last page. Only that stopped me from putting this one away and I thought I’d rather finish it.
Of the Paulo Coelho books I’ve read so far, I only liked ‘The Alchemist’. I have read ‘By the River Piedra, I sat and Wept’. ‘Eleven Minutes’, ‘The Pilgrimage’ and ‘The witch of Portobello’ (which again I made myself complete). Sorry if anybody is his big fan but somehow I find that most of his characters in all the plots similar. Its like cashing in on one big hit!
Friday, 6 June 2008
Ouch Potato
No… I have not missed ‘c’ and it was not meant to be ‘couch potato’…
Why did I think of this – well, today there were 3 of us for lunch, all of us had potato subji and all made differently!
Hence, here is my ode to the potato!
This is one veggie which I’m glad is universally available (well at least in all the countries that I travelled to).
I was wondering if the potato were not available, life (ok that’s going too far) food for me would have been quite different, especially out of India given that I’m a vegetarian! Available from the smallest size the size of marbles called baby potatoes to the largest – baking/jacket potatoes, they are used in multitude of cuisines, can be cooked in various ways – have them baked, boiled, roasted, fried, mashed, whole, spiced or bland.
Without dragging this too much, here are few interesting things that I know about the potato –
- The year 2008 has been declared the International Year of the Potato by the United Nations
- Potato-based alcohol fuelled German planes in World War II?
- (This is what we heard in Belgium) – French Fries are not really “French”. They originated in Belgium, and are called ‘Frituur’ there, but because Belgium was under the ‘French’ rule then, the French publicised them as ‘French Fries’!
Thursday, 5 June 2008
My bit for the world…
Today is the World Environment Day so I thought I should write a bit about that… I try to do my bit to protect the environment -
- I have CFL lamps at home
- I switch off lights / appliances if not in use (even in office)
- I switch off my monitor (and others around me) when I’m away from my desk
- I try to close running /dripping taps – wherever I find them
- For short distances, I prefer walking
- I use mass transportation system (bus) to most places – though its partly also due to the fact that I don’t much enjoy driving bumper to bumper on the small streets
- I try to use less paper – I’ve stopped most of my paper bills and have opted for Online bills (most banks now give paper bills when asked for and e-bills regularly)
- I use the printer less often
- I keep complaining about wastage of paper (to the point of sale) if the paper bills in stores are bigger than required (yeah I’ve been thought of being a fanatic I’m sure)
- I carry a jute bag for lunch
- I try and refuse using plastic bags as far as I can
- My vehicles are PUC certified!
- Try to make people around me aware of our duty towards the environment
I am guilty of -
- Not planting /nurturing trees
- Sometimes (unwillingly) wasting food
- Using plastic bags (when I forget to carry one of my own)
- Travelling by air (international – once a year at least: that’s my job though – cant avoid)
- Don’t always buy local
- And more… though I’d try and change this!
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Washed
Grey light it spreads all across,
For a few days thus they will loom
This is not the grey of the gloom;
There it finds an opening
And there it pours down,
Small droplets wash dirt and grime
To the ground;
Making the mundane look fresh and new
The greens are greener
The roads look cleaner
Everything bright, colourful and gay;
I drift in the rains
And get myself soaked,
These drops will cheer me
Is the hope;
The change everywhere I see
I need to feel it deep within me,
I need a rain of my own…
I need a rain of my own…
Monday, 2 June 2008
One meal is what I need…
There was this lady, a youngish girl rather who was with her child, sitting comfortably(?) on the road divider. The child (I doubt if he was even 8-10 months old) was sitting across his mother and looking at her expectantly. Suddenly I noticed that she had this foil takeaway package of food. There was no way of knowing if this food was fresh or not –probably something given to her as charity or somebody’s leftovers! She went ahead to pick up a morsel to feed her child. The child gestured that he would eat. He picked up a small morsel of food, put it in his mouth. His face lit up and he moved his head in a manner to convey his appreciation of food – something he really liked the taste of. At this, tears welled up in his mothers eyes and her expressions brightened. She could not contain the happiness of having fed her child for that day at least. She looked up to see if anybody was watching and I turned around lest she feel embarrassed.
I will never forget one of the happiest smiles I saw…
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
For a few pages more…
I love to read – fiction mostly but can read non-fiction, articles in books/magazines and over the net. Honestly I like reading out of a book held in hand over the other forms and mostly that’s what I do. I think I have inherited this love of books from my mom. She is an avid reader herself. She tells me, her mom/dad had to actually snatch a book from her hands to get her attention and not few times! In spite of that, she complains when she has to do the same to me. So I reserve my reading time to be the one when she watches her soaps on TV. But there is a problem in that too – soaps have frequent commercial breaks when I too have to take a break from my reading. Anyway there I start digressing from my topic of this blog.
Why I was thinking about this – I was at the last 100 pages of this interesting book I am reading – mystery novel from Robert Ludlum, could lay my hands on it after 3 days and finally got so desperate that finished it over the bumpy ride (that’s another blog coming from me soon) from home to office. I know that its not good reading while travelling and all that but couldn’t help myself in this case!
Come to think of it, I noticed that this happens to me quite often! Its like how the batsmen score the first 90 runs at a steady pace and when it’s the matter of the last score for a century, the runs come in slowly or at least seem to.
What I was saying was, I devour books at a not-so-bad-a-pace. All goes well until the last 100 pages or so are left that is. Once the book comes to that stage, usually the climax of the story, that’s when some things happen that keep me away from my book for 3-5 days. People who love to read will understand my plight here! Here I am at the most interesting section of the book and then again I am lost for reading time. After 3-4 days of such a state separate me from the book, a desperation creeps in – a need to finish the book come what may.
IS it me or is it ME?
Thursday, 24 January 2008
Friday, 11 January 2008
Go green
The grass, moist with morning dew, was very refreshing and I sensed my feet relax instantly!
This year I’ve decided to go green in more than one way.
I’ve made paper handbags to carry lunch box in! And where has this paper come from – not some fancy stuff – I’m just using old newspapers!
Have just decorated them with some dabs of paint here and there and some craft. I gave this social message to the first one which states ‘Go Green’.
I feel nice about it and most of friends who saw the bags I carry around have appreciated them! If I just shy a little from modesty, some friends have even been inspired by my bags ;)
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Lost..
They must be newly married since they both looked pretty young and very much in love.
How do I know this (no I wasn’t staring at them!) well thru’ out the journey, they were both singing songs and quite loudly too… While she was a little abashed and looking out of the window while humming, he was constantly looking at her and singing…
Truly lost in love I’d say…