Simple Sets You Free

I Quit

2011-11-22T15:38:00.003+05:30

Once again a short quick post after months...

I quit my job and yesterday was my last working day. Submitted the laptop, badge and other items in office and said goodbye. It was a little emotional...I spent almost 6 years in the company...it has been very kind to me, adjusting to my every demand, allowing me to work from home, take leave of absence, flex time and what not...but unfortunately I just couldn't continue. Managing home, toddler and extended family takes up almost all of my time. Spending around 2 hrs on official work, that actually requires 9 hours - was making me feel terribly guilty. More than the physical exertion, I think the mental pressure and guilt was driving me nuts. So, instead of cribbing and whining all day, I decided to take a break. Let us see where how this phase of my life goes. A full time home maker :-)

And there is a new addition to the gadgets around. Since I had to return the office laptop, we decided to buy one for personal use.

This is my first post from an iMAC :-) Still getting used to the Apple world :-)

I will try to do a post on Baby S sometime this week. Hope to get back to blogging a little more regularly. Let us see.

Ciao

Obituary

2011-09-07T15:42:00.003+05:30

C's mother passed away on the 24th of August. We are all yet to come to terms with it.
She had high grade fever for a week which was dismissed as a viral. Unfortunately, she developed severe pneumonia on one lung which then spread to the second and after being in the ICU for 13 days (on ventilator support), she allegedly had a multi-organ failure on the 24th. She was 61.

We strongly suspect the hospital of medical negligence and are seeking counsel to take them to task. However, the damage is done and it is irreplaceable.

C is devastated. To see my husband in this state is heart-wrenching. What can I say to console him? What can I do to alleviate his mental agony?

I am in a way glad that, after almost 25 days, he has returned to work today. I hope it will provide him some distraction.

Note: If our legal course doesn't work out, I will publish the name of the hospital and the doctor on this blog and hope to spread some message out there... so that other unsuspecting people rethink before visiting that hospital.

Happy Birthday, my Love

2011-03-29T10:01:00.006+05:30

My dearest little darling,

It seems only yesterday that I was carrying you and it is already been one year!
We have learnt so much from you... much more that we can ever hope to teach you.
You already seem to sense people who need special care... the way you reach out to them is amazing and humbling. Your eyes sparkle when you smile and it lits up the entire room with festive lights. You are such a happy child and that is all we want. We want you to be happy and healthy.
You have unlocked the mother in me. Shown me feelings that I never knew I was capable of. I sometimes lose my patience but you have forgiven me always. I am learning baby.. am learning every day and I sincerely hope I will do better and better. Because I have the most loving and persevering teacher in you.
We love you so much baby. Words can't express it.

People

2011-03-22T12:41:00.002+05:30

Am reminded of this quote today:

Oh! what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive!

Just feeling lost today.

C and Baby S

2011-03-03T17:17:00.004+05:30

One thing that I haven't mentioned in all my updates of Baby S is how she and her dad have this magical telepathy between them, that has left me dumbstruck on numerous occasions.

I think they had this going right from the time I was pregnant. Whenever C played the guitar, I could feel her move around..as if dancing to his song :-)

And right from when she was like a month or so, whenever C said specific things (like 'who's the baby here', 'gundu papa yaaru?' (who is the fat baby?)), she used to give this cute smile :-)

And as far as I can remember, except for one single day, Baby S goes to sleep only after he comes home from office. Am really not exaggerating, but she does hAnd since C comes home quite late most of the days, you can imagine when Baby S sleeps!

Now, C left for Delhi on Tuesday morning. This is how the sleep time - wake time worked between C and Baby S.

Tue. Night - C calls at 9.15 to say goodnight. Baby S sleeps by 9.30
Wed. Morning - C wakes up at 9 and calls. Baby S wakes up by 9.15.
Wed. Night - C calls up at 10.30. Baby S sleeps by 11.
Thur. Morning - C is up at 7.30 for a training. Baby S wakes up at 7.45!!!

What is this thing going on between them??

Update on Baby S

2011-02-07T23:47:00.010+05:30

It has again been a while since I wrote on this space. Hope everyone is doing well.

To give an update on Baby S, on the 23rd of Jan, she had her mottai done.

The custom in the family is to do the mundan either before the baby is 1 yr old or wait till she is 3. But Baby S has (or had) quite some hair that was falling all over her face and she simply resisted any attempt to tie it. So we decided to go ahead with the tonsuring.

The day before the tonsuring, we managed to dress her up a little for the Krishnar Vesham :-)

On the 23rd, we reached Mailam around 10 and my poor baby cried piteously through the entire process and C who had to hold her felt helpless and was even angry with us for putting her and him through it. Anyway, she calmed down a bit after half an hour or so. And once we reached the temple she was back to her usual self and was all smiling. Seeing numerous other bald babies and kids probably cheered her up :-)

So, here she is after the mottai :-)

Hurt

2011-01-21T20:34:00.003+05:30

It hurts when a person you love very much treats you second-hand. Actually it hurts awfully. :-(

Shameless appeal for sympathy

2010-11-25T17:37:00.003+05:30

Am sure what I am going to write is what most Moms experience, but I am so exhausted that I am turning to blogger for some sympathy. But given the dwindling readership, I don't hope to get any. Nevertheless, I will write.

Given that I was on bed rest throughout pregnancy and somewhat limited movement after delivery for close to 5 months, my body is somewhat weak. But now, there has been a sudden increase in the amount of work that I need to do everyday. And my system is protesting.

To begin with, I work from home. That will make many of them say 'Oh! She's lucky'. And yes, lucky I am. I don't deny that. I get to see my baby whenever I want, feed her, bathe her, play, cuddle, pacify and do all that I want, whenever I want. That is the only plus.

The company I work for is good enough to let me work from home. Does not define a start and end time of day. As long as I complete my work, they are fine. This is true even for employees working from office site. However, I seem unable to do even the basic work that I am supposed to. I feel terribly guilty that I am taking advantage of these facilities and not giving back my full to them.

Because, I need to manage house, cook and clean, do laundry and somewhere in between all this I need to work.

When people hear 'work from home' they conveniently forget the 'work' part and think am just 'home'! They don't realize I still need to do the same amount of work, attend calls, prepare charts and all that stuff people do in office. Am neither doing justice to my official duties nor am I spending hassle-free time with the baby.

I should really be thankful that Baby S is such a non-fussy and happy baby. She is really not a trouble at all to manage. But there is a minimum that she needs right? Like, feed her on time, change her soiled diapers, play and hold and rock her softly
to sleep. On most days she eats her food properly. On certain days she takes a while and my sub-conscious starts to agitate... 'have I been away from desk for long?'
The moment my mind starts wandering, I lose focus on feeding her and try to rush. And I really hate myself for doing that.

I do have a support system to take care of the baby... but I still do most of the feeding, cleaning/changing bit. I love to do it. I don't see it as a chore. Just that I feel guilty thinking am doing that on office time. It is so frustrating that at times I seriously think of quitting work.

There are Stay at home moms and working moms. Are there some 'working from home' moms out there? How do you manage your time? What am I doing wrong? Your suggestions are most welcome.

Busy day

2010-11-18T16:35:00.002+05:30

A busy day at desk today. 8 out of 15 blogs in my reader had a post today :-)

Updates on Baby S

2010-10-27T14:32:00.003+05:30

Hello there, hope all you people are doing good. I just thought of doing a general update on Baby S.

She is becoming more and more naughty and playful. Previously it was very easy to distract her, but now she demands toys that we hide or remove from her. The reason being her 'toys' are not things that we approve like Plastic cover, newspaper, battery charger, camera, clothes (specifically the bottom part of any dress that accumulates the maximum dirt)!! Her own set of playthings are all neatly kept in a big bag and are not touched by her!

She loves to be cuddled and fondled.

She loves to remove her dad's specs and play with it.

Whenever C brings her near me, she has this most mischievous look on her face and gives a big grin before leaping to pull my hair :-))

She loves to bite my chin. She does that even in her sleep, when I am rocking her on my shoulder :-))

She loves listening to music. She also loves my singing to her. Her favorites are the A B C Song, Nila Kaigiradhu, Karpagavalli nin Por Padangal, If you are Happy and you know..., Aarumo Aaval and few more.

She listens to C playing guitar and more importantly blesses the guitar every time before he plays :-) She very cutely taps the guitar 2-3 times and then C is ready to play :-)

She also likes her thatha (grandfather) to sing Poonaikum Poonaikum Kalyanamam and Kalyana Samayal Saadham.

Overall she is a very happy baby (touch wood) and brings so much happiness to people around her.

Btw, there is a team outing planned in C's office in a resort near Mahabalipuram. We are tempted to take baby S along. But the thought of managing her in the car for close to 2 hours is making me very anxious. Because she gets very restless after 15 minutes or so and starts wriggling and moving about. Feeding her is also very difficult as she keeps twisting and turning :-)

So, here is a question to all the wise parents out there. How good is a car seat? Is it a good investment to make? Is it useful? Please do let me know so that we can come to a decision on it.

Happy Navrathri

2010-10-12T14:26:00.004+05:30

A very happy Navrathri to you. I hope everyone is having a very joyous and festive week.

Navrathri or Golu as we call it, is such a fun, colorful and social occasion. Constructing the steps, decorating them with festoons, arranging the dolls, creating a theme park, eating 'sundal', visiting houses and seeing their golu... it's all one action packed week.

For the last several years, we (i.e my parents) have been constructing the Padi (Steps) for Golu, using makeshift items like the dining table, other assorted side tables, heavy law books and even stacks of newspaper. It is a back breaking job but when finished it gives an immense satisfaction.

This year C & I bought them the slotted angle iron steps. Assembling them too took a lot of work, but it was relatively simpler. Having broken from the tradition of building steps, I was very skeptical on how these iron steps would look... but fortunately it still looks very conventional and nice.

We were invited to a lot of houses for Golu and on Sunday decided to visit them all. So long, we haven't taken Baby S out a lot... except for nearby temples. But on Sunday she had a outing for close to 4 hours. It must have felt like a world tour to her. She thoroughly enjoyed the new experience and looked at us as if asking 'Why didn't you guys take me out earlier ?' :-)

She also doesn't seem to be bothered much meeting new people. She was pretty happy whoever was carrying her and kept looking at all the lights and dolls with curiosity. She even charmed people with her baby talk and sounds :-)

When I went to bed close to midnight that day, I had such a happy feeling in my heart. I was so happy that I just could not sleep and kept smiling. I couldn't help thinking back on those many many days when I was crying and feeling miserable. I really have to be grateful for what has been given to me. C & I keep reminding ourselves that we have to become better persons so that we can give the best to Baby S.

Say Hello to baby S

2010-09-23T16:02:00.004+05:30

Ashamed

2010-09-16T12:12:00.002+05:30

I complained about somebody when that somebody was not around. Something that I hate doing. I feel very ashamed and there is a sick feeling in my stomach. Why couldn't I control my vile thought? Few minutes of anger and frustration and hour long ruefulness.

The Pregnancy Story

2010-08-25T15:20:00.008+05:30

I guess it is high time I introduce our little joker to the blog world. She will be called Baby S. She is 4 months and 3 weeks now. Getting naughtier and playful as the day goes. It is all such a wonderful experience. I can't help thinking back at the happenings of 2008. That baby (we call it fountain) made sure we get baby S. We always feel fountain is taking care of his sister, whatever she does.

There is so much to write actually. I am not even sure where to begin. My pregnancy was filled with moments of absolute terror and anxiety as well as many moments of happiness and delight. It was all such a roller coaster of emotions. Let me just begin right away.

*What follows next is a very open account of what we went through with some graphic details. I am writing this because I hope it will help someone, somewhere. So, please bear with me.*

On 1st August 2009, I did a home pregnancy test. C had gone to his guitar class and I didn't know if I should call him right away. I decided to wait till he returned and announced it to him first. He was so excited and we repeated the test once or twice again! We also got a blood test done to confirm it. Then started the doctor visits. We had, by chance, taken a prior appointment with the doctor somewhere in the middle of Aug. Went and had the first scan. Things seemed normal.

By that time, we informed both set of parents. Everyone was very happy and at the same time apprehensive.

Week 12 - I had an attack of cold and cough with mild fever. It lasted for almost a week but fortunately the cough was not as bad as it was last time. It was also the season of Swine Flu! I was petrified at the thought of going anywhere near anyone who sneezed. Even the doctor visits during this time was very stressful. When a lady nearby coughed, I was hesitant to get up and walk away. Thought it might seem very rude. I casually turned my face the other way and simply covered my nose/mouth.

Week 14 - Past mid-night. I got up to use the loo and passed some clots and had some bleeding and spotting. I don't know how I didn't faint. I just called C. Cried and hugged him. We were just terror stricken. Didn't know what to do. Called the duty-doctor and she just asked me to lie down with my legs slightly elevated. We rushed to the doctor in the morning. They did a scan and said I had a low lying placenta and advised bed rest. They asked me to come 2 weeks later for a cervical cerclage.

Week 14 to Week 16 - I was just a bundle of nerves. I used to get up from bed only to use the loo. I didn't even have a proper bath those weeks.

Week 16 - I had the cerclage done.

Week 17 - I started having some foul smelling discharge. I was mentally so drained. We again rushed to the doctor. Again, there was a moment of absolute terror. The junior doctor who examined me, went to consult the senior doctor. When she returned, she abruptly asked me to 'go the labor ward!' I was aghast. Had something gone terribly wrong? I just leaned on my mother and tears started pouring down my face. I was so weak that I couldn't walk. C went to talk to the doctor and was relieved when all that they wanted to do was clean up the infection. After a day's stay at the hospital, we came home. From then on, I just took one day at a time. Was on complete bed rest.

C and my mother took absolute care of me. They even held a mug for me to brush my teeth and spit out. Had only sponge bath. Got up only to use the loo. I even had food on the bed. I was terrified to sleep. I was terrified to turn from one side to the other. I was terrified to lift a cup of water. I was JUST TERRIFIED. All that I did was to pray. Listen to devotional songs. Read books.

C did a wonderful thing by enrolling in a local library here. I was too scared to even read heavy stuff. I wanted something light and simple. He got me Enid Blyton's collection. Secret Seven, Famous Five, Five Find-Outers, The Adventure Series, The Naughtiest Girl series, The Malory Towers Series, The St.Claire's Series... It was such fun to read them. It might seem a funny thing for such a grown up person to read, but it really really helped me All these kept me occupied, peaceful and calm.

Week 24 to Week 28 - I was most scared during this period. I somehow wanted to cross week 28. I was told that chances of delivering and saving a baby was more once you cross this threshold. I just took one day at a time. Kept praying hard.

Week 32 - Consulted doctor and he was satisfied with the progress. Had the 'Seemandham and Valaikaapu function'.

Week 36 - Good progress and the doctor asked me start walking about. Was also allowed to sit on the floor, though I never did that. I never bent my knee for those 40 weeks!

My due date was March 30th. The doctor asked me to come on the 29th, Monday and get admitted. I never had any false labour pain. Spent that weekend as usual. Packed the bag and got ready on Monday. Visited the temple on our way to the hospital.

10 AM: Removed the cerclage. And ruptured the membranes.

12 PM: Started having slight pain and was asked to walk about.

3 PM: Intense pain and contractions

6.11 PM: Baby S arrived :-)

Usually people write a labour story. But for me, the journey through pregnancy was the most difficult part. Somehow, I really didn't feel the 'pain' of delivery. The baby and almighty made sure that for all the anxiety and mental tension that we underwent for those 9 months, I had a very smooth normal delivery.

It has been such a ride. So many emotions. So much of tension. So much of happiness. During all these times baby fountain was always in our thoughts. He still is.

There is one important thing that I must write about. And that is the constant support that I received from this person. Timepass, I shall never forget your help, your concern, your prayers. I take it as providence, that I got to know you. And nothing I do will ever repay what you gave me. But as a small gesture, when the priest asked for 3 names for the baby, for one of her names, we named Baby S after you :-)

I will write another post detailing what all precautions I took. The medications. Power of positive thinking. And so much more that helped me. Hoping this helps someone else, somewhere.

Hello there

2010-05-13T15:00:00.004+05:30

Finally I get to write something on my poor neglected blog.

I joined work couple of days back and got my laptop. Had to configure and set it up...that took a couple of days... just slowly getting used to the routine.

Expecting to be fairly regular with my posting now.

See you all soon.

Arrival of Our Baby Girl

2010-04-11T20:14:00.002+05:30

I hope the few readers of my blog still check for updates.

We are delighted to announce the arrival of our baby girl, born on 29th March.

The last 9 months or so have been such an emotional roller coaster. I have so much to write and share. So many people to thank and be grateful. I hope to start posting them slowly.

Till then,
Ciao.

Some Psychos

2009-07-29T17:44:00.003+05:30

Some of you readers may know that C got a brand new bike (Yamaha FZ)at the start of this year, for his office commute.

He loves it completely and takes so much care... so much that he even refuses to take me out on it to the beach or any such place fearing someone might scratch it or mis-handle it.

Last night he was wiping it clean before covering it and it was taking longer than the usual and I peeped out of the window to see what he was upto... he was looking a bit dazed and stunned! Someone had peeled off two stickers and a cute reflector light on the rear of the bike!! I rushed out and saw what had happened. I was feeling such intense rage at whoever did that unimaginable and unwarranted act! I was especially sad to see the reflector missing. It is such a cute little thing that reflects the brake light and is the highpoint of the bike's rear. I really loved the way it shone at night. The stickers too... they are on either side of the petrol tank and really stuck well.

So, someone meticulously sat there in the parking lot and peeled it off and must have used a pen-knife or something to gouge out the reflector. Who would do that? Why would they do that? Psychos for sure!!

Fortunately there are no visible scratch marks anywhere else. We enquired at the bike showroom and the stickers and reflector can be fixed. The stickers cost Rs.42 each and the reflector about Rs.15. If someone could afford that bike, will he be cheap enough to indulge in such transgression for something that costs so little? Surely it was not done for the money. It was just an act of a pervert mind. I literally cursed that whoever took it will really have a bad tummy ache and generally will suffer! I was immediately also scared that I thought of very harsh things :-( What to do? That is how my mind works.

Even though I annoy C by telling him that the bike is only so-so ;-) (come on, he never takes me for a ride on it!) I guess I felt really bad because he loves his bike and the look on his face was unbearable. He didn't seem angry.. just dejected.
Don't worry C. We will try to fix it over the weekend.

Weekend Notes

2009-07-27T16:59:00.001+05:30

Again, long time since I wrote anything in this space. Hope everyone is doing fine.

2 weeks before last we had the surprise baby shower for Art. It was the first surprise party I ever attended :-) It was good fun and of course great to meet some of the bloggers.

The next weekend we had lunch at Sigree (Hotel Aruna). The food was exceptional. I read rave reviews about their Daal Makhani and it was so true. It tasted just perfect. It is pricey but the portions are large. We actually ended up ordering for 3 people. So, asked them to pack the Daal and had it again in the evening. It still tasted yummy :-)

Last Saturday we went to the McDonalds that has opened in Anna Nagar. I think I was visiting that area after 15 years or so!

There was a long queue waiting at the entrance. It was crazy with so many people thronging the doors. We are really not Burger enthusiasts and my only junk food addiction is french fries. We just wanted to check it out for the experience. Seeing the crowd, I even suggested C to go in for a different restaurant. But, just then the doors opened and we managed to get in.

There is really nothing much to choose. We had the Veggie Meal Combo. It was decent enough. Nothing spectacular. But the people at the joint were more interesting. Elderly women, college-goers, family with kids, a group of four boys who definitely would not have been over 12 yrs! And one of the kids coolly pulled out a wad of notes from his pocket and went ahead ordering for his friends...

That got us started talking as to how things have changed... when we were kids we didn't really have this concept of pocket money. At least not in our families and not when we were 12 or 14. If we needed anything, we asked parents. It was only after I was in college that I carried money with me. That too a meager 5 or 10. Which used to last a week or two :-)

Anyway, after having a wholesome junk food dinner ;-) we walked over to the opposite side of the road to look at a huge 'electronics' shop.. they had some cool laptops, handycams, music systems on display. We enquired some and mentally noted the models/price to come home and check online.

We want to buy a good laptop for home use. So, the few regular readers of this blog, what laptop do you use and how do you find it? Or which laptop holds your fancy?
HP, Dell, Mac, Vaio?? Anything else?

History Created

2009-07-06T09:14:00.003+05:30

With Roger Federer winning his 15th Grand Slam. 6th Wimbledon title. Regaining his No.1 ranking.

Just wanted to to write this down so that I remember it for a long time...

I guess this easily surpasses the epic final of last year which was so heartbreaking. Just the fact that it was a more classic serve, volley, chip n charge game which looks extremely beautiful on Grass.. compared to a slug fest from the baseline.

I think we are very fortunate to be born in this era to witness such immaculate play, grace, humility. This was definitely not one of Roger's smooth as silk performance, instead, it showed his courage, self-belief and his fighting spirit. Which is something we could all learn and use in our lives.

What to Name it!

2009-06-15T16:49:00.002+05:30

Hope everyone out there is having a good time.

It was too much of an effort to write a post after so many days and I could not rake my brain to come with a suitable title, hence What to Name it!

So, to get out of my writer's block (ok, don't scoff at my temerity to call myself a writer), I decided to just start writing. Many times, it just takes that, doesn't it? To get started. Let me see how far this goes.

As I was having lunch at home today, I looked at the (relatively) new bookshelf that we bought and it felt nice to see all our eclectic collection of books finally find a respectable place to rest.

The shelf holds only a fraction of the books we own. If we were to collect the books of all our immediate family members, (parents and siblings) it will constitute a wonderful library.

There are people with such varied qualification in my family. My dad is a lawyer. Mom a retired Science teacher. Brother got his degree in Accounting, Sister did her Masters (and Ph.D) in Physics/Materials Science, while I did my Engineering!

C's dad is a retired banker, his Mom a math teacher, Brother an engineer and C did his MBA!

So, you can imagine the number of books found in our family. It is a dream of mine to have a neat library stacking rows and rows of these books.. ranging from Accounting to Astro Physics and Hindu Law to Management Principles!

Thanks to C being a bibliophile, apart from the technical books, there is a vast collection of books on Indian Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Vedas and Upanishad, Logical Reasoning, Critical Thinking, Books on Bharathiyar Kavithaigal, Thirukural, Salvador Dali (!) and books by Kafka, O Henry and Jane Austen.. to name a few.

As I was reminiscing about these books, I got thinking on what we wanted to be and what we ended up doing...

For instance, C wanted to do a course in Literature, but ended up doing Engineering and MBA. I was more into Sports, loved Chemistry as a subject and teaching as a vocation, but again, obtained my Bachelor of Engg. degree and now work in the IT industry.

My sister wanted to get on to a job after her graduation, she never fantasized higher education, but she ended up doing her MS and Ph.D!

My B-I-L would give his all to join a certain well established bike company but is currently working in the software field!

It seems crazy to me when I think about this. But then, in spite of not doing what we wanted, we are all pretty HAPPY now. I like my work and so does C. Sister is an accomplished Dr. and B-i-l is settled on his job.

Perhaps, there will come a time when C can pursue his interest in Philosophy or Law and Bil can become a great technician in his dream company. But as of now, things are good. In the end, isn't that more important. To be happy and contended. And I am thankful for that.

Beach - Chennai's Boon

2009-05-11T19:21:00.004+05:30

Life has been busy and hectic and all that... this weekend was no different. Also, since I have been working from home for some time now, I really don't get to see the outside world at all! Combined with few other thoughts, I was feeling so depressed on sunday evening. I was sitting and chopping some veggie for dinner and tears started welling up my eye...

C, who was strumming his guitar saw me and probably thought 'enough is enough' and asked me to just get ready. An impromptu decision was made and off we went to the beach.

Unfortunately some 100,000 others had made that decision :-) The beach was swarming with people of all ages and sizes. Nevertheless, we managed to find a parking space and quietly walked over to the sand... the breeze was blowing over and it was appreciably cooler.. not the usual sticky feeling, but a really pleasant weather. It was just soo calming.

I did two things that I have never done before in a beach. One - Ate pieces of raw mango smeared with salt & chilli powder. Two - Ate a big paper cone full of 'Kadalai Sundal' :-))

In all my years of existence, I had never tasted the beach 'sundal'. And yesterday, when C asked me if I wanted it, I just decided to give it a try! I think he was amused that I had never eaten it.. he seems to be a veteran of beach snacks. He spotted the right shops, the right food, the right everything :-)

The steamed kadalai-pori mix with a little bit of cucumber, tomato, lot of coriander and a little bit of lemon juice for that added tangy feel - Mmmm.... it was just awesome.

Within a span of 20 minutes that we stayed there, we ate Mangoes, Roasted Corn and the kadalai-pori mix :-))

Walked all the way across the sand to watch the waves. And since it was very dark we had to remain kind of cautious...just looking to our sides and behind...

That is one of the reasons I prefer going to the beach in the mornings... just a few people going on their morning walks or kids playing beach cricket/tennicoit and the like...very relaxed atmosphere. But then the snack stalls don't operate that early ;-)

We then returned home via a slightly longish route..just riding through those nice well lit roads ... C showing me around the Santhome Church area, Mylapore, Luz Corner and few other places...

Got to see 'Rex Fashions'. Years ago, I had heard it innumerable times on Radio.. it always ended with 'Rex Fashion, Luz Corner Mylapore'.

It was such a welcome break and a much needed one for me. I felt so energized and thinking about my adventure with beach food.. I had a goofy grin for a long time.

And C, thank you - for forsaking your superbike and F1 races. You may not be very demonstrative with your affection, but I know these little things are what that show how we care about each other deeply.

Hap Hap Happy Birthday....

2009-05-06T10:50:00.000+05:30

Folks, it is my birthday today :-)

I feel kind of weird to announce it on the blog but then I am sooo touched by my dearest C's gestures that I want to acknowledge it here and cherish it for a long long time.

Last evening C took me out to a nice boutique in Chetpet and got me some fabulous clothes. Lots of casual wear, summer wear types. Then we headed to Shri Mithai for a light dinner of various Chaat items.

And at mid night as I was slowloy drifting to sleep... he pulled out a nice Harmonica!! I had been eyeing that in the music store for some time... I was soo happy... he even played the Birthday song for me on it...

This morning, I received a call from Udavum Karangal and they wished me too :-) C had arranged lunch for 100 kids...needless to say, I was really touched.

And just now, I received a bouquet of the most beautiful roses! From Ferns & Petals. Light pink and darker ones.. a dozen roses in all, neatly tied with a bow and a card attached to it... oh C! you have bowled me over :-)

I don't have to say it.. but still.. thank you sooo much for everything.

I love you. You are simply the best :-))))))

Am fine.. well, almost.

2009-04-21T14:33:00.003+05:30

Thanks VJ for inquiring... please read the below rant if you are really interested :-)

The last few weeks have been extremely hectic.

Actually, we live right next to my parents and ever since we came to Madras, I haven't really cooked much. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was handled by Mom. Now, my parents have to gone to visit my sister.

So, all of a sudden I have to cook, clean and manage both the houses (both ours and parents'). Combined with some really heavy duty work at office front, my body protested!

I have been having a bad knee ache for some time now and since it worsened, I finally decided to go and seek some treatment. I visited the Kerala Ayurveda clinic for a 5 day session and everyday, for about 45 minutes I took a Abhyangam (complete oil massage) followed by a 'Elakizhi' treatment. It was good on the whole and I do feel quite rejuvenated now.

But unfortunately my father-in-law met with an accident and fractured his leg. A van knocked him off right on the Kathipara flyover! Thank god he escaped with a fractured leg and not anything more serious. Nevertheless, he has to take complete rest for a month and the doctor being closer to our place, we brought him over to our house to take care.

So, the treatment, office work, the house-keeping, cooking and taking care of F-I-L took all the time I had and more.

Now, I don't have a maid to clean the house. And realized that 3 adult males (C, my brother and F-I-L) can create quite a mess in the house! The floors are dirty, the shelves are dusty, laundry bag piling up and washed clothes dumped on chairs to be folded, vessels to be washed, plants to be watered, scores of guests and visitors to be attended and some more.... well, I lost it and was so exhausted and drained that I sat and cried piteously on 2 nights!

I don't know what point am trying to prove anyone by doing it all by myself! I feel like an idiot to have strained my body this much. I really am going to look out for a 'good' maid who can help me out starting next month. 'Good' being the keyword. Let us see how it goes.

Taking Off the Blog!

2009-04-02T13:31:00.006+05:30

I am planning to delete this blog. It was nice while it lasted. Came across a set of nice people and met a few of them as well.

But I don't know if I can keep updating this regularly... work has increased tremendously both at office and at home and keeping the blog live is just passing down the priority list.

So, thank you all for those who read these posts and special thanks for those who commented.

So, with that I bid you all good bye!

Ok! Gotcha :-)

Years ago when I was in school, I remember my friends and myself planning a trick secretly to catch teachers and other fellow students unawares on the 1st of April. It used to be such fun... even though the tricks used were pretty simple and plain, watching the reaction of the victim was extremely funny! Most of our teachers were a cool lot and enjoyed the fun along with us... few of them were a brooding lot and didn't quite appreciate our efforts ;-)

One day, someone placed one of those rubber lizards in a really tattered duster... it looked really creepy, I must say. Our Mathematics teacher came in and just as he picked up the duster unsuspectingly, he saw the 'lizard' peeping out! He gave a sharp quick cry and threw it across the floor! He was kind of furious and our not-so-silent giggles infuriated him further!

I remember how a friend's father always played the same trick on us kids... put his hands inside our bags and say 'Look a spider!!' and just pull out a thread or nothing at all! It used to be the same thing every year but still the playfulness remained intact.

Do you remember the time when Pranoy Roy did an entire new piece on 'The World this Week' about a miracle drug that made a man grow gigantically and another one a dwarf? I am not very sure about the contents.. but it was all played out neatly and slipped in as just another scientific breakthrough news - and it was not until he signed off wishing the viewers of the science news a happy April Fool's Day that we realized how cleverly they duped us!

Is this tradition on still? Do children fool each other in school? Do you guys still play pranks on your friends or folks at home on the 1st of April?

(M) ADvertisements

2009-03-30T11:13:00.004+05:30

I've been wanting to write on so many things. Nothing of great importance. Such posts are beyond me. The few readers of this blog can vouch for that.. What I wanted to write was on some of the advertisements that I came across on TV and the newspaper, that really were amusing and annoying.

There is this ad for a shampoo and the tag line goes something like 'Contains Active Pro-K'! OK, now, what is Pro-K? Maybe I am a bad example for consumer behaviour because I pretty much stick to the standard, tested routine brands. But do people really go - "Oh look! this has Pro-K and guess what it is Active too!!" Whatever!

And there is this one for a soap. The lady asks her kid to buy a soap. The girl happily runs off to get one. The lady realizes she didn't mention the soap's name and gets very hyper thinking of grave situations her daughter will face if she buys a different one! She runs after her daughter, goes to the shop - all the while imagining her kid will grow up to a pimply faced teenager! And finally, she returns home to see the kid having a nice bath with the 'Correct' soap. I just find this whole sequence so annoying. If the kid is wise enough to handle money, go alone to the right shop, isn't it a little stupid on the lady's part to assume the kid will buy some trash of a soap? I think children today are way more mature and cleverer than that. And couldn't that woman check with the shopkeeper on what soap he sold? Whatever!!

And another one (I guess a shampoo or hair oil?) - A lady takes her daughter to a cricket training facility and the coach looks at the kids's hair and says 'won't her hair get spoilt!' or something to that effect. Is he even a real coach? I personally, have never met a coach who laid importance on such trivial aspects. I don't even know what the rest of the ad says.. I lost it after that one line.

And the best of all is what I saw in the newspaper a few days back - Courtyard Marriott is offering a soothing spa treatment called 'Coconut Caress Massage' that uses a blend of cane sugar, grated coconut and sweet cardamom and plantain wrap!! I really burst out laughing reading that! I could use all that make some nice mouth watering Burfi!!

Initially it was only 'Kadalai Maavu' (Besan) and cream of milk or rose water, lemon extract that was used. Now it seems, I can empty my entire kitchen shelf save the chilli powder and just wallow in it for spa treatment and such like!

Oh my god! grated coconut and sweet cardamom.. I still can't get over it!

Simple Pleasures of Life

2009-03-24T23:05:00.003+05:30

It was past 10 in the night. I heard a sound... the front gate almost crashed open. I heard the bike vroom in. C had come home.

I went out to generally wave at him when he came rushing from his bike. He held a small plastic bag in his hand...I had no clue what it was. "Fast! Fast!!", he said. "What is it??" - He had two grape flavoured ice sticks from Arun :-D

I quickly went and put in two plates and he didn't even bother to remove his shoes... both of us were happily licking it and seeing whose lips had turned more pink!

Bloggers' Park!

2009-03-23T10:51:00.004+05:30

Venue: Cafe Coffee Day, Adyar
Day/Time: Saturday, 4.30 PM
Occasion: Blogger's Meet

When Art informed of a blogger's meet last week, I was a little apprehensive. I so wanted to meet them all and see the faces behind the words that I read so religiously almost everyday. But there was this little something that was bothering me... I jokingly told C that it was 'Stranger Anxiety'. But then, he asked me to just go ahead and have fun. He seemed even more excited and was scouring google maps for the exact location!

So on Saturday, after moping around a bit, I finally decided to get ready. And I am glad I went. Met some really cool and fun people along with super cute kids :-)

Artnavy - She has this very pleasing air about her that I fell at ease immediately. Anush is just as sweet in person as she is in the photos. And thanks again Art for inviting me.

Itchy - It was good to see the face behind Mamma of Twins. She didn't bring along Ojas & Tejas though... I would have loved to see them.

CrazyMum - Couldn't talk much to her but I was stumped to see that she is the mother of 2 very sweet kids. Unbelievable.

Kodi's Mom - Again, if not for her blog, no one will really guess that she has 2 kids. Very 'just out of college' looking.

Lavs - She is so easy to get along with. And has a very infectious smile. Her kid is just a replica of his dad! She thought I looked familiar... let me know Lavs if you figure out where we could have met.

Timepass - The mystery queen! LOL! She and Art had planned to surprise the rest of us but Anush was very determined to make friends with Punch and the Surprise Aunty.
Punch is one very adorable baby. With large expressive eyes, she was just observing everyone with such interest. It is hard to believe it was she who punched the doll that was gifted to her.

For photos, go here

Finally, I was stunned to see all the kids so well behaved. It was all we adults making the ruckus!

I, Me, Myself

2009-03-09T10:04:00.010+05:30

Just when I was mulling over the idea of writing a 'Weekend Musings' post, I saw that VJ had tagged me!

The Rules are:
Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to link the person who tagged you.

OK - first an award from Art and now a tag from VJ. It sure feels like being a part of the real blog world now :-)

But I don't know if there are 25 things to write about myself... let me make a start and see how far it goes...

1. Am a Taurean. When I read the characteristics of a Taurean, I was amazed to see how well I fit into it.

2. I am a lefty. I write and do most of the everyday activities with my left hand but I eat with my right hand. I say that because I have had many people (in school, college) come up to me and ask if I eat with my left! (rolling my eyes)

3. Am reasonably tall. Am not a 6 footer or something, but a nice bit over the average height. I think am secretly happy about it because am not very fair (as in white skinned) and so having my height kind of gives me confidence!

4. I like to dance. Or rather choreograph. I get amazing moves in my mind for certain songs and I visualize myself dancing with such grace and rhythm :-) But the irony is I have NEVER learned it or danced in a party or whatever. It is just something I do in my mind (and sometimes along with C at home)

5. I am quite lazy. I need to be prodded to complete a task. But sometimes I get a spurt of energy and get things done like a whirlwind! (this weekend, a case in point)

6. I have quite strong likes and dislikes. If I don't like something, I detest 'it' completely. 'It' can be food, person, clothes... anything. At the same time, if I love something, then I do it wholeheartedly. Almost like a puppy... no matter even if you push me away, I will come right back to you happily.

7. I have this fetish of having pillows, bed covers and bed sheets in a certain way. Like the label of my bed sheet should be on the lower left corner. - So you are beginning to think am a nut case...

8. When am alone, cooking or folding clothes or doing one of those random chores, I sometimes talk to myself (not aloud but I have some silent conversation with either myself or with C!) - OK, even if you gave me the benefit of doubt on the last point, you are now branding me a freak!

9. Whenever I get a new dress, I wear it immediately and keep wearing it many times over the week. But I am not interested in make-up. I think I look pretty and beautiful the way I am. (go ahead, laugh all you want.)

10. I also consider myself very intelligent(!) If I set myself to a task, I do it exceptionally well. I work very fast too. But I am not very career oriented. I many times feel like quitting work and sitting at home. I have this almost arrogant belief that I can get a job whenever I want.

11. I have quite some characteristics of OCD. I almost break the door knob checking and re-checking if it is locked, wash my hands after touching anything I deem dirty - like the kitchen towel or the tip of the perfectly clean trash cover. (I have decided to make a fool of myself - this is fun!)

12. I sometimes get stuck on a song that I hear somewhere and it goes on loop continuously for days together. I sing, record it on the sound recorder (the one available on most computers), listen to my own voice (mostly destroying the song) and delete the file!

13. I can touch my nose with my tongue.

14. In spite of the long tongue, I strictly don't like to gossip (about relatives or people known to us very well) but I do indulge occasionally in gabfest about film actors, politicians etc.

15. I was an athlete in school. An erstwhile football player. I was really good at it. I love (almost all) sports. But now, I mostly watch it and hardly play. C & I occasionally play badminton (so that I don't let him go and play it with his friends - in spite of my real good motive for him to have some exercise) - Am sure VJ can empathize here.

16. I have just 1 or 2 very close friends. Had many friends during school/college days, but most of them are now acquaintances. Right now, apart from C, I have one very dear friend.

17. And as VJ wrote in her list, we (C & I) too listen to Crazy Mohan's and SV.Sekar's plays every night... it is good to go to sleep smiling. And we know almost all the dialogues by heart and keep using it now and then in our conversation.

18. My list reads almost like that 'list your quirkiness' tag that did the rounds long back... Let me remedy it. C & I had a love marriage. C was my senior in college.

19. I used to write poetry. Actually C used to write them as well and that is how we met and started to know each other in college. And if it is not obvious from my posts, I love C very much. :-) Almost all my posts have a reference to him.

20. I like to travel and see new places. It could be anything... need not be anything exotic. Even a simple visit to the beach invigorates and awakens the poet in me.

21. I think am quite a conscientious person. I would like to devote more time towards certain socially helpful causes.

22. Am also a very short tempered person. I get inflamed very easily.

23. Am a silly romantic at heart. I love surprises and flowers.

24. Even though I try hard not to be judgemental, when I see people belonging to different faith or upbringing I tend to form an opinion in my head (not always negative, but just that it plays a part in the way I perceive them). That being said, I am really incapable of identifying people correctly.

25. Phew! Finally, I love the Grape flavoured ice stick (mostly available only from Arun Ice cream) and since there is one sitting in the fridge am going to lick it to my heart's content and see how purple my tongue and lips are! What joy :-)

I can't tag 25 people. I just tag Timepass., I think it will be good to know some 25 random things about her.

A Song So Mellifluous...

2009-03-03T22:51:00.006+05:30

...not just for the ears but also for the soul.

Just happened to listen to a song on TV and since then it is on continuous loop on youtube!! Just close your eyes and listen to it... it just tugs your heart in such a way that it is simply divine!

Isai Kettal Puvi Asaindhaadum

And the lyrics: (some mistakes, but the best that I could find)

SMS kijiye MDW 57575 par...

2009-03-03T08:58:00.007+05:30

... aur jeethiye 95,000 Ruppppeeees!! (read it as Rupppeees in a loud and shrill screaching tone!) Well, this is what we watched on TV last night for about 30 minutes. While channel surfing, we hit upon something called Play TV. The program that was running was called 'Bollywood Chakkar' and there was this girl who kept talking non-stop. But the amusing part was she kept repeating just some 10 lines over and over and over!! SMS kijiye, paisa jeethiye, actress kaun hai, paisa jeethiye, SMS kijiye, jaldi phone uttayen, SMS kijiye... you get the drift! Oh my god. We were just stunned to see this girl keep her tempo and energy and repeat these words super fast without a trace of ennui.

The game was to identify some actress in a grid...they just showed her eyes and people were to SMS to a number and wait for the channel to call them(so that you can guess your answer). The more the number of SMS you send, the better the chances of you getting a call from them. And there was a fine print running at the bottom of the screen... and it was... each SMS costs Rs.10!! Can you believe it? I guess the channel (and the telecom providers) wait till they rake in millions and then let one caller get a measly Rs.15,000 (it was 95K if you go on to win a box office, which never happened). - edited to add: 15K is not a paltry sum.. just that compared to the amount they actually earn, it is pittance.

C returned home from work late last night and we were having dinner when we stopped at this channel. He took one quick look at those eyes and said it was 'Katrina Kaif'. I thought it was Karishma Kapoor. And C was right. Yeah, C was right! Am still puffing and fuming!

I wondered whether he could identify if someone showed him a picture of my ear! He said, "no, an ear is difficult, I can't identify anyone with their ear.. but if someone showed me your eyes, I can guess it." Whatever! Hmph!

On a totally unrelated note, I just realized Mangaldeep agarbathis are manufactured by ITC. Does it absolve them of their profits earned through the main product?

Well, C quipped that whatever ITC does, the end product is smoke! Ha.

What does it take to like a city?

2009-02-25T10:01:00.003+05:30

If you are born and brought up in a particular city, then of course your loyalty will lie there.. But what if you are compelled to move to a different city, isn't it to your advantage to start liking it?

I have this colleague who has got transferred from Gurgaon to Mumbai and she is not liking it one bit. She swears by Delhi (being born and raised there) and is just unwilling to see the nicer points of the new city she's moved into. No matter how much I try to tell her subtly that the place will grow on her, she is steadfast in her idea.

I had never ventured outside Madras till I got married and moved to Gurgaon. But I kind of liked that place... though there is nothing much to do apart from the Malls. We kind of felt bored occasionally, but we definitely didn't dislike it.

But I guess it is different with Delhi and Mumbai. People who are used to Delhi will not take to Mumbai and vice versa. Atleast that is what C says... he did his MBA in Mumbai and I think next to Chennai he likes that city a lot. I have never visited the place yet and from all the tales C tells of his college, the trains, the fast pace of life, vada-pav and cutting chai :-), I would like to see it some time...

Auto Ride

2009-02-11T14:19:00.003+05:30

I was spared some four times from getting crushed under a speeding vehicle last night. (OK C, if you are reading this, don't get agitated. I didn't tell you last night because you were already exhausted after a very tiring day.)

Travelling back and forth between office and home is becoming increasingly difficult. I left my workplace about 7.30 last evening and since I was sapped, decided against the bus and took an auto. And from the second that I boarded, it was a non-stop thrill ride. The driver had absolutely no lane sense. Cutting across lanes like he owned the road, I remember my heart skipping a beat many a times!

I repeatedly asked him to slow down but he was nonchalant to my protests. At one point I completely lost it. He had coolly driven on the other side of the lane with traffic coming head on, just so that he can take the signal first. After he heard some choicest foul words from few passing motorists, I gave him some gyaan.

When I first asked him to slow down, he asked me - 'why madam are you scared?'
I felt my temper raising, but I held it back and asked him how he felt about his own driving. I told him he (and the passenger!) won't be lucky every single time. An extra 5 minutes is NOT a big deal when the other option is to get squashed like a bee. Why wouldn't auto drivers be the most hated folks of the public transport system? If someone collides with your auto, how can you complain when you are clearly on the wrong side of the road?

I spoke rapidly and with real passion and he was quite for a few seconds and then said 'Sorry madam, I will drive carefully.' I thought he was just being sarcastic but he did drive like a sane man after my short lecture. He again said, 'I realize madam, I will drive slowly...' I said, it is for your own good that I told you.

I was glad I reached home in one piece.

This driver, I noted, had terribly crossed eyes. I was left wondering what the requirement for eyesight was before issuing a driving permit.

My Best Friend's Wedding

2009-02-09T14:53:00.004+05:30

was on Sunday, Feb 8th. I was really very happy to see her after some 6 years or so!
S is a dentist and is now the wife of a Doctor, Major. I feel proud and happy. I wish her a very happy, fulfilling and peaceful married life.

I hardly had any close friends. I had a few during my early school days and a couple of them in high school. S was one of them. I have to confess this friendship started from her first. While I was naive or rather stupid expecting few other girls to be my friends, who actually turned out pretty nasty, S was constantly by my side always giving me strength to cope with the new-school blues and the curt behaviour of some. I took time to warm up to her but slowly she turned out to be my best buddy in school. Ironically, we lost touch for many yrs and this helped reach out to her again. And from then on, it has been like before.

And in preparing to attend the wedding, I made my first purchase of 'make-up' :-)
Found a Health and Body shop near our place and it was a rather quick and impulsive buy. I detest going to these shops because of my fear of being ridiculed (!) at my lack of knowledge on cosmetics and the like. However, the staff manning this shop were pretty friendly. I made no bones about the fact that I knew nothing of foundation, compact and all that jazz. I asked her point blank what I needed to do and she very patiently explained it to me. After checking the prices of a few things, I decided to buy myself a Lakme compact and a nail enamel. Ha!

Agony

2009-02-06T13:29:00.008+05:30

Does a woman attain nirvana when she produces a child? Is that the culmination of her feminineness? Is it her purpose upon this earth to see to that she produces offsprings? Are thoughts such as these detrimental to my health?? Am in such anguish right now. I so detest seeing this 'so and so blessed with a baby' mail in my official inbox. Really, am not bad, even if I say so myself. But at times it just feels like someone is driving a nail through my heart. I don't want to envy anybody.. but please god, give me some peace of mind. I don't want to sob like this, sitting in office.

Temptations

2009-02-04T14:52:00.005+05:30

I just finished lunch.

Across my table sits a small snack box. Containing classic salted banana chips, Sarakara Upperi (banana chips coated with jaggery and ginger powder) and Sihili (Ellu Urundai ie, sesame seeds roasted, powdered and mixed with jaggery and made in the form of small balls)

I resolve to eat it only (at least) after an hour. And by the time it takes me to type these lines, I have tasted the Upperi!

What do I do? Oh! what do I do?

Weekend Notes III

2009-01-27T09:24:00.002+05:30

Finally some fodder for a post! Hope all of you had a nice relaxing long weekend. Ours was good too. Saturday was spent at home - cleaning, washing and the works. BIL (call him A) arrived saturday evening and the rest of the time was spent chatting and eating!

Sunday morning we woke up early (OK - by 6.45) and after having some oatmeal, mounted the bike to go on a long ride. BIL took his and C&I on the new FZ. We first went to the beach(Marina), rode further along and reached the Besant Nagar beach and then went further ahead to Foreshore Estate, Adyar, reached OMR and all the way till Sholinganallur(a little further than that)! It was such a beautiful ride... the air was so clean, unpolluted and slightly chilly that it made for a perfect weather. We swapped bikes on the return took a detour to Velachery on OMR and reached home by 9.30 or so. Some 50 kms. we had travelled.

Had some snacks and watched the Australian Open match between Federer and Berdych. What a match it was. We were to go out for lunch and I desperately wished for a TMF win (to be in a nice frame of mind) and finally he won in 5 sets!

We took A to Osteria again ;-) and as usual had a fabulous lunch. On our way back, C asked us if we wanted to go somewhere else. In spite of being in Chennai for so long, I haven't really been to many places. Even places like Mylapore are 'new' to me. C on the other hand knows the city better than his wardrobe! He and my father can work for Google maps. I am sure they can give directions to any place, no matter what your mode of conveyance is. While C is very good with the public transport systems, my dad can give driving directions like a pro.

Now, C has lived in the Mandaveli area for quite some years. So he decided to show me the place where they had a house. We parked the car and walked into a nice small lane lined on both sides with houses and shops. C & A were thrilled to see the place after so many years and I was enjoying their happiness :-) After reminiscing the past, we all headed back to the car and decided to drive all the way to Adyar to see C's school, St.Patricks (where he did his 11th and 12th). Being a Sunday, it was closed. But what a magnificent campus it has! Such a serene place with huge trees and lots of open space, right behind Adyar river... it was splendid. If only the authorities took care of the river and remove the stench, it simply will be terrific.
We chatted with the watchman and C was inquiring about the present and past teachers. Finally, we took some photos outside the school and left with C feeling rather nostalgic. We thought we'd head home but on the way, I spotted the Birla Planetarium. We've been wanting to go there for quite some time and so decided impromptu to check it out. We reached there by 3.50 or so and a show had started by 3.45. But since there was quite a crowd, they announced a special show at 4.30.
We bought the tickets - it was a package of Rs.45 each, included entry, a 3D 'science' movie and the planetarium show, and ventured into the area. The 3D show was quite a disappointment. Well, I guess the 15-20 odd kids liked it, but it could have been a thousand times better. We were left wondering why they called it a 'science' movie. There was nothing scientific in it. Except of course the 3D techonolgy! It looked like they played some cheap video game (the kind that you get in a CD that comes along with PC world magazine). The first 5 minutes didn't make any sense. There was something like a rocket/missile launcher and the camera zoomed across, up and down into a series of tunnels and laboratory type rooms. The screen blanked out for a few seconds and the next scene was at a lab with a goofy scientist. Couldn't understand a word he spoke... it all sounded gibberish and mostly like the computer sound that you get on a casio keyboard. He tries to invent something when all goes wrong and he ends up 'inventing' a snake, skull and some tortoise-like aliens! Oh, it was such crap. The snake and skull kind of come into 3D and that bit was interesting, but on the whole it was way below average.

This show ended in 15 minutes and we moved across to the hall for the 4.30 show. It was almost 4.50 by the time they started. The main show was good. Atleast they had kept it current w.r.t Pluto's planetary status and newly found heavenly bodies. There was no mention of Chandrayaan. Again, it could have been much better.

After the show, we went around the science park located within the campus. They had some interesting stuff but sadly most of them did not work and were damaged. We were left wondering why it lacked maintenance. Nevertheless, we tried out things that were functioning and it was actually hilarious. Finally, it was time to return home after a totally unplanned but fun-filled outing.

Dakshina Chitra

2009-01-12T12:22:00.010+05:30

After reading about this place in many blogs, I thought we should visit it one weekend. Dakshina Chitra or Picture of the South as they call it, is situated right next to MGM Dizee world on the ECR. It is a nice little quaint place that has the various types of houses found within Tamilnadu and also, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhrapradesh. Apart from that, there are some craft shops, a nice amphitheater, some 'learn to paint/stitch/weave' set-ups, lots of trees and open space to generally walk around.

By reading through the various placards we came to know that some of the traditional houses they had there, were authentic stuff from villages and how it had been transported and preserved to serve as a model.

There were lots of small playthings on sale at each of the model houses. At one of them was the Bambaram! When I saw the colorful top being sold I immediately thought C would love it, and there, I could see his eyes lit up! He spun it there many times and dad too joined to try his hand at it! It was all good fun. Mom and I could not get to spin the top on its nail tip and it instead twirled on its head!

On the whole, it was a nice change to learn about the various types of architecture, types of fabric, designs, religious beliefs, see some folk dance with 'Tappatai' and also a dance show in the open air theater.

However, I felt that the place could be made more colorful and lively. After having been to Choki Dhani in Jaipur many times, this place somehow lacked that zest and vigor. Also, only Tamilnadu and Kerala was well represented in terms of the types of houses while Karnataka and AP had just one or two models. Though they were very neatly maintained, they looked kind of abandoned and there was hardly a soul to explain what certain artifacts meant.

Some things that I thought will give more character to the place:

Get men/women of respective cities/castes to have a small food stall showcasing their traditional fare. Nothing draws people like some well-made delicious food!!

Some more game stalls. Like a bow&arrow game, or a dart board...

Music and Dance - Hire some more artists and have a mini stage for them to perform. Anything from Karagattam to 'Poi Kaal Kudhirai' dance.

Some more Action - maybe Silambattam, Kalaripayattu and other traditional martial arts from the other southern states.

If they can implement some of these and market this place well, it is truly a wonderful tourist spot!

And on Saturday, C and I visited Osteria again! I think it was the second outing for us after this. One of the things that I miss occasionally, after moving to Chennai, is the time I get to spend with C exclusively! Almost every weekend we seem to have visitors and staying just next to my parents' doesn't make it any easier for us to venture out as a couple often. We mostly take them along where ever we go and not under any compulsion but just that we truly enjoy spending time with everybody. But once in a while, I would like to savour some quality time with C and Saturday's lunch at Osteria was one such. The food being excellent we had a good time devouring every bit of it :-) We were so satiated that I almost skipped dinner.

Had a nice weekend overall. Spent time with C and also with family. (Rhyme unintended!)

Welcome 2009

2009-01-02T09:01:00.003+05:30

Wish you all a very happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful New Year.

Hope all our cherished dreams come true and hope this year is a pleasant one filled with happiness and joy, success and contentment.

The first new addition to the family for us is a brand new bike... C finally convinced me [;)] and so we went ahead and booked a Yamaha FZ. The bike arrives today.

So, Go C! Happy biking!! :-)

Surprise your Dear One

2008-12-19T11:16:00.004+05:30

This is a nice gift to your dear ones.

Swanky watches, iPods and gadgets are always an option, but somehow the thrill, the joy and the satisfaction of knowing that some 100 kids will have a nice lunch and at the same time thank you and remember you on that day is just priceless!

Go ahead! Try it. I surprised my dear one today.

Clueless I was when I first saw you,
How my life would change forever and for good,
Another lifetime I ask the creator to provide,
Never enough for my love that'll never subside
Doing everyday-little things with you is bliss,
Ripens our bond and for that, I blow you a kiss
And, thank you for all that you are to me, Happy Birthday my dearest C!!

The Garbage Truck & the Wise Driver

2008-12-10T14:21:00.002+05:30

One day I hopped into a taxi and we took off to the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy and I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it on to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..... 'Love the people who treat you right.

Pray for the ones who don't - that they see the wisdom of their foolish ways'

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Got this in my mail box and thought of sharing it...

Yay! Awarded!

2008-12-09T14:25:00.007+05:30

I have to admit I always imagined getting one of those blog awards :-) It makes one feel very content and accepted. And, as I logged into my blog this morning, I see that I have indeed been awarded!

Gracious Art has bestowed on me, my very first blog award! Yippee.

It is called the Proximity award

and here is what it means:

This award is given to a blog that invests and believes in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

I guess I should pass this award to 8 more people. I can pass it to many more (all the blogs in my reader), but I will mention the two that I really want to thank.

One is Art herself, for being the sole commentator on my posts thereby encouraging me not to abandon the blog.

And another is Timepass - She did something that really touched me. So, I want to thank her for that.

Thank you, Once again.

International Day of Disabled Persons

2008-12-03T18:04:00.002+05:30

December 3 is observed as International Day of Disabled Persons.

Let us try to do our bit by helping the differently abled. Even small gestures as helping them cross a busy road will go a long way.

Pete on Federer

2008-12-03T12:47:00.005+05:30

I am a huge Roger Federer fan. In fact him losing the Wimbledon should feature in the list of disasters of 2008!

Pete Sampras talks about Federer and Nadal and he says:

"It will be interesting to see what happens with Nadal next year," said the
37-year-old. "The amount of work he has to do to stay on top and stay healthy - I think that's where Roger has a bit of an advantage because it takes a lot less
energy for Roger to stay on top than Nadal.

"Rafa's strung so tight and the guy is an absolute animal. He puts so much effort into each point that eventually something will break. "There's a certain grind that he goes through, unlike Roger who is a lot more fluid and wins matches a lot easier.

"But when you're the best player in the world and people are gunning for you
year after year, that's when it takes its toll and it'll be interesting to see
how he handles that."

Finally, someone has spoken exactly what was on my mind.

Terror Fear

2008-12-03T10:30:00.003+05:30

Yesterday I was in office by 9.15 or so. There were hardly 5 or 6 other people as people only start trickling in by 10.30 or so.

My seat is closer to the entrance and the office space is one huge hall with the restrooms and a small pantry room on the other side of the hall.

As I was sitting contemplating the day's work ahead I was suddenly engulfed by some sense of deep fear! What if some terrorists barged into the office? I know there were few security personnel downstairs checking the identity of anyone entering the premises. Also, I sit on the 6th floor. But still! What if they mercilessly shoot them down and take siege of the building? What should I do? Where will I hide? Under the desk? Nah! That is too obvious. Isn't that the place everyone chooses to hide? Won't those well-trained terrorist know that much? Can I run all the way across the hall to the emergency exit? Should I crawl across the floor and hide behind the stored cartons containing some newly arrived printers and servers? What about the steel bureau right across my desk? What about the wood and glass bookshelf next to it? Can I nudge it a little forward and creep behind it? My stomach was churning and my mind was racing! Trrring..... I hear a huge beep and mobile starts vibrating... C calls. I snap back to reality. Phew!

2008

2008-12-02T15:16:00.007+05:30

The last month of this so-far dreadful year has come. I really want to get this over with. Perhaps the personal loss we suffered makes me see only the negatives this year...here are some terrible incidents (few personal and many other natural and man-made disasters) that took place.

April - Great personal loss. Lost my baby when I was 16 weeks pregnant.

May - Blasts in Jaipur (a city that I have begun to love, thanks to the frequent trips that we made while in Gurgaon)

May - Sichuan (in China) Earthquake of magnitude 8.0 M

July - Blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad

August - One of my Perippa (my mom's elder sister's husband) passes away

September - Blasts in New Delhi in GK II and Connaught Place area

September - Blasts in Malegaon

October - Another perippa passes away!

October - Blasts in Tripura and Manipur

October - Blasts in Assam

November - Terror Attacks in Mumbai

Not to mention the economic downturn.

These are just few of the ghastly incidents that took place over this year. Especially in India. I don't even want to attempt listing down WW happenings!

I really pray for all those who lost their lives. Especially for my beloved baby. I miss you so much.

The heart is heavy and the mind is numb,

Seeing the loss, bloodshed and apathy, am dumb.

But what is life without hope and so I pray to you,

Please give us a happy, healthy, peaceful year and help us start a fresh life anew

Terror Attack

2008-11-27T16:43:00.004+05:30

Yet another incident to this already dreadful year!

I wish, that may (at least) the soul of all those kids, women and men who were killed by the terror attacks in Mumbai, rest in peace.

I wish, we as a country did something, anything to prove to those militants that they can't get away with this.

I wish, the politicians for once, will set aside their differences and join hands to pulverize each and every terrorist who did this.

A trip to Villupuram

2008-11-25T12:48:00.006+05:30

Yet another action-packed weekend it was. Most of Saturday was spent at home, cleaning and shopping for veggies. The B-I-L arrived late evening as we had to attend a betrothal ceremony in Vizhupuram on Sunday. We got to bed by 10 to rest well so that we can start by 4.30 the next morning. But we just tossed and turned and couldn't sleep much and finally woke up by 4AM. We got ready by 5 or so, had some oatmeal and also stocked up a lot of biscuits, corn-puffs, fryums and other items for snacking and got everything into the car and started by 5.30!

It started raining soon after we started and it was pouring very heavily till Vandalur. It was still quite dark and with the rains lashing down furiously, we were quite skeptical if we could make it to the function on time (the ceremony was to commence by 7.45).

But once we reached the National Highway, there was no sign of rain though it was cloudy. But the sun was rising and with the smooth road ahead it was just perfect! The air was cool, almost chilly and as we were zipping across the highway it was sublime. The highway (NH4) is maintained extremely well. The entire stretch till Tindivanam is as smooth as silk! Listening to some wonderful music, eating, chatting and laughing, we drove along the road merrily.
I can't stop gushing at the wonderful sights that awaited us. Lush green fields, mighty hills with the clouds caressing its tops, little hamlets on the side roads... it was blissful.

The road after Tinidvanam (incidentally the point after the last toll gate) is not very good. It is not too bad either, but we had to reduce our speed drastically to 50-60kmph or so. After some phone calls to the relatives present at the mandapam, we finally reached the place by 8 or so, to be welcomed by so many smiling and excited faces.

C's dad's family is a big one. My F-I-L has 3 brothers and 4 sisters. All are married and have kids. So, you can imagine the number of cousins C has. There was a lot of singing and dancing going on and we had a great time with everyone. Had a nice lunch and spent another 2 hours lazing around the hall. We were the only family left and the cleaners made it obvious that they wanted us to vacate so that they can set right the hall for the next day! So, finally everyone packed their bags and it was decided that we visit Lord Muruga at Mailam. Mailam is the 'Kula Deivam' for us. This was the first time I was visiting it. It is situated on top of a small hill that you can drive up to. Had a very nice darshan and after bidding farewell to all the chithappas, chithis and cousins we began our journey to Chennai by 5 in the evening.

After yet another excellent ride together with some soul-stirring old tamil film music, we reached Tambaram by 6.15 or so. From there it was a crawl due to some heavy traffic. Dropped Fil, Mil and Bil at their house and we drove back to our home.

It was almost 8 by the time we reached home and directly went to my Mom's place for dinner and we went to bed by 10.30 or so. We slept like logs!

Woke up by 9.30 or so and didn't feel like budging out of the bed. I coaxed, cajoled and pleaded C to take the day off. He too agreed and voila! it was a wonderful day to spend with C at home. I connected from home but there was hardly any work to do... so we had a leisurely lunch and were just idling around. C had some work in the afternoon and since we were expecting some guests in the evening, I started thinking about dinner preparations.

I started cooking around 5 or so. Prepared Spicy Mushroom-Peas Gravy, Veg Fried Rice, Raitha and Mom quickly prepared Kesari laden with raisins and almonds! We had our first real guests on Monday. Again, we immensely enjoyed the time we spent with them. They all really liked the food and praised me amply :-)

Again after a thoroughly enjoyable and also exhausting day we hit the bed by 11. So, that was how our extended weekend was spent.

A Bus Ride and Car Re-Registration

2008-11-20T15:56:00.007+05:30

After almost 6 or 7 years, I travelled by the MTC bus! I mostly work from home (WFH) and drop into office occasionally. Tuesday was one such day. I still don't know many people in this new office and have just one or two people for company. So, I checked with one of the colleagues and she too wanted to leave by 5 in the evening. Took a 'Share auto' from office to reach the bus stop and then boarded a bus to reach home. It cost me less than Rs 10. If I had taken an auto like I usually do, it would have cost me Rs 80. Gulp! Guilt.

There are so many new buses that have been introduced. My colleague apprised me on the variety. A normal white board, yellow board, Express and Air-conditioned buses with automatic doors! Wow! While we were waiting for our bus, I got to see a brand new A/C bus and it looked very sophisticated. The driver was wearing a khaki uniform with a neat peaked cap! I so wanted to board it, but unfortunately it was not going anywhere near my destination.

But then huddling together with 4 or 5 other people in a medium sized auto, what with the bulky laptop bag and lunch bag, and not to mention the crowded bus, again standing amidst all those jostling men and women... I don't mind the occasional 80 bucks. Unless I figure out the optimal time to take the bus. Maybe after 10 in the morning and return by 5 in the evening and then WFH... need to sort this out.

Now, after a couple of trips to the MCO (Most Corrupt Office)i.e the RTO, we paid the road tax and have obtained the receipt. Yay! Apparently, we can drive around with this, till we get our new number. I was amply warned by ArtNavy's post on re-registration. So we were kind of prepared for the routine. Since my dad knew someone who knew someone in the RTO, who in turn, knew someone else in car registration dept., things happened pretty fast. Of course we had to grease those already dirty hands! Thousands for tax and a few more thousands for the guy who moved the papers. I was seething with rage but C and dad told me that Anniyans and Indians happen only in movies! Sigh.

Anyway, there are 2 plays in Vani mahal this Sunday. Crazy's Chocolate Krishna at 4PM and SV Sekar's Vaal Paiyan at 7. Let us see if we are able to catch the latter. Need the weekend quota of laughter.

Am Ashamed

2008-11-13T20:28:00.003+05:30

I was quite irritable whole of last night and woke up this morning feeling a little better. Had some residual grouchiness but it slowly faded away. Thanks to C's persistent efforts to make me smile :-)

I don't know what made me feel so crabby. I only know it started soon after I saw that Law College incident on Sun News channel. What was that? Why were they behaving like barbarians? Why was the police (and media) just standing there without intervening? I don't want to go into this in more detail as I can feel my rage again... But, will these people EVER change? Don't tell me it happens everywhere... if it happens then that has to change as well. And No, I don't have any solution. I can only feel remorseful and cry my heart out. What I try is, to be as compassionate and tolerant as possible. That is all I can do.

That particular piece of violence agitated me so much and I couldn't sleep till 3 AM!! Combined with the fact that I am PMSing I was snappy and C had to bear my brunt. Sorry C, am really sorry.

I was working from home today. C pinged me asking me to go out and feel the pleasant and cool air...it was raining and he knew it would make feel better. And better I felt.

Work was light today, so I prepared Tofu Manchurian Soup and Mushroom-Peas pulao. C darling, it is for you. Hope you will like it. Am sorry for my abominable behaviour last night. But what to do? Blame it on the hormones!

I feel truly ashamed - of myself and of the state my country is degenerating into.

Weekend Notes II

2008-11-10T11:16:00.006+05:30

While we were in Gurgaon our weekends were like this - Wake up late, lunch outside, laze around at home rest of the day, play badminton in the evening, Dinner, TV till late night. Maybe once in a month or two month we used to drop into a mall, window shop, eat some junk and head out. It was fun too, but after we moved to Chennai, the weekends have so much more activity, laughter, quality time that it is almost as hectic as a weekday but nevertheless, we enjoy it tremendously.

We woke up late Saturday (this trend hasn't changed much from Gurgaon ;-)) and immediately rushed to Pro-musicals to meet with a Guitar master.

Now, C started learning Guitar in Gurgaon and upon the master's insistence traded his Accoustic for a brand new Electric guitar and amplifier. C is musically gifted. He will protest at me for having said this. But I truly believe so. He has talent. The genuine, innate talent. I know he will make a fine guitarist (or for that matter a violinist or a singer as well). Also, having invested a bit heavily on such a nice piece of instrument, I really want him to join a good institute so that he can start his musical venture once again. We are scouring the internet, newspaper and other media on the lookout for a good music school. Came across a few and there is something or the other lacking. If the master is good, he is too busy. If the master is willing, the student doesn't find a rapport with him!

So, this master at Pro-musicals, a native of Nagaland(!), seemed nice and I think C also liked him. We decided it is better to start somewhere sooner than later and maybe after a month or two, we can re-evaluate it.

Had a late lunch and by 4 or so B-I-L (let's call him A) joined us. We soon left for our weekend veggie shopping. Also stopped by at Nilgiris and purchased a LOT of stuff. It was a mistake to take C and A along! They wanted to pick almost everything they could lay their hands on. Biscuits, Pasta, Soup Sachets, Beverages (they found Ragotine!), Tofu (B-I-L is a big protein freak!) and what not! So, we lugged everything back and reached home finally by 7 or so. Devoured all the assorted junk and I prepared pasta for dinner. After 10, C, A and I started our goofy session :-) I think no one can beat us at talking non-stop nonsense. Had a riot pulling A's leg and he in turn made us confess some of our pre-wedding secrets. It went on and on and on till 1 AM, after which we were too tired to talk or laugh and so finally hit the bed.

Sunday morning, I prepared lunch for 6 people. I think that's the largest for which I've cooked. Since we stay right next my mom's place, I have almost stopped cooking(!), so it was quite a deal for me ;-) Father-in-law joined us for lunch and I was beaming when the vendaikkai vathak-kozhumbu, onion-brinjal fry and rasam vanished in 15 minutes flat! It was very well liked and I felt sooo proud :-) I don't cook quite often, but when I do, I'd like to think I do it well. (Even if I say so myself ;-))

At 2.30 we four(C, A, F-I-L and I) left to visit C's cousin at the OTA (Officer's Training Academy). She did her Engineering in Mumbai and was selected for the Army (electronics and technical division). But they have a mandatory 1 year training at the OTA. She has already lost 3 kgs! Their routine starts at 4.30 in the morning and they hit the sack by 1 or so! Hardly 4 hrs of sleep a day!! But she seems to be enjoying the whole thing. It is such an inspiration to see her and the other cadets at the academy. Every time we visit her, the next day we religiously get on the exercise bike to get ride off a few calories. The motivation last a day or two before we are back to our routine. I guess seeing her twice a week will be a good idea. (Selfish reason)

Reached home by 5.30. I prepared some pani-puri and again we quickly gobbled up every bit of it. And then came the highlight of the day. We are suckers for S.Ve Sekar and Crazy Mohans' plays and went to Vani Mahal to see 'Chocolate Krishna Crazy's latest drama, it was uproarious! You can read the story gist from the link. It very much appealed to people of all ages. At one point the entire Sabha was laughing so hard that people started coughing! There is a bit where Maadhu's boss does a interview (the boss takes credit for Maadhu's work) and so Lord Krishna decides to help Maadhu. He casts his spell on the boss and so whenever the boss opens his mouth to answer the questions, he says whatever Maadhu speaks! (A bit like Bruce Almighty sequence) When the interviewer asks the boss his name, he says, my name is 'Bathroom-poren' (His name actually is Mathruboodham!!) Try as much as he can, he is unable to control his mouth and for the next 5 minutes the boss is done to bits with some whacky and embarrassing answers.

Some other jokes that had the audience in splits:
Naan British airways-la poren, nee?
Amma, naan alphonso-la poren.
Appa! adhu alphonso illa pa, Lufthansa!

Krishna faints after eating butter and says later: Naan evalavo butter saptirukken, but indha madhiri kandravi butter saptadhe illai!!
Maadhu: Krishna, ippo neeyum adult, butter is also adulterated!

Lord Krishna converts a dog into a man and when Maadhu introduces him and his uncle
Madhu says: Sir, ivaru parkathuku-dhan Man, actually, ivar oru Doberman!

I can't do justice to the jokes by typing them out. The speed with which Crazy and Madahu speak, it is best to see it live. Crazy has very diligently learnt some tricks and performs 'magic' like changing a simple black cloth into a nice screen with god print, retrieving a bouquet from a stick and some simple things like that but it sure captures the children's attention. It is definitely the best of Crazy's plays. Do watch it if you haven't already. Met Crazy after the show to praise the entire team's effort. He was as usual very humble.

So, after almost 2 hours of non-stop laughter, we headed home with a smile on our face and our hearts as light as feather. Of course it is true that, Laughter is the best medicine.

We shall go travelling

2008-10-30T17:26:00.002+05:30

C and I enjoy travelling. The initial preparation of scouring the internet for places to see, best time to visit, where to stay, where to eat, languages spoken - I get a thrill doing that.

Everytime C has to visit a different country, I prepare this quick guide of sorts that (I hope) helps him. Once he had to make this quick 2 day trip to Seoul and I gave him a small sheet with important sentences/phrases translated in Korean. He found it very useful and in fact used it at a Pizza joint to make sure they served him veggie food :-)

Travelling to different cities, I think provides a very good lesson and also helps us broaden our minds. You learn so much, right from art of packing, booking tickets, foreign exchange, culture, food, behaviour.. the list is endless.

I read a nice quote somewhere - 'If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home'. How apt is that?

I think C&I are fairly reasonable travellers. The only constraint that we face occasionally is food, vegetarian food that is. But nowadays there are Subways everywhere and till date we have not found a subway without their standard 'Veggie Delite'.

Travelling has taught us how to pack only the essential, how to survive on meager resources, made us relish different cuisines and made us appreciate what we have in our own country.

Now, it has been long since we travelled. I am really itching to make a short trip to some nice place. Get on a train or bus or whatever, feel the breeze on my face, go trekking, visit a temple, anything would do.

While we were in Gurgaon, we managed to visit a few wonderful hill stations. Right after our wedding, we went to Manali. Then over the next three years or so, went to Nainital (just the two of us), Shimla (with B-I-L), Mussorie (with M-I-L) and Jaipur. Well, we've actually been to the pink city four times! The two of us, with parents, with in-laws and with C's office mates. And enjoyed it every single time.

I actually had a blog (travelogue of sorts) which, I am ashamed to say, deleted in a fit of rage! I really want to write it all down again so that I can read it and reminisce years later. But I would need C's help... I have quite forgotten the details.

So, what are the places to visit as a weekend getaway? I heard Yelagiri is the most happening place right now. I would love to visit Yercaud too. How about Coorg? Will 3 days suffice? What about Pondicherry? What is there to see apart from the Ashram? Any hidden treasures on the way? So many questions... I will have to go back to the WWW for some answers. But is there someone who can give some tips? Please do leave your comments if you have some something nice to share.

Happy Deepawali

2008-10-28T14:25:00.007+05:30

Wish you all a very Happy Deepawali.

We had a wonderful time this past weekend and on Monday, celebrating this joyous festival with immediate family. The last 4 years, Diwali used to be the time we took a quick vacation and flew down to Chennai from Gurgaon, spend 2 days at my parents home, 2 days with the in-laws and get back to work at Gurgaon. Pooh! the vacation was always hurried and never seemed like a holiday. With the seasonal rains and all the travelling, we used to feel so exhausted.

This time around, it was much more relaxed. We did our typical last-minute but 5 minute shopping! Went to Pondy Bazaar and picked up T-shirts for Dad, F-I-L, B-I-L, Brother and Hubby. All from a single shop. Hopped next door to another shop to pick myself a Salwar-Kameez. On the way back, bought 2 little earrings for Mom and M-I-L and our Diwali shopping was complete. All of 15 minutes max! :-) And, despite the pollution risk, we indulged a bit and purchased some crackers as well.

Devouring those delicious home-made sweets and savouries, chatting endlessly, fun and laughter - it was truly a time well spent.

Cleanliness next to... What was that?

2008-10-24T14:49:00.003+05:30

Travelling to office has become an ordeal owing to various reasons. MAD traffic and the pollution, horrible roads with numerous pot holes, broken dividers, precariously hanging lamp and electric posts, hoardings, larger-than-life posters of politicians, 'film stars' - the list is endless!

People have simply lost the basic sense of cleanliness. Civic sense is zilch! Spitting where ever they please, throwing all sorts of garbage and of course for converting roads into the largest loo!

I shudder to think of the obnoxious gases that I inhale everyday. Fuel emissions, sewer fumes, malodour from rotting garbage and the retch-inducing urine stench. Yuck! Yuck!! Yuck!!!

I cringe when people make disparaging remarks about our country and compare it unfavourably with the US (mostly the US, it is always the US! LOL!). But then, they only say what they see and what is true. How much can you defend when you know for yourself the pathetic state the country seems to have gone!

Last week, an electric pole near our house caught fire. It was burning very heavily and despite numerous phone calls, no one came to put out the fire. When someone called to the fire service department, he was asked to call the Electricity dept. They in turn directed him to complain to the Chennai corporation! Finally, the residents got buckets filled with mud and after several attempts put out the fire. But, unable to reach the upper part of the pole, it was still smouldering!
No authority came that night. What if it had been a full-fledged fire accident? There were numerous cars and other vehicles parked, electric and telephone cables were hanging dangerously close. What if it had been a little slum area with thatched houses??

I am totally frustrated with this 'system'. Whatever that may mean. What is happening to all the tax money that we pay religiously? No, really, where exactly does it go? I understand cribbing doesn't get us anywhere and people need to be cautious, sensible and all that.. We can educate them on basic civic sense, we can teach them not to throw garbage, not to defile public places, not to spit where they will and not to drive like they own the road.

But doesn't the Government have a far more important role to play? Why can't they lay proper roads, close those damn manholes, build some public toilets, empty those overflowing trash bins, clear the drain and sewerage pipes to prevent water-logging.

I thought these are just basic things that ensures smooth running of a city. But I guess, not. The people at power seem more interested in things that happen in neighbouring cities, states and country!

Earnest appeal, please keep your house in order before poking your nose elsewhere.

Go Green!

2008-10-16T20:09:00.016+05:30

At the risk of sounding boastful, I have to say, I really am a very simple person :-) My needs are very few and I don't have any craving for those fancy gadgets or typical accessories that most women long for.

While browsing thro' some blogs, I read some people tend to have 1 or 2 cupboard(!) full of shoes, hand bags, sunglasses, cosmetics... Hm, well, maybe I am a bit boring that way, but I really don't like to accumulate things that I won't be using much.

Infact, I have precisely one hand bag. I just love it and the best part is that it is just a medium sized one, but can hold an entire grocery bag. I keep wallets, mobile phones, sun glasses, assorted medicines (like disprin, the Vicks inhaler - oh am so addicted to it!), some documents and papers, a small comb, 1 or 2 hair bands/clips, 1 or 2 pens, keys. Apart from all these, I can easily pack a set of clothes in it!

And, I have 2 pairs of sneakers. A simple Reebok shoe and a baggy green Woodland shoe - my real splurge, I love it. And, one pair of regular wear sandals! It sounds a bit pathetic, maybe, I should buy another one...

And I am not into cosmetics and the like. I have my Nivea talc that I dab rarely. There is one Revlon nail enamel that my brother-in-law got for me, almost a year back. Nothing else. I like to keep my hair short, so no fancy things there, and I don't make-up, so nothing there as well.

Maybe am an aberration of sorts!

And coming to clothes - I have suddenly developed this urge to dispose off clothes that we haven't worn in like a year! They are all in very good condition, not worn out or faded. Infact, just before we moved from Gurgaon, we gave 2 huge bagful of clothes to Goonj. (please visit http://www.goonj.org for further details on what they do and how you can help).

Only when we do the exercise of moving to a different house, do we realize the amount of things that has accumulated over the years. Books, Clothes, Assorted papers (bills, temporary prescriptions, ATM slips, photocopies of numerous documents), Greeting cards [not recent ones, those from eons ago, kept for sentimental reasons :-)], some assorted photos (again a few of those printed - before the Digital camera hit us), gadgets (assorted bluetooth devices, some IR devices, wires and cords of different size & shapes, many many small clocks - those with alarm, calendar and such functions, innumerable CDs - some of which am sure will not play any more)
Phew! even just listing these here tires me out.

We felt very guilty seeing the amount of paper that we have used thus far. Seriously, numerous photocopies of passport, marriage certficate, pan card, driving license, ration card, credit cards and what not! Add to that piles of printouts (official and otherwise - articles, reports and other stuff) - Just the two of us must have wiped out about 1000 trees I think. We have now decided to consciously cut out on plastic and paper. Take a cloth bag to grocery shop and DO NOT print anything which we can do without. (PDFs, reports, atm slips etc). Just two simple rules to follow, to begin with.

Maybe I digressed a bit. But the recent move showed us the amount of junk we could easily do without.

So, that's one of the reasons I am really desisting from buying 'new clothes' for Diwali. Well, there is quite some 'pressure' to buy atleast a simple home wear kind of dress - but I feel quite disinterested right now.

So, what's the point of the post ?[as if every post of mine has one ;-)]

1. Save Trees. Use less paper. Avoid plastic.
2. Am a very simple person, really :-)

Our Lost Baby

2008-10-13T18:40:00.002+05:30

Over the last couple of years I have been reading a lot of blogs. No, make it 'A LOT OF BLOGS'. I am not sure where or when it started, but then one blog led to another and I now have my 'favourite' menu extended by a mile! Most of them are what they call 'Mommy Blogs' . Well, some of the call themselves Bloggers who are mommas. But the point I am trying to tell you is,

"I have been reading a lot of blogs on Moms and kids." Hm, I could have said that in the beginning...

Anyway.

So, as can be expected, my maternal instincts were slowly kindled. C and I started talking more about kids and life like that. So, despite our heavy workload and such like, we tried.. ahem.

In January this year, I conceived. What thrill, shock, and fear it was, that moment when I noticed that pink line on the pregnancy indicator stick! It was a Friday. C was away at work and I was home. I called him and told him straight- am pregnant! C was like - ah, super, really? how (??), when (haha) and a hundred different things.

Once he reached home, we (rather, I) did another of those checks and there it was! The pink line. I should mention that we were in the US at that time on some business visit. Well, C was on business and I took a long vacation and went with him (solely for the purpose I have been talking about).

Now, the US of A has a different type of medical system. I am not going into the details as I do not completely understand it yet. But suffice to say, it left us baffled. No doctors on weekends. No walk-in appointments like we have here. Heck, we couldn't even find a hospital that was functioning on a weekend! After scouring the internet and some frantic calls, we finally found a OBGYN. A male Indian doctor.

We visited him the following day and he did the internal and asked a few questions on how the spotting was (I had experienced some spotting and was scared to bits) and other stuff like that. He said he wanted some basic blood tests done to confirm the pregnancy. Fine. We got it done the same day and collected reports next week and the pregnancy was confirmed! I was like 4 weeks. After another week, we called parents and informed them. You all can again, imagine the thrill they would have felt.

Actually, sometime in June 2007, C and I underwent a regular health check up. Everything was fine, except that the Gynaec suspected me to be a PCOS candidate! I felt quite shattered. So, googled up PCOS and tried to learn what it meant. Was put on a medication. So, when I saw the pink line, you can very well imagine the state of my mind.

After another month's stay in the US, we returned back to India in March. The day after we landed, I fell ill. A temperature of 104 F for 2 days. Terrible cough and cold. Took 9 paracetamol tablets. The largest I have taken till date within a span of 3 days! Mom came over to help us. With the fever subsided, I resumed my work in office. Everything seemed normal. Did the ultra sound and saw Jr. with folded hands and tiny little legs. Played holi for the first time. C joined a guitar class. He wanted to be ready with songs to play for Jr. Ate such a feast everyday... Mom pampered me every bit. News was out to other relatives. I was 16 weeks when Mom headed back to Chennai.

At 4 in the afternoon, the next day, I had a very light spotting again. I don't know why, but I called the doctor immediately. She asked me to go to the hospital immediately. I was not very bothered and thought why is she scaring me! I called C and told him. He came home by 6 and we were in the hospital by 6.30. The resident doctor checked me and could see heavy bleeding. The specialist doctor was informed and they agreed to do an emergency ultra sound.

The radiologist and resident doctor saw something and then I heard the word 'Inevitable'! C and I were shattered. What's inevitable? What's happened? I don't feel any pain. I don't feel even a slight cramp. Nothing whatsoever. I refuse to believe them. I think they are unqualified and are making a mistake. I try to get up and am told to lie down. 'You have to get admitted. We will be wheeled into the room. Don't get up'. Things happened very fast after that. C was asked to sign forms, pay fees, get medicines, injections. I was asked to change clothes, injection was administered and was there lying on the bed, numb.

The doctor came in and checked me and gave us the news. 'Most of the sac is out'. What sac? Where is it? Why is it out? Can't you push it in? I don't feel any pain. I tell her a thousand things. Meanwhile C has informed my parents.

I was asked to lie down with my legs raised. C and I spent the night in the hospital. The first for us. I am administerd lot of medicines, IV's , injections. The next morning Mom cathces a flight and arrives by afternoon. Some more ultra sounds... same status. The sac is out they say. But the foetal heart beat... is fine...

3 days I am down with my legs raised. And the sac doesn't get in. The doctor asks us what we want to do. She says it would have been a miracle if the sac went in... but it just doesn't seem likely any more!

We didn't know what to do... and the doctor understood our silence and asked the support staff to begin the process. I was given numerous medicines again... to empty my bowel, to relax my uterus, to generally get the foetus out. So, on that fateful day, around 11.30 or so, am wheeled into the OT. All I remember is feeling the oxygen mask and after that I knocked out.

After about 2 hours or so (maybe an hour later), I woke up and saw that I was alone, in a corner... I call out and a nurse come along. I ask her if I have been operated. She says yes. I ask her what baby was it? 'Don't worry about it Ma'am' she says... I ask again and she says 'Boy'. I closed my eyes and tears rolled down on either side of my face. After another half hour or so, I was slowly taken back to the room... I see my mom and C.. Both of them have cried a lot. I could see. I was still reeling under the effect of anesthesia. When I close my eyes, Mom and C wept and when I opened my eyes they tried to comfort me... after spending that night in hospital, we return home the next day.

I won't elaborate much on what we did after that. Each tried to put on a strong exterior not show emotions but underneath each one of us were crying a thousand times! After about a week or so, C told me he had to actually sign a form...that basically asked for his authorization to dispose off the foetus! C and Mom had also seen the baby...

My heart aches to type this. But why am I doing this? For one, it is cathartic. And secondly, it is a pity that all the so called bible of pregnancy books do not mention about miscarriages and other complications adequately. So, I hope this account of mine will make other mothers-to-be cautious. I do not want to frighten them, but want them to be aware of things that can go wrong. We still do not know what caused my miscarriage. The doctor can only speculate. She said there are still so many 'unknowns' in pregnancy and in the field of medicine. Was it the 'metformin' that I took for PCOS? Was it the spotting in early stages? Was it the high fever with cough and cold? Was it because of some mild lifting that I did? What was it because of ....?

All that we can say is, if the pregnancy has to stay, it stays. And if the body decides it has to go, it goes.

It has been more than 5 months now and we still cry over the baby that could have been. It hits us at unexpected times. While we go for walks, while watching TV, while C is driving, or when we eat... it is just a numb feeling that grips us and makes us feel so weak. But what we went through and the baby has taught us a lot of things. Courage, Faith, Never-say-die attitude (the baby never for once lost the heartbeat...he was a fighter to the core!), Empathy, Endurance and so much more.

C and I fervently hope that we are blessed with another baby and get to lead a happy life with the child.

Household stuff for Chennai

2008-09-23T12:55:00.012+05:30

A lame heading.. I know. But in case you have moved to Chennai recently, here are some websites and telephone numbers that you may find useful

PCI - Pest Control of India

Website: www.pcilindia.com
Telephone: 044 - 4301 2434

Personal Experience: We had a contract with PCI in Gurgaon (for 3 services a year). We had 2 services done in Gurgaon and before we could take the final one, we moved to Chennai. Upon calling them here, they were quite prompt in their service and completed the third one in the new house in Chennai.

LG Service Center

Telephone: 044 - 39 01 0909

Personal Experience: Again, very prompt service. But make sure to get the service fee clarified while calling them up for installation request. We were told it would cost about Rs.250 to install the AC. And in case there is a need for manual labour (like buying wood, sawing it for required length, fixing etc) then we have to pay Rs.600. We had all the wooden panels and other miscellaneous items (like the nuts, screws etc) ready. All he had to do was fix two small pieces of wood on either side and the A/C fitted in perfectly. But still the guy demanded Rs.600! Not sure why.. as he didn't have to buy wood or do any kind of heavy work. Since I was in office and hubby was away travelling, my parents were taking care of it.. and I didn't want to argue with him on phone. My dad, who was watching him do the work said that the next time onwards we can do this stuff ourselves. It apparently is that simple. Anyway, I was just glad it got done pronto!

Insect Screens (Netlon)

Telephone: 044-24726687

Experience: Seems very professional. They quoted Rs.25/sq.ft for Saint Gobain screens. They have other screens for lesser rates, but the quality too deteriorates with the price. Expecting to get it fixed tomorrow. Will post an update on how it goes.

Aquaguard

Telephone: 044 - 39 88 3333
Head office: 044 - 65517566

Experience: Worst of the lot. Have called up 18 times so far! No response. We have a complaint number and everytime we call them, we are assured of service the same day. This has been the case for the last 2 weeks! No one has bothered to call us even! We are planning to speak to the head office today. If we don't get a response from them as well, we are seriously thinking of going to their office and dump the machine with them and demand our money back. If they don't budge, we won't hesitate to take them to the Consumer court!! Believe me, their service (if at all we can call that) IS really THAT bad.

We are also in the process of getting our car re-registered.. will do a post on that separately.

Okie, let me get on the phone and see if I can catch those Aquaguard guys!

UPDATE: (on 26th Sept)

After another 5 or 6 calls, managed to get hold of a guy who does the installation/plumbing work. SO, finally we have got the Reverse osmosis system installed. Phew! Try googling Chennai, Aquaguard, Eureka and you can see the number of complaints people have filed. Am sooo tempted to give the mobile number of the guy who came and installed it for us.. he did a good job. But am not sure if it's ethical to do that. So, in case you are in Chennai and need to install any Aquaguard product, please leave a comment and I can email you the phone number.

Weekend Notes I

2008-09-22T12:56:00.004+05:30

One of the things that make us happy with Chennai is the beach and sea.

We woke up early Saturday and decided impromptu to drive down to the beach. Isn't there something quite marvellous with the vast expanse of water? The best thing about visiting the ocean in the morning, I realised, is the absence of large, unmanageable crowds! It was not deserted, far from it. But it had just the right amount of crowd... people on their morning walks, exercise and the like.. a bunch of kids playing with the sand, a group of guys playing volleyball... a family of three playing tennicoit (what we call 'Ring'). It was such a pleasant sight. And not to forget the swooshing sound from the waves.. it was just so relaxing.

On Sunday, we decided to take parents along. We got ready even earlier, by 5.45 or so. But it was still a little dark and the clouds were looming large and soon it started raining. As Dad had a meeting to attend by 8, we resigned back thinking how valiant our efforts to get up that early went!

But by 6.30 or so, the rain stopped and we decided we 'have' to venture out, given all our efforts thus far. (Getting up at 5.30 on a Sunday IS a major effort!!) Dad and brother decided to stay back, so Hubby and I, bro-in-law and mom set out on two bikes. And true to the saying, more the merrier, this time the fun was doubled! Stepped on the water and had lot of fun clicking photos and laughing around. We had taken along a tennis ball and soon we started playing with it... generally challenging each other to throw it the highest, farthest and the like... After almost an hour or so, we rode back home.

After a light (or was it heavy?) breakfast of pasta that mom prepared lightning fast, we lounged around to watch some TV, around 10 or so. But soon, dozed off till noon.

We decided to go out for lunch and visited Osteria (in Deccan Plaza, Royapettah High Road). This one is a very nice Italian restaurant that serves only vegetarian cuisine! It was such a pleasant change to eat without constantly having to worry about suspicious looking ingredients! The restaurant was having a promotional offer going and we had a five course meal for Rs.250 each. It started with a Zuppa (soup, they had tomato for the day), Brushcetta, Insalata (Salad, Lettuce, Apples and Pears), Main course(Lasagne, Spirelli Pasta) and Desert (Fruit Tart).

The portions were large and it was great value for money. The main course alone costs Rs.360. We enquired with the chef and he told us that, they were specifically having this offer to promote Italian fare and to get people to try out the delicacy.

Do try out this place for a leisurely lunch or dinner. The service was prompt and the food was great as was the ambience.

That, was how our weekend was spent. A visit to the beach, a fun lunch, a even more fulfilling family get together in the evening.

Sweet memories

2008-09-16T17:33:00.003+05:30

Just a quick note to cherish this memory forever

I am working from home today with a sore throat and cold. Mom got some smoldering coal and empty coconut shells in a vessel (called Kumti aduppu in Tamil - not sure if it has a name in English!) and made me inhale some turmeric-coffee powder-ajwain preparation and I felt such instant relief!

Then she went on to put some 'sambrani powder' and took it around and now the entire house is so fragrant.

There are times I get mad at my parents... but I hope I will also remember these sweet little things that they do.. without any kind of expectation...

Thogai Ilamayil... (The beautiful feathered peacock)

2008-09-11T16:06:00.005+05:30

We arrived in Chennai last week of August and we are yet to 'settle' down completely. What with the hubby having to travel immediately. The packers arrived with all our stuff and it was a bit like christmas rediscovering all sorts of stuff that you already have :-) Anyway, haven't found any major damage so far and all looks good. There is still so much to do - like fixing the A/C, getting a pest control done, installing the water purifier and such. It has been such a hectic day today.. I had spoken to the Airtel guys to come and set up the Landline/DSL connection today and after 20 or more calls.. it still hasn't been done! It is just so frustrating at times like these... what is it that keeps them from doing it? I came into office early yesterday so that I could go home relatively sooner as they were supposed to come at 7PM. I am home and they are not. After 4-5 calls they assure me that they will get things done today (before noon.) As of now, it is still not done. With the husband away to a conference, I was feeling just so exhausted with all these!

Right from morning I was in such an irritable mood that I was ashamed of myself! Chatted with hubby on GG talk for a while and the level-headed wise one, made me feel much better. As the day progressed I felt calmer and relaxed. Post lunch I was suddenly feeling miserable again. This time the reasons were different though. I was reminded of those painful memories that happened almost 5 months back. That is when I decided to listen to some songs... I had to take my mind off those thoughts...

As I checked my music folder I came across this classic piece that I had not listened to till today and from them on it is on continuous loop!! SPB's voice together with that heart warming music.. it is just bliss!

Here are the lyrics...

thoagai ilamayil aadi varugudhu vaanil mazhai varumoa
koadhai ival vizhi nooru kavidhaigal naalum ezhudhidumoa
thaen sindhum naeram naan paadum raagam
kaatroadu kalyaanam seyginradhoa

(thoagai)

koalam poadum naanangal kaanaadha jaalam
idhazhgalilae pournami velichcham
kannil thullum thalangal aanandha meaelam
imaip paravai siragugal asaikkum
vizhigalilae kaadhal vizhaa nadaththugiraal saakunthalaa
annamum ivalidam nadai pazhagum
ival nadai asaivinil sangeetham undaagum

(thoagai)

bhoomi engum poondhoattam naan kaana vaendum
pudhuth thenralum pookkalil vasikkum
aagaaya maegangal neerootra vaendum
andha mazhaiyil malargalum kulikkum
aruvigaloa raagam tharum adhil nanaindhaaldhraagam varum
dhaevadhai vizhiyilae amudha alai
kanavugal valarththidum kalloorum un paarvai

Where was I all these years? Why hadn't I heard it before? Well, I see that this movie (Payangal Mudivathilai) released in 1982!! OK! That explains it. I was just 2 then. But why hadn't I heard it on radio/tv?? Am soo glad I got to hear this atleast now.

Moving back home

2008-08-21T16:22:00.006+05:30

After a little over 4 years, we are moving back to Chennai from Gurgaon. We are sure to carry the many memories that we have had here. Many are nice and some not so nice. This is the place where we started our 'married-life'. The place where we actually set up 'our' home. Though we were slightly bewildered initially with the mall-culture, this place sure has grown on us. This is the place from where we undertook all those mini vacations and weekend getaways. There are so many tiny details that am sure we will miss in Chennai. One thing is the apartment complex that we live in here. The 'almost' private park, shops within the complex, the bohemian lifestyle...

Then there are those not-so-nice memories..which I am not going to dwell into, maybe some other day.

So, why are we moving to Chennai? To set the context, I have to tell you that we had a choice to move to the US earlier this year. After almost finalizing on it, we abandoned the entire idea due to certain circumstances. Then, middle of this year, we got to know that my husband's office is planning to open a center in Chennai. Our decision was made then. Both our parents live there. We thought (and still think!) it would be good to go and spend time with them again.

It sure is going to be a huge change for us. Though it is the city where we were born and spend the initial 20 odd years... the city has changed so much recently and still maintains some of its complexities. Having parents so close is surely a comforting factor, but there still might be that extra little interference that we hope to avoid. Hope things settle smoothly.

There is some kind of heavy feeling in my heart. Is it apprehension ? anxiety? pain? Exhaustion? fear?, Guilt??
Surely a combination of everything. Anxious - that things should be smooth, Pain - thinking of those terrible memories, Exhausted - With all the moving/packing, fear - of over interference and ability to adjust, Guilt - because of harbouring those fears!

I really want to be in a happy frame of mind. Put the past behind and look positively towards the future.

I am not sure if you can comprehend what am trying to say, but writing all this down is helping me sort things out within my mind.

So, there, we look forward to starting our life in Chennai.

How many friends on Orkut?

2008-07-11T20:34:00.004+05:30

When I first joined Orkut, it amazed me and I was as gullible as any new Social Networking user. List of friends, communities, photos, videos...wow wow wow...

But as with everything, as time passed, I have realised that it is just a tool that hurts my ego!

I have 44 'friends' in orkut. And zero scraps. This has been the status for...well a week now!
Why do people 'add' you as a friend if all they want to do is sit smugly and never even say a 'hi' ?

Should I go ahead and delete those from whom I haven't heard in like... 2 years? That would bring down the friends count by 30 or so! Out of the 14 odd people that will remain, 10 of them are... err.. relatives. i.,e people with whom I talk on G-talk, or phone. If I delete them as well, I maybe left with 2 or 3 real 'friends'. Hm. No, I will let them be. My heart aches to think I have only 3 pals out of 44! 14/44 doesn't sound as bad..but I still fail :-(

I was about to end the post on that sad note, but then I realised that I am much better off compared to others who boast of 476 friends! Wow. Is that even possible? I don't even 'know' 476 people in my entire life thus far! Who are they kidding?

But the even more compelling reason for me to be glad I found orkut is - I was able to find my long last school girl friend... after nearly 10 years.... and our conversation started just from where it ended then.

So, I pass :-)