A rose is a rose is a rose!

Ten on Tuesday - 18

2012-01-24T22:56:00.001+05:30

Ten Things about Meeting the First Blogger Friend and JLF…

Whenever, I saw pictures or posts on Blogger meets or Bloggers getting together for an evening or a lunch, a big SIGH would always escape my lips. I would always be thinking… “Mera number kab aayega??”
And today, it finally happened. Yes, mera number aa hi gaya… She is a blogger whom I had met (virtually) during the initial years of my blogging and the one who introduced me to the world of farming, virtual farming, I mean… yeah FarmVille, my favourite game on Facebook.
Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting to you, Chicky Kadambari, the author of miss_teerious, the first blogger friend whom I met today, in the real world!!
We were together for more than 3 hours and there was not a single dull moment. We had so much to share with each other, comparing notes on places, work, blogging… and it never felt that we mere meeting for the first time!!
And together we went to a Fest which is the talk of the whole world, yes, The Jaipur Literature Festival or the JLF.
I had been at the JLF last year too and I could see a lot of trivial differences. For instance, this year they made the registration mandatory and gave ID cards to all the attendees. The Puskar tea which was served in kulhars, free of cost last year was sold at Rs. 10 this year!
JLF saw massive crowds this year and today, all the space other than the halls where the literary sessions were in progress, were occupied by school going teenagers. Dressed in school uniforms, mostly in couples and some in groups, the students were busy chatting, eating and drinking and in short having a gala time. I wonder, if any of them participated in any of the sessions.
We briefly listened to Richard Dawkins share his views on “The Selfish Gene”.
There were many book stalls, browsed through many books, but for me it’s only Flipkart, which is my final books shopping destination!
The crowd at JLF is a treat for eyes. Smartly dressed men and most of the women had that ‘arty’ look with Fab India kind of clothes. And the striking thing, I saw so many women with salt and pepper hair!! I simply love that look!

A good friend + great company = wonderful day!!

Eureka! Eureka!!

2012-01-23T18:02:00.001+05:30

Eureka! Eureka!! I said, on seeing Sujatha’s mail 4 days ago!!

And let me tell you that this Eureka moment was as profound as Archimedes would have felt when he stepped into a bath and noticed that the water level rose and he suddenly understood that the volume of water displaced must be equal to the volume of the part of his body he had submerged!!

Of course, I didn't discover something as scientific as Archimedes. But what I discovered was something that I had been looking for a long long time.

I have blogged about it and have even mailed a few Tech Bloggers about it and whined about it to self, innumerable times. Alas, no luck in getting a solution to my issue. And, that goes on to prove that there is a suitable time for everything to happen!

Well, to cut the story short, I was pretty bugged with the Blogger Comment Format, which is not at all interactive like the Wordpress one! And going up and down the page to respond to every comment is something which irks me to no end. And yes, I am pig-headed enough as shifting to Wordpress, or installing Disqus etc, didn't appeal me!

So a few days ago, when I was on Sujatha’s blog and while commenting saw that her response was just below the comment in each and every comment and I could see that there was a “Reply” option below each comment too. I checked her blog URL and voila!, it was a blogspot.com.

I checked again and immediately wrote her a mail and asked about this comment format on her blog.

She was so quick in her response that within a few minutes, she shared the mystery behind this interactive comment format on Blogger!

And I didn’t waste any time in following the steps she mentioned and installed this interactive comment format, which I was sooooooo looking forward to having it on my blog.

So, in case you have a Blogger as your blogging platform and want to install this new interactive comment format, all you have to do is…

In Blogger, switch to new blogger interface.
Go to Settings - then Posts & Comments - Select Embedded Comments.

And you will experience the “Aha Moment”!!

Thank you Sujatha!

Then and Now…

2012-01-19T15:53:00.001+05:30

It’s wonderful to witness the “Then and Now” scenarios. The “Then and Now” scenarios tell us about the changes, the evolution, the growth, the progress that has taken place in a particular realm.

A few years ago, who would have thought that there could be stylish and innovative, along with comfortable and affordable clothing for the most beautiful phase in a woman’s life!!??

Well, today it is a reality and this is one such evolution or change that I have witnessed. Yes, I am talking about the Maternity wear

Earlier, a pregnant woman would just had no option but to wear the large sized Kameez Salwar, and the regular Sari.

But not any more. Recently came across a website which offers an exclusive range of stylish and affordable brand of maternity wear. It’s Morph Maternity.

Seeing their wide range of clothing for this very special and beautiful and most feminine phase of a woman’s life, I was simply awestruck. Maternity shirts, maternity pants, maternity jeans, maternity dresses, nursing clothes and more, ensuring that a pregnant lady or a nursing mother does not ever feel the dearth of good clothes to wear!!

Also, the site offers a comprehensive range for the babies too! So, right from Diapers to Feeding and Nursing accessories, to Toys, Books/CDs/DVDs, Clothes, Shoes, Bath and Skin Care, Baby Nursery and even Baby Gear which includes Prams, Strollers, Walkers etc, everything is available for the new bundle of joy.

The best is Morph Maternity offers free delivery of goods and Cash on Delivery!

So, all you new and expectant parents, go on, indulge yourselves and make the most of this wonderful experience.

Wordless Wednesday - 73

2012-01-11T21:44:00.000+05:30

Award Time!

2012-01-10T22:58:00.002+05:30

Some days ago, Abha, Smitha and Deeps gave away this award to me. It’s called the Versatile Blogger Award. I feel Awesome, Bubbly, Cool, Dreamy, Elated, Fabulous, Gifted, Happy, Inspired, Jubilant, Kind, Loved, Musical, Normal, Overwhelmed, Proud, Quiet, Reflective, Sparkly, Touched, Unique, and ....Versatile?? Naaaah!!… !
Thank you, ladies for this honour.
Now, this award, comes with a set of few rules, which are:

Nominate 15 fellow Bloggers
Inform the Bloggers of their nomination
Share 7 Random things about yourself
Thank the Blogger who nominated you
Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your Blog Post – That is the simplest – Here goes.

Nominating 15 Bloggers…
Sharing this award with some Versatile Bloggers…

Now to share 7 random things about me!!

Now-a-days,reading Tweets on my TL is my favourite pass-time. A few free minutes any where and I am on my phone, checking out the latest news, views, thoughts, expressions, quotes on my TL.
I am still mad about FarmVille!! I have mellowed down my fixation a bit though… instead of playing from 4 different ids and managing 4 farms, I am busy now tending the four farms on my own Facebook account!
I am a gadget freak. I am so very looking forward to owning the Kindle Fire. But the feedback from few friends about some technical glitches in the product and poor customer service is holding me back!
I am a cleanliness freak (CF) too. I not only try to keep my home spotlessly clean, but my gadgets are spotlessly clean too. All the pictures on the camera, once downloaded on the laptop are religiously and immediately deleted, despite the huge memory space available. And some time, back, when Google Plus was introduced, I saw that all my pics of the blog were visible on Google Plus (via Picasa) and the CF in me, deleted all these pics only to realise a day later that all the pics from my blog got deleted too!! It was and is a nightmare! Have restored pics on some 100 recent blog-posts but the earlier posts are without pics!!
Whatever I am thinking or feeling is immediately mirrored on my face. It has put me in a terrible spot many-a-times! But putting on an act is not me.
During winters, I cover myself in layers, coz I feel soooo very cold. I can’t tolerate the cold season. This is coming from a person, who has stayed almost all her life in Rajasthan and a few years in Jammu!
I love photography and I plan to learn more about it by joining a course!

Thank you, Abha, Smitha and Deeps for sharing this award with me!

A Genuine Question…

2012-01-04T22:41:00.003+05:30

There is a question that haunts me daily, plagues me daily and demands an answer daily. In fact, an answer is mandatory as leaving the question unanswered is not a choice. I spend a good time of the day on it, pondering over the various possibilities, the options, the pros and cons, the smiles and the frowns that would be generated because of my decision…

Well, the question, I ask myself daily (and sometimes my mom or sisters and even friends) is “What should I cook today??

While, I can eat whatever edible is available, the same cannot be said about the 2 men of our clan. The Senior is a Master Chef’ by passion and loves to cook and eat ‘good’ food ALL the time, the Junior is a bit fussy and is closely following his dad’s footsteps in this field.

So, the kitchen is out of bounds for me on the weekends. I am secretly very very happy about it. And the best thing is that I do not get worked up now-a-days, on seeing the hurricane-hit- kitchen after the Master Chef has created ‘magic with food’ in the kitchen. But the remainder of the week, it is my responsibility to create that ‘Magic’ which my family needs daily and in liberal doses.

Though, the standing rules on our dining table (formulated by the Senior for the Junior to instil good eating habits), are :

Whatever is cooked has to be eaten.
Whatever is there in the plate has to be finished!

However, these rules do not specify the range of emotions and reactions one can exhibit while following the above mentioned rules. So, one can demonstrate frowns, disgust, anger, hatred or a whoop of joy or smile or that happy satisfied look while eating food.

There are many vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, beans, cottage cheese, green leafy vegetables… gosh that covers all I guess!) which the kid abhors while there are many dishes which do not measure up to KG’s taste bud’s standards, presentation standards, cooking style… Also, there cannot be frequent repetitions too.

I hate TLC, NDTV Good Times, FOX Traveller and Star World for airing exotic cookery shows all the time thereby giving wings to their imagination and whetting their appetite.

I have seen a timetable of dishes to be cooked during the week for all the 3 meals at two of my friend’s homes. I discussed about having such a schedule for us, with KG and it was out rightly rejected for a schedule is monotonous and totally lacked creativity.

I have known some guys who eat anything that is served to them, without a word they’d even eat salt-less and bland food! Alas, not my boys!

Since, dinner is one meal which we all have together, it’s my utmost and sincere desire to have smiles all around on the dining table. And, believe me managing smiles on the dinner tables while taking care of the likes and dislikes of these 2 men is one tricky task on my hands.

So, that brings me back to the question… What should I cook tonight??

Happy New Year 2012!!

2012-01-01T18:18:00.001+05:30

Images Courtesy : Google Images

What’s Your Plan for NYE??

2011-12-30T16:16:00.003+05:30

It’s that time of the year, when the first question you are asked whomsoever you meet or chat with, is , “So, what’s your plan for the New Year Eve?”.

And the best part is that, this question comes with a lot of expectations. You are ‘expected’ to have an AWESOME plan for this grand evening.

So, your AWESOME plans could inclide:

The High and ‘Dry’ Parties : Hosted by the Hotels and Resorts with a HIGH price tag, for the Mostest-lavish spread of exotic buffet with unlimited mocktails and cocktails, live band with a big or a small star attraction, fireworks et al to enthral you. This is that kind of place, which you would love to talk about with your friends. But actually, all this does not enthral you as you desperately ‘try’ to enjoy the party and secretly wish for the clock to strike 12 and make a dash from the place. Here you, bring in the new year with a few friends and loads of strangers!
The No Plan Parties : Yes, you actually have no plans for the gala evening and so does your bunch of friends. So, you all dress up for the occasion, pile up in the vehicles and make a dash for the nearest party. Since almost all the hotels, clubs and resorts in the city host the NYE parties, whichever place suits your budget or taste or wherever the bouncers allow you in, the place becomes your party zone. There could be some disappointments, but mostly it’s fun!
The Cozy Comfy Home Parties : A few close family and friends, along with lots of home made or catered from outside food, free flowing alcohol of your choice, games and anecdotes, music and even TV, half reclining on the sofa or wrapped up cozily in a blanket, it’s a comfortable way of bringing in the new year, right in your home!
My Parents Type of Parties : For a couple of years now, this is how my parents welcome the new year. Dad goes off to sleep at his scheduled time of 10 pm, while Mom would watch TV sitting snugly in her quilt. A few minutes before midnight, she would go to the kitchen and warm up the ‘gajar ka halwa’ which she would have made in the afternoon and then wake up Dad. With the sweet dish and phone calls to family and friends they sweetly welcome the new year!!

So, what is your plan for this New Year Eve?? Whatever, it is enjoy it thoroughly and be safe.

Wordless Wednesday - 72

2011-12-28T00:12:00.001+05:30

Wordless Wednesday - 71

2011-12-21T23:19:00.000+05:30

40 Today!!

2011-12-20T22:22:00.003+05:30

Ten Things about Turning 40 Today!

I know, meri twacha se meri umr ka ~~pata hee nahi chalta~~, thoda bahut hee pata chalta hai but the fact is I am 40 years old today!! While many are not comfortable with this thought, I am kind of happy on entering the fourth decade of my life on this earth.
I can see 3-4 grey strands of hair and the son can see 5-6 more, I have decided that I am never gonna color or dye my hair, despite umpteen suggestions by friends and hair stylist.
A friend asked today, “So you are 40 today, do you feel old? The answer is NO. “Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.” And this is what I want to follow, each day, each year!
They say, “At the age of 20, we don’t care what the world thinks of us; at 30, we worry about what it is thinking of us; at 40, we discover that it wasn’t thinking of us at all.” Yes, it’s so very true and I have realised it for a long time now!! :)
Helen Rowland said, life begins at 40 – but so do fallen arches, rheumatism, faulty eyesight, and the tendency to tell a story to the same person, three or four times. While the first three have not made their presence yet, the last one is beginning to show it’s head at times!! LOL
At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty the wit; at forty the judgment, said Benjamin Franklin. Yes, the maturity is kind of coming in, or so I like to believe.
There’s a joke which reads, at 40, you get two invitations to go out on the same night, and you pick the one that gets you home the earliest. True, I prefer to come back and settle snuggly in my comfort zone!
40=24+16 years of experience!! And, this experience makes you tell stories, share tips, give suggestions very frequently, much to the chagrin of some!
Being Fit @ Forty is important and vital. So it’s time to say hello to regular exercise, healthy habits, nutritious diet…
Well, they say age is just a number! And you are as old as you feel. And there is no denying the fact that I feel good @ 40!!

Life’s Lessons from My Maid

2011-12-15T18:54:00.003+05:30

Last weekend, our new and temporary maid got her 7 year old daughter to work. A sweet looking lil’ girl, I asked her generally about her class, school etc. During the course of our little conversation, her mother explained that since she was not satisfied with the studies in the Government school, she has now enrolled her kids in a private school. The schooling is a bit expensive for her to manage, but she wants nothing but the best for her kids. I was impressed at her progressive thought process.

Subsequent conversation, that we had, reads like this….
Me: Where does your husband work?
She : He doesn’t work.
Me : Is he out of job and needs a job?
She : No, he doesn’t want to work.
Me : What does he do then?
She : He sits at home and smokes some pot along with a pack of beedi a day and does nothing at all.
Me : Why?
She : He wants to go back to my village. And I don’t want to go. He has severed ties with his own family. He will be a burden on my parents and brothers, so I don’t want to go back to my village. As it is, we will have to pay the rent etc there, which we are anyways paying here too and most importantly, there would be limited work opportunities for me. And knowing him, I have my doubts if he would work in the village too. So, I am supporting him and the kids.
Me : Doesn't he realise his responsibility towards the kids and you?
She : Whenever I have tried to talk to him about this, his response has been physical abuse. I have tried a lot and now I don't try any further. I work and earn for my kids. It doesn’t bother me now,

She said it with a smile. There was no pain, no frustration, no anger or bitterness at the life’s trials and tribulations thrown her way!

I could see that she was at peace with this difficult situation.

How could she achieve this?? Didn’t this hurt and betrayal led to pain, anger, holding grudges, resentment, negative feelings… Didn't these negative feelings threaten to shatter her whole being??

But here, I see a very cheerful and a positive woman.

I believe, she must have forgiven and forgotten. I know, it is easier said than done. But it’s true that forgiving, not only heals you emotionally and but also makes you strong mentally.

Or she must have accepted her situation and made peace with it. Rather than going through the daily turmoil or getting worked up or having arguments with her non-supporting husband, she has come to terms with the hard facts of her life and directed herself in something positive and is trying to give a better life to her kids.

But accepting a situation and forgiving and forgetting, does that mean she doesn’t care anymore. I guess, she must, but she has learnt that the situation will no longer pull her down or drain her energies.

I believe she has learnt to Move On…

I believe she has learnt to Let Go...

Wordless Wednesday - 70

2011-12-14T18:53:00.000+05:30

Building Brainpower : Dilip Mukerjea

2011-12-09T18:31:00.002+05:30

Title : Building Brainpower : Turning Grey Matter into Gold
Author : Dilip Mukerjea
Publisher : Westland
ISBN : 978-93-80032-49-8
Number of Pages : 320
Price [INR] : 750
Genre: Self Development

Review : Some time back, while I was preparing my plan of action for a project, a colleague peered over my diagrammatic representation of the action plan and asked, “Are you into Mind Mapping?” A “No” from me and an urgent call on his cell phone, killed the conversation in this direction, but my curiosity was sufficiently piqued. I googled about Mind Mapping and got some insights. When Blogadda announced about review of Building BrainPower, I simply grabbed the opportunity.

Seeing a big fat book scared me a bit initially, but a cursory glimpse, I knew that it sure is a goldmine of information and knowledge and a LOT can be learnt and implemented from the strategies and suggestions given in this book, in our daily lives.

The initial chapter gives in depth insights about our brain, it’s evolution, history and even the biology part of it, which honestly, I just flipped through! (I am a Science graduate!)

And then comes the most interesting part… Mind Mapping. The author explains, in detail all about this wonderful tool. He says that Mind Mapping is a dynamic brain skill that dramatically enhances your capacity for learning and remembering. The thing about this book, is that there are so many diagrams and illustrations that make this so simple to understand and comprehend. The author prods you to create your own Mind Maps of Your Likes and Dislikes, Your Goals, with suggestions and tips, which certainly ensure that you learn all about it practically.

This is how a Mind Map looks like!

What amazed me is that one can use Mind Maps to learn everything. Yes, even the Parts of Speech and for Vocabulary Development too. A 2-page description on Singapore was transformed into a Mind Map and a single diagram has the entire summary of the 2 pages!! It sure will speed up the learning and retention process. Seeing this particular diagram, has given me the inspiration to help Aaryan learn his lessons using this technique. It sure is/will be a boon for students!Subsequent chapters showcase Mind Maps on various topics viz Religions, Languages of the world and then there are Do-It-Yourself exercises.

And the Mind Maps on “Planning a Party”, “Planning a Vacation”, “Plans for Living a Balanced Life”, I am sure concerns all of us and creating these ones will surely help us.

A section on communication is fascinating and the author has saved the best for the last! Yes, the last part is Braintertainment, which has memory exercises, dot problems, general knowledge crosswords and brain quizzes. Here’s one for you, from the book…
Without lifting your pencil from the paper, draw six consecutive straight lines that cross through all the `16 dots. You are not allowed to repeat a line once it has been drawn.

Can you solve it?? Dp share your answers!

The key learnings and take homes from this book:

.Brainpower is the bridge to the future, it is what transports you from wishful thinking to willful thinking
Our education focuses on three R’s : Reading, ‘Riting and ‘Rithmetic. If we learn HOW to study and not hust WHAT to study, the Three R’s should be : Revision, Reinforces Retention. And this is done via Mind Mapping.
Communicate with your brain, constantly, and your genius will emerge.

If you are looking for some some self development reference book on Brain Power which has loads of activities and exercises, diagrams and illustrations, go for “Building Brainpower. A must read for parents!

Rating : 4.5/5

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Ten on Tuesday - 16

2011-12-06T23:04:00.002+05:30

Ten Things about 2 Contrasting Incidents During 2 Journeys

Last week I was travelling from Jaipur to Delhi by bus… LCD Volvo to be precise. The scheduled departure of the bus from Jaipur was at 1 am!! Yeah, at that ungodly hour. As usual, I reached much before the scheduled time.
To kill time and divert sleep, I was reading my book. A few minutes later, a newly wed couple occupied seats nearby, in the waiting lounge. The girl was wearing the Punjabi Choora … I loved wearing it too and that was many years ago… how time flies!! Oops, I digressed…
After giving them an attention span lasting few seconds, I returned back to my murder mystery! And next moment, I hear giggles from the newly wed bride. I look up to see and find that the guy was sharing something in her ear! I smiled mentally and was about to check out what the Investigator in my book was doing, I hear another peel of laughter. And after that I ignored whatever clues the Investigator was unearthing and focussed on the couple.
They seemed to be so much in love and were just not able to keep their hands off each other and they had so much to talk and laugh with each other.
This continued even while they were in the bus. Incidentally, they were seated behind me. And at 6:10 am, when I woke up, their playful banter was on at that hour too!! This time, I actually smiled.
On my return back home from Delhi to Jaipur, another newly wed couple occupied the seats adjacent to me across the aisle. The girl had a serious look (and my first impression about her was that she would be the shrewd variety!) and had the cell-phone glued to her ear. It seemed there was no response from the other end. The guy had an innocent and lovely face!! Yes, the ‘Good Boy’ kind!!
The girl occupied the window seat and continuously looked out of the window. Her husband, the good boy, tried to talk to her, but she never once looked at him. My curiosity was piqued and abandoned reading the tweets on my phone and tried to observe them surreptitiously.
Soon, they started showing “Phas Gaye Re Obama” in the bus. Now this is one funny and entertaining movie. While the husband tried to enjoy the movie, the wife, never looked at the screen. The husband offered her some chips, she refused to take that. He was pretty persistent, but the lady never budged from her previous decision. Soon, she fell asleep and the dear Good Boy, lovingly wrapped a shawl around her. It was such a heart warming sight!
Then at Mid-way, while she was combing her hair in the rest room, an attendant, asked her, if she was married recently. It was just a simple talk on the attendant’s part and our lady didn’t respond to her too!
It was time for the bus to leave the Mid-Way, and their seats were still unoccupied. After honking for a few minutes, the couple emerge from the restaurant, with the guy holding coffee, a sandwich and her purse!, while madam tried to walk daintily in her sari!! This was the last straw!!

Two newly weds and two contrasting behaviour… different strokes for different folks!!

Wordless Wednesday - 69

2011-11-30T23:50:00.001+05:30

Ten on Tuesday : 15

2011-11-30T15:07:00.003+05:30

I know, I know…but there is always a first time, so here’s the Ten on Tuesday on a Wednesday!!

Things I Have Learnt From Facebook

Appreciate : There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than hunger, said Mother Teresa. After all, appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary. So, all the lovely people on Facebook, appreciate each other to the hilt. “Lovely pic”, for a picture which is not lovely from any angle”, to, “You two look beautiful together” to a not so beautiful couple, we appreciate everybody.
Attitude : Liking your own status updates is big proof of the fact that you are high on Attitude!! It’s like giving yourself a high five!!!!!
Promote Thyself, Thy Idea, Thy Thought…. We live in a world where advertising, marketing… is very vital. So, post a picture or a video from the YouTube, wait for someone to comment or like it and then rush to comment about it’s awesomeness! Yes, that’s the way to do it!
Self Talk : Talking to self will do you a world of good!! Yes, by continuously replying to your own status update in order to extend it, when no one has replied yet!
PDA : Public display of affection is not restricted to malls, parks, restaurants etc but it’s common to see to and fro of lovey dovey comments and some very personal pictures on your wall!.
Make People Green-eyed: You went for a cuppa coffee at CCD, post it on Facebook! Went to drop a friend at T3, update your status. A two day holiday at Goa, post a million pictures with a dozen pics of the same pose, will make people feel that they are missing out a LOT in life and that you have a rocking and a very happening life!
Make Your Mind on the Wall : “Should I come to ABC or go to XYZ for Diwali vacations?” And especially if you are a bit senior on the corporate ladder, you will get a hundred responses, ranging from , “Pls Boss, only ABC”, “ABC is the right choice”, ABC Chief, only ABC”…. you get the drift… so a status on Facebook helps you decide truly what’s on your mind!
How to make Mundane = Excitement : Post the likes of “ I hate Mondays or I don’t wanna wake up, or Bored at work, or I wanna eat cheese cake or stuck in traffic etc etc”. Within no time, you will have sympathy, help, suggestions, action plans pouring in!! Voila!!
Facebook = News Right Now : Not in front of TV to watch the Live Cricket match or don’t know what’s happening in the world around?? Log in to Facebook for the latest scores, ball by ball update with personal comments and even suggestions to the players! Or for that matter even what’s happening in Big Boss 5! Honestly, I was educated about the life, history, success, speeches of Steve Jobs only through Facebook!
Life’s Profound Gyan on your ~~fingertips~~ Facebook : Life’s deeper thoughts, positive thoughts, inspiring thoughts, funny thoughts all are there to give that spurt of energy and positivity!! Saw this today, Hard Times Are Like a Washing Machine,
They Twist,Turn & Knock Us Around, But In The End we Come Out, Cleaner, Brighter & Better Than Before....

So, what have you learnt from Facebook!!?? :)
Image Courtesy : Google

On This Day…

2011-11-26T20:00:00.004+05:30

Jottings of this day… nothing special, just another day, but sharing it just like that or rather to brush off some of the rust from the grey cells, I let my fingers dance on the keyboard to share this day…

Went for Aaryan’s Parent Teacher meet. Was told he is very inquisitive, likes to ask a lot of questions and is a very talkative child!!
Was all ready to fire the Rajasthan State Electricity Board… Reason?? We got our electricity bill, which had totally wrong meter reading and the worst was that it was a hand written bill!! A gross error!! Thought of speaking to a friend who works with RSEB before we left for their office, but were told that the office remains closed on Saturdays! So the firing session is now postponed to Monday.

The hand written bill which shows the meter reading to be 8696.

The actual meter reading is 5135!!

Finished reading 'Before I say Good-Bye' by Mary Higgins Clark. Very captivating.
The laptop table for bed which was ordered from Indiatimes Shopping got delivered today. Am so thrilled to use it! It has a drawer, adjustable table leg height and most importantly the much needed air vents. Recently read that using laptops in bed or keeping them on lap is dangerous and also reduces the laptop life.
It’s Rockstar this evening and of course a dine out!

What are you doing this weekend. Whatever the plans… Have loads of fun and enjoy!!

A Question For You

2011-11-24T12:51:00.002+05:30

Would you gift someone a pack of cigarettes which has the following in bold and shining text??

Wordless Wednesday - 68

2011-11-23T13:35:00.002+05:30

Thursday Challenge–Books

2011-11-17T00:02:00.006+05:30

It's Books, this Thursday.

I was planning to show off the books I bought last week at the National Book Fair, Jaipur. And today's Thursday Challenge on Books (Very Old Books, Library, Electronic Books, Piles of Books...) is a perfect example of hitting 2 birds with one stone.

The National Book Fair had a VAST array of books from various Publishers, Whole sellers and even Retailers. The best aspect was that almost all the books were available on discounted prices.

The books that I picked up were hardcover fiction from my favourite authors.

Ken Follet’s Whiteout, The Third Twin and Code to Zero.
Mary Higgins Clark is one of my favourite author, so, I picked up 6 of her books. One of the book is a 3-in-1!! So, a triple treat for me!

It’s been a loong long time, since I read Jackie Collins, so 2 books of hers were a part of my book pile!

And recently, I explored the world of Dean Koontz, so I grabbed his 4 suspense thrillers too.

The bestest feeling I have after the shopping spree at this book fair is that my collection of Mary Higgins Clark has now reached to 13 + 2!! Yaaayyy!!

And guess how much did I spend last week on these 15 books??

Wordless Wednesday - 67

2011-11-16T00:02:00.001+05:30

Resident Dormitus by Vikas Rathi

2011-11-14T17:35:00.002+05:30

Title : Resident Dormitus
Author : Vikas Rathi
Publisher : Rupa & Co
ISBN : 978-81-291-1754-0
Number of Pages : 196
Price [INR] : 195
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis : Resident Dormitus is a story of Achet, a business graduate, hailing from Jaipur and his friends who are out of college and join the big corporate world. The book takes us through the thoughts which are very profound many-a-times, cynicism and idiosyncrasies, expectations and the ironies of life, self introspection and discoveries, of these young adults.

Review : A first look at the title of the book and I thought it’s a kind of magic spell from the world of Harry Potter! Of course, Harry Potter and his friends have never uttered these words but this book sure casts a magical spell on you. It compels you to explore and gather your own insights as the characters do so during their journey in this novel.

The unique and intriguing title “Resident Dormitus’ has a profound meaning and impact which is very beautifully explained by Dev. He talks about about “an experiment conducted by Berkeley, where he summons a slave boy and merely by questioning him, makes the boy see the solution of a geometrical problem which he hadn’t even known existed, thereby proving that knowledge is resident in all human beings, yet only a few are able to realise it”, or ignite it from the dormant stage.

It’s kind of weird and amusing to find Achet, the main protagonist, devising ways and means to escape from his work, which is his first job actually. His analysis of a personality of the sender from his or her emails, or procrastinating sending replies to the mails… and if he decided to reply to someone, his response would be “by side-stepping, dancing all around and on top of the question, but never really answering it!”, taking long smoking and coffee breaks or buying a model for his project online or outsourcing the sales of his company’s products to the delivery boy, shows his lackadaisical approach in everything.

While, Achet and his friends, delve on topics like ‘upbringing and genetics”, “the difference between doings and their own value systems”, over loads of beer and pot, you get some insights and it makes you do some of your own thinking too.

The conversation between Achet and his father on, why we construct walls (by referring to the compound wall of the house) and his response, “to keep unwanted elements at bay and to keep the desired elements within, but it’s important to know, what should be inside those walls” is pretty profound and worth pondering!

Resident Dormitus is not like a racy unputdownable thriller but it sure compels you to know more about Achet and his friends and their collective discoveries and answers to the life’s questions, and thus makes for an interesting and an enlightening read.

To know more about the author or the excerpts of the book or the buying information, check it out at http://www.vikasrathi.com/

Rating : 3.5/5

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Wordless Wednesday - 66

2011-11-09T07:25:00.002+05:30

My Big Fat Bag

2011-10-21T23:19:00.001+05:30

One of my secrets in the 10 Day You Challenge was… “I can’t move out of the home without my big bag. It weighs more than a kilo and has all the things, I might possibly need at any point of time! So, even for grocery shopping down the lane, my big fat bag travels with me!”

On reading this Chicky a.k.a. Kaddu commented ... “I am curious to know what's in your big fat bag! :p Another blog post for it? 1 kg ke bag pe ek blog post to banta hai, right? :p”

Thank you Kaddu for a blog-post idea!

So, what’s in My Big Fat Bag?? The inside secret is revealed here…

These are the Card Holders which houses multiple cards… Debit Cards, various Store Cards, Game Cards etc… Yeah, they are so many that 2 card holders are needed for that!
They say that the two most beautiful words in the English language are 'cheque enclosed. Sadly, this Cheque Book Holder just has my cheque book along with a million other papers, receipts, bills etc
A woman's best protection is a little money of her own, said Clare B Luce and I carry my little money in a wallet and a separate bag for the coins!! Yeah, a small bag just for the coins!!
To capture the memories for the future or those unusual sights for the Wordless Wednesdays, this cybershot comes in handy when the big brother Nikon SLR is not around.
Well, it’s not a vanity kit, but basic life savers needed frequently in a day… comb, mirror, lipsticks, kajal, wet wipes, moisturising lotion… and if it’s a special occasion then some more of their brethren join the bag.
For that nauseating feeling while travelling or sudden hunger pangs or for the children around… a bag of chocolates and candies are a must too.
The meticulous me needs a diary and pens to make lists or jot sudden thoughts/ideas and of course a calculator to calculate 2+2. The calculator in my phone is very cumbersome, hence this calculator has found it’s place in the bag. Am thinking of replacing it with a bigger calci, coz it’s tedious to calculate with such a small keypad!
And the indispensible Mobile, travels in the bag always.
The sunglasses are mandatory too to protect the delicate eyes!
The visiting cards are meant to be exchanged, so all the cards are carefully stacked in the mini briefcase VC holder!
And the pious me, needs God too by my side and the tech savvy me could need a Pen Drive or the USB stick anytime.
Last but not the least, my best friends a.k.a my books are an integral part of my bag. Currently I am reading Phoenix Ritu’s book!

And all these things make my bag a Big Fat Bag, which is not only my saviour and friend but also helps me in increasing my stamina too!

So, what’s in your bag??

10 Day You Challenge : One Picture

2011-10-14T08:30:00.003+05:30

Finally, the challenge has come to an end and it’s One Picture of yourself, today.

Clicked, a day before yesterday at a wedding in Chandigarh, this is the recent me…

Wordless Wednesday - 65

2011-10-12T08:50:00.001+05:30

10 Day You Challenge : Two Songs

2011-10-11T20:27:00.000+05:30

This one is pretty easy.

Aye mere watan ke logon, zara aankh mein bhar lo paani….The famous patriotic song sung by Lata Mangeshkar . No song has moved me ever as this one.

Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa to nahin : From the movie Aandhi… Well, this is the only song that I have ever sung on a stage in front of an audience. For the MBA Fresher’s party, all the Freshers had to perform on stage, so I was ‘asked’ to sing this song. Lyrics didn’t mean a thing back then and for that matter even now, but whenever I listen to this song, wonderful memories flood back leaving a lingering smile on my face, always.

10 Day You Challenge : Three Movies

2011-10-10T22:30:00.000+05:30

Ah, today’s challenge is a big contrast from the yesterday’s 4 Books! The reason is that for books I had to shortlist from a large number and today while in movies, I have to select from the very few that I have seen. So, presenting the movies that I have enjoyed watching…

Delhi Belly : This movie was sure fun and funny, hilarious and naughty, crude and yucky still thoroughly entertaining and interesting. I would definitely watch it again.
Taare Zameen Par: A story of a dyslexic child and his world, his struggles and his smiles, definitely tugs at your heartstrings. A must watch for all parents. Needless to say, I cried buckets all through this movie and yet I loved it.
Harry Potter Movies : Have seen the Harry Potter movies sooooo many times courtesy POGO, Cartoon Network, Star Movies, HBO… and still never get tired of seeing the magical world of Harry and his friends.

It began here…

10 Day You Challenge : Four Books

2011-10-09T19:50:00.002+05:30

The Four Books… Hmmm …. This is the toughest one, because, I love books and love soooo many of them. Have been trying to list some of the books I have thoroughly enjoyed and a lot of them come to my mind. Culling through the archives, here are my 4 Fav Books…

Harry Potter series by JK Rowling : This is certainly the no.1 on my list not only because of the number of times I have read these books or seen the HP movies, but because of so many things. The creativity, the mystery, the storylines, the magic, the characters… it is so vivid that the entire magical world comes alive in your mind, as you read this fantastic work of fiction.
Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon : This book graduated me from the world of children to the real big bad world, out there. I remember reading this book the first time during a train journey, when I was in class 10. This saga which spans 4 generations gave me so many unfamiliar and new insights then, that I was sufficiently shocked and very very intrigued.
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne : A good friend gifted me this book and I can never thank her enough for sharing this Secret with me. This book is such an inspiration, that reading a few pages every now and then or even the summaries at the end of each chapter, fills you with so much of positivity, enthusiasm and motivation. The 3 steps to use the secret…. Ask. Believe. Receive, hold true for getting anything in life… being grateful for what you already have will attract more good things… the process of visualization generates powerful thoughts and feelings of having it now and the law of attraction turns it into a reality… This is one book, which is my no. 1 choice in giving as a gift to my friends.
Suspense and Mysteries by Mary Higgins Clark : At a book fair in Lucknow, I saw a big pile of books by Mary Higgins Clark. I skimmed through the synopsis at the back, and the storyline fascinated me. I picked up 8 books of the author at one go (also because, they were available at Rs 100 each!). Have read a lot of her books and I am in love with “The Queen of Suspense” and the “Master Plotter”. All her stories are so very fascinating and simply UNPUTDOWNABLE.

It began here…

Wordless Wednesday - 64

2011-10-05T13:47:00.000+05:30

10 Day You Challenge : Five Foods

2011-10-01T21:37:00.002+05:30

Day 5 and Five Foods are ….

Masala Dosa : It is No. 1 favourite food. I remember, as kids we used to frequent a Madras Hotel in Kota, which used to serve simply wonderful Dosas. And since, then there is no looking back and all I can say to you dear Masala Dosa is “Nothing’s gonna change my love for you!”
Gol-Gappas : I love Gol-Gappas or Pani Puris. But not the roadside kinds, just the neat and clean outlet types or the one that is home made… of course the Pani Puris are from the market and the yummy, tangy Pani is made at home. During ~~the first~~ all the three trimesters, this was one thing that I used to have daily!!
Rajma Chawal made by Mom : She makes the most yummilicious Rajma. It’s the no. 1 request from me to her whenever we are together.
Gujarati Thali : Some joints in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and one in Jodhpur, serve some real authentic Gujarati food in a thali. Ah, just remembering about it is making my stomach yearn for it.
Non-Veg made by KG : Though, I am not a keen non-veg eater, but the fact that I am eating non-veg now is only because the Master Chef’ is amazing with Chicken-Mutton and I eat only when it is cooked by him!! He creates culinary magic in the kitchen with the non-veg food, always! The Laal Maas, the Chettinad Chicken, Sukha Mutton, Murg Awadhi Korma, Dum ka Murg, Nalli Gosht… are simply legendary among our family and friends!

It began here…

10 Day You Challenge : Six Places

2011-09-30T22:48:00.002+05:30

6 Places on Day 5. Here are some places that have given wonderful memories and some where wonderful memories would be created….

Lucknow : The bestest city that we have stayed in is Lucknow! Loved the ‘metro but not a metro’ feel of the place… the kebabs and biryani, the lakhnavi embroidered kurtas and sarees, the multiplexes and huge malls, the culture and tradition, all gave some wonderful fond memories!
Mumbai : Mumbai, where life runs faster than the clock was our home for 8 years! The dhakka-mukki in the Local Trains and focus on catching the Bo 8:03 F , vada-pav and bhel at Juhu beach, mystical evenings on the Marine Drive, the hot coffee on the road by the coffee-wala on the cycle, the incessant rains, the traffic jams, the roads with potholes, some wonderful friends… created loads of magical memories in Mumbai.
Jaipur : Simply because it is our hometown and where we have returned after a long time!
Australia : A travel destination on the wish list for adventure and to enjoy the magnificent natural wonders.
South Africa : Another holiday destination on wish list for hiking trails and wildlife and national parks. Have seen so much of it on National Geographic, that, I am keen to experience it all in person!
Home : This is the bestest place to come back after a long day or even after a great vacation. Nothing beats the comfort, cozines and warmth of home!

It began here…

Wordless Wednesday - 63

2011-09-28T22:32:00.000+05:30

10 Day You Challenge : Seven Wants

2011-09-27T23:41:00.004+05:30

7 Wants on Day Four…

I want…

KG to quit smoking : He is just not interested in quitting the ciggy and it’s on my mind all the time! I know, this Quit Smoking desire has to come from within, and my wanting him to quit it will not help, but still I want it to happen!
No child to grow without his/her parents : Whenever I see, children from broken families or growing up without a mom or a dad, it disturbs me a lot. Their fears, struggles, pain and hurt at such a young age is something, I want God to erase ASAP.
To Let Go : I want myself to let go of certain things… eating at a road side dhabha without a frown…
Inner peace : Just as Master Shifu told Po, the portly panda in Kung Fu Panda 2, I want inner peace too!
Happiness and success for my child : As a mother, I want my child to be a good human being and happy and successful in his life.
My Mom to get selected for KBC : Nobody can be as serious and dedicated as her, about KBC. Religiously, every evening, she sits in front of the TV with a paper and pen and tries to answer the questions when posed to the contestants by the Big B and sends all the SMSs daily too!!
More time for reading and blogging…

It began here…

10 Day You Challenge : Eight Fears

2011-09-23T23:42:00.003+05:30

It’s Day 3 and here are my 8 Fears

Losing loved ones : I am truly scared of this one and I don’t even want to think or talk about it.
Long distance travel by road : Whenever family and friends travel by road, I am paranoid personified. Till they reach their destination safely, I cannot rest or sleep. Though, I am perfectly ok, when I am travelling with them by road!
Lizards, Cockroaches, Rats… You get the drift!! Any of their creepy brethren in the same room as me, and I can give them heart attack with my shrieks!
Being out of money : I never want to be caught short…
Fast Driving : It really freaks me out. My eyes are forever glued to the speedometer. A lil’ above average speed, and I get anxiety attacks which are followed by verbal attack!
Gruesome, horrifying crimes : That they are happening and could happen to anyone around gives me goose bumps.
Ghosts, black magic etc : Many people enjoy talking or listening about paranormal stories and activities… Not me!
Losing the data on my lappy : Long back, my computer crashed and there was no back-up!! God, I was aghast and disgusted with myself for a long long time.

It began here…
10 Day You Challenge : 10 Secrets
10 Day You Challenge : 9 Loves

10 Day You Challenge : Nine Loves

2011-09-22T21:53:00.003+05:30

It’s Day 2 and here I go with my Nine Loves…

1. KG : 17 years of togetherness with 14 years of married life with Kshitij, have made the bond of love stronger with each passing high and low of life. Touchwood!
1. Aaryan : My 9-year old baby brat is the bestest!! :)
2. Books : I cannot imagine my life without books. They form an integral part of my life. A cupboard which houses all my books, and which is my mini-library is overflowing with books. Some of the books, I love reading again and again.And just, today, I ordered 4 new books from Flipkart! I hate sharing my books, though.
3. Gadgets : Laptop, SLR camera, digital camera, iPod, smart phone, even the external storage hard drive, I just love my tech soul mates. I am eyeing the Kindle now and the Nikkor 55-300 mm lens would be mine sometime very soon!
4. FarmVille : It’s been more than 2 years since Kaddu introduced me to this game, and there’s never been a dull moment with FarmVille. I just can’t do without playing this virtual farming game, every day!!
5. Family and Friends : Parents and sisters who are like friends and friends who are family! It’s the best of both the worlds and I’m lovin’ it!!
6. My Me Time : I love the time I spend with my own self. Reading, dreaming, working, or even playing FarmVille, I cherish this time when I have only myself for company.
7. Masala Dosa : If I am in any restaurant which serves Masala Dosa, everybody knows, what I’d be ordering!! I am sooooooo very fond of it.
8. Home : Everybody loves their home, and I am no different. Its the bestest place in the world and especially when each and every thing that makes it a home is chosen with love and care and is your very own. We have stayed in so many places and I have loved each and every house we made our home.

It began here…
10 Day You Challenge – 10 Secrets

Wordless Wednesday - 62

2011-09-21T19:46:00.000+05:30

10 Day You Challenge : Ten Secrets

2011-09-21T00:52:00.003+05:30

After saying a Hello There and Hi Here on 1st September, I went back into hibernation! So much for the big talk I gave myself!!

Tried coming back to my baby blog a couple of times these past few days, a few words here and there and then pressed the Backspace key, and the result was a blank page which truly reflected my…., you know what!

Then, a bulb glowed somewhere and thought of challenging myself with this 10 Day Challenge, which was doing the rounds a few months back in our blogosphere.
So, here I am on Day 1 with Ten Secrets…which will not be secret anymore!

I have fixation for certain foods, which I can eat anytime and every time for long periods of time. I used to carry Bhindi and Paranthas in my lunch box, every single day at work for 2 months, much to the amusement of my then colleagues. The only food that I order in a restaurant is Masala Dosa. KG is thoroughly disgusted with this weird fixation of mine! And now my latest passion is Samosas! So, I can have Samosas for breakfast, lunch and even dinner!! I know, what you are thinking!!
I am very meticulous or so I like to believe. Important things, papers… are always kept neatly and a safe place. So, the keys which would be used once in a while or the button of a dress/shirt which will be needed to sew up again are kept at safe place… that’s another story that it takes me ages to find that ‘safe’ place, always!
A wrong number on my phone brings out the worst in me. It’s kind of embarrassing, but somehow, I can never be patient with questions like “Kaun bol raha hai” from the other end of the phone.
Seeing anybody in tears can open my flood gates of salty water. The other day, I was at a doctor’s clinic waiting for my turn along with a lot of patients. Suddenly this teenage villager started wailing and talking about his dead mother. And I just couldn’t hold back the tears. The doctor sure had a confused look on seeing a tearful woman who had come to show him the normal lab reports!
I love sweets, in fact no meal is complete without a sweet dish. Our fridge might not have the veggies for a day ~~or two~~, but never a day without a dessert of any kind. We were at a buffet lunch at a hotel’s restaurant, sometime back. Amidst a lavish display of desserts were ‘Gajar ka Halwa’ and “Gajar ka Halwa - Low Calorie’. Nonchalantly, I took a big chunk of ‘Gajar ka Halwa’ on my plate much to the amazement of our friends. When somebody asked about my choice between the two desserts, my response, “the latter is less sweet”, met with a shocked silence!
I can’t stand the drama in Hindi serials, news, reality shows and not even the cookery shows showcased on our television, even for a minute!! MasterChef India OMG… what a contrast it was from MasterChef Australia!
I am pretty at peace and content with myself. So, I can be (and am) happy in my own company. Dressing up simply even at a wedding with opulence and style around me, does not give me any anxiety pangs.
I have a fairly good voice, but am too shy to sing out loud!
Everything, I do starts with a list. 80% of the times it is diligently written in a small notebook and rest of the time in the grey cells. But whatever task is at hand, it’s 1….2…3…4… for me!
I can’t move out of the home without my big bag. It weighs more than a kilo and has all the things, I might possibly need at any point of time! So, even for grocery shopping down the lane, my big fat bag travels with me!

Phew!! That’s quite a lot of weird secrets I have shared here!!

Wordless Wednesday - 61

2011-09-07T11:45:00.001+05:30

Hi There! & A Hi Here Too!!

2011-09-01T22:11:00.001+05:30

Hello Everyone!! How have you been!?!

I am back! Back from a small hiatus!

But why a hiatus?? Well, it's a bag of lots of things! Some new developments, challenges, exigencies at work, lots of travel, places with no net connectivity, lack of time...

The past month and a half has been so hectic that my 2 favorite activities on the web were thoroughly ignored. And this is proven by the fact that my 4 day crop of watermelons withered!! It's a nightmare for a dedicated and addicted farmer like me!! Yeah, I am STILL mad about FarmVille!! And couldn't even post a Blogger's savior in busy times, the Wordless Wednesdays!!

Things seem to be under better control now, so, I guess, today is a good to start afresh... as it's beginning of a new month and Ganesh Chaturthi too!

So, sharing a SMS, I received and wishing you happiness as big as Ganesh’s appetite, life which is long as his trunk, troubles as small as his mouse, and moments as sweet as his laddus! A very happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all! :)

Did I miss something major in the blogosphere, while I was away?? Well, 889 unread posts in the Reader tells me that a lot has happened!! Am tempted to mark all 889 as Read!! ;)

Time to get back to some serious reading and serious writing too! See you :)

Wordless Wednesday - 60

2011-08-24T00:06:00.000+05:30

Chanakya’s Chant by Ashwin Sanghi

2011-08-11T19:37:00.002+05:30

I received this book from Blogadda , as part of their Book Reviews Program.

Title : Chanakya’s Chant
Author : Ashwin Sanghi
Publisher : Westland
ISBN : 978-93-80658-67-4
Number of Pages : 448
Price [INR] : 195
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis : Chanakya’s Chant is a political thriller which showcases 2 stories running in parallel.

The first story is a fictional account of the life of Chanakya (also called Vishnu Gupta and Kautilya), the great, shrewd, political mastermind of ancient India who uses ‘saam daam dand bhed’ to make Chandragupta Maurya, the king of Magadha; the second story is of a modern-day king maker, Gangasagar Mishra who uses all of Chanakya’s strategies to make Chandini Gupta, a little girl from the slums of Kanpur as the Prime Minister of India.

Review :
Q : Do you like to read about…

History and mythology
Thrillers
Fast paced plots
Intrigue and Insights

If you say ‘Yes’ to all the 4 options, Chanakya’s Chant is the book for you.

This is a crafty, well-plotted historical-political conspiracy that flits easily between the past and the present/future. The strategies used by Chanakya, some 2300 years ago to conquer all odds to see Chandragupta Maurya as the emperor, were similarly used by Gangasagar Mishra to make his protégée, Chandini Gupta, the prime minister of India. The interesting part is that the intelligence, deceit, farsightedness, cunningness, ruthlessness, practiced by Chanakya to achieve his ultimate goal so many years ago held true for Gangasagar in today’s times too.

A chapter from the past which is immediately followed by a present day chapter on Ganagasagar and his plans and actions, explains the similarities of the plots and the characters in the two different time zones.

The book is sure full of intrigue and insights… the nurturing and development of young girls into Vishkanyas to kill enemies, the CFC or the Conjurer’s Fourth Card and the opinion polls being similar in nature…

The mechanism of modern day politics machinery is explained in detail and knowing that this is how it works, sure gives some discomfort and outrage. Blackmailing, murdering, deceiving, even castrating a person, all is done because ultimately the end justifies the means!

Liberal use of witty and famous one liners, proverbs and quotations remind you of having read them as status updates on Twitter or Facebook! And the author’s mentioning about these references used in the end, gets my ‘Thumbs Up’.

While the book focuses on the intelligence and manipulative strategies of the two main protagonists, their protégées are projected as slightly dumb (which should/would not be the case actually!) for both Chandra Gupta and Chandini are always asking for detailed explanations for the actions and decisions of their respective gurus.

Though, the story becomes quite predictable after a while, but it definitely keeps you hooked till the last page and the last page is on page number 448!! A big achievement, I must say. So, Chankaya’s Chant is surely a Must Read. Go for it!

Rating : 4/5

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Wordless Wednesday - 59

2011-07-27T19:32:00.001+05:30

Thursday Challenge - Yellow

2011-07-21T00:21:00.003+05:30

Yellow it is, this Thursday!
A quick surfing through the lappy archives and I saw this...

...the Yellow Calla Lily, which added brightness and beauty to the decor at a hotel in Shimla.

They say that yellow calla lilies originated from South Africa. They are about 18-40 inches tall. Each stem has one bloom. They are ideal for bouquets and floral arrangements with an expected vase life of minimum 8 days!

Read somewhere that a yellow calla lily long stemmed bouquet is ideal for a tall bride. As these are tall and slender flowers, so when a tall bride carries it, she will look even more elegant and stylish. Wow!!

And this immediately made me remember the ~~sasural~~ genda phool that are generally used in Indian weddings! :)

Wordless Wednesday - 58

2011-07-20T00:02:00.002+05:30

Thursday Challenge - Vehicles

2011-07-14T04:00:00.003+05:30

It’s Vehicles, this Thursday.
And I am not sharing some jazzy, new, or even vintage or rare vehicles. But, am sharing about the vehicles which change the destiny of not only an individual but decides the fate of his entire family. Just a glimpse of these vehicles on the roads, a small prayer definitely leaves the lips of all around.

These are the mangled and broken vehicles.
These are the vehicles which have blood on them.
These are the vehicles which have crashed not only themselves, but the dreams and hopes of those riding in/on them.

En route Vaishno Devi, near Jammu

At Leh

Of course, the vehicles turning into wrecks like this, is mostly because of the negligence of the people who drive them.

Safety studies have found that driver fatigue, drunken driving, negligence of safety norms are some of the reasons of the mishaps on the road. Dangerous overtaking, lane cutting, jumping signals, erratic parking, road rage are also responsible for accidents.

Both these accidents occurred at night and driver fatigue was cited as the main reason.

In 2007, I experienced this. We were travelling by a taxicab from Jodhpur to Jaipur and since it was late night, almost all (5 of us) were sleeping/dozing. Suddenly, I opened my eyes, and saw that the driver was sleeping too! It was such a big shock!!

They say, it takes 8,460 bolts to assemble a vehicle and one nut to scatter it all over the road!

Wordless Wednesday - 57

2011-07-13T11:07:00.002+05:30

Thursday Challenge - Roads

2011-07-07T12:44:00.003+05:30

In August 2009, we went for an adventure trip to Leh, which is the roof of the world, from Srinagar by Road!

National Highway 1 (NH1) connects Srinagar with Leh. The scenic beauty and natural landscapes of the valley can be enjoyed right from the start to the end of this 475 kms long road journey. Tall mountains and rivers or lakes gives you company during the entire stretch.Sometimes you travel uphill and other times there are steep downhill slopes. There are several sharp inclines or hairpin bends or even blind curves. Some mountain roads are relatively narrow or involve tight bends, so that only one vehicle can pass at a time. Some of the roads truly frighten you. And one surely feels giddy and nauseated when you see down the valley and see the distance that you have covered.While travelling on these mountain roads, it made me think about the people who made roads on such a terrain. And the people behind the roads here are the BRO or the Border Road Organization, which Creates, Connects, Cares…

BRO is regarded as a symbol of nation building, national integration and an inseparable component in maintaining the security and integrity of the nation.

Project Himank of the BRO develops the infrastructure in this part of Jammu & Kashmir!
Throughout the journey at various locations, the workers of the BRO were either repairing the road or making a new one. I must say that they are doing a commendable job!!

And also…

“Let us not forget that roads in this difficult terrain have been built not only with mere cement and concrete, but also with the blood of men of the Border Roads Organisation of India. Many lost their lives for the cause of duty on the project. To these men, who always play with danger and laugh at death, duty comes first. These fallen heroes came from all parts of Mother India, to contribute their mite to the defence of their mother land and prosperity of their neighbours”
From an Article ‘Highways to Adventure’ published in ‘THE MIRROR’ Magazine, Jul 1975 The Genesis

Right through the road journey at regular intervals there were these interesting messages from the BRO on the roadside, which are truly needed when travelling on these mountain roads and even on our cities road!

Soak them…

3 enemies of road: Speed, Liquor & Overload
Peep-Peep, Don’t Sleep
Be Mr. Late but not Late Mr.
No race no rally, enjoy beauty of valley
Be soft on the curves
Speed and Safety never meet
Safety: Make it a habit
Lane driving is safe driving
Always Alert, Avoids Accidents
Any time, Safety Time
Short Cuts may cut short your life
Driving with care, make accidents rare
Danger lurks at blind corners
This is not rally race, drive with grace
This is Highway and not Runway
Alert Avert Avoid Accident
Fast won’t last
Take Heed, Don’t Speed
Life is short, don’t make it shorter
Hurry and Worry go together
Drive like hell and you’ll be there!
On my curves, check your nerve
More you speed, more you skid
Enjoy it but while on wheels
On the bends, go slow friends
Haste make waste
After whiskey, driving risky
Break the speed, that is the need
Drinks and Drive Do not mix
Safety on road=safe tea at home
Safety is the light, let it shine
Good driver is seldom hurt
Speed is a knife that cuts your life
A spill, a slip, a hospital trip
Don't be a gama, in the land of Lama
If you are married, divorce speed
Lower your gear, curve is near
Drive, Don’t Fly
Feel the curves, do not test them
All will wait, better be late
Kabhie nahin se der bhali
Gaadi Chalane ka shauk farmaiye, shoke nahin
Tej raftari, marne ki taiyyari
Ghar wale kar rahain hain intejaar, tum dheere chalna mere yaar
Gati yaani durgati

This post salutes the courage and dedication of all those at the BRO!
* A Re-post!

Wordless Wednesday - 56

2011-07-06T16:42:00.000+05:30

Ten on Tuesday - 14

2011-07-05T20:54:00.004+05:30

Ten Things about Today’s Terrible Tuesday

6.15 am: I wake up Aaryan to get him ready for school, he croaks, “I’m having a headache and my throat is aching too”. I check his forehead, ponder over for a few seconds and ask him to go to sleep again and I also follow suit. KG woke me up and saw a hot cup of tea on the bedside table. I groan inwardly very loudly. While KG is a fantastic chef and creates magic with food, he makes lousy tea. No, let me correct myself, I find tea made by him PATHETIC. He loves his creation with tea leaves and water, though! A sip and I was correct, anyways, I take a few more sips and then just gave up. A bad tea in the morning makes for a bad day??
8 am : No sign of maid. I call her up. Yes, she has a mobile. And she has a story to share. No, not the regular types of somebody ill or somebody dead… but… The maids in our apartment complex have found an agent who believes that they are exploited and are paid less. (A BIG Joke, we all know it!!) So, until their demands are not met, they’ll agitate… To cut the story short, it was my turn to do the dishes and jhadu pocha!
After the breakfast, I start with the dishes, only to find that the kitchen sink is not draining water! Bloody hell!! I try a few tricks and some water trickles down, but the dishes are soon submerged in the sink pool, again some more tactics with a wire and a few ~~drops~~ litres go down the drain. At one point of time, the water was threatening to overflow from the sink!! Somehow managed to clean the dishes! But what a mess and pain it was!
While mopping the floor, I slipped and fell on the wet floor. It was not much of a physical injury but something was bruised!
Now, that I was in a complete ‘Maid’ mode, I decided to wash the balconies too. It was not at all necessary to do so, but still I did it and gave a shriek of my lifetime as I accidently touched the AC Stabilizer. I saw a few pigeons who were resting on the railings flew away with fright!! I know, dumb of me to do what I did, but I did that and got that!! A huge electric shock!
Next, when I was hanging the clothes on a clothesline, I found that Aaryan’s WHITE school T-shirt had pink stains, courtesy my pink shirt which was lying adjacent to it!! How did that happen!?! Gosh! I looked at it in disbelief for a long time as I knew, a lot of work would be needed on the T-shirt, to regain it’s old white glory! Guess, will have to use Sridevi’s ‘Trust Pink, Forget Stains!’
Finally, it’s time to leave for the doctor’s clinic. With bag on my shoulders and sunglasses on my head, I enter the kitchen to close the door and remember that the milk has to be set for making curd. “Oh, it will take a minute” and I warm the milk. I hold the hot vessel with the steel tong and WTF!, it turns (or rotates, in short it loses it’s grip) and the milk spills not only on the sparkling clean kitchen slab but also on the floor, on the gas and even on my flip flops!! Believe me, I am not clumsy!! And next ten minutes are spent in cleaning the mess from all the places.
Thankfully, the wait at the doctor’s clinic is not much. A throat infection is diagnosed and we went to the chemist for the medicines. One medicine was not available on all the 3 chemist shops near the doctor. A classic case of a Medical Representative promoting his brand without making it available at the retail counters. So, thought of calling the doctor and lo!, there’s no telephone number on the prescription! Went back to clinic, had to wait for ten long minutes and finally got the medicine changed.
Went to mom’s place for lunch and while leaving from there, got a call from a colleague informing that I had sent the ‘most important’ mail to her without the attachment! And in the tearing hurry forgot to carry back Aaryan’s medicines.
I was dreading making dinner tonight, believing that something would go wrong again. But thankfully the junior chef has passed the dinner with flying colours! Now waiting for the senior chef to give his verdict! Fingers Crossed!

Friday’s 55 Fiction : Still…

2011-07-01T19:02:00.004+05:30

55 Fiction is a form of micro-fiction that refers to the works of fiction limited to a maximum of fifty-five words.

Still…

It was the H-hour. The corridor outside the OT was teeming with women of the family having expectant faces and anxiety writ large on their faces, while the men managed a cool facade.

A cheery announcement by the nurse, “Congratulations, it’s a Girl”!

Without a word or a glance, they all did a vanishing act!

** Based on a recent real-life incident. The birth of a girl child is still considered a bane and a burden in many societies in Rajasthan. The most shocking aspect is the callous attitude by both the women and the men of the so called educated and ‘upper class’ families.

Image Courtesy : Google Images

Thursday Challenge - Curved

2011-06-30T17:40:00.001+05:30

It's a Curvy Thursday... curved like Bent, Rippled, Coiled, Spiraling, Twisted...
And here's my pic for this theme, the spiral metal staircase at the Poshina Palace.

Wordless Wednesday - 55

2011-06-29T11:13:00.005+05:30

Please Click Pic for Better Readability!

Thursday Challenge - Wooden

2011-06-23T12:31:00.003+05:30

The theme for Thursday Challenge this week is Wooden.
I am picking the wooden blocks game which we play frequently with Aaryan, which is the Jenga.

Jenga is a game which is played with 54 wooden blocks. Each block is three times as long as it is wide, and one fifth as thick as it is long.

Three sets of blocks are placed perpendicular to each other till a tower is formed. The game consists of taking one block from any level with one hand and balance it on top, creating a taller and increasingly unstable structure as the game progresses. The game ends when the tower falls.

It's a game of manual dexterity and mental skills and is sure fun and addictive too!

Have you tried your hands at Jenga??

Wordless Wednesday - 54

2011-06-22T11:10:00.001+05:30

Half Fry to Double Bheja Fry

2011-06-21T19:21:00.005+05:30

Last Sunday, was Father’s Day. It took off with a wonderful start…

A wonderful start = A creative, sweet, lovely, awesome, simply cool breakfast from the Junior Chef for the Senior Chef, with a bit of help from the mother who is just a cook.

Aaryan wanted to give his father a surprise, a breakfast by him, for him, which he truly loves… a Half Fry! And the father was truly surprised and more than surprised, he was beaming with pride, to see his son share the same passion for cooking.

PS: The layout design is courtesy the lil’ Chef. Isn’t it so very creative and sweet!?

The celebrations continued as baby and Mom picked up a Tee for the dad. And soon it was time to watch the much talked about Bheja Fry-2.

Now, we all know, how hilarious the first Bheja Fry was. In fact, saw it yet again, a week ago on TV, and it was simply fun!! With that in mind, loaded with popcorns and cold drinks, we settled to watch Bheja Fry-2 on the big screen.

A few laughs, and some punches here and there and I counselled myself to patiently wait, as ‘picture abhi baaki hai mere dost!’ and something really entertaining will unfold soon. And we kept on waiting for that ‘something hilarious’ to happen and all we got was boredom, restlessness for the ordeal to get over and sheer disappointment.

So, Bheja Fry-2 really gave us a Bheja Fry in reality.

After, dashed hopes it was time to rejuvenate ourselves with… the thing our Family simply loves, The Food!

Off we went to KFC which has opened it's outlet in Jaipur, a few days ago.

Now, lemme tell you that KG and AG are ardent non-veg lovers. With great expectations, we enter the KFC outlet. We ordered our meal and while we were waiting for our order, KG chats with the store manager and tells him about his first experience at the KFC many many years ago and how he is so glad that this outlet is now open.

A first bite into my Veg Zinger and my taste buds pronounce ‘NO taste’, a second bite and their answer is still the same. I hate wasting food, so, I try to spice it up with sauce and after 2 more bites, I just HAD TO pack it back into the box.

I look at the 2 men, who had a huge chicken bucket between them and every bite they took, simply spelled dissatisfaction. Whatever happened to “It’s finger lickin’ good”??

We looked around at the other tables, there were 2 young families, one group of elderly people and rest all school-college going kids. And everybody was busy eating!!

We introspected a bit, we wondered, ‘why didn’t we enjoy our meal, when it’s supposed to be finger lickin’ good.’ We took another bite after this and our verdict was out...

It was the second Bheja Fry moment of the day!!

Life Is What You Make It - Preeti Shenoy

2011-06-17T16:56:00.003+05:30

Title : Life is What You Make it
Author : Preeti Shenoy
Publisher : Srishti
ISBN : 978-93-80349-30-5
Number of Pages : 209
Price [INR] : 100
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis : Life is What You Make it, is a story of a young smart, intelligent and beautiful girl, Ankita Sharma. Ankita has a regular college life with great friends, a couple of guys falling in love with her, academically brilliant scores and even a stint as Arts Club Secy during the college elections. All is not only well, but simply great for Ankita, till she starts manifesting the symptoms of a mental illness, which is later diagnosed as Bipolar Disorder.

Life is What You Make it, is an inspiring journey of Ankita through the ups and downs of life and her grit and determination to fight all odds, to repossess the control over her life.

Review : You start reading this book and immediately you are hooked. It’s like all the characters and the situations come alive in front of you, and you can relate to so many things from your own past… the college atmosphere, the strict parental rules, the ‘braking suddenly tricks’, the era of postal letters and telephones… It’s like going down the memory lane with a big smile plastered all over your face.

A sensitive portrayal of a mental illness, which is still a taboo in our society, reflects the in-depth understanding and research on the subject by the author. Without much of the medical jargon on Bipolar Disorder, the book creates awareness about the disease, right from the signs and symptoms, mood swings and suicide attempts to the treatment regimen to the recuperation and finally the rehabilitation. It also throws light on the daily trials and tribulations of the family, their fears and pain, their helplessness, patience and understanding to deal with a disease which throws the life of their loved one totally off the track. Life is What You Make it, subtly makes one empathetic towards patients with mental illness.

A simple and crisp narrative coupled with a limpid writing style, makes Life is What You Make it, a simply Unputdownable read. Once you start reading this book, any interruptions would be frowned upon. You’ll like the fast pace of the book too, the initial chapters take you through the college fun and friends, letters and love. Then comes the career and choices, and next is the depression and the disease and finally the sweat and success. And all through this Ankita’s journey, you will feel her innocence, distress, apathy, pain, frustration, strength of mind, come out live in front of you, which will touch you for sure.

Some wonderful take-homes from Life is What You Make it,

Never belittle love, no matter where it came from and to be a little humbler, nicer and kinder with my words and actions.
A tiny ray of hope can take you a long way...
Faith is a strange and a powerful thing and it can work miracles.
My life is only as good as I decide to make it, as I am the master of my fate!

In a nutshell, Life is What You Make it, is inspiring and engrossing.

Rating : 4/5

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Wordless Wednesday - 53

2011-06-15T18:13:00.001+05:30

Wordless Wednesday - 52

2011-06-08T20:45:00.001+05:30

Thursday Challenge - Home

2011-06-02T16:31:00.001+05:30

Home is where the heart is!!

And my heart is with My Boys!! :)

Wordless Wednesday - 51

2011-06-01T17:45:00.002+05:30

Ten on Tuesday-13

2011-05-31T01:20:00.005+05:30

Zero Out of Ten

Guess, what’s common among these 4 things… a mobile, a USB Stick, a few hundred Rupees (400 to be precise) and some coins??
No, we didn’t buy these 2 items for this much money, and neither is this the sale value of these gadgets, nor did we find them hidden in a treasure chest!
Well, these 2 gadgets and currency have had an unique experience. They have had the ‘once in a million’ opportunity to be swirled, twirled, rotated, tumbled, spinned…
Yes, swirled, twirled, rotated, tumbled, spinned… not for a split of a second or a minute but for eternity…in a Washing Machine.
The first time…. one Sunday morning, as KG came out of the bathroom, in I rushed, like a woman possessed, to grab his discarded clothes, only to throw them in my beloved washing machine. (JFYI, I love washing clothes and my day is not complete without the buzzing sound of the washing machine resonating in our home!) Gadd… Gadd… noise, and I ignored it… some more Gadd… Gadd and KG came running in and rest is history. More than him, I was Ashamed, Broken-hearted, Crabby, Disappointed, Embarrassed, Frustrated, Guilty…. for rendering a 6-month old 20K HTC Phone, useless!!
Of course, that’s another story that, the papers or visiting cards, coins and currency notes are ‘washed’ and sometimes ‘spinned’ on a regular basis.
While, the coins are least affected and the notes are to be delicately handled after they are ‘discovered’, the visiting cards/papers are mere unrecognizable pulp.
Last week, when I saw the cap of the USB stick among the spin dried clothes, my heart skipped a beat. Frantically, I dipped my hand in the soapy water of the wash tub and my fingers narrowly miss a scrape. What I see is the twisted and bent metallic part of the USB Stick!! I kicked myself for doing this or rather not doing what I should have done earlier! Just a casual remark, “What’s new in this?”, when I showed KG the mangled device, made me all the more Horrible, Irritated, Jaded, Knotty, Loser, Mournful, Numb, Offended (Yeah, even that!), Pissed…
I don’t know, how this happens to me, considering, I ~~feel~~ believe that I am very meticulous. I know, I have to just check 4 + 2 pockets daily!! 4 of trousers and 2 of shorts, all 6 pockets belonging to KG coz the kid and I never keep anything in our respective pieces of clothing!! And I do check the pockets ~~religiously~~. Nah, KG can’t be trusted to remove his paraphernalia from his pockets!!
We are like that only, I guess!! Sigh!!!!!!

Thursday Challenge - Wet

2011-05-26T00:01:00.003+05:30

It's a Wet Thursday today!

Last year, while we were waiting for our lunch at the rooftop restaurant of our hotel in Mcleodganj, suddenly it was all dark and in a flash of a second, it started raining heavily.

Aaryan and his friends, immediately rushed onto the terrace. The boys had a wonderful time by getting soaked in the torrential downpour, all the while running around and jumping on the rain drops.

The fun of watching the kids play in the rains along with the smell emanating from the wet earth and the fresh lush green look of the trees around, brought happiness and smiles on everyone's face.

Wordless Wednesday - 50

2011-05-25T10:46:00.001+05:30

Young Chef in Making : Tang candy made with steel tumbler as the mould and spoon as the stick!

Ten on Tuesday - 12

2011-05-24T18:43:00.003+05:30

Today, Uma has written about Ten on Walking and inspired by her, I thought of doing…

Ten on Swimming

I just love swimming. It’s been 5 years, since I started swimming, and I have loved each an every moment in the water.
Gradually and consistently, with each passing day, I move towards more endurance and more enjoyment… more laps, more stamina, less panting and less breaks. And these small victories every day, truly make my day.
The swimming pool in our apartment complex is simply wow and having it all to myself is a BIGGER WOW!! I just love swimming alone in the cool, clear, blue water. It’s like that the ‘Ladeez’ timings are from 11 am to 1 pm. And it happens so that only 2 women swim in our complex, while I go at 11 am the other lady swims at 12 noon.
This one hour of ‘Me’ time, doing an activity which I love dearly, gives me time to think, ponder and chew on so many things.
I believe, swimming adds positivity, calm and happiness. A day without swimming, like this day, today (Tuesdays are off days), I feel very restless! Two draft Ten on Tuesdays are the proof!
Of course, it’s not only the brain cells that are actively working, a lot of adipose tissue is actively banished too. And I’m lovin’ it!!
Many a times, due to an evening engagement, I take Aaryan along with me in the mornings (Aaryan swims with his friends in the evening) and it’s fun too. I like to see the glee on his face when he beats me in our 1-Lap contest. And of course, it’s awesome to watch his dives and underwater swimming!
Swimming is the bestest form of workout in this extremely hot summers of Jaipur. No eeeky sweat and no overheated body during or after this workout!
Oiling of hair or using curds with shampoo and conditioner daily is a bit irksome… but then you gain 9 and lose 1!!
At the end of it all, after the shower, though it’s a tired me but a satisfied and happy me.

Thursday Challenge : Happy

2011-05-19T20:53:00.004+05:30

Happy he is, when he swims.

When we enrolled Aaryan for swimming classes in 2006, during a summer camp, for the first few days, he would just sit outside the pool with his legs dangling in the water. We thought of it as an initial reaction to water. But when it went on for 10 days, the coach suggested that I join him in the pool too.

And when I started learning swimming along with him, he was relaxed and picked up swimming faster than me!

It’s been 5 years now, and needless to say that he is a near pro. Of course his focus is more on jumping, diving, splashing water or throwing goggles from one end and swimming underwater to get them!

Now that we have a pool in our building complex, he is having a gala time with his friends. Not a single day is missed at the pool and is ready with his bag much before the appointed hour, everyday!

Swimming makes Aaryan truly happy!

Wordless Wednesday - 49

2011-05-18T10:32:00.001+05:30

Thursday Challenge : Pets

2011-05-16T21:12:00.001+05:30

Before Pepper

KG : “We have had 8 dogs at our place (his parents’ home) and I know everything about dogs. Would take them for walks, bathe them, have taken them to hospitals, have handled the new born pups to even ferocious ones and have assisted when ‘Laila’ was giving birth to her 6 puppies”….

SG : “We have had a Pomeranian (at my parents’ home). She was a sweet lil’ dog. A real friend, not much of a demanding pet, rather a quiet member of our family”

AG : “We should have a dog at our home, I love them. When will we have one?”

Pepper

One fine day in April 2006, Pepper, a month old Dalmatian enters the Garg family. A cute lil’ baby, loved and pampered by all 3 of us.

Then a month later, he fell ill. It was the hot weather, the vet said. The whole of May passed in taking our new baby to the hospital for shots and drips every morning and evening, feeding him with a syringe, because, he was too frail to eat on his own. And since we couldn't tie him with the leash, he would roam around anywhere in the home and thus would do sussu-potty anywhere and anytime. Of course, I did the cleaning part without a frown. His being healthy was more important than anything else. And by God’s grace, he became fit and fine.

And then what followed was….

After the initial euphoria, the men of our family got back to their regular routines.
The vast and rich “walking, feeding, bathing, and handling the dogs experience” of KG was never put to use for Pepper because he was too busy with his work, travelling or plain tired.

AG was too young to do anything of consequence for Pepper at that time… No, he used to play ball with him!

So that left me. The cute lil Pepper turned into a giant Pepper who was a WILD dog. No amount of training from a professional helped him mend his wild ways.

Sussu-potty anywhere in the home, barking incessantly and being friendly with strangers, turning our beautiful garden into a ploughed field with deep trenches, waking up at ungodly hours on holidays to let him out or running after him on the roads, when he would break free from his leash, were some of the minor aberrations!!

Finally, one day in November 2006, I met a person in a vet hospital who was looking for a Male Dalmatian as he had 2 female Dalmatians. I gave an ultimatum to the 2 men of our home and gladly gave Pepper to spice up somebody else’s life.

After Pepper

The 2 guys have never forgiven me for doing this to them. Whenever they see a dog, they talk about owning one, sometime soon.

I smile and let them day dream!!

Stanley Ka Dabba

2011-05-16T17:51:00.004+05:30

After seeing a promo of Stanley Ka Dabba on TV, we decided to see this movie.

Stanley ka Dabba is Produced, Directed and Written by Amol Gupte, the writer of Taare Zameen Par. In fact, he even acted as the selfish Hindi teacher cum villain of this movie. A heart-warming story with kids as main characters, Stanley ka Dabba is not only for kids but is actually for adults. It’s a movie, which all of us can relate to our school days.

The innocent friendship among the classmates irrespective of their backgrounds and trying to impress the sweet and beautiful teacher is very endearing.

If you had cried bucketful in TZP, you will at least cry a couple of mugful for the brilliant Stanley, played by Partho, Amol Gupte’s son. In a scene, where he drinks water to quench his hunger, is heart-rending.

The message in the end, leaves a deep impact. Majorly shot in a classroom, this movie moves you not only with its simple and uncomplicated narration but also the brilliant acting by the kids and teachers.

A MUST watch movie.

Wordless Wednesday - 48

2011-05-11T11:32:00.002+05:30

Ten on Tuesday - 11

2011-05-10T23:56:00.006+05:30

Ah!! Before I knew, what I did, something happened and comments of Ten on Tuesday-10 are featuring in this latest post! :P Any suggestions to rectify this??

Ten Things About The IPL Match We Saw Yesterday!

Yesterday, we had the IPL Match between the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings at SMS Stadium, Jaipur.

The first and foremost thing about this match was, that for the first time, the three of us, KG, Aaryan and I, saw a Live Cricket Match in a stadium.
We, I mean, the kid and I were super excited about this, so much so that we went to buy the Rajasthan Royals T-shirt from the Reebok outlet. I got a perfect Tee for myself, but sadly, couldn't get one for Aaryan.
On time, we went to the stadium and My God!, had to pass through so many security checks. We had our mobiles with us, which were duly asked to be left outside the stadium. Today’s newspaper reported that even Dhoni’s wife, Sakshi was not allowed to carry her camera!
We got our seats which was in the first row, next to the ground and the RR’s cheerleaders stage was just in front of us.
The first innings by CSK was pretty entertaining, with lots of 4s and 6s. A 6 landed in our stand. It was nice to see people cheering for good shots irrespective of the team they supported.
The cheerleaders were sweet looking foreigners and the boys had a good time cheering them!
The cheerful banter among the spectators around us was pretty entertaining too. Players like, Rahul Dravid, Ajinkya, Jakati, Murali Vijay, Dwayne Bravo were standing so very close to us (for fielding), but with their backs towards us. So, there were remarks like, “Turn towards us, or you’ll get out at Zero” Or don’t run so hard… let it be a 4”…
It was dinner time, so Aaryan dived into his dinner box… one bite and he gave his verdict…while the young boys behind us finished the tasteless complimentary dinner box with great gusto.
At sharp 10 pm, the music at the stadium was stopped as per the directive of the Supreme Court which has put a ban on use of loudspeakers and high pitched instruments at night. But IPL without music is pale and dull.
And when the RR’s batting order started crumbling, we knew which way the game would turn, so we left the stadium for a quiet dinner at a restaurant. Overall a fun and entertaining evening.

Chalo Dilli

2011-05-09T12:30:00.003+05:30

Yesterday, we decided to watch a movie. Scanned the schedules in the newspaper and we rushed to a multiplex. The plan was to watch Dum Maaro Dum, but due to technical reasons, had to go in for Chalo Dilli!!

Chalo Dilli starring Lara Dutta and Vinay Pathak, turned out to be a very entertaining movie.

Chalo Dilli is a journey of Mihika and Manu (played by Lara and Vinay), originating from Mumbai, and ending at Delhi via Jaipur. Witty dialogues and powerful performances by the lead artists and even the others in the cast keeps you glued to the seat.

This is one movie without any romantic angle between the pair and seeing them addressing each other as Bhai Sahab and Behenji is almost endearing.

Though this off beat movie keeps you entertained throughout but what hits you is the end which has a very thought provoking and poignant message. Manu’s oft repeated dialogue to every big or small problem, “To kaun si badi baat ho gayi” (So, what’s the big deal?) has a profound reason and meaning.

‘Letting Go and moving forward’ is one important take home from this wonderful, comic and entertaining movie. Surely a MUST watch!!

Thursday Challenge - Beautiful

2011-05-05T21:56:00.003+05:30

It’s a Beautiful week. And bright, attractive and colourful, in short Beautiful are our Goldie and Ginnie.

Goldie and Ginnie, our pet gold fishes, have been with us since 2006.

No, the gold fishes don’t live that long and given the feng shui belief that whenever a fish dies, it takes a part of your bad luck or misfortune. And you know, how life is!! So, many of our gold fishes have died since 2006, but they have been always replaced with new ones. So, though many fishes have given us company for the last 5 years, their name remains just the same, that is Goldie and Ginnie!! And since they don’t respond to their names like a pet dog or a cat would, anyone of them can be called by either of the names, as neither do they mind, nor do we!!

Goldie and Ginnie are wonderful pets. It’s so refreshing and relaxing to see them dance around in their bowl. Watching them is always a pleasure. And the bestest thing about them is that they are so low on maintenance. Just a feed in the morning and a weekly water change of their bowl, that’s it!!
No waking up at ungodly hours or even in rains or harsh winters to take them out for sussu-potty, and they never chew your favourite slipper or bark unreasonably.
You don’t have to take them to the vet for vaccinations or buy accessories and special food that costs a bomb.
Your home is free from tufts of hair and they are certainly not messy while eating food!!
They never attack or scare anyone and none of the neighbors complain about them.

I can go on and on talking about our Goldie and Ginnie, but to sum it up, they are the most beautiful friends we have at home… silently adding joy happiness and peace in our lives.

Oops, I noticed just now, that the next week's Thursday Challenge is on Pets!!

Ten on Tuesday - 10

2011-05-04T23:51:00.002+05:30

The 2 Year Journey So Far…This baby blog of mine turned 2 on 1st May.

After 18 hours of travel that day, at 10.28 pm, all I could manage was a cake for the birthday celebration.

They say, it’s never late to celebrate, so, I’d like to celebrate my 2 year old journey in this blogosphere…

Blogging for me has been a wonderful creative vent to whet my writing skills! It allows me to write on anything with my own special ‘chutney’. 324 Posts in 2 years!! That makes it a post approximately every 2nd day. Not bad, eh!
The most cherished and admirable gain has been friends. The camaraderie in the blogosphere is amazing. Strangers dropping by your blog, adding value to your thoughts and then turning into friends in such a short span of time. Can’t wait to meet the beautiful virtual friends in real life.
Learnings… Learnings and Learnings. There is so much to absorb from the varied and diverse expressions here. Raising voice against injustice or creating awareness on a social cause, fun and humour in even the mundane daily activities, gripping stories, all have enriched me, enlightened me, a lot.
Social Networking, the new mantra is an integral ingredient of the blog world too. And I am learning the game.
Have been a part of so many fads… Tags, Awards to fellow bloggers, Contests, Guest Posts, 55 Fiction and now the Wordless Wednesdays, Thursday Challenge and Ten on Tuesday… all were/are fun and exciting.
A lot of bloggers, when I entered this arena have left their space in the blogosphere and a lot of new ones have joined in. Have seen many of us transform from amateur cooks to ‘gourmet chefs’ in the recipe of Blogs!
If, I see my readers… there has been a change over the last 2 years in the readership too… some have totally vanished, some are sporadic readers and some are still consistent! A big thanks to everybody for the constant encouragement and feedback, despite me being so sloppy in responding to comments. (You know the reasons!)
Blogging has made me an avid observer of life around me. Anything and everything is looked from the blogging perspective. Even a casual remark from somebody results in ‘sharing my 2 cents’ on the blog. And the same goes for capturing pictures. So much so, that stepping out of the home without a camera is a gross error and simply unthinkable.
Reading the older posts takes me back in time, makes me think about my thoughts at that time. I am liking the idea that some day, Aaryan would read this.
Two years have passed and I look at my baby blog with pride and satisfaction. Looking forward to celebrating a lot more birthdays for my baby blog.

Wordless Wednesday - 47

2011-05-04T15:02:00.001+05:30

This Blog Turns 2, Today!!

2011-05-01T22:28:00.002+05:30

It's 1st May, and my blog turns 2 today!

Please have some cake on this happy and joyous occasion.

Images Courtesy : Google Images

Thursday Challenge - Spring

2011-04-28T06:25:00.002+05:30

It's Spring in Jammu and Kashmir now. The spring season starts in March and lasts till early May.
Last weekend, I had the pleasure to be at Patnitop which is a hill station near Jammu.

This view from a small hill gives you the blissful feeling of peace and tranquility. Surrounded by lush green forest and tall pine trees are the JKTDC Huts. Well furnished rooms with working kitchen beckon you if you are looking for a quiet and relaxing holiday. One can indulge in reading a good book under a tree or long walks, trekking or pony rides at any time as the weather is very pleasant, with a slight nip in the air.

Ah, miss this serene place now that I am back in the hot and sultry weather of Jaipur!

Wordless Wednesday - 46

2011-04-27T08:51:00.001+05:30

Ten on Tuesday - 9

2011-04-26T21:23:00.008+05:30

Ten Things That Happened During My Recent Flight

Last week, I had to fly from Delhi to Jammu for a workshop at Patnitop.

My colleague and I were taking the Kingfisher Red flight which took off from Delhi T3 terminal and was heading towards Jammu via Leh! And this was one eventful journey. How?? Why??… Read on…

While we were waiting in a queue for the Check-in process, 2 government babu kind of officials removed the barricade strips and along with them entered 2 elderly guys who went directly to the check in counter, ignoring the long Z shaped queue of passengers. A smart Kingfisher Red official immediately asked them to go back in the queue and reprimanded them for breaking the barricade. But our ‘Babus’ flashed their ID cards. Not to be intimidated by their rank or department, the lady was pretty assertive. And then 3-4 guys also added their 2 cents along with dialogues like, “Because of you guys, India is like this!!… blah blah… The Babus had to go back in the queue. And there were smirks all around.
During her interaction with the passengers, the Kingfisher Red official found that the elderly gentleman ( looked like a first timer) standing just behind me was late for his flight and the check-in counter had already closed for that flight. The poor guy was asked to re-book his flight. I hope, he didn't had to pay any extra amount.
While, we were having our breakfast in the swanky T3 lounge, the 2 housekeeping ladies were busy chatting as they sat in a corner, on the floor, hidden, among the tables and chairs.
The most satisfying early morning shopping experience was at the book store. Some books were on a special offer… Buy 1 Get 1 FREE!! Bought 4 books for just Rs 390!!
The 15 minute walk to the Boarding Gates left me out of breath despite the walkalators.
As soon as we made ourselves comfortable in the aircraft, we heard a co-passenger talking loudly and vehemently on his mobile. It was the most ridiculous and hilarious conversation I came across in recent times. Here’s the gist of the conversation. It happened so that he had to meet somebody important from his company at 10 am at Jammu. Now, the landing time of the flight was 11.35 am, which he realized after entering the aircraft. So, he was busy allegating the travel agent and the admin guy that they had not informed him about the flight’s stopover at Leh. So, now since the flight was going via Leh, he wouldn't be able to make it for the meeting. And this he kept on saying again and again to the guy on the other end. Now my 2 cents on this idiotic conversation…

OK, it’s possible that the travel agent and Admin guy didn't inform him of the stopover at Leh, but it’s clearly mentioned on the ticket about the departure and arrival time along with total duration of the journey and also that it’s a 1-stop journey.
Was he meeting some Ratan Tata or Barack Obama that the meeting couldn't be postponed??
Looks like the guy at the other end was equally dumb for he couldn't point out the loophole in his tirade!! And he continued his silly conversation even during the stopover at Leh!! Phew!!

We flew up above the snow capped mountains! As far as the eyes could see from the aircraft window, it was just snow covered mountains with clear blue sky for quite some time! It was an amazing view.
While the flight stopped at Leh for de-boarding and boarding of passengers, I wished, if I could de-board at Leh too and spend some more days in the enchanting and mesmerizing Leh. Remembered the week long holidays we had at Ladakh in 2009.
Finally completed reading all the stories of Urban Shots. The stories are short, crisp and refreshing. A sure must read!
It was time to de-board and patience was one virtue that people lacked completely. Everybody wanted to de-plane first and a real life replay of Reliance data card advertisement took place.

Wordless Wednesday - 45

2011-04-20T21:50:00.001+05:30

Live Blogging… From the Bus!

2011-04-20T15:30:00.003+05:30

I am travelling from Jaipur to Delhi in the 1300 hours LCD Volvo Bus. Yeah, that’s what is mentioned on the booking window wall which has the timetable of the RSRTC busses. Actually, it is a super luxury bus. Super Luxuries include LCD TV on each seat, a pantry and a toilet!!

The bus is about to start and we hear some arguments from the back seats. The bus conductor immediately goes at the back to check out and what follows is a comical scene. It happens so that two gentlemen are haggling for the same seat. And both are right as both their tickets show seat no. 24. Of course, the experienced eye of the conductor is quick to point out that one passenger has to de-board, coz his ticket was for 1 AM for the date 20th April. The passenger is shocked and then composes himself and shares for all to hear that he had booked the ticket through internet and goofed up on the time, instead of clicking 1300 hours, he clicked at 0100 hours. He gets down the bus sheepishly.

Next, we have 2 men coming up in the front to complain to the driver that their LCDs are not working. The conductor checks their LCDs and announces that passengers can claim their refund from the next stop at Narain Singh Circle. And we have 5 guys at the booking window at Narain Singh Circle for their refund. 4 have got their refund smoothly and the 5th one is haggling. His view point is that the sound is not working though the pictures are appearing. The Roadways guy had to come inside and check it himself. So much of time is wasted for a refund of Rs 50!! But what to do, we are the new ‘awakened and aware’ citizens of India, who will fight for their rights and anything unjust!

The conductor is distributing water bottles to all and a foreigner behind me has said a loud and clear “Dhanyawad”. So sweet!

The bus is traversing a crowded road and I saw that a person on the road pulled a beggar girl away. She was oblivious to the approaching bus. Kind gesture!

Finally reached the highway and it’s peace all around. I can see many are sleeping and one guy sitting diagonally behind me is keen to read what I am typing on my lappy! Need a super hero’s eyesight to read from that angle!

It seems that the first four seats (first two on the either side of the aisle) are reserved for women who are travelling alone. I have been getting seat no. 2 most of the times. My 3 lady co-passengers are sleeping and as for me, sleep is not elusive rather it is difficult, coz the road ahead is clearly visible and am forever watching the traffic and reading anything with words.

Mid-way is still an hour away. Let me catch up on my reading words which are power packed in short stories in Urban Shots! Prateek, have read your story and it’s simply awesome!! Gave a feel good factor!

Bye for now! More, to follow, sometimes later!

Thursday Challenge - Happy

2011-04-14T14:29:00.001+05:30

Birthdays and Cakes go hand in hand, we all know that! And our birthday parties are no different. But what is different in our birthday parties is this....

... the smearing of the cake on anybody and everybody!! Somebody has to start it and then it's a chain reaction! Everybody would like to ~~dirty~~ soften their hands in the creamy cake and spread the cheer. It was my birthday, in the pic above and see the happy guys in KG and RB.

Here, in this picture above, KG's office guys, not only applied the beautiful and yummy Black Forest Cake on this face properly like a face pack but also decorated him with flowers from the bouquets he received and sure there were lots of happy smiles.

And here, KG was not even given an opportunity to remove his spectacles!! Some happiness it gave to everybody around!

So what if the hair has to shampooed immediately and the clothes have to be changed, so what if the kids pester for wanting to eat some more cake and the wife has to take special care in washing the smeared clothes,... All Izzz Well, as long as we get that Happy feeling!

PS: Inspired by Sangeeta's Thursday Challenge pic and comment! Thank you Sangeeta! :)

Wordless Wednesday - 44

2011-04-13T09:59:00.002+05:30

Ok, there are some words this Wednesday! This is the last one in the series. That's because rest of the banner, sadly has no masala for my WWs. :(

Thursday Challenge - Soft

2011-04-07T18:56:00.003+05:30

It's Soft this Thursday and these are the Soft cakes that we have had for Aaryan's birthday over the years. Every year, it has been the cartoon character which had taken his fancy at that point of time. Of course, the first year which marked the first birthday has been our choice!!

(Click on the picture for a better and clear view!)

And as is evident, 3 cakes are missing. One cake picture is very blurred, the second cake pic is not opening, the file has got corrupted and the third one... well there is no picture!! I mean, there are a hundred pictures of the party but none of the cake!! I can kick myself for that!!

So go, on and have a bite, they sure were soft and yummy!!

Wordless Wednesday - 43

2011-04-06T10:42:00.002+05:30

CSAAM April 2011 – Did It Happen? I Hope NOT… NEVER

2011-04-05T21:55:00.002+05:30

It was the year 2006. We were at Jodhpur then.

I had gone to a Watch shop to get the strap of my watch replaced. While the shopkeeper was doing the needful, I was looking around idly.

Just then a 10-12 year old girl in a school uniform walked in with a 25-26 year old man. This man had his arm around her and was holding her too close. What I found very disturbing, as soon as I saw this man was the sly smile which was plastered all over his face.

The girl was laughing a lot and was at ease with him, so I believe, she knew him. Next, I hear this guy asking her to select any watch she fancied and he clearly steered her to the showcase which had inexpensive plastic watches.

While the girl looked at the watches with a grin on her face, this man stood just behind her… rather too close and all the while caressing her arms. He was thoroughly enjoying whatever he was doing.

The girl oblivious to his sinister thoughts and actions was busy looking at the goodies. This whole scene shocked and repulsed me and I just couldn’t take my eyes off them.

I left the shop soon after but with highly agitated and disturbed emotions, thoughts and questions buzzing in my head… I just hoped… that I was completely wrong and the man and the lil’ girl shared a perfect healthy relationship… that the family could know of the guy’s bad intentions before anything happened to the kid… and that nothing wrong ever happened to that girl.

I also wondered… could I have done something at that point of time? May be said something to that girl or to that sick man? Or voiced my fear to the shopkeeper?? I don’t know, if all that would have resulted in something, but it sure makes me feel guilty still.

This incident made me all the more paranoid and vigilant about child sexual abuse.
I believe, being proactive in protecting our kids is the best way to deal with CSA. I prefer to take my son along with me (against his wishes, sometimes) rather than leave him alone with the servant at home. My antenna’s are always up and eyes keep tracking the activities and behaviour of kids. Keep sharing about the good and the bad things, the right and the wrong. And bottom line is to keep all channels of communication with kids open always!!

Pingback : To Sum It Up - 6 @ CSA Awareness Month

Thursday Challenge - Reflections

2011-03-31T23:04:00.003+05:30

Reflections as in Mirrors, Windows, Water, Sunglasses...
After a terribly busy day and a furious search in Library Pictures.... Making it just in time to share My Reflection...

Wordless Wednesday - 42

2011-03-30T08:32:00.001+05:30

Thursday Challenge - Green

2011-03-24T00:02:00.010+05:30

Yesterday, while shopping at Easy Day Store (A Bharti Walmart Retail Supermarket), which happens to be on the ground floor of our apartment complex, an idea was born...

After keeping all the grocery items back home I rushed again to the store with my Nikon SLR camera. Got a few curious looks... ignoring that I met the store manager and told him about my POA.

While, he liked the idea but due to policy issues, would not allow me to click pictures inside the store. And then he himself suggested the solution!
A beaming me, gladly went ahead to do the needful.

Borrowed the stool from the Mehndi fellow who sits outside the store and displayed all the goodies on it and voila... the stage was set!

Presenting my Green pic...

... the various brands which are green in colour or packaging!!

Wordless Wednesday - 41

2011-03-23T10:37:00.001+05:30

Flipped For…

2011-03-21T23:56:00.008+05:30

Last Saturday, I needed to refer a book, “Dentsu The Social Media Handbook”, very urgently and badly. Urgently and badly, because, I needed to use it for making a presentation to be mailed on Monday!!

First, I looked up for the Crossword’s phone numbers on the web and promptly called them to ask about the availability of the book. And the response was a “Sorry, Ma’am”.

Next, I decided to check out the book at the various book stores. The first one, a pretty big book store, Rajat Book Depot (at Narian Singh Circle), was closed. The second book store fellow at Panch Batti answered a No too.

Not to give up anything easily, I then went to Chaura Rasta, which is a Wholesale Book Market at Jaipur. Asked the driver to park the car at one end and I moved on foot to look for my object of desire. Crossed some 100 shops and moved in narrow by-lanes and lanes and asked for the ‘illusive’ book. And everywhere the response was a NO. My next stop was Rajasthan Roadways Bus Stand (I know, I am a pest!), unfortunately, even the book store there didn't had the book.

Spoke to a friend who was boarding a flight at Kolkata to check for the book at the Airport book store and yes, you guessed it right, it was a No there too!! (Hence proved, I am a PP... a Persistent Pest!!)

Physically tired but mentally still fighting, I returned back home. I remembered Phoenixritu mentioning her son’s new book being available at Flipkart. So, I logged in at the site and ordered for my book. Now, this was my first interface with Flipkart. Since, the book’s cost was just Rs 84 after discount! And the minimum order value specified is Rs. 100, so I checked out a few more titles and ‘The Immortals of Melhua’ caught my eye and also the ‘Urban Shots’… Prateek Gupta’s name among the authors made me order it too. I ordered these books on Saturday afternoon.

And in quick succession, I got emails and SMSs about the order confirmation and even the shipping details. Was I impressed??

While the order said 2-3 business days for delivery, what floored me was the delivery of a book today in the afternoon which is Monday and the balance 2 will be reaching me tomorrow… have already got the courier details of the consignment.

And the two best aspects of shopping at Flipkart is the payment option of Cash on Delivery and such cool discounts.

Simply enjoyed the shopping experience, promptness of service and wonderful discounts.

I have flipped for Flipkart.

Thursday Challenge - Metal

2011-03-17T15:14:00.002+05:30

It's Metal, this week at Thursday Challenge. And here is my metal...

These are the Tibetan Buddhist Mani Prayer Wheels.
Each Prayer Wheel is filled with thousands of Avalokiteshvara mantras "OM MANI PADME HUM". Tibetan Buddhists believe that spinning the Mani wheel in clockwise direction, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion.

Clicked at the Buddhist Monastery at Mclodganj, Himachal Pradesh.

Wordless Wednesday - 40

2011-03-16T00:01:00.002+05:30

Ten on Tuesday - 8

2011-03-15T19:19:00.007+05:30

Ten Things About My Love-Hate Relationship With Comments

Comments!! We all love them! We all look forward to them!! And how we wish for lots of them, the comments I mean!

Yeah, you know, I am talking about the comments on our blog posts!! And I am sure you never mistook it (even for a milli second) for the comments that we receive from our spouses or bosses or friends! In the latter case, it cannot be even a single COMMENT!

Ok, coming back to our beloved comments on our blog posts!!

Well, I have a love and hate relationship with the comments on our blogs.

I love receiving comments on my blog.
I love commenting on posts too.
When I see a response to any comment that I had made on any other blog post, I like that too.
When I do not see any response to the comment that I had made on any other blog post, I always exhibit an understanding look, “Oh, she/he must be busy (just like me!)”.
However, I find responding to the comments on my blog very tedious and cumbersome. I know, not responding to the comments is like, not opening the door, when somebody visits your home or not receiving the call, when somebody calls you on your phone. I know, it’s very rude to do that!
Of course, I want to respond to each and every comment on my blog promptly, but it just does not happen. In fact, it plays heavily on my mind and whenever I post a new blog post without responding to the comments on the earlier post (which is ~~99%~~ 98% of the time, I am reminded of the Cadbury Bournville advertisement!!
Most of the time, I respond to ~~all~~ most of the comments at one go, during some flash inspirational moments!
Reasons are many… but the main issue is the Blogger Comment Format, which is not at all interactive like the Wordpress one! And going up and down the page to respond to every comment is something which irks me after a while. And no, I’d not like to shift to Wordpress, nor I’d like to install Disqus etc! I know, I am acting too pig-headed!
I have subscribed to all the comments on my blog on my gmail which is configured on my BB too! So, I can view all the comments as soon as they appear on the blog on my phone.
I wish, I could respond to the comments on my blog through my BB… I mean, I do receive the comments in my gmail, so there must be a way to respond to the comments too via the BB. Here is a sincere and earnest request to all you tech savvy bloggers… please suggest a way!!

Pls pour in your Comments errr… I mean thoughts, advice, suggestions!! :)

Happy Moments

2011-03-14T20:49:00.002+05:30

I am a Happy Mom these days… Happy to be a part of a small beginning, happy to foresee a development of positive and healthy attitude!!

It all started after I read a wonderful post by Dil Se, last month. Inspired by her, I ‘Copied’ the activity and its learning and ‘Pasted’ it on my child’s daily routine.

The idea is to write a thought or an activity that made you happy today. So, I helped Aaryan create his “My Happy Note Book” and initiated him to write each day in a line or 2 about anything that made him happy that day.

The first day… he was happy to write something new in a fancy notebook.

Second day… had to cajole him to share his happy moment.

Day 3, 4 and 5… he simply said, “Nothing made me happy today”!!. Not the one to give up anything easily, as I firmly believe, nothing starts easy in life, everything begins at some level of difficulty. So, I asked, probed and guided Aaryan about his that day’s happy moment.

It’s day 24 today and he shares his happy moments with a smile and that too on his own. It has become a part of his routine now. Every night, before he climbs into his bunk bed, he writes his happy moment for the day.

Some of his entries read like this….

Papa made halwa for me.
I went to Nanu-Nani’s home after school and stayed with them for the day.
I crossed Level-18 in my computer game.
I got 18 in Maths test.
I played with Pepper the Labrador at my friend’s place
Ma bought a Happy Meal for me.
Enjoyed the trip to The Haunted House. Though it scared me, but it was fun.

I believe, this lil’ activity will not only help him to appreciate small things in life but will also help him have a positive and healthy outlook. And a lil’ small voice also says that he may develop a love for writing too!!

I believe that good habits start young.

So, whether it’s eating everything that’s cooked at home and leaving nothing unfinished in the plate or reading a page from a book or a story every day, or playing any outdoor game or sleeping at a given time, I am glad to help Aaryan take steps towards habits that will help him grow mentally, emotionally, physically and socially better and strong.

Dil Se, thank you, Parul, for sharing a wonderful and beautiful thought!

Thursday Challenge - Many

2011-03-10T13:01:00.006+05:30

Many it is, this Thursday!

And here are the MANY artefacts made up of Terracotta, clicked at an exhibition at the Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur. These hand made and hand painted products beautify just about any place.

Which one did you like??

Wordless Wednesday - 39

2011-03-09T00:01:00.002+05:30

Thursday Challenge - Cars

2011-03-03T08:46:00.004+05:30

“CARS" …New, Old, Sedans, Convertibles, Station Wagons, Sports,... that’s the theme this Thursday.

Last December, I clicked a picture of this Vintage Jeep which was a part of a small fleet of vehicles owned by the Rajah of Poshina, Gujarat.

We had a workshop at this palace in Poshina and during every break, all the guys (participants) would surround this Jeep and admire it from every angle, have conversation with the Rajah about it’s history, mileage et al. Having a ride in it one evening, was a euphoric moment for them!!

Wordless Wednesday - 38

2011-03-02T00:01:00.006+05:30

And the thought behind this is.....!!! Any guesses???