A screenful of thoughts

The vacant upper Storey

2012-01-17T21:03:00.000+05:30

One more "I donno what I intended to write" kind of post.... well not exactly... i read a light - hearted article about the "Mottai Madi" in one of the daily newspapers... inevitably I was transported back to the mottai madi's we have enjoyed and the memories they have left behind....

To me the mottai madi spells "openness"," a feeking of being unfettered".. Summer evenings always found me on the terrace enjoying the sea breeze.. Back then as teenagers, I took it upon myself to pour buckets and buckets of water on the terrace floor to cool off the radiation heat so that the nights would be more bearable... Then, I always brought my friends to the terrace because we could talk unhindered and gossip to our heart's content.. and then I always studied for my exams on the terrace.. since there was hardly any distraction there, the most difficult lessons went in better when i studied on the terrace... and oh! my dad and myself would take the music player to the terrace and listen to Veenai Gayathri amid the cool breeze... what a treat that was.. and yes I used to walk on the terrace and practise Yoga half heartedly there...

These days the terrace is 3 floors away... out of sheer laziness, I refuse to climb up... and oh... the view is not as cheerful as that in my previous mottai madis- i find the view here more sedate and colorless.... but my love for the terrace remains undiminished.. someday... i will once again sip hot coffee and gossip with friends and gaze at the sky in wonderment..

Scrawling my way to Traquility

2012-01-15T22:03:00.000+05:30

I am not quite sure as to what I intended to write.... if this were a notebook, I would be scrawling meaningless graffitti and scribbling incoherent stuff... you know... it is one of those moods when you want to put something down in ink albeit most abstract that you yourself have no clue....

I have read somewhere that there are certain kinds of analysts who can read such scrawls and scribbles and decipher your psyche, your mood and thoughts at the time of the scribbling etc.. i still have a few specimens of mine from my old personal diaries... when i go back and read them now, I myself wonder "what the hell were you thinking when you wasted time and ink on this graffitti???"

But this exercise seems to be highly therapeutic... by the time you are done with your master piece of a graffitti, in most cases your mind attains a placid blank state- perhaps since you have transformed all your formless muddled thoughts into priceless graffiti.... well- at this very moment i am beginning to experience that placid tranquil state of mind....

Lost- not sure how to title this!!!

2012-01-03T15:49:00.001+05:30

One of the things I did on New Year's day was go to the temple- two reasons-One to start the year offering our thanks to God for the year that went by and to pray for a good year ahead- the other reason was that there was a wonderful Bharathnatyam programme organized by the temple in which two cute little girls- the daughters of my friend and past neighbor were participating.

The open air auditorium was packed with the audience- mostly parents of the performing kids and some interested temple visitors.

There were about eight programmes first by really tiny tots- perhaps 5 years to 8 years old ; then there were a couple of dance recitals by young girls in the prime of their adolescence; then there were one of two recitals by the dance master himself.

Now, the thing that struck me was- the kids were so so so innocent and kept darting at their master for his approving glance after every dance move- they were really cute- the energy and the exuberant smile that came to their faces spontaneously as they glanced at each other in the course of the recital- something worth millions!!! And then the young girls- one truly could discern the Glow of Youth in their faces.. These were neither girls nor women yet- the transition phase made them look so beautiful... a vague maturity could be seen on their faces, but they were still kids at heart... a suppressed giggle as they moved on to the stage- in an attempt to be lady-like, the coy expressions, the talk with their eyes, the grace of their hands.... enchanting...

Finally- the expression of triumph on the faces of the mothers- who had toiled along with their daughters- in shuttling from home to class, in getting the costume, embellishments and make-up in place, in soothing many a jittery kid that was going up the dais the very first time, the subtle encouragement they provided as the child performed on stage= that expression I saw in every mother's face there- including those who kids were still taking only baby steps- including my very own face....it was a shared triumph of motherhood- strange but true...

Evidently in one single moment I had visions of my daughter singing, dancing and doing all kinds of art performances... oh! the power of our thoughts... As I came out of my reverie, here was my daughter, by my side, wanting to climb up the stage so we both could dance like the other akkas!!! some day, she too will perform... on her own terms, in her own way, along the path she chooses for herself.......Till then its me, my girl and my dreams!!!

My Multi-purpose Grinding stone

2011-12-25T13:03:00.000+05:30

When we were children, there was a profession called "Knife sharpening". The guy used to carry a contraption comprising of a couple of grinding stones rotating against each other, powered by a foot pedal. When he called out from the door, we used to rush out with our knives, scissors and other tools to get them sharpened...

These days we hardly ever see these guys on the road.. Instead the market is replete with DIY knife sharpening tools- pocket size.. I am yet to buy one of them and borrow the sharpener from my neighbor once a while..

But today I used my wet grinder as a knife sharpener and the results are excellent- afterall- we have an abrasive wheel rotating at high speed and all it takes is to apply the knife edge to the wheel to get it sharpened... I know most people find such things banal, but for those in the kitchen, this tip will prove useful- sharpen the knife every time you grind your idli-dosai batter!!! Just ensure you have a tight hold on the knife and move it against the stone in a steady manner.

Now this is what I call innovation (ha ha)!!!

No title

2011-12-20T21:53:00.000+05:30

It has been one of those evenings today.... I've been aching for some good conversation.... a good conversation like the good old carefree days... a conversation just to release all that brews inside of us... Sometimes... it is difficult to do this even with amma or appa- just because they have enough to worry over loading them further seems so wrong... Sister- either busy or gives too much advise.... Friends- too busy with their own things that I feel bad to interrupt..... Why can't I just be able to talk to myself when I want a good conversation....

Indeed they say if we think of others more, we can surmount the compelling needs we conjure up for ourselves... but sometimes, when I am in this kind of mood, my faculties refuse to think beyond this urgent need for that vital talk....

I NEED that conversation that gives me the high.... Like ASAP!!!!

Meeting a Dear friend after Aeons

2011-11-22T18:39:00.000+05:30

After almost 8-9 years, I met up with my friend Vijay. (I may have referred to him in some of my previous posts). I feel so happy at having finally caught up with him after so many years... Yes we did stay in touch in spite of his having left to pursue higher studies, yes we met every time he visited india, and yes I did go to his wedding, but we spoke like the good old times only today...

Our introduction in school dates back to high school... Initially, I really thought of him as a jerk- he had his hair bleached and had this cool attitude about him... but then we got to talking and how wrong I was about him... He is such a great pal...

Today, we spoke about the good old times, his family, my family, work, how we have evolved over the years, the trials each of us face in our respective "near-perfect" lives and all of it.... I was especially thrilled about the way he spoke of his wife.... evidently he loves her deeply and is very grateful to her for the unrelenting support that she is in his hectic life...

Wishing him a Long Happy Successful Life!!!!!!

Try this in your Venn Pongal!!

2011-11-21T15:19:00.000+05:30

Try replacing the curry leaves in your Venn Pongal with this powder:

Curry leaves, washed, wiped dry- 2 handfuls
Pepper- 10 pods
Cumin seeds- 2 spoons
Salt- a couple of pinches

Dry roast all the above till the curry leaves lose their raw color. Grind to fine powder.

I made Venn Pongal for my little daughter with this powder this afternoon- my primary aim was to get the curry leaves into her system for the iron content it holds. She loved the Pongal.. Even most elders discard the curry leaves in the Venn pongal, losing the nutrition that it packs... So replace the leaves with this flavor-packed powder- just add a couple of spoonfuls to the seasoning when the oil/ghee heats up well and then add the rice-lentil mixture... It tastes really good!!!

Just like the old times....

2011-10-11T15:02:00.000+05:30

The sky has been pretty cloudy today... I had taken my daughter to my dad's place, where she fell asleep... so I walked back home... not carrying a 2 year old asking questions incessantly.. but just like the good old times... carefree...at my previous pace... enjoying the weather... i beheld a mango tree and margosa tree sprouting young tender green leaves and drank in the beauty of it against the overcast sky.. I beheld a squirrel scurrying across the trees...

Oh!! it has been soooo long since I did all this... Thank you God for this short but refreshing walk!!!

Salon Treatment Home style

2011-09-24T15:34:00.000+05:30

OK- well this post is a little off-track from what I write normally- but I wanted to share this with my readers..

Here is the recipe for an excellent hair treatment for all those who have thinning/balding/hairloss problems with your crowning glory. My aunt-in-law who is a beautician prescribed it for me and in a single try I could see its effectiveness..

1. Soak 2 spoons of Fenugreek seeds in some water the previous night.
2.On D-Day, apply either Gingelly oil or coconut oil liberally to you hair and scalp- and by liberally, I mean LIBERALLY
3. You will need to hunt for a couple of handfuls of hibiscus leaves, get about a fistful of grated coconut, 2 small onions peeled and quartered. If you can get a couple of amlas, remove seed and quarter
4.Grind together the soaked fenugreek, hibiscus leaves, coconut grating and onions (and amla if available) with very very little water inot a very very smooth paste
5. Apply it to your hair and scalp all over and allow it to semi-dry. Go about your regular work in the meantime
6. Wash off with good Shikakai (Reetha) powder. Avoid the use of shampoo as it strips your hair of the natural goodness the pack would impart.

The fenugreek, Gingelly oil and the amla and onions have a cooling effect on the scalp and the Hibiscus leaves are a natural conditioner.

Repeat at least twice a week, and ensure you towel dry of air dry you hair- DO NOT use a hair dryer.

After days together, my hair feels like it ought to feel!! I intend to invest as much time as I can spare in repeating this regularly to reap the rewards completely!!

2011-09-19T22:07:00.000+05:30

It was purely on an impulse that I decided to walk through Raja Annamalaipuram roads this afternoon... I have spent at least 15 years of my life in that wonderful locale and I just wanted to relive those happy memories...

Much has changed.. The road that had Blue Star school at one end and Murugan Departmental Store at the other end, with non-descript homes in between, today is bustling with offices and corporate buildings.. The house of a friend of mine on that street, which used to be the typical old world house with Thinnai and bar windows is today a multi storeyed building.. The huts on the fringes of 3rd main road have been pulled down to make way to the MRTS.. The canal which never failed to supply our daily dose of mosquitoes still remains in parts though...

O!! and Murugan Stores remains- I have purchased endless Samosas for Rs. 2/- way back then- it was the best Samosa!!! and I used to like the shop owner- an amiable gentleman who always had a smile for us!! Thats the place where I have exchanged Kelloggs flaps for the FReebies they offered when it was first introduces in India.. Thats where I bought my endless supply of Chelpark Royal Blue ink for my ink pens, chart paper for my artistic pursuits, gifts for my friends and whole lot of other stuff... I wish I had dropped in today and reminded that man about being a regular patron of his shop...

And oh!!! I was reminded of Kitchen 12- a fast food kind of place on the other side of the canal.. Appa used to take us there every weekend... We loved the Idli-Vadai-Sambar rooutine...They has this great sweet called Bombay Kaja with colored dessicated coconut on top.. and this is where I tasted my very first Pav Bhaji....

Further east, Mani stores remains.. so does a shop called Jimshith... The little Udupi hotel I could not find, but Hotel Prakash opposite the Mandaiveli DEpot remains.. so does the Kalavathi Kadalai Nilayam...

Onthe other side, Senthil Lending Library- our very dear library remains!! What a delight.. so does the Verghese shop where I have hogged on thier "butter cake" and Sweet Bread and Nendran Chips.... And Nagalakshmi pharmacy remains!!! they belong to my childhood- these are the roads that I have treaded innumerable times..

I want to recall my childhood friends here- Raju, Vidhya, Divya, Archana, Jothsna, Aarthi.... all from the same road... We used to play cricket, hide-n-seek, shuttle cock, cycle through the locale with not a care in the world...

Where art thou Fellow Walker.....

2011-09-17T13:30:00.001+05:30

Walking has been a favorite destressing activity for me since school days... When we were kids, we used to accompany daddy to the nearby "potti kadai" (petty shop) for bananas- a staple dessert post dinner for us those days...

Since Class IX, I used to ride to school on my bicycle and I used to enjoy it immensely.. It kind of substituted for the walks.. Evenings found us colony girls venturing on our cycles onto the forbidden main roads, gossipping about all that interests the adolecent femme when our mothers were blissfully ignorant of our daring...

My athimber( dad's sister's Brother in law) was a fun person to go on walks with.. He used to talk to us on such diverse topics and narrate many an anecdote on the walk... Same with my Ravi mama- he used to talk to us on self motivation and positive thinking and so on...

In High school, Preethe- my friend who lived beyond my house used to walk along everyday.. The tree lined avenue of Cenotaph Road those days was a haven of peace...Incidentally that is the same road that my now husband and i used to meet on for our brief "hi" and "bye" meetings...

Once we shifter residence, I explored the lanes adjoining our Adyar residence, and all of them are walkers' Paradise.. I used to deliberately take a long route to the bus stand through the in roads just to take in the coolness and calm of the empty roads in the early mornings.. Ditto while returning home... My mom used to be terrified of my walking through such deserted roads, but I used to love it...Special mention of Vijay- a GREAT pal since school days- we used to walk around the park cracking useless jokes, pulling each others' leg, philosophising etc....he was perhaps the only friend who found my long walks acceptable (i hope).

There are days when one wants to walk long distances just to dissipate the pent up negativity, and then there are days when one wants to walk purely for pleasure... The distance and time are shortened (metaphorically) by the kind of companion you have to walk with....If the companion hates walking, the walk is well- walking hell.. If the companion cannot but use this time to crib- again - walking hell.. If you have common interests to share and talk pleasantly about- well- great- nothing like it....I miss my long walks and so badly these days!!!!!

The English Teacher

2011-09-13T09:05:00.001+05:30

Death and its associated references always throw me off gear.. Even the drive through the road where the crematorium is located makes me very very very disturbed, and finds me chanting God's name incessantly till we have safely reached the other end of the road..... it brings back images of the deaths i have seen and also brings into play my imagination of deaths that I do not ever wish to witness....

Yesterday night, I was reading "The English Teacher" by R.K.Narayan, well past midnight... it had a vice like grip on me.... The book describes the wonderful love between the husband and wife of regular middle class background, the simple pleasures in which the family exults along with their 3 year old daughter and how peacefully life goes on, till the wife is struck down and bed-ridden with typoid and eventually passes off.. The narration of how considerate the husband is towards his sick wife, her dutifulness in spite of failing health, her last hours, his emotions at her passing off, and the child's innocent questioning at her mother's absence... it just broke my heart.. it brought back memories of all the deaths of relatives that i have witnessed.. especially the parting scenes....

They say there is afterlife and one could communicate with the departed.. why then do we miss them so much....I think of all my friends who have lost their parent(s) early in life... wonder what emotional turmoil they may have gone through.... We are so dependant emotionally on our near and dear ones- and such a separation rends our hearts asunder.....

After my grandpa passed away a decade back, I have seen him in my dreams 2-3 times..... I loved him a great deal...and in one of them he said something and asked me to write it down too....

In spite of the fear and awe that Death holds, it is inevitable and HAS to be faced......

"Spouse"

2011-08-27T15:48:00.000+05:30

It is not very often that I rant and rave about the books I read, considering that I am very very selective in my reading- unless the book had vibes of having a positive ending, I NEVER pick it up in the first place...

But, then- I borrowed this book "Spouse" by Shobha De yesterday from a friend- and I can't help writing about it here in my personal writing space...

To begin with I have to declare, I had this very very negative image about Shobha De in my before I read this book. I was under the prejudice that her writing was vulgar and very descriptive and have even wondered how a female author could write this way... I have to admit to selectively reading bits and pieces of one of her more "descriptive" books during my adolescence- the descriptive parts-yes.. so I guess I missed out on the actual essence of her writing and therefore this prejudice perhaps...

"Spouse" seems to put into perspective every single aspect of everyday life that makes or breaks a marriage. Surprisingly for me, Shobha's advice is so grounded and conservative- not even a shade of rebellion or revolt- just plain common sense on when to "Zip it" and when to assert oneself- be it the ebony or the ivory clan..

Her empathy towards broken marriages, the way she dissects the reasons and presents the outcomes, suggests ways to make such tumultuous times more bearable are simply fantastic...She calls a spade a spade and very clearly states when it is indeed time to "move on".

Very clearly her message is "Although marriage is such a dubious institution it could still work out in these modern times, provided both partners are willing to invest in it purely for the love, trust and emotional security it offers... And once you know it has gone past the point of irrevocable damage, don't stick around like a sore thumb- move on- Get a life!!!"

Some songs grow on you....

2011-08-24T21:49:00.000+05:30

One of those days.... Have been listening to Idhu Varai from the film "Goa-Tamil" since morning... God knows how many times....

I find the percussions absolutely fantastic
Andrea's singing is great
But... in the latter half of the song, Ajeesh's singing (in the video Jai is riding pillion on the bike with Piaa) is positively magnetic.. Has that absolute romantic lilt and tone and all of that to it... Kind of gives me the goosebumps each time I listen to that part....

This song has woken in me the desire to learn to play the guitar... I want to be able to strum the lines from "Deham ippodhu..."

Some Fantasies strike less often..

2011-05-18T22:37:00.000+05:30

Long drive alone on a hilly highway with no destination in mind- light drizzle- lush greenery and skies- some soul stirring music and me and my thoughts alone.....

Sit by the beach on a summer night of full moon- enjoying the breeze and the sea- perhaps a cuppa coffee in hand to sip slowly and savor....

Long walk through some avenue trees (like on the road to my dad's place) on a lazy afternoon- with a good friend who can share my banter

Lights turned off- the Gossip ladies in bed- savoring gossip and banter- just like the dorm we shared on our trip to Ooty in my Final School year

A Lovely Malayalam song with its translation

2011-05-17T16:42:00.001+05:30

Thanks to http://www.bollywhat-forum.com/index.php?topic=17514.0

This is such a lovely song.. I heard it at least 75 times in the last 5 hours.. Wanted the translation to be on record for others who are as bad as I am at Malayalam...

I feel the translation has not done full justice to the essence of the song.. still it is worth the reference...

Ente kalbile vennilaavu nee
my heart's? full moon you're
nalla paattukakra
good singer
thattamittu njaan kathuvachoren
covered with my scarf? i have hidden
mullamottiloorum athoronnu vende [2]
the honey? of jasmine flower don't you want
atharonnu vende ente koottukaara
don't you want the honey?
sulthaante chelukaara
handsome sulthan

ninte punchiri paalinullile
in your laughter milk
ninte punchiri paalinullile
in your laughter milk
panchasaarayaavaam
to be the sugar
ninte nenjile dafumottumaayi ennumenteyaavam
in your chest to forever become mine
oppanaykku nee kooduvaan
for you to join the oppana [a type of muslim dance]
mailaanchi monchonnu kaanuvaan
to see the redness of the henna
oppanaykku nee kooduvaan
for you to join the oppana
mailaanchi monchonnu kaanuvaan
to see the redness of the henna
enthu maathramennaagrahangale modi vachuvenno [ente]
how many desires i have hidden

thottu meettuvaan ulla thanthirkal
to play the strings of the harp
thottu meettuvaan ulla thanthirkal
to play the strings of the harp
potttumenna pole
so that they break
thottaduthu nee ninnuvenkilum
even though you stand closeby
kai thodaanjathenthe
why didn't our hands touch
laalanagalil mooluvaan
to hum in your flirtations
kai thalamittonnu paaduvaan
to sing with hand claps
laalanagalil mooluvaan
to hum in your flirtations
kai thalamittonnu paaduvaan
to sing with hand claps
ethra vattamen kalchilankakal melle konchiyenno [ente]
how many times my anklets slowly moved

Some more "vent-off"

2011-04-29T22:02:00.001+05:30

Ok..... So today's vent-off is not like some of the depressing vent-offs in the previous posts... a little more positive I should say...

It is amazing how the mind can trick you so many times in life about what you are really looking for and how you can become a victim of your own skewed thinking....

But most often than not... one acquires the ability to view things in the right perspective only after succumbing to the skewness....and one invariably feels " Darn it- how did i miss seeing it this way earlier.."

And yet- it feels like unless the wrong thing happens, the right thing would never get completely impressed on the mind...

I wonder if really everyone makes these gaffes/mistakes in the span of their lives... Would it not be great if only we could skip the bad parts and enjoy the good ones whole heartedly....

Not in the mood to think up a topic...

2011-04-20T22:13:00.000+05:30

Perhaps this is the ultimate blog post that is about to convince everyone that I indeed need some "help".. but well... this is the shoulder I like to cry on and I will make full use of it...

I feel as if I have lived a completely useless 30 year period.... When I look around and see my contemporaries... I feel I have no accomplishment, no achievement to call my own... i a exist because I breathe... that's it....

I feel like I have been living amid a bunch of self conceived set of "virtues"- which I am not even sure I believe in anymore- they seem to be more in order to conform with society and to be accepted....

I feel like I want to break out of every protocol, every rule that I have submitted to... I feel like I want to just live the way I want to- but that would probably make me a social outcast.. You ask " So what way do you want to live?" My response.. "I wish I knew..."

I feel that a self imposed period of exile from everything that can even remotely influence my thinking will be a great therapy... But is it even possible.... we have our responsibilites and duties...Vanaprastha was for folks that had completed their duties and could retire to the forest for contemplation... I am in the thick of Grihasta and cannot even dream of such silence to dig into my own self...

It is easy to judge me and say "you want to grab attention by throwing a tantrum this way"... You would have no clue of the trauma and turmoil that my mind is going through....
You may say I have too much idle time to waste in such unproductive ways- perhaps you are right..
You may say I am a thankless #$%#%^ who is looking only at the empty half of the glass- perhaps you are right too...

I really feel like a useless burden on earth....

children

2011-04-20T17:13:00.000+05:30

GOD CREATED CHILDREN (AND IN THE PROCESS GRANDCHILDREN)

To those of us who have children in our lives, whether they are our own, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or students...here is something to make you chuckle.

Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children.

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.

And the first thing he said was
' DON'T !'

'Don 't what ? '
Adam replied.

'Don't eat the forbidden fruit.'
God said.

'Forbidden fruit ?
We have forbidden fruit ?
Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit ! '

' No Way ! '
'Yes way ! '

'Do NOT eat the fruit ! 'said God.

'Why ? '

'Because I am your Father and I said so ! ' God replied,
wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants

A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked ! 'Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit ? ' God asked.

'Uh huh,' Adam replied.

'Then why did you ? ' said the Father.

'I don't know,' said Eve.
'She started it! ' Adam said.

'Did not ! '
'Did too ! '
'DID NOT ! '

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve
should have children of their own.Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself.

If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you ?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT !

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.

2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.

3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.

4. Children seldom misquote you.In fact, they usually repeat word for word
what you shouldn't have said

5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own

6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

ADVICE FOR THE DAY:

Be nice to your kids.They will choose your nursing home one day

AND FINALLY:

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE:

'TAKE TWO ASPIRIN'AND 'KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN'!!!!!

Quick,send this on to ten people within the next five minutes.
Nothing will happen if you don't, but if you do,
Ten people will be laughing

Ranting and Raving again

2011-04-20T16:42:00.002+05:30

In Memoriam- Alfred, Lord Tennyson

2011-04-20T16:24:00.000+05:30

For people who have loved English literature... this poem is unforgettable.....

There rolls the deep where grew the tree.: O earth, what changes hast thou seen!; There where the long street roars, hath been
The stillness of the central sea.


The hills are shadows, and they flow: From form to form, and nothing stands;; They melt like mist, the solid lands,
Like clouds they shape themselves and go.

But in my spirit will I dwell,: And dream my dream, and hold it true;; For tho’ my lips may breathe adieu,
I cannot think the thing farewell.

Hilarious Blog

2011-04-19T13:47:00.000+05:30

Today, I came across this blog
http://tambrahmrage.tumblr.com/

which basically is a satire on Tambram practices.. being a Tambram myself, I just could not help laughing my head off with each and every post!!!

Good job!!!

One of those days....

2011-04-17T21:34:00.000+05:30

I am dealing with one of those days when I feel absolute contempt for the entire world and my own self....

It is one of those days when I feel a total disconnect with anything positive...

It is one of those days when I feel like things are about to take a nasty turn...

It is one of those days I wish I weren't even born....

It is one of those days when I feel useless, superficial, incompetent and completely a burden to myself....

It is one of those days when- even when I count all my blessings I still feel wronged....

Hmmm....

Wheel goes up- wheel Comes Down

2011-04-06T23:36:00.000+05:30

Well- what a predictable behaviour- a period of High- an interim- and then a cool off- and hopefully not followed by a period of depression...

Insomnia- again...

2011-04-05T01:32:00.000+05:30

Yes, that's right.. Insomnia with a CAPITAL I strikes again- but this time around it is from some unknown high.. inexplicable....caught up with a college buddy across the seas and reminisced about the Good Old Days.. listened to one song I took a liking to- like a 100 times in an hour....can't think of sleep yet... feel like I am drunk...I am assuming these are not symptomatic of any nervous breakdown.... ...as ever.. God Help me.....

Has Age caught up so much...

2011-03-24T12:35:00.000+05:30

I have been comparing my present life to that before barely a decade.. I am totally shocked at some of the transformations...

Then, I had no qualms about having a long conversation with a complete stranger. I remember having befriended many a good friend that way.
Now, I am tongue-tied in the company of anyone new...

Then, I was totally fearless about returning home alone well past 9.00 or 9.30 PM (of course amm used to shoot daggers at me with her eyes and appa used to look very very grim and till the next morning the situation would look very tense :))
Now, I am afraid to step out of my house alone barely by 7.00 PM..

Then, I was a lot more daring and willing to experiment- was ready to try my hand at things I had no clue about..
Now, well- no way..

Some may say my immature ways are perhaps making way for a more deliberated behaviour... may be...

But the fun and satisfaction I had from living life spontaneously is gone now.. Perhaps it is my own making... but I really do not know if I can revive that older, younger me..

Some Gibberish past midnight..

2011-03-24T00:14:00.000+05:30

There are times in life when one feels so muddled in one's thoughts...even when all seems well..an underlying restlessness of the mind.. inexplicable with words, but nevertheless, real and out there... mostly frightening and intimidating- a feeling of being not in one's own control- a feeling of being possessed and propelled by some other force..It is as if, you do not want to let go of the thought because it kind of gives you a high, but you also know that it is draining you at some level- mostly mental. It is a classic situation of "mistaking the rope for the serpent".. Hell I wonder what I am really trying to say here....It is 11 minutes past midnight- I can't seem to find my sleep which seldom deserts me... My thoughts feel like a plate of noodles... Well that's all I have got to write... When I re-read what I have written above, I can clearly see I am going through one of my crazy phases... Hopefully this will pass off soon... God Help Me.....

Dear God- Give us one more chance!!

2011-03-13T08:48:00.000+05:30

I was reading the following article on cnn.com on the updates on the N-Reactor at Japan that is gripping the world by the enormity of the potential destruction it could cause.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/12/japan.nuclear/?hpt=T1

I should say I am nothing short of petrified when I think of the consequences of a possible melt-down.

In stock market parlance I have come across a term called "The Rare Event"- an event of very low probablity but gargantuan impact that can crush an over-optimistic trader who did not have enough sense to foresee the possibility and take enough precaution and haz-mat planning- I am tempted to use this term in the present context..

Nuclear power, is perhaps one of the best inventions of mankind- in an attempt to make the very nucleus of creation serve mankind by tapping its immeasurable power. But as they say, the higher the benefits, the greater the risks.. and we are staring in the face of such a grim situation... It is spine chilling to even think of the consequences of radio active material contaminating the seas and atmosphere- mass health issues that just cannot be handled...

I know this sounds like a sissy- but is it time to abandon our superfast efforts to exploit and subjugate nature to serve all our purposes and return to the good old times of, perhaps steam power, windmill power and so on? Perhaps time to regress to a slower, less destructive life style, while retaining our inventions and discoveries strictly for needs and not extend them to luxuries? We as a people may slow down in our scientific evolution, but we wont have to worry such Rare Events with astronomic destruction potential- about decimation of a whole race, a world full of disease that would not go away till the world collapses...we can at least gift a better earth for our children and do our part to let Mother Earth support us longer...

Dear Mother Earth, Dear Nature, Dear God who makes Universes go in strictest discipline- Please Give us, your children one more chance- please pull us out of this troubled waters (figuratively AND literally)-please Save the World by virtue of your immeasurable Love and Grace... PLEASE give us the good sense to act so we can be worthy of this your wonderful Gift called Healthy life on Earth..

How I got my permanent Driving License- Straight Way

2010-11-03T20:46:00.001+05:30

Today, I received my license permitting me to drive "Light motor vehicle"- a.k.a car on Indian roads.

I am proud to state that I got it the straight way- took test - passed it squarely- defied palm greasing and know it is an earned license and no a "bought-off-the- shelf" one.

A little flash-back here..

I enrolled for driving classes with a popular driving school in Chennai sometime in May, and applied for and received my Learner's License.

After the first good many classes, due to personal reasons I had put my driving classes on hold.

My learner's license (LL) being due to expire on Nov. 5 2010, I went back to the driving school frantically to renew the LL.
They told me to take the final license test on Nov 3 2010 (today), and al beit a little diffident about it, I said OK.

Now, my instructor calls me aside and tells me "Madam, since your LL is expiring, suppose you fail the permanent license test you'll have to go through the entire rigmarole, paying INR4K for the classes; instead, I have agents at the RTO, and if you pay just 500 bucks you can get the license without having to even drive- this too I am telling for your benefit".

Now, I am a person who would not let my self esteem be assaulted by things like bribery, and therfore was much disturbed by this prospect.. After sleeping over this, I realised that the damned fellow was playing with my weaknesses- an LL due to expire and my irregular attendance. I also decided "either the straight way or no other".

Till yesterday evening the fellow tried to talk me into saying OK to the greasing of palms to get my PL, but I would not give in.

Today, at the PL test, each of us were asked to drive a cursory few metres, shift gears, bring the vehicle to a halt and so on. I did quite well (I would be the first to criticise my performance always). We were then asked to head to the RTO and wait.

A few minutes later, the fellow representing the driving school (and who was present with the RTO inspector in the car during the test) turns up and tell me I have failed the test. He tells me "Madam they have marked you as fail.. shall we "adjust" the inspector? (read as "shall we bribe him to change the result").

I knew this was coming (call it instinct if you will). So I face the guy and tell him "So they have marked me "fail"; is there any reason I shoudl be here- like a signature or any other procedure?" He nods. I say "OK thank you sir. No problem; another time pathukkalam" and head straight out and start my journey homeward, congratulating myself on not succumbing to the pressure to get my license by greasing the palms of these !@#$%^&es.

I then get a call from this fellow representing the driving schoolasking me to come back to the RTO. I ask "What for". He says " Since the school's name is at stake, I have spoken for the school and reversed the result (which I know is unadulterated, pristine BULLSHIT); go and collect the papers and complete the remaining procedures"

I go back ad complete the procedures. We were a group of 4 girls who were in the same group and when we compared our documents, non of the documents has the "Result" column filled. In fact in one part of the document in every one of our papers the fellow has checked (ticked) both pass and fail, leaving it open to interpretation according to their convenience.

If ten such people say NO. to getting their PL through under-hand dealings each day, these fellows will have to start behaving as they aught to.. Unfortunately, as in all other places, people apply for the License under constrained circumstances- like leaving abroad at short notice and do not mind the "Paltry bribe" they have to pay up..

Anyway, being straight forward gives one a high- I am reminded of Mahakavi Bharathiar's verses -

"Nimirnda nannadaiyum, Ner Konda Parvaiyum
Nilathil yarkum Anja Nannerigalum
Thimizhnda Gnana Cherukkum Iruppadal
Semmai Maadar Thirambuvadillayam"

Translates roughly as

Where the head is held high and the vision is straight
and one is unafraid of all on earth due to one's lofty virtues
and owing to the realisation of one's true knowledge
The great women are never cowed"

Sathyam Eva Jayathe!!!

Guest Post by a friend

2010-10-31T19:34:00.002+05:30

Here's one hilarious piece written by my good friend Hari based on his imagination of how I would make coconut burfi for a TV programme.. I laughed my head off after reading it and HAD to share it with you all for you to have a good laugh too... (read hari's other hilarious posts at harinarayanans.blogspot.com)

BTW PD stands for my name Priya Darshini...
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After PD's successful experiment with Carrot Coconut Bharfi (Adhanga Thenga Barfi 4 the mass) Vijay tv is so pleased, it invites PD to do the CCB for its programme "Kitchen Killadigal"(???)

So start action camera & PD is here now...

P.S:Viewers, PD is a Boston Mat product, so english appa appa varum, dont mind it...

Over to PD...
"Ippo paathel naa "Thengaa Barfi"ndradhu elaarukum pudicha sweet but neraya peru kadaila vaangindu vandhu saapadra..its so simple u easy to do it actually at home...

"Thenga Barfi" - Thevaiyaana porutkal:

Mundhiri - Onra Kilo
Chakkarai - Rendu Kilo
Carrot - Aara Kilo
Nei - Evlo veetla irukko avlo

Now PD is all concentration doing thenga barfi..its 30 mins now, 60, 120 and 300 mins(5 hours now) but the job is still not complete...The whole crew goes gaga as this is a live telecast.PD is obviously very nervous and starts sweating heavily in front of the camera when suddenly a light boy comes near her and whispers slowly.."Madam, Neenga Thenga Barfila Thengaavae podalaiyae"

lol lol lol!!!!!!!!

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By the way.. here's the coconut carrot burfi prepared by me in real life..

Perpetrators of trouble

2010-10-30T15:02:00.000+05:30

Gentle Reader.. Again one of my outbursts on my own writing space- you are not under any compulsion to read on...

well.. some people have a classic way of politicising a completely non- existent issue.... With limited experience in the corporate world, I am limiting the scope of this to the domestic front... it appears to me that people who either

1. Have nothing to do and are bored and are itching for some action by inconspicuously needling another person
2. Get a high out of creating conflict among two entities while "gracefully" standing outside the situation
3. Think they can boss over anyone and want their ideas/plans/thoughts to prevail everywhere, although they have no bloody (pardon the expletive- just too frustrated to leave it out) business to even have a say of a single word in the situation
4. Are guilty of a wrong doing in the past and in order to shift the limelight, give the current situation a new twist to make the victim from the past look like a villain in the present situation
5. Cannot bear to see another entity live in peace (entity may be individual, couple, family etc.)

are the ones who perpetrate such troubles.
One party goes on in the strain and the other is supposed to shut up all the time, for fear of causing a "rift in the family"

I feel the Indian saga of the woman being the patient one and having to swallow everything meted out to her without a protest is being taken beyond the limit even in this 21st century... I do not want to completely bare my thoughts her for fear that even that would be pinned to me.....

It would be sufficient to say that there should be an automated system that checks the brain for idle time and keep creating crunch time situations for the brain so that it can not have any leisure to think unproductive, useless and positively detrimental (for others as well as for oneself) thoughts..

A snippet of my Idiocy

2010-10-08T11:32:00.000+05:30

For people who are fond of songs of Jim Reeves', the song "He'll Have to Go" will be a favorite.. Back when we were kids, we had a "Bose- Eight Track Player" on which we played the "Jim Reeves' Best" Eight Track Tape as many times as to the point of insanity everyday.. Then, we were not yet exposed to the various English accents around the world and one always had difficulty in understanding the accent Jim had.. So- the first line of the song being "Put your sweet lips a little closer to the phone" I used to sing it as "But your sweet lips are a little coarser to the phone" and the line "I'll tell the man to turn the jukebox way down low" it was "I'll tell the man to turn the dewdrops gay and low"...

I find it so absolutely hilarious as to what people who heard me sing this non-sense thought of me!!!! HaHaHa- Bonkers!!!

The feeling of being Rich

2010-10-07T19:04:00.000+05:30

As I step into the 31st year of my life today I want to thank everyone who wished me today- friends, relatives and well wishers..... nothing makes one's birthday better than those wishes... The day started with my dear husband's long distance call at midnight- as always he was the first one to wish me.. my parents, sister and relatives wished me .. and so did many of my friends through phone as well as FB...

It is humbling and gratifying at the same time, to realise that so many people wish you for your birthday, not because "YOU" are important or worth wishing- but because "THEY" are kind to you and wish to make your day a happy one- very often I have been vain and haughty enough to think that- when someone approached and spoke to me or wished me, they were doing so because I was in some way superior- but now I realise how utterly vain I have been to even think that way- it is their good nature that they did what they did....

OK- the only thing I originally intended to say in this blog is that all the wishes I received today have made my day- and I feel very rich in friends and well wishers and that I thank God for this wonderful life showered with bountiful blessings from up Heaven!!! Thank you everyone!!!

Tam Brahm Kitchen and Table Etiquettes

2010-09-06T12:11:00.001+05:30

Speaking of dining etiquette- did you know that an Average Tam Brahm household has its own set of table etiquettes??? Here are the most prominent ones:

There are two sets of food forms- they are always stored apart from each other- the superior form (Lets call this Set A)comprises milk, ghee, curds, buttermilk, batters and flours, pickles, dried food stuff, chapathis, chutnies and Thokkues, sweets and savories prepared in a certain way on a separate stove and so on.. The "not-so-pure" and easily perishable in a short time food form comprises all food cooked on fire and/ or with salt added (Lets call this Set B)- cooked rice, cooked pulses (except moong), sambar, rasam, kootu, curry (unless salted after removing from fire), all food made out of rice (Pongal), Cooked Idlies, Dosais
The items on Set A are NEVER placed on the dining table during a meal- they are served by the lady of the house from its container and promptly returned to its place of storage
The items on Set B can be placed on the dining table, but the person having food cannot serve himself/herself without washing his left hand in a few drops of water from the tumbler placed to his left- this is to ensure that in case the eater has touched his plate inadvertantly with his left hand, the container holding the food is not contaminated
The items in Set B can sometimes be placed at an accessible spot from the eating location, but they cannot be touched without washing the left hand with some water, after having served oneself from any item falling into Set B
While serving, the ladle/container cannot touch the eater's plate- corollary- eater cannot touch the vessels containing food with right hand (with which he is eating) EVER
Even while eating snacks, one should break small pieces and put into ones mouth- if one bites into the snack/ fruit etc, one should not touch enything until one's hands are washed completely in water
While sipping water/beverages one should not apply one's mouth to the rim of the glass- instead the glass is held over the mouth by at least 3-4 inches.. If one does sip, the glass should be scoured well in water before being thrown into the common sink where cooking vessels are also washed
wherever a person has placed vessels containing Set B foods, or has eaten out of a receptacle, such place is immediately to be cleaned with a washcloth
While cooking Type B food, the cook shall always wash one's hands before accessing salt/seasoning items/milk/ curds/ other provisions etc.
Cooked items falling into Set B are placed separately and away from Set A food.
Set B food is NEVER EVER placed into the refrigerator (in a puritan Tam Brahm family, that is)

Wow!!! This list is just the tip of the iceberg!!! On festival and ritual days, this list grows to a serpentine length...

Well, the logic is very simple really- Set A foods are meant for long term shelf life relative to theri Set B cooked counterparts- therefore, should a drop of Set B food fall into the Set A container by mistake the whole lot will spoil.. Similarly, the eater may have some unknown germs in his system which could get transferred to the main container, should he serve himself without wasahing his hands- so washing ensures cleanliness..

The intentions are good all along, but it is the lack of reinforcing with the scientific reasoning that makes these practices more of a chore... I hope young people understand and appreciate this reasoning..

Dining Etiquette

2010-09-06T11:23:00.001+05:30

While looking for some good information on dining etiquette, I came across the following site- I found the explanation and illustration very lucid and easy to keep in mind- therefore for those who are as clumsy as I am at dining etiquette, I hope you find this information useful!!!

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Menu/DiningEtiquetteGuide.htm

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Keeping my word on the to Do List- Splurged today!!!

2010-08-29T19:56:00.000+05:30

It is amazing how normal mortals like me can actually get a high out of shopping for petty trinkets...

I have had my eye on a certain shop called "Adam's" in Adyar for a very long time.. This is a shop that sells girlie stuff- era-rings, necklaces, chains, bracelets, clips, bindis and a whole bunch of other stuff which the ebony gender would dispose off as uselsess trash..

However.... today /i overcame all my rational arguments on spending unnecessarily and entered the shop with a very firm resolve to spend without second thought.. and Man!! did I love it!!!

So I ended up buying a few pairs of earrings, a very good looking bracelet, a couple of neck accessories and so on... Due to sheer shortage of time and the need to return to my daughter at home, I had to leave earlier than I would have liked to. Nevertheless, based on precedent, this is a pretty good start for me...

Now the biggest challenge for me is to be daring enough to go out there and buy when the urge strikes.. You see- if I were a chronic spendthrift, this behaviour can be said to be detrimental- but being one who thinks a hundred times before buying a thing and then giving up the idea completely (end then regretting having forgone something) i think this actually is a therapeutic activity!!!

Today is a modest beginning.. Bigger purchases are on the anvil!!! Lovin' it!!!!

Discovered the rusting of my Brain- On time!!!!

2010-08-28T10:59:00.000+05:30

Yesterday, I had the brother of one of my friends come home in order for him to prepare for an aptitude test. The questions revolve around very basic math but unless one has the common sense to know what concept to apply to solve a problem, one would simply be lost...

And so, I found, to my dismay, that my head was hardly working!!!! I agree that I haven't been doing this for a while now, but that is no excuse to be unable to recall what you have a done a thousand times... In fact when I prepared for some of the entrance exams I have gone through the same grind and loved the intellect-stimulating exercise!!!

anyway, as we went on doing the problems, my head started working again, under the combined influence of my own thinking and the fact that we had an awesome mentor and problem solver with us!!!

I have resolved to solve at least five of these problems on a daily basis to keep the brain in top form and to ensure that I can at least convince my own self of my thinking acumen!

The perfect Life Partner- Doesn't Exist

2010-08-26T22:43:00.003+05:30

Well.. This is again one of my very very introspective outbursts...

I have been thinking at length on whether marriage really reveals a person's true colors.... Is it true that the person you thought you knew well during your courtship days is not the real person- do the true colors come out after marriage???

At least in this part of the world, the fairer sex is brought up from infancy in conformance to certain rules and expectations.. A number of restrictions lie in ones path and they only increase in number as one grows up.. I think, we women fantasise that marriage is the ultimate salvation, wherein we could break out of the hitherto binding shackles.. Therefore, I think that, once a woman starts liking a man, she thinks of him as her saviour and sees in him what she thinks as the ideal man... She is actually "projecting" her thoughts of "ideal match" on him and seeing that mirage..The man, for all you know has no clue of such an imposed persona, and is just himself.. Sometimes, the mirage matches with the true character (more of an exception than the rule)

Once married, one is staring at stark reality. One compares every tiny gesture against the perceived perfection..sadly reality is so different from perception- for all you know the man is just what he has been since birth-as long as one is engaged in comparing with the ephemeral image of the Knight in shining armor, life is hell... One feels cheated, angry, deprived and whole gamut of such negative emotions...

Once one gets past this stage and accepts that the other person is actually THE person things start getting better. Indeed the slope is a steep one- but nevertheless not imposible to traverse.. Less fortunate and patient souls give out mid-way, resulting in break-ups (i don's say this is the only reason families break)

What is worse is when a spouse starts super-imposing the perceived persona on another person of the opposite sex... This results in extra marital affairs- and in my humble opinion, only serves to complicate the issue. Agreed, one might get the high that comes from assuming one is with the perfect partner - again- but as you can clearly see this is a fallacy- a hallucination...

OK-the point I am trying to make here is- UNLESS one believes that the world is NOT perfect, one is going to always be disillusioned..one has to accept that although something may look better than what one has- the truth is that only the type and quantum of imperfection may differ- everything is infused with imperfection..A Bird in Hand is Worth two in the Bush is no ordinary tome, my friend..

Happy Marriages are created first of all by accepting that neither you nor your spouse are perfect and that you are a real being as opposed to the M&B men and women... Wow moments are subtle and fleeting in real life and not as persistent and larger than life as on the silver screen.. Love expresses itself in very inconspicuous ways in real life- most of the time-, and having someone to come home to at the end of the day- having someone to bare your all- good bad and in-between- with absolute faith that the person will still be there for you when it dawns next...that is the most precious gift of marriage...

P.S.: I promise I am still learning to learn what ever I have written here!!!

Lunch with my Friend- Revelations

2010-08-26T21:13:00.001+05:30

Yesterday, a friend took me out to Lunch.. We headed to Benjarong on TTK Road- Thai cuisine.. Although my husband had introduced me to this cuisine long back, I had been quite reserved in my like towards Thai food, since I believed that they could not cook without some element of non-vegetarianism in every dish.. Eventually that prejudice has worn off.. So yesterday, we had Tom Yum Soup (Phak- I don't really know what that means), Mongo Salad, Thai Basil Fried Rice and Red Curry.

The ambience at Benjarong was very conducive to eat- good watery music in the background, the Thai workmanship on display and the courteous service made lunching there an enjoyable experience..

One of the things that bother me when I go to eat in such places is the etiquette..One feels as though everyone else knows exactly how to eat, what to say, how to lay the napkin, how to handle the cutlery etc... I ALWAYS feel abashed in these settings.. Were you to eat in Saravana Bhavan or Sangeeetha or such absolute casual outlets, you don't pay any attention to these details- all you see is food food and food..

I think schools ought to teach some of these global eating etiquettes.. Although one may not use it every day, it pays to have a little bit of a formal education.. Of course, only experience makes perfect, but a little help early on would be useful for sure..

My friend made an interesting revelation after the lunch.. I was wondering aloud, why service industry folks treat a well dressed guy landing in a posh car with more reverence than a person who is "OK" dressed and lands may be in an Ambassador car.. My argument being- both pay the same price as quoted by the service provider, then why the partiality... In my mind as long as the price paid is equal the treatment has to be equal..

But my friend says- the service provider treats you based on his perceived potential you have to spend. In other words- the well dressed guy in the posh car may order for goods/service of higher worth than his Ambassador car counterpart- so he feels he would do well to keep the posh car guy happy and satisfied so he can get more business.. he feels the Ambassador car guy is actaully costing him his business- he could be spending that time on another cash cow like the posh car fellow...

Hmm.. Interesting....Does this class sense prevail in other countries too? Would it matter whether a person wore branded clothes Vs. unbranded clothes? Would it matter if I drove a beat up car Vs. a sparkling swanky limo? would it matter if I were a person who travelled by public transport Vs. my own vehicle?

Well... I guess I am always living up Utopia assuming we live in a perfect world where everyone is looked at through the same pair of glasses!!!

Varalakshmi Vrata went off well

2010-08-20T22:55:00.000+05:30

We celebrated Varalakshmi Vrata today.. Apart from the various "vaideeha" arrangements the Nivedanam consists of Vella Kozhakattai, ELl Kozhakattai, Uppu Kozhakattai, Vadai, Sundal, Pal Kozhakattai...

By the grace of Varalakshmi, all of today;s dishes turned out simply superb... I just polished off the last of the Vella Kozhakattai and Vadai some 5 minutes back..

But for food, I think life is not worth living- especially when the food consists of such a sumptuous spread!!!!

Mammam!!!! I love you!!!!

Unforgettable poems from back school...

2010-08-15T20:29:00.002+05:30

In spite of it being over a decade since I completed school, some of the literary works we had in the school syllabus remains etched in memory as if on stone... Two reasons- the sheer beauty of the poems and the sheer love with which the teacher taught them- Veni Ma'am and Mehtab Begum ma'am (English), Vijaya Ma'am (Tamil) and Padma ma'am (Hindi)!!! Thank you all so much for the rich gifts which remain undiminished by the ravages of time...

English:

What is Grey? (Class 1- Very vivid imagery, rhyme and rhythm- can recall the entire poem even now!!- Grey is the color of an elephant and a mouse and a tumbled down house....blah blah)
Ozymandias (First time in Class VII I think- then in Class X- the final philosophy is touching)
Ode on a Grecian Urn (same as above)
Daffodils (I can still recall the field of daffodils in my mind's eye- which is the bliss of solitude)
Stopping by woods on a Snowy evening (miles to go before I sleep)
In the Bazars of Hyderabad ( one can literally feel the bazar life throbbing as one reads the vivid descripiton- what do you sell O....)
Tiger (What the anvil what the chain- in what furnace was thy brain!! Did he Who made the lamb make thee!!- life's ironies!!!!)
Night of the Scorpion (What suffering- poignantly captured)
In Memoriam (Frost's elegy- moving... I cannot think the thing farewell.....)

Tamil:

Athichoodi- fully
Can't recall the name of the compilation- it has these- Nellukku iraitha neer....
Silappadigaram- especially Kannagi's accusation
The invocation poem which goes as "Kodaiyile ilaippatrikkollum vagai..." every time I walk under a shady tree in summer I recall this one
Pachai mamalai pol meni
Some of the Kutrala Kuravanji poems- where a tribal woman prophesises for the princess in return for some hair oil and food grains...

Hindi:

The Class II Hindi class prayer- "He Bhagwan Thuje Pranam..."
"Bol meri mynah Bol..."

Oscillating...

2010-08-13T20:02:00.001+05:30

Gentle Reader- If you are planning to read further, let me warn you in advance- I wrote this down here because this is the best place I could think of to vent my thoughts- not necessarily for you to read...So if you are touchy about reading something resembling someone's private diary, I suggest you log off right away... I would prefer that no one comment on this- Seriously... I am truly venting off...
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I seem to be on an emotional roller coaster.. I feel a sense of depression... and then suddenly elation... I feel like life is weighing down very very heavily upon me... I feel an urge to run away from life temporarily- to be completely on my own- without any schedules- without any goals- without any apprehensions- without having to report to anyone...

Rightfully, I ought to be thanking God on my knees for the wonderful life I have- a kind husband, a beautiful child, parents, siblings, friends, education-- you name it - I have it... but in all of it- I cannot find my own self....

Life seems to go on like that of an automaton... There is really nothing to be excited about each morning (I agree to you muttering- well you are alive and kicking- is that not enough)... Everything seems like a chore- I wish I could just sit and vegetate for a while instead of move my limbs to do anything at all...but everything has to be done- so I do it... but hate it...

I miss H2H talks.. really truly... everyone is busy... everyone has one's own problems and life to worry about (just like I do...) I wish I could go sit by the waves in the beach, staring silently into the horizon at night... just me and the wind and the waves....

Even the friends that I thought were always there for such venting- are sometimes not...and I would be the most selfish person to want my friends to always be there when I want to crib- better off for everyone to ignore me when I am in this mood...

I am really not looking for advice on how to lift my spirits up- I just need a patient listener.. someone who can tune off when I rant and respond- may be with just a hand hold- a tap on the shoulder...or just.. unadulterated silence....

Not sure if I am the only one.. there are times when feeling depressed sort of makes one feel good... sounds paradoxical... but there are times when I want to experience the depression- i do not want to get over it... may be it is indeed time to reach out to a psychiatrist...

I can almost read my mind now!!!

2010-08-10T22:24:00.000+05:30

Listening to Roobaroo (Rang De Basanti), Iktara (Wake up Sid), Masakkali (Delhi 6) in agonising repetition.... Loving the strumming and percussions in Roobaroo, the harmony in Iktara and Sonam Kapoor's dance jig in Masakkali.. I can almost read my mind- and it reads- I seem to be on a HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH!!!!!

Connecting with Long Lost Folk!!!

2010-08-10T22:13:00.000+05:30

I just connected with two of my sister's classmates on Facebook!!!!! How cool!! After 12-13 years!!! One guy is running a CA firm successfully and the other is now a Post Doctoral fellow in some US university!!!! I know my sister's classmates better than she did- considering that she was way too quiet and studious, and me being the boisterous one knew all of her classmates, like I knew my own!!!! Once again- lost in nostalgia!!! I think it is becoming chronic now!!!!!

Recounting my friends...

2010-08-10T14:05:00.005+05:30

Since the time my memory can go into the past, my very very first friend was a neighbor called sundari- our birthdays were 3 days apart, and we were perpetual playmates.. We were so close to each other that when we joined kinder Garten we were both in tears on the first day since they had assigned different sections of the class to each one- I was in Section B and she in section A...

Though Sundari and I remained friends, the section change seems to have made us drift apart.. The next very very close friend I made was Sangeetha- in Class 3.. We shared the same bench in class.. she was learning Bharathnatyam and me music- so we had some common interest (In class 3!! ha ha ha- i know you are guffawing!!).. Some significant memories with her-

***we both learnt to whistle in Ms.Baine's class (Class 3 again) and the naughty boy LAkshminarayanan of the class got flogged for it, since Ms.Baines could not have conceived such behaviour from the two of us even in her dreams (hello- it was an accident- we were just TRYING and it came out right- not our fault!!!)... Poor guy.. sorry da.. it was us....

*** During class excursions we were the partners always.. we loved to sing songs on the bus and generally entertain ourselves

***Some guy wrote Sangeetha a love letter in Class 3 (now I know this is too much) and I nobly defended her case with Ms. Baines and got the culprit to the gallows (well that guy eventually studied all the way yo Class 12 with me and I am sure he will be nursing his grudge against me till date)

This friendship stood through till Class 5.. Then somehow we became archenemies, with the entire class trying to patch us up, and we had our own "Blocs" with followers and floor crossing was looked at as a crime.. WE tried to compete and excel in every possible area.. So eventually, though we got on to talking terms, we were never as close..

In class 6 there was this girl called Fouzia landed up from UAE.. She was extremely cute, spoke well and in spite of being among the last Ranks in class, she had a creative side- she used to sketch well and use her imported Nail polishes for coloring.. We both travelled by the school bus.. Now a new addition was Ramya- senior to me by a year, who also started travelling by bus.. We three were the trio. We would always occupy the last seat in the bus and chatter away incessantly till all of our destinations arrived.. Since all of us were entering adolescence, we had PLENTY to talk, discuss, exchange notes, advise, suggest etc.. This is the group that started discussing the taboo topic- BOYS!! we were feminists to the core and hated boys like hell- but well biology is strange and adolescence much more stranger- we would discuss the "cute-looking" guys - who in retrospect- were- well- lets not even bother to discuss...

This group stayed in tact till I was in Class 8.. Then Fouzia left for UAE, Ramya and I were still friends, but since the group broke we could not quite reconcile...

Class 9- Enter Preethe and Pragannayagi- Preethe was the topper, very cool girl, excellent friend.. Pragan was no lesser.. We three gelled instantly and became very very close.. We were called P-cube by whoever knew us...

WE shared the same bench all through class 9, 10, 11 and 12.. Since Preethe lived closer to my place, we used to walk home together.. It was one of those walks when I confided my thoughts for my now hubby baby... That somehow brought me closer to her... She has stood by me all through the time.. her clarity of thought at studies benefitted me and Pragan quite a lot.. she was an excellent sketcher (hope the dictionary has a word as this)..

Similarly, Pragan was an awesome friend. We shared the microphone at the school assembly every day, since we sang the prayer songs.. WE have shared many a giggle at the microphone when out Vice Principal would read out the school Prayer in perfectly broken English... Pragan was extremely refined in her tastes and dressing... very feminine in her writing, dressing and everything... Being very very righteous, she was the last one in the group to be told of my "long term affair" and she was quite downcast at the priority given to her....

In this interim there were many other friends who till date remain great friends- Archana, Aswini, Meera, Priya.C(used to call her Preyasi), Shwetha(very very graceful dancer), Shilpa (looked like a shilpam- awesome dancer), Krithika(lost touch completely), Vijay (Gundaa... you have been a GREAT pal da...miss the long walks at the park.... God bless you), Imran (been in the same class since class 3 but really got talking only after I was in college), Yogesh, Venkat( used to crack jokes in Tamil class ans keep us P-cube girls in constnt giggles!!!!)

Once in college- Mithra and Sreeja- from 1st year- we were just such a group!! Mithra used to mutter some joke in the class of the strictest lecturer and Sreeja and myself would be buckling with laughter, while mittu would maintain poker face- monkey....

From year 2 Mittu and cheeju were in a different group- so my new friend was Sujatha.. Awesome character- PSBB product- excellent listener and conversationalist... Inconspicuous at her comments but would send everyone overboard laughing...Poornima- lovely girl- quiet, righteous, helpful- all superlatives to her...

Then there was Mahesh, Hari, Veera, Rajesh, Malathi- all seniors to me by a year- we hung out at the canteen all the time- Muggy- acer, rowdy and all the good and bad things- but what a friend!! loved the rosewood swing in his house, and the vadais his mom used to make- loved vetti roaming at Bessie with him, learning Z transforms, discussing his crushes and what not.....

Then one other friend was Deepak- senior again- but we traveled by the same PTC bus as he lived closer to my place- he lent me all his book and study material every year.. nice friend.. we even went for early morning cycle rides by the beach- we eventually gave up since neither of us had the heart to lose our weekend late sleeping schedule for long...

Then I made friends with these 2 guys from the MCA class- Imtiaz and Danish- Imtiaz used to sing very well and I was bowled by his voice at an inter-collegiate culturals- my then good friend Nikhil intervened for me to introduce him to me.. of course we hung out all the time as a group- me, sujatha, Nikhil, Imtiaz and Danish...

In the course of these friendships, my own classmates- Ayyanar, Subbaiah, Vinod- we each shared a great rapport and could rant about everything in life- from smoking to girls to boys to whatever...

Then Shobi- originally Shiva's friend- great counselor to me in matters of the heart.. cannot thank her enough for all her help during my courtship with shiva... thank you so much Shobi...

Then Vijai- originally my hubby's friend- now a long time bestest friend of 12 years... I can tell him EVERYTHING under the sun... he would never judge me. always been there to help me out..we've had LONG phone conversations on phone during the days when we each were nursing our respective heart aches... and he played "my brother" for my girl's naming ceremony- may be even a consanguine brother may have been a lesser brother.. I still send him Rakhi- at least an - rakhi every year...
(he is coming to India 2 days from now.. YIPEEEE!!!!)

Currently, Ash and Vijai remain my closest buddies, unruffled by time...the 20% friends that are the closest make up 80% of one's life...

God, thank you.. Friends make one's heart richer than can the richest riches

P.S.: I may have missed some friends in the sheer flow of the writing... but i hold all of them very dear to my heart.. Thanks for being there!!!

A Dog's Prayer!!!!

2010-08-10T10:45:00.000+05:30

Love the Dog's expression!!!!!!

Current Playlist on Youtube..

2010-08-10T00:14:00.000+05:30

Wake up SId- O Re Manva
Rang DE Basanti- Roobaroo
KK- Yaaron Dosti
Pankaj Udhas- Phir haath mein Sharab hain

Simply unable to sleep... Hate this like hell...

Fighting Insomnia!!!

2010-08-10T00:02:00.000+05:30

Something has completely gone awry with my system... Sleep- which I am supposed to be capable of even with my eyes open and in the most adverse conditions eludes me like "God knows what" simile....

I absolutely hate being unable to sleep, sleep deprived or woken mid-sleep... and now this...My friend finds it amusing that I am "already" an insomniac...

I tried closing my eyes and imagining blackness all-pervading, tried counting to 100 and backwards, tried not to "look" frequently at the cell phone to see if the night's over...even tried saying "NO" to my favorite cuppa.... Nothing is working...

I think some major adversity is about to hit me- i don't know if it is disease, destruction or death...now i am also hallucinating!!! God save me!!!

I've read that sleep deprivation can cost one one's ability to think clearly- clearly that is true...I am not even sure if i am thinking in my vernacular or some foreign tongue....

I used to guffaw at people who so much as spoke of Melatonin... Now I can commiserate with them....

Koi lautaade meri beethe hue neend.....

Maine Payal Hain Chankaayee!!!

2010-08-09T21:48:00.000+05:30

Well.. What can I say...Gold and silver and diamond and platinum are all a woman's best friends.... our trip to the jewellery shop was an awesome one...I had NO plns of buying myself anything- I swear.. the purpose of the trip was purely to buy my daughter a bigger sized pair of anklets to jingle on her feet... that was accomplished within 15 minutes since we entered the shop..

BUT.. the sub conscious thought that I had foresaken my own pair of anklets seems to have played out very well... Because when I left the shop- two pairs- not one- of anklets were ours- one for each lady!!

The first pair of anklets I ever got since I can remember well- we bought it in a small shop in Mylapore.the fully jingle bells kind- one would sound like a cow with such a pair on.. This was when I was in third grade- and I remember my Tamil teacher commenting that the entire primary class wing knew when I was walking the corridor(you get the idea, don't you??)

That pair gave way to a more modest "mangai pattern" kolusu sometime in 9th grade... it was a constant embellishment, considering that one had to keep donning "Pavadai chattai/ Pavadai davani" for every school programme... Since I loved it, I wore it like Karna's Kavacha Kundalam..Of course some nights, while stirring in bed the sound would be eerie and would make me think of such beings as "Mohini Pisashu" but in such instances, I would firmly close my ears, and eyes and go to sleep praying incessantly to God till I eventually slumbered off..

So the last pair was after this one- some other design, which was equally dear to me.. wore it on and off till like a year back- i had it dipped in gold to wear on the day of my wedding- loved it..i grew so tired of this pair that I exchanged it for a silver cup for my girl..

My new pair is keeping me very happy- it is fancy enough to go with the salwar and saree and simple enough to be inconspicuous with western wear.. I am apprehensive of the "Mohini effect" even now.. but well... that's a small price to pay for the jingling happiness!!! I can live with it... I guess... Lovin' it!!!

On the Beach

2010-08-09T13:17:00.001+05:30

Yesterday, my close pal Aswini, my daughter and I went to the beach after God knows how long....

Me and Aswini have hung out at the beach during our college days like there was no other place in the world- weekends would find us going to the beach even at 3 in the afternoon when it would be sweltering hot.. but we simply loved the beach road where we would cruise on Ash's Kinetic Honda, with each earphone of a walkman tucked into each one's ear..

To us the beach has been a place for very philosophical conversations about life- (well at 18 and 19 you can imagine what life philosophies we may have discussed) , a place where we could simply sit and watch the waves ebb and flow... a place where we could gorge on junk food (back then who had the self control to say- thus far no further to junk food), a place where we would meet the brand new unknown friends made through God-knows-how avenues.. someone giving a treat?- beach.. someone feeling down in the dumps?- beach.. farewell to someone?- beach...- it was the preferred place for every significant event...

Yesterday however, things were a little different.. although we still reminisced about the good old days, we each had our own preoccupations.. we did not really feel as boisterous as we used to at the beach.. we had become a lot more tame...we did eat at the regular place we always went to, and capped it of with a Vanilla cone (ash had only a juice as she was watching her weight gain)..

It is still fun to watch the young crowd at the beach.. one feels instantly younger by about a decade... That is a big morale booster for sure...

Ash thanx for the great company!!!! Owe you one big deal in this lifetime for being there!!!!

My " to do " List

2010-08-08T13:12:00.000+05:30

1. Get out of the house at least once every day- for God's sake!!!!!

2. Spend more time reviving old meaningful friendships...

3. For once splurge without thinking of consequences (translates to- hubby don't see account statements for a while...)

4. Go watch a movie in some theater with friends- just like the old times...

5. Go to the beach with Ash like the good old times (hope she isn't too tired yet... by the way Ash a.k.a Aswini is a very very very close friend of mine who has been my partner is vetti time killing in the yesteryears) (Translation: Vetti= Idle, jobless)

6. Let my dear sweet hubby baby have his drink in peace- for once- afterall is it not obvious- whats the point if i cannot share his legitimate interests!!!

7. Let down my hair with the love of my life- like the great time we had on our 5th wedding anniversary- loved every bit of it.... thanks you shiva (this means extra time for shreyathi with granny and grampa he he he)

8. For once try something new at the beauty parlor without thinking twice... hair cut?? facial??? pedicure?? manicure?? all of them? lemme see!!!

9. For once trust I am a strong person with strong values and ethics- no storm can undermine my persona

10. Reduce idle time at the comp- get on with enriching work- I can handle work and family if I can handle family and useless idle activity (which anyway consumes the same amount- if not more- energy and resources0

11. Just live life as I intend to- thanking God for the bountiful life he has blessed me with!!

Home Goddesses

2010-08-05T19:58:00.001+05:30

Recently a popular national newspaper ran an article to the effect that the latest culture among educated women is being a Home Goddess. This term roughly translates into "educated woman, who in spite of her potential to be a corporate high flier chooses to take control of the home front and runs an efficient household, complete with busy husband, demanding children and in laws, urge to keep in touch with the creative and enterprising spirit in her heart, parties, shopping, friends etc. etc." Impressive is it not?? What struck me as unfair in the article was the unfair portrayal of women of the yesteryears- who were allegedly supposed to be "flustered tense women, perspiring and with unkempt looks, looking flabbergasted managing the hearth and the household".

Think about it... The bygone era was one of complete male chauvnism- the daughter or the daughter-in-law was supposed to absolutely abide by the "rules" of the family. In a typical traditional household, the menfolk made all the decisions-ALL THE DECISIONS-and while the women of the yesteryears were no less talented than their counterparts of today, they hardly had an opportunity to express them- stop quoting Sarojini Naidu or Indira Gandhi as instances of women who made it big in spite of obstacles- we are talking about the masses who would like to keep their family as the top priority.

For example, my grandmother was an excellent lyric writer, who set her lyrics to her own music- I have heard the songs she composed during the Burmese wars, Punjab massacre, when Gandhiji was assasinated and so on- all poignant songs- but she never made it big... nevertheless, we hold her talent in the highest regard- except that nobody really took notice of her in the right time...

There is an adage in Tamil which says "a woman who can wield the ladle is strong" in the sense that if she was a good cook, she could win over many hearts -and hurdles- and can anyone dispute the fact that our patti's and athais and chithis and all other forms of womenfolk were such wonderful cooks- even in those days Meenakshi ammal wrote the "Samaithu paar" compilation which has saved many a newly wed wife from ignominy in the kitchen and has acted as guide to many an Indian, illiterate in the art of cooking across the seven seas in foreign lands?

Have not the women from the previous generations been adepts in diligent account-keeping, material management (where would men be if we had not followed the FIFO principle for all provision, grocery etc. and let infestation set in?????), labor management (maid servant, gardener, cook, milk man, oil-monger etc. etc.).. You get the drift don't you??

To all the unsung womenfolk of the bygone eras, a BIG salute to you- you have passed on the strength of your characters to your successive generation which has today become a massive power to reckon with..

Women are THE backbone of the society- Kal, Aaj Aur Kal!!!!

What did we not do to be "Good Looking"?...

2010-08-04T18:44:00.004+05:30

I remember the time I vaguely became aware of wanting to be "Good Looking"... It is that age when every girl wants to be called that and every boy wants to be called handsome.. That age- when pimples start breaking out on ones face, hair feels like coconut fibre and one always feels "I am overweight or my weighing machine has conked off"..

My very first "beauty regimen" was to shift from the trusted old "Dettol Bar" to the more sophisticated "Pears" which was supposed to leave in essential oils but remove "only grease" from ones skin... The first few days, I felt like my skin "Glowed" and was in top form... I would have 2 baths a day to wash of "all that dirt from the road"..

This quickly gave way to multani matti, Kumkumadi Lepam, Raktha Sandanam, turmeric, besan powder etc. etc.. I would religiously apply various concoctions to my face and leave them on to work hard on my complexion when I myself worked hard at my books.. My dad used to scowl at my caked up face muttering something to the effect "This girl has gone bonkers"...

O and I shifted from the "Clinic Plus and Sunsilk" regimen to Gingelly oil and Shikakai powder..An aunt of mine used to make an awesome shikaki powder containing at least a hundred ingredients (well no literally, I think...) and I would be her biggest consumer for that powder.. Saturdays, school worked half a day so I would have a wonderful gingelly oil- Shikakai bath in the cold water gleaned from the dear old "Water hand pump" (loved it).. As per traditional practice the hair was done in "Aathi kattu" fashion to let it dry naturally...

By now one was becoming aware of stuff like "Fair and Lovely" on the store racks.. So that was also tested on the physiognomy- along with Vicco Turmeric (Nahi cosmetic) cream.. All of these would stand out challengingly when one wanted look ones best.. So rub and scrub with water, Besan and blah blah and resort to the loyal "Ponds Dreamflower Talc"

By now hard core adolescence had sst in and the young oils were giving one a natural glow.. which was unfairly attributed by self to all the hours of "Beauty care"..

As for weight management- you see why I left it for the last.. The excesses were creeping slowly but surely which became apparent only after the damage was done, and a well meaning relative commented "Aren't you metamosphing into a barrel" (Now that is derogatory Baaaaaaa!!) So one started eating all those veggies which previously were eating in strictly "medicinal proportions" as they say in Tamil.. LOoooooong walks became a passion, so did not eating ice cream, chocolate, ghee, chips, samosas and all other delicious junk..

God.. in retrospect one feels really foolish to spend so much time and energy on such an ephemeral thing as beauty.. What will be will be- a thousand clever concoctions can hide neither one's true beauty or the lack of it..Beauty comes from strength of character and when you have that strength you feel you are beautiful.. If you think you are NOT beautiful, it is time to take a status check of your character strength first before embarking on perilous experiments!!!

(Psst.. I think i still have a lot of work to do before I can "feel" "beautiful")

Just a sum of little things!!

2010-08-04T09:49:00.002+05:30

It is said that when one is very happy and contented, one tends to gain weight... But experience indicates otherwise.... I am extremely happy and contented with life currently- but have lost weight enough to FIT INTO MY CLOTHES STITCHED BEFORE MY WEDDING!!!! Yaaaay!!!!I actually am able to wear the blouses stitched before 6 years- which I haven't used in the last 5 years...that gives me so many options to select from in my wardrobe!!! It is indeed true that "Life that true contentment brings- is just a sum of little things!!!!!""

How I would love to...

2010-08-03T22:45:00.002+05:30

... drink a hot cuppa coffee in the darkness of breaking dawn- quietly with no intrusion

...take a long walk by the beach, listening to just the waves and wind

...sit on the balcony idle and watch the world pass by

...cycle down empty alleyways at night, unafraid of all

...read my favorite book well into the night

...bathe in unlimited buckets of water till i am tired of it

...window shop till i drop dead

Wistful thinking.. we are no more the carefree "girls"!! Sigh!!

Reliving my Adolescence...

2010-08-03T15:03:00.002+05:30

For some reason, I have been listening to the video music albums of yesteryears- Falguni Pathak, Shaan, Aryans, Subha Mudgal and their contemporaries.. And have magically been transported to my own adolescent years...

I cannot deny that I did love all of the picturisation in these videos... Love the models (honestly the men) in albums of The Aryans and Falguni's especially...
I can almost relive my own adolescence- a period when one drools incessantly over such beautifully portrayed romance...one almost believed love was truly so innocent... that "they happily lived ever after"... ones heart overflowed with trust and optimism and all those emotions... The albums still evoke the same feelings...

I remember reading M&B books... those forbidden literary fruits... I used to pick them up surreptitiously at the lending library, and avoid the librarians eyes when he noted the entry in his book.. (Giggle).. Used to have it hidden in my school bag.. Would read them after completing the day's school work- at my study- under closed doors please.. Poor amma would probably be thinking i was still hard at studies...

Adolescence is such a beautiful time... Hormones in full spate- all the world seems so beautiful... everyone seems so good... I wish every girl has a beautiful adolescence enriched by good friends and a sound sense of right and a great great time.. Those years never will come back- try as one might....

My current Playlist on Youtube

2010-08-01T20:59:00.003+05:30

Piya Basanti Re
Gori Tere Aankhen Kahe
AAnkhon mein Tera Hi Chehra
Kabhi- Josh
Phir Hath mein Sharab hain
Bheegi Bheegi Raton mein....

Awesome- Zucchini Pasta

2010-07-30T17:02:00.002+05:30

I found this youtube video of making Pasta out of Zucchnini- simply loved it.. considering the fact that I love pasta to the point of insanity, this recipe is a blessing as it takes out all of the carbs present in conventional pasta.. Three Cheers to Jennifer!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLi5657CSos

Nostalgia of Carefree Teen life

2010-07-30T14:46:00.002+05:30

Today, I was traveling by bus to someplace. The time was about 11.30- and typically it is retired folks and housewives and business folks who use the bus at that time..

At one stop, the bus became near empty. among the passengers who climbed in, was a girl and a boy- roughly 18 to 19 years of age. The girl was very pretty. The bags they carried suggested they were college kids..
The girl settled in one of the seats meant for the Ladies and beckoned her friend to sit beside her. He objected- saying other women passengers who might get in would want him to get up.. She promised to get up with him, should such a sorry situation present itself. So he conceded and settled down.(People- they sat behind my seat so I could not help hearing their conversation and i was NOT eavesdropping)

He asked her to cover her face properly with her Dupatta. (Now in India, the dupatta a less Gossamer form of a stole and among its many functionalities, serves the purpose of the wearer covering her face (much like a terrorist) when she does not want to be recognised- especially when she is out with her love interest/boyfriend.) She found the idea hilarious, but he clarified that someone known to her might recognise her- the way he said it was so jovial and so so so friendly and warm... Somehow beyond that point their voices dropped to the level of inaudibility and I was anyway already traveling back in time..

I remembered the times Shiva and I have gone out during our courtship days.. Very warm memories they are.... I don't quite remember shiva being worried about me being seen with him (Noble lover that he was, is and shall be) but I have also employed my Dupatta for its "IMPORTANT" purpose... Now I feel like a little fool for it... but well... Young people in love do foolish things...

I also remembered the bus rides back home from college.. Our group was quite a healthy mix of boys and girls and we used to talk unceasingly all the way to our respective destinations.. Crowds jostling us about was no concern... I remember the juice shop opposite the college bus stop where for a pittance, one could buy Badam Kheer and fruit juices.. we always hung around that place.. Then the college canteen where be bought endless coffees..

Somehow young people who seem so guileless and so much full of faith in the power of love ooze such an infectious good will.. One cannot help but notice the optimism in those starry eyes of theirs.. Somehow one feels- Real love really is....

My Version of Tasty Brussels Sprouts

2010-07-15T19:25:00.005+05:30

Brussels sprouts are a power house of nutrition, as any nutrition information website would tell you... But some websites as well as my own husband who ate it in a salad declare that it has a bitter taste....

Today, I found Brussels sprouts stocked at a local grocer's, and so bought it anyway, to check for myself.. As a lover of cabbage it could not think of Brussels sprouts as bad tasting..

Here's my recipe... it was really tasty...

You need:

Brussels Sprouts- Small and healthy looking ones- 20 to 25 Nos.
Bean sprouts- 2 cups (soak mung beans overnight ans let it sprout for an entire day)
Onion- cut into julienne- 1/2 cup
Ginger- julienne- about an inch of tender ginger will do
Garlic- julienne- 1 or 2 pods
Baby corn- Quartered lengthwise
salt
Pepper powder
Refined cooking oil
Grated cheese- a little- for garnishing

1. Clean the Brussels sprouts and cut each one lengthwise in half
2. Add a small spoonful of oil to the cut Brussels sprouts and toss in a cup so the halves are somewhat coated with the oil.
3. Heat a little oil in a pan to almost smoky level and add the onions, garlic and ginger, saute for 30 seconds or so on HIGH, add the baby corn and toss for about a minute and turn off. Transfer to a cup, cover with a plate and keep aside. (this allows the baby corn to sort of imbibe the flavors.
4. Heat yet another small spoon of oil, place the Brussels sprouts flat side down on the oiled pan and cover. Cook on SIM for 5-7 minutes.
5. Open the pan, check if the underside has browned. Put a fork through one half to check if tender. Keep for a minute or two more if not yet tender
6. Open the lid, toss in the fried onion-Garlic- ginger-baby corn
7. Add two pinches of salt, 2-3 pinches of powdered pepper (more if you like)
8. Bring to HIGH
9. Add the bean sprouts, toss on HIGH for 2 minutes- DO NOT stir, Only toss!!
10. Transfer to a serving dish, add grated cheese on top and EAT.

To make this even better tasting, add the following one after the other with the sprouted beans
- lightly steamed broccoli/cauliflower
- Blanched peas
- Fried Groundnuts
- Shredded lettuce/parsley/coriander

There was none of the pungency or bitterness claimed in the websites... I loved it.. Will leave it to my husband to comment on the palatability of the dish....

Simple to Exotic

2010-07-15T15:38:00.002+05:30

Here's a simple recipe to turn the simple Onion-tomato fry accompaniment of Rotis to an exotic side dish.

You need:

1. Ripe red tomatoes- 5-6 finely chopped
2. Onions- 2 Large finely chopped
3. Saunf seeds- a spoonful
4. Clove- 1
5. Cardamom pod- 1
6. Ginger- 1 spoonful chopped
7. Green chillies- 3 chopped
8. Almonds- 4-5
9. Powdered sabudana- 1 spoonful
10. Salt to taste
11. Oil- 4 spoonfuls
12. Chopped coriander- to Garnish

Heat oil in a pan.
Add the saunf, cloves and cardamom pod. Once saunf seeds are fried, add the ginger and green chillies and saute for a minute or so.
Add chopped onions and fry till tender.
Add chopped tomatoes and mix well.
Add salt and cook on sim till the juices of tomato come out and tomato is tender.
In the meanwhile, grind the almonds and sabudana wth a little water to a fine paste.
Add almond paste to the tomato mixture, bring to high for 2 minutes and remove from fire.
Transfer to serving dish, garnish with coriander.

Goes very well with all Indian Rotis as well as rice.

Just try it!!

Corn- Mint Adai

2010-07-15T15:29:00.002+05:30

Try this Simple Adai- it tastes very very good and is full of fibre...

Dry and mature Corn Kernels- 2 cups
Ural Dal- 1/2 cup
Rice- 1/2 cup

Mint leaves- 2 cups- cleaned
Coriander leaves- 2 cups cleaned and chopped finely
Green chillies- 4 long
Salt to taste
freshly grated coconut- a cupful

Wash and Soak all the 3- corn, urad dal and rice in water for about 2-3 hours

Drain water into a clean vessel and keep aside

Add the corn, urad dal and rice to a mixer/blender/grinder
Add the strained water as required while grinding till the batter reaches a smooth consistency.

Now add the mint, chillies, coconut and salt and grind till the ingredients have all come together well.

Remove the batter to a vessel and add chopped coriander.

Leave aside for an hour.

Heat a non- stick skillet. Sppon out a ladle of the batter and spread as you would do a crepe/dosai/adai.Drizzle some refined oil along the edges.

When the bottom side turns golden brown, turn the Adai onto the other side and cook till it is fully done.

Repeat for remaining batter.

Tastes good when served with tomato sauce/chutney.

Nostalgia- Madhumathi song

2010-07-01T20:01:00.004+05:30

A few minutes ago, I was listening to the "Bichua" song from Madhumathi ( a Hindi film made in 1958)over Youtube (Bless Youtube!!!!) and a wave of nostalgia has washed over me- YET again!!! this time it is memories from back school....

I was in my sixth/seventh grade at that time... There was this beautiful girl called Vidhya in our school- my senior by about 4 years... an excellent bharathnatyam artiste- endowed with stellar acting skills and extremely good looking. She would feature in every dance drama in every year's school Annual Day programme.

That year, she was heading the group dance set to this Bichuaa song, and also acting in the mythological dance drama.
Just as she came out of the green room dressed for the dance programme, she stepped on a live wire backstage and suffered a heavy electrical shock- an announcement was made requesting for the immediate attendance of a doctor from the audience.. She thankfully recovered quite fast.

In spite of the shock, her dance was STELLAR, OUT OF THE WORLD, A REAL FEAST FOR the SENSES!!!

I really admired her all through the time she studied in our school.. She was the head girl in her final High school year..

Vidhya akka- If by ANY chance you come across this post- I want to tell you, I am one of your numerous admirers!!!!!

P.S.: As an additional piece of nostalgia, i am reminded of Jayashree ma'am (Botany) and Vijaya Subramaniam ma'am (Zoology) the two people who supported the choreography of the superb dance...

2010-05-14T21:29:00.004+05:30

In Memoriam- Padma Chithi

2010-03-10T20:32:00.004+05:30

Padma Chithi passed away on March 6 2010... We have not met her in the last fifteen years... But... memories of her are etched in my mind as if it all happened only yesterday...

Perhaps, of all my four maternal chithis (chithi= aunt) Padma chithi was the most talkative, most talented, most loving, most enthusiastic and very beautiful one.... My mom has told me many an instance when she has been reprimanded by her elders for being a chatter box...

Though born in a very humble family, Padma chithi never thought she should forego fun at school.. She would take part in every other competition and cultural programme of her generation- be it dance, oratory, drama or music.and she excelled in every one of them...

She was really beyond excellent in her Kolam drawing skill... She would untiringly expand on her kolam with single pointed concentration much to the consternation of my grandpa, for all other work would remain in abeyance till the Kolam is completed.
She loved to cook and experiment in the Kitchen. Having married into a family that lived in Mumbai, and by virtue of her gregariousness, she made a lot of Mumbaiite friends and learnt Maharashtrian and Gujju cooking. I can still recall the taste of the stuffed Colacasia leaf dish she made.. it was heavenly.. the makki Ki roti and Aam Ras and many such delicacies..

Even as I remember her, she had a luxurious mane.. History has it that because someone told her that very long hair is a sort of curse, she would try to shorten it by rubbing it on the backyard stone meant for washing clothes- in vain..Whenever she would visit Chennai, she took it upon herself as a mission to nourish and nurture the manes of my sister and myself- she used to prepare a herbal oil and massage it into the scalp for an hour or so, all the while narrating stories, incidents and anecdotes- typical of her chatty nature. She used to braid our hair differently every day- and I was a very big fan of her braiding techniques.

I remember the time we visited her family in Mumbai. My sister, myself, my mother and mother's brother- and she had prepared- Kesari, Venn Pongal with one cashewnut for every mouthful and Chutney- Poori and Potato masala, Semiya Payasam, and notwithstanding the heavy nature of the above items on the stomach she ordered her husband to procure a huge block of ice cream from the shop nearby.

I still remember the songs she taught us- Pillayar Pillayar, a song about Africa in Tamil, some gypsy songs...

Padma chithi always did things larger than life.. If she made Mysore Pak, each piece would be the size of ones palm and Krishna sweets Mysore Pa would fade into oblivion in comparison to chithi's... Her laddoos, Aam Ras and everything else was simply meant for the connoisseur of food...

Nobody can have the perfect life, right? Chithi did not have kids... and she yearned for one... and showered all the pent up maternal love on my sister and me... O we still eat in the food plate she presented us when we visited her family in Mumbai 24 years back (incredible? But true)

Not much to say about chithi's husband.. Suffice it to say that some marriages make one wonder if they were made in heaven or hell...Chithi has not visited Chennai in the last fifteen years, not even for her own father's demise, not for the weddings of my sister as well as mine, not for the demise of her own brother- all credit to someone who cannot fulfil even a material wish of his wife...And she breathed her last as a Sumangali- the only recognition she has received out of her marriage...

Chithi- although you have been away for so long now- you will live in our memory forever as the Vivacious, talkative and guileless Paddhi.. We love you...(Cannot help the tears welling up in my eyes).

This Dated the 10th March 2010

Home made Quesidillas!!

2009-08-04T20:52:00.004+05:30

Of late, I have been completely in love in food- both the cooking as well as eating aspects... and I have been preparing many of the hitherto untried dishes... And guess what I made yesterday evening- Quesidillas!!! Since Mexican dishes are so much closer to home in terms of the ingredients and cooking style, this one was easy and in spite of being a debutante effort, I was personnly quite happy with the outcome...

I replaced the Tortillas with home made Indian bread (Roti) and the black beans with Rajma and the Worcestershire sauce with tomato sauce... And since i do not have a microwave oven (yet) I let my skillet do the job... I used onions, green bell peppers, grated carrot, tomatoes, pre-cooked red rajma- all stir fried and then stirred with sauce... the cheese always does wonders to the dish and so I was quite liberal with it...

Although my dad and hubby baby were gracious enough to polish the quesidillas off their plates, I did not really get any concrete feedback- although my dad was as usual very enthusiastic of my culinary attempts (he even said- "very nice, what is this??"). But then, i really liked the stuff..

I want to make this again for my nephew soon and then for my daughter and nephew together.. I hope I perfect the dish before that!!!!

I was too excited and gobbled up my share before it struck me that i had not taken a picture of the dish, which I could have posted here!!!

Its Peanut Butter Jelly Time

2009-04-23T19:55:00.002+05:30

I was introduced to peanut butter by Uncle Sam during my short stint there, and I grew to love it... so much so that, once back in India, I would ask my friends visiting India to get me a jar of Peanut Butter from USA and substitute the jelly with good ol' Kissan Mixed Fruit jam...

Imagine how delighted I was to know that Sundrop (the folks who make refined Sunflower Oil from God knows when) has introduced Peanut butter in India.. But indigeniously made peanut butter is a definite plus, since I can buy a jar off the rack whenever I like, and not have to wait for some friend returning from across the seas!!!

So, I bought this jar of "Crunchy" peanut butter (ok, my hubby shopped for me) and am lovin' it!!!! I sneak at least a spoonful into my mouth everyday, and secretly send a hundred good wishes to Sundrop each and every day!!!

Spammers in Gmail are on the Rise

2009-01-16T09:57:00.001+05:30

Of late, I have noticed that spam mails that find their way into the Gmail Inbox are on the increase. Earlier, somehow I feel Gmail spam filters were a lot more effective. Have spammers found new ways of circumventing the Gmail spam filters or have Gmail spam filters become too inefficient to handle new spam mails???

Still a Bane to be the "Girl's side"?

2008-12-10T20:44:00.002+05:30

We boast of a modern society where the man and woman are considered to be on an equal footing, thanks to women's education and economic independence.. But is it really so?? Consider an Indian wedding for instance...The groom's side can still throw tantrums for silly non-issues and humiliate the bride's folks in public and get away with it, just because they are from the "Groom's party".. Post marriage, the boy's family can speak in such a manner, which if it had been spoken by the girl's family, would amount to gross "Disrespect" and still the girl's folks have to shut up because it is the boy's family and reacting adversely can affect the girl's life...When the boy's family visits, the girls should be most respectful and, immaterial of her difficulties (say at work/ home etc.) she should smile and be pleasant.. However, when the girl's family visits, it is OK for the boy to not even acknowledge their presence, of worse wear a morose face as if telling the girl's folks "You are not welcome to my house" and the girl should still keep dumb so as to not create a rift in the family, as also the girl's family folks..Will any husband brook it if the girl does the same thing in return to his family??? Just because they are parents to a girl, how long and why at all should a girl's folks endure such silent insults?? Does having a son equal to having two golden horns on ones head, or is every man "God's gift to the earth" while every woman is a curse? When will these things change???

Those Fever Day Feasts

2008-04-20T20:30:00.002+05:30

Every event in my life is fraught with a nostalgic counterpart from the past, and memories come flooding to my mind without any prompting..

As I write this post, I am suffering from the annual quota of fever and common cold along with a sore throat. I just completed my dinner of "Karaicha Rasam Sadam"- regular south Indian Rasam with a lot more pepper than normal, mixed into a small amount of completely mashed cooked rice, and is actually meant for "drinking" rather than eating. This is the only food that the system can digest, considering that your digestion may be thrown out of gear, and that the pepper in the Rasam is meant both as a prophylactic as well as an appetizer to re-awaken your dead taste buds.

I immediately remembered the days when I was a child. I have been by no means, a very healthy child and used to fall ill quite often.. It was always the same pattern- a total of 5 days I would be sick- Day 1- I would be burning with fever, with appa applying a hanky dipped in Eu-de cologne water, my sister ( a year older than me) sitting beside me the moment she is back from school, asking me in her childish way whether I was feeling better and fussing over me, and my amma helping me to the rest room and back and giving me only bread and milk under appa's watchful eyes.. I would invariably throw up on the first 2 days.. On the third day, I would get better and would be able to stomach the bread and milk.. By now, the tongue would crave for something better than the insipid bread and milk..

By day 4, I could sit up, and appa would permit amma to give me "Karaicha Rasam Sadam". But because I was a child, amma would make a less spicier Rasam, and I was not a great fan of Rasam alone. Now, invariably and providentially, amma wouldmake either VEngaya Vethakozhambu or a wonderful tasting brinjal curry, both of which I loved to no end. I would implore to amma to give me the tasty dishes rather than the Rasam... Amma is always a sweetheart.. She would add some of the vethakozhambu or brinjal curry on top of my Karaicha Rasam Sadam after making me promise not to ask for more.. And I would only be too glad to eat the delicious things after almost four days of near starving..

Today, I am married.. I do not have the luxury of having people fuss around me when I am sick.. (of course, my hubby is always there for me, and my parents always call frequently when I am sick to make sure I am ok.. once amma was with me when I fell sick a couple of years back,, and I enjoyed the same fussy love) I have to run to the office anyway, and cannot play truant like I would do when I was a child..I have to make my own Rasam and eat my own bread and milk..

My aunt always used to utter a Tamil proverb which roughly translates to Ït is only when you stand under the sweltering sun do you realise the greatness of shade". How true!!! We take it for granted that all the love and attention that our parents shower on us is their "Duty". It is only when we have to fend for ourselves in daily life, that we realise that it is the love of our near and dear ones that is the greatest gift life could ever give us in this world!!!

Those evenings of mellifluous melody

2008-03-15T22:12:00.002+05:30

When I was a young girl, I had the good fortune of listening to some live rendition of melody spurting out of real devotion. My chitapa (paternal uncle) had a friend by name Hari, who was then a small time singer, but with the voice that could bring the Gods down from heaven to earth. Chitapa had once brought him home after our dinner was all over. Back then, ours was a joint family consisting of my mother, father, sister, myself, two of my paternal uncles and my aunt and her husband who were visiting. Chitapa and family lived further away but came home quite often, so my cousins and the duo comprising of my sister and myself had ample scope for interaction.

This particular evening after all the household chores were over, we all sat down to listen to Hari uncle’s rendition. Imagine this scene- a warm cozy old time South Indian home, dhurries spread along the length and breadth of the living room floor, some 10 elders and 4 kids listening enraptured to some of the best devotional songs ever- to the accompaniment of just the Harmonium…. Jaise Sooraj Ki Garmi Se from the film Parinay, Mere Man mein Ram- a song by Anoop Jalota and a host of other songs- Hari uncle’s own compositions… Even today I remember the incessant encores, making the session prolong late into midnight and we kids scurrying to write down the lyrics before the singer moved to the next line… What wonderful times they were!!! I doubt if many children have had such good fortune as we did in terms of such an early induction into Bhakti Marga… If you are the kind that likes devotional songs, I strongly urge you to listen to the “Jaise Sooraj Ki Garmi Se” song from the film Parinay. There are many websites from where you can listen to the song… You will definitely have a tear in your eye after you listen to the overwhelmingly beautiful rendition by Sharma Bandhu and team.

Later when Hari uncle released his very own cassette of devotional songs, everyone in my family got a complimentary copy- a cassette we have played and replayed at least a hundred thousand times to learn the songs to perfection, and retained it like a heirloom till all that was worthy that remained of the casette was the plastic.. This cassette was my first introduction to Shirdi Sai and Sathya Sai..

My chitapa had a rocking chair at his place. At night after dinner, he used to sit on this chair ith his 2 year old son, dim down the lights and hum a slow Bhajan from that Casette- the song goes like this…

Rakhle mere man- Sai nath pe Lagan

Japle Sai Nam Raat din

Karle yeh nayan Sai Roop se Milan

Karle Charan Kamal ki naman

Karle thu Dua Sai Nath Ki Kripa

Mil gaya tho Dhanya tho hua

Ban ke thu chako

Bandh Pyar ke yedo- Sai nath Chandra ma kiyor…

Sai nath Chandra ma kiyor…

Dear Hari uncle, If you ever read this blog… I want to let you know that your songs made a very very huge impact on our then young minds, and we owe our love for Bhajans to you, to a very large extent….

Yet another New Year round the corner

2007-12-26T21:58:00.000+05:30

As yet another year draws to a close, I want to look back and recount the most memorable experiences I hav haad during this past year- the good, the bad and the ugly...

This year, I managed my organisation's surveillance audit almost independently- a big experience for my professional life- it was a glimpse into what real work pressure feels like, and an experience that gave me the confidence that I can survive in my profession, should I decide to change my work place (a confidence earlier not known to me). This year I also got my biggestr raise, and it has hslped me streamline my finances.

This is the year that I have spend almost a third without my hubby at home- not a pleassant experience at all... he fills the house with his presence as does the soft glow of a lamp in a dark room....

This year I have gained the greatest amount of weight...and this is the year I reolved to lose it (still working on it...)

This is the year I decided to continue my education and successfully gained entry to a quality Distant Education programme to earn my MBA..

This is also the year I sucesfully completed a certificate course on Intellectual Property from WIPO. (visit www.wipo.int)

This is also the year when my nephew started kinder garten and became interested in words and numbers and pictures and colors... This is the year when he refused to brush his teeth unless blackmailed with denial of chocolates..

This is the year when I hosted two dinners at home successfully... Every dish came out perfectly and I felt happy for the people who ate my food...

This is the year when I spent very less time with my parents, thanks to my other pre occupations... this is also the year I have hardly spoken to my sister, what with her busy schedule and my laziness..

This is also the year that I have travelled alone for business reasons, and sometimes felt I was made for such business woman life... this is also the year I have felt I was created by God to be a homemaker and take care only of home and hearth...

This is the year when I have been able to show my appreciation- nay,... gratitude to the uncles and aunts (in addition to my parents) for all the wonderful things they have given me in life (love above all else) by shopping for them during Diwali..

This is also the year that my dad re-established his friendship with his pal of 40 years back (Mr.Bruce Clarke- dad of the Australian cricketer Clarke...Wow!!!! were we surprised and happy when dad wrote him a letter with his eyes moist...)

This is the year when dear ones have fallen sick... this is the year when some very close kith has found true love...

This is the year when I have felt rejected by friends... this is the year I have shared innumerable phone calls with my best friend- finding solace in her words during some stormy patches, and have myself lent a shoulder to cry to her....

2007 was a very mixed bag... Hope 2008 dawns with a promise of a lot of good things.. above all--- the courage to bear life's blows in stoic silence and fight back...

Good bye 2007!!! Welcome 2008!!!!

Maiden attempt at Homemade Guacamole

2007-11-18T16:47:00.000+05:30

Ever since the time I revived the spirit of losing weight and getting back to shape, I have been extensively reading on healthful eating. One particular item that has intrigued me is the avcocado which is a high fat fruit, but is of the healthy fat variety. My short stint in the USA has introduced me to Guacamole- a dip of Mexican origin made out of avocado, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, powdered pepper, salt and cilantro. It is a delightful thing served with the taco chips as starters in Mexican restaurants and tastes absolutely awesome. I had however, given up hopes of finding avocados in Chennai... But I was pleasantly surprised and very happy to find that my local vegetable market stocks avocado- though they are better known here as butterfruit, and the bill reads "Avvokkadoo"...

And so, I bought the fruit and let it sit for a couple of days to ripen completely. Today being sunday, and a rainy day, I thought it was perfect to have good Guacamole with Lays Pudina style chips, and so it was my maiden attempt at Guacamole..

It is amazing to realise that Mexican style of cooking is very closely related to the Indian style- Burritos compare to Rotis, they eat lots of rice, and the combination of vegetables they use is similar to that in India, Taco Bell's Fiery Potato fiesta tastes similar to potato curry made in certain parts of Northern India, their Salsa is so similar to the Salad we eat at home.. The only difference I could make out was that they are liberal with sour cream, while we are not..

Anyway, my Guacamole is chilling in the refrigerator as we wait for the Potato chips to arrive from the shop.. thats the picture of my Guacamole... I intend to try a few DEsi ariations in this, and I will keep you posted on the first response of my hubby after he tastes my Guac!!!

12 Reasons- Why I love to visit my in-law's place

2007-11-14T17:24:00.000+05:30

Well.. I can already see raised eyebrows on reading the title- some must be thinking, "Impertinent lady! she only visits her in-laws and does not live with them"- but dear reader who raised your eyebrow thinking thus, our workplace is in a different part of the country and my in-laws would not even imagine leaving their current habitat- you would not either- if you lived in Coimbatore- that awesome place close to Ootacamund (OK Ooty, for those of you who like it short and sweet), which has the fortune of enjoying the world's second best water- from the Siruvani river.

Now let me tell you why I love visiting Coimbatore-

1. The climate is totally other worldly ( at least dawn and dusk)
2. It seems to be a laid back and slow paced life there- perfect for lazybones like me
3. I simply loved the colonies near the Lisieux school (hubby took me there to show me his Alma mater)- so homely like the good old residential areas I have lived in my childhood years
4. Now the main thing- the elixir- water- it tastes absolutely sweet and heavenly- and it is not bottled mineral water mind you ( my mother in law claims it used to be sweeter in the past- but I can not believe it- can there be a superlative to "sweetest"??) the water is really soft water and you need less than 1/20 of the soap you would typically use in any other place- say Chennai to wash- be it yourself, your clothes or vessels- after washing your face once in that water you will feel as if you just had a facial done- skin glows with health!!! and your hair simply feels like the silks that the Queen of Arabia might have worn!!! I washed my hair each and every single day that I stayed there
5. Authentic Kerala style Nentharangai Chips
6. My mother-in-law's Thakkali Thokku (she makes it in bulk for my father-in-law but I confiscate it every time I go there and deport it to my place)- my hubby loves it with Toasted bread, but I like it just like that and can empty the whole bottle in less than 24 hours
7. Sashi's chat shop- this is the place where my hubby has had chat ever since his infant years (well almost infant years). It is actually a South Indianised Chat shop- Kai yenthi Bhavan
( Translates to- place where you can stand, hold your plate in your hands and eat informally), but the stuff they serve is so so so delicious you cannot help going for "seconds"
8. The bike rides with hubby on the wide and long road (Can not remember name- GCT is right there overlooking this road)
9.The juice shop on the shopping complex road( Forgot road name again)
10. The flower market my mother in law visits
11.The mamis who come to visit my mother in law
12.The Sundara Thamizh that Coimbatoreans speak- it is saturated with respect and humility- far atop the Chennai Thamizh
13. Last but definitely the most important reason-my in laws who always treat me like their daughter and take the liberty to comment Coimbatore style when I oversleep during my holidays!!!!!!!

No more Cell phones in School Hip Hip Hurray!!!!

2007-10-25T08:11:00.000+05:30

With the latest rule that cells phones shall not be allowed for use in schools by students and teahers alike, I believe the authorities have finally made some well deliberated decision.. Think about it, for a student, what is the necessity for a cell phone at all!! Typically a student goes to school at 8.00 and returns home by say 5.00 in the evening. In this 8 hour time span, what could be the most important thing he may have to convey that he needsa cell phone on him?? When we were in school, if we fell sick in school, the teacher would promptly call up home and ask for someone to come and take us home.. If it was something urgent that we ourselves had to call up home, we could always use the school ofice phone except that we had to have a good reason to all up home.. and not just to say a hi hello to anyone..

Fair enough...What is the need for a student in middle school or high school to have to socialise during school hours..Even for a working professional, it is not a great trait to be socialising on the cell phone during office hours and reflect very badly on your work morals- unless of course the call is absolutely an emergency or is for business reasons, lucrative to the company too.. So that being the case, a school stuent needs no reason to have a cell phone on him during school hours..

Today speaking to people by calling up from the cell phone is just ONE of the functions of a cell phone- today the cell phone is not just one thing... it is many things (Nokia should not sue me for using their copyright tagline here- God save me) it is a camera, it is a jukebox, it is the palmtop, it is the gamebox, it is an information repository and a lot more (since i am extremely techo-illiterate, i could list only a few things here- people feel free to add more to this list!). That being the case, a student could as well be playing Solitaire or Bubble Breaker on his phone when the teacher is shouting herself hoarse trying to explain the theory of relativity, or could be clicking pictures of his latest crush in school to show off to his buddies.. Tell me honestly, is any student trying to use his phone to browse the internet through his phone to get study material??? I have also been a stucent and very well understand a student's mentality- Middle school, high school and graduate school years are adolescent years when hormones are running over the Full level and immaturity reigns. Rhyme and reason are not in the thinking of this age and it is an age.. These people are definitely not yet old enough to use certain luxuries of the technological boom rresponsibly.

Lest you think I am a stuck up moron trying to speak against the student community, I would say a better way of implementing this would be that all cell phones rought in by students should be turned Of and turned in for safe keeping when they enter the school premises and should be returned to the students when they leave school.

Can the authorities who made the cell phone rule make arrangements for such safekeeping? Can they insist that schools improve their infrastructure to ensure smooth operation of the cell phone deposit and collect process? Can they make adults responsible in checking and ensuing cell phones are turned off in school??? and above all can the average adult parent stop spoiling their kids with the demi-Gods born out of the technological revolution?? Every one is a stake holder in this issue and everyone needs to take responsibility.. Superficial resoultions will not solve the problem..

For one, I am not from the bygone generation and have survived very well without the connectivity of a cell phone till I completed my very first year at work... and I know top notch business magnates who swear by NOT having a cell phone or PDA as a tag-along. Take the cue from them!!!

Confessions of My Culinary Blunders

2007-10-19T07:58:00.000+05:30

My close friends reading this blog would rejoice at having first hand information on my culinary blunders so they have more material to rag me, but who can stop sincere confessions pouring forth from the heart!!!!

1. The first time I made Filter coffee- I have observed my mother pack the coffee filter with coffee powder with the right pressure and pour water over the powder.. Alas!! I did not observe that she pours boiling water.... I was in class 9 when I made my first coffee. VEry confidently I filled the filter with coffee powder and.. poured water straight out of the tap... cold water... and waited and waited for the decoction to percolate into the lower compartment of the coffee filter.. an hour passed and all i saw was colorless bland water collecting in the lower compartment- nothing even remotely resembling coffee decoction.. what then... i had to trash the whole lot, call up my mom (who had gone to grampa's place since he was unwell) and ask for trouble shooting... only when i described to her step by step what I had done could we find the vital step that made (i mean marred) my decoction!!!
For your information, I am now an expert at coffee and to verify this statement, friends are welcome to drop in any time to witness the way I make coffee and the sheer aroma and flavor of the typical South Indian BRahmin coffee.

2. My encounter with asafoetida- This should have occured when I was in Class 7- alway eager to cook, I pestered my reluctnat mom to let me make potato curry. I had pressure cooked the potatoes, peeled them, diced them, heated some oil in the pan, added mustard, urad, bengal gram and turmeric- so far all ok- then I tossed in the diced potatoes and then, since I had the misconception that asafoetia is some sort of a flavoring agent, i sprinkled it liberally on the potatoes- all the while wondering whjy amma had brought such a small pack when it is needed on a day to day basis... Ours was a joint family then and we had no less than 15 people at home at any point in time. Come meal time, there were my dad, two maternal uncles, one aunt, a family friend, my sister, myself and amma.. Amma had already sensed something was amiss with the potato and smelt the excess asafoetida... But when we served the curry, people were looking at me quizzically... By then I knew i had blundered... but the eaters were sportive enough to applaud my efforts and gulped down the curry somehow.. when amma sat to eat, she was quite appalled at the amount of asafoetida and promptly check for what was left in the pack... totla shock.. and then she gave me a big lecture on the right amount of asafoetida- the lesson went down well with me- unlike the not so palatable potato curry and today I know that when we say asafoetida, the phrase "a pinch of" is implied!! phew what a way to learn!!!

3. This one is totally hilarious!!! I made my first Dosa when I was in Class 6!! My undeveloped brain figured that all I had to do was place the tava on the burner and spread the Dosa batter!! Note that I did not mention "Light the stove"!!! I stood there patiently waiting for the Dosa to brown on the underside,... but just nothing was happening.. I get impatient when things do not go as expected and was getting cranky.. I also have the bad habit of not letting people look over my shoulder when I try something new. so I had shooed amma out of the kitchen... But now, in crisis.. i had to call in the expert.. and amma had a good laugh at my idiocy-- we had to clean up the Tava, light the burner, let the tava heat up and then I made the very first eatable Dosa!!!!

And now all you people who read my confessions- dont conclude i am a complete kitchen disaster... Like Edison has said, it is through such failures that I discovered the umpteen number of ways to fail in the kitchen and have overcome those blunders. I am now quite and adept in the kitchen and you are welcome to confirm it yourself by eating my delicacies- and trust me you do NOT need a life insurance cover to try out my food....

Tax consideration for staying healthy

2007-10-17T06:20:00.000+05:30

Think about it.. India is fast awakening to the fact that health is wealth... Recent reviews on some popular news channels show that even people earning Rs.15000 per month make allowances to work out at the local gym, which is by no standards inexpensive..

Now consider how many people may want to join a gym but are unable to do so due to financial constraints- one of them being that apart from a healthy and fit body investing in joining a fitness center has no financial returns..

What if the Income tax department revised their IT rules a little bit- enrollment in any fitness program should merit a tax exemption on the amount spent on the enrolment amount (of course they can fix a ceiling on the amount).

This would motivate the average middle class tax payer in two ways- one he has an additional tool to bring down his taxes and two he can use this opportunity to reduce his waistline by enrolling at the nearest quality fitness center- be it gym workouts, TaiChi, Yoga, Pilates, water sports etc. All that should be needed by the tax department is a receipt of fees paid to the fitness center. (note here that I am in no way prejudiced against people who do other forms of fitness trainings from home- this is just a way to motivate people to work towards fitness).

I hope some tax magnate readin this blog gives this idea some serious thought and influences the decision makers to consider this proposal- think about it, if Uncle SAm can be innovative enough to give tax payer a benefit for going eco friendly, why can't Mother India also do this for the betterment of the health of the average Indian!!!? Tax Law makers!!! Get innovative!! Pitch in to contribute to a healthier India in your own small way!!!!

Mylapore- You live there after leading aeons of virtuous life

2007-10-14T07:02:00.000+05:30

For people who are highly sensitive to vibrations around them, entering the boundaries of Mylapore will be a highly uplifting experience as one becomes intensely aware of the spiritually charged atmosphere...I have always believed that one gets to reside in Mylapore only after having done many a good deed in past many births.. Think about it, there is the Kapaleeshwarar Kovil and temple tank, there is the Srinivasa Perumal Kovil, Madhava Perumal Kovil, the Mundaga Kanniamman Kovil, the Shirdi Sai Kovil, Hanuman Kovil, Navashakthi Vinayagar Kovil, the Santhome Cathedral, the Ramakrishna Universal Temple, just to name a very few of the spiritually energising centres. What makes these places special is the years and years of sanctified chanting of Mantras and prayers..which cleans up the atmosphere of the dreg and dross of impure thoughts, malificient attitudes etc.

Mylapore is not just for the spiritual seeker- it is for the ardent shopper as well- come Dussera season and there is no place in Chennai to shop for Kolu dolls better than Mylapore Mada Veedhi. Scores of vendors begin unravelling the precious dolls a few days before Dussera begins- and what a sight it is!! from miniature dolls of Gods and Goddesses to the huge Viswaroopa dolls it is sheer feast for the eyes... This is the time when women of all age groups flock to MAda veedhi to eitherdrink in the festive sights or to drive a hard bargain to buy the dolls.. In adition to the dolls, buying trinkets for giveaways to ladies visiting the households is the next fun thing- there are numerous shops that sell inexpensive but beautiful gifts- small statues of Gods and Goddesses, Kolams, key chains, thoranams, bowls, baskets, innovative Manjal Kumkum sets and so on. the roadside shops stack every Bindi design known on planet earth, bangles made of different materials and in many hues, Photographs of Gods and Goddesses, Sloka books etc. The Mada Veedhi market caters to every customer from every stratum of life- you can walk away with a worthy purchase immaterial of your budget and that is the speciality of Mylai..

It is impossible not to mention the vegetable market in Mylapore.. The freshest vegetables and fruits just pull you unto them for purchase.. the ladies selling Keerai beckon to you like a good old friend enticing you to buy a refreshingly green bunch of Keerai and they are open to negotiation on the price.. and no better place to buy flowers than Mylai- the jasmine strings are closely knit unlike the rest of the city, (where you need directions to find where the next flower is strung on the thread) and the speciality is the Malli Chendu- a thck and heavy length of very very closely knit jasmine blossoms- and trust me the flowers are priced definitely lower than elsewhere in the city.

Other attractions of Mylapore are the Ambika Appalam Depot, the Dappa Chetty Kadai where all sorts of Nattu Marundu (indigenious medicine) can be purchased, the Giri Trading Agency, Srividhya Manjal Kumkumam shop, Mysore Silk Palace, Karpagam mess, Bharatiya Vidya Bhaven , Sangeetha hotel etc..

If you are a resident of Mylai, count youself a step away from salvation- for only the most spiritually evolved souls get to live there.. and my hearty congratulations to you on living in one of the best places on planet Earth!!!

The Green Grocer Goes Personal Again

2007-10-11T11:16:00.000+05:30

Remember the good old days when we were kids, when the vegetable vendor would come to the residential colony pushing a cart laden with vegetables and fruits, around the lazy 10.30- 11.00 o clock time frame? Mom used to do her vegetable shopping in a leisurely manner, sharing some friendly banter with the vegetable lady and bargaining for better prices. I used to love those times when I would also run out with amma to be around during the shopping... In fact, if amma was in the middle of some work when the cart came around, the veggie lady would wait patiently, sit on the footpath under the mango tree, sort out her money and take a small break from pushing the cart and walking all day. Once amma had picked what she needed, the veggie lady would carry them into the house and then collect the money.. if amma had less money, there was always tomorrow to settle the transaction- likewise if veggie lady had no change to return- tomorrow always came- theirs was a silent understanding with respect to finance- completely based on trust and trust only...Often amma used to give her cool buttermilk or wateronce their transaction was over... Those were days of unharried shopping...

Fast forward to today... there are numerous vegetable complexes on every street- including the Pazhamudir Solais and Pazhamudir Nilayams, and Reliance and Corporation markets.. these are like veritable fish markets- people thronging all the time- especially young families- both hubby and wifey working- loading their cellar on the weekends to last for the whole week. I for one always feel as if my BP has risen above safe level when I am done with my shopping...No doubt the variety available is more, the artistic arrangement exotic and self service facility liberating... but the personal touch is lost... standing in never ending queues to get your pick billed, searching for the right change to pay..and having to carry the whole lot back home...

Imagine my joy.. when I saw today morning a vegetable cart close to home- the guy comes with select produce from some home farm at about 5.30 and leaves by 7.30 before the sun is fully blazing.. Regular walkers, old ladies and housewives- his regular buyers pick their needs leisurely and pay up- no change? no problem.. tomorrow is fine!!!

The sight just took me back to the good old times and made me feel so happy.. The veggie man is becoming personal again, i guess.....

Kolam Kolam

2007-09-27T10:58:00.001+05:30

My earliest memories are of watching my two maternal aunts do large elaborate kolams on our sprawling porch in the house of my maternal grandparents... These were of so many types- the pulli kolam (dots are placed in some predetermined order ans lines are drawn to either connet them or to wiggle around the dots) ther kolam (chariot kolam on the Pongal day for the sun), manai kolam, and just creative kolams.. On a regular day this used to be drawn with kolam powder on the outside of the house and with rice powder in the pooja room..

On special and festive occassions, it was a maa kolam- rice soaked in water and wet ground to a slightly watery consistency and guided on the floor with a small cloth to draw the kolam.

On tuesdays, Fridays and festival days, the kolams were given a border of maroon color by mixing pure red soil with water and applying it with an old toothbrush or coconut husk.

Apart from my aunts, we had a servant maid by name Muniyamma.. she was a pro at Kolams.. Tall and lean lady... used to come at 5.30 in the morning, sprinkle water on the drive way and sweep it off and draw such beautiful kolams- ranging from a 3x3 dot matrix to NxN matrix.. she was so deft and fast and her strokes were just impeccable- I was in my 5th or 6th grade around that time- i used to sit up with her, watching her draw the kolams- and used to draw them down in my Kolam notebook religiously everyday... and on days when she would play truant, I would try and draw the kolams on our driveway... it was a delight to do that....

The Hindu culture is kind of funny sometimes... On the 13th day after a person's death, it is called Subhasweekaranam- or embracing auspiciousness again sfter the mourning days.. On this day, elaborate kolams are drawn and Poojas done in the household for happiness and prosperity to stay... When one of my old paternal uncles passed away, on the 13th day, we had ultimate fun doing the kolam (please dont think I am insensitive- i was in my 7th grade then.. a little girl you see). My dad's two sisters and the wife of my dad's younger brother (the aunt who arranged for the Jutka ride- read my other blog) , myself , my sister and two cousins- we swept and mopped the floor and then my aunt did a huge elaborate kolam.. This was a dotless kolam- complete symmetry and absolutely beautiful... in my mind my respect and admiration fot this aunt sky rocketed... and stays there till this day...

After me moved to a different house, it became my duty to do the morning kolam on the threshold of our house every day.. I hunted down Kolam designs from anywhere and everywhere.. The apartment complex we live in has many oldish ladies.. they used to like my kolams and always appreciated me on their way through our house.

On special occassions like diwali, Pongal, Navarathri etc. I would want to do a BIG kolam outside the compound, the previous night- so my dad would come and stand guard while I drew the Kolam engrossed in it.. expanding it more and more and more till I had no space... here i have to make very special mention of my mother.. She is an expert in Kolam drawing in her own right, but seldom had time to pursue it because of family pressures.. However, in my early Kolam days, whenever I would goof up a so called "modern art" kolam, amma was always there to the rescue.. With a few strokes here and there, she would change the fate of the Kolam and expand it into a huge beautiful Kolam... doing something right first time may be a talent.. but correcting something goofed up and converting it into a beauty to behold is a talent very few people have.. my mother is one of them....

These days my husband stands guard when I do the Kolams... even during my short stint in the USA, I used to do the Kolam everyday.. of course I had a lurking fear in my mind that the next door neighbor may mistake my innocuous hobby for some sort of witchcraft.. but to my surprise.. she saw me drawing the Kolam one day, and smiled at me and sadi something nice.. and in knew all was well...

While Rangoli, the colorful North indian counterpart of the humble white Kolam is also very beautiful to see. nothing like the while kolam against the red of a red oxide flooring of the older model houses of south India...

Till date I do the Kolam anywhere and everywhere I get the chance and I love doing it... God bless the Kolam and whoever invented the art!!!!

The day I learnt to read time off a watch....

2007-09-15T17:38:00.000+05:30

I vividly remember that day in my life when the mystery of the hour and minute hands of the timepiece invention was laid bare before my eyes....

I was in the third standard in school then...My uncle had come to visit us from Delhi and had bought for me and my sister our first real watches- a colorful Citizen ladies' wrist watch..We were very excited...and wanted to wear it to school the very next day to show it off to friends.. Now there was only one catch to this lofty desire... I had no clue whatsoever as to how to read time off the watch!!!

Anyway.. after much thought I did wear it to school the next day... Every day, the second hour in the morning was mathematics, and we had a wonderful teacher by the name Ms.Shanthi.. I owe all my expertise at multiplication tables to her, for each and every day she made our class write the multiplication tables from 2 through 16, as soon as the day's portion of teaching was over.. But for her, I would have NEVER got my basics right...

Now on this particular day, as soon as the day's teaching was over and we students were preparing to start writing the multiplication tables, I furtively approached her.. with the maths class work copy in my hand as if to get my work corrected (lest ther rest of my classmates come to know that I do not know to read time), and softly asked her "Miss can I ask you one thing?" and she said "Yes what is it?". I showed her my new watch and said "Miss how to tell the time by looking at the watch?". Then she explained the mystery to me.. she said ," This watch has numbers 1 to 12" Look at the hour hand- the small hand- if it is aligned with any of the numbers between 1 and 12 , say 8,and the minute hand- the long hand is aligned with 12, then the time is 8 o clock. Suppose the hour hand is between two numbers ,then take the lower of the two numbers as the correct hour. Then look at the minute hand. If it is exactly pointing to some particular number, then multiply that number by 5 and that number will represent the number of minutes past the particular hour. Finally if hour hand is between two numbers and minute hand is also between two numbers, then take the hour to be the number before the hour hand; then see which number the minute hand has crossed, and multiply it by five and to this add the number of small lines that the minute hand has crossed after that number. she gave me a couple of exercises on my home work notebook right there and made sure "I had understood what she had just explained,, I was soooo thrilled!!! After the newly acquired "expertise" nobody coule stop me from wearing my watch..

It is possible I was too late to learn this basic skill.. may be I was too fast..but the end result was I did understand!!!

Today, much to my amusement and nostalgia, I saw my sister teaching her two and a half year old son how to read time off a watch ( and that guy was getting it too!!!) and I said to myself "Today's kids are so smart.. and so fast!!", and just could not resist the urge to write about my own memoirs of understanding this great "skill"....

Pavadai Chattai mania

2007-09-09T19:44:00.000+05:30

The other day, I saw a featured article in the supplementary of a popular newspaper, about a music school called Balabrundam.. and I was so ecstatic to see that the lady who ran the school insisted that young girls wear pavadai chattai. Again I could not help wandering into the alleys of Nostalgia..

My very first Pavadai chattai was the Pattu Pavadai chattai my parents stitched for me when I was some 3 years old. The speciality of the Pavadais that were stitched in those days was that, they would provide enough cloth for the Pavadai to be worn for at least the next 10 years in the girls life.... Then the next PAvadai was the one we (me and my sister) got from my aunty- a regular cotton Pavadai with matching chattai. Again this served a long innings...

After a period of Haitus, the next Pavadai came when I was 8-9 years old- we went to the big Bombay dyeing showroom to buy the material- me, my sister, uncle, aunt everyone- mine was a deep violet with small motifs- with 2 chattais- one matching and one contrasting.. my sister's was a nice maroon with eggplaant flower motif all over- again 2 chattais... The speciality of this PAvadai was that by now our Pavadai had graduated from the Pavadai with an attached white vest to the pavadai with a string running all aound the circumference- only little girls wore the former type, while bigger girls wore the latter type all the way until they begin wearing sarees..

A note worthy point about this Pavadai was that I would insist that I tuck in my chattai into the pavadai like wearing a formal shirt with trousers.. even my teacher in school tried to tell me this was not really the conventional way of wearing a Pavadai chattai... but stubborn me, i would not change till I myself KNOW that this was not the right way.. this happened another 2 years later... Anyway, this Pavadai lasted for another 5 years..

The next one was again a Bombay Dyeing material- a vibrant green cotton one for each of us- me and my sister- I loved that PAvadai and adored it to no end.. By now I was in eighth grade... an age when one wants to flaunt ones good looks.. On Saturdays, when we were allowed to wear color dresses to school, my frequent outfit was this PAvadai chattai, hair freshly washed in Reetha and worn in the typical Kerala style, with a string of fragrant jasmine tucked in, an asoortment of colored bangles on each hand, and a bright young cheerful face!!!! what a beauty.. I was so fond of this PAvadai that when I finally outgrew it, I did not have the heart to part with it.. so I made my tailor open up the seams and restitch it into a Salwar Kurtha, which was in service for about 2-3 years...

By now, one silk saree from my paternal granma's treasured collection metamorphosed into PAvadai chattais for me and my sister. It was a mustard and black small checks pattern with a deep purple border.. It was an instant hit with everyone, for the different style in a time when plain silk Pavadai with contrasting border was the order of the day.

In the interim when I was in ninth grade, my aunt bought us two sets of Polyester Pavadais, which I still have in the form of a restitched Kurtha... And then as is custom in Indian Hindu families, I got my next Pattu Pavadai from my parents when I officially became an adult.and what a lot of running around we did to get it stitched right!!!! And yet another Synthetic Pavadai came as a gift from an uncle.. All these were the string type PAvadai, so when I graduated to the Pavadai Dhavani style (also called the half-saree), all I had to do was to stitch myself a matching blouse and buy the half saree length and Viola!! we have a new style!!!

During all the cultural fests in school when I was an active member of the Prayer, Sloka and drama groups, I would wear one of my Pavadais in half saree style as was our formal attire and have my hair worn in a long single plait, lots of bangles, flowers, anklets, the "nethi-chutti" etc. What a great feeling it would give us!!!!

Needless to say all family functions, marriages etc. saw all the girls in the family in Pavadais in styles suiting their age-the vested one for little girls, the stringed one for slightly bigger girls and the half saree type for the adolescents.

I am quite disappointed that my sister as well as my husband's brother- both have sons- no daughters... for I would have loved to adorn them in Pavadai chattai..

Today, the Pavadai Chattai has undergone a style change- it has been fused with the Ghaghra style of the North, and comes in a lot more variety and in beautiful colors and styles.. Sadly, today's young girls think it is "uncool" to be seen sporting a Pavadai chattai...which pains me a lot...

Some day, the Pavadai chattai will make a comeback with a BIG bang, and you know who is going to be the happiest person that day... That will be ME!!!!!

2007-08-31T13:44:00.000+05:30

A fresh attack of paleomnesia- The jutka ride

2007-08-20T21:11:00.000+05:30

When we were kids, we lived in a locality adjoining a low income area where horses that were used for the North 'Indian wedding Baraats were tended. There was a shed where the elaboratley decorated hardwood Jutka was housed when not in use.

Now I have a very enterprising aunt, who was always thinking of new ways to entertain the kids ion the family. So one fine Sunday, she struck a deal with the Jutkawallah to take some 8-9 kids on the horse driven Jutka on the MArina beach road- this dates back by about 20 years... when MArina beach road was relatively empty- especially on Sundays..

So there was my sister and myself, two of my cousins, the two kids belonging to our landlord and two other cousins- and my aunt.. we all boarded the jutka around 1.30.. it was an awesome ride.. aunt found it very dificult to restrain any of us excited kids... just as we hit the beach road.. it began to rain-- what more do we kids need!!! we had one helluva time!!!

By the time we returned all of us were drenched to the skin.. each of us was rushed into the house, dried completely and made to change clothes. By then my amma had made hot hot hot Idlis soaked in chilli powder-oil. We brats ate amidst a lot of bantering about the ride. I wtill have a picture somewhere, of me with a plate of Idli, my then little cousin brother tootlessly grinning from the red colored Tobu tricycle and a whole bunch of kids in the background..

Nothing to replace those carefree days of unfettered fun....

Vishu!!

2007-04-13T15:53:00.000+05:30

Tomorrow is Vishu-the Malayalam New Year. Some nostalgic memoirs as I think of the word Vishu....

My dad has always been an enthusiast when it came to festivities. The day prior to Vishu, we used to go and shop for all sorts of fruits and veggies. Not to mention the vethalai (betel leaves), pakku (arecanut), thenga (coconut) flowers in every hue.

Post dinner, we would clean the Swami room, and place the huge family mirror by the wall directly opposite to the door. In front of this we would place all of the following in neat plates, trays and other receptacles, so that looking through the mirror, the abundance is further made to look abundant- Fruits, Malabar Cucumber, Mango, chakkai(jackfruit), Rice , lentils of as many varieties as we can lay our hands on, the coconuts, vetahlai, pakku, flowers, manjal(turmeric), chandanam, kumkumam, jaggery, swarnam(god- coins and ornaments). It would be breathtaking to stand back and look at the arrangement..

On Vishu morning, amma, appa would wake us up (me and my sister) and with our eyes still closed, walk us to the swami place and ask us to open our eyes to look at the abundance of fruit, and veggie and all other bounties placed in front of the mirror- the belief being, if we start the year witnessing such prosperity, it would stay throughout the year. Following this would be the Vishu money- a nice shiny one rupee coin from the receptacle holding the coins. (of sourse this is the beginning- throughout the day uncles, aunts, and all forms of elders would give us Vishukaasu).

Amma would make payasam, araichivitta sambar, aviyal, mango pachadi veppampoo pachadi etc for lunch. We would visit our maternal grandparents, uncles and aunts and wish each other. Generally people also go to the temple to listen to the new almanac being read out.

I can still recollect the Vishukani scenes in my mind- what glorious days they were...

Now there is my nephew, and thatha (my dad) should be gearing up to recreate the Vishu magic for him!!!

2007-03-16T17:51:00.001+05:30

Food Home-made food!!!

2007-03-16T17:51:00.000+05:30

Today I successfully completed two weeks of regularly carrying homemade food to office for lunch. Prior to that, I used to eat at office, the food being supplied by one of the umpteen number of caterers in the city. However, two weeks back, I developed this craving for home made food especially proper South Indian Brahmana aahaaram.... The background information is that my hubby baby is not particularly fond of the sambar kari kootu pachadi rasam formula,... he prefers salads and sprouts and yogurt and the like (not to disregard the sacred pepsis and colas and sorbets, pizzas, garlic breads and soups), and consequently cooking my style was restricted to times when we had guests who shared my taste... conversely, I love every single healthful veggie- cabbage, beans, snakegourd,okra, eggplant, and every form of pumpkin and squash found on God's green earth, greens and what not.. and I love to cook it with subliminal masala, which food will still taste good (amma, chitthi kai pakkuvam as they say in tamil- translates to "golden touch").. And I am Shylock when it comes to stuff like butter, oils, ghee and the like..

The other reason that I started carrying food is that when I eat out of a plate in office, amidst the chatting with colleagues, I am unable to place a check on the amount of food I eat, and end up overeating, that has already begun telling on my waistline..

Over the pask 2 weeks I have had chapathis, upma, ( and yeah my hubby hates upma while I really really relish upmas- special mention of my athai who is expert at making very very tasty upmas from an assortment of base ingredients), sambar sadam, kootu, kari, thayir sadam with pickle (can you imagine life without the blessed curd rice!!), and still counting...

While it is a little extra work making lunch for myslef in addition to the Western style lunch for hubby baby, i feel happy and fed when I eat.. and nothing is worth that satisfaction...

It is a great blessing to be able to eat what you like-the health to eat what you like, the means to get that onto your plate, and the sanity to relish what you eat.... all these are privileges....and I am one among all those lucky people to be blessed with all these.....

Ok.. I am already planning my menu for tomorrow...

paleomnesia

2007-01-06T14:14:00.000+05:30

Memoirs of Bygone New Year Eves

2006-12-27T15:21:00.000+05:30

My childhood has been a blessed one, amidst loving parents, maternal and paternal uncles and aunts, grandma and grandpa, cousins blah blah!!!

New Year eves were always fun filled events.. Half yearly exams used to end just a day before christmas. And of we would go, me and my sister to my grampa's...

On Dec 31, by about 11 in the afternoon, my sister, my youngest aunt and myself would bundle into our uncle's (mom's brother) Ambassador car (Faithful good old car), off we would go to Hotel Chit Chat on Mount Road (not sure if it still the awesome place it was some 15-18 years back). That is where we were introduced to some of the oriental and occidental delicacies like French fries,Pasta,Spring rolls and cutlets(wait! the last one could be Indian, lest you think i am terribly misinformed about global cuisines:)). As soon as we conclude our hogging session there, we would walk to the pastry place right in the restaurant and religiously buy a 1 Kg sponge cake (every year it was the same cake.. cant remember the reason for that specific seasonal affinity). That done it would be a drive to Adyar Grand Sweets to buy "Sweet- Karam" for thatha since he would not eat cake since it contained eggs as one of the ingredients.

If i remember right, we also used to get new clothes from uncle- trust me, we (my sister and I) are the MOST spoilt neices in history...and I was a capitalist at that... Thinking twice before asking for something expensive came in quite late due to my mother's relentless sermons on propriety and decency and considerate behaviour ( again, lest you think I have no manners what so ever, this was only with my uncle- in other places and with other people, I would not even ask for a glass of water)( you see... as a Libran, what "perfect" balance I have maintained!!!!)

Anyway, by 6 in the evening, we would be back home, and turn On TV in full blast. Way back then, the only channel on TV was DoorDarshan and the most famous faces for New Year eve programmes were Usha Uthup, Bappi Lahiri and the likes. If that was not "good enough" for us connoisseurs, there was always a high quality Tom and Jerry video cassette backup beckoning to us from the shelves.... and that would run for hours. My grampa was a soul that believed in eating only at the dining table.. So dinner was a reluctant affair, having to pause the video and have a hurried dinner. Again, new year eve dinner was always sumptuous and sinful (to me that meant potato roast curry, Vengaya Sambar, Mysore Rasam, yogurt thick enough to be cut with a knife and mahali pickle(sarasaparilla for your translation) and by the time we were done with dinner, I have always had mental apprehensions about not having enough appetite or space in my tummy to accomodate the sponge cake that awaited cutting at the strike of 12.00 Midnight..However, my stomach has year after year yielded to my unsaid prayers and miraculously created space for the coveted cake...

To admit the truth.. from 11.30, I would be looking at the clock's arms by the second..and would doze off too. but at the strike of 12.00 all of us would be awake, and we tots would cut the cake, wish all the the family over phone and go to sleep amidst happiness and laughter....

Jaane kaha Gayee Woh Din.....

With those warm memories I await the New Year 2007.. Hope ti brings health, wealth and cheer to one and all!!!!!!

There's a wedding in the family!!!!

2006-08-22T15:49:00.000+05:30

A wedding is always a big event, immaterial of whether it is you who is getting maried or whether it is your cousin or friend or the neighbor next door... My cousin is getting married in a week, and my aunt, my dad's youngest sister has come all the way from Cuddalore.. Now I share a very nice relationship with this aunt in the sense that whenever there is a function at home, we love to take out all our finery and make joint decisions on who wears what saree, which blouse goes best with it.. What jewels to wear for each occassion (Remember Indian weddings span a complete 3 days!)..
I am looking so much forward to the wedding because, more than dressing up myself, I love to see certain people dress up.. like my aunt.. to her dresing up is a ritual and she always follows the same procedure... It starts with a Kerala style bath with coconut oil, followed by braiding hair in the traditional Kerala style, followed by draping the saree, cosmetics (only Cuticura powder and a Kumkum bindi), a light perfume, tucking in her starched and ironed hand kerchief, carefully wearing the selected jewels and replacing the rest into the safe (she would not talk to anyone when the jewelry part in on for fear of overlooking some precious piece of aurum!!!) wearing a nice string of jasmine in the hair, and a few minutes fine tuning in front of the mirror and she is ready to catch the limelight!!!! Though she is tending to her fifties soon, she looks so beautiful, and my dad loves to buy his baby sister nice things, ranging from sarees to other trinkets!!!

The sum and substance of this blog is- IAM LOOKING SO FORWARD TO THE WEDDING!!!!!

Avani Avittam

2006-08-09T14:36:00.000+05:30

Today is Avani Avittam cum Raksha Bandhan. However, the family I am married into follows Sama Veda, so their sacred thread changing ceremony happens a day after Ganesh Chathurthi. Further my betterhalf is right now in South Africa. But this is what I did today. Morning, I adorned the threshold of the house with a nice "Kolam" out of rice flour and decorated it with "Semmann" which is basically red soil. I adorned myself with some additional jewellery. My cousin brothers had sent me Raakhi wishes on mail. (Gosh I totally forgot it is Raksha Bandhan today till I read that mail!!).

I'll be going to my mom's place this evening. She might have made some sweetmeads. Since my nephew Avinash donned "Kalla poonal" today, it will be a time of rejoicing at home. So that is good!

I wish a lot of family members were at home so that it would have been real fun!!! Previously when my cousins were in Chennai, I used to go to their place with the Raakhi and tie it around their wrists, and they in turn used to give us some gift- once it was a beautiful bangle set, once it was chocolates etc etc.

All these Hindu festivals foster oneness and solidarity in family. I hope we successfully pass on these lovely legacies to posterity, undiluted by the hectic pace of the civilised world.

Calvinn and Hobbes

2006-06-05T16:11:00.000+05:30

Calvin and Hobbes seem to be the sweetest adn cutest characters in comicdom!!!!I simply adore their friendship and the absolute innocence of childhood captured perfectlty in the pencil strokes!!!!!

The benefits of Early riser

2006-05-29T16:43:00.000+05:30

Until about a month back I was the diametric opposite of an early riser. Waking up used to be the most tense moment of my life each day, for having gotten late i would have to whizz past my daily "chores" before leaving for work, leaving me totally drained by the time i reached work.

Then my husband sent me the stevepavlina.com link, where he speaks about "how to be an early riser". Then my husband and I started on the early rising routine... Getting up just one hour early made me feel so refreshed, and i could go about my work at a comfortable pace, and reach ofice completely relaxed and ready to take on the day.

This is something mothers and grannies have preached generation after generation- early to bed early to rise- makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise... But till one feels the need oneself, all advice is of no avail!

But trust me it feels great now!!!

My personal DNA Report

2006-03-01T12:38:00.000+05:30

Luciferous Logolepsy

2006-02-11T14:38:00.000+05:30

If any of you are inclined to learn some very very interesting words, just visit this website..i loved it!!!!!!

http://www.kokogiak.com/logolepsy/

Rest and you Rust

2006-02-08T16:16:00.000+05:30

Of late life has become a little mechanical. Waking up, getting ready to go to work, making breakfast and lunch, and running of to workplace- evening come back, relax a little, do clothes, vessls, a little reading, sleep and thne tha same old rigmarole....

At 25 I have complaints about my lifestyle... even as I am blessed with wonderful parents, a loving husband and supportive friends and relatives.... I think of my dad... his was a late marriage, so when I am 25 he is 67... Even after his 65 years, he used to travel almost a 100 km on his motor bike, delivering his goods to his customers( he was a dealer for powder paints and a sole propreitor). Added to it is the fact that he has sufered two heart attacks and an instance of arrythmia. He had to work so hard to give us the besty education and to marry us off into good families.. My mom too has her own health issues... But I have never heard them complain at any point.. My mom always says, "as long as u force yourself to be on your feet, you live- if you cease to act you cease to live" and always prays" take me away when I can still serve people with my linmbs. let me not become a burden to anyone" .

How true!!! What is the point in idle time? something, just something must be done with this life of ours.. leisure time is earned and not equal to idle time...

Non-contact blood pressure Measurement

2005-11-26T15:53:00.000+05:30

Working for a company involved in medical electronics sometimes does spark some brainwaves in even my brain!!!..

I have been looking all through the internet for some detail on a device or concept that measures blood pressure, without having to use the B.P. instrument cuff, in vain..

A new question in my mind is... When someone has is badly bruised in an accident, and his arms have open wounds, and if his B.P needs to be checked, how can a doctor accomplish that? Is there some way of measuring blood pressure by some non-contact method?

Basically what they do in B.P measurement is that they occlude the blood flow through the primary vessel, and slowly remove the block till the Korotkof sound is heard, and note that pressure. Then they note the pressure at which the flow becomes streamlined and no more sounds are heard. The B.P is expressed as a fraction of these two.

If anyone has any info on this PLEASE let me know!!!

Of Senses and Perception

2005-11-07T12:37:00.000+05:30

I have been thinking... When I see a picture, I can always transmit it electronically, and the receiver shall also see the same picture at the other end. When I hear a song, I can transmit it, and the same song can be heard at the receiving end....

Now think of this... When I smell a fragrant rose,why can I not transmit it electronically for the reveiver at the other end to smell it? When I taste something, why can I not transmit the taste, or for that matter the sensation of touch?

If we say, sight, sound, smell, touch and taste are the five senses, why this ambiguity in the ability to transmit?

One may argue that taste is the attribute of the object called rose... By the same token, how the rose looks is also an attribute... So y can I nottransmit one attribute when i can transmit the other attribute of the same object..

Another arguement is that smell,taste etc. are subjective.. Well it applies to sound and sight too.. If i transmit rock music thinking it sounds great, it may sound like cacophony to the receiver, but the element producing the sensation is the same and that is the stimulus that is being transmitted- and not the perception..

Have any of you thought about this? Share your thoughts with me..

Coffee- My Love

2005-10-28T13:46:00.000+05:30

AS long as I can remember, I have woken up in the morning, with my first thoughts on the great cofee my mother would be brewing in the kitchen... Though it sounds exaggerated, I really used to get up only because of the heavenly aroma wafting from the kitchen... I used to enjoy drinking the coffee, siiting on the floor in my bedroom, with the lights turned off.( after brushing teeth of course). I used to hate any sounds or disturbance during my tryst with my morning coffee...

Nothing beats a fresly brewed coffee with the decoction,milk and sugar in the precise proportions... We south Indians especially take pride in oru "filter coffee". No instant coffee can claim remote semblance to the fresh coffee out of a filter....

Back in the US, I had forgotten to take our coffee filter with me.so it was only instant coffee.. Every single day of my stay there, I used to remember my mom's coffee, and sniff in the phantom aroma of her coffee in nostalgia.. Thankfully another couple we knew had the filter and the lady used to make excellent coffee.. So if we went to their place even late into the night, we would ask her for her filter coffee.. Not only that, my hubby used to call up his friend who lived alone in another state and irritate him saying " Tell me what i am doing now??? I am drinking hot hot filter coffee... " and that guy would go "Grrrrrrrr".

I like my coffeee with less sugar.. i like my coffeee a little bitter.. As I always say, nothing can beat a good cuppa Kaapi..
And in case anyone wants to have a taste of it, try making it for yourself... you won't repent the effort!!!

Yesterday it rained....

2005-10-28T13:32:00.000+05:30

Chennai experienced a complete deluge yesterday! what a day! when i awoke in the morniong it was raining, and then it rained and rained and rained.. My husband, sincerity personified left for office like it was any other day in his life.... But me! no way!.. such rainy days are meant for one to huddle in the house with a nice hot cuppa coffee and watch the weather report.. The fact that my office was floating in the waters was enough reason for me to call itquits for the day...

So after my hubby left, I spoke on the phone for a while with my sister ((the mother of the cute fellow down in another blog of mine)) and then brewed fresh coffee( kumbakonam degee coffee...) for myself.. i really enjoy coffee(more on coffee in my next blog) and especially in the chill of yesterday, it was a veritable elixir! After savouring my coffee.. i had to get back to household chores.. The sincerity persona of my house returned earlier than usual, so i had company to talk to after that...

In spite of the grim pictures that the News channels painted of the situation in other parts of chennai, I was a wee bit disheartened that it had ceased to rain by 8.00P.M..
I was making elaborate plans to spend a couple of hours with my nephew.. all of it went under a cloud.( what a paradox.. since the clouds had cleared, my plans went under a cloud!!!)..

In fact today morning, I tried talking my hubby into letting mw take today off on the premise that my office was still waterlogged.. But he wouldnt hear of it...

So here i am in office, using my lunch break to blog all about it....