25 random things about myself

Not sure if i can manage 25, lets see

1. I loved Mumbai, hated Pune. Fell in love with Pune when we moved there and now very happy in California, don't want to leave.

2. I always hated saas-bahu serials. Never followed a single serial after dekh bhai dekh i guess.

3. I grew up thinking i was UGLY

4. I rebelled just for the sake of it during my teens. Many a times aware that parents/ teacher were right.

5 I once went to NBSA (New Bombay Sports association), to enquire about Tennis classes. 1992. Was inspired watching Steffi Graf. They charged 500Rs a month which i thought was insanely high. For the racquet, i told them I have the badminton one. I was dismissed and told that Tennis Racquet is different and expensive. Never went there again. Have been playing Tennis regularly after coming to US. Bhagwan ke ghar mein der hai andher nahin :)

6. I can never catch a lie/ fraud/ cheater. I believe everything everyone says. Very easy to cheat me.

7. I cannot make friends easily anymore. I'd rather hang out alone at the library or at home with the laptop.

8. I need 10 hours of sleep every night. I admire people who wake up early.

9. I wanted to be an astronaut when i was a kid. Was fascinated by astronomy.

10. I get a headache after watching a movie, in a theater. Esp if it has songs/ violence etc. The decibel level too high, cannot tolerate. Very often, while in the movie hall, i am looking for the remote control to reduce the volume, only to realise there's none.

11. During my college i always worried that my parents will marry me off to someone i did not like/ approve of. My kundali said, marriage age 19-21. Was really scared. Nothing of that sort happened of course :)

12. I hate Sarees. I am extremely uncomfortable in them. I have a snap of 6 yr old me. Made to wear a saree, clearly not happy at all.

13. I dreamt of inventing a machine where i write name of a movie on a piece of paper, insert it in a slit, and the machine plays the movie on a screen. Doesn't that sound like youtube? I did not invent youtube, of course... Just proves that crazy impossible thoughts of today can be realities in a few years.

14. I was a huge fan of Rahul Dravid. Wrote many letters to him (pre e-mail days). Have 2 thick scrapbooks filled with all about Dravid. I wish i can show him my collection some day.

15. I believe in god. But i don't fast, follow any rituals, perform pooja etc. And i feel guilty about it.

16. I have read Linda Goodman's sunsigns a thousand times probably.

17. I stay away from old marathi movies. Hech majha maher, Dhakti soon, chaukat raja type haunting movies. Would deeply affect me as a kid. Deliberately stayed away for years until the era of bindhaast, kaydyacha bola, Golmaal etc. Am back into the fold now :)

18. When i was 18, people used to ask me, aapke husband kya karte hain? Kitne bachhe hai? etc. When i am 80 they'll say, How come u r still alive???

19. I hated the rainy season, getting wet on the way to college, forgetting the Umbrella, salwar splashed with mud...Yuck. Summer i tolerated thanks to the mango season and maternal grandparents in Ratnagiri. Winter was my favourite season. Still is.

20. Cannot imagine living in Mumbai anymore.. the heat, pollution, traffic. I wonder how i spent 24 years of life in Mumbai

21. I am lazy. My house is never neat. But if someone is coming over, i can give the house a makeover in 15 min. In short, if someone's planning to drop by, i need a 15 min notice.

22. I did a correspondence course in journalism. Worked as a journalist in Twin City Times during a vacation. Salary 1500/ month. Was a lot of money for a first salary. Before finishing college.

23. We once travelled in a 33 seater plane from Nairobi to Kisumu, saw Lake Victoria from the sky. The origin of river Nile. Bugged hubby about how i helped a friend's sis with "Give reasons: Egypt is called a gift of river Nile", her teacher was very happy with her answer....that river Nile, originates from here... crazy!! Also visited Tsavo from "Ghost and the darkness". Unforgetable.

24. I have a wierd problem, have to visit the toilet before leaving home. Very often, after i am ready, have put on shoes, suddenly i realise ... gotta go...
Hubby gets really angry, psychological problem...

25. I cannot draw. I always got 36/100 in drawing beacause they could not give anyone less than passing marks. Inspite of it, i can make excellent mehendi.

I did come up with 25 random things...Wow. Nice little memories. wierd, crazy. Good for myself to read again.

Whats up with homeschool?

Have been planning a fresh start for the whole last week.
Does not look like its happening soon.
She starts her daycare next week. 3 days/ week. Will chalk up a plan for 2 days/ week. Thats all i can handle for the time being.

The kid made me proud today though.
While in the shower, heard her announce that she dropped a whole jug of water. Jeez. I calmly asked her to just put a towel on it and leave it for me to handle. Was really happy that i could stay calm, calming effect of the shower i guess. Its just water, won't stain (ouch!!) the carpet...Relax...self talk.
Decided to stay put and see what she comes up with.
5 min later, Knock knock...MOM!! I used some kleenex, soaked up as much water as i could, trashed it and then put the towel on it.

Bravo!!! Good job!! I had to say :) It was indeed a good job.
She got praised for the good recovery plan, and was not reprimanded for dropping water in the first place.

Btw, I later realised, she dropped a "cup" of water on the "table", not a jug of it on the carpet....how we imagine, hear and believe the worst. Thank God, i did not make a hue and cry about it, just let her handle the situation. huh!

Lesson for me:
1 Brush up the listening skills and tone down "Assuming" skills?
2 She is smart enough to find her way out, MOM doesn't need to step in. TRUST THE KID

At times I wonder who's homeschooling whom!!!!!!!!!!

My dear 16-year-old-me

Things i'd like to say to my 16 yr old self...........

-You are beautiful.....VERY BEAUTIFUL
-Miss talented/ beautiful/ popular is not going to have a better life than you
-Not having a boyfriend is OK, that doesn't make u any less beautiful
-Being fat is not a sin, its OK
-All the girls that wear trendier, smarter clothes are NOT smarter than you.
-You can wear what you like, people won't laugh. You can wear a jeans even if u don't have waist 28"
-Don't get so embarassed of the pimples, even they make u look beautiful
-Hanging out with smart-ass people is not necessary to get noticed around the campus.
-People are liars, don't believe everything everyone says
-you will have a nice husband and No! ur parents won't marry you off to a jerk at 18
-Wait for 10 years and then name your best friend from college life