Was on India visit jan of this year. Stayed home for about a week,(remaining time at in-laws place) relished mom's cooking, had dahipuri in Shivkrupa, took my daughter to play in the park at Sagar Vihar, met old friends, And stayed home a lot. :)
Sitting there by the window, watching the chaotic traffic move by, most vehicles with no regard for the environment puffing black poison. Man! how did I never see it before? Was Vashi always so polluted? Was it always so difficult to breathe? Was it always this warm in January? The beautiful scene from the mini-seashore which i saw every evening...why does it look lost in fog? Wait! Is that the pollution? It wasn't there 6 yrs back. Or was it?
Have the roads always been so unsafe? Did I really cross these roads every day in full traffic? Were the drivers always this horribly rash? Little school kids forming a human chain waiting on the sidealk for a chance to cross the road. Was I one of them? Were the stairs in most buildings always this Dungeon dark? When were the buildings last painted? Whats the black soot like thing on every standing structure in the city? They looked so fresh a few years back.
Were my school age photos this yellow right out of the studio? Was our house this small? No, its got smaller over the years I am convinced. Was there so much dust behind the furniture before? When did the Fridge get its beautiful blue paint all chipped off? Did we never have a closed shoe rack? Was the neighbour's conversation always audible in our house? The adjacent building was not this close, looks like its moving closer by the day.
The TV, the dining table, the Fridge were much bigger. Believe me. They have been sheddding weight. The ceiling too was higher before, its caving in. The fans actually made the rooms airy and cool, not go in circles just for the sake of it. Like they do now.
A few years away from there, and how things have changed in my absence. huh.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Finan-sense
We, as a couple are not alike. Quite the case of opposites attract.
Inspite of it, thankfully we vehemently agree on money-issues. And that, is the secret of our happy married life :)
1. We don't head for Calvin Klein, Levi's, Gucci and their kin. (Man! I am having to rack my brains for brand names.) We both are happy to wear what looks good and is fairly priced. No, the factory outlets are no good too.
2. Our car is a means to get us from point A to point B. Without leaving us on the the road midway. As long as it can do that, we are happy.
3. Furniture doesn't have to come from from Ikea. We look for good deals on Craigslist. Heck with so many people moving back to India, its so easy.
4. We lived in California for 2 years and never, i repeat never even thought of seeing Las Vegas. I'd rather not get started on whys of it. Would just quote Liz Pulliam Weston, the famous personal-finance writer.
"A city based on the squandering of wealth really should be allowed to melt back into the desert from which it came."
5. Most movies are not worth spending 15$ per person for ticket and insanely high food prices in their cafeterias. Not to mention the fuel expenses.
We prefer to wait until it comes out on a DVD. Rent it for a dollar. Enjoy it from the comfort of home. Make sure the volume is in control. (And most songs are skipped altogether.)
6. Alcohol and cigarettes is something we both have never fallen for. No estimates on how much we save, don't even know what it costs to be alcoholic. But going by popular opinion, I assume we save there. And have better chance of being healthy grandparents.
7. With all the attention and love I get, I don't feel the need for make-ups and manicures and haircolors and so on.(its afterall for attracting attention, ain't it?) Guys, another money saving trick.
The list can go on, but for now, I'll be frugal with the blogger space and end it here. :)
Inspite of it, thankfully we vehemently agree on money-issues. And that, is the secret of our happy married life :)
1. We don't head for Calvin Klein, Levi's, Gucci and their kin. (Man! I am having to rack my brains for brand names.) We both are happy to wear what looks good and is fairly priced. No, the factory outlets are no good too.
2. Our car is a means to get us from point A to point B. Without leaving us on the the road midway. As long as it can do that, we are happy.
3. Furniture doesn't have to come from from Ikea. We look for good deals on Craigslist. Heck with so many people moving back to India, its so easy.
4. We lived in California for 2 years and never, i repeat never even thought of seeing Las Vegas. I'd rather not get started on whys of it. Would just quote Liz Pulliam Weston, the famous personal-finance writer.
"A city based on the squandering of wealth really should be allowed to melt back into the desert from which it came."
5. Most movies are not worth spending 15$ per person for ticket and insanely high food prices in their cafeterias. Not to mention the fuel expenses.
We prefer to wait until it comes out on a DVD. Rent it for a dollar. Enjoy it from the comfort of home. Make sure the volume is in control. (And most songs are skipped altogether.)
6. Alcohol and cigarettes is something we both have never fallen for. No estimates on how much we save, don't even know what it costs to be alcoholic. But going by popular opinion, I assume we save there. And have better chance of being healthy grandparents.
7. With all the attention and love I get, I don't feel the need for make-ups and manicures and haircolors and so on.(its afterall for attracting attention, ain't it?) Guys, another money saving trick.
The list can go on, but for now, I'll be frugal with the blogger space and end it here. :)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Foodie talk - 2
Samosa
Deep fried cone pastry filled with potato and peas.
Utthapam
Indian pancake with the topping of Bell pepper, Onions and Tomatoes
GulabJamun
Wheat flour balls dipped in flavored sugar syrup
Rasmalai
Homemade cheese balls with ceamy sweet sauce.
Deep fried cone pastry filled with potato and peas.
Utthapam
Indian pancake with the topping of Bell pepper, Onions and Tomatoes
GulabJamun
Wheat flour balls dipped in flavored sugar syrup
Rasmalai
Homemade cheese balls with ceamy sweet sauce.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
fork
Not the better half of a spoon.
The supposed fork/s in life.
At some point you reach a fork they say.
You can go one way or the other.
The choice makes you who you are.
All the forks you cross
make the life you want for yourself.
How I would like to reach one.
I cannot even see any fork.
The only one direction available
is the one i keep going on
No choices available.
Its all decided for me.
The only choice I have here is
to be happy on the predestined road
Or curse the fate, be unhappy.
What choice do I make you ask?
happy I choose to be
but wait, unhappy at the same time.
The supposed fork/s in life.
At some point you reach a fork they say.
You can go one way or the other.
The choice makes you who you are.
All the forks you cross
make the life you want for yourself.
How I would like to reach one.
I cannot even see any fork.
The only one direction available
is the one i keep going on
No choices available.
Its all decided for me.
The only choice I have here is
to be happy on the predestined road
Or curse the fate, be unhappy.
What choice do I make you ask?
happy I choose to be
but wait, unhappy at the same time.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Twister scare in Dallas
Quite a day, for someone coming in from California. See my post from jan 08. That storm was really not a big deal. but I apologise for, and rollback my general statements in that post.
Leaving the safe haven of bay area has been an eye-opener.
In Dallas/ north Texas, june 10, there were thunderstorms predicted in the forecast. It was dark since afternoon and all we expected was, Well rain.
By 6PM, they(weather guys) were suddenly talking tornado. By 6:45, the quiet quickly dissipiated. I could hear sirens going off. Didn't know where they came from until a neighbour filled me in. There are poles on all streets, and the fire department starts off the sirens. What they are saying is, "Take shelter immediately" It was pitch dark, rain was sure on its way. TV programs were interrupted to warn us about a probable Tornado. And we were advised to stay indoors and away from windows.
Within 5 min of the siren going off, wind picked up. Up and up. got really scary all of a sudden. Siren and the kid both wailing, hubby at office. Not ideal at all. We had wind gusts upto 80mph i heard later. About 15 min of ferocious wind followed by equally ferocious thunder and lightning. Thunder rumbles like crazy. Someone who has no idea whats happening would pee his pants. God. Even the window panes shake, like they would in an earthquake. We can call this one a skyquake? The rain whacked us for about an hour and then died down.
As if the whole storm scare wasn't enough, later in the evening, there was a Raccoon on our patio (balcony). The pizza box i kept there (to take out to trash dumpster later) was what it came for. I had never seen the animal before, did not know what it was. Thought of calling 911. But it went away.
The thunder and lightning went on through the night. Another funny thing was, when the thunder rumbles reeeaal bad, the cars start panicking. We got up once or twice to check if it was our car. There were 4-5 cars panicking at the same time. There goes the night's sleep. :(
As of today, june 11 morning, no wind gusts. But thunder. lightning. rain still here.
To quote weather channel, The storm is still flexing it muscles over the city of Dallas. :)
Man!! I love these weather guys. Have written about the weather forecast before. Its here
They predict the time and location of the storm and are fairly accurate. The wind gusts started within 5 min of the wailing alarm. You can at least get to a safe area.
Isn't that all we want?
Leaving the safe haven of bay area has been an eye-opener.
In Dallas/ north Texas, june 10, there were thunderstorms predicted in the forecast. It was dark since afternoon and all we expected was, Well rain.
By 6PM, they(weather guys) were suddenly talking tornado. By 6:45, the quiet quickly dissipiated. I could hear sirens going off. Didn't know where they came from until a neighbour filled me in. There are poles on all streets, and the fire department starts off the sirens. What they are saying is, "Take shelter immediately" It was pitch dark, rain was sure on its way. TV programs were interrupted to warn us about a probable Tornado. And we were advised to stay indoors and away from windows.
Within 5 min of the siren going off, wind picked up. Up and up. got really scary all of a sudden. Siren and the kid both wailing, hubby at office. Not ideal at all. We had wind gusts upto 80mph i heard later. About 15 min of ferocious wind followed by equally ferocious thunder and lightning. Thunder rumbles like crazy. Someone who has no idea whats happening would pee his pants. God. Even the window panes shake, like they would in an earthquake. We can call this one a skyquake? The rain whacked us for about an hour and then died down.
As if the whole storm scare wasn't enough, later in the evening, there was a Raccoon on our patio (balcony). The pizza box i kept there (to take out to trash dumpster later) was what it came for. I had never seen the animal before, did not know what it was. Thought of calling 911. But it went away.
The thunder and lightning went on through the night. Another funny thing was, when the thunder rumbles reeeaal bad, the cars start panicking. We got up once or twice to check if it was our car. There were 4-5 cars panicking at the same time. There goes the night's sleep. :(
As of today, june 11 morning, no wind gusts. But thunder. lightning. rain still here.
To quote weather channel, The storm is still flexing it muscles over the city of Dallas. :)
Man!! I love these weather guys. Have written about the weather forecast before. Its here
They predict the time and location of the storm and are fairly accurate. The wind gusts started within 5 min of the wailing alarm. You can at least get to a safe area.
Isn't that all we want?
Monday, June 08, 2009
Curious case of LIFE
The Curious case of Benjamin Button
Not a movie, but an insight into how we think about aging, wrinkles, love and life.
If every birthday makes you peer in the mirror looking for crows feet, this movie is for you. It will change the way you think about aging.
The main character Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) is born with wrinkly skin, arthritis, fading eyesight and little hearing. In short, he is born 80 year old. He works his way backwards from there. When he is 10, he meets Daisy (Cate Blanchett). She is 5. They instantly form a special bond. At 17, with the spirit of a teenager and a body of a 65 year old, he leaves home to be a sailor. After being thrown in World War 2 and surviving it, he comes back
To quote Benjamin, "It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is YOU."
He is already in love with Daisy. But can never really express it.
She is now a famous dancer in New York, with lot of young men swooning over her.
When he is 49, there is finally, an intersection of body and spirit. Both of a guy in his 40s. Daisy comes back to him, she is 43. Just that one of them is going forward and one backwards.
My favourite dialogue comes in this phase
Daisy : Will you still love me when I am all old and wrinkly?
Benjamin : Will you still love me when I have acne? And i wet my bed? When I am scared of whats under the stairs?
Brad Pitt has played the whole inverted life of Benjamin in a way only he can. He has this southern accent which i am sure he had to work on. He sounds like a true New Orleans guy. Its not easy to do accents and in such natural, believable way.
The curiosity, energy, enthusiasm, spirit, innocence of a 15 yr old boy who has a body of a 65 year old. The poignance, serenity, been-there-done-that look of a 60 year old person who looks like a teenager. Very well done. By Brad and the digital Benjamin for first 50 min of the movie.
A must-watch.
Not a movie, but an insight into how we think about aging, wrinkles, love and life.
If every birthday makes you peer in the mirror looking for crows feet, this movie is for you. It will change the way you think about aging.
The main character Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) is born with wrinkly skin, arthritis, fading eyesight and little hearing. In short, he is born 80 year old. He works his way backwards from there. When he is 10, he meets Daisy (Cate Blanchett). She is 5. They instantly form a special bond. At 17, with the spirit of a teenager and a body of a 65 year old, he leaves home to be a sailor. After being thrown in World War 2 and surviving it, he comes back
To quote Benjamin, "It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is YOU."
He is already in love with Daisy. But can never really express it.
She is now a famous dancer in New York, with lot of young men swooning over her.
When he is 49, there is finally, an intersection of body and spirit. Both of a guy in his 40s. Daisy comes back to him, she is 43. Just that one of them is going forward and one backwards.
My favourite dialogue comes in this phase
Daisy : Will you still love me when I am all old and wrinkly?
Benjamin : Will you still love me when I have acne? And i wet my bed? When I am scared of whats under the stairs?
Brad Pitt has played the whole inverted life of Benjamin in a way only he can. He has this southern accent which i am sure he had to work on. He sounds like a true New Orleans guy. Its not easy to do accents and in such natural, believable way.
The curiosity, energy, enthusiasm, spirit, innocence of a 15 yr old boy who has a body of a 65 year old. The poignance, serenity, been-there-done-that look of a 60 year old person who looks like a teenager. Very well done. By Brad and the digital Benjamin for first 50 min of the movie.
A must-watch.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Roger Rocks!!
Saw the French Open match between Roger Federer and Tommy Haas. Saw a few hours later, not live. Did not know it until the match ended. Good! made me stay glued to the TV and not google the result. What a sportsperson he is!
In the countless encounters between Federer and Nadal, I have always cheered for Nadal. 1. I am the root-for-the-underdog types and 2. I always thought Federer was too full of himself, trophy-churning-robot.
Today's match was really special.
It takes towering character, confidence, composure, not to mention ability and belief in self to come back from 2 sets down to win.
Roger lost first 2 sets, 6-7 5-7. Looked totally out of sorts. I am sure most people had already accepted the idea of French Open sans Nadal and Federer. Readying for a new champion.
But people with a towering character have it in them to come back from the ashes.
Federer came back to win the match, last three sets 6-4, 6-0, 6-3
Thats one thing i like about tennis. Any player can win from any point of the game, unlike cricket.
I remember watching Ramesh krishnan in Davis Cup. Don't remember the year/ opponent. (Was it Ivanisevic?). He was 2 sets down, went ahead to win 2 sets and the rain stopped play during the 5th set which he won the next day.
Of course, winning after being 2 sets down is not unheard of. Still is a great achievement, so much so, that i am writing my first ever Sports post :)
Whether Roger wins the title or no, this perfomance overflowed with tons of grit and character. Kudos to Federer.
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