cut above the rest

an epitaph

2008-07-11T03:24:00.000-07:00

Miss Vishwa my friend.

A sixty-five year old dad of 3 - who i recently lost to cancer. It has been tough coming out of the shock of his sickness and death. He was a very soft, kind, patient, humane being and a one who cld relate to young and old alike.

We grew close to each other in the last 3 yrs, after a few tough negative experiences between our families. I am actually his nephew's wife. But he took a liking for me and warmed up to me. He never made me feel in these few years that he was an UNCLE-IN-LAW :)

A man who gave up his individuality for the sake of his family. He was the rock and the foundation of his family. A man, who I wld describe as a SPONGE. He absorbed the unwanted effects of the atmosphere and the undulating ground realities.

I can never forget the way he handled pain - the unflinching grit with which he pushed himself unassumingly so as to not to trouble his near and dear ones, not to even make much mention of his pain. The aches of his heart, his dreams, desires, wishes and beautiful moments of his life - would be painted in the core of my heart for a long time to come.

Not to forget to mention his efforts to learn cooking and babysitting, at the ripe age of 64 - to take care of his Daughter and Grand daughter in the U.S. Recipes were learnt over internet voice chats with his wife, in India. Babysitting of course- practically.

A man who chose to love - an unconditional love till the last breath.

I am going to miss this friend of mine - yet another to have lost a little too early in my association- Selva my 83yr old Boyfriend ;) U remember? - being the other. Their association has taught me great things.

Hope and pray with all of my heart that he is in The Eternal Rest of God and that God takes care of His Life Breath (PROGENY AND FAMILY).

Few men have I come across in my life with such virtuous qualities at the peak of Life and Power. Of course he was not Infallible but his good nature outdid his negatives.

A man worthy of his name - the Ruler of the World

yet another advertisement

2008-07-09T05:23:00.002-07:00

an advertisement for Viking innerwear :)

2008-07-09T05:23:00.001-07:00

tenth anniversary

2008-07-09T05:23:00.000-07:00

Hi people :) nice to be back after a hiatus of around 10 months. Meanwhile lot of changes, got adjusted and so now am back into the foray.
Had been on a fabulous trip with hubby recently for our tenth anniversary - actually lured my husband into it. Mistakenly told him that Kutrallam Falls is just 350 kms from Chennai [which is where we live now] but the truth is that it is around 650kms ;) . Drove down, in our poor santro that has already covered around 62000 kms in a span of 3.5 yrs.
2 hrs later i checked the kms as i had a faint doubt :0, only to discover the actual distance but hubby was mentally dreaming of the falls by then -- fortunately for me :).
Another 4 hrs later he asked abt the water at the falls. I said, "It shld normally be fine by now but i dont know for sure :( "
Such was the start of our 5 day journey as Kutrallam was just a sudden plan. Our actual plan was to go to Velankanni and the Nagapattinam district for all the 4-5 days.
At the end of the 18hr journey, hubby was game for a shower at the falls at 11 p.m. in the night. And was it MIND BOGGLING! Never was a shower ever so refreshing and awesome. It has to be a Must Experience in the itenary of a one who wants to taste the beauty of India. It was thrilling and superb.
Came out of the falls for dinner {roadside dosa and omlette, hot mirchi bajjis too were an option} and then went right back till around 3 a.m. It was fascinating [ all the more so as my hubby is definitely not nocturnal and that day was one of those very rare days where in he gave up his sleep willingly for something much better]. Also enjoyed an oil massage before the second entry ;)
The next day took us to Tirunelveli for Halwa and Kanyakumari for a fab sight of the ferocious sea. Once again - falls and dinner in Rahmath Kadai - Sengkottai
Monday afternoon left for Velankanni and Wednesday early morn returned to base.
Best gift that i got - the remark from hubby that this was his best ever trip as i was and am the Navigator always :) by god's grace.
High Point of the entire trip - we had switched off our mobiles and were all to ourselves. Discovered the anxiety-free life of a mobile-less vacation.
Waiting eagerly for the next trip.

P.S. That saturday was the very day on which kutrallam had fair amt of rain in the noon and that was the night that we reached to a welcoming falls. 2 days after that, the access to the falls was denied due to very heavy rains and the coming week saw no falls due to lack of rains.
And man Must i thanks God for my experience with him, hubby and the falls ;)

cute cuter cutest :)

2007-09-14T02:43:00.000-07:00

say cheeeeesssssssssse

2007-09-14T02:39:00.000-07:00

And I said think of me --- and this was the response -- ain't I happy with the product? ;)

the smoking rock- hoggenakkal

2007-09-12T12:14:00.000-07:00

tree tomato

2007-09-12T03:41:00.000-07:00

An attempt to have an ear piece of a tree tomato found in the wild of Kotagiri

remember dombragambatti? the real village

2007-09-12T03:30:00.000-07:00

Yes, a real village in India that i have visited for the first time in 31 years - one of its kind in this modern era. Very simple and warm people - an experience worthy of a life-time

the super radio

2007-09-12T03:20:00.000-07:00

This is a radio in a State transport bus in the State of Tamil Nadu, India going from Chennai to Vellore. It provides entertainment to about 60 people :)

and the indigenous super antenna

2007-09-12T03:16:00.000-07:00

And the round copper thing is the antenna for that radio, right next to the author's seat, much to her amusement ;) Anything is possible in India and am i proud of it?

would be meen kuzhambu (fish gravy) in about 2 hours

2007-09-12T03:09:00.000-07:00

fish fry - raw material this

2007-09-12T03:04:00.000-07:00

dombragambatti, hoggenakkal falls, kotagiri etc

2007-09-07T03:23:00.000-07:00

I have no clues why but i am not able to upload pictures. So kindly make do with my writings ;)friends. Have been travelling a lot. Chennai, Kotagiri, Dombragambatti (husband's native place), Hoggenakkal falls and Coimbatore are all palces we have toured in the past month. Chennai was covered many a times in the past 45 days. Been a hectic time in all. Bought a plot as well. Went about checking the details, meeting the lawyer, measuring the area, bargaining with the marketing guys and collecting gold sovereigns ;). Lots more to do in the coming months. Nice experiences. Wonder how I can include all these in a Resume and which employer wld hire me based on these exclusive experiences of mine :)

Dombragambatti is a small T shaped village of just about 2 streets worth mentioning. My Hubby's ancestors are supposed to have originated from that place. Interesting experience that was.
All the people in that village gathered together to see us. From a toddler to the oldest of the lot. They tried to ask us as to who our ancestors were and tried to link to people who had lived there around 60 yrs ago. The linking was not as effective but little did they budge. They told us who our granddad must have been and that he wld have changed his name once he had left that village :)

We were told that our lands were sold and the house in which our supposed granddad lived is retained and they even showed around that house. {When in fact there was no land of ours in that village.}
We were curious about them and they were curious about us. We were in awe of that small real time Indian village just as they were of our life, looks, style and even language.
This village is in the state of Tamil Nadu. The best part of the trip was our photo session. We were taking pictures of the streets, school and the people when a small kid butted in saying "Smile Please" in English to the living subject of our photo session.
I was shocked and started laughing. Now I know why my hubby, his aunts and uncles are the way they are-- can i expect anything less from people of such a palce :) very very strong willed, arrogant yet sweet philanthropes.

freeee indeeeeed to lance around ;)

2007-08-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Have given up my freelancing work at The Hindu as the terms and conditions for me to work turned unfavourable. Writing on a wide variety of topics and seeing it published exactly the way it was written, with exactly the same meaning as it was supposed to convey, with no gross editing and lousy spelling mistakes --- ask me the joys of it. Only that it is published on the net and wld not entail a Few thousand Readers. All else being the same ---- the freedom and joy of writing on topics of solely the author's choice, give an entirely different flow and feel. And not to forget the pain of impossible deadlines and peanuts as payment.

I am real glad and happy with life and the way incidents have taken place. I have the freedom to choose and that definitely Ticks.

oooooooopppppppssssssssssssssss

2007-08-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Have been trying to upload pictures, been unsuccessful.
Going thru a journey in life that can be tedious but haven't even felt the pain of it by god's grace , thus far atleast may I add. Perhaps have been prepared more at the spirit level rather than at the mental level.
Wld the stress of the journey show up as days roll by, is anybody's guess.
Right now have embarked upon it pretty well and will also reveal as to the nature of the journey at the right time. Am very sure lot of well wishers wld give all kinds of pretty unwarranted and maybe even unwanted advices. But the idea is to make the journey even if it turns out to be a bumpy one rather than feeling misplaced and displaced in the place that am at right now :)
Yes the ride cld also be a beautiful, smooth one with no glithches and hitches which i believe this one wld be with an occassional adventure here and there. And definitely a life without an adventure [an unexpected detour but a welcome wild one] wld be a dull and boring one ;)

Am going to keep my fingers crossed, in fact my whole self crossed :) and allow the Man above to direct. Have seen him enough in my life to hope only for the best & rest in the Nest - in and at His Perfect Time. That waiting time is the Patience building exercise. oooooppppppppssssssss

chak de

2007-08-10T03:43:00.000-07:00

A good movie. One wld be able to identify with it better if she has been brought up in a male chauvinistic male-dominated family. A constant attempt is made to subjugate, subordinate and subdue a girl in such a family. Obedience for the sake of obedience with no rhyme or reason is expected of such a girl. And a girl who dares to question is termed as a bad, ill- mannered daughter. A girl is always treated different from the boys of the family, she has to get accustomed to do mean jobs even at a very young age as that is her future in her In Laws' place ..... Adjustment is the Euphemism used.. Ha ha ha

Of such families r products like me formed with an allergy to authority & the faintest signs of attempted subordination or possible domination.
There is almost a wild rebuttal instinct formed as the realisation has early dawned that but for self protection ... one wld be made a door mat just as much effortlessly, by one's very own.

This movie made me realise that being in India in the ages and in the family that I belonged to, one has been made very tough due to the circumstances thrust upon.

The Validity and the Probability of the movie in Reality is questionable. Too much of politics is involved in the country for it to be made possible.

But when it comes to doing duties towards the parents it is equally shared whereas the rights to question and enjoy belongs to the Family's SON. People in my country have not developed any brains and r still blind inspite of seeing for fact that most sons go and hide behind their wives leaving their responsibilities to their sisters ..... They perhaps believe that their son wld not do it only to made a fool later.

And so the childless have started preferring daughters to sons and they adopt girls. Ofcourse this cannot be said of all sons and daughters but a majority. There r also sons who let down their wives and support their parents and parents who ill treat their sons in relation to daughters.

What is required is a balance and a via media which i see a long way coming.

freedom freedom freedom

2007-07-24T02:50:00.000-07:00

Broadband at home ahhhhhhh. Freedom at last.
No going to the netcafe any more and no more arguments with the netcafe wala to put on the AC at scorching temperatures. Have had enough of all that. That is why, have been away from the net for as long as 4 months. Have been desperate to blog and check email at times but have refrained from going to the netcafe closeby as that man had touched and teased my ego with a very simple request of mine. That guy manged to awaken the Tigress in me in a very very long time. When i asked him to put on the AC for which I pay as well, He said go if u want to one (netcafe) that puts on the AC. Normally i dont take things to heart. This guy was too much. I was very very sweet and sober with my request even. :(
Can be on the net any time and every time :). Forgive me my wrong use of the English in my heightened sense of elation that right now i am experiencing.
Have had fun travelling meeting lot of new people. Lot of new experiences. Will definitely blog about.
Most things that most people around the world take for granted, is a huge blessing in towns like ours :0

ashwath and issidora

2007-03-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

My youngest brother got married in a day's notice ;). He wanted to get married in a simple fashion. He told us that he decided about marriage only that day and wanted to get married the very next day. The information was relayed to us over the telephone :).
His friends made the arrangements and he wanted to get married in a temple on the seashore. That he did and we had a nice time.
The Bride is a Bosnian - Brit. Of Bosnian origin but a Brit citizen for 10 years and more. A brilliant lady. A very strong nice - hearted woman. A definite blessing for my brother.
Isi is the name and she wanted to wear a sari. My mom and i draped the silk sari around her which my mom had bought for her. She looked beautiful in it. It was all the more fun because she is 6 feet and a few inches tall. The time of a life that we had in making her sit and make her hair with flowers and all ....
Then the vedic chants and the thali (covenant bond in the form of a necklace with a threaded string and a gold chain.)

Then the whole band went home for a few formalities and then to a restaurant to have dinner.
The marriage party just had the bride, the groom, the bro, sis, mom, bil and a friend of the groom and my mil. That is it. This was a marriage in style and simplicity.
Yes there were also a few broken hearts and loads of hurt - feelings the way it was all done - and lot of ill- will from the relatives who just dont have the strength to handle any of this and are plain astonished at the way we were with them and went about the whole thing.
Yes, we were shocked and maybe even hurt for a while but it was the question of my bro's happiness and the most important event in his life... could we have ever let him down by cribbing, grumbling and admonishing ? What we want is his happiness and eventually found that Isi is a very good person and a very sensible one.
So all is well that ends (begins) well.

freedom

2007-03-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

Victor Frankl said, 'We who survived the concentration camps offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man, but one thing : the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any circumstance, to choose one's own way.'

protection to Jesus the Christ

2007-02-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

Had been to Church this saturday. Wanted to partake of the Communion. Went in late thinking that the Mass wld have already started :) [ me and my rowdy ways ;) wanted to bunk part of the Mass even] .... but to my disappointment it had not started even. So decided to go back.

When I came out, strangely found two Police Officers there. It was very surprising as it isn't the norm and the Police is outside the Church only on festivals like Christmas and Easter. So decided to be my usual curious questioning self. Asked one of them the reason as to their being there. Initially he lied and gave some other reason. On further probing enquired, whether i had not read the newspaper that day. I answered in the affirmative [ only to discover later that he was talking about that evening's Tamil newspaper which i definitely hadn't gone through].
Then he told me hesitatingly of the wierd incident that had taken place there that day. Somebody had brought the blood of a hen (how did they know that.... perhaps lab tests.... and why not the blood of any other animal???) and put it all over the statue of Jesus, standing outside.

"And these Police officers are giving Protection To Jesus The Christ" thus had commented this notorious self, as she smilingly left the place.

The Jesus, who was put to death by the likes of us and was cleverly protected even in His grave - by Roman Centurions....... the Man who went to His Death as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as silent as a sheep before its shearers; of such a man who gave himself away for ur sake and my sake so that we might have the victory brought to us through His Death {The only case ever told in History that has The Hero Failing, Losing, Dying only to succeed in His Pre - determined Supernatural Purpose, Winning and finally Resurrecting inexplicably (!!!!!!!!)}.....to such a man..
what protection can we give today????

The Paradox that Man is......

children learn what they live with

2007-01-31T22:07:00.000-08:00

If a child lives with criticism, He learns to condemn; If a child lives with hostility, He learns to fight;
If a child lives with ridicule, He learns to be shy; If a child lives with shame, He learns to be guilty;
If a child lives with tolerance, He learns to be patient; If a child lives with encouragement, He learns to be confident;
If a child lives with praise, He learns to appreciate; If a child lives with fairness, He learns justice;
If a child lives with security, He learns to have faith; If a child lives with approval, He learns to like himself;
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

my friends

2007-01-28T04:36:00.000-08:00

Have been thru a particularly stressful time. Have seen a friend in immense strain and pain. His dad was hospitalised for chronic renal failure. I saw the epitome of love in action. Bhaiyya took care of his dad as a mother wld take care of her child. He wld feed him, talk to him, coax him, scold him, love him, kiss him and in all be with him as a source of strength. Much to his disappoinment and grief, his dad passed away on the 15th of january. My friend and my bhaiyya... my heart goes out to him :(

Also lost my 83 yr old friend. My oldest boy friend seems to have passed away peacefully on the 16th of january- but only after succumbing to paralysis since his accident on the 7th of december. A man I am going to miss for the rest of my life ..... his wisdom, his sensitivity and his very sensible, practical advices.......... His love, his response to my tears, his patience in handling my tantrums, his hugs, his pampering of me, his ability to beat me at my arguments and most importantly the memory of the last day that i spent with him on the 6th of december 2006.
I thank god for that day and also my husband for having taken me to his house, having bunked college with little notice. Little did we know that that wld be the last time we wld meet him. The next time I saw him .... he had left his body :(
I know that once born it is only natural that a person dies. Correct. But it is also a fact that i am going to miss him especially in my low moments. I cld talk anything to him. He sounded like me. He wld talk my language .... cut and right. No mincing of words ... no sugar-coated pills. And that man breathed God. A mighty mighty man of god.

And amazing and mindboggling has been my last glimpse of him as well. That day had travelled to blore to pick up my bhaiyya's brother for their dad's funeral on the 17th. Infact when i left kotagiri, i had told bhaiyya that i wld see my boyfriend ( other wise known as selvaraj uncle) in bangalore. I knew that we had little free time before the flight from the US arrived. But I wanted to give it a shot and go to the Home in which he was lodged. We did not know the routes even. Midway thru received a call from Bhaiyya saying that a friend of mine had passed away and that my mom was trying my mobile as my mobile was out of reach. My mom called a little later only to give me the news that Uncle had passed away and that his body was in his house which was close to the Airport and the route to which we knew for sure.! :[
What can I say about that!!!!!!!
But...." THEN SINGS MY SOUL MY SAVIOUR GOD TO THEE ...... HOW GREAT THOU ART..... HOW GREAT THOU ART " and i can most surely hear a heart and voice join me in chorus :)
I was bothered that he was in such a state and only 5 days prior to his death, his sons had him shifted from a hospital to an Accident Care Home. For me that was heart-rending. With 5 well- off sons and a house of his own... he was put in a Home. Yes they might have had their reasons. For me it was difficult. Only the previous day did I get to know of that :(
I was relieved to hear the news that he had passed away. It was better than being in the care of well-meaning strangers. Kith and Kin definitely make a difference. But for him strangers turned out better than his own perhaps. His wife of around sixty years was not allowed to meet him often as she was emotional and 'wld create a scene'.
Though she was thankfully taken to meet him on the 15th i.e. the day prior to his death.
Most importantly he was not let down by his and my God. He was relieved soon from his suffering.

These experiences and people have taught me a lot of things.
Hope and disappointment all at the same time. On one side an almost atheistic son taking extraordinary loving care of his dad [ a dad whose favourite he was never known to be] .... and on the other a loving father being left in the lurch by perhaps church going holy people :(

christmas bells

2006-12-30T01:25:00.000-08:00

Bells announce the start of an event, activity or occasion. They toll to signify good or even bad times.

Ringing of bells can be traced a long time back, to pagan winter celebrations. Noisemakers were used to scare away evil spirits in the night.
Among those were the bells. They could be easily obtained or made and everyone had the know-how. It was believed that with the outset of winter, evil spirits would move around to bring harm. So during the dark days after the harvest or the hunt, people would engage in ceremonies to keep bad things from happening to them, while they waited for spring and warmer days. It can be safely presumed that people had such fun ringing the bells and making noise that it was incorporated into other events and activities.

From these ancient roots, the ringing of bells was carried over into the Christian Christmas season. The soft, cheerful tones blended well and enhanced the sounds of the season. Bells are also used to announce the union of a man and a woman. They are rung in churches to call people to gather, as warnings and to bring people together to make announcements. They also herald in the New Year. For centuries now, the bells of churches in every land have rung the glad news of the birth of Jesus. These bells would ring for an hour before midnight on Christmas Eve as if to warn the powers of darkness of the approaching birth of the Saviour. Then, right at midnight, they would change to a joyous pealing, ringing out the announcement, â€˜Christ is bornâ€™.

The movie, â€˜Itâ€™s a Wonderful Lifeâ€™ made popular the quote â€˜Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wingsâ€™. But over a hundred years ago, this was a very common saying amongst kids.Back in those days, kids believed that making noise was just as much a part of Christmas as anything else. And bells came in handy. The bright and cheery sound of the bells was also acceptable to parents as proper tools to celebrate and make noise at Christmas. Bells were inexpensive musical instruments and so people could easily carry them while caroling or wassailing and almost every family had one or more.

And bells have always had a place in Christmas songs. The famous Christmas hymn â€˜Christmas Carolâ€™ comes from the poem, â€˜I Heard the Bells of Christmasâ€™ written by H.W.Longfellow on December 25, 1864. The poem is actually about the tragedy of the Civil War and my favourite stanza of the poem is
â€œGod is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail
With peace on earth, goodwill to men!â€

Christmas bells also feature in classic holiday songs such as â€˜Jingle Bellsâ€™, â€˜Silver Bellsâ€™ and â€˜Christmas Bells are ringingâ€™.
This thus is the significance and beauty of Christmas Bells.

So keep ringing bells through Christmas into the New Year, for a joyful and fun filled year.

christmas or christomas

2006-12-27T04:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas or christomas, an annual holiday marks the traditional birth date of Jesus the Christ who is also known as Jesus of Nazareth.
Christmas combines the celebration of Jesusâ€™s birth with various other traditions and customs, many of which were influenced by ancient winter festivals such as Saturnalia and Yule.

Saturnalia was the best-known winter festival of the Roman Period and was popular throughout Italy. Saturnalia was a time of general relaxation, feasting, merry-making and a cessation of formal rules. It included the making and giving of small presents including small dolls for children and candles for adults.
Saturnalia honoured the god Saturn and began on December 17. The festival gradually lengthened until the late Republican period when it was seven days (December 17-24). In Imperial times, Saturnalia was shortened to 5 days.

Yule. Pagan Scandinavia celebrated a winter festival called Yule, between late December and early January. Yule logs were lit to honour Thor, the god of thunder with the belief that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born the coming year. Feasting continued till the log burned out, and which would take even 12 days.

As Northern Europe was the last part to Christianize, its pagan celebrations had a major influence on Christmas.

Scandinavians still call Christmas Jul. In English, the Germanic word Yule is synonymous with Christmas.
In Anglo-Saxon times, Christmas was referred to as geol from which the current English word â€˜Yuleâ€™ is derived.

It is unknown exactly when or why December 25 became associated with Jesusâ€™s birth. The New Testament does not give a specific date.

Sextus Julius Africanus popularized the idea that Jesus was born on December 25 in his Chronographiai, a reference book for Christians written in AD 221. This date is nine months after the traditional date of the Incarnation i.e., the day on which Jesus was conceived (March 25) now celebrated as the Feast of the Annunciation. Early Christians believed that March 25 was the date on which Jesus was crucified. March 25 was also considered to be the date of the vernal equinox and December 25 the winter solstice (when Julius Caesar introduced the Julian Calendar in 45 BC, December 25 was approximately the date of the solstice. In modern times, the solstice falls on December 21 or 22.)

The word â€˜Christmasâ€™ is a contraction meaning â€˜Christâ€™s Massâ€™. It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes Moess, a phrase first recorded in 1038.
The earliest reference to the celebration of Christmas is in the Calendar of Filocalus, an illuminated manuscript compiled in Rome in 354.
Some Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which corresponds to December 25 on the Julian calendar.

December 25 as a birth date for Jesus is merely traditional and is not though to be his actual date of birth.

Thanks Bhaiyya for inspiring me to research and write - though went unpublished in The Hindu as it is a supposedly negative article.
Not to forget that THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS BITTER and doesn't come in sugar coated pills.

time pleaeeaaase

2006-12-18T03:39:00.000-08:00

Time please for me to write the next post.
Am very busy these days. My salwar kameez business :) -- have to write an article for the Christmas feature -- MIL's 60th bday celebrations and regular household work as well.

Patience for Sabar ka phal meetha hota hai ;)

Remember my 83 yr old boyfriend with whom i wanted to spend a day in FRIENDS
--- well went and spent a day with him. Had a very nice time.
Spoke to him that night as well as the morning of the next day.
Then as per my habit called him a week later. His servant spoke to me and informed that he had had an accident and that he was critical. The accident had taken place right on the afternoon of the day that i had spoken to him last.
He improved a bit but then only to become critical again.
I know that i am going to miss this dear friend if he goes to be with the Lord, but i also know that there wld be a saint praying for me.

I am but awed at the happenings.

height of customer service

2006-12-14T05:34:00.000-08:00

The height of customer service --- My Vegetable vendor (remember-Orange!) was plucking the leaves off the Keerai [Greens] stems.
The reason -- sell the keerai kutt [ bunch of greens] to my neighbour.
Else my neighbour wld not buy the Keerai.

Amazing, isn't it?
Competition brings the nuances of Services Marketing to the grassroots of rural Sathuvachari even!

Which management course has my Neighbour done? Home-making.

And which customer relationship management training programme has my vegetable vendor enrolled in?.... Ofcourse other than Life itself !
Hunger, the responsibility of managing her family of 2 kids & the Economics of buying and selling teach her everything.

love beyond the known and the comprehensible

2006-12-13T03:10:00.000-08:00

Am doing business on a very small scale. I deal in cotton salwar suits. Buy it from a place in Andhra and sell it to my friends, neighbours and relatives.
Today i had an enquiry from my street Garbage Picker.
The woman works, perhaps for the municipality. She collects the garbage cans from the houses; transfers to an open cart and throws them in another area.
The woman wanted to know whether i wld give credit. I asked at what pace? ( If u know what i mean?)
She said at the rate of 20- 30 rs even after getting to know that my salwars cost between 200 to 325 rupees. I agreed. She and another of her co- workers came into my house to see the stuff. They liked but exclaimed that they wld not choose.

The reason being that their children wld reprimand them for their poor selection and the lack of discernment of the quality of goods :(
They said that they wld come with their kids and select as per their choice and satisfaction.

I felt so sorry for them. They sweat out their lives and bear the stench only to be treated as the wasted, illiterate and the dumb ones.
One of them came with her daughter. The daughter chose the costliest one of Rs. 325. The mother did not bat an eyelid. Asked for a discount. Paid 50rs and agreed to pay the balance in part payments of Rs.30 a week.

I was stunned and the effect is this post.

I say that i was stunned for yet another reason. When i purchased the salwar suits, i was wondering whether the 325 ones wld be too expensive for the vellore crowd.
Now u can understand my SHOCK.

Wild blind Love in action too.

A Tamil saying describes this scene very vividly.
"Pettha manas pitth ; Pillai manas kall"
Translated as
The parental heart is mad whereas the child's heart is a stone.

the pain of friends and dear ones

2006-11-16T01:05:00.000-08:00

The pain of near and dear ones hurts. Especially when u feel u can't do a thing about it.

Have befriended a friend lately who seems to be a lot in pain - physically and mentally.
The thing that surprises me about her is Her Faith and Spiritual Strength. It is Fantastic indeed.
But for her pain and her life's circumstances she wouldn't be what she is.
Her writing skills and maturity -- words cannot describe.
Her closeness to god and the depth in her soul --- in my opinion are worthwhile gifts for the pain that she endures.
Yes, I know that this is easily said. I am not the one in similar pain. Agreed.
I have endured pain of a different kind and still do and know the value of suffering.
I also know how difficult it is to stick to God when things dont happen ur way as we expect god to do only the good and nice things in his Love for us. But.......

In Isaiah 55:9 God says
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Well there are also some others who are in lots of pain but dont want to take solace in god.
For such, i am on my knees and feel very very helpless. I even doubt whether god can do anything for them if they don't come to him out of their own free will.
As for God, our free will is very very important and he wld never interfere with it.
But at the same time -- i hope against hope and trust blindly in his never failing Love and abundant mercy for Our beloveds {naturally god's and mine.}

Romans 5: 3-5 says
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance - character; and character- hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

The power of One

2006-11-16T00:18:00.000-08:00

One song can spark a moment, One seed can start a garden,
One tree can spread a forest, One smile can create a friendship,
One handshake can lift a soul, One star can guide a ship,
One letter can start a book, One vote can change the nation,
One candle can wipe the darkness, One laughter can conquer gloom,
One word can breathe a prayer, One step can begin a journey,
One hope can raise spirits, One touch can send in care
One voice can put some sense, One moment can speak a lot

and

One life can make all the difference.

the gandhi effect

2006-11-15T02:59:00.000-08:00

A lot of talk is on abt Gandhigiri ie the gandhiian pholosophy -- especially after the movie Lage Raho Munna bhai. Yes it is a lovely movie and the Gandhiian thought --- Fabulous.

I was shocked to hear the effect that the Gandhiian philosophy had in those days of old -- which is to say around 40- 50 yrs back.
To discourage the purchase of foreign goods in India, Gandhiji started a movement which imbibed the philosophy of Be Indian and Buy Indian.
Khadi cloth which was home spun in India, even with very scarce resources was promoted.

The effect :
Amma ( my mil) in her late teens bought herself a sari or two made of khadi to be a part of the movement. And with a lot of determination even wore those heavy ones as against the usual lovely chiffons. {An aunt of hers wore only khadi saris.}
Reality hit when an attempt was made at washing the sari. It Just cld not be rinsed. The khadi of those days was heavier than the ones found today.

Result : Saris turned into curtains ;)
This enlightenment i got by choosing to chat with her the past few days as against blogging or orkutting.

And a little while from now -- on the 2nd of Jan 2007 we are planning to celebrate her 60th bday and celebrate her lively, strong, indomitable spirit.
She is amazing in her knowledge of the world around her. Especially politics, sports and medicine.

As we were chatting as to the choice of a memoir or a momento for the occassion -- i suggested -- A Plant -- something novel yet nice.
Immediately she said plants and pets wld be considered as good gifts abroad and not in our country.
I said that i had never heard of such a thing and asked her as to the reason of her statement.

She said that she had read such things in MILLS and BOON ;)

friends - a soothing balm to the troubled hearts

2006-10-28T02:42:00.002-07:00

Have been aching for more friends in a long time. The old ones remain but in varied worlds with not much time for each other.

Then there was this very old friend who i thought i had lost, as i sent him Id wishes only to gain him back in full glory, much to my cheer. A friend of around 18 years.
We were competitors first , competing for the grade topper - as we were in 2 different sections of the same grade. Whether we wld check our totals or not we wld definitely check the other's totals. Which is to say that we were competitors from our 2nd grade and friends from our 7th grade till the 10th.
Later, life took us away from each other and we cld hardly be in touch. Now once again back into action and i thank God for this.

New ones are made but they r with quite a few hang ups and that gives the relationship the excitement.

Some others are lost who we thought wld accompany us till our graves but unfortunately, with the residue of the sadness.

And some others who have been around but have not bothered to discover, turn out to be worthwhile finds. And i hope it continues and grows into a fructifying, stable and a beautiful relationship.

But the final category - - of a dear old man of 83, a very close friend, a man of prayer, a profound counsellor -- who i know i wld lose in a little while from now.
Got the news that his wife of around 50 years, aged 75 is sick and is in the hospital. That gives me the Jitters. I know that he too is getting prepared to leave this world and me.
I will miss him much. I have been with him in his sad moments as he has been with me in mine. Ironically we have never been with each other in our moments of JOY.
I refer to him as my Boy Friend and he refers to me as his Daughter ;) a thorough mismatch though.
One day he was talking of not having watched a movie in a theatre in a long time as he has no company and is unable to move about, unaided. Had planned to take him to one ,though it has not materialised so far.
Wish I am able to do it or atleast have a day out with him.

This is life and it has to go on. Time and Tide wait for no man.

The supposedly cursed one.

2006-10-18T01:01:00.000-07:00

I received a supposed invitation to a naming ceremony of a cousin's kid.
My aunt calls me up and says, ''I called to invite u for the function. Do u want to come?'' I did not make much of it and said ''definitely''. She goes on and asks, ''Is it ok with ur hubby? Can he make it, as it is on a week day?''
That quickened me, and i started to think and i said , "Let me see and i will try. ''
That was real strange of her. I know her better than that. Then i realised the reason.

I dont have a child yet, even after 8 yrs of marriage. As per her and many others around me, i wld be considered inauspicious and unlucky as I am a barren woman. They wld most naturally think that i wld be jealous of them and their children and my very gaze upon the little one wld supposedly hasten something evil for the child.

This is modern India for u.

As per me, my worth is not determined by my ability or inability to have a child, or status or even education. i am what i am and my character and nature determine my worth. And what is given me, is for me and the grace that is given to others is for them. Not all, can hope to have what i have and vice-versa.

But has all this clarity on my part helped me today? No. for i received invitations from the cousin's wife side to make it positively to the function.

I am in a fix. If i go, they will be uncomfortable as i wld have to perform some formalities. If i dont go, it wld be regarded as disrespect for their parents; and people wldnt flinch even to give it in writing that it is due to an inferiority complex that i did not make it.

But i got the clarity as i wrote out this blog. I will not hurt them. I will not attend the function. On a later date i can possibly visit the cousin and co.

A widow is also viewed with such disdain here. She cannot participate in any of the functions or participate in any good moment.
Will things change if it happens to their mother or daughter or sister?

Perhaps only with regard to them. Everybody else is cursed.

waves ---- waves of it

2006-09-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

Had been to the beach with a dear friend of mine in the middle of the night.
The experience --amazing, awesome, thrilling and enthralling all at the same time.
A long time dream, watching the beach in the silence of the night.
It was sooo relaxing that words cannot describe the joy of it.

My friend describes the sea as ' Controlled Agression.' A brilliant choice of words. And very vitally the fact of the matter too. {The Beach - One of my favourite natural locales that awes me and excites me in the least but one of the most feared for my dear hubby that daunts him and shakes him to say the least.}
The cream coloured, horizontal walking crabs that scuttled away from the constant gaze of my camera, the serene breeze and the almost silent company of my friend made it a memorable day or shld i say a memorable night.

Top it and continue it with yet another rendezvous at the beach with my brother in the wee hours of the morning - the gorgeous and spectacular sunrise ( the best ever in my life - atleast to the best of my memory) - the hues of the skies - the slow rising round sun - the volley ball playing people on the beach and also the constant word volleying brother!!
And not to forget the tasty early morning breakfast for the hungry Us.
All these made the eve and the 30th day of the ninth month of the year 2006 an unforgettable one.
Indeed!!!!

I attempted to post a picture from the net but nothing comes as close as to what i really saw.

Oh! The golden rays spreading an aura of gold all around, with the fish filled brown catamarans, returning from the seas and the diagonal line of birds flying at the nick of the moment- taking the moment to the height of scenic delights and to a treasured place in the pages of memory.

Thanks to Bhaiyya and Ashwath.

how normal r u

2006-09-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

http://Blogthings.com/hownormalareyouquiz/

Check this out guys. Real interesting and fun. Pretty accurate as well.

Troubling thoughts

2006-09-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

Certain thoughts have been going on in my mind.
The level to which our generation is selfish, career oriented and most importantly money hungry!
I live in a country in which our educated and uneducated youth wait for the first opportunity to go abroad to earn hoards of money!
The sufferers as usual other than themselves r their parents. But they choose and their parents r forced!

They r left alone to fend for themselves in their old age with perhaps a bit of financial support for the lucky few, after all the sacrifices that they have done for their young ones.
Then their young ones get married and have children and the most practical and free help in the form of baby sitters---- most naturally their parents as they r very experienced in the art of baby sitting.
The mother and the father take turns to help - most times - one living apart from the other.

It is hard to imagine the plight of those parents. They worked hard to earn and care for the family in their younger days in the hope that they wld be taken care of and lead a comfortable life later.
Now that is out of the question.
Even after all that they have done, still a lot is expected of them and their offspring mistake them if they give their physical inability as a reason for their being unable to help.

R the parents blameless in every way -- no - but who is?
But kindly remember that They r going out of their way.

And after all that--- the only justification is--- 'Is it not their duty as our parents?'
Great and in a little while from now, with the lousy examples that r being set, the fate of this generation wld be far worse!

Effectively they r not able to do justice to their parents, their children nor even their own selves ! Only earn money.

Amongst Hindus is a saying which goes , Human life is a Great Blessing and One is born as a Human after a life of great righteousness and sinlessness else the reincarnated form wld be that of some other living organism.

But with things at this rate, I wld say It is better to be born as any other living organism rather than a human being.

giving is all important.

2006-09-04T06:56:00.000-07:00

Giving is fun. Especially to the poor and to the needy. It has to be experienced to be believed.
All the more so, if it involves a sacrifice.
Spending time in orphanages, old age homes and houses for the dying destitutes should be encouraged by every family across the world. By this I don't mean to encourage the existence of such homes but the best we cld do is atleast share if not erase the existence of such places.

If each man/woman handles his/her responsibilities, such homes wld definitely die out of existence.

I wld say birthdays and wedding days should be celebrated in such places with them.
It is just not our money and things that they seek but also our love and time, more importantly.

Visits to such places teach us the value of each another's life. Yes, initially it is painful and then U learn to enjoy their company, even.

One incident that touched my heart: A young couple went and gave an envelope of money to Mother Teresa collected by foregoing the pomp and gaiety of their marriage. Is this possible for everybody? Well actually no.
But some lesser sacrifice is definitely possible.

This being the start of the Festival season across the world, I'd say "Think" and then "Act".

Suffering is precious

2006-08-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

Suffering is precious. It gives a deeper dimension and a very different perspective to life ---
to all those who take care not to grow bitter in life due to their experiences.
It becomes easier to understand people going through similar circumstances and those in dissimilar circumstances and it turns out easier to love rather than to judge.

I dont claim that it is easy. It is bloody Painful. But it is every bit WORTH the while!

Take Heart -- the suffering population out there in this broad world -- suffering of all and any kind.
I know that it is a vast majority and hardly anybody exists with absolutely no suffering.

Suffering produces character.
Gold is tested in fire to purify it.
Be brave and look at the suffering in a positive angle as every incident has a positive and a negative to it.

Have fun Living and not just Existing. Enjoy every moment of this Momentary Life.

courtesy --- my kotagiri resort!!!

2006-08-17T02:44:00.000-07:00

"a flower - the size of my face!"--- thus saith the kotagiri mali???

comedy of errrors

2006-06-26T04:54:00.000-07:00

Thought would unquote some of the quotes that I have heard over the period of years.

My former boss, "I have travelled all over the world but I have never seen anything like this. You look like twins."

A Pakistani Taxi-driver in Dubai, "How is that person related to u?" The answer begot an exclaimed, "Mashaallah! U look like siblings."

My Hair-stylist here in Vellore, "Hasn't Anna (elder brother) come?" I asked, "Whose Anna, yours or mine?"

Do U remember my vegetable-vendor, Orange?
Her outrageous question this morning, prompted this blog.
In her hurry to have a drink of water and not seeing clearly, she asked my Mom-in-law,
"Who is sitting there? Is it Anna or Akka(elder sister)?"

This is to say, that all these people and many others were referring to My Husband and Me.
Remember we are not, even remotely related to each other, I mean literally as well as in our Natures.
We are Poles apart.
I wonder how people across the globe seem to think alike!

Sometimes I contemplate as to how I am supposed to react to all this.
Do I have to feel ashamed, as some in our family circle do or do I thank God for a Wierd Gift like this?

Even my own mother gets confused with our voices and surely she is not the only one.

I hope and pray that all this continues and the merger- of 2 beings into One Body, One Soul and One Spirit- remains rock solid by God's Grace.

my father

2006-06-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

Have been missing my Father from the morning. I want to feel his presence, go near him, lie next to him and tell him how much I love him.
I also want to apologise to him for not being the best daughter. I don't even know whether I have even been a Good One in the least.

None of these are practically possible. I haven't seen him in 13 years. He is long gone... Gone to be with his fathers and My Father in Heaven.

Ironically today I only have as much as of a faint memory of my Dad.
He was soft-hearted, kind and a very generous man. He slogged for the welfare of the whole family, self-lessly.
He was a very obedient son, a passionate husband and a loving dad.

Was he perfect? No. He was very stubborn on certain issues. He wouldn't change even if the situation demanded it, not even for the sake of his loved ones. I would call it his weakness.

Was he recognised and appreciated for all the good that he did in his Lifetime? -----
A definite NO-NO.
Did he a get a good name after his death?
Loads and loads of Lip-service and crocodile tears-YES; anything more-NO.

Never to forget the one name that he earned as he lived and died------ A SPENDTHRIFT. (Remember this when U help members of ur not so immediate family.)

One thing that I learnt from his life---not to be as blind-foldedly generous, loving & soft as he was!!!

But as I conclude Psalm 37:25 of The Bible comes to my mind.
The Psalmist says: I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the Righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.

One thing for sure, My brothers and I have not been forsaken on any ground and we have also not begged for bread. It has always been laid out inspite of very tough financial hardships.

Do I need a better Testimony than this?

a very fine delineation between healthy competition and envy

2006-06-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

I see a very very fine, almost non-existent line that divides truly healthy competition and envy/jealousy.
A huge reason for concern in this modern world----the amount of competitive spirit that kids, in our part of the world, are being fed!!

A profoundly solid value system can only save the system.

My personal opinion : I can definitely afford to compete against my ownself, better my previous performance and aim for the stars.
But competing with my friends? And to what degree? And then, would I really regard them as friends.
Where in the world has a competitor been a true friend?

And so what are u left with --- feelings of animosity. And does this spirit spare even the members of the family? Not that I have heard of.

home for charity or orphange ------ which of it?

2006-06-19T03:12:00.000-07:00

A charity home and an orphange are words used interchangeably in the world today.
I honestly think that they are antonyms.

The reason -- a recent visit to an orphange here.

This orphange is actually a home for the dying destitute. It houses around 80 women inmates most of whom are mentally retarded, and of varying ages. And also that women dying on the streets are picked up atleast to give them a dignified death.
A few nuns dedicatedly and self-lessly run the show with the help of a few other hired workers.

The motive of the founder, ' No human being should die on the streets as humanity has a certain dignity attached to it.'

They are not self-sufficient as they are situated in a forlorn area and not much help comes their way as people in the town don't even know the existence of this place.
A better place was rejected by the founder as she wanted the house to remain in the midst of her people ----THE POOR.

And this is what I call a Charity home, a home filled with love and charity though the inmates might be 'Orphans' as per the definition of the world.
Would they be better off even if they had been in their own houses with their so-called people?

The first time I visited this place I was uncontrollable. The reality of their situation was too much for me to handle. Any disdain for them --- definitely not.
They fight, shout and do other wild things---- yes naturally-----they are not in their right minds.
But how many of the so-called sensible, intelligent and mentally healthy people do the very same things and while away their entire lifetime in feelings of hatred?
Is our world any differnt from theirs?

And as I started out towards my house the gate was closed by a smiling (only male) inmate, who is mentally challenged, as per our terms.

At the end of it all I couldn't but realise how blessed we are and how much of life & things in our life do we take for granted!!!
And not to forget our (immensely vital?) priorities of superseeding others in terms of looks, health,wealth, education, job e.t.c. !!!!!

an amalgam of modern and primitive art forms

2006-06-05T23:39:00.000-07:00

And do u have any clues as to where this amalgam has taken place?? Right here on my palms. At the cost of 2 pain-staking hours.
Today I am a juxtapose of Modern, illegible, bold, vibrant and stunningly unfamiliar art form on one hand --------- Primitive, legible, plain, beautiful though boring and regular art form on the other.

Yes, I am talking about Mehendi or Henna designs on each of my palms. The designer-cum-photographer-cum-teacher worked with immense patience and reliance last night for around 2 hours to give the splendid results.

My favourite is the Modern art and his favourite is the Traditional art which is to say that the left is of my choice and the right is of his choice.
And to imagine that with such work I am going to attend a wedding and a betrothal!!

The Left is here to stay as it has deepened to a very bright red hue as can be definitely predicted and the other is a little less coloured and is sure to fade away as would the choice of art.

Boldness at its peak are my palms this day and will remain so for days to come.

But I am most thankful to my mehendi/henna-designer as he done a great job inspite of the tantrums and the perfectionist's idiosyncracy (only when it comes to applying mehendi).

He does what my mother wouldn't do!!! Apply Mehendi Designs on my Palms (and this is reason enough to bring tears to my eyes.)

a friend goes forlorn

2006-06-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

Why would a friend suddenly distance himself? He calls it his need for space and freedom. I have my doubts. I wonder whether I have hurt him through my words!! I checked and he denies. I have even apologised. I am confounded.

Oh my heart!!! It doesn't understand the moods of the friend. It aches for his prompt sms es and what to say of the pain of not having long chats over the telephone?

Why doesn't my friend understand the pain that he is giving me.? He will not understand because he is not like me. He will only think that I am over reacting and refer to me as the enforcing woman.
How long will I have to wait for him to get back to his mood?
Is he avoiding me? Have I treaded into his not-to-be-touched territory?
Or is it just a matter of simple and plain self-control so that he doesn't get very attached and emotionally charged????

Patience I believe is the name of the game, as in all other relationships especially if the friend is new found and the relationship is only in the growing stage.

Years and years go into building a relationship.
I am willing to give this relationship the time and the nurturing, for in a long time have I found a good friend and hope and pray that this relationship lasts a life-time.

This relationship is very important for me as well as for the Teacher.

The consolation that a friend can give ( a friend who uses his heart and not just his head) -----
And Oh ...... The sweet soothing balm that a friend can be!!!!

And this also brings to mind an incident that took place years back. Yet another friend just stopped talking to me. I used to feel so bloody miserable that I would cry endlessly and even go to the extent of begging her as to the reason for her indifference.
But she couldn't care less and that was the end of our relationship.
I tried my best but of no avail and after a point neither could I care less ( but reaching that point of DONT CARE was not easy for me.)

One of the first few things that I told my Husband after marriage was that the one thing that I cannot handle was a sulking man. I said, "If u r annoyed yell at me, fight with me or perhaps even beat me, but please for heaven's sake and my sake..... do not go without speaking. It really kills me." Why ? I have no clues.

Any difference can be voiced out and sorted out but silence in my opinion in this context does no good.

And now the case in context------ had a tete-a-tete with my friend only to find out that it was just a matter of mood swings, boredom and nothing more.
I am glad that the whole episode has ended on a positive note.

the noble palm-fruit (nungu)

2006-05-23T07:04:00.000-07:00

This morning's breakfast included a nungu. The lesson that I learnt from this noble fruit is that we should neither be too soft nor too hard in life. It means trouble.
In the context of the fruit it becomes hard to skin the soft ones and the hard ones though easy to peel can be a cause for a stomach ache.

So it is good to be in the mid-range of hardness and softness in life - adjust, compromise and live life to the fullest as it comes through.
Of course that doesn't mean that we compromise on the values, quality or the ambitions of life.

kotagiri --- nilgiris

2006-05-22T23:43:00.000-07:00

What a lovely place Kotagiri is?? Words cannot describe the beauty and majesty of the place. I wldn't say so in terms of the sights around, as Munnar is far more picturesque; but in terms of the weather in the simmering hot month of May, the wildlife around, the silence of the valley and so on and so forth.

The silence of the valley is such that one can hear one's own heart-beat and the sound of breathing seems a little too loud....

The generous and kind Bhaiyya (brother) that I have there, his house in the midst of a tea estate surrounded by tall trees all over, the beautiful flowers, the strawberry plants in his house, his man's best friend ---- a calm and soft-hearted labrador that doesn't bite even forgetfully ----- to such levels has it been tamed----- the long mid-night drives in search of wild-life in his Royal Tata Sierra--- the scuttling brownish-grey rabbits with glaring red eyes, the shy wild-boars and the unforgettable huge and daunting Male bison ---- all these and more have made this trip a truly Magnificent One---And One of the most Fascinating journeys of my Life-time.

And what does my Bhaiyaa do for an earning --- yet another intriguing tale---- He grows beautiful and gorgeously coloured Carnations (flowers) in his farm and sells them.

And what can I say about the mouth-watering barbecued Fish, Chicken and Paneer Tikkas?? The indigenous barbecue of bricks and coal, planned and and set-up within a blink of an eye-lid, and that which yielded warmth and tasty delicacies for the 12-14 degree centigrade cold nights of Kotagiri.
I call it cold because I hail from a place that is 30 degrees centigrade at night, in the month of May ---- and to imagine my delight and awe in discovering that a place such as Kotagiri exists at only 380 kilometres from here!!!!!

Sorry guys have to disappoint you --- no picture of my bhaiyya --- objection sustained.
The other pictures r for all to see and relish.

the farm and the green houses in which the carnations grow

2006-05-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

I am of the second category.

2006-05-11T02:51:00.000-07:00

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." - Albert Einstein

And "why" as a friend of mine wld go. For i cannot help but conclude thus from every incident and event around me. I cannot, but see a Hand perfectly and carefully moving the coins with superb precision and timing.
Every single creation in nature amazes me to the point of bewilderment.
As far as I am concerned it is a shame to regard any of these as anything less than a miracle. It is the height of arrogance and impertinence to regard things and events around us as mere coincidences.
Why r we where we r, of who we r and of what we r? Is it just a coincidence or blind luck or ill-luck?
Think Fellas think.

the best birthday gift ever!!!!

2006-05-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

What can possibly be a beautiful, creative, cute and cuddly b'day gift that a wife can possibly give her husband? And mind U that it definitely has the scope to become the best ever-received gift. Is ur grey matter tickling and tingling?
Yeah it is a beautiful child.
Such is the luck that a dear friend shares. Or should I say that such is the gift that my friend has received from his wife and most definitely The Almighty One.
Can we treat it as just coincidence or should we regard it with reverence as the perfectly planned gift from Heaven perhaps to heal the many Wounds.......
I have also heard of other instances where a child born on the b'day of the Late Mother and yet one another sharing the same star and sex of the Late Mother, immediately after the demise of The Mother have proven to be profound instances of healing and moments of great faith.
The kids thus born r regarded as the gifts from the departed one and sometimes even regarded as a reincarnation of that person.
Some of us wld not bother much but for some others it is a source of IMMENSE HEALING. The kind that is rare.

And now is the time to share a secret---- a desire that I have had in my Being for long--------To have a Child on My B'day. Today I realise that these desires can really come to Pass through the will of The One Above.
But Plans changed.
So now I desire to give it as the Best Ever B'day gift to my Beloved and to imagine the Joy if it is a much expected yet Delayed Arrival. I cannot but revel in the expression of joy and happiness and tears on the face of my Poor Husband. Not to forget the gratitude towards God thru which he wld Receive the Bundle of Joy.........

come summer

2006-05-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

Come summer and tender coconuts, sugarcane juice, watermelons and tender palm fruits start doing the rounds.
Small kiosks as also platform shops start mushrooming all over the place with these fruits. Street hawkers too do good business during these times, as people in the tropics very well know the value of these fruits and their juices.

SUGARCANE
The names sugar and sugarcane have been derived from the Sanskrit word, Sharkara. Sugarcane is indigenous to India. It was cultivated here from the Vedic period and it is mentioned in some places in the ancient scriptures. Alexander the Great and his soldiers carried sugarcane from India to the west by about 325 BC. Sugarcane is now grown all over the world. India stands first in sugarcane cultivation, followed by Brazil, Cuba, China, Mexico, Pakistan, the U.S.A., South Africa and Columbia.
Sugarcane juice is great for recharging energy because it contains rich carbohydrate and iron. Green-typed tropical sugarcane is sweetest and juiciest. It is also the elephant's favorite food.
It strengthens the stomach, kidneys, heart, eyes, brain and sex organs.
Biting into the cane and chewing it raw, sucking the juice from it helps build and strengthen the teeth.
But the diet- conscious-------BEWARE---- it is a fattening food instead U can guiltlessly delve into huge quantities of the luscious FAT- FREE fruit of WATERMELON.

Pictures or artifacts that have survived to the present show that watermelon was grown by the ancient Egyptians. It was founded in 4000 B.C. and is still a universal fruit that continues to be a favorite fruit to many people. By the 1600's, watermelon made it's way to Spain, China, Great Britain, and even farther beyond.
Watermelons are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and B6. They are a good source of potassium, and a poor source of sodium.
One of the more recent amazing innovations of JAPAN is the square watermelon, grown thus to get over the hitch of packaging and transporting.

Then the turn of the TENDER COCONUTS
Tender coconuts are a rich source of sugars in the form of glucose and fructose, minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, sulphur and chlorides.
Tender coconuts are also a good source of proteins. The percentage of proteins in tender coconuts is higher than that in cow's milk.

So BEAT THE HEAT and the dehydration with these delicious and nutritious fruits and their juices.

And never to forget our own 'moar' or 'buttermilk' (preferably home-made).
It is the poor man's delight as well------a delight both to his health and his wealth.

Buttermilk Lore
Irish folklore claims a glass of buttermilk will cure a hangover, and when heated with a clove of garlic, it was sure to cure any variety of ailments. According to American folklore, drinking buttermilk will immunize one against poison oak and ivy. May pioneer women used buttermilk as a facial wash, believing the flecks of butter brought a smooth and creamy complexion.

Remember that there is very little butter in the buttermilk and it is much less in fat than normal milk though its name misleadingly suggests otherwise.
Its name definitely need not deter drinkers of the Potassium, Vitamin B12,Calcium and Riboflavin- rich drink.

veyil uru ----- that vellore is

2006-04-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

The days r soooo hooootttt that one cannot imagine venturing out into the sun, not even upto to the nearest netcafe to blog. Foregoing the joy of blogging turns out to be, but a little sacrifice.
And so the lull in the appearance of new posts.

One prefers to sit tight in a room comfortably with the aircondition to full blow, reading books, sipping cold lemonade.
Even if one braves the heat and ventures out in an auto-rickshaw or a car, it is only to finish a given important task and rush back to the room at the earliest.

So have got nothing more to do than to anticipate the onset of the teacher's vacation to set out to the beautiful hills of Kotagiri in the Nilgiris, for a much required break and hopefully a joyous time with the friend there in his farm of lovely carnations and maybe other beautiful flowers as well. I have heard that he has rabbits for visitors at his farm.
And am I excited to drive down?

So keep ur eyes and ears open for the upcoming blogs.

sudoku

2006-04-25T22:10:00.000-07:00

Have been working on sudokus in the last week. A very fascinating pastime. It helps improve one's logical and analytical ability or so I think. A well-meaning friend gave me the know-how of the solving techinique. I was fascinated by her intelligence and have been recommending the same technique to my other friends as well.
Then I thought of checking out on the sudoku website. Lo and behold I found the same technique given there, even a little more elaborately. The cat was out of the bag. Of course my friend had admitted visiting various sudoku websites. But little did I imagine to see what I saw.

Yet another shock was awaiting me at the sudoku site. It is a full-fledged endeavour for many rather than just a pastime. It gives me the feel of being a Religion or atleast -- almost. With forums, suggestions groups, feedback counters and what-not.

And all this over just a puzzle---- Mind-boggling----- Maaaan.

P.S.( The sudoku website----www.sudoku.com)

death

2006-04-10T07:44:00.001-07:00

Death, though the most inevitable happening in any person's life, creates a huge vacuum all around.
Although it is the most expected event in most cases, it creates and leaves almost unbearable sorrow to the near and dear ones.
WHY? Is it because we don't know where the loved one is going or is it because we fear the unknown consequences?
When we can accept birth as most natural why run away from death and treat it as the most unnatural event?
Why avoid dying? Isn't death a relief from the everyday struggle of this troublesome and painful
world?
Even if we r not all that lucky right away,why not feel happy for the loved ones who have gone past us?

Think u guys and gals-----think deeper and deeper. Broaden ur horizon and thicken ur perspective.

finally the teacher-at-work

2006-03-30T07:17:00.000-08:00

a tearful would-be teacher

2006-03-30T07:15:00.000-08:00

a toddler teacher

2006-03-30T07:12:00.000-08:00

of the possessive nature

2006-03-29T02:52:00.000-08:00

I wonder why some women/men r extremely possessive of their husband/wife that it even borders on suspicion and distrust.
Love cannot possibly be the cause, as in love--- trust and freedom form the foundation.

It is the fear of losing that person to somebody else and this comes up with constant comparison of the self with others.
Deep rooted insecurities can be another reason especially if the marriage has resulted in their betterment in every sense of the word. Sadly though, partners r treated more as things rather than living and breathing human-beings.

This type of behaviour wld only stifle the relationship. The possessed partner wld start acting in front of the other. He/she wld cringe and feel disgusted about the whole thing in their beings.
The words Love and Respect fly straight out of the marriage.The relationship turns sour and traumatic for both. On the ouside everything wld look calm and beautiful as in the case of all made-up things.

Communication can be a major key and an understanding & patient partner wld be a great blessing but only in the cases in which the afflicted partner is willing to see reason and understand.

But in some cases it can just be a means to achieve what one expects of the other------there--- God alone can help.

This is true not just of a marriage but of every relationship.

To conclude---- a lesson from nature---for the possessive one.
Pick up some sand and try holding it in the palm. U wld be quite successful. Then close the palm into a fist. Check now. Pretty unsuccessful. Even the little that was, slips through.

Breathe and allow others to breathe.

hellllllllooooo theereee!!!!!

2006-03-27T02:27:00.000-08:00

Been a hectic week of courtesy calls, mobile purchases, shopping, shopping and more shopping.
The tides have been low too. Very low infact.

Have ended up with a Sleek, Blllaaack Masculine Nokia 6030 after endless hours of research. A friend's interpretation of the 6030 (a full and a half. Of what ? anybody's guess!)

Went visiting an aunt who is seriously sick. Wonder whether the rapid improvement in medical technology is a blessing or a curse? Have seen people suffer as they r not allowed to die in peace. And that too in the name of life-saving surgeries and life saving equipments like the ventilator.
What is the point in saving their lives ? Is just breathing equivalent to living? The torture that the patient goes through in body, soul and spirit-----what of it? How selfish can the near and dear ones get? Why not let them be? Why fear death, even when we know that it is inevitable?

This is how I feel today. Will I change tomorrow? Needs to be seen.

Also turned into a Reptile murderer this mid-week. Flushed a Lizard, that was making its Escape to Victory ( a Stallone movie that I liked), in the toilet.
Please forgive me, O' U members of the Blue Cross.

a comparative analysis of the general urban scheme and the One India scheme

2006-03-20T06:21:00.000-08:00

The analysis is of the General Urban Scheme of BSNL and the One India Scheme introduced by the BSNL on the 1st of March, 2006.The analysis is for the landline.
Upfront it doesn't seem very lucrative but actually it is beneficial because of the differences in the pulse rate inspite of the No Free Calls and Heavier Rent Per Month. The benefit comes to about Rs.700 for 1000 calls made in a month with the given assumptions. Read more .... This scheme is better than all the other schemes. But it is profitable only for those who have a huge S.T.D. and Mobile billing and not for just the Local Call Makers.

Even in the case of Post-paid cellular cards this scheme is definitely useful. I have no clues of the benefit for Pre-paid cards.

the real test of character

2006-03-20T05:45:00.000-08:00

The acid test to determine the real character of a person----- Give that person some good quantum of money and say, " Give it back at ur convenience."
And man is it foolishness at its height? U have to be as brave-hearted and as stupid as I have been.
Virtual disappearance from that person's priority listing and sight is the next consequence other than the feeling of being used and thrown out straight into the dust-bin.
Bottles and bottles of tears run into the drain and loads and loads of humiliation------ the dessert topping. More so, when U intend to be kind and good enough not to ask the money back.
There are times when U are ignored to levels that, U start to question the very existence of the being.
And after years and years of unwarranted and perhaps even unnecessary patience and goodness, if U bother even to hint at the possibility of a pay-back, all that U receive is a
blank stare, switched-off mobile and no response at all ends and by all means.

At the end of the endeavour, U end up wondering as to why people rub U on the wrong side all the time and why is it that they love to bring out the worst in U?

As I conclude I remember my sister-in-law's wise remark, "Don't expect people to know their limits. U tell them what their limits are."
Isn't that a positive note to conclude the month's heavy trial of give me my due rigorous scheme of events????
Wish had spoken to that wise young lady much earlier.

contemplation ----- mobile

2006-03-15T02:52:00.000-08:00

Have been contemplating the purchase of a mobile phone. Am impressed with Nokia 6030, but family not very impressed.
Another favourite is Motorazr v3. But got some negative feedback.
Wld welcome any suggestions for a suitable mobile. Price upto Rs. 10000 is viable.
Any specific model recommendation of Samsung mobiles wld also be very helpful.
Feedback on the favourite models wld be of great help.

the approval seeking self

2006-03-12T20:40:00.000-08:00

Why does my heart crave for approval? Why do I still want my Mother to say that I am a good girl or the best daughter ever? Why does my heart ache when she doesn't commend some achievement of mine?
Why do I constantly ask my husband whether I am a good wife to him? Why do I ask my husband 1 million times a day whether he loves me? Why do I always ask my MIL whether I rob her of her freedom in any way ---whether she does things to please me or is it of her own accord that she does or doesn't do certain things?

Why in the world can't I just be me and care a damn for what even my dear ones have to say of me? But unfortunately this is RR and I care that I please my loved ones.

But in the ultimate analysis I know that I cannot look at man and wait for his approval.
I am supposed to bother myself only about pleasing God.
Man-pleasing involves lot of pain, hurt and unnecessary anxiety.

remember the time (RR not MJ)

2006-03-09T22:22:00.000-08:00

I am reminded of my Munnar trip as I start to plan the summer vacation. Munnar is a beautiful place, as much mystical as it is serene. I had gone with my husband and a cousins' family. My husband's cousin married my cousin and so the term -cousins' family. They have two lovely daughters.
We went in the month of December actually on the 1st of December 2005 and returned on the 6th of December. We started out from a place called Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu by road. The car was an Indigoed Tata Indigo.

We took a long route to Munnar via Salem and Trichur, as the roads were a mess due to very heavy rains in the months of October and November in Tamil Nadu.
The journey was very pleasant and we had a good time listening to some nice music, with some of us shaking our bellys even.
We stayed overnight at Trichur in Hotel Elite International. The next morning we visited a clean and traditional Gurvayoorappan temple at Trichur and headed out towards Munnar. The 150 kilometres took us almost 5 hours to make, with a stopover at a keralite restaurant for a delicious keralite lunch, the receipes of which I cared to pick but not make as yet;
topped with a quick water-fall wash.

The route was cold and misty. The hills and the view stupendous and the impression -everlasting.

Our destination was the Club Mahindra Resort, supposedly in Munnar but actually 18 kms away from the town.
When we finally got to CMR after a few misdirections, we were thrilled. The place is ideal for a romantic and leisurely vacation but I had 4 Khabab Mein Haddis (4- Khababs with bones) ------just kidding.

The CMR is spread out over acres and acres of greenery and tea-estates with even a lake passing through. The rooms are well done and the restaurant is very good too, offering a wide variety of dishes. The prices work out reasonable for the members.
There are other sources of entertainment too.
Long walks with good companions- a must.
Echo point (the picture above) ---a sight-seeing option----worth it. The speed boat ride-- fascinating.
The dangerous twists, turns and twirls of the speed boat --very very thrilling and very very addictive.

On the final day a Theme Dinner is served. That weekend was the turn of culinary delights of Chettinadu. A Karagattam dancer displayed his histrionics as well. He did a fantastic balancing act of having a huge brass pot on his head and dancing with it & dared even to stand on four glass soft drink bottles with it.

The most cherished memory for me--sitting outside the room, on the comfortable wooden seats drinking in the heavenly view and sipping the simmering hot cups of black tea with sugar and just a dash of lemon through the early morning into the late nights and sometimes even chat with those around.

The return was through the Udmalpet route- very slow but far more scenic and picturesque.
Stayed overnight at Erode in Hotel Meridien. We were sapped by the time we reached Erode.
Returned to Tiruvannamalai on the afternoon of the 6th.

A long haul but a memory for a life-time.

Thanks dear cousins- U made this possible as u chose to be a member of CMR.

P.S. : Trichur and Erode good stopover points with good hotels.

exhilarating and invigorating morning walk

2006-03-08T01:33:00.000-08:00

On my way back from the morning walk, a woman said something. I did not follow what she said, I stopped and said "enna?" or "what?" for which she asked my help to lift something.
That something was a huge V-shaped steel vessel full of cow-dung. I silently obliged. She even asked me to set it straight on her head. I did. Then on reflex checked my hands (of course only after I moved away from her) and much to my displeasure found just a bit of dung on my fingers.
And the remaining part of the walk I treated my hands as the condemned parts of my body- keeping them at a safe distance away from my body.
Went straight to the wash in the backyard (did not even want to enter the house), washed my hands well, took a fragrant liquid soap, washed it further still and only then rested.
Even after that I wld check my hands for foul smell every now and then, for the next hour or so.

After this whole exercise, certain thoughts started erupting in my mind.

Which part of the body wld that woman treat as the condemned part?
In all probability she wld have to collect cow-dung from upon the roads on a daily basis, ( since sophistication is not part of the game--naturally with her bare hands) shape it into a flat thin cake and dry it on a wall as in the picture above.
She wld use some of the dried cakes as cooking fuel, and sell the remaining for a meagre profit;
as the dried cakes are used for doing 'Poojas,' or 'holy religious ceremonies' and in lighting funeral pyre e.t.c.
What of those involved in cleaning/clearing drainage/garbage??

It is humbling to imagine that it is routine work for them and perhaps even their only source of livelihood.
I felt disgusted at my peevishness. It also greatly disturbed me that we don't take much note of these things in everyday life and remain unaware of the graces and blessings we have.
We look at people who r better placed than us and feel jealous.

How many times have we looked at people, lower than us and thanked God for whatever we have or whatever we are?

driving in India

2006-03-06T05:36:00.000-08:00

I believe, if I achieve expertise in driving in India, I can do anything under the sun.
Maaaan is it tough?? We have everything on the road --- from ants to dogs, cats, cows, donkeys, all kinds of vehicles, bicycles, haphazard pedestrians and some times if ill-luck wld have it, even elephants.
The other day while driving on the highway I went over something that looked like a rope, and a little later I cautiously asked my husband about it and he said that it was a dead snake.
The divider that is used to divide the lanes on the National Highways ( especially the beautiful and noteworthy Golden Quadrilateral) , is used by villagers to dry their clothes. U will not even believe what I write. One day I will capture a picture and show u the truth of it.

Am I ashamed of my country---- definitely NO. But it is a source of ire at times, especially when I am at the wheel.
The traffic is so ridiculous, and the people so inconsiderate even to cars that have a L-Board on them ( indicating that the driver is a learner) that it turns saints into beasts. The poor Saint that my husband normally is goes crazy and wild when I drive.

Of course there r reasons other than just traffic. His sense of judgement and my sense of judgement differ largely.
He is too slow for me and I, a little too fast for him.
And any day, a man believes that a woman cannot drive good enough; and especially so if he has years of experience and the poor woman ( that being me) is learning only now or atleast practising only now, the result can be left to anybody's imagination.
The irony is that I know to drive ( or so I believe, much to the chagrin of my dear); and practice is all I need.

And mind u, there r people of a particular kind in the same country----- who seem to be oblivious of the existence of modes of transportation other than cars and that too self-driven cars ------ MY MY!!!!

feeling down and out

2006-03-05T23:59:00.000-08:00

Wish my dear one realises how very precious he/she is to me.
Wish he/she realises the amount of pain that he/she is giving the family by his/her wayward ways.
Wish he/she goes closer to God.
Wish that he/she realises that his/her acts, are almost disrupting the faith of the whole family.

Oh so!!!! The pain of betrayl, the heart-brokeness of dear ones, the tears of the beloved, the wrong (ill-fated) seeds that r being sown ---- the harvest of which is bound to be self- destructive, the seemingly unanswered prayers; what else can I say?

Trust in man, whoever it might be, turns out to be a fallacy and an impossibility.
U almost feel, that even God is not worth the trust anymore; but naturally (when I cannot trust the loved one I see, how in the world can I trust the god that I don't see??? )

U reach the tethers end and feel like telling the Lord, "Please, enough is enough. This world is too much for me. Gather me into ur arms and take me away from this wretched place, where only bloody ungrateful pigs live."
U are treated like a dust-bin ---- used and thrown away - for some god-damn selfish reason of his/hers.

But my God teaches forgiveness, He who was in far deeper pits than the ones I am in today. Have no choice. Got to go, sit at his feet and get the grace to forgive, get healed and move ahead. The consequences for my dear one --- needs to be seen.

I can only hope and pray that his/her ways be changed and something good comes out of the whole experience for each of us.

the ox and the cart

2006-03-03T01:05:00.000-08:00

This morning, during my daily walk; I saw a bullock-cart or should I say an ox-cart. The ox had a metallic cone-shaped covering for the tip of its horns, with salangai or round shaped metallic bells attached to it.
This attracted my attention. I was actually thinking about its use.
I have known that such bells are tied around animals' necks to trace them, if they r lost while grazing, and maybe even as a decorative piece ( for the animal). And necklaces made of black thread with small shells for pendants are also tied in the belief that it wld ward off evil forces.

But the bells on the horns intrigued me--- went back home, and started a brainstorming session at home-----at 7.30 a.m. in the morning.

The results were amazing.
That the sharp horns shouldn't get chipped off.
A piece of decoration.
To serve as music for the cart-drawer, maybe even as he sleeps occasionally, on the long and often tiring journey.
To warn away snakes or other dangerous animals in the dark. (The necklace and the horn bells jointly work towards this end.)
To warn people off, if at all it is in a mood to attack.
To serve as a horn (hoot), to help people know of its arrival.
To serve as a protection, when it scratches itself with its sharp horns.

I am reminded of Shakespeare as I conclude. I have read that his work was not recognised nor was it a big deal when he was alive. But later his works were interpreted and inferred to degrees that he is called a Genius now.
If I happen to meet the cart-drawer tomorrow and ask him the purpose, in all probability, the answer wld be 'chumma dhan' which means ' just like that.'

All this apart, it has been my dream for quite some time now, to go on a bullock-cart. This is all the more reason why I stare at a bullock-cart with yearning, whenever I get to see one.

my vegetable vendor

2006-02-27T22:09:00.000-08:00

Two days back she gave me a sob story and today we were discussing the preparation of instant noodles with vegetables. This she naturally prepares for her two kids.
She comes smartly dressed, neat and clean everyday with a contagious enthusiasm; always ready to learn a few words of English, Hindi or anything that anybody is interested in teaching.
On a final note she asked me to be ready to take pictures of her daughter , on her birthday---- all decorated and made up.
I definitely salute her never-say-die spirit.

Can u even guess her name ----ORANGE----- as she was orange in colour when she was born or atleast thus does she claim.

the emancipation of women???? is it really so?

2006-02-26T21:25:00.000-08:00

When I went and watched the movie Rang de basanti in the theatre all on my own I was elated. This was the first time I did it without a sense of guilt. Once earlier I did the same without the knowledge of people in the house. When I was a teenager and even later, I was not allowed to go to the theatre even with my brothers or friends. An adult had to accompany us, to take me and most times it was not possible. They were tooo busy for me.
The result---- My brothers wld go and I'd end up crying. Oh so many times has it happened. So when I got this new found freedom was I happy!!!!!
Remember in India it is just not done. Women never go to theatres alone. So for me it was a glorious moment of WOMEN' S LIBERATION.
Only till I heard the story of my vegetable vendor. She told me that her brother gets angry with her when she uses kajal or kohl on her eyes or flowers for her hair, as she is estranged from her husband. This inspite of the fact that she is not dependant on him financially.
And another story of a girl brought up with a lot of freedom and independence, sleeping with a friend not her boyfriend and regretting later.

What do I make of all of this? What is freedom and who draws the limits?

Rang de Basanti

2006-02-21T23:02:00.000-08:00

A fabulous movie featuring Aamir Khan, Soha ali khan and others. A very contemporary movie which reflects present day India as it is. Its success will be a victory for the Indian Youth. They will come out as a thinking lot. But is it going to bring about a change----- needs to be seen.
Loved that aspect of the climax, in which the protagonist admits that the path that they had chosen was wrong and that reiterates that violence is not the solution.
Good star cast and work well done by each.
Great work by the director and good contextual music by A.R. Rehman.
Have plans of watching it at least another two times, and if I am not able to draw company; might as well watch it all on my own in the Cinema hall as I did the first time.
A must-see.

this valentine's day

2006-02-19T05:36:00.000-08:00

Gave a well-meaning card to my lover ( read as husband) and in return got the best ever gift. The GIFT gives me enough enthusiasm to shower upon him such and many more surprises for a long time to come.
It was a tear in his small but expressive lovely eyes. The same brought a well of tears in mine too and taught a lot about the love we share for each other and how much the two of us have grown together as people.It showed me how invaluable we r to each other.
At the same time it gives me courage to continue in the future as ONE, irrespective of our mistakes and love each other for what we r and not what we r expected to be----unconditional love as I call it.

P.S. ( the card said that he is god's finest gift to me)

(((((Am I not smart?????)))))

and I say why?

2006-02-07T02:43:00.000-08:00

On one side r abortions, orphans, teen pregnancies and unwanted pregnancies -------and-------- on the other r childless couples, invitro fertilizations, test-tube babies and the like.

And I say WHY?

Do I blame God or is it all the result of our sins?????

school of patience

2006-02-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

Oh! what can I say about my Tailor. He is a brilliant man with a fantastic skill at the mercy of his adept fingers. He is superb in his work of stitching almost DESIGNER WEAR - like clothes and that too in a town. His capabilities are most befitting a metropolis.
But........his persistence to train me in the school of patience is a source of ire to me. This man never delivers his goods on time, which is to say that he never gives me my newly stitched clothes on time and alas!!!!! endless and numberless are the days and hours of wait for me to wear my beautiful and gorgeous clothes.
And the change of plans that I have to do for my parties due to this is disheartening and very very hectic.
I have become so disillusioned with this great artist that when he says that he will give the clothes on sunday,
I say " which Sunday? "
That somebody could see my plight
Yet I am trained in the school of patience!!!
Day in and day out
Through the course of years
Is all I have to say.

Now even as I write this, am waiting for my silk blouses which r to shine on the morrow....wishes and luck is what I need the most right away.
Needless to say, he has even made a 'to- be-poet' of me.

suggest a caption.........will u?

2006-02-05T03:09:00.000-08:00

the same here....please.

2006-02-05T03:05:00.000-08:00

My house in India --- or is it a jungle???

2006-02-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

And not just these --- an unphotographed mongoose and so most definitely a snake, an owl, a glow-worm and god knows what not --- in the same house.

But of course, this is in a temple.

2006-02-02T07:26:00.000-08:00

And what thy say of this???

2006-02-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

a new bed mate

2006-02-02T01:20:00.000-08:00

The other day was resting peacefully on the bed at 11.00 p.m. Infact was almost closing my shutters,in a pitch dark room, thoroughly geared up to enter the world of dreams and what do i see !!!!!!! All of a sudden ..... a bright light glowing ------- exactly next to me, right away on my bed.
Remember that i am a city-bred.
And what i saw made me hold my breath for quite some time. He was the tiny but mighty cute ----- GLOWY------ the glow worm- blinking his way into glory. The beautiful fluorescent green glow was stupendous. I coulnd't even believe my eyes--- and little did i even imagine in my beautiest (((if there is such a word))) of dreams that this was even remotely possible on this Glorious Globe.
Then i took my palm very close to him and as though to close him in and he started blinking all the more brighter and his little body swelled.

And what could i say........ but O' Lord how great though art???

It refreshed my whole night and the awesomeness of the whole incident took me in and I became as fresh as a fish
and MOTHER SLEEP took a very long time to come and lull me by.

meme of 4

2006-02-01T03:43:00.000-08:00

on sk8er boi's http://spaces.msn.com/liveitupdude/ request

four jobs i've had
with the citibank credit cards collection agent
with the primary issue share collection agent
telemarketer
secretary

four movies i'd watch over and over
father of the bride
entrapment
ten commandments
sholay

four places i've lived
hyderabad india
madras
dubai
vellore

four tv shows i love to watch
mad mike and mark on animal planet
the globe trotter on discovery
takeshi's castle
cartoons- tom and jerry especially

four places i've been on vacation
monte carlo
abu dhabi
munnar india
london

four blogs i visit daily
samir.r
tololy
sk8er boi
sabri hakim

four favourite foods
pizza
chocolates
fried rice
garlic bread

four places i'd rather be
new zealand
australia
cyprus
beirut( i hear is a beautiful place)

four albums i love ( maybe not the whole)
bad
dangerous
abba
ricky martin

four vehicles i've owned
scooty (a bike)
lexus ES 300
kinetic honda( a bike)
hyundai santro

4 people i'd pass the chain to
ohoud http://arabesquerhabsody.com
sabri http://sabrihakim.blogspot.com
samir.r http://echo4224.blogspot.com
niwhsa http://tanzenite.blogspot.com

did god make a mistake?????

2006-01-30T23:52:00.000-08:00

Used to think that god made a mistake ( sorry abt this) in giving man the responsibility of bearing children and bringing them up. Till recently, when I saw my brother's wife and her kid at close quarters.
I realised that God has brilliantly structured a fabulous lesson in patience, selflessness and unconditional love in the same exercise all at once.
I was always pessimistic about the fractured families and the utter mess that each and every person seems at any stage and every stage. The recent exposure changed my views and am I thrilled abt it????
It was so selfless that she decided against eating what she wanted to eat and just had the leftovers of her son's choice of food. She was also relating that she cld no longer go to any place of her choice, for her son wld be the priority at all times and the place wld have to be chosen keeping her son in mind.
And mind u she was not complaining.
She did all this out of love for her son. she is an M.B.A. who has sacrificed her career to take care of her son.
I realise this to be the case of all parents--- Urs and Mine too. 3 cheers to them.
I hope and pray god rewards their service in bringing us all up and of course the future generation too.
At the same time I also realise that it is not a bed of roses and the path is sprinkled with thorns but that shouldn't keep us from doing what we r supposed to do as parents and even reciprocate to our level best as children to such parents.

FOR IF WE R NOT FAITHFUL AND LOVING TO THE PARENTS WHOM WE SEE, HOW IN THE WORLD WLD WE BE LOVING AND FAITHFUL TO THE GOD WHOM WE DON'T SEE??????

the name of this blogspot

2006-01-30T08:28:00.000-08:00

Have been wondering about the name of this blogspot. Wonder if it puts people off and thus resulting in no comments. Wonder whether people make an arrogant brat of me???
It is nowhere near that. This has been named thus, more with a sense of nostalgia rather than with a sense of pride. My DAD who died around thirteen years back used this phrase often and all of us used to burst out laughing. I was even teased by my friends on the same grounds.
It is to bring back the memories of my DAD that I have used this name. It brings back memories of joy and fun whenever I use this phrase.
Nothing more and nothing less.

26 jan 2005

2006-01-26T00:43:00.000-08:00

On 26 January 1950 the Constitution of India was framed after having gotten its Independence from the hands of Britishers on the 15 of August 1947. This day of 26 January is celebrated as the Republic Day in India. It is a national holiday.
A national parade is conducted in New Delhi, to show the country's military prowess and its cultural diversity on a united platform ,by all the States of India for the benefit of the citizens of India and of course for Whoever Else cares to watch.
This year the King of Saudi, King Abdullah is the honoured Chief Guest. Quite a few expect, development in trade and bilateral relationship with Saudi Arabia. And the King of Saudi expects improvement of relationship with India as well as Pakistan. It needs to be seen as to how the whole thing is going to work out.
There r lot of interesting programmes in the local channels on television today and quite a range of the patriotic Bollywood movies on the Hindi channels.
As for me I have been blogging and driving around. Life is fun and am also expecting some interesting guests in the evening. Will be busy for the next 3 days especially with a cute nephew of mine.
So wish u all a very happy day too and a word..........LIVE LIFE KING-SIZE.

2006-01-23T06:35:00.000-08:00

Ain't I Cute ?????

the me myself and mine syndrome

2006-01-23T01:18:00.000-08:00

Am worried about the selfishness that is rampant in the society today----- the ME MYSELF MINE syndrome. Especially the huge number of old age homes that r sprouting all over the country today.
Of course it wld be very different in other countries I suppose. But in India this is a trend towards the worse.
People here r used to living in joint families. If not anybody else, atleast the parents stay in the son's house. Today people regard their own parents as a burden.
Are they not being used and thrown away and of course everybody has a damn excuse to do the same. How disgusting can it ever get? And can such sons be trusted in other relationships? What happens to their children, if at all they r selfless enough to have any? And their intelligent wives who r the reason most of the time......how long wld it take for such sons to even divorce them? THINK OVER.
Another fashion is to work abroad to earn money for their wife and children??? R they not their parents' children? Then why have they been sent to old age homes or to the care of servants ? IS IT FOR THE SIN OF BEARING THEM AND MAKING THEM INTO FULLY GROWN INDIVIDUALS..... BRAINLESS and HEARTLESS THOUGH ?????

live as though there were a no tomorrow

2006-01-22T03:41:00.000-08:00

just returning from a lousy hindi movie infact midway. when i think of hindi movies i associate it with good looking guys and gals and some lovely music.
my all time favourite hindi song is the title song from the movie muqadar ka sikandar featuring the great bollywod icon AMITABH BACHAN .
zindagi to bewafa hai ek din tukraegi
mouth mehaboba hai saath lekar jayegi
zindagi ki e ada jo duniya ko siklayega
woh muqadar ka sikandar janeman kehlayega

which is to say that life will leave u midway, death is the only constant which wld take u along with it . he who realises this wins over destiny .this implies that it is imperative to live as though that this were ur last day on the earth .........meaning.........SETTING PRIORITIES RIGHT.

a silver lining

2006-01-21T02:49:00.000-08:00

Been contemplating on the sufferings of man. Realise that it is because of our own doing. As we sow so we reap. But even in that I find a silver lining. Inspite of ourselves, we r given the grace to handle things. We don't really get what we deserve. God in his highest mercy is very kind to us and is careful enough not to send things our way that r a little too much for us to handle. Also we might set our limits at something but god is the only one who knows exactly as to our burden- bearing capabilities.
Of course with regard to our blessings he is neither stringent nor partial. He definitely gives us more than what we deserve.
As we all know ALL THINGS WORK FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE GOD.