Red-faced!

I started 2013 with a Big-Bang resolution. And like all typical new year resolutions, mine was a big, humongous, capital-letter-kind of FLOP!! I admit I am humbled.

Image courtesy: http://ghostlightning.wordpress.com

Of course, N, the know-it-all has been proved right (he had warned me about not making the resolutions public). Again. For the nth time!!! Arrrgh!!!

Image courtesy: http://www.demotivation.us

Atleast he is not as insufferable as Sheldon :)

Image courtesy: http://inspirably.com

Nonetheless, I guess it's never too late to start all over again. The key is to try and try till you succeed.

Image courtesy: http://confettistyle.wordpress.com

I am by nature, an eternal optimist. It has worked for me for everything else in life. I am sure it will help in getting back to the blogging momentum as well.

Be back soon,
V

A Day of Vs

This year Valentine's Day was unique. I received two very unique gifts from the two men in my life.

N and I have never been one of those I-buy-my-spouse-big-gift kind of people. Me more so than N. To give N credit, he at least made a sincere effort to buy me a few thoughtful gifts during those first years when we first started courting and then again after we got married. I am guilty of not even attempting that (my defense is that 'I already give him the gift of my love everyday; how could he want anything more?'..sneaky I know! N does not quite agree but has no choice but to accept the fact). Somehow though over the last few years, because we almost always never liked the gifts we got as surprises for each other, we gave up. N and I have very different personalities and very different tastes so things that seem like a pleasant surprise to one end up as a mini shock to the other. Twelve years of knowing each other and seven years of marriage later, we decided to give up. Instead, we just wish each other on the big days (birthdays and anniversaries) and mostly eat good food together.

This year though, N gave me quite an unique gift. He let me sleep!! That might not seem very special to anyone else but for me it was the best gift ever. Anyone who knows me knows that sleep is super dear to me. To be able to sleep in on a weekday for an extra whole hour means more to me than any gift possible. And no, I am not one of those wives who try to pass on their husbands forgetfulness or thriftiness with the 'I-have-everything-what-more-do-I-need' kind of lame gestures! (N did offer to buy me jewellery in the evening, but I declined. Jewellery does not excite me) . Coming back to this year, after I woke up refreshed from an extra hour of sleep, N & little V wished me a happy Valentine's Day with bear hugs. Seriously, what more would I need?

And then, the day got better with Little V's gift for both of us. He made this super-cute art project with his nanny.His nanny tells me the boy loves his arts and crafts. On my part, I loved the typical-boy car stickers. And the of course the three hearts glued together. For life. Just like N, me and the little monster.

In the evening, I baked an eggless vanilla cake for my two boys. The cake is a super simple and super easy recipe from the Edible Garden blog. Check out the recipe here.

To make the recipe a little more special, I prepared a strawberry compote to go with it. The recipe I followed is here. To finish off, I added a light dusting of icing sugar. Yummy!!!! I loved the how the tartness from the compote balanced the sweetness of the cake. N and little V were not too keen on the compote though and loved the cake as-is.

All in all, the day was fabulous. Somewhere through the day, I realized how true it is that life's biggest pleasures are in seemingly simple things. And for that, I will always be thankful- to be able to enjoy a simple life and be surrounded by the people I love and who truly love me.

I hope you all had a beautiful Valentine's day with your loved ones as well,
V

2013 resolutions

As 2013 begins, I thought it would be a good idea to pen down some of my resolutions for the year. I have been making these in the past but somehow they all vanish from my memory before even the first month finishes. Given that, I decided to post my 2013 resolutions on my blog. Not only will they be a constant reminder once they are put down in writing, my hope is also that the putting them out in the public domain will make me want to stick to them more.

So here we go! (I have 5 for this year)

- Spend less time procrastinating and more time in doing things. It has been my biggest weakness so far and I hope to overcome it this year.

- Learn driving. Not knowing how to drive didnt matter so much in Vancouver where the public transport was awesome but it has limited my mobility severely here in the US.

- Shed 10 pounds by mid-year. Now that I am no longer pregnant or nursing, I have no excuse to justify my extra weight :) It HAS to go!

- Post more regularly on the blog- ideally once a week.

- Jar notes- Inspired by a post I saw on Facebook here, I plan to start my new year with an empty jar and fill it with notes as and when good things happen.. The idea is to empty the jar on 31st Dec 2013 and see all the awesome stuff that happened over the yeaar.

Keeping fingers crossed that I'll stick to these as the year goes by.

Happy 2013 everyone- hope everyone had a wonderful start to the new year. My big wish for the new year is that each one of us be nicer, better versions of ourselves as the year begins.

 Image courtesy: dryicons.com

Cheers,

V

Thanksgiving story: karma catch-up

I love the concept of Thanksgiving. I love the idea that at least once a year people in this part of the world pause and take a moment to express their gratitude. There is so much life to be thankful for- our family, our friends, our health. The list is practically endless.  But the occasion is not just about the thanks, its also about giving. So this year for thanksgiving, I wanted to share a story about 'giving'. And how it all somehow comes back.

Every year, N and I write out two small donations at this time of the year. Mine is usually to Vancouver's BC Children's Hospital- this place has a special place in my heart. It was the hospital where little V was born and I can never forget the wonderful service I received at this place- the doctors, the nurses, the staff were absolutely marvelous so I send them a little token of appreciation from little v and me every year. N's donation these days goes to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, which works hard for pioneering research for pediatric cancers.

This year as we were writing out the cheques, N told me a little story about the very first donation he ever made and how it all came back. About 10 years back, when N was in the last year of his undergraduate program, he got an internship with a pharma company in Mumbai. On his way back home one day, he saw an advertisement in the paper requesting donations for a young girl who was suffering from cancer. The girl was from a small town and belonged to a poor family who  unfortunately could not afford the expensive treatment needed to save the girl. Something about the story touched N so he sent him a cheque that night for half of his monthly internship income. With the cheque he sent the girl his best wishes and then forgot all about it. A few months later, N was pleasantly surprised to see a handwritten letter of thanks from the girl thanking him for his generosity and goodwill. Also included was a heartfelt invitation to visit them at any time in the future. Unfortunately, amidst all the hustle and bustle of the later years, N lost the letter. To this day, he regrets not keeping in touch with the girl-  we both hope that she is happy and healthy.

What is interesting for me though is that this good karma nudged N into the right direction. Years later, N went on to work with one of the best researchers on anti-cancer medications in North America- an experience of a lifetime. Not only that but at a time when getting jobs in US is tough even for experienced folks, N secured a position right after his PhD. Again, with a company focused on anti-cancer drugs.

You could call it coincidence. I call it good karma. I sincerely, earnestly believe in giving back- doesnt matter if its a little or lot. Its the gesture that matters. And the goodwill behind it. Because if it is with a clean conscience and a true heart, it has the power to make a difference.

I did not write this post with the intention of glorifying N. He is what he is. What I wanted to share was my takeaway from the story that once a good deed is done, even if we least expect it to (or perhaps because we least expect it to) it somehow always comes back.

 Picture courtesy: compassionistagirl.org

A very happy thanksgiving to everyone.
V

Life on H4

Yes, I know. Inspite of the best of my intentions, my blog postings have trickled to a meager few over the last few months. Given that I am at home these days, I should be posting more. But I guess that's exactly where life gets paradoxical. Somehow, being busy at work while we were in Canada inspired me more to pause and pen my thoughts that staying at home does. That, and of course the fact that I have little v demanding more my time with each passing day. And that I am lazy. 

So more than anything, I blame my blogging inertia on H4.

Its been quite a few months now since we moved from Canada to US. Also the exact time on which I am on H4 visa (the category of US visa for spouses of H1B visa holders- people from countries other than US (and Canada) who are qualified to work here in US). Since I cannot work while being an H4 visa holder, life in US has been almost a complete antithesis of my life in Canada. I have suddenly gone from being a full time no-kids-so-do-as-you-please working woman to a full time stay-at-home-house wife-little-kid-in-tow kind of a woman.

 Picture courtesy: redbus2us.com

Fortunately for me, the H4 timing is the best it could possibly be. Little v is now 19 months old and probably needs me more to be around him than at any later time in his life. I definitely feel reassured that I am around him at this time to set a good foundation- teach him the life skills from the very beginning that I hope will shape him into a good person in the future.

That being said, I have to admit a part of me longs to get back to work. Longs to put my brain cells to use. Longs to have an adult conversation that involves science and medicines and not just nap-times and lunch menus. 

Of course, I know I am not alone in this. Countless women (and some men) who accompany their spouses to US for their jobs face this crisis. In fact, here's a very interesting video I came across that talks about this issue. Meghana Damani, a H4 visa holder as well, decided to document her story - aptly titled 'Hearts suspended'. Check out her side of the story and what some of the Americans had to say about it.

And while I completely understand what the documentary means to say, I agree with every word that the discussion panel says towards the end of the video. At a time when the US economy is struggling and so many of their own are unemployed, it would be absolutely insensitive to think of leniency such as automatic work permits for spouses of H1B visa holders. 

Besides, I knew exactly what I was getting into before I made the move. I knew upfront that there was a high probability of being out of work for quite some time. I could have very well stayed back in Canada (or India for that matter) if I so badly wanted to work. But it was MY decision to move to US. MY decision not to break the family.And now that I have made my decision, I should also have it in me to face what it brings.

So for all its ups and downs, H4 has taught me some valuable life lessons that I dont think would have been possible if I didnt have this opportunity.

- It has made me realize me that I have a husband who incredibly, after all the years of marriage, truly loves and cares for me and little v. On countless occasions over the last few months, N has been my friend, philosopher, guide and more. He has pulled me up each time I would start falling in the 'why-is-life-here-so-monotonous?' pit.

-Being at home has let me make more friends in Boston than I ever could have imagined. Little v is a superb ice breaker (as all little kids are) so starting conversations and then making friends has been easy. I now have enough friends here so this finally feels like home.

-I have come to realize that there is so much more to life than work. Though I love my work (and I know that I will return to it one day), its only one part of my life. As cliched as it sounds, I have known only now that I define my work, my work does not define me.

-And most important of all, being at home has afforded me the luxury of watching my little baby grow from a tiny bundle to a tireless toddler on first hand basis. I have a feeling that one day when I get old and look back at my life, these will probably end up as my fondest memories.

So yes, life is beautiful. Even on H4.

Picture courtesy:lionhearteagle.blogspot.com

Wiser,
V

P.S. I would love to hear what you think - do drop a line  :)

Marathi movies, take a bow

First off, for all those who don't know what Marathi is, thats the regional language of Mumbai. The place where I come from and the place I proudly call 'home-final-final'. 

First let me explain the ' home-final-final' bit. There was a guy I worked with who was not exactly super competent when it came to computers and files. This one time he was working on a study plan which underwent a few revisions and each time, he saved it on this desktop with an additional 'final' in the filename ('study plan final' became 'study plan final final' and then became 'study plan final final final'). Pharmaceutical Quality Assurance nightmare, I tell you! But somehow, the idea stuck. N and I have moved a couple places now and while each place is now home, Mumbai remains the 'home-final-final'. 

Coming back to the main topic i.e. Marathi movies, I do not know what is the deal with them these days but they have suddenly become super sensible. There was a time when Marathi movies were exclusively filled with Ashok Saraf and Laxmikant Berde's mindless comedy. Dont get me wrong, they are/were both good actors but the last couple of decades saw them only churn out some pretty idiotic (and repetitive) stuff. Senseless storylines, outdated costumes and embarassing dances made Marathi movies almost unwatchable.

But things probably changed with Shwaas (meaning breath). Here was one of those select first Marathi movies that had a real story and some superlative actors. The journey of a little boy stricken with cancer and his grandpa from the village to the city as they battle fate and time touched a chord. In fact, it was selected to be the India's Oscar entry for 2004. 

Since then, Marathi movies seemed to have gotten a new brain, a new heart and overall a new life altogether. Take for instance Nital (meaning crystal clear), one of my all time favorite Marathi movies. Here is a story of a young girl, a gifted eye specialist , who faces turmoil both within herself & from outside because of her vitiligo (white patches). The crux of the story though is about the reactions she faces when she comes to meet the family of her well educated doctor colleague, whom she has fallen in love with. Watch this movie in case you haven't already- it is a beautifully told story.

3 more Marathi movies which are totally worth a watch.Each of these are very simple stories but good acting coupled with superb story telling makes them an absolute treat:

- Bokya Saatbande (thats the first & last names of the lead character): A story about a young urban, middle class boy whose big heart & empathy for others lead him to help others in a simple ways but with big results.

- Ek cup chya (meaning one cup of tea): Story of a rural bus conductor & his family who face much discomfort & pain when they receive a humongous power bill by error. 

- Masala (meaning spice mix): A heart warming story of a hardworking, well-meaning young couple who somehow never succeed in any business until they realize that the best business for them is the one that comes from their heart.

The last movie was especially fun to watch. Probably because it reminded me so much of my uncle & aunt (mama-mami) back from India. Just like the lead characters in the movie, my uncle & aunt are two of the most tireless, selfless & easy going people I have ever met. I want to especially mention my aunt here, because as nice as my mama is, I really dont think he could have achieved as much without mami's constant, smiles & support. Hats off to you both!

Finally, for anyone who wants to watch Marathi movies or shows, but doesn't have the channels, apalimarathi.com is a superb online and FREE resource. You should be able to watch these movies on this website (& probably more!) 

Cheers,
V

Brothers and sisters

To my brothers & my two sisters, since today is the day of rakhi:

We grew up together, 

Shared memories & love, tantrums & fights.

You were there when I needed a friend,

Some unconditional love and some silent support.

That time seems like a distant memory now,

New relations & work taking its toll,

Each one of us now busy with their own lives,

There's barely the time to sit down & chat.

An occasional phone call & a facebook message,

I know from them that you are okay,

And even though I might seem to be lost,

I want you to know that you are always in my heart.

Some things will never change,

Like the love & the support & the playfulness we had,

You will always be a friend, a companion

But most of all, a constant in my life.

Happy raksha bandhan to you all.

Sharing with you a picture postcard our 6 year old niece made for little v. It was such a heartwarming surprise to see this. Am sure little v could not have asked for a nicer rakhi; he is blessed to have such a loving sister!

And finally signing off with a picture of rakhi my 3 year old niece made herself for little v; the image is blurry but I HAD to post it. I really don't think there can be anything sweeter on the face of this earth than this band of love a little girl made with her own hands for her little brother. The fact that she is in India & he is here in United States & that they have personally met only for a couple months does nothing to stop her from thinking about him every day & making this band to tie him with her love.

Can there be anything more beautiful than these two rakhis?

Blessed,
V

Take a break!

Really. Especially the mums.

I came across this touching article on cnn the other day:
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/08/moms-you-deserve-to-take-care-of-yourselves/?iref=allsearch

Anthony Youn, a plastic surgeon in Metro Detroit, recounts an ER case of Mildred, an elderly woman who let her breast cancer progress too far because she was too busy taking care of her family. Money was an additional limitation as well.  Its heart wrenching. Had to share it- PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ IT.

This was a case gone too far but I can totally identify with Mildred's case. I know two such women in life who have always placed other people's welfare before their own: my mum and mum-in-law. Both work tirelessly to this day from morning till night making sure everyone around them is well-fed and comfortable. Its unbelievable how much stuff they get done around the house, and whats more astonishing is that they do it without as much as a murmur and with no expectations whatsoever. I also know for a fact that this is true for all mums around the world- every family has one of these 'glue' mums.

If you are one such woman, take a break or if you happen to know one such woman, encourage them to take one. A well-rested and happy woman will be able to give so much more to the family. And for all the guys who work pretty hard too, you could pause and catch some breath yourself [am not a feminist, just biased towards mums, thats all :)]

After all, we each have just one life. It just not worth wasting it running too hard in the rat race. Even if we win the race, we still end up as rats.

Just not worth it. Take a break instead :)

Cheers,
V

P.S. This also explains why I didnt post for the last few weeks. I took a break myself :)

Season's greetings: Phirni (Indian rice pudding)

Its festive season everywhere.

Folks back home in India just finished celebrating Navratri and Dussera. For my non-desi friends, Navratri (nav= nine, ratri=nights) is the festival of nine nights. Every year, around this time, people in different parts of India celebrate for nine nights the awesomeness thats called the 'Divine Mother'.  Traditionally, its the harvest time in India and the Goddess Mother is invoked to bless her lot with another year of bountiful crops, happniess and prosperity. As with all things Indian, the invocation & celebration is all about rituals, food, dancing, music and merriment. I cant help but shake my head each time I realise how important and integral food and music is with the Indian way life. We Indians literally live to eat, dont we?

Anywho, for nine nights in a row, people (especially the ladies) will worship the Goddess during the day & then deck in different coloured traditional clothes at night and go out and dance in huge huge groups till the wee hours of morning. The festivities end with much aplomb on the tenth day, called Dussera. On this day, many Indians worship Goddess Saraswati, the presiding deity of knowledge. Typically, books are worshipped as the source of knowledge to thank the Goddess for her blessings and with the hope for continued learning in the coming year.  This year, N did a little puja yesterday at home & here's a quick peek into the books we worshipped;.  Isnt it cuteness?

N's doctoral thesis at the bottom, followed by a reference guide I use for work & then, a book I read to little V every night before he sleeps :)) (the drawing on the top symbolises Goddess Saraswati; N made it himself)

Besides being the tenth day of Navratri, Dussera also signifies the victory of good over evil. It is believed that this was the daywhen the righteous Lord Rama killed Ravana, the demon king who abducted Rama's beautiful wife Sita. Philosphically, this could be the day when each one of us can stop and ponder over the shortcomings in our lives and perhaps, make an effort to change for the better. More about Navratri and Dussera here.

Coming back to festive treats, we visited our new friends here in Boston on Tuesday to celebrate Navratri. I decided to take along Phirni, the Indian rice pudding to mark the sweet occasion. Phirni is a creamy rice rice pudding, make with milk, ground rice (or rice flour), cardamom & other nuts of choice (pistachios, cashews, almonds, etc). Did you know that this rice pudding takes many forms and names in different parts of the world? See Soma's informative post here on phirni to know more.

For this recipe, I used both homemade and store bought rice flours. I intended to use only the homemade one initially but noticed that the pudding didnt have the consistency I wanted. So improvised with using some store bought rice flour at the last minute till I was happy with the final dessert.

Because we were going to a party, I decided to serve the pudding in individual containers and carry them in a muffin tray. I used muffin liners for serving the dessert but on hindsight, I think that using good quality, disposable aluminium tart cups would have served the purpose much better.

Phirni:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup good quality, long grain rice

4.5 cups whole milk

3/4 cups sugar

2 tsp rice flour (store bought)

1/4 tsp cardamom powder

10-15 strands saffron, soaked in a tsp of milk (optional)

5-6 almonds soaked, peeled & sliced (optional)

5-6 almonds, sliced for garnishing

Preparation:

1. Soak rice in water for about 1 hour. Grind to a *coarse* paste, using minimal water for the grinding.

2. Mix the store-bought rice flour with 2 tbsp of milk to form a thick paste and keep it ready on the side.

3. In a nonstick vessel, bring milk to a boil on medium heat.

4. Add the home-made rice paste to the milk and *stir continuously* (very important!) until you see the mixture becoming creamier. Make sure there are no lumps.

5. Once the rice has cooked (about 5 mins), add the store-based rice flour paste *little at a time, until the dessert reaches a thick consistency*. Again, keep stirring continuously.

6. When the mixture thickens, add the sugar, cardamom powder, saffron and other nuts of you choice. Mix well and cook for a minute more, until the sugar combines completely.

7. Switch off the heat and ladle into the serving containers. Garnish with more nuts of your nice.

The dish was a hit. Everyone at the party loved it; especially since it wasnt an overtly-sweet dessert.

Finally, to all my Canadian friends, a very happy Thanksgiving. I miss you a lot!!!!!

Cheers,

V

Blog Ctrl+Alt+Del!

Ctrl – Alt – Del Three Pillow Set @ Etsy.com

After more than a year, I am back on the blogging scene. Oh how I missed my blog-o-baby all this time!!

A lot has happened in the last one year:

-am now a proud mum to a 5 and half month old boy. All this time, everyone told me how much of hard work it is to raise a child and I never quite believed them. 5 months, 22 days after the little V aka 'the tiny-mator' was born, each and every sleep-deprived cell in my body knows!

-we have moved from Vancouver to Boston. Better job opportunities have made us leave the most liveable city on the planet. Our heart misses the amazing, beautiful and warm city that Vancouver is but also hopes to make new friends & memories here in Boston.

Life is in general topsy-turvy. The tiny-mator keeps me on my toes all day and whatever little free time I get is spent in settling in the new place. I must admit that though mommyhood is tons tougher than I thought, its also one of the most rewarding things ever. The first time little V smiled at me, I thought my heart was going to melt and though its been over 4 months since that happened, my heart has never really un-melted to its original state! My mummy dearest (aka granny-mummy to the little one) tells me this is a thing for lifetime now. Oh well!

Anywho, I sorely, honestly, deeply missed my blog all this time. It has been and will always be my creative outlet so something felt really amiss when I stopped posting last year. I hope to be more consistent and regular this time around.

More later. Until then, may the sun shine bright on you, wherever you are!

Back-with-a-bang-in-dabbang-ishtyle,

V

Back from the blogging coma!

Cant believe its more than 2 months since I wrote my last post...if there is ever such a thing as 'time flying', I guess this is it! I have been away from my blog-o-baby for way too long..not that I wanted to neglect it; nor that I didn't have enough material to write about or ideas to share (in fact, have way too much to write and share) but I just haven't had a chance to put pen to paper..or more appropriately in this electronic age, put finger on the keypad :D:D

A lot has happened since my last post:

- I have now officially entered the 'know-what-you-eat-and-grow-atleast-a-little-of-your-own-food' club. Its summer time here in Vancity and just the perfect time to do some container gardening in my tiny apartment balcony.

-Finished reading a couple of books- including the super-enthralling 'A Glass Castle' by Jeanette Walls. What a book- review coming up soon!

-Had a couple of lovely summer trips to Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada and Portland, OR, USA.

-And finally, hit (but didnt really celebrate) the one-year anniversary of my blog! Yup, its been a year since I began my crazy ride and though my posts have been sporadic and bumpy, the experience has been nothing-but-awesome!

Will be back on the weekend with my first real post since a long time; expect a post on each of these topics in the next few days.

Missed-my-blog-but-feels-so-good-to-be-back,

V

Mum's the word

Picture from: www.wallpapersphere.com

When I think of her, I think of her face
Her face which is now etched with wrinkles and lines
Lines so lovely- of age, of laughter, of worries, but mostly of love,
Love we share since the day I was born (and even before)

When I think of her, I think of her hands
Her hands which are now weary from years of work
Work all day- from the start to the end and then to another start
All that work to bring comfort to our lives

When I think of her, I think of her strength
Strength I know comes from deep within
From within her values, her people, her faith,
The faith that tells me too that ‘all will be okay’

When I think of her, I think of her thoughts
There have been ups, and then there have been downs
There been lots, and then there have been droughts,
But all she passed on were the ups, and the lots.

When I think of her, I think of me
Because without her, there would be no ‘me’.

This one is for the two mothers in my life- HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO BOTH OF YOU, AAIs!!
Also decidated to the two babas- because after all, they are as much special, just a little different!
And then finally, this is for all those mothers everywhere- because I think every mother is special!

Cheers to all mums,
V

P.S. Main shaayar toh nahi but this poem's is straight from my heart (and I think mothers are all about sentiments and hearts), so all is well :)

A matter of perspective

I notice it first when I am brushing my teeth at night.

My heart skips a beat. I tell myself that it cannot possibly be true. Its these 'yellow' North American lights, I tell myself. They can cause you to see things that aren't really there! I blink. Then blink again. But it just wont go away! N stands behind me brushing his teeth. Maybe I should tell him what I see? I dread his reaction though. But then I have got to tell him (its inevitable- he'll notice it anyways, I tell myself).

So I cautiously ask him, 'Do you see what I see?'
Him: Huh? Whaad-doo-zoo-meeen?

Me: I see a gray hair!!!!!!!!!!!!
Him: Huh? Where??
Me: On my head, you gumbo!
So he peeps closer, inspects it for a moment and breaks into the weirdest, happiest dances I have ever seen (and trust me, I am used to N's dances- they can be quiet funny, if you are in the mood for funny. But this one didn't strike me one bit as 'funny).
Me: Do you see it too?? (am near tears now)
N is still oblivious to my grief- he's merrily dancing way...I notice some toothpaste droplets flying and hitting the wash room walls- now I am furious!!!
After about 45 seconds of weird-cum-happy dance, N finally stops. He tells me wisely, 'its just a sign of growing up, honey'. Exactly what I told him a few years back when I saw his first gray hair; but now that the joke's on me, the line no longer makes sense!

I go to bed thinking about my first gray hair. I am not even 30 yet and I already have one! Does this mean my body is aging already? I mean, who knows what else is prematurely aging? N tells me that this officially marks my entry into the 'Auntie' world.....ick ick!! That night, I dream in black-and-white-and-gray! In spite of the colour scheme in the dream, there is one hair on my head that looks gray..crazy dream, I tell myself.

Next morning, I wake up hoping that this was all a nightmare. But as I get ready for work, I see it again!ick ick ick!!

Thank goodness for work- it makes me forget about the first melanin-deficient hair on my head. I get back early from work and plop myself on the TV. Its Tyra Bank's show on one of the channels. I like Tyra- she is pretty, she is sweet and she is all about women empowerment; what's not to like? Today she is interviewing a woman called Mandy Sellars.

(Photo from: www.guardian.co.uk)

Mandy is from UK and suffers from Proteus Syndrome. It means that while her upper body is a petite Size 8 and weighs just 31 kgs, her legs weigh 61 kgs! And they are still growing, making her legs about 4 times that of an average person! The special shoes she needs cost her $3800, which means she can afford only pair at a time (thats not fair to any woman, I say!!!).

She tells Tyra that how the doctors had told her mum that she wouldnt probably survive 2 weeks past birth but she has proved them wrong by adding 34 years to that! What strikes me most is Mandy's spirit. She talks about her friends, her life, the dating scene and even a possible leg amputation, with so much ease and matter-of-factedness, I am bowled.

Suddenly one gray hair doesn't seem earth-shattering.

That night, I dream in technicolour again.

Its all about perspective I say,
V

Poll verdict

After my rants in the last post, here's what my readers had to say about my blog:

- Everyone loves my writing (yooohoooo...shammi kapoor ishstyle!)

- Almost everyone would like to see me post once a week (fortunately, no one chose the option 'never ever' so that gives me a yooohooo!!!)

- As far as the preference for post topic, people seem to like all four categories (though there was a marginal preference for food posts)

- 75% have tried or plan to try my food recipes (I am guessing the remaining 25% didn't vote for the food posts)

- 75% love my book reviews- 25% consider them 'whatever'! Oui oui!

- Everyone, without any exceptions, loves my 'More' posts (looks like everyone enjoys reading about uselessness as I much as I do :))

- Finally, the average reader thinks my blog rates 7/10 (there were a few who gave it a 9 rating but I will be modest here)

With this, I accept the 'junta ka faisla'. I guess this means that, whether you like it or not, you will be seeing more of me in the future (hoping to write once a week).

Thanks to each and everyone of you for taking the time to fill out the survey and giving me an idea of what you think about my blog. There were more responses than I had hoped for and way-too-nice things about the blog there than I had expected.

And yes, if you have nicer things to say to me, remember no one's stopping you :)

Dhanyawaad,

V

Lessons learnt and a poll

Anyone wondered where I have disappeared of late? Not really? hmm, doesn't help my ego you know? Did no one miss my posts and writing and food? REALLY?? Well, its been a good nine months since I started my baby blog..whew! And in the last nine months, I have posted 50-odd posts: on topics close to my heart. So what have I learnt?

- I am lazy.

I can barely manage a post a week- this is my second post in the whole of March. When I look at some of the fellow-bloggers pumping as many as two posts a day, I want to crawl under the bed. Not a bad idea actually- b’cause I will crawl there and most probably sleep :)

- My writing is…..well, just that- my writing.

Yes, sweet little readers have come back and complimented me on my style and humor. But lets face it- I am neither a Shakespeare nor a Johnny Lever. I can write a little and I laugh a little- but the words ‘little’ are key!

- My food photography skills are dismal.

I blame N for this. No, really. I know my pics will look so much better with an SLR camera but he refuses to buy me one. We have a perfectly functioning, really lovely point-and-shoot digicam and he refuses to share my belief that only SLR cams can shine the light on my food. ‘The cams only shoot what you make’, he says. I suspect this is directed at the food I make- he knows he cant openly challenge my food (his daily eating supplies are at risk here) so he throws this meek taunt around. I don’t care what he does- N is to blame for my sad food photos. That’s the final word on this!

- I digress.

Anyone noticed how my blog title has the word 'Travel' in it? and that I have only 6 (out of 50) posts on travelling? I know I write more about 'More (i.e. useless)' things in life but I cant help it...just like this this guy here.

So here's an appeal to you, my readers:

I have added a poll at the very top in the right side column. Answer it for me and help me know what you think of my blog and my writing (good things, not-so-good things, whatever). All responses will be completely anonymous so write what you wish. I'll take it if I like it, and let it float away if I don't :)

Looking forward to god-knows-what-my -readers-think-about-my-blog,

V

P.S. You want to know how crazy blogging can get? Check this out..haha:

A trip down the memory lane

Just as N and I sat down for our dinner last night, he announced that there was nothing interesting for us to watch over dinner. For any 'watching-TV-while-having-dinner' critics out there, we have tried the so-called 'let just talk- no more TV' tactic...it lasted for exactly 5 mins...the forced talking made us feel like idiots..and on came the idiot box!

Anywho, last night, N and I turned to you-tube and one video led to another, till we came on to this one. Anyone who grew up in the 80's and 90's in India will know exactly what this video is about- the commercials on the one and only national TV at that time, Doordarshan. Some of the DD ad gems: hamara bajaj, rasna, vicco vajrdanti, dabur amla tel, lijjat papad...the list goes on!



There are even more DD-ads nostalgia videos out there..check one out here.

N quickly reminded me of two videos that not one child in those days could have missed:




And remember all the crazy movie songs? Like the Govinda-Neelam song Aap ke aa jaane se? Given how good the music is, I am pretty sure its an 'inspired' tune! Govinda's jhatkas and matkas are to die for :)


N warns me about the abrupt start on the next video...on my part, I just could not believe he had even seen the video before!!!


And a final forgettable-video-superhit-song:


Cant believe how bad the choreography was!or how crazy the hero-heroines were!Not to mention the bad fashion trends they set ablaze- I cant help laughing out loud when I think of dhoti suits, banjaras, divided skirts, or baggie pants. N shakes his head thinking about how coloured slacks were once in fashion!I think the image of fat aunties moving on the roads in those slacks has scarred him forever :):)

But no matter how crazy, all these videos will always bring my most cherished memories..my childhood! A time when life was simple...and innocence and carefree laughter were my regular playmates!

Oh my!!!What a trip..needless to say, this was one dinner, N and I thoroughly enjoyed! Just couldn't help sharing it with you :)

Cheers,
V

First 13 days of 2010: Never Let me go, 3 khans and amazing art

Time please!

That's what we yelled as kids if we needed a breather while playing [or in my case, cheat by asking for extra time :)]...20-odd years later, I still want to cheat and ask time to give me a breather. 13 days in the new year have already passed. What the heck?? I haven't done any-any-any!thing in the last 13 days except laze around and waste time with my one and only bakra N. One thing I did do was finished reading Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro [After the much-work, much'er'-fun food marathon in the last week of December, must admit I was quite ready to take a break from food posts]. I had heard some interesting things about the book so picked it up at the library a few weeks back.

Picture source:from here

The story is narrated by Kathy, a 31-year old 'carer' giving the readers a peek into her memories of Hailsham, an offbeat boarding school in England where the children are brought up to believe they are special and different from others. Kathy's memories are mostly connected with her two dear childhood friends, Ruth and Tommy and their teachers at Hailsham and later. Just how 'special' Kathy and Tommy and Ruth are, the reader gets to know at the end. To be honest, the story gets a 'just okay' from me. But its Ishiguro's story telling that is definitely interesting. He manages to paints a picture of Hailsham right before your eyes- something that I know isn't easy with words. Reminded me of Arundhati Roy's God of Small Things. If you have read this book, you know what I mean. Sometimes, its not about the story itself but the way it is told. And just for that, you have to credit the writer. NLMG is one such story.

Speaking about good stories, N and I caught Aamir Khan's 3 idiots last weekend...yes, we were a little late on this one but we wanted to watch this one only in the theatre and the muhurat came by only last weekend..must say, what a fab movie!!!!!!!!!!Loved it...all izz well bhaiyya :) For those of you desis who haven't watched it yet, do yourself a favour and watch it for 3 hours of serious comedy! Also caught the first glimpse of Shahrukh Khan's My name is K-k-k-khan and Salman's Veer...the first seems like any other SRK-Karan Johar movie-foreign locales, multimillion homes and dhumdhum music..the only thing new/interesting seemed to be SRK's autistic character! Sallu's Veer seems equally uninteresting..after having tortured ouselves through some of his recent senseless movies (Mr & Mrs Khanna, Wanted, Hello), I have lost my faith in him....no more Sallu movies for me!Thanks, but no thanks, I say!Isn't movie making supposed to be an art?

While we are on the subject of art, here are an art video I cant resist sharing..got it in a forward email some days back and was absolutely awestruck!



This video shows the winner of " Ukraine’s Got Talent", Kseniya Simonova, 24, drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary Ukrainian people were affected by the German invasion during World War II. Un-freaking-beleivable talent!!! Whatsay?

13 days older in 2010,
V

Kicking off 7-day recipe marathon with WIPGYOR series

Remember I announced in my last post that I will be participating in Nupur's 7-day recipe marathon? So starting tomorrow, until 31st Dec, I will be posting 7 food recipes and that too with a theme.

When I first read Nupur's announcement, I knew right away this would be fun...but to make it even funn-er, I decided to add a theme of own. So here it is, each of my recipes for the next 7 days will be based on the 7 colours of the rainbow!!....with a slight twist, of course! Instead of VIBGYOR, I am going to with WIPGYOR....White comes in instead of Violet and Pink instead of Blue (racked my brain and books for recipes which would be violet or blue but just could not find any!)

Pretty cool, dont you agree? :) If you do, come back tomorrow and the 6 more days after that! To make it easy for my readers, I have now added an email subcription box at top right on the blog...do check it out.

I leave you with the warmest wishes for Christmas...here's a song thats sets the holiday mood!!

Season's greetings,
V

The delicate business called 'Marriage'

The business of marriage is a delicate one. Especially for the guy. Being married for four years now I think I can say this with some authority.

Take Doug and Carrie for instance....this is a husband-wife duo in a popular sitcom called 'King of Queens' which is a regular feature on North American cable.

A picture of Doug and Carrie from 'King of Queens' (picture taken from here)

In one episode, Carrie asks Doug if he thinks she comes across as scary and strong (which she is- a strong personality, that is)..and the question itself scares Doug, who gets all uncomfortable and asks uncertainly 'Is this a trick question? Like the other time when you asked me if you had a moustache and that I should tell the truth and then when I told you the truth you got all mad at me????' Hilarious!!

And then N and I were having our coffee yesterday morning when we came across Ray and Debra (from 'Everybody Loves Raymond', another comedy sitcom on cable here).

Ray and Debra in 'Everybody Loves Raymond' (picture taken from here)

At the beginning of the episode, Deb and Ray, who have been married for a few years, decide to experiment with 'trying to be nice to each other'....something which gets difficult when Ray has to eat Deb's turkey sandwich (Deb's a not-so-good-cook)....so once all niceties evaporate, they come to a truce---he gets to throw her sandwich in the garbage and she gets to call her 'idiot'...good one, I say!

So I turn to N and tell him how much I pity his breed...in all fairness, these poor chaps have a tough job.....every time we ask them a trick question, they have to come up with an answer that is truthful, yet un-hurtful, yet un-patronising!!..or like N quipped, an answer that is 'nice....and to know what 'nice' is , all you need to do is be married long enough and you will know (most probably by bitter experience i.e. answering wrong to the trick question..doing this just once is enough to learn the lesson!).

Coming to trick questions, the mother of all trick questions is that involving a mother-in-law!!Take Ruchi in this video for instance..its not really a trick question for the husband and its a classic case of what is called in Bombaiyya language as 'kaadi karna-cum- kulhaadi pe paaon' ..check out this video!

Fortunately for N, me and N's ma, we have neither the kaadis nor the fire!..N's ma and I get along superbly (touchwood!!!)...while on we are on this topic, here's what N's parents sent us for our fourth wedding anniversary last week....a super, duper surprise---a basket full of love and goodies!!!

************************************************************************************
An announcement: starting on Friday, 25 Dec until 31st Dec, I will be posting 7 food recipes!!.I am taking part in Nupur's (of One Hot Stove) 7-day recipe marathon!

I have an interesting theme in mind on which the recipes will be based...to find out more, come back next Friday.

Excited,
V

P.S. When I told N about my plan to enter into the recipe marathon, he was first a bit worried about how much time I was going spend on this over the holidays...but when I told him that he would get to taste 7 yummy(?) treats each day, he was so much more supportive...hmmm, the business of blogging is quite delicate too, wont you agree?? :)

Let's take a moment to remember

It was Remembrance day in Canada yesterday...once a year, on this day, Canadians remember and honour their soldiers lost in wars & battles. Everywhere all around poppies are sold as an act of remembrance to fallen soldiers at war.To read more about Remembrance Day, click here.

'Poppy' picture taken from here

I wish we had something like this in India...could we not add one day to the long list of the existing religious holidays where we honoured our brave soldiers? It need not even be a holiday for that matter!...if we can adopt all the Mother's day/Father's day/Valentine's day from the West , why not inherit something more meaningful like the Remembrance Day? (dont get me wrong, I think these are great too...but I dont really need just one day in a year to take a step back and let my loved ones know that I love them!)

Anywho, whether or not we ever end up spending a full day commemorating our brave soldiers, lets at least take a moment to thank:
-all the brave soldiers who gave up their lives so that we can be safe
-all the brave soldiers who continue to live a life of hardship and danger so that we can be safe
-and finally, all the families who let these brave soldiers go so that we can be safe

An Indian soldier at the Taj hotel, Mumbai on 26/11 last year, picture from here.

Lets be thankful. That's the least we can do anyways.

Thankful,
V