tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164100482024-03-14T04:49:54.801-04:00I Me MyselfKavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-84664787712413371722015-02-15T17:39:00.000-05:002015-02-15T17:39:19.623-05:00TwoDarling S,<br />
<br />
Last month you turned two. Unbelievable, but true.<br />
<br />
You are growing up very fast, losing the baby-ness. You look more like a little girl than a baby. You speak clearly, question and answer perfectly. You speak in complete sentences, with almost perfect grammar and use the right words. Your Marathi vocabulary is really impressive. Your English is improving too. Still, you are more comfortable with Marathi and want to know English and Marathi words for nearly everything you notice. Your Hindi is limited to the old songs like Lakdi ki kathi, ek chidiya anek chidiya, nanha munha rahi hun and of all the songs, Nakhrewaali...I know. Your baba's choice is, um, awesome. Your favorite songs now range from Pop goes the weasel to Priye paha to Shriramchandra kripalu bhajman to Sakal tirthahuni pandhari mukut mani. Nursery rhymes, marathi devotional, natyasangeet, old hindi film songs, nothing is off the table here.<br />
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You love meeting people - old and young, and dont let language barrier come in between. I feel bad that you hardly get to meet anyone because of the treacherous winter we have had so far. But, but you are not the one to complain. You love watching snow from the patio are content with the bowl of snow I give you to play with your sharkie, octopus, seal and crabbie (all bath toys).<br />
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The day before your actual birthday I baked a simple, eggless chocolate cake and frosted it with Nutella. A little decoration with colored fruit loops and paper flags and a cute cake was ready in a jiffy. Since your birthday was on Tuesday baba had to go to work. So when we came back we all dressed in our nice clothes. You wore a dusty pink lace frock and looked absolutely lovely. You wore silver trinkets and were happiest. Baba got you a minnie mouse balloon. I did a small aarti and you were amused with the fuss. Then we headed out to Barnes and Noble, your favorite store and played at the kids section. Then we made the mandatory visit to the small kiddie cars at the mall which you love. No money spent and we had a wonderful time together.<br />
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Your birthday party was on Saturday evening. Baba took care of the decorations and the living room looked beautiful with read and black giant balloons, the tables decked in red and white and a fun scene setter to complete the Minnie - Mickey Mouse theme. There was ragda pattice, tortilla chips and salsa, cupcakes, fruit yogurt, and juice. Your cake was a delicious pineapple cake with an ombre petal style in peach color. You just loved it and surprised us by actually eating a slice. Talk about setting low expectations. There were just three other families with three little kids. You all had a nice time and the whole affair was quite stress free. Though the cleaning and cooking and decorating part had me worried for a few hours. I know for your next birthday you will have opinions, ideas and I am wondering how that will be.<br />
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You videochat with your grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins. For a whole week people wished you and you very sweetly, to their great delight, thanked them. "Thanks, thank you for your birthday wishes", we have small audio clip recorded which you love to listen to, over and over. :)<br />
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Dear S, wish you a wonderful life ahead, may you be healthy, happy and smiling. And may your Akku Baba be gracious about your growing up. :)<br />
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<br />Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-19854909999719091942014-11-04T17:23:00.001-05:002014-11-04T17:34:34.421-05:00Dearest Mothe Baba<div style="background-color: white; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex; text-align: justify;">
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I love you so much...the fact that I won't see you or hear
you say beta, amma, appi, raja for the rest of my life hurts me deeply. It
feels as if my inside is empty and I am falling into a bottomless pit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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How generous you have been - along with amma... Teaching us
that you don't need money to be kind or to be rich in the real sense.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It's sad that you had to suffer so much in your final few
days. I only hope the end was peaceful and without pain. Amma and your beloved
children were all near you. Was it that even in your final hour you waited for
aai and baba to come all the way from US? Did you see them? Did you make sure
that amma was with aai when you breathed last? <o:p></o:p></div>
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It will also pain K2 that you never got to hold R. He's your
dearest K2's copy and you'd have remembered little K2 running around in
Secunderapur.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I look around, even in my home in this foreign land,
there are so many things which connect me to you. Your picture with amma, the
geet ramayan songs that you introduced us to, your favorite udid varan which is
my favorite too which I won't eat again without missing you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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It will always hurt that your Sahastra Chandra Darshan
didn't happen and nor did you ever visit a foreign country. How much you wanted
to do that, mothe baba!?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mothe baba, I will always cherish in my heart the last few
words you said to me - you wished us happy Dassera. With your usual enthusiasm
and with so much love. The pride in your voice talking to us. I will miss you so much. As I close my eyes I see you waking
up at the crack of the dawn (our fail-proof alarm clock for exams), going for a
walk, sprawled over newspapers (how you missed reading news or anything in
Secunderapur where there were no newspapers and made up by reading every bit of
print you could find), reading your favorite books, watching tv with amma,
humming your favorite songs, teasing and quarreling with amma, enjoying keli
shikran with a slurp, asking for a glass of water with a gesture, cupping your
hand and finally going to bed all bundled up in your sweater and a rolled up
monkey cap. The way you slept wrapped in a shawl, we could never squeeze into
it. I remember the ruby red mole in the middle of your chest, nestled in a bush
of white hair. Your pearl ring, yellow sapphire ring and ganapati pendent. Your
habit of wearing a towel and seating in vajrasana. Your moped which you rode to
Bidar, your Almirah in your room in Secunderapur. Pictures from your childhood-
the sweet cherubic boy that you were at your munj or the handsome young man who
was the darling of his friends.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember the trips to Bidar with you - your DCB bank, the
idlis and dosas at the udupi restaurant, the light green pista icecream in the
end. The gold spot drink and chips at Zaheerabad. The free rein you and amma
gave us of the house and farms at Secunderapur. The cigarette that you quit
when I told you just once. The shenga chutney you ate with the well of oil. The
basundi we lapped up with the milk you boiled, stirring for hours at the fire.
The big steel dabba you lugged back to Hyd and Aurangabad of gulab jamuns which
amma cooked with the khoa you painstakingly made. The somwaar angadis at
Secunderapur where we bought anything our little hearts wished for. Your love
of beans-cutlets which amma made just the way you liked them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember you refusing to wear glasses and reading with
squinting eyes instead. You not drinking even a drop of water while eating your
meal and then gulping down a big tambya of water. How can I forget the hot
water we bathed with? You tended the fires, refilled our gangaal while we
bathed. And the way you bathed - for
almost an hour! And how you washed your hands - lathering up to the elbows. Your
obsession with stocking up on water - you worked tirelessly so that all of us
would have enough water during the hot summer months. Your love of cleanliness
was legendary. You continually picked real and imaginary specks of dirt and
bits of rubbish pinching your toes. Your clothes were always pristine. Your
whites - pure and unblemished. Your sparse possessions always neatly organized.
You carefully washed your clothes by hand and then sun dried them for hours.
How well you folded the crisp dried dhotis that they hardly needed to be
ironed...How event appropriately you dressed, always? And how well put together
you appeared? Smart in suits as well as nehru-shirt - dhoti. Your knowledge of
music - you were a natural, gifted musician. Nobody taught you, but you played
the tabla, harmonium, bulbultarang and basuri. How much you enjoyed good music!<o:p></o:p></div>
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You visited the ADP building with amma, aai, baba - my first
workplace. I will never forget the happiness and pride on your face - you and
amma were so delighted to see this world where your granddaughter worked. You
woke me up for my early morning shifts. You made sure the cab driver who came
to pick me up at that early hour was fully awake. Once you even took a jugful
of water to him asking him to wash his face. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was so hopeful you will recover mothe baba - I am crushed.
I can't bear to think of dear amma who I spoke to this morning. She told me she
spent 60 years with you and you have left her alone. How will she be herself
again? How I wish I could post this to an address where you would read it? I really
wished you got more time with your great grand kids alongwith amma. I wanted to
talk to you some more. I wish I told you again how much I love you and how much
you mean to me. As I write this I remember the Diwali we spent together,
exactly 10 years ago in Konkan. What magical time it was! What will happen to
the Diwali card I sent addressing you and Amma? It was made by S and I am sure
you'd have loved it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have worn your shirts and pants and you have worn my t
shirt - I even used your lemon cream shirt as my engineering college uniform.
:) How I loved freeting you with a huge bear hug, rubbing your shiny bald head
and then panting a huge kiss on your cheek?<o:p></o:p></div>
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With you goes the most beautiful part of my childhood -
Secunderapur, amma, aai, baba, K2, K3 and I - none of us will be the same
again. I dont want to know if there's heaven anywhere. You and amma have give
us our share of heaven right here - our time with you in Secunderapur was
nothing short of paradise. Your love for Secunderapur, the home of your
forefathers was absolute and unwavering, right till the end. And so was your
love of us. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Nobody knows what happens after death. I hope there is
something beyond these realms of life and death where I can see you again. With
the same smile and the serene content look that you wore when aai saw you for
the last time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I wish you and amma had paid attention to your health. That
remains my only complain to you. I hope those of us around amma take care of
her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can go on and on. I hope I will. Holding on to little bits
of memory and trying to make up the whole you.There are so many memories of us
together. They will now haunt us, tug at our hearts, make us smile and bring tears.
They will always remind us of the sweet, doting grandfather you have been. But
they will merely capture the whiff of you mothe baba, won't they?<o:p></o:p></div>
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You will always be in my heart, in my memories and S's wide
smile. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Your loving granddaughter,</div>
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K</div>
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Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-20374049440268317532014-10-01T19:05:00.000-04:002014-10-03T15:51:27.834-04:00In the momentSo I promised myself to write more. The standards have fallen so low that even writing a shopping list these days gets counted towards my promise. I feel I know what being sucked into a black hole is like. Out of "work", a SAHM I seem to have no time at all! How do these women do it all? I have no shame admitting that I no longer have daily baths. Remember the low standards? Then there is my mind which pulls me in several different directions all at once. It wants me to bake a mango cake, try roasted chickpeas from a cookbook, write a story about a dream I had, write some more, do intense yoga, cut, paste, draw, color, play, and so much more. The spying on FB makes it all worse. I end up wondering where my life is going. My FB friends have these perfect pictures. Which make me notice my hair - rough, dry and ever frizzy. Fortunately, these snatches of self doubt and deep introspections last just a few moments - when I am trying to catch breath keeping up with the little typhoon in the house. I alternate between the "God, I have no time to even brush my hair" to "why am I wasting time doing nothing." Then there is vacillation between, "I am lucky to be with S" and "but I am not a productive earning member of society." Hah! The heart knows no peace.<br />
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When I turned the calendar page to October, it hit me that this is the last quarter. The countdown already begins for a new year. I am so not ready. I wonder what resolutions I had when I began this year - fresh, hopeful. I remember vaguely.<br />
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"Be in the moment" - what an irony. "Driving license" - The license is thankfully done. The driving is still tentative and still around the familiar parts of our small town. "Learn to swim" - Done! Albeit just enough to save myself in a pool. But do you that I taught myself how to swim using YouTube videos? Oh yes - just like Sheldon Cooper but I did practice in a real swimming pool. Now allow me to gloat just a little bit. With this resolution I overcame my fear of water and unknowingly my inhibitions. The first was difficult but still much easier than the second. I didn't show but I was infact extremely worried about others' comments and looks. "A grown up woman can't swim?" "She is so awkward!" Quite silly in hindsight. Who gives a damn if I can swim or not? Right? But there I was sweating over it. It was a major lesson for me. It was facing my major personality flaw. Brutal. Very slowly I was able to rise above it, at least in the swimming pool. Focusing only on my breathing, kicking. And it was liberating. This doesn't mean I have gotten over my inhibitions and no longer worry about what people think/say - but yeah I try extra hard to do a thing when I am in reality quite hesitant about it. I got into the swimming pool every day for a month and half and kept going even when on some days all I managed to do was stand in there. Gloating over, huh.<br />
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I realize my first resolution is an eternal work in progress. This mind I tell you. Just when it is in the middle of a big joyous moment, it either races ahead to see if a dark cloud hover nearby or begins anticipating its next happy kick. To this creature no happiness is absolute, complete or perfect. It's an exercise to rein it in. Thankfully S is a pro in this game. I am fortunate to see her at work, I am willing to learn. May be she would teach? One moment at a time.Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-41514008479826549952014-08-27T17:03:00.002-04:002014-08-27T17:10:25.571-04:00Make hay while the sun shines<div style="text-align: justify;">
I cant believe that the much awaited summer will be over in a matter of days. The nights have cooled down already and there's a nip in the air during the day as well. This year taking inspiration from several blogs I made a simple list of things to do during summer. A really simple fun list that intended to make the most of the blue skies, the warm sunshine, the bounty of summer fruit and vegetables and really long days. A, like a good husband agrees with me on most of the things, however thought that such a list kills spontaneity. It soon dawned upon him that with a toddler who is more than a handful, unless we plan things, things never happen. And a list was made.</div>
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Let me see how we fared.</div>
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Picnic lunch - Done</div>
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I LOVE picnics! My idea of a perfect summer day is to pack a picnic basket, find a spot in shade, under a big tree, preferably along a river or a lake and share food, laugh and have fun with friends and family. Lemon rice, tamarind rice, parathas, green chutney sandwiches, mom's special dry onion sabzi, salad, curds and fresh fruit are our picnic staples.</div>
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So we did several picnics and ate some delicious stuff. Pasta salad, grilled burgers and garlic bread, corn on the cob were memorable. We ate along the river Charles, on the monument grounds in DC, in the neighborhood parks and even in our apartment garden.</div>
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Nature walk - Done</div>
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S who started walking around her first birthday is a steady and confident walker these days. She loves to explore on her own and finds "treasures" such as pine cones, dried leaves, plastic wrappers and so on. If we arent looking, these treasures are promptly eaten. I know, eeks! So despite us needing to be super vigilant, we took S for a walk whenever we could. There's a lovely wooded area with a pond and a beach close to our place. We made several trips to the pond and had a great time as a family. S looks out for little bugs, leaves, flowers, birds and correctly tells when she spots or hears one. Then says "Hi! How are you?"A budding nature lover here!</div>
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Visit a zoo/animal petting farm - Done</div>
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We visited two zoos and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. S doesn't notice the big Zebra standing in front of her and notices a chewing gum wrapper lying in the dirt. It was frustrating then and hilarious now. :) But yeah, she warmed up later and loved looking at the different animals. Her favorites were the gorillas, lemurs, butterflies, goats and deers. She had a whale of time petting goats and feeding the deer. After a while she had fed those deers so much that one big fellow started running away. The sight of a toddler chasing a big deer trying to feed him was straight out of America's funniest videos. S also rode several kiddie rides for the first time and that too solo. We were proud of our little girl and also a bit sad. Of course at the growing up too soon part.</div>
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Visit an aquarium - Pending</div>
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Counting on summer's only remaining weekend to go visit the fishies! It'll be fun to see if S recognizes the different fish she knows, the octopus and her beloved seal.</div>
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Blow bubbles - Done</div>
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With a simple straw, a manual as well as a battery operated bubble gun. Such a fun activity for everyone. At one point S got bored of the bubbles, but all us grown up people just didnt want to stop. :)</div>
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Flying kites - Pending</div>
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Not sure if we can get this done. Dont know where we can buy cheap kites. :( Lame excuse I know. But we shall try!</div>
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Take pictures with the famous ducklings - Done</div>
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Dont know why I had this intense desire to get our pics with the bronze ducklings at Boston Commons. They are incredibly cute and there's a bit of history too. So while we are in Boston, like all good Bostonians, we will go and click pictures with the famous duck family. We happened to visit the Boston Commons park on Mother's Day which happened to be the Ducklings' Day (not making this up) and there were little babies and toddlers in duck's costumes waiting in long lines to get their pictures atop one of the ducks.</div>
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Visit the arboretum - A major FAIL</div>
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I couldnt convince A as to why this is different from visiting any other park. If you didnt know this already, I am obsessed with trees, flowers, fruits, seeds, mushrooms, plants, shrubs, and all that falls in the plant kingdom. I know we missed the bus on this to-do because the ideal time to visit would have been spring when the arboretum would be a riot of color with spring blooms. Aah! what a sight that would be...</div>
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Bake cake(s) - Done</div>
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Done and how!? With no experience in baking whatsoever and very little experience in actually eating cakes, I managed to bake a bunch of cakes. May I modestly add that each cake turned out better than the previous one? So now I have a good eggless sponge cake recipe which I can tweak based on what we want that day. Orange - carrot - dates - walnuts, banana - bluberries - walnuts, whatever fruit - nut you can think of, the possibilities are endless. With brown sugar and whole wheat flour and just a pinch of baking soda, they are good for kids too. On a good day our picky eater finishes off a medium slice of cake for breakfast and I tear up. No, really.</div>
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Aside from the list, there was travel, by car, by flights, different time zones, countless hours splashing in the pools, and getting a nice, chocolate brown tan. Now that I look back, it does seem like we made the most of the sunshine.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">S stops to observe a dried leaf.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">A koi fish pond</span></div>
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Banana blueberry walnut cake - eggless :) </div>
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Picture perfect!</div>
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Nail paint after a long while</div>
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Yumm</div>
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S is such a water baby - soaked and thrilled</div>
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Will miss you Mister Sun!<br />
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<br />Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-65644190599997807602014-08-05T22:35:00.003-04:002014-08-05T22:36:04.813-04:00The Happy challenge - day 1Happy Day 1:<br />
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So, I have taken the plunge. To look for happy moments and blog about it. It's to practice being in the moment, being happy and grateful and of course, to blog regularly. Also, I will try hard to not make this into things about S and S alone. Because let me admit, ever since she's here it has been a different kind of happy everyday. Even off days are happy because of her. Aha, there I go again.<br />
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So what was today's happy? I found a willing and affordable swim coach. He's a Serbian student and speaks English quite well. I'm guessing I won't have major problems understanding his instructions. Hopefully, I should be able to get over my fear of water and at least learn basic swimming. People, wish me luck!<br />
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<br />Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-4455466693738533022014-08-05T10:37:00.004-04:002014-08-05T10:37:51.851-04:00Missing aai baba I have returned home to Boston and my parents have stayed back at my sister's. Though I made the most of my time with them during their stay here, two months are just not enough, are they? The farewell at the airport was difficult - the parents and I start tearing up and sniff and sob secretly a few days before the departure - I usually bawl at the actual see off making it infinitely difficult for the parents to keep up a brave face. But this time with little S around, I wanted to stay strong for my parents' sake. Seeing them see off their beloved little grandchild, who young as she is had no idea that she won't see her Aau and Aaba for several months, was heartbreaking. It just killed me to look at them waving at her, with quivering smiles and wet eyes.<br />
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It's been a few days now, with every phone call and hangout session, the heartache gets a bit bearable. S asks in her sweet baby voice, "Aaba, kuthe?", and then answers herself, "bathoom!!" :)<br />
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Anyways. Till your next visit Aai, Baba - stay happy, healthy and don't fight!Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-84905767694885402722014-07-21T15:26:00.001-04:002014-08-23T18:10:45.244-04:00Zindagi jab bhi teri bazm mein...lati hai hume...<br />
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Yeh zameen, chand se behtar...nazar aati hai hume...</div>
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The person I am singing this to is my husband A, just to get the suspense out of the way. And the reason I am having these uncharacteristic romantic thoughts about him is because I am sitting thousands of miles from him and have just postponed (quite gleefully) my trip back home to him, by a week. Gulp. He was sweet about it. His reaction was just the opposite of what mine would have been had I been in his shoes. That's precisely why he's my guy. </div>
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So this guy and I celebrated, hold your breath, NINE years of our wedding and a DECADE of being best (most of the time) friends. </div>
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I often worry why we don't do surprise anniversary or birthday parties or why he never whisks me off to a cruise holiday or such (yeah, these are my worries) and sweat over the total lack of filmy romance in our marriage. Yeah, even an absolute PDA-abhoring unromantic like me desires some romantic gestures. Just when I start losing my hair over these worries, I catch A smiling at me. In a room full of people. Giving me his, "You look great!" look. I blush crimson. I get super conscious. Or when I am mad at something he has done or not done, as I walk into the bedroom I see little S fast asleep in his arms, her head buried in his shoulders and A pacing around, singing completely out of tune. I feel warm and my heart bursts with love. </div>
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So people, this is what my husband of nine years is capable of. Setting my heart aflutter, making me fall in love with him all over again, besides giving me countless reasons to feel blessed and knowing my heart inside out. This more than makes up for his weird logic and long drawn arguments and our collective post argument sulking.</div>
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Dear A, wishing us a belated wedding anniversary and remember, the best is yet to be!</div>
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Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-46414944578644453182014-01-16T19:48:00.000-05:002014-01-16T19:48:08.485-05:00Darling S,I don't know where to begin. Rusty, rusty and rusty is what my writing is. And even rustier is my typing on the ipad. But I know I will write, for one day I would want to look back at this wonderful point in time and relive it again. Last year around this time I was absolutely terrified. The countdown had begun and I was getting sick thinking about all the blood and gore and pain and labor that child birth entails. I know all this is normal and almost every woman does it - but that doesn't make it any less daunting, does it? I have always known myself to be terrified of pain - someone who feared the prospect of removing a tiny splinter. Yeah, that weird patient who howled at the dentist for a routine check up is me. So anyways, here I was biting my chewed-down fingers wondering why I even got myself into this situation. The fear of physical pain was really overwhelming.<br />
And then like countless women who have given birth before me, I went ahead and had you, my baby. And like all the cliches I had read, for that microsecond when I first held you, nestled in my arms, pain was a distant memory.<br />
So the last year has sped by just like that. You continue to amaze us with your new found skills, your sweet babbling, your smiles, gurgles and just your whole self. As you take your first steps, we celebrate your growing independence and sigh - our little baby is almost a toddler.<br />
Well, well, well. Before I get carried away and need to be rescued with a box of tissues, here's our wish for you - stay healthy and happy sweetheart. And always, ALWAYS know that you are deeply loved for what you are and what you choose to be.<br />
Aai & Baba<br />
PS - you are proving to be a daddy's girl, and how! You constantly chant Baba, Baba like a mantra. So far, you haven't been able to say Aai. Ouch! It hurts.Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-83810980645270682312013-07-17T09:50:00.000-04:002013-07-17T09:51:40.993-04:00Just so sad22 (at least) poor children lost their lives in Bihar after eating the mid-day meals served in government schools. And so many more have taken ill. What a sad situation...Does anyone care?<br />
On the one hand there are millions of kids who are homeless, hungry, abused endlessly and vulnerable to even more abuse, struggling to survive and on the other hand are the greedy scamsters who are pilfering away millions and millions and still can't be satisfied. What world is this? I'm so tempted to join the atheists. :'(Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-43535824921329010582013-02-24T18:59:00.002-05:002013-02-24T18:59:43.088-05:00Sweet, tender and beautifulIs how being a mother feels like. Our precious bundle of joy, our daughter S was born on Jan 20, 2013. She arrived one week before her due date, but not a moment too soon.<br />
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With our lives revolving around the little one and her newborn activities, there is time for hardly anything else. The house is filled with the baby stuff, her tiny clothes in the laundry bag, her sweet smell lingers in the air and the favorite activity these days is to stare at this cherubic little person.<br />
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It's frightening how fast time is flying by, S is already five weeks old! A part of me is relieved to have survived the difficult first month, but five weeks already? Go steady little S, for your mamma's sake. :)<br />
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More updates as soon as A and I get back to our senses.<br />
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<img src="webkit-fake-url://88C34716-8FCB-4474-BFEB-6200FB91A022/imagejpeg" />Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-21665555414348982032012-11-16T11:06:00.000-05:002012-11-16T11:06:42.269-05:00Belated Diwali wishes!Wishing you all a very happy (belated) Diwali! I hope you celebrated the festival with your loved ones just the way you wished!<br />
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Our Diwali was made special by K3 and AG who visited us from VA. Or it would have been just another long weekend with just the two of us. With fabulous company, it was all the more exciting to cook special favorites, shop and relax. In the four days of Diwali we cooked up quite a storm, literally. Never before has this little kitchen been so active (not counting mom's endless cooking).<br />
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Day 1 was shev-aloo pohe and ladoo for breakfast and bise bele hule anna and boondi raita with soan papdi for lunch. We ended the day with Skyfall and lunch leftovers.<br />
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Day 2 was more elaborate with shev-upma and soan papdi for breakfast and poori-shrikhand, potato bhaji and lemon rice or chitranna. An afternoon nap was really what the doctor ordered to recover from the lunch but instead we headed to a mall to get our Diwali shopping done. Dinner was a variety of dosas at an Indian restaurant.<br />
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Day 3 breakfast was subdued with just simple oatmeal and toasted bagels as our stomachs struggled from the previous day's eating. But the lunch menu was already planned and there was no looking back! We had black channa usal, bhendi panchamruta, gulab jamun, poli and tondli-bhaat. Yumm!! We seriously needed to rest that day to make breathing space in our well-fed bodies. :) And then we made some pani-poori in the evening to use up that space.<br />
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Day 4 breakfast was non-existent. :) We made some delicous vermicelli kheer, kadhi, simple yellow daal and rice, beans-potato bhaji and mixed peppers-apple raita for lunch. The evening highlight was the motichoor laddoos we bought for Lakshmi pooja.<br />
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The food we cooked had so many memories - we cooked them just the way my mom, amma cooks it. In their typical Maharashtrian-Karnataki style. When I told my grandmother (amma) on the phone that we had a good time at Diwali and really feasted like she would like us to, she specifically asked about every day's meal. :) We are such a foodie family!<br />
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K3 and A were wonderful sports as always, not getting overwhelmed with my bossy behavior in the kitchen and staying calm and getting their tasks done. :) What would I do without them!<br />
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There are a lot of pictures I want to share but would have to wait for K3. She was our official photographer you see.<br />
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And yeah the feasting is not done yet! We have some good old fashioned Diwali faraal of chakali, karanji, shev, ladoo, chvda and chirote coming to us all the way from Aurangabad! :D<br />
<br />Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-29306580136034590522012-10-18T10:35:00.000-04:002012-10-18T10:35:02.426-04:00Sherlocked<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have been a huge fan of detective series for a long time now. Right from Nancy Drew, er...if one could call her a detective. Agatha Christie's books were a feast growing up and I would care for nothing other than a good thick Poirot volume and a cosy seat to rest myself for the afternoon. Ah! Such fun. Though I read all Miss Marple stories I enjoyed Poirot the best from Christie's characters. His jovial, good natured quirks reminded me of my grandfather, and especially his shiny egg-head. :) Those days there was a Poirot tele-serial which I watched religiously. I could not follow the British accent very well but since I had read the stories many times over, I got what was happening. Fredrick Forsythe was loved too for his extremely detailed, thoroughly researched stories and super complex plots and sub-plots. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then there was Sherlock Holmes and his trusted friend, Dr. John Watson. I remember reading Sherlock in school and wondering if I understood it right. The stories were dark, the plot complex and usually some things were just left as it is. Sherlock could not be compared to my beloved Hercule Poirot who was polite and nice to the fault whereas Sherlock came across quite rude really. Gruff, blunt and sometime even hurtful. Gradually, he grew on me. I understood his friendship with Watson. I understood that though he was a brilliant detective, a master at the art of deduction, he had his failings as a human being. Like the rest of us. And that's when comparisons ceased and I started enjoying the series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A couple years back I got my hands on the entire collection courtesy Kindle and I enjoyed Sherlock Holmes adventures all over again. On our trip to London, we visited Baker Street and I got a picture of mine with Sherlock's statue. It was a dream come true! Yeah, that's how silly and ardent fans are - I know he's just a character out of someone's imagination. But what the heck, I love him! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then in India last Diwali I happened to watch BBC's tele-series Sherlock. An amazingly gripping contemporary take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic, the 90-minute long episode brings to life all the eccentricities of Sherlock and more. If Sherlock Holmes were to walk the streets of London today with the latest cell-phone stuck to his ear, it would be like this. Benedict Cumberpatch as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson are a dream to watch. The dialogues and the screenplay are superlative allowing the viewers to enjoy a generous helping of British wit and humor. Ben's mannerisms, the flick of his artistic fingers, the gait, the restlessness which is so Sherlock Holmes is absolutely brilliant. Freeman's Dr. Watson is so believable, so upright, so honest and so loveable! He's the perfect foil to Sherlock's high intensity dramatics. London plays an important role too for it's Sherlock's playground, the city he knows like the back of his hand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The extremely talented writers, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have adapted the classic in tune with their unique interpretation. There's a lot more drama and emotional conflict than what meets the eye. The final work product is enthralling, engaging and completely satisfying. Of course they have taken liberties with the original, after all it's their take. For one, Sherlock doesn't say "Elementary!" Still there are no complains at all as a fan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last week A and I were watching the last episode of Season 2 - The Reinbach Fall. The same falls where Sir Arthur's Sherlock and his arch enemy Moriarty both fall to their deaths. The readers know that the celebrated author had to revive his hero after nearly ten years bowing to the demand of thousands of miserable fans. So, effectively, Sherlock doesn't die in the story. Now, in this series the story is changed quite a bit with the Fall being symbolic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spoiler alert - the story progresses to show Sherlock accused of being a fraud and the criminal behind all the cases he has helped solve. I watched in shock as they showed that he jumps to his death admitting in his last call to Dr. Watson that he's indeed a fraud. And he's dead! I'm so involved at this point that I'm sobbing uncontrollably, blabbering mindlessly, "But they cant kill him like this in disgrace...he doesn't die here..." A is beyond amused, he's laughing so hard his face is red and looks like he'd choke. But I dont care, I'm at the depths of despair - how could they kill Sherlock Holmes like this! Now, this is the power of storytelling. You forget it's a story. I know I'm a fan and already a believer, but mind you I'm not easy to trick. A was quick to regain his composure and tried to placate me by saying they wont do this - how can they kill the hero in disgrace. I was still weeping silently with Dr. Watson as he mourned his dear friend at his grave. Several long seconds later the camera shifted to reveal the familiar profile, Sherlock Holmes, hiding behind the trees. Ah! What a relief! So yes, there's at least one more season. Releasing next fall. One full year of waiting. Difficult, but certainly bearable with six old episodes to be watched over and over again! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Pic source: google.com</i></span><br />
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Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-58875029223094449792012-10-09T11:07:00.000-04:002012-10-09T11:15:36.660-04:00Some more nostalgia<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In exactly a week, mom and dad will leave for India. :( After every few hours I feel saddened by the thought. I will have to think about the time difference before calling them up every now and then. Technically I said my goodbyes when I left K2's place last month and did it quite dramatically. Of course knowing me it was sure that after spending almost 3 months with them, I wasn't going to be all cheerful, waving a ta-ta at the airport, wasn't it? But I surprised myself - the crying that started at the airport continued intermittently throughout the pan-American flight and hasn't stopped even now. The melancholy of the fall season and the chill in the air (and the sight of whole heads of broccoli and cabbage languishing in the crisper) make me wanna run back to my home in Aurangabad, where I'm a child again and my time with my parents is not limited to any visa restrictions. Also, most of sensible dreams (when I am not dreaming of horror stories and murder mysteries) see me in my bed in Aurangabad, sleeping next to K2. When I wake up I am a little sad and disappointed that I'm in a different time now. Sometimes I feel guilty that missing my childhood home, my parents and K2, K3 with such intensity, is it unfair to A? Hmm...I think not. He knows me well, he knows my wiring is weird. I still have the instincts of the prehistoric cavesmen, I want my entire family living together in one cave. A big roomy cave with a good internet connection that is. :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Till I meet my besties again, here's wishing them a wonderful time back home. I miss you already!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyways. A and I took off to Vermont for two days. Till we set off A wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy myself and in turn if he would have any peace. I was feeling feverish and had a slight to severe headache. Thankfully, I forgot all about it the moment we stepped out. Exactly like A had predicted. *Rolls eyes* </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Like professional leafers, we took to quaint little towns, tasted the local cheeses and fruit preserves, bought samples of maple syrup. We timed our trip really well and were rewarded with a spectacular display of fall foliage. Rust, crimson, copper, gold, scarlet and tinge of green - it was a mesmerizing burst of colors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the spirit of the season, we raided the dollar tree store and decorated our patio with tiny plastic ghosts, witches, skeletons, bloody banners and halloween lanterns. And yes, we have our own pumpkins too! We have made it into a proper festival and may even squeeze in a trip to the temple. ;) I can already smell Dasserra in the air so listen up Fall Melancholy, you are not feared anymore. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-42903326105604466562012-09-20T12:20:00.000-04:002012-09-20T12:25:50.034-04:00Ganapati!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ganapati is
my favorite festival – after all I’m a Marathi mulgi. :) I get very nostalgic
around this time reminiscing about all the Ganapati’s from my childhood - the
excitement of seeing Ganesh idols in the market, the hustle bustle, the festivities,
the food, the music, the programs organized by Ganesh mandals, the processions
bringing Ganapati home and then the extremely emotional visarjan or immersion
processions on Anant Chaturdashi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Weeks
before Ganesh Chaturthi, the grounds next to our home would buzz with the idol
makers who would work in a frenzy to add final touches to the thousands of Ganesh
idols neatly lined on wooden benches. Some artists would focus on huge idols,
some at least 10 feet tall. On our way home we would gaze in awe at the idols
coming to life. With his cherubic features, kind eyes and a tiny mouse for
company, Ganesh for us, is the most adorable of Gods. Ganapati is the God of
knowledge and learning and so our pencil boxes, study-table, books, etc would
have tiny Ganapati pictures pasted all over them. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We would start counting days
to Ganesh Chaturthi eve when we’d choose “our” Ganapati and bring him home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Decoration
for Ganapati was a favorite, much-awaited activity. I use to traumatize K2 and
K3 as I considered myself really creative. The poor little girls in their
excitement ignored my bullying and worked hard with colored papers, glitter,
glue and what not. Most of our decorations used to be hand-made, except for
those mandatory lights and paper-chain garlands. Honestly our work used to
sloppy at best but the pride and happiness we experienced to have “readied” the
place for our beloved Ganapati was priceless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On Ganesh
Chaturthi eve, we would accompany dad to bring home our Ganapati. After much
care, discussion and deliberation, mostly based on the color of the pitamber
and the overall “cuteness” of the idol, we used to select one small sized
Ganapati. With much love and tenderness, just like one fusses over a baby, we
would carry the idol home, all wrapped up in a cloth so that nobody saw him
before his sthapana the next day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ganesh
Chaturthi day, a school holiday, would begin bright and early. Mom would get
busy in the kitchen preparing the usual festival food so that the prasadache
taat (offering for the Gods) would be ready in time. We would spend an insane
amount of time doing rangoli in the courtyard – again yours truly bossing over
helpless K2 and K3. :( Then mom and dad would be called to mandatorily admire
our art, which they faithfully did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a quick
bath we would dash out to pick “durva”, the fine grass like herb which happens
to be Ganapati’s favorite. Durva grows along the road side, in open grounds,
etc. It’s also sold around Ganesh Chaturthi. It needs to be picked, cleaned
thoroughly and tied in tiny bunches of 5, 11, 21, 51 and/or 101 stalks. Then we used
to pick flowers from our garden. Red jaswand, rose, kanher, aboli and parijat –
they are all Ganapati’s favorite flowers. Dad would also buy roses and lotus
flowers. With this done, we three girls would be done with our work for the
day! Phew! :) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then would
begin the long wait for the pooja and prasad. Usually at around noon, our
Ganapti would be ready to be “installed” and we would sing five to seven aartis
with gusto, accompanied with taal and ghanta. The whole atmosphere would turn
magical once Ganapati took his place in our devghar. Adorned with flowers,
garlands, durva over his head, colorful lights twinkling, he appeared to smile
at us. We would yell “Ganapati Bappa Moraya” at the top of our voice. We
imagined that Ganapati was very happy looking at our decoration and the 21 sweet
modaks mom would have placed before him. Mom always fried modaks made out of
wheat flour. Of course the prasadache taat would have our favorite foods as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The 10-11
day festival would thus begin. Every morning we would scout for durva and
flowers, do Ganapati’s arati in the mornings and evenings as well, visit our
friends’ to take blessings from their Ganapatis, go out to sarvajanik Ganapati
mandals to admire the Ganesh idols and the different themes of decoration,
participate in various competitions organized by our colony’s Ganesh mandal. To
add to the merriment and feasting, Gauri or “Laksmya – pair of Laxmis” would
visit in between for three days. Though we didn’t have the practice of erecting
Gauri idols in our place my mom would invite our girl friends for lunch. The
highlight would be a creamy rice kheer. At my grandparents’ place, Gauri idols
are erected and there’s serious work that goes in the decoration. My youngest
mama who is very enthusiastic when it comes to Ganapati/Gauri decoration, even
has a bamboo structure in place which can be erected easily that works as a
mandap or canopy. All he has to do is drape silk sarees over it. This frees up
his time to add more detail in the decoration – different lights, crystals,
etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As days zoomed towards Anant Chaturdashi or the last day of the festival, again a
school holiday, our hearts would grow heavy at the thought of saying goodbye to
our Ganapati. We felt very protective towards this baby faced diety – so much
so that we hoped people would stop immersing Ganapati idols on the visarjan
day. With tearful eyes we would sing the last arati in the evening which we
would do as late in the evening as possible just so that the Ganapati stayed a bit
longer. With a little “khau” of coconut, peanuts, poppy seeds and jaggery for
his journey, we would follow our dad to immerse our Ganesh in the nearby well. Chanting
“Ganapati bappa moraya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya” we pleaded with him to visit
us soon next year. The house felt empty in the evening and nothing would lift
our spirits. We felt such sadness while we chanted in chorus “Ganapati gele
gavala, chain padena amhala.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ironically,
A’s family doesn’t celebrate Ganapati festival for some weird reason. I was
overcome with sadness when his mom told me this after our wedding. :( Not fair, right? I haven’t made peace with it
yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyways. As
I count my blessings this Ganesh Chaturthi, I wish you readers all the happiness,
peace and prosperity. I leave you with the following pics, all the decorations
are handmade, lovingly and painstakingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ganapati at
K3’s in Virginia (2012)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gauri/Laksmya
at my grandparents’ in Hyd (2011)</span></div>
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Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-79403246558515035252012-08-14T17:40:00.000-04:002012-08-14T17:40:11.261-04:00Another pictureAnd last one for some time, I promise. :)<br />
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Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-35387724961984170902012-08-10T15:54:00.000-04:002012-08-11T13:21:09.155-04:00A long way to go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My first attempt on the WACOM tablet. As you can see, I have a long long way to go before I can start creating something worthwhile... the only upside is, it's super fun to keep trying! :)Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-53416669735106110352012-08-08T14:55:00.000-04:002012-09-20T12:20:55.211-04:00I passed CFA level 3!
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Oh
yeah! I passed CFA level 3! I’m so happy and proud! So happy that I passed, so
proud that I stuck to my daily study schedule for four months diligently. My
parents who are with me to celebrate the moment are overwhelmed with happiness
and emotion.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The results email came yesterday and since I
couldn’t muster courage to look it up myself, A did it for me. After about
400-450 hours of studying, I felt confident that my preparation for the exam
was the best of all the levels. However, the whole exam experience itself was
one of the most stressful things I have ever done. So much so that I had a
blinding headache for a couple days after the exam. I wasn’t very happy about
my performance in the essay-type questions format. So, the last two months'
wait for the result was very painful. I know there’s always another shot but it
would have been such a shame to flunk after slogging for months together… and
what a joy it is to pass all the levels in the first attempt!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took
the level 2 in 2009 and there was a long gap of 3 years before I took the level
3 this year. My hurting hand, work related troubles and our moves all came in
the way. I worried if I would have to start from scratch, what if I no longer
had the drive needed for the exam. When I took off from work at the beginning
of this year one of my goals was to be done with CFA. Thank God, that’s
accomplished.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 days before the result came out I told my mom
that maybe I should think of changing my field of work, maybe I was done with
financial advisory/investment industry. Haha, that was before the results! I’m
not done, yet! The thought of seeing the letters CFA next to my name once I get
back to work is so delightful, so thrilling, so sweet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 10pt;">Ha! It will take a few days for me to get back to
normal. Every now and then, I smile to myself and think in disbelief, wow! Did
I just pass level 3? To those who are thinking what’s the big deal, it's just
an exam - I'm sorry, but you will not get it. To those, let me just say, why
don’t you see for yourself. :p </span></div>
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Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-88100182981839066202012-06-08T15:56:00.000-04:002012-06-08T15:56:04.888-04:00Here we are<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There are some things in life which are quite beyond one’s
control. Like meeting your life partner. It’s as if two random people cross
each other’s paths by chance and in one magical moment there’s realization that
there’s nothing random or by chance. It was meant to be, my friends.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was working at my first job and that’s where I met A.
There was no reason for our paths to cross but cross they did. He cracked a
joke and I laughed louder than the others and he was amused. Within a matter of
six months we became really good friends. Then came the unthinkable, I fell in
love! And thankfully it was mutual. :) We got married within a year of knowing
each other. He soon came to know that I have a loud, hearty laugh and sometimes
laughing fits.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our friendship has evolved beautifully over the years, through
tears and smiles, ups and downs, tax filings and loan payments, visa interviews
and passport renewals, tatkal bookings and moving apartments. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A is the perfect complement to my ethereal moods. His cool
calm balances my restlessness. His adventurous spirits lift me up from my
unknown, imaginary fears. I must add that my optimism wins over his occasional
cynicism. Of course there are times when I yawn through his (many) discourses
on philosophical topics, but then his jokes make me smile even when I don’t want
to. My little secret that I don’t mind sharing here - I usually want to really
laugh at A’s jokes because they are that funny but at the same time I try to
keep a straight face lest he starts thinking that he’s very funny. This is
exactly what he does to me. Every time I have an out of the box idea, for the
first few seconds his face is like “Wowza!” and his words are, “Yeah, I was
thinking we should do the same thing.”</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I used to think that I’m a romantic at heart. However I’ve
recently realized that I’m not. Recently meaning since I started writing this post.
Which means I may never be able to write another love story like Erich Segal.
But it also means there is no pressure on me to surprise A with candles, cakes,
red hearts or such. Flowers are another thing altogether and A must keep buying
me flowers for his own sake. </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If anybody is still reading the post and is wondering where
this is going, well, for the confused reader’s benefit, A and I completed seven
years of marriage in May. Yeah, it was all meant to be. :)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span>Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-63435511953288860502012-02-26T18:59:00.002-05:002012-09-20T12:22:08.910-04:00Where are you, Spring?<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In preparation to being full-time unemployed, I had made a quick list of things that I want to do - which I always dreamt of and never had time for, those kind of things. Since it's my list, it had to be vague, idealistic, and all over the place. I mean, really all over the place. It has things like - spend some quality time with my inner self. And then there's also one about revamping my entire wardrobe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To be honest, revamping wardrobe has been my lifelong dream - for the past few years. Looking at how well put together other girls/women around me are - regardless of the time of the day, I get really frustrated and announce to everyone who would care to listen that that's it. I'm going to revamp my wardrobe this weekend. A knows me too well to worry about the mega splurging plans. He knows I will end up buying at most 2-3 tops on my next shopping spree and forget that I was there to almost raid the entire store.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyways, coming to my list, I love taking a walk in a nice, not too cold, not too hot weather picking up small pebbles, dried leaves, nuts, interest looking twigs, feathers and other little treasures. Now this is my quirk- what's rubbish to others can be a <em>find</em> for me. I bring all this "treasure" home and hoard it. I may use it in some craft or just decorate it around the house. But mostly not. My folks have taken all this quite kindly. With every house we moved, my dad made sure that my stuff moved as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I digress again. Well, I thought now that I'll have more time on hand I can make frequent “field trips” and collect many nice things. Or at least explore the neighborhood. Will you be surprised that I have been a complete home-body not even getting out of the house till A calls to explicitly tell me to go get some fresh air? Oh yeah, it's really terrible. It's still quite cold here (no snow though) and even for a short walk one needs to get ready – woolens, coat and all. Too much of an effort really. Most of the time I'm plonked by the patio with a book in hand, gazing at the chubby squirrels climbing up-down the trees. And since the book fails to hold my interest most of time, like a peeping Tom I keep an eye on what the neighbors are doing. I spot this Indian woman cleaning her house every morning for hours together. She dusts and wipes the blinds one flap at a time. I wonder when was the last time I cleaned blinds…I mean I clean like a maniac in my own way but this lady takes the cake, icing and all! Of course all this wonderment is while I’m staring at her. I realize a bit late that since I can see her so clearly, she must see me as well. I sit by the open patio afterall. It’s not difficult to guess what she must be thinking about yours truly. Not very kindly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yes, a lot of thought-experiments are happening with no theories to prove. :) Thankfully, spring is almost here and I can’t wait to get walking around!</span>Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-89659696057423566742012-02-17T13:37:00.003-05:002012-02-17T13:44:13.965-05:00iPaintto make me happy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsQtPJFkMtCmavoN9UyRmU-9Qa8iCygC6S7Gj7kRtTzLdI6QONY9Qu3HcM8pZMrO9fY7JDpAsooJTGmiKgXlazqB4R1OSxsSbYfopohBM44_x-cKccHsNAX1Jlgt0l_EKf6F2/s1600/painting.png"><img style="width: 313px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710176296916090994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsQtPJFkMtCmavoN9UyRmU-9Qa8iCygC6S7Gj7kRtTzLdI6QONY9Qu3HcM8pZMrO9fY7JDpAsooJTGmiKgXlazqB4R1OSxsSbYfopohBM44_x-cKccHsNAX1Jlgt0l_EKf6F2/s320/painting.png" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiM4wilUUDEUMuBtY55SO8q8I999dLJqZk4jeUyXBwPzEokYmmxS0Wl4Pb_3FdMB9yRmbr3v-kGAnFgEGRqi0LM6F-CfrJwHzdtyTSIu4ZcKjF6VTexJVM0A0He-4WmY-PRxBo/s1600/IMG_0979.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710176293195562338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiM4wilUUDEUMuBtY55SO8q8I999dLJqZk4jeUyXBwPzEokYmmxS0Wl4Pb_3FdMB9yRmbr3v-kGAnFgEGRqi0LM6F-CfrJwHzdtyTSIu4ZcKjF6VTexJVM0A0He-4WmY-PRxBo/s320/IMG_0979.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtypxoQt1Z32ZDXMaGf0ZPUnKKzp1qGPRUF-iWnSj47TQWpug_Qhyphenhyphenozm9TqbB2eZeoh1gvvRevIjFhomnDdJOxlcF-ENB_N20GlxIGiHV2MKYO5kY0CFUW1vbWYR26YEtqm729/s1600/DSC00881.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710175866333673266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtypxoQt1Z32ZDXMaGf0ZPUnKKzp1qGPRUF-iWnSj47TQWpug_Qhyphenhyphenozm9TqbB2eZeoh1gvvRevIjFhomnDdJOxlcF-ENB_N20GlxIGiHV2MKYO5kY0CFUW1vbWYR26YEtqm729/s320/DSC00881.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGthe2dJL6nTMhZaJ8loqD8bcrCsesZDsf2gH0UalEd5A5PrIKiN9-1BaGB_LcomEfUdvjHkg5KZWPQkWEFGdOFilwfelIsYKEH5ntIn_YnsJzMvZGrGGX1xkhp0pbuFkNc_fS/s1600/sunflower.png"><img style="width: 262px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710176315986131618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGthe2dJL6nTMhZaJ8loqD8bcrCsesZDsf2gH0UalEd5A5PrIKiN9-1BaGB_LcomEfUdvjHkg5KZWPQkWEFGdOFilwfelIsYKEH5ntIn_YnsJzMvZGrGGX1xkhp0pbuFkNc_fS/s320/sunflower.png" /></a>Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-29215389095551450582012-01-31T12:19:00.011-05:002012-09-20T12:23:37.268-04:00The year that was<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I planned to pretend that I didn’t notice the year slip by. The downside of being a lazy blogger is that you have to think very hard about what you really did over the year. Let me attempt a quick download on what’s been happening so far – be warned that most of the happenings don’t fall under the breaking-news category. I guess the “most of the happenings” part will keep some interest alive. ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">January 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">– The year started on a high note – K3, my darling little sister got married to AG. It was a beautiful ceremony – none of the usual bickering that’s taken granted for in Indian weddings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I gave a flavor of my “strict aversion to any kind of fun” by promptly going to bed when my entire clan danced away to glory at the seemant pujan which coincided with the New Year celebration. A was disgusted, to say the least!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Rest of January to April</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">– Other than the unprecedented snow storms in the north east, nothing that I can remember. Well, I want to forget what I did at work as this period is our official busy season. What, haven’t you heard of such a concept before? Lucky you, must say!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I sure remember the historic win of the men in blue, in April!! Oh my, what a joy it was to watch that victory! Yeah…I didn’t see the game for the fear of jinxing anything. Haha, things we silly fans do for the team to win! I’ll remember that wonderful moment for a really long time. (The later England and Australia tours – I don’t even care)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">– A’s parents arrived on their maiden trip to the US. Unfortunately for them the summer started very late and it was mostly cold and wet during their stay. But we had a good time – good food and good talk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A super short get-together of the three sisters, their husbands and two sets of in-laws. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cheering at K3’s graduation. A super-hectic yet memorable trip to NYC with everyone in tow. Was mighty pleased with pictures of this trip – finally, I’m beginning to move towards being photogenic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">June</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">– Niagara again, in a gang of 11 this time! Missed K2 and Maks sorely.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A wonderful surprise was to run into G, my lost-and-found friend from school. Thus the conclusion is that the probability of two Indian women running into one another is the highest at Niagara Falls. That’s a good indicator of the sheer number of desis there, isn't it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">July</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">– Discovered a splendid getaway in NH, just a couple hours drive for us. Reconfirms my belief that I’m happiest near a water body no more than one foot deep. This tiny brook of a river, Pemi, meets all my criteria of how playful and friendly a river should be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">August – hmm…I don’t remember anything. Never mind, you are not missing anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">September - December</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Now, September onwards things really got moving at a break-neck speed so I’ll leave out the chronology part of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Moving apartments (packing, repacking, unpacking, cleaning – not just regular but scrub- till-it-shines heavy duty cleaning)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A memorable trip to Grand Canyon (subject of another post) – what a place this is! Highlights include the chopper ride, the boat (pontoon or something) ride, the yummy lunch at the ranch and of course the gorgeous panoramic views.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A dazed trip to Vegas – seriously, am I an oddball to wonder what the big deal is about!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A really short but incredible trip to London squeezed in somehow in the overall chaotic scheme of things. (Yet another post, I promise)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A trip to India with no clue about where would we end up in a couple of months time –that things fell into place without us doing much is a huge relief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Met P, S and PK and their spouses. Such a joy to see old friends. And an even greater joy to see them happily settled with their spouses…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And the biggest news of the year happened towards the fag end – I quit my job of 6 years! Yes, after months of agonizing over it. No matter how hard I try to downplay this big change in my life, I fear getting up in the middle of the night in cold sweat, regretting. So far I haven’t fully digested the idea of being unemployed so the regret hasn’t happened yet – I still mourn on Sunday evenings for a bit before I realize that Monday mornings shouldn't bother me now! ;) That said, I LOVED my work and absolutely miss some very nice people I met there. However, I’m really happy that I don’t need to tolerate <i> some </i> people any more. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So actually, 2011 saw us doing different things, visiting new places, meeting new people and several old friends, and making some important decisions. I think it was overall a good year for us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The New Year started on a promising note as well. My mom’s book was released – the result of her tireless efforts for the last 6 years. Such a proud moment and am I glad I was there to celebrate! (Another post, I promise for sure!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Spent a wonderful week in Aurangabad with mom-dad and hogged on my favorite foods. How I missed home!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the meanwhile, I have also managed to check off two more jyotirlingas from the list of 12. Then there was this trans-Atlantic trip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My resolutions for 2012 are all over the place – creative, fitness and life related. And of course to be a more regular blogger. For once, I want to be ambitious and over-achieve. That’s a good sign I guess.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(PS: This post is for PK, my dear friend who hasn’t given up on me or this space! :))</span></i>Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-74368045611433628932011-08-09T12:02:00.000-04:002011-08-09T12:10:24.205-04:00August, here i come!What are the different excuses you come up with to skip your daily jog/run/yoga?
<br />Here's a peek into mine -
<br />
<br />-I’m tired
<br />-I need to rest (since i dig trenches at work)
<br />-It’s too late
<br />-I’m hungry
<br />-It’s raining
<br />-It might rain
<br />-There are weird looking people on the streets
<br />-There is a giant dog in the park
<br />-There is a nervous dog in the park
<br />-I’m too embarrassed to run (the pitiable way I run) with so many experts running
<br />-I don't have a proper running outfit
<br />-It’s too hot
<br />-It’s too cold
<br />-just like that!
<br />
<br />The ones below take the cake as the lamest excuses ever.
<br />
<br />-I can’t unlock the apartment door (?!?)
<br />-Now that I have opened it, I can’t lock the door
<br />
<br />To be fair to yours truly, it has rained for the last few days and the wooden door doesn’t open/close properly.
<br />
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<br />Anyways, it’s high time I make some fitness goals – so in response to K2’s call, here’s my goal for the month of August - Run 3 rounds around the park (non-stop 15 mins) and run a total of 6 rounds (run and walk – 30 mins). Boo me if i chicken out!
<br />Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-36352349408060979922011-07-11T15:11:00.000-04:002011-07-11T15:13:07.634-04:00Simple joysI’m not a big fan of firecrackers. Never been one. A strange kid I was - I always worried that the someday some rogue firecracker would land in my ear and burst there. Gawd! The misery of having a vivid imagination.<br /><br />Anyways – the promise of spectacular, jaw-dropping to the floor type of fireworks took us to the Charles riverbanks 4 hours before the designated time. The time was spent watching hordes of people munching on their snacks, guzzling buckets of beer and soda, and fooling around in wacky outfits. The impossibly cute kids were also spotted and they were really the saving grace. With no food, water or voluntary entertainment, and (er..ahem…filthy port-a-potty’s) time moved slowly. And miraculously with it my mood turned from my not so gentle “l’ll burn down everything” to “yeah, I’m enjoying myself”.<br />The fireworks, true to the promise, delivered. They were stupendous, out of this world and had me gaping at the whole burst of stars with an open mouth. The bestest I have ever seen. <br />So when a 4-day weekend came to an end, the fireworks ensured that I slept like a happy child. Not scared of office anymore. :)Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-31769042108010702152011-06-23T13:24:00.000-04:002011-06-23T13:26:02.261-04:00I'm alive<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCUHIz4D6EHaR-z_vsAalkJA7TMiITPMPd_wAQluSWXz8ix__kpjEH4Ay3ospGVsekrBNP1yEC60WxsyiHqPYja6uyN1olhT5evV2pmdZfQAWwnAnSPOE1LkRDm86pHOlpOFI/s1600/daydreaming.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621467716219556562" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCUHIz4D6EHaR-z_vsAalkJA7TMiITPMPd_wAQluSWXz8ix__kpjEH4Ay3ospGVsekrBNP1yEC60WxsyiHqPYja6uyN1olhT5evV2pmdZfQAWwnAnSPOE1LkRDm86pHOlpOFI/s320/daydreaming.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>just day dreaming....</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16410048.post-11322659061180878422010-07-19T14:59:00.000-04:002010-08-23T14:07:00.280-04:00I HATE goodbyesSo after a surreal, almost dream-like two-month stay with us, my parents left for India. This is the longest that we got to stay together after I left for Hyderabad in 2002! To say I miss them would be an understatement but I will just leave it at that. I dread the thought of returning to an empty house tonight. I feel very bad for all the times I was harsh with dad for eating sweets...<br /><br />Just so that I focus on something and not mope around – I plan to master the hula hoop by July 25th and that’s a promise! Just to up the stakes – either I hula hoop for at least 2 minutes or cook gulab jamuns for A and K3! :D Let’s see which way the hoop swings.Kavshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15782952908742452819noreply@blogger.com5