Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Quick cooks, miss and completely different

1. Dinner is cooked and ready in a jiffy. It's not so bad when you don't have to do it alone.
2. The cyclone misses Mumbai and the rains let up in Pune too. Everyone heaves a sigh of relief.
3. Monty Python's 'And Now For Something Completely Different'. It's weird and of course, side splittingly funny. Highly recommended.

November rain, making up for lost time and dentist

1. It has rained non stop all day. In the afternoon, it's just the right weather to cuddle up and snooze. Having taken the day off helps.
2. I spend the day with Tanmoy, catching up on lost time when he wasn't here for a fortnight.
3. It's good to know a dentist who will not fleece you. And to not feel nervous in the dentist's chair.

Monday, November 09, 2009

Heady, sunset drive and golden glow

1. Savita's firm fingers massage the hair oil into my scalp with even strokes. After she is done, I'm left with a delightful aroma lingering around my head and a drowsiness. And my hair feel so light and soft after I wash it.
2. The route to Lavasa is beautiful. We catch the sunset at the dam there, with the water turning orange and gold. I've forgotten my camera, but Tanmoy's cell phone sports a decent one, and we can at least capture the moments.
3. The dress Tanmoy got me from Bhopal is a rich golden silk. I like the glow it lends to my face.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Call, support and walk alone

1. Tanmoy doesn't forget to call.
2. My boss stands by me when he knows it's not my fault.
3. After the party, I walk back to the car alone. It's a 5 minute walk and I'm a wee bit nervous because the steers are deserted. But as I walk at a brisk pace, I discover what a fine night it really is, and find myself wishing I had to walk farther.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Offer, free-bies and Beauty Shop

  1. While I'm standing at the checkout counter at Big Bazar, waiting for the cashier to tell me how much my grocery and stuff has tallied up to, he suddenly disappears from the counter without a word. I'm begining to get annoyed at being made to wait without an explanation, when he reappears, holding a set of prettily painted juice jar and glasses. My bill has crossed the amount which allows me to get this set by paying just a 100 rupees extra. I can't resist the offer...
  2. The bagful of free perfume samples that come along when I buy a perfume.
  3. Watching feel-good movies on the telly. There's this category of movies where the underdog wins in the end, overcoming all odds and having fun in the bargain. I just love watching them. Today it was Beauty Shop.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Awake, Answer and I'm ok

  1. I feel the way one can only when one has had a full night's sleep.
  2. Will she? Won't she? She will.
  3. It's Friday tomorrow. I had been wondering what I'm going to do all alone over the weekend, and had secretly stopped looking forward to it. Suddenly there's plenty to do, and I'm waiting for tomorrow to end.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Peep toes, breakthrough and sleeping beast

  1. I like the way the silver-grey peep toes look on my feet.
  2. There's some breakthrough in a particularly complex piece of work I'm doing and on the way back to my desk (after checking no one's looking), I do a little jig to celebrate.
  3. "Georgie, your eyes are drooping. You're gonna fall asleep sitting on that bean bag any moment now." "Na na Rashmi. I'm fine. See, I'm wide awake." Five minutes later, we hear first a gentle snore and then a slightly louder one.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The gap, backup plan and nerve soother

  1. You expect the worse. And then it doesn't happen.
  2. I've been trying for more than an hour to get Picasa to upload my Kashmir pics, but apparently its not to be. I mention this to Tanmoy, and he says he'll bring over his laptop tomorrow, and we can try on it.
  3. I invite myself over to Dharana's 'coz I'm a little annoyed and could use some distraction. She makes me a really delicious cold coffee.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

1. Kiran has very sweetly not only agreed to lend me his tripod stand for carrying along to Kashmir, but also remembered to get it for me today.
2. Dirty Dancing 2. I just love the way they dance with so much abandon and sensuality.
3. Today I finally get the time I have been craving for. I feel at peace.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Kaminey, George and happy ending

1. Kaminey. What a sleek, crazy movie. It's complete madness.
2. George has moved to Pune. This is the first step towards getting the gang together again. It is so good to know that he'll be around now.
3. A frustrating day ends. And it ends on a happy note.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Aroma therapy

1. As soon as I open the jar of tea, the aroma wafts through. And then when the tea is boiling on the stove, the vapours have a richer smell. I wonder if tea would be so popular sans the aroma.
2. I don't have any jackets which I can carry along to Kashmir and am wondering, rather reluctantly I must add since I know they will have a limited use here in Pune, whether to buy one. I mention this to Arminder, and she pooh poohs the idea of buying. Instead, she lends me a couple of her rather smart ones.
3. I'm rather high strung all day and need something to soothe my nerves a bit. The first thing that comes to mind is a compilation of instrumental music by Bhaskar Chandavarkar, called Fire. Each piece is about 6 minutes long and all one needs to do is sit quietly, close one's eyes and listen, blocking away distraction. The music is so potent, one sees fire in it's various forms - sometimes it's just a flame, at another the Agni in a yagya. At one time it's a swarm of playful fireflies and the later, a raging forest fire.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Survivor, balm and end

1. I last through a frazzled, panic inducing, brain paralysing day. And I even manage to get my brain working again.
2. I'm tired. But there are a few hugs waiting to take care of that.
3. Just the thought of sleeping now brings relief and while I have wished at various points in the day that it were longer, I'm glad and thankful that it has come to an end

Monday, August 17, 2009

Vacation plans, Getting my wind back and Talk with us

  1. We all sit over tea to discuss Kashmir plans - how we are travelling, what all we should carry. There's plenty to be thought of and as always before a vacation, there's that feeling of excitement and anticipation.
  2. I go for a long walk with mom and dad and I'm so thrilled that I'm not tired later on. Its a sure sign of recovery and the feeling of energy is so welcome.
  3. I'm on the phone for a long time. Finally dad says "Oh c'mon! You'll meet him tomorrow. Talk with us now."

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Rare weather, coming home and corn on the cob

  1. The weather in Nagpur is perfect right now - its cloudy, pleasant and breezy. Grandma and I sit on the swing on the terrace, gently rocking and chatting about nothing in particular. I'm happy to let her ramble on, telling me about the new neighbours and the birds that visit her bird bath and the flowers. Its a lovely morning.
  2. After lunch, I plant myself on my mom n dad's bed, fighting for space with dad. It's good to laze around, doing nothing, being the kid and getting pampered. This is what I came home for - for what else is recuperation?
  3. The best bhutta in the world can be had at the stalls outside VNIT's gates. The one's available in Pune seem rather poor fare, with their garnishing of salt and lemon juice. Here, there's butter and green chilly chutney (the kind that makes you go sssssssssssssss) to go along with it. Seriously, no one makes corn on the cob the way these guys do. We even got one home for grandma, and can you believe it, she ate it! She's 90!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Green morning, hot shower and roommate

  1. In the morning, standing in the balcony and letting my eyes drink in the greenery. The part of the yard that we can see from both our balconies is currently densely coloured with many greens, and standing there, it seems like our private little garden. I often just sit there, staring out, doing nothing. The morning does not afford me that luxury, but the even the couple of minutes that it does are a good way to start the day.
  2. On a rainy day, a hot shower after a sweaty aerobics session. I stand interminably under the running water, soaking in the warmth.
  3. A roommate who will cook dinner when I'm feeling a little below weather.

Short and sweet, Simplicity and Mission Impossible accomplished

  1. On a boring, listless day, there's something to tide me over - a marvellous collection of short stories by the masters like Saki, Chekov, Munro, Oscar Wilde and so on. My sincere gratitude to the author of Short stories that I can't forget.
  2. One thing leads to another and I find myself engrossed in these designs by Blanca Gomez. Their simplicity is charming and more than a once, they bring forth a chuckle.
  3. It has taken me ages to get this simple task done, but I've done it today. I have bought a new set of track pants to wear for aerobics. I admit it sounds a little ridiculous, but finding the right fit in the material at the right price is ridiculously difficult. But I was lucky today! The Happiness Sale has begun at Pune Central and I can't wait to go back for more.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

No mess, take care and rain song

  1. Taking the effort to put things where they belong and to smoothen out the covers and straighten the cushions. It's good to see the house look habitable again.
  2. Massaging foot cream and then slipping on a pair of socks. It'll stay for the night.
  3. Listening to the soft fall of rain while lying on my bed near the window.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Fixed, nervous too and the real first prize

  1. The office is too cold. But one call to the maintenance room fixes it and I'm no longer shivering.
  2. A confession of nervousness from someone.
  3. I had sent pictures of the T shirt I painted for the contest to my parents a few days back, but not being very regular in checking their email, they only see it yesterday. Mom calls up to tell me its very good - "I never knew you had so much hidden talent! I hope you will keep painting something or the other now that you have discovered it." But the real surprise is Papa calling up a few hours later to tell me he like the Tee. "The eyes have come out well. The nose - not so much..." The T shirt got me a third prize, but these two appreciations today more than made up for the loss of the first prize. Take a look.


Friday, July 17, 2009

Home cooked, song recall and bed time

  1. For the first time in the entire work week, we've been able to come home at a time that allows us to cook dinner. The bhindi ki sabzi, the kasoori methi flavoured daal and the soft warm rotis are so immensely satisfying.
  2. An unscheduled and unexpected short drive in the middle of the afternoon brings an unexpected pleasure. There's an unfamiliar voice on the radio and she plays a lovely old hindi song that I'm sure I haven't heard for years - O Sajana Barkha Bahar Aayi. I'm quite surprised that I not only recognise it from the music at the begininning, but also sing along quite effortlessly, as if I have been hearing it very often. It is strange, this ability of the brain to retain the words and the melody of a song and to bring them forth at the right moment.
  3. It's bed time, I'm sleepy and there's nothing to stop me from cuddling up in my soft and warm bed and sleep peacefully.

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Unfamiliar terrain, politics and lime n masala

  1. I'm participating in a T shirt painting contest at work. Suddenly my mind is grappling with an unfamiliar challenge. What should be the theme, how should I design it? I find myself lapsing into thought every now and then.
  2. At another game currently going on at the same event at work, the ten paticipating teams have to vote out one team each day, in addition to performing various tasks and earning points. There's much debate and calculations going on anywhere you go through the day, even though the vote-out only happens once in the evening. This drama will go on through the next week.
  3. I have this crazy craving for something spicy to eat. I try to resist it, but finally give in and head to the cafetaria to buy a packet of potato chips, the lime and masala flavor. Finger-licking good.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

No flooding, picnic weather and computer

  1. The drain pipe below the kitchen sink has been leaking heavily for the last few days. All our efforts to get a plumber to fix it have been in vain. Today we come home from work to find a new pipe in it's place. The maid has found a plumber.
  2. The weather has been amazing all day today. It's the typical Pune weather. Cool breeze, cloudy sky and a drizzle at times. I want to go for a picnic!
  3. My computer is getting repaired.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Short personal quest, music, me

  1. Today I discovered something very weird about myself. I was a bit on the low side from the past few days and I kept thinking that it is a result of work not progressing at the pace I would want it to. But, it turns out that it is because of the fact - I was a little low on my creativity or rather new idea quotient. I didn't have a better way to do things or couldn't find anything wrong in the way things were happening around me. Whoa! Will I have to nurture my creativity, not because I want it, but because I need it? I am a bit confused about this - should I be scared?, or people around me need to be scared?, or should I be happy that I have a strong feedback mechanism? or should I just conclude that I am too impatient... Oh wait a minute ...yeah ... I forgot I am impatient. And with that, I end my short personal quest... there is nothing wrong with me :)
  2. When the left brain fails, the right one finds a way :)
  3. Coldplay!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Sleep in, Still growing up and Life is good

  1. I sleep in late. Really, really late. When I wake up, I'm feeling completely rested and relaxed.
  2. My desire for shopping has finally been fulfilled. I got a couple of kurtas and my first ever make-up kit ( yes! At this age, when I should've been already sophisticated, I'm trying to learn how to use make-up! ) I'm quite excited, honestly...
  3. I have that feeling of contentment today, when life seems beautiful and marvellous.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Twice lucky, Showers and Discipline

  1. Two good hair days in a row! I can't believe my luck. That too when it has rained in the evening. Oh wait, that's the second BT.
  2. It has rained in the evening. Everyone has been waiting for the monsoons, hoping for rain which has been playing truant for almost a fortnight now. It has stopped raining now, but the air has a lovely wet smell to it.
  3. I had somehow managed to lose most of the editing I did for a chapter of S's book and was procastinating in the rework. After avoiding it for a whole week ( it was work now, not play!) I finally sit down and finish it today. It feels good now, because now I can pick up the next chapter and the fun can begin once again.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Curls, Punishment and Cool car

  1. My hair is a mass of mad curls today. It's good to toss them around.
  2. You ought to be tarred and feathered, Aditi tells me. The sentence conjures up an interesting picture in my mind.
  3. Because the car sits in a covered parking lot right under my apartment these days, it doesn't heat up like an oven. It's nice and cool.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Adrenalin, feat and reward

  1. It's a new high - driving a hundred and fifty kilometers at a stretch on the Mumbai-Pune expressway. We don't stop for a break and at times cruise along at 120 kmph. The car's steady.
  2. Despite having slept for only 3 hours and having driven for 4, I'm not sleepy and am alert enough to work. I had thought I'd be dropping asleep every now and then.
  3. Hot toasted chocolate sandwich. Its a piece of heaven.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Breakfast, Hard work pays and Email banter

  1. Breakfast is still hot when I go to the cafetaria.
  2. A colleague comes to me with questions and I sit with her for almost an hour, explaining various things. At the end, she asks me how long I have been working on this system. A little more than 6 months, I tell her. She's surprised - "That's it? Only 6 months? But you seem to know this stuff!" I'm gratified by this statement.
  3. There's a fun email exchange going on with Aditi. Its a pity I can't state here what we're discussing!

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Sick leave, Mission 'Clean it' and Mee Radhika

  1. I am not really ill, but don't feel up to going to work either, so I stay at home. I haven't been able to sleep well at night, so I sleep in late. I have a lazy day.
  2. Because I am at home, I can get some cleaning and scubbing done from the maid. She's probably not too happy to see me home on a weekday, meddling in her work.
  3. A contestant on Zee Marathi's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa sings Aarti Ankalikar's Mee Radhika. Its a marvellous song, which I have had the fortune of hearing live from Aarti Ankalikar herself at the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, and she does justice to it. Once again I am reminded that I need to find an mp3 version of the full song for the iPod.

Home delivered health, Third Girl, Twist in the tale

  1. The wheatgrass juice was delivered in neat little pouches early in the morning. It was nice and fresh and I'm looking forward to it every morning now for a few days, before we change the order to some other healthy vegetable juice.
  2. Staying up with droopy eyes just to finish the book and find out who the murderer is. I just wrapped up Agatha Christie's 'Third Girl'. It was one I hadn't read before and was satisfying in a way that only a good Poirot mystery can be.
  3. S told me yesterday that he'd written himself into a hole and was stuck in the story much earlier than he had thought he would be. Today he tells me that he's written himself out of the hole and is super excited about the turn his book has taken. I must of course wait
    for a week or maybe more before I find out what really is going on and in the meanwhile, get along quicker with the editing.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Editor, Cuppa and Anything for Entertainment

  1. I spend more than a couple of hours editing the first chapter of a book that a very dear friend is writing. It is time most satisfyingly spent. What could be better than being among the first few to read a fantastic story that is yet evolving, and to do something that comes naturally - find errors in someone else's language!
  2. Coming home at a decent time from work and then going out for a cup of coffee with a friend. It has almost become a forgotten pleasure.
  3. There's a reality show on TV called 'Entertainment ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega'. The only condition for participation is that you must entertain the audience. I hate to admit it, but the show is entertaining. People with an astounding variety of talent turn up and some are nothing less that awe inspiring.

Not Negligent, Perry Mason and Buddy

  1. What was thought to be my mistake ( indeed, even I thought so, and was quite embarrassed by what I looked like negligent testing on my part) turns out not to be a mistake after all. It took me a couple of days to figure out that the test results were fine really. Whew!
  2. I love reading Perry Mason mysteries by Earl Stanley Gardner. Papa's a big fan too, and we've both read umpteen number of titles from the series. I finished 'The Case of the Substitute Face' today. Mason, the high flying criminal lawyer, is once again in an action
    packed murder trial. Slightly 'filmy', but entirely entertaining.
  3. Tanmoy has moved to Pune. It's good to have him back.

Friday, May 08, 2009

Unsweetened, the right reason for a traffic jam and alphonso sweet

  1. I like the taste of cold unsweetened milk and the way it feels going down the throat. It's inherent sweetness is just right for me, and there's no need to enhance it with sugar.
  2. Traffic in the opposite lane has come to a standstill and from afar, I can not figure out why. As I approach the standing column of traffic, I can see the reason. Right in front of the first vehicle, a little puppy is standing, very bewildered and lost. It finally finds the footpath and the traffic starts moving again.
  3. For me, these are the first mangoes of the season. Alphonsoes, claims the fruit vendor. Me, I'm not so sure of the authenticity of the claim, but alphonso or not, they're sweet to me.

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Neat and tidy, helping hands and uninterrupted sleep

  1. The maid is back from her holiday. After so many days, the house looks clean. Everything is in it's place, there are fresh new bedsheets on the beds and even the water bottles are filled.
  2. Just when I had started to feel a little overwhelmed by the mounting work pressure, there are more hands on the job. Suddenly it's not so bad.
  3. The nights have gotten cooler. I don't know why, but I sure am glad, because I don't keep waking up in the middle of the night because of the heat.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

That'll shut you up, vroom and the gang

  1. A colleague is always teasing me and pulling my leg at the slightest opportunity (or even when there's none!). The best way to shut him up is to start teasing him about his wife. It's effective because he got married only last month.
  2. A friend has been using my bike for the past couple of months. It's a pleasure to press the electric start button and have it spur into life immediately.
  3. Friday is a holiday. There's only one more day of work between me and the long weekend. Anticipation runs high, because the gang is going to be here by tomorrow evening to kickstart the weekend. Gullu has promised that he has some masala news to tell, but won't say what it is unless everyone is present. Jui, Pallu & Tanmoy are coming, Shenoy's joining in and Patty, who I haven't seen in years, might come too. Let me sleep so that tomorrow comes early!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

iPod touch, cool headed and Dimple

1. I'm posting from my iPod touch since yesterday, since my PC refuses to boot. I'm thrilled by this piece of technology and how it integrates almost seamlessly with all the stuff I want to do. It's still a bit wanting in formatting etc. and I miss the good ol' copy paste, but being able to blog from my iPod easily beats these inconveniences. Perhaps someone out there has figured out how to copy paste on iPod touch?
2. I've washed my hair just now at night. There's a delightful coolness spreading over my head right now.
3. Dimple Kapadia is so stylish in Saagar, she seems of a different age altogether, much ahead of her time.

Monday, April 27, 2009

That's it, A new lease on life and Sleepy

1. There's a lot of work to be done, and I'm working under bit of a pressure to get through the tasks list. I haven't really had time to look at the last item on the list, and have mentally allocated a couple of hours in the evening to it. I start working on it, and it's done in half an hour. Sweet surprise.
2. I had given up the rose plant as dead even after Gullu and I had worked a bit on adding new soil to the pot, trimming away the dried branches etc. Without much hope, I had continued to water it for nearly 10 days, when it started showing signs of life. Today there are a few tender leaves sprouting hesitantly.
3. After having slept badly for the last two nights, it seems almost a blessing that I'm yawning right now and my eyes are heavy with sleep.

Monday, April 06, 2009

Cold in the heat, saving and nectar

  1. Early this morning, I feel slightly chilly because the air cooler is on. I get up, switch it off and snuggle back into bed. Its so cool to be cold in this sweltering heat.
  2. This month's phone bill is 30% lower than last month's.
  3. Dinner is polished off with a glass of chilled kokum sharbat.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

6 p.m., history as a story and cool as a cucumber

  1. I'm done with my work at 6 p.m. So I can go for Yoga and then come home at a decent time and pick up My Family and Other Animals.
  2. There's a very good series on Shivaji on Star Pravah, the marathi channel. It is a faithful reproduction of the highly acclaimed 10 volume historical work 'Shri Shivachhatrapati' on Shivaji. They've captured the mood and the typical dialect of that era beautifully. For me its all the more charming, because I've read the books.
  3. I'm off to take a cool shower and get into bed, all clean and cool. Just the thought makes me so happy.

Breakfast, bonus time and touch my toes

  1. Natasha makes lovely tea every morning. Oh, and today there's oatmeal porridge too.
  2. Discovering that I don't really need to attend that two hour meeting. Bliss!
  3. After half an hour of aerobics, I'm flexible enough to touch my toes.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Old-new, no need to choose and unexpected

  1. The seating arrangement at work has been reorganised across the floor for some 400 people. The machines were shifted to new work locations over the weekend. There's plenty of chaos in the morning - people are hurrying about, connecting their PCs, unpacking boxes, putting up their charts and posters and arranging their desks... and occassionally also forgetting to go to their new locations, and turning up at their old desks, only to find someone new already occupying their seats.
  2. The aerobics class got shifted to Tuesdays and Thursdays instead of the original Mondays and Wednesdays. I no longer have to choose between attending the Yoga class and aerobics.
  3. An old friend from junior college suddenly calls to say he's in Pune, and would like to meet if I'm free. I get late at work, and he gets late too, so we end up meeting at 10 p.m., but I'm glad we do. He's pleasant company and it's fun catching up and getting news from Nagpur. He's a father now and shows pictures of this little daughter with evident pride.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Mini meal, cooling agent and Feast Bazar

  1. The minestroni soup at lunch is thick and chewy, and almost a meal in itself. The rest of the food on the menu is quite boring and unpalatable, but the soup and some salad is more than enough for lunch.
  2. A large glass of cool sweet fresh watermelon juice. It cools from within.
  3. There's a show called 'Feast Bazar' on Travel & Living. The host takes us through Morocco and Syria, showing exotic middle eastern cuisine. Natasha and I sit drooling over the humous and the falafel, wishing we could go back to Israel and gorge on those once again.

Oh my God! Are ALL my good things about food today?!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Shared happiness, shared burden and puffed up

  1. Gauri comes running to my desk, bringing with him a semi-eaten chocolate pastry. Rashmiiii, try this! This is one of the best pastries I've had in a long time, he tells me, not even attempting to hide his glee. He's brought along a spare spoon, so I can dig in without wasting time. We share the pastry and the glee.
  2. I can start assigning work to the new guy who's joined the team. What bliss to have someone to share your work load with!
  3. For the first time in my life, my rotis have puffed up perfectly. Each roti's puffing up is followed by a small dance of celebration. And when we have them a while later, they're still soft and warm, and of the perfect thickness. I deserve a pat on the back.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Just like mom, Straight and Punishment

  1. Baingan ka bharta like my mom makes it. It turns out almost perfect - with the brinjal, the onions and the tomatos roasted over the flame and then cut and mixed. No oil. Very healthy and of course very yumm.
  2. Straight. Its hilarious! Vinay Pathak is such a brilliant actor. He portrays the character of Pinu Patel with such sensitivity - the confusion, the straight laced innocence, the eagerness, the tragedy that's inevitable in overly earnest people's lives, the childlike joy and jealousy, he just does it all in so classy a manner that one can't help but get involved in the character.
  3. Gauri is being rude and silly. I chase him in the parking lot and give him a smart rap on the back for being cheeky.

Finally, Only early morning dreams and irreverently funny

  1. I have a gas connection at home, people! How cool is that? Congratulate me! It has taken so many days, so many trips to the distributors office, and so many discussions and arguments with that rude fellow who mans the office that when it finally arrives today, I find it difficult to believe the long and tiring journey is over... but there it is! Sweet!
  2. During my afternoon nap, I have a very vivid dream. My parents are telling me that because I'm not getting married, they're going to shift to Pune on 6th April. Dad has arranged to start his Law practice from here, and I'm supposed to quickly find a larger house. I tell this to mom and she's quite amused. "Didn't you freak out?' she asks me. I pretend to be very hurt by this comment. Don't worry, she tells me, its only morning dreams that come true.
  3. I have started reading My Family & Other Animals. When Shenoy asked me last week what I wanted for my birthday, I told him I wanted this book, and he seemed quite surprised to hear it's title. I haven't read much yet, but what I have so far, makes me want to get back to it quickly. I love the way he's completely irreverent about his family and how he describes the way his family has helped him write the book.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Morning best, balanced and non-hairy

  1. Waking up in the morning, feeling rested and fresh. I wish this is how I could wake up every single day.
  2. I wear neither rings nor any watch, so the new pearl ring and the watch make my hand look very crowded and I keep fiddling with them, not quite liking it. Then I shift the ring to my right hand and the watch remains on the left, and there's balance.
  3. Thank God I'm a girl and have a non-controversial option to opt being non-hairy!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Cool car, washed and juicy

  1. Its only february, but the temperatures are already soaring. We're safe inside the air conditioned car.
  2. Washing off the day in a cool shower.
  3. Juicy grapes after dinner.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Morning road, Tailored, Overfed and winning it all

  1. The main road looks so empty and inviting at 8 in the morning. The usual traffic is missing and the air feels very inviting and fresh. Its an unusal sight for me, for I'm usually never out so early, and the road is bustling till late in the night.
  2. I bring out my tailored white cotton shirt after a long time today. I'd forgotten it fits so well. And looks so crisp.
  3. Natasha's mom has whipped up an enormous and yummy dinner (as is her way!) again. I'm getting fattttttttt! I even carried my lunch to work today!
  4. The Oscars are being aired in the morning when we are driving to work and every award is announced on the radio as its being won by Slumdog Millionaire. At work the updates keep coming in and the euphoria continues.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Temptation's fruit, deadlines met and I have a roomie!

  1. The new Reebok T shirt I picked up a couple of weeks ago when I wasn't meant to be shopping makes me look slim. I'm glad I gave in to temptation that day.
  2. I feel like a free bird. The huge mountain load of work that I had on my shoulders is now over. I feel especially thrilled at having met the deadlines. There's still work to be done, of course, but it isn't pressing and I can take the time to goof off a bit and not feel guilty about it. In fact I feel as if I've earned it! Oh, and I leave office on time (after coming in late!)
  3. After almost three years of my staying alone, Natasha and I have decided to share the flat. She moves in in the evening, and there's the general chaos of unpacking and talking and excitement. We're also very thrilled that we had underestimated the house. After all her stuff has come in, there's still plenty of space where we'd initally thought we'd be a little too crowded. We're already making plans of stuff we'll do together as roommates.

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Luck By Chance, kill piracy and gassy issues

  1. Watching Farhan Akhtar is a treat. I watched Luck By Chance today. I'll rate the movie a 3 star and Farhan Akhtar a 4.8. Oh and Hrithik's in it too, albiet for a very short role. Sigh!
  2. I got two Moser Baer DVDs today with 3 movies in each - Yuva, Guru and Rang De Basanti in one and Lakshya, Rang De Basanti and Dil Chahta Hai in the other. Each DVD is priced at Rs. 45 only! And they're licensed copies, not pirated ones! Now that's the way to kill piracy!
  3. The gas cylinder is empty and there will be no cooking at home till I manage to procure another one. This requires quite a bit of ingenuity since the time I moved to this house a couple of years ago, because the gas agency I got the connection from does not operate in this area. So why am I writing this here? No, it hasn't made me happy. But I mention this to my mom, who mentions it to her brother in Mumbai, who immediately calls me up to discuss various options for getting another cylinder. It feels so good that my family cares even about such mundane things and that they worry when they think I'll have to eat out everyday!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Dip dip dip, Slumdog and overfed

  1. Dipping a biscuit in piping hot tea till its just about to fall off, but not quite and then quickly eating it.
  2. Dev Patel in Slumdog Millionaire. He's quite a natural. I realised one thing when I saw the movie today - It's no different than many mainstream Hindi potboilers. All the hoopla created around it being nominated for the Oscars and winning the Golden Globe seems quite amusing to me, because hey, come watch a good Bollywood thriller!
  3. My cook was taking the day off today, so she cooked some extra food for me yesterday. When I actually open the fridge before lunch, I see an enormous amount of food waiting for me. She has obviously taken good care that I don't starve on her day off!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Steamy news, music of my choice and onion paratha

  1. Sitting down on the carpet in the morning with a cup of hot tea and the news papers.
  2. The car's music system has been repaired and is now playing CDs! yay yay! And the warranty covered the repairs and I didn't have to shell out a paisa!
  3. Awesome onion paratha at Juice Corner on East Street. And fruit cocktail to wash it down.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Mad music, insane happiness

I am happy today. Madly, insanely happy. Dancing-alone-at-home-on-a-song-played-on-my-mobile-phone happy. And extraordinary happiness allows you to dispense with formats and rules, so no 1. 2. 3. today.

The seeds of the happiness were sowed yesterday when I decided that on yet another day (today), I'd leave office at 6 and attend a concert. Nothing could rile me through the day. The real happiness started in the evening at 5:30 p.m. A piece of work I had been wrestling with, for the past two days suddenly unraveled. My code ran in the first attempt, did not fail and lo and behold(!) even gave the expected results (don't smirk you non-coders... There would be no need for Testers in this world if it was that easy to make code work as per one's wish!). So suddenly, what had the potential of being an evening spent listening to music while suppressing guilt for leaving work undone, became a liberated evening. I danced a little jig. Urmila looked at me and shook her head in disbelief.

And then came Sivamani. And Mandolin U. Srinivas. Sivamani is a mad man. There are no two ways about it. To be a genius like him, you have to be mad. A percussionist of super-human talent, he 'bajaos' any surface he can lay his fingers on. He stood there on the stage surrounded by what seemed like thousands of instuments and beat them as if possesed by a demon! And the music, it just came and then rose to a crescendo. The crowd went wild. And everytime it seemed like the stage would burst, the music would suddenly ebb and become soft, almost shy. Accompanying him with superb mastery was Mandolin Srinivas. Where Sivamani beat the music out of his drums, Srinivas persuaded it out. And it came, and the people swayed to it.

My soul was drenched today. With melody, with perfection, with sweetness, with contentment. And I danced. All alone but very happy, I danced.

bavre se pair chahe
baavre taraane ke
baavre se bol pe...
.... thiraknaa

(My mad feet want to dance to the mad words of a mad song...)

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Welcome, touch and grilled to perfection

  1. Tanmoy is here.
  2. My iPod Touch is, simply put, damn sexy. I can't believe I now own something so classy.
  3. The grilled fish at Malaka Spice is perfect and quite unlike any that I've ever had.