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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wish me, younger, Brisingr and making way for the new

1. It's Dharana's birthday today. She keeps insisting every now and then: "wish me happy birthday!". We do. We wish her a happy year.
2. It's Stafford's birthday as well. I ask him how old he is and give a theatrical gasp when he tells me. "Yeah yeah... I may be older than you, but I look younger", he tells me. "That's just because of your juvenile behaviour," I tell him. A throaty laugh comes from the other end of the line. May you have many such laughs this coming year, Stafford! Wish you a happy birthday.
3. Come evening and I can't wait to get done with my work and the gym so that I can rush home and get immersed into Brisingr again.
4. Papa's camera has arrived and he's thrilled to bits with it. Mummy has called him up at the courts to tell him a gift has arrived for him from Delhi, and has refused to divulge any more information, so he has come home wondering what it might be and who might've sent it. He is already making plans of how and when to use it and of getting rid of his old point and shoot.

Coming back to life, hungry and involved

1. Coming home after almost a fortnight at the hospital seems to be doing some good for Grandma. She looked so frail lying on the stretcher when they brought her home just two days ago. Already, being in her own room, sleeping on her own bed and being surrounded by her familiar knick knack has brought in a striking change and she can sit up unaided and for longer durations. An unmistakable sign of recovery is the returning interest in life's daily activities - she asks me to find her pearl earrings and later tells dad that she'll clean the bunch of coriander he got from the market, and does.
2. Being at home, in Nagpur, whets my appetite. Is it the air?
3. Finding the time to be completely engrossed in a book. I didn't quite expect to like A Queen of Dreams... but I did. I got involved in it to a surprisong degree...

Highlight, walk and Shantaram

1. Tanmoy and Pallu are back in NY after visiting the Niagara Falls. They're awed by the majesty of it. For Tanmoy, the highlight of the trip is a full, vivid rainbow. Pallavi is unimpressed by such trivialities and instead of talking to me, they continue to bicker about it.


2. Fed up of the depressing darkness inside office today, Kris and I go for a walk in the Magarpatta garden. For some strange reason, this is the first time I'm going there, and I'm thoroughly impressed by the sprawling, well manicured garden. It's so peaceful there, and bright and the fresh air feels like heaven...


3. Shantaram. I started it a few days ago, and within the first 3 pages, I was hooked. The lucidity of language, the authors keen-ness of perception and of course the incredible story, all make a lethal combination. Every now and then, I am blown away with the author's unique way of feeling things and expressing them.

Slim fit, bodyguard and a long fantasy

1. Wearing my slim fit dark blue jeans. I don't know if they actually make me look slim... but they definitely make me feel slim!


2. Gauri appoints himself as Dipti's bodyguard and threatens to kill anyone who touches her. Dipti immediately turns to him and says - please touch me...


3. The TriWizard Tournament is about to start. Oh... I didn't mention I have undertaken a project of reading ALL Harry Potter books from the 1st to the 7th at one go so that I finally get the whole uninterrupted story, did I? I'm on Goblet of Fire right now... I simply adore living in the world of magic!

Pearls, love letters and hug and a kiss

My internet connection has been been acting strange all past week, and has refused to open blogger... Fate smiles on me again today, and I can get back to 3BTing.

1. The pre-monsoon weather in Pune. The sun barely peeps out of the clouds... there's a cool breeze at all times and is at times accompanied by a light drizzle, which doesn't quite succeed in doing much more than placing tiny glistening pearls on my hair...
2. Reading 'Other People's Love Letters'... it spreads a warmth through me.
3. Getting an unexpected hug and a fond kiss on the cheek

Undeniable proof, becoming an artist and move it!

1. Kris is getting nostalgic and he sends me a badly morphed photo of Stafford playing in a water logged street during last year's Mumbai floods. It is supposed to prove that Stafford bunked work and stayed at home to enjoy the rains.
2. Tanmoy sends me a couple of magazines on photography with a colleague of his. The first phase of reading the magazines which is looking at the pictures, is currently going on... and along with that, I'm dreaming that one day (through some miracle) even I'll take pictures as good as these!
3. I finally get off my bum and head to the gym. Of course I find that my stamina is much reduced, but right now, I'm just happy that I've been able to break the ice and haul myself up the treadmill.

Ready, writing and Google

1. A very dear friend (identity concealed to protect privavcy) sends an email saying she had a pregnancy scare, but ended up being disappointed when the test was negative. She's happy she's ready to take the next step, and I'm happy her...
2. Its a day of good reading... First, Tanmoy sends a poem he has written, that conjures up a beautiful picture in front of my eyes. And then Soumitra sends me one of his stories, and I'm quite impressed. Being around these guys can be quite a treat at times :-)
3. Google Story. As I progress through it, I marvel at how this one brand has touched our lives.

Splendid, soppy and finally!

1. Being so involved in a book that I forget time. The culprit is A Thousand Splendid Suns.
2. Sending super-senti forwards to Shenoy and telling him to pass them on to his fiancee. He's far away from me, but I can imagine the look on his face when he tells me there's no way he's going to send them.
3. A long awaited invitation finally comes... and the fourth trip home is happening! I'm keeping my fingers crossed till my tickets come!

Sunshine, pisces and some curry

1. An early morning (according to Rashmi std time, of course) phone call and an inbox full of emails ensure that the day remains bright and sunny for me.
2. Shenoy sends me Linda Goodman's description of a Piscean woman and wants to know if it fits me. I'm quite amused.
3. I get to catch up on my favourite blogs. Youth Curry has a very interesting post.

Stress relief, back to the book and shaadi.com

1. Getting a heavenly back massage and another equally divine head massage. The masseuse's expert fingers knead my back muscles and all my stress is released... it's pure sensual pleasure...
2. Coming home early so that I have, after what seems like an age, a couple of hours to read... The Golden Compass seems to be a promising companion over the coming few days.
3. Soumitra has some very interesting observations to make about a leading matrimonial site and the people whose profiles he sees there.

Good start and beanies

1. Tanmoy's first ever post on my blog... the post is so happy and colourful, and he seems to have had so much fun writing it...
2. Refilling the bean bag... the beans run helter skelter, and we run behind them. The bag's nice and fluffy again

Internet, retail therapy and Poirot

1. The internet. What a blessing it is.
2. Going grocery shopping to Food Bazar. I enter feeling quite irritable and somewhere in the aisles of the supermarket, checking out merchandise, freebies and discounts, I lose the irritation and come out feeling quite content. That's retail therapy in action for you...
3. Reading Agatha Christie's Poirot mysteries. The pace is usually slow, but the books are nonetheless charming. They take me back to my school days when I'd read them all.

Lacework, chronicles and passionflower

1. The lacework of shadows on the road made by the late morning sun light filtering through the leaves of the tress by the side of the road.
2. Reading An Indian Summer - the journey of a young American woman in India. She chronicles her stay her with candour, and in what I feel is a very balanced style. She praises what she likes freely and raises questions about things she doesn't agree with. Free from bias, she writes about stuff the way she experiences it, and at times when there are things happening around her that she does not fully understand, she openly says so. Manjiri sent me the link to her blog, and I must admit that I spent the better part of the afternoon reading her posts, and with pleasure.
3. After a prolonged and dusty bus ride back home, a hot shower using the Passionflower shower gel makes me feel human again...

Again, Barti rules, lucky charm and lovely parents

1. Telling everyone I'm going to Goa, and having them exclaim "Again??! Wow!"
2. Soumitra is falling in love with Bartimaeus too!
3. According to George, I'm lucky for Team India. Everytime I watch the cricket match, India wins... :-) A painful responsibility, I can not resist saying...
4. And an extra one, because I won't be posting for the next few days. In the washroom, one of the office-help ladies asks me if the people on my desktop are my parents. I reply in the affirmative. She says - you've got lovely parents...