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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.