Turning Point....

Ever faced a disspointment?

Felt depressed?


Failed in an exam?

Things didn't turn out as you planned?

This is for you

"Sometimes, not getting what you want may become your greatest turning point. Sometimes, God upsets your plans to execute His plans for you."
It is also for all those with a strong heart to stay strong.

Read this and felt like sharing this. It always feels good to know such things. It is such uplifting words that keep the flame of hope burning always.

It is Summer...

It is summer...

Golden rays light up my days,
It is summer.
They wake me up with loads of cheer,
"Get up my darling, honey, dear"

Golden rays lift me up,
fill my soul till the top.
It is summer, can you see
The warm light brims inside me.

Golden rays do your work,


You make tiny birds chirp.
Until the time we meet again,
I shall enjoy my summer day.

the 10:40 magic...

it is at this magical hour in the pm that i seem to find the inspiration to write something on my(this) blog.. it is like how all the watches in advertisements always show it to be 10:10..

10:40 pm : Have been online for the past one hour and still unsure of what to write... clock is ticking away.. eyelids are heavy and drooping.. yet i sit with a resolve to write something...

10:48 pm : i have started writing something... makes sense?? NO..  who reads this anyway?? blogger status says that some people do.. God only knows...

10:50 pm : chatting on gmail and FB... how will blogging ever happen??

10:52 pm : i am a good time keeper... :)

ok.. here it goes... after a rather dull and grumpy, irritating day.. got some respite...

cloudy skies made the evening look beautiful... and while i waited for my bus.. beautiful songs played on in my ears...

an AC bus came to rescue me from my wait at the bus stop.. the ride was good but i seemed to be lacking a lot in balance and unable to stand in this bus... if i had not found the corner to snug in to, i would have crushed someone under me...

saw a shop on the way... 'enga appa kadai".. to eliminate doubts "Yes, My father's shop" was also written below it..

did i mention the 5pm hunger pangs and the sudden serving of Cashew Pakodas and Wheat Halwa??? mmmm...yummy!!!

subham!!!

i wish i could put this title card now.. but truth is that my lousy mood hasn't left me completely... like an one day phenomenon, it has stuck on and refuses to let go.. a good night's sleep would do the deed...

10:57 pm : almost finished writing what i set out to...

Once upon a time,

9:00 pm : bed-time with the Parliamentary news and World This Week (on Sunday's)

Later
10:00 pm : Sharp, like some pre-programmed machine, i would crash in to bed... (bed is sturdy and reliable)

11:00 pm : today..rather NOW.. and i am not even near the bedroom.. what a pity, what a pity!!! change in life style has been so silent and subtle, that this shift was never visible...

before midnight strikes, let me quote someone

"nadoo centre'la poraan paaru para_esi"

Bad Hair Day!!!

Not really a bad hair day... i have had enough of them soon after my haircut and colouring expedition a month ago.... But this time around, it is a BAD MOOD DAY!!!

ask me "why, what is the reason?", but i will not have an answer. Very irritable today and it is getting further infuriating with my efforts to maintain CALM..

ERIMALAI EPADI PORUKKUM.... like a 'soon to erupt' volcano, i am trying to control my rising temperature..

as i try to analyse the cause for the souring of my mood.. i draw up a blank...

Let us see what would have irritated me amongst the following.

1. compliments by the dozens : "Ae nee ipo nalla iruka.. elachu iruka" (Hey u are looking good now, u have lost weight)

2. tasty lip smacking food : Pani puri, dahi puri, bhel puri, kalyana samayal saadham, special ice cream treat too

3. good night's sleep : slept in a cosy bed all noon on Saturday, not to mention a peaceful Saturday night which was topped by a post ice cream Sunday's sweet dreams and a late wake up on Monday morning (today)

4. weekend getaway : had been to a wedding 250kms off Chennai and had a good time.. dressed up, met people and posed for pictures and videos...

despite all of the above... i am irritable today...

my analysis of the same, is not revealing much, but my worry was that i would direct my negativity on to someone who is innocent...

it is very difficult to control the tongue when u are angry... and even more difficult to maintain a calm look when u r irritated...

p.s. during the penning of my thoughts, my actual rising temperatures have slowly started to return to normal.. hoping that 'status quo ante' will be attained shortly...

in simple words it can also be called MONDAY BLUES
Show all

What is third degree torture?

analyse this:

1. you are made to leave the confines of your safe and cool home, travel in the blazing sun, reach an office within the appointed time. And then made to sit idle the entire day.

2. you are given no network access, put off in a separate cabin (solitary confinement), gawked at by others like you are a museum exhibit and asked to ask even small doubts only via e-mails. And made to wait whole day for a reply to your e-mail.

3. you are given internet access (a little liberating), given some jujubi papers (not worth even 10mins of reading), given some excuses for the delay, given really boring company during lunch, given lecture on how to do the work. And ignored for the rest of the day

As said earlier, it is cursed. LORD SAVE ME!!!

give me some work people. i love being lazy. but not like this. i like intermittent spells of work. it has been 3 days of nothing.

i can only compare and contrast to the previous assignment i did. good ambiance and good work.

as i wait patiently for some real work to start, i fervently pray that i do not become too rusted by the time it actually begins..

'tis cursed...

i refused to believe, but had to succumb to the feeling that 'indeed this audit is cursed'.

such a statement, just when it is starting, is definitely not good for the morale. but the pinching feeling inside, cannot be ignored.

why?? you may ask. well the reasons are many. but lets skip that part and move to things that do not consist my laments.

Just for fun had posted on FB saying "marriage... even if it doesn't make u husband and wife for life.... makes you a diplomat and a philosopher..."

a very true statement.. as i speak nothing but the truth... it has evoked a lot of responses from people who seem to take sadistic pleasure in the lament of a tortured soul.. aka me...

there is a lot of humour potential in marriage.. not just laughs between husband and wife... but so many many jokes on the institution itself...

why??? ask the poor tortured souls... meaning not just me.. but the opposite party also... no one is spared... even the seemingly happily married, will have at least one sarcastic joke up their sleeve..

Marriage is not a word. It is a sentence--a life sentence.

makes u wonder if it is cursed to be so... may be.. may be not.. who knows... but again... looking at how things are going... un-believers may start to believe...

this one may be old..but still evokes a laugh...

In marriage..first comes the engagement ring.. next wedding ring and next suffer-ring..

there is one joke though... i laughed so hard after cracking it.. made my BUTTER HALF laugh too... not just laugh, but rib clacking/cracking laugh... ena andha joku??? not to be shared with family audience.. so sorry..

ever since i played the role of a judge in a school play... i enjoy giving a verdict... so the verdict being.. single life is far more fun and less complicated.... summa free'ya, jolly'a irukallam...

but here's the twist... what is life without these mirch masalas?? without a BUTTER HALF to share with... i found that life took on a whole new dimension after marriage...

if u are wondering, what started me off on this.. then here is the answer... an FB status:

Mrs X:Successfully completed 100 days of married life..... !!!!

me: wondering whom to congratulate.. u or ur husband..

me: it is the wisdom of 800days...

a sumaar day...

early in the morning, had a very auspicious start... as per my new routine was walking at 6:30 am... on one side of the road, stood a few people... i saw them from the corner of my eye..

wearing white shirts, dark pants and a tie... salesmen.. and what were they selling so early in the morning???? suspense.....

I was supposed to start work on a new assignment today.. everything was perfect... perfectly not right...

i was made to sit in a store-room cum cabin... and had to wait for almost half a day until someone noticed i was in there and provided some information... information provided was somewhat connected to my actual work and more directly related to the level of sleepiness i was feeling...
in the end.. i was happy to be out of there... but the sad part is, I have to return tomorrow...

Just 2 days back.. on Sunday.. i was having the time of my life.. a trip to the amusement park... walked in the hot sun... played like a teen (can't say kid cos i was not allowed on kid's rides)... drank litres and litres of pepsi/miranda/sugracane juice/lemon juice/water ( tank was full but still felt very thirsty).... rode the cable car... fell almost asleep in that 30minute ride... and returned home tired and tanned... i can be called Karupaayee till my tan wears off...

back to the start.. what were they selling??? actually i didn't even want to know... they were canvassing for a FREE FAT check up...

Insult.. oru orama pora ennai.. satham potu kooputu fat check panna sonanga...

I was walking peacefully, on the other side of the road, intentionally to avoid them.. and they target me and approach with "Madam"... yappa saami... vidungada...

TALK TO THE HAND... and i escaaaaaaapeeee...........

Misplaced emotions...

yes.. it happened today morning... she was very angry.. this girl... responsible for making a handful of women flex their muscles and breathe in rhythm and work their bodies towards Fitness....

the reason.. someone pointed out that she was behind schedule.. aka Me saying she was LATE...

the result was a grumpy faced trainer who lead the entire class with an iron fist...

We always have a problem with dealing with our emotions.. I know i do... and it got me thinking how we misplace our emotions on some vulnerable object rather than treating the root cause...

1. hamara ghar ka darwaja (the door in our house).... poor thing.. gets slammed most of the times... had borne the brunt of my anger/hurt over the years... bears a souvenir from each encounter..

2. my idupu (waistline)... u would have heard about eating to ease emotional cravings... been there and done that many many times... if i am bored, I EAT.. if i am sad, i eat... if i am hungry, OBVIOUSLY i eat... sometimes it is chocolate, sometimes sweets... ice creams also happen along the way.. condition being that all items consumed should have high calorie content and fattening to the last bite/lick as the case may be..

3. pillow... who has not ever drenched their pillow??? atleast on one night, the poor thing would have soaked in our sorrow.. people crying out of joy are rare and they don't shy away and hide their face when doing it... for every exam result that didn't work out.. or every love letter that returned to sender... the pillow knows it all... (presently a source of pure unadulterated salt in my household)

the point....

why misplace the emotions?? treat the cause... it is the best way...

if my trainer had simply resolved to be on time hereafter..it would automatically shut any such comments in the future...

also slamming the door on the face of that X.. putting salt/chilli powder in their food (laxative is bit extreme and Goundamani style)..... and instead of burying ur face in the pillow______( u can catch the drift here)....

bottom-line... i seem to use this a lot these days.. if we learn to deal with our emotions better.. we could lead a happier and healthier life...

incidentally... grim faced, zero smile trainer was very effective in making the plump, out of shape women obey her every command... it worked...

It is a Crime......

Attended a seminar today.. on cyber crime... and other related Information security topics... au contraire to popular belief, post lunch sessions were good...and the learning i had at the end of day was not confined the subject matter alone...

1. attending seminars without company is bugging...

it is not about feeling alone.. or lost.. there are many others giving u company in that... but the point of company is to be able to pass silly comments and giggle... :( how i wish i had someone tagging along today... would have been a blast...


2. 50% of speakers speak irrelevant stuff...

as i said... noon sessions were good... the two morning sessions were so lost.. completely off track and gave no value addition... i propose to put those speakers in a training class so that they get their presentation right and to the point...
i was unable to escape from there too... :(

3. there is always a limelight hogger in every dias...

here i am referring to one person... he would give the speakers grace time of 5mins only... but he himself would speak elaborately..thinking that what he is speaking is amusing the audience... the whole group present was ready to pounce on him and shut his speakers out and thrash him with his mike... but professional decorum and decency prevailed... all actions mentioned were strictly carried out in imaginations only....

bottom-line... returned home with a decent looking folder.. a notebook.. a new pen and some updation, -Rs.600 in my bank.... and 6CPE hours in my kitty.... YEAH!!!!

Time magic...

Spent a great weekend with my friends... Time... met them after almost 2 whole years.. yet it felt like we hadn't been apart that long... had the best 2 days of my life, rejoicing their company...

Time.. slips past without our knowledge... like it is almost a month since i started work on an assignment..

Time... the healer... he erases the wounds out of our memory and hereby heals us of the pain...

I was thinking about changing realities... there have been moments in life where there seemed to be no greater happiness or no greater grief... and yet... today they seem a dream...

as i wonder what is REAL... i am reminded of a story...

A sage was asleep.. he had a dream.. a bee was flying from flower to flower and collecting nectar... the sage woke up with a question on his mind..

a disciple noticing the change, couldn't resist question his guru on the state of his mind...

the sage said.."i dreamt of a bee collecting nectar... it seemed so real.. yet it was only a figment of my imagination... Now i am forced to wonder..this life that we live.. whose imagination is it??? or is it REAL???"

A Summer Letter...

Dear Mercury...

How are you? I have been thinking a lot about you and when I Heard that you turned 40 decided to write without further delay.

Before you start wondering, I am Fine. Everybody says "I am Fine". Actually a little bugged. My new roomies, Perspiration and Dehydration are giving me great company these days. Wish I could really mean it when I say "Great Company". They are the uninvited guests that I am waiting to get rid off. Gave them enough hidden messages, but that doesn't seem to work. They both listen to you very well,so PLEASE do me this favour and tell them to LEAVE ME ALONE.

RAIN is on a vacation and she was the one who arranged for these two to take her place. Bad girl. It would be good if she comes back soon. Missing her a lot. But at least Wind has been keeping me company, so I am handling things better.

Mercury, I am worried about you. You are back on your old habit. Why do you get so high? What is bothering you? Try and stay clean. You are such a darling when you are sober. No one likes it when you are high.

You know what, I have come to appreciate you more after having moved away. I missed often there. You work so hard and never take a break and it makes me wonder what I would do without you. I would only say, take a chill pill.

Just bought two tickets. Planning to send Perspiration and Dehydration on a holiday. If it is free, they will bite the bait. But I need your help on this, you have to convince them. With those buggers around, I have not had a peaceful nights sleep for weeks together.

Anyway, I will sign off now. It was nice writing this letter. You better take care.

Love to see at your normal self soon.

Karuthu kanaayiram...

Raja: (Loud Gambeeramana voice) YENNA Topic edhuvum thonallaya???

Mantri: Ammam Mannah!!

R: Indru vetti pechu durbar epadi nadathuvadhu???

M: Vidumurai arivithuviduvom..

R: Nadakaadhu... Yosithu paaru Mantri.. Illai-endraal un(en) thalai urullum..

M: IDEA Mannah!!! Andha Karupu Chudidhar anindha pennai pathi pesuvom....


Well it is a imaginary re-creation of a conversation i happened to overhear today... and the girl/lady in black chudidhar was ME....

what next?? i walked away so that I do not get to hear what was exactly being discussed.

a. If it was something good, I would be be Flattered. But the crow and fox have taught us that flattery is not good.

b. If it was something bad, I would feel disheartened. I was having a pretty fine day today and didn't want some time pass comments/opinions of some strangers affect it.

Lesson: Forming an opinion of half heard conversations is futile. Making or breaking my day (life) is my choice.

In the evening, I was home early and decided to head for my Fitness classes (gym).. Met my neighbour on the way and to his question, answered that I am on the way to gym.

His opinion and mine, on the subject, were on either extremes of a scale. Never bound to meet. Bottom-line, he suggested not to go to gym and not to dance to some silly music there but instead do it at home.

a. If i had the same opinion as his..being the lazy bum i am, i would have never ventured out even on a small walk. Definitely I would not have lost 2Kilos in a month.

b. If i had shared his opinion... I would have saved 4K and gained a few more kilos.

(the advice was well meant, but would never suit me)

Lesson: Listen to good advice (Gym + Yoga + Diet= Weight Loss). Do not listen to those who discourage you. It is easy to get discouraged.

Wait!! the penultimate lesson of the day is yet to come.

This morning, a black cat was about to cross my path. Strangely our eyes locked. Do not know what struck it, but the cat made a quick U-Turn and ran away. I was dressed in black today.

No a b c analysis on this, but straight to the lesson.

You are so much of an Angel in your eyes, as much as you are a Devil in the eyes of another. So think first before pointing a finger at another.

Note: All incidents mentioned above are true and real. No cat was harmed, maybe it got a little scared, but that was purely accidental. Both the cat and I were in black and white.

Dabba-kattu..

No not that Thalapakattu Biriyani.. seems like it is the new rage in chennai... this blog is not about Sapaadu...

But the thought originated during lunch.. based on a simple, eyes away from my plate observation of the people around.

No.. it is not about the people who chew with their mouth open.. or those who don't mind licking their fingers in public or of those who are on a diet... and not of those who make a dive into the huge pile of food on their plate...

it is not about food..

Once upon a time.. no not the story of aaya sutting vadai... it is about aaya taking lunch to the kids in school... she made hot hot sadam and hot hot potato fry and hot hot pappu... she put it in a big carrier and went to school... there.. sitting in the playground.. under a big tree.. she made small small balls of rice and put it in the tiny hands stretched towards her... and with each round of eating competition, she dished out some intriguing story.... and when the bell rang after lunch hour.. a big bunch of kids would run to class, with their stomachs full..

Once upon a time... you'd grow nails.. not for beauty.. but to be able to open your lunch box... there would be a set of pretty towels in your lunch bag and your lovely water bottle.. a little snack box and then YOUR lunch box... it is YOUR lunch box, as ur name is engraved on it.... happy... stomach is already full.. and as you reach the bottom of your box.. you realise it is going to be a long afternoon... long live History.. Good night everybody...

Not so soon...

It is 2011.. you are feeling nostalgic... the days of childhood, oiled hair, midies/shorts, school and teachers, charts and art.. your stomach starts rumbling... time for lunch...

it is crowded.. your floor timing was 1:00 to 1:30 and you are late... you struggle to find a spot to sit.. lucky that your other floor friends have reserved you one.. you settle down quick and open your box...cut...

boxaaa??? who uses that old stainless steel carrier??

TUPPWERWARE dude.. i use TUPPERWARE.. spent 2000bucks on it...

TUPPERWARE.. looks fancy.. but contains that same old Thayir Saadam and Maavadu inside... the brand that made huge profits due to the IT revolution..

Konjam bayam...

Blogger'ku edho aayiduchu...

:( Spent all day yesterday searching for my blogs and realised that all my stuff was at the mercy of blogger server.. :(

the price for using a free blog site...

As i was walking today morning, i saw this person.. normally i set out around the same time everyday and i get the darshan of this person...

in the days Hands Free was new technology.. seeing people on road, talking without a phone to their ear seemed weird... you would even question their sanity.. new technology always raises eyebrows..

so here this mister... seems to own such technology... its wonder word is In-visible Bluetooth...

wrong guess... the wonder is the non-existence of technology... but the age old art of talking to oneself.. thaniye thanan thaniye... talking while walking... just between you and yourself...

avaru ena pesuraru.. i don't know... but makes an interesting observation.. code name Babylon... Why?? you may ask.. it is inspired by the tower leading to language Babel and the movie Babylon A.D... summa time pass...

Babylon: There she is.. that crazy lady.. always same dress.. yuck.. why is she smiling like that?? loosapa nee? daily i run in to her.. tomorrow i should change route..

The other common sight is the Water Tanker doing the routine fills at the Govt Hostel nearby.. you are also treated to the colourful kodams the hostel guys use to assure themselves of a clean start to a sunny day...

Kodam guys
guy 1 : Last 3 days no bath ya... today i going to shower...meeting my girl friend...
guy 2 : machi.. all the best ra.. i am going for an interview.. bathing is compulsory :(

amidst all this... u have the constant chirping of some bird.. or a squirrel... or if u notice a bit keenly... a tiny foraging mouse.. not very pleasing but interesting.. it was funny watching it drag a packet, much bigger than itself, to its hole thinking it has nailed a prize catch... paavam eli...

Rat: aia aia jolly.. yaravadhu paakaraangala??? odu odu.. adhukulla nice'a edhukunu poidanum.. aio andha pombala paakudhu.. ena ma nee paakra?? odu odu... naa escaaaaape...

Did i mention that this walk was at 6:30 am???

It is summer.. so Mr.Sun is also out early and takes the walk along with you.. and he is pleasant that time.. and therefore gives the walk a sunny - smiley feel..

Sun:Summer vandhaale Overtime!!! orey kadupa iruku... grrrr grrrrrrr.... iniki deep fry dhan...

Tagged....

Was late from work today and rushed to catch the train.. it was crowded and the ladies' compartment was almost full.. as i found a space for me and my legs.. i saw Ms.Fernandez...

Wondering who she is?? Well she is.......... I don't know...

So madam is wearing her office id while in train.. and i a perfect stranger, now her know every detail.. her name and where she works.. Cognizant which is different from Cogzidel where Sangeetha works...

So there is every detail u need about this stranger... and not just her but many of her colleagues were on the train wearing the tags..

Dear Stalkers maybe this information will be useful to u...

i hate wearing such tags... especially when it says "Visitor" cause it feels more of a burden than anything else...

why i would not want to wear it on my neck???

1. it will hide my Gold Chain under it...
2. it won't match the color of my dress....
3. if i want dip tea i would also get dip id...


these id cards are funny.. esp when u have to just display them to the sensor to open the doors for you or to mark your attendance... i have seen enough people Do the DANCE...

not the ones that need delicate movement of the feet and intricate expressions on the face.. but rather the ability to move your shoulders... not up and down... but forward and backward...

to accomplish this dance routine, you will have to practice activating the sensor with your id card in your shirt pocket.. always fun to watch.. sometimes bit irritating to see how lazy the other person is..

all this tags business lead my thoughts away to Rocket Raja style imaginations... well not exactly.. but got me wondering what other tags we use....

like maang mein sindoor... a tag for being married...

shades on shirt collar on your back... a tag for "I am VIJAY fan"

by the time i finished analysing the tags and the science of tagging my station arrived and i had to hop off..

as i walked back home.. i put my TAG on...

My EARPHONES.. tries to be COOL and LOVES MUSIC... :)

Coffee break...

Had a coffee break just 15mins after entering office today.. and the coffee break extended for a fully 20mins.. coffee gup shup...

today is about something during the lunch break rather...so the guy eating from the canteen says that his wife is out of town.. and so claims his status to be Married Bachelor... I almost said "It must be fun"...

Not as a joke but rather as a matter of fact.. as a Married Spinster myself (status since last 2months).. i have enjoyed every bit of the change it brings.. it is like a holiday of sorts... like when u have worked too hard u deserve the vacation... not exactly in my case.. but still vacations are always fun...

that brings me to Mother's day... as i have returned home after almost 2 years...I am enjoying every bit of it.. distance helps u realise the worth of things...

so what about mother's day??? well since i am at home after a long time.. my mother takes extra special care of me.. and makes sure that i have everything that i always liked and which she knows i have missed in the past 2 years...

that makes going back difficult.. cos now i know what i am missing...not the food... but the love and affection... dad included of course..

it should rather be father's and mother's day... cause they are both equally important..why leave the father's behind??? why don't we celebrate both together?? but that would mean business loss to many...

taking about loss.. i have lost 2 kilos as against the one kilo i posted earlier.. and i also lost a lot money as fees for this... :)helps having deep pockets..

i enjoy having a deep pocket... i constantly keep an eye on my bank balance.. i am not a miser.. i am a big spender.. so i earn today and save now, so that i can splurge tomorrow..

Tomorrow being a tuesday, does not bring much hope as there are 4 more working days left..

Of the above, my husband is going to spend 2full days hopping flights to attend an half day meeting at a different country on a different continent...

which brings me to the fact that my passport remains brand new.. even after it being OLD... it was taken 8 years ago.. hope i get a visa chaap before i stop resembling the pic in it or the passport expires, whichever is earlier..

"whichever is earlier", comes out so because i have been reading the Accounting Policy of a company recently and hence the terminology...

with that.. i chose to Terminate this post.. as i can go on like this.. and hope u enjoyed this Anthakshari... which was unintentional for the most part and then very laboured towards the end...

Ju ju ju.. Doggie...

I was wondering what to write about when images kept flashing from a video i had seen earlier... a Dog gone video... A TV host is doing a small segment on pet dogs.. a dog trainer had brought along two of her dogs for the interview..

what happened during the interview was telecast live to millions via the Canadian news programme...

the dogs had become too friendly and uncontrollable.. the bull dog wouldn't stay still and preferred to licked off all the make up from the anchor's face.. it then jumped on to her lap and continued the friendly gestures... absolutely funny...

talking about dogs.. i am not a pet person.. i like dogs but can never have them around as a pet.. but i do enjoy petting other peoples' pet dogs.. it is fun when they like u, cause getting accepted by people with high standards is always fun.. be it by kids... bosses... elders.. even for the matter intelligent animals like dogs...

there is a really funny dog in my neighborhood in chennai... he loves to howl.. assuming he is a he... but he doesn't howl always...

the first few days i wondered why.. then when i paid attention i found the connection...

here comes the ice cream vandi.."ting ting ting".. and there he starts "ooow ooow ooow"

here comes the waste paper guy.. "paper paper paper" and u have "oow oow oow"

he always seems to respond to the calls and sounds of hawkers frequenting my area...

esa paatu of Mudhal Mariyadhai style...

there is Sangeetha who constantly keeps writing about her apartment doggie which has been missing from action/mention the past few days... the idea started from that..

one thing... dogs look cute both as a puppy and adult.. and they are terrorizing... even today as a grown up.. i am scared of the little puppy dogs.. when they run towards you, u want to put ur feet high up where they can't reach.. and they look really cute trying to catch up...

the adult dogs are no bother.. except when they approach u looking agitated.. there are a lot of stray dogs in Bangalore.. and they enforce the curfew everyday..

back to the little rascals.. brown or black.. skinny or chubby.. fluffy or bald.. spotted or plain.. u just can't stop adoring these intelligent creatures.. even if u stand far cos u are afraid.. the feeling inside stays...

Must haves...

You... being a girl... (boys ignore).. Must have

1. a water proof eyeliner.. colourless lip gloss.. lip liner and atleast 1 shade of party wear lipstick

2. a paddle brush to untangle ur hair and a round brush if u like to have little wavy curls..

3. black and white sets of salwar/chudi pants with duppata for almost all conceivable mix-match solutions...

4. a pair of jeans(if u wear them)... the colour being Light Blue is the must have...

5. some kurtis in ur wardrobe and some party wear salwar sets...

6. atleast one pair of footwear that go with ur party wear..

7. a pair of casual chappals... (even when travelling).. the ones that keep u most comfortable...

8.a set of PEARLS... they are cheaper that other semi/precious stones and suite almost everyone and can complete any type of wardrobe... from casual to elegant...

9. your phone on full charge every morning and a wallet with minimum cash and your plastic money...

10. Good sleep, good food and a Confident smile...

Golden Fruit...

Just finished a Mango.. ripe and sweet... delicious.. this one is from a tree behind my house.. so no worries about chemically ripened fruits.. 100% natural and 100% yummy..

as the juice ran down my fingers.. (i bit into the whole mango).. my thoughts sped to a show i had seen years ago.. Variety Variety.. a guy was miming about eating a mango... it was hilarious.. the invisible fruit's juice was running all over his hands.. spilling on his shoes.. soiling his suit.. his hands mushy and squishy... and as he licked the last drops of everything... u get the feeling of having eaten a mango yourself..

so once again we are going against Nature.. chemically ripened fruits.. Is it ignorance or arrogance or arrogance mixed with ignorance...

for the arrogance part.. it always accompanies greed.. following unscrupulous means to earn quick profits... and complete disregard for others... not even bothered if the product would cause any health effects.. its alarming to find adulterated consumables and even expired medicines being sold knowingly..

a shop i know has nothing original.. this i discovered the difficult way.. tested a can of deodorant and got a rash on my arm.. today i use that very same brand but i bought from a different and much reputed store...

as for ignorance i would say that the people involved do not realise the impact such interferences and tampering have on the human body.. are they aware that the impurities may be carcinogenic??

man has to fear for bird-flu, mad-cow disease and e-coli.. which occur naturally... but even of the fish from polluted waters.. he has to also fear every vegetable for the fertilisers used or the genetic modifications made to it..

even when u bite into a simple apple, u have to wonder if u are getting some wax for free...

the only solution is to return to NATURE.. that is not easy.. plus strict quality standards should be enforced on all consumables including the perishables..

in the wake of all such things happening and not happening today... those who get to enjoy such sweet treats are truly Lucky....

Note: Stolen mangoes are always sweeter :)

No Comments...

I spend an hour a day to write a blog..why?? Cause i am slow... and also cause i like to write factually what i feel...

So here i slog and then i see so many visits to my blog... its increased by 200 in last few weeks.. thats really nice... but i wonder if they really do read my blogs.. cause there are No Comments...

If u like what u read say so.. if u don't like also do say something.. but say something as ur comments are valuable to me... help me become a better blogger... do leave ur comments...

I was talking to a friend of mine today and on a health concern of hers, offered free advise.. suggested that she visit the Siddha Hospital at Tambaram Sanitorium, Chennai..

I first visited the hospital in 2008.. since i had no major complaints i did not re-visit.. and now.. in 2010.. i am a regular..

the hospital is funded by the Central Govt and therefore is able to provide FREE medical care to ALL patients.. FREE tests ranging from blood sugar to ECG and X-ray.. and also in-patient facilities for those requiring prolonged stay and treatment..

Siddha medicine is around 10,000 years old which was preached and practised by 18 Siddhars..more on the history is available on wiki..

The medicines given do not have any side-effects except for curing the condition.. i have only experienced the fringe benefits.. like glowing skin and reduced hair fall... they basically constitute Syrups, Tablets, Capsules and Oils... the variety of medicated oils available is huge.. they are specific to pain, itching and other conditions not limited to dermatology.. the concept is that the oil seeps through the pores on our skin and thereby enters the system and does its work...

the doctors there are well trained in English medicine also and the medication they give is sometimes supplemental to it.. there are 7 consulting rooms with one dozen final year students and 2 supervising senior doctors... every symptom is noted down and diagnosis done.. the senior doctor then approves the same and the dispensary gives out the medicines..

Lots of people visit the compound which works on all days from 8:00am to 12noon and on Tuesdays caters to the Senior Citizens exclusively with an additional evening batch.. adequate time, patience and attention is given to each patient..

My recommendation for Siddha comes from the fact that it is an ancient form of medicine and uses natural cures in most scenarios.. artificial chemicals are completely avoided..

The element of doubt on quacks will always exist.. that is why it is better to get treated at the Siddha hospital which is by the Government and therefore far more reliable..

for all who can.. all those who are interested.. a mere visit can give u the impressions... after that it is the belief and trust u put into the system that will yield the results...

my choice would be to go natural.. go Siddha...

One Kilo in One Month..

Its official.. the scales stopped a kilo early today.. i have successfully lost a kilo.. its a reverse trend for me.. i usually gain a kilo a year..

i have always been heavier than others my age.. never bother much about it.. partly cause i chose to not care and partly i didn't have the confidence that i could.. over the years many people have advised me to Go for a walk, Exercise, drink honey in warm water early morning etc etc... i chose the easiest option.. honey on empty stomach.. it did make me look leaner but i never checked its effects on a weighing machine.. couple of months ago i did try it again.. but since i now live in a city whether it is cold and dry.. i got a nose bleed.. so put a full stop..

I was tested for PCOS and Thyroid in between... and i struck gold in both.. The doctor said that both conditions could be the root cause of my weight gain and put me medicines... in the year that followed... i had lost 5kilos straight...

Losing 5kilos without any exercise or special diet made me very happy.. it was good news but still i was obese..

I suffer from Subclinical hypothyroidism where my TSH was 13.. way above normal whereas my T3 & T4 were normal.. and since that day i have been starting my day with a thyroid tablet..

I visited a thyroid specialist who double underlined the fact that i HAD to lose weight..

My next stop from there was to a gym near my house.. all women.. that was a plus point... i enrolled without wasting a minute on second thoughts..

So here is my gym routine and diet chart to see what makes it work:

1. Brisk walking on a Treadmill (0% incline) with a speed of 5.5 to 6.0 for about 15-20mins everyday...
2. A seated cycle (70 to 75rpms level3)or a cross-trainer (elliptical)(60-65 rpms level3) for around 10-15mins each day..
3. Aerobics classes on alternate days for one hour..

All above are cardio exercises..
4. Other exercises for Arms, Legs, Abs etc..

My Diet.. the word seems big.. but i have not missed any of my favourite foods.. just have reduced the quantity..

6:30 am - a cup of coffee with milk, one spoon sugar only, 2 high fibre biscuits if i am hungry

8:30 am - was recommended to have a wheat bread sandwich.. but i have 2 rotis / dosas/ idlies etc.. they say to avoid coconut.. so my chutneys are pudhina, tomato etc

11:00 am - a veg salad and a glass of thin buttermilk (i end up skipping this)

1:30 pm - Lunch - 2 rotis / 1.5 cups rice.. 2varieties of vegetables and the salad if u had missed it at 11:00...

4:30pm - a cup of coffee with one spoon sugar and 2biscuits optional

6:00pm - a salad / veg soup / fruit

8:30pm - dinner.. similar to breakfast and i avoid rice at night..

10:00pm - a glass of skimmed milk or a fruit...

Recommended to include greens 3 times a week..

This diet works best with 1hour of exercise every day.. which can be just plain brisk walking.. the dietitian said "no sugar" but i stick to one spoon..

also i have not completely avoided the comfort foods.. i don't binge on them either.. i watch the intake..

in simple words eat only for hunger and not for desire..

i joined a gym to get my weight loss started.. i needed the push towards a healthier lifestyle.. else on my own i wonder if i would ever have pushed myself to it.. now HEALTH is deeply embedded in my mind.. i don't feel in-confident.. i give my best to all the workouts.. in my aerobics class there are many who are excellent and many struggling like me...

all that you have to do is "Not Give Up"...

Secret of my blog...

My blog seems to be playing hide n seek.. i just can't seem to locate it on google...

i tried very way of searching it... even included the entire blog address and searched.. guss what?? it shows my friend's blog where she has mentioned my blog...

outrageous.. according to google.. my blog does not exist...

as i again googled the reason for this.. i stumbled upon forums discussing this issue.. they said that google has not indexed my blog yet.. and it takes time..

some tricks to get blog indexed fast is to provide links on ur blog page to various sites that have relevance to the subject...

so writing a blog is just not enough... there has to be the right amount of other spices in it to make it more appealing even for a search engine to acknowledge it...

hope to land in google search soon.. or in a final desperate attempt i may end up using the trick suggested by sangeetha

my goof ups - fashion suicide..

For starters i got my hair coloured... now it is reddish brown and does nothing flattering to my face.. rather makes me look older... i wanted to try hair colouring.. but didnt expect the result to be so RED... can't say if this will be my last experiment with hair colour... but maybe i'd rather prefer streaks the next time around..

goof up 2 is with clothes... these days i have dressed up, stepped out and gone all the way to work.. and then when i see my reflection in the restroom mirror... i am left feeling awkward.. somewhere i have goofed up again...

goof 3 is my hairstyle... its flying into my face a lot these days.. some days i part it on the side, which makes a more squarish face and looks bad on me.. sometimes i pull it back and again goof up... and with my current experimental No-Oil policy.. it has become a hair-in-the-face week...

goof 4 the eyeliner drawings... as i try to dress up my eyes, i get carried away.. and thats how i end up with poor eye makeup... i do not line my eyes properly and leave a gap that looks odd.. sometimes my unsteady hands gives me a different eye shape altogether.. at times two very different eyes...

goof 5.. nothing much to think of here.. guess 4 were the major goofs.. as i end up looking worse in my attempts to look better.. my entire effort maybe the GRAND GOOD UP..

looking good naturally is good.. but some experiments are always fun... hopefully my R&D yields the desired results.. and on the record i'd like to say that i have learned a few lessons:

1. if the dress does not feel comfortable.. it is not.. so change it

2. for glowing skin u can simply apply a pack of besan (kadala maavu).. mis it wit milk and apply.. wash off when dry...

3. a natural scrub for the face is available.. u can coarsely grind green gram and use it for washing ur face.. u can also use it for the body.. makes the skin smooth.. mixing Kasturi manjal is also good... the goodness of manjal(turmeric) also penetrates ur skin and this variety does not cause yellow colouring...

4. get good rest and quality sleep.. it keeps you fresh and that will reflect on your face...

right now i am waiting for my hair colouring to fade out.. hoping it happens fast.. but it being permanent i wonder how much longer... till then i will have to live with my goof ups..

Green is the colour of Prosperity...

Getting straight to the point.. i was traveling past a newly made park this morning.. it was busy.. so many people on the sidewalk enjoying the new green space in their locality... but the eyesore was the litter strewn all over..

i am not an Environmentalist.. but i respect nature and i do not litter.. it was absolutely shameful to see what had become of it.. and this shoddy treatment is not isolated to only this park..

As a child i have traveled across the Chetpet bridge many times.. it overlooks a marsh.. in between the water, stands a lone tree.. i used to claim it as my island.. even today it brings the memories of my taking ownership of it.. it always lasts the half minute ride across..

i wonder what memories the sight of the Cooum may bring to the older citizens of our city.. it is a well known fact that it had crystal clear water.. and today it is pure drainage..

a particular type of flower.. blooms outside my house every April.. it is known as Konna Poo (Golden Shower).. beautiful delicate yellow flowers hanging down like a bunch of grapes.. its scientific name is a little funny though.."Cassia fistula".. the point is.. the flower is an essential part of the Vishu celebrations every April.. and it is during that period, it is in full bloom..

as it is highly sought after at that time.. hawkers mint profits selling them with Zero cost.. source.. the tree outside my house.. in a rather barbaric fashion they break and bruise the tree in their attempt to get as many flowers possible.. even if they are high up in the branches.. does it not remind u of the story of the boy and the tree??

very recently, a fire raged in a ecologically sensitive marshland.. no one seemed to realise the importance of the damage caused...

the solution?? so many model states and nations have set precedents to the preservation and cleanliness of their environment.. every Indian easily quotes the example of Singapore.. but is it not easier to follow the routine we follow in our homes??? i don't think people throw the garbage inside their bedrooms, nor do they piss on their walls.. a little sense of responsibility and a good administration is the only way out..

till the day any reforms happen.. we can each continue doing whatever little we can.. after all Mother Nature is not called so, just like that...