vindow

For some reason I have never been a collector.

I have friends who collect books, CDs, coffee mugs, bells, Ganeshas, stars and what not. My dad collects coins and stamps. I have never done any of that.

I like reading but I am not a collector. I sometimes give away books that I don’t like. Those that I have enjoyed reading have stayed with me and changed locales as I did. Is that collection?

I love watching movies. Irrespective of the language, genre, and duration I will sit thru it and even try my best to understand/enjoy. But, I never buy DVDs or CDs I get them from libraries and return when I am done. Am I being monetarily wise?

The only collection I ever had was of photographs. I have pictures right from nursery going days to walking round the kalyana mandapam…all neatly kept in albums. But recently I lost interest in that too. All those albums lie stacked in the store room of my house. This change in mood was not sudden but I remember one particular instance when I was flipping through albums and I felt something strange like "the moment has passed by and it will not come back to me…these pictures only make me feel sad” and that was it…I stopped collecting pictures too. I do upload pictures after every trip but it is only because family and friends ask for it. Sometimes I also do it fearing what if my children are interested and I don’t have it with me then! Anyway, the point is that I don’t go back to those albums and try to relive the moments. Is this normal?

I forgot to bring along my phone today. When Girish sulked over the missing communication link...I asked "Can't we live without it for a day?"

Amma and Achan are travelling and I want to call them. The insurance guy is also waiting for my call. I wanted to show vava's pictures to Vidya...none of this is happening...

Now I know better, the answer to my question is a big NO!

For Keralites living in Bangalore the biggest advantage that the city offers is the possibility of a quick escape to Coconut land. A private bus should be able to get you to Trivandrum in a matter for 12 -13 hours. Having said that, I for one have always disliked traveling by bus for reasons better known to me than explained to hubby. Even though flying is expensive I prefer it for reasons, again, better known to me than explained. However, henceforth no more explanations will be required as hubby experienced the same kind of dislike for the whole exercise.

Friday, Shama office at Madiwala:

We were all set to begin the journey. Hubby was in high spirits as he likes traveling by bus. I was not. To reduce the misery, I bought myself a pack of yellow Lays which I hoped to enjoy while watching the Tamil/Mal flick. The bus was supposed to leave at 5:00 PM so we reported at the depot at 4:25 PM. We were informed that the bus was running late. The departure time would now be 5:30 PM. I refused to feel bad about the fact that I could have spent half an hour more at my work desk.

The black Volvo finally arrived and we took our seats. The big vacuum in front did not ring a bell to me. Hubby whispered in low spirits…”Looks like this bus does not have a TV”. “Oh is it…WHAT?!?” I wanted to protest but I meekly said…”maybe there is a hidden screen which will swing in from the sides”. Yea rite! I decided to enjoy my packet of Lays minus the movie. I will not let my spirits be dampened by this. The bus stopped for dinner and we dug into our packed dinner of chapatti and stew. Thank God for small mercies…it still tasted yum! We resumed our journey. As we babbled into the night and others stared at the roof waiting to be blessed with slumber, the blanket distribution process commenced. While some picked colors others passed comments and giggled. Hubby picked one and immediately returned it saying “It’s wet” I said “What?” Mr. Distributor said “We washed it TODAY” I was flabbergasted. My spirits were totally dampened by now!!

I did not return the blanket. Infact, I did not even budge from the position I was sitting in. The blanket reeked of detergent. We talked about the whole experience and I reclined into my seat. The last time I traveled by Kallada I was bitten by bed bugs and I ended up having a sleepless night. I was now wondering which of my trips was worse, this or that. Suddenly I felt cold. I checked my dress, it was damp coz I had placed the wet blanket on top. The anger in me soon warmed up my cheeks. I put aside the blanket and I decided to do with my sweater. I reclined back again...

Something was wrong. Yes, I figured it out; the push back was not working...

Through the journey I wondered what I paid 650 bucks for? Everybody around me was suffering in the same way but nobody complained? Am I being too fussy? Perhaps yes, but I demand better treatment than this!

Pal pal, pal pal, Har Pal, Har Pal
Kaise katega pal, har pal har pal
Pal pal, pal pal, Har Pal, Har Pal
Kaise katega pal, har pal har pal

Late but definetely worth and entry :)

Year after year I have wondered about the belief that what you do on the first day of the year reflects what the coming year is going to be like.

Unsure of how that works, I have always played it safe. This year, however, I was caught unaware. I had a terrible start to the year and I hope the bad luck does not continue. Hubby who was fit as a fiddle when he woke up yesterday morning, was burning with high fever by noon. Rushed him to the hospital by evening. My choices were Apoorva and Manipal. Apoorva was closed and I didn't want to encounter SM again and so avoided Manipal. I took him to Chinmaya Mission instead. Now, that was a HORRIBLE experience in itself. All Banglorians reading this, please note, if you are rushing in sombody for an emergency DO NOT choose CMH, you will save your loves ones from a lot of trouble. My co-brother who was kilometeres away from the city rushed towards us. On his way, he lost his mobile. Now, I dont even want to bother narrating what happened. Excuses like " After the last call I kept it on the seat, so it must have fallen off when I get out" sound so absurd at those moments. Lesson learnt, you must be CONSICOUS of how you handle your gadgets. Hubby is taking rest today and I am back in office...

So how many of you believe that the first day of the year reflects what the coming year is going to be like...? :(

It's time to explore places in and around Bangalore. Hubby sent me this link.Of all the places listed, Kali is what interests me at the moment.

An informative site. People who have been to one or more places listed in the site say that the information provided is quite accurate.

My co-sister delivered a baby boy on saturday...the little one is a star already...anybody and everybody in the family is desperately trying to get tickets to pay him a visit.

My father-in-law does not always keep well and so he is very particular about his sleep. On sunday morning when hubby called him to check how he was doing after the night out at the hospital, he surprised us with " One sleepless night cannot do me any harm "!! My mother-in-law who is generally soft spoken and reserved called me yesterday afternoon and talked non-stop for almost 10 minutes about the latest happenings :) Vava is already making a big difference...



Yesterday MOMMY called us when vava was crying. Hubby and me fought for the phone like mad.

Hubby seems quite thrilled about his new Chittappan status...he even gave me a treat for that!! I have been promoted too. Wonder whether it is going to be Chitta or Cheriyamma? Vava will decide...

We had slogged off our collective asses in the past one week. So yesterday once the release was over we decided to go for an outing. Have lunch outside was what we had narrowed down to, then somebody suggested that we include the rest of the gang too even though they were not part of the release. Now that we were a sizeable number we started thinking on other options for an outing. Finally we decided on Amoeba, the bowling alley.

Had a great time bowling. So what if I scored the least? I was bowling after an year or so whereas the others probably do it every weekend! Queens was too packed and we didnt want to wait so we hit Bheemas for lunch. On our way to Bheemas I tripped...didn't fall ...only S saw me wobbling, she giggled. Had veg thali at B, ok food. After lunch S wanted to check out Cotton World and I for no reason decided to join her. Busted over 500 bucks on a denim shirt which I thought went well with the trouser I was wearing. Now that we were late anyway, we decided to find out where exactly the book shop Blossoms was located. Just as we reached the place and I realised how close it was to Coconut Grooves, I exclaimed, said something/ did something and the next thing I know is that I was on the floor on both hands and feet!!! Those guys saw...that girl giggled...but nothing mattered...I was panicking...my trouser, nothing should happen to it. I got up hurriedly and brushed myself but the damage was done :( Now here I am back in office with a bruised knee and a new_damaged_ trouser. The upper layer of the fabric is gone and that has left a white patch on it :((

Now I know how to use a xerox machine ;)

Moon so bright, night so fine
Keep your heart here with mine
Life's a
dream we are dreaming
Race the moon, catch the wind
Ride the night to the
end
Seize the day, stand up for the light
I want to spend my lifetime
loving you
If that is all in life I ever do
Heroes rise, heroes
fall
Rise again, win it all
In your heart, can't you feel the glory

Through our joy, through our pain
We can move worlds again
Take my
hand, dance with me
I want to spend my lifetime loving you
If that is all
in life I ever do
I will want nothing else to see me through
If I can
spend my lifetime loving you
Though we know we will never come
again
Where there is love, life begins
Over and over again
Save the
night, save the day
Save the love, come what may
Love is worth everything
we pay
I want to spend my lifetime loving you
If that is all in life I
ever do
I want to spend my lifetime loving you
If that is all in life I
ever do
I will want nothing else to see me through
If I can spend my
lifetime loving you

Details later...

Try this

Morrie, I said softly. “Coach,” he corrected.
   Coach, I said. I felt a
shiver. He spoke in short bursts, inhaling air, exhaling words. His voice was
thin and raspy. He smelled of ointment.
   “You … are a good soul.” A good
soul.
   “Touched me …” he whispered. He moved my hands to his heart.
“Here.”
   It felt as if I had a pit in my throat.
Coach?
   “Ahh?”
   I don’t know how to say good-bye.
   He patted my
hand weakly, keeping it on his chest.
   “This … is how we say … good-bye
…”
   He breathed softly, in and out, I could feel his rib­cage rise and
fall. Then he looked right at me.
   “Love … you,” he rasped.
   I love
you, too, Coach.
   “Know you do … know … something else…”
   What else do
you know?
   “You … always have …
   His eyes got small, and then he
cried, his face con­torting like a baby who hasn’t figured how his tear ducts
work. I held him close for several minutes. I rubbed his loose skin. I stroked
his hair. I put a palm against his face and felt the bones close to the flesh
and the tiny wet tears, as if squeezed from a dropper.
   When his breathing
approached normal again, I cleared my throat and said I knew he was tired, so I
would be back next Tuesday, and I expected him to be a little more alert, thank
you. He snorted lightly, as close as he could come to a laugh. It was a sad
sound just the same.
   I picked up the unopened bag with the tape recorder.
Why had I even brought this? I knew we would never use it. I leaned in and
kissed him closely, my face against his, whiskers on whiskers, skin on skin,
holding it there, longer than normal, in case it gave him even a split second of
pleasure.
   Okay, then? I said, pulling away.
   I blinked back the
tears, and he smacked his lips to­gether and raised his eyebrows at the sight of
my face. I like to think it was a fleeting moment of satisfaction for my dear
old professor: he had finally made me cry.
   “Okay, then,” he whispered.

 In the South American rain forest, there is a tribe called the Desana, who see
the world as a fixed quantity of energy that flows between all creatures. Every
birth must therefore engender a death, and every death bring forth another
birth. This way, the energy of the world remains complete.
   When they hunt
for food, the Desana know that the ani­mals they kill will leave a hole in the
spiritual well. But that hole will be filled, they believe, by the souls of the
Desana hunters when they die. Were there no men dying, there would be no birds
orfish being born. I like this idea. Morrie likes it, too. The closer he gets to
good-bye, the more he seems to feel we are all creatures in the same forest.
What we take, we must replenish.
   “It’s only fair,” he says.

...This is part of what a family is about, not just love, but letting others know there’s someone who is watching out for them...Family gives you Spiritual Security...

There is something more than an affinity between men and cars. I knew it from childhood coz I had cousins who would dream of cars, who would study cars and would live to see and touch cars. Dad and bro have also been passionate about driving. So when I was in the process of meeting ppl in the marriage market, I secretly hoped that my guy would be a car lover. In one of our get_to_know_each_other_ more sessions my hubby mentioned about his passion for cars and driving. I was thrilled to hear that. I think that night I even dreamt of a long drive with him.

Yesterday we brought home our new possession. Santro Xing eRLX - XL. It's a nice model and the color (Charming Grey) is good too. Better than what I thought of it when we went for the test drive. My husband was on a total high. Cars have that kind of an effect on him. Every time we went to the showroom he would walk up and down the place, jump in an out of all models right from Accent, to Santro to Elantra. I noticed one thing, he coudln't take his eyes off it last evening. I noticed him peeping out of the window into the parking late last night and early this morning!!

He is a confident and good driver. I have been watching him drive for the past 2 months but yesterday with the new car in hand he was damn nervous. He almost hit a bike in Tippasandra. When the poojari asked him to park the car right in front of the temple he actually called me to check if he was cutting it right!! It was pouring cats and dogs but he couldn't care less, while I was trying to get done with everything asap, he actually asked me if I placed the lemons properly under the tyres :D.

My hubby is quite pissed off by the fact that Ganguly is back in the team. I feel otherwise.I think he deserves one more chance. Lets not forget that he is the guy with a back up of 10, 000 runs and that does say something about his ability. Why not give him another chance to prove himself? Captaincy is fine with Dravid (not that things are well assured but I'll rest that case for the time being).

Having spoken in Ganguly's favor I completely disagree with the protests in Kolkatta. Bongs are always sensitive when it comes to the game but then this is rediculous. They should understand that even this position that Ganguly has managed to procure is at the expense of a crucial member. After a series of mutations the team is now well knit and a replacement at this jucture could have serious repercussions. Besides, I also agree with Kapil Dev's statement that the people should get over this sentiment for their state and think of the team as representing the entire nation. Even though the ex-captains's inclusion in the Test team seems to have temporarily pacified the people in kolkatta, the organizers better beef up the security well enough for the next ODI.

Meanwhile, I think Ganguly should concentrate more on performing decently than showing off on field. I can't stand the way he exaggerates his emotions on the pitch. Besides, after all the crawling and feet licking that he and his supporters resorted to slip into the team, he better perform well. Sad that an ex-captain had to fall back on such measures to get back into the team.