T Toast n Timepass

Beeep.. Beeep.. Beeep..

2009-05-13T22:00:00.003-04:00

It was a tiring Saturday. Towards late evening suddenly DH (Dear Husband) planned that we should go for Tulip Garden the next day. Guess, the garden was open only for 10 days or so and that Sunday was the last chance for us to visit. So making a petty fight for not planning it before , I ended up rolling Roti's, to be carried the next day, made arrangements and then ironing the clothes,charging cameras and stuff. It was 12:15 in the night, (ideally the next day) when we went to bed.

Suddenly I woke up in the middle of my sleep, which is quite unusual. Could not see DH next to me. Saw him standing puzzled in the living room. Checked the watch, it was 3:10 AM. Thats when I heard a 'Beeeeeeep', a shrill high pitched sound. I could not realize what it is. It came within another 20 seconds once again 'Beeeeeep' Oh my God ! its the Carbon Monoxide Alarm. Until a very long time since I came to US,I did not even see, that such an instrument was there in my living room ;) Why is that beeping now? With so many questions in my mind, I got out of bed and joined my puzzled husband in the living room. The sound was huge as if whole block is going to wake up. Anyone in US would know the eerie silence in the night. No fan, nothing and here is a shrill higgggh pitched beeeeep to break that silence. DH was sitting next to the beeper and analyzing it and cursing it for every few minutes for the sound. It still had a green light on it. It said, "You cannot see or smell carbon monoxide but yet it can kill you". etc to kindle my fear.

Where the H at this time is a carbon monoxide leakage? We opened the windows and quickly inspected the kitchen, bathroom and everything. We could not find anything unusual. We reduced the heater thinking it might even be a cause. Nothing worked, the beeper was going on every few seconds every time creating a eerie fear in me. He tried to unplug it, still the beeping continued. In my thoughts " Oh what a system, it works even after unplugging, runs on battery huh, what if I smash it on floor on break it to stop the beep. But its carpet everywhere. What if I cover it inside my comforter, may the sound will reduce". I went ahead and unplugged every equipment right from MW, Wireless router, Lamps thereby making negotiations with God to save us from the situation and in turn I can do him this and that.....

By the way, Why on earth should I unplug the electrical things when the whole funda is about a carbon monoxide leakage? What was I doing?. May be this is how I (and many others) will react at a state of tension or sudden fear. With heater down and windows wide open it started becoming so cold inside.

After a while DH resolved it should be an instrument defect/malfunction and plugged it back and shut the doors and went back to bed instructing me to do the same. Oh No..How can I sleep anymore ...its beeping..may be this is my last day on earth...I did not even chat with my parents today. What if I shut the house and go sleep in the car. The instrument said so..I mean, not to sleep in car but to go out to fresh air in case of leakage. And it also instructed to call 911. I went to my DH and suggested we should call 911. He was giving me 'R u crazy' look and said its not even a warning or something and that the beep will be continuous and there will be a red light glowing in case of such leakage and this is clearly a fault. Saying so he went back to sleep. Or was trying to.

I opened the living room windows which DH just then closed, resolving, getting cold is far better than dying. Sat on the bed and again started thinking .....if I can ever sleep. I got a strict NO NO. I tiptoed from the bed and went to the living room, started starring at the beeper and recording the frequency of the beep it was not even continuous. sometimes every 30 seconds, sometimes 50.. Google was a Saviour many a times and I decided to google about it if its a common fault so that I can attempt to sleep with little bit of peace. Oh god..I have unplugged all the wireless routers. Anyway, plugged it back, switched on the system. Now DH came to help and while he was browsing at 3-30 early morning for possible reasons of the carbon monoxide beeper malfunctioning I was back in living room starring at the beeper as if my stare could stop it from shrilling.

Simultaneously at the back of my mind I was planning to remove the mesh from the window so that we can jump out of it easily in case of disaster. Suddenly something flashed in my mind and I moved away from the living room and could hear the beep much closer. Ah..I got it. Its not the carbon monoxide beeper at all, its the Smoke Alarm. After confirming it with the proximity of the sound I told DH about my latest discovery. And he was already googling about it. Google said it should be due to Low battery that a smoke detector will give such a beep every few seconds indicating a need for change in batteries. I got my half senses back but still frightened. Once again made sure that there is no smoke in the home. DH tried to pull out the smoke detector but it seemed wired with the wall, we could not do it but after he messed with it, it slowly stopped giving the beeps. May be its a coincidence and it has lost its battery fully. We went back to bed. And I could not sleep till 4-15 in the morning. After that when I woke up, we were still alive. House was as it is. Day light always brings confidence and dark night always gives fear. Now in dawn I was more comfortable, called up the maintenance, they fixed up a new battery.Also read about many such stories of people getting confused between both these beepers. Thank God! we weren't the only one to be fooled. And all went well, we were off in few hours to Tulip Garden. Both of us were quite tired with sleepless night but the beauty of the flowers was a great refreshment. More so was the fact there was no parking fees ;)

Swine Flu - Precautionary measures

2009-04-30T14:34:00.002-04:00

Worldwide pandemic alert level phase 5 issued??? Huffffffff :-(

Hoping the vaccine for swine flu should be available soon. Till then lets be careful and take all precautionary measures. (Taken from CDC)

Stay informed. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.

Oh..The unsolved mysteries

2009-01-29T16:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was walking to a temple where I saw a big lorry purposefully coming as though to hit me. I was wondering why. I am not a gorgeous heroine and have no hero, with 1 or 1+ villians trying to win me and arrange such an accident for me. By that time, it already came so close to me that I made turns and slides like our Action heroine Vijayshanthi (Used to be my fav.) to escape that. Finally I did. But the stunts seemed illogical to me that even in such deep sleep I realized its just a dream and woke up with a thud. This happened yesterday.

And day before, my sister gets ferocious and walks out of home and goes into a river. It doesnt seem like she is attempting suicide or something, more so seemed like pulling me for a task that I hate to do. Yes I hate to walk in waters. To be more clear, am afraid to. Still, she is my ever loving darling sister, that I go deep into that river and pull her and ask her to come back. She never seemed to resist too. It was as though she was having a peaceful walk and me like a big saviour went ahead and pulled her out assuming she is attempting something. Again that was a dream.

And the other night my whole street was deserted and there comes a big lion. And I am instructing all to hide in places I show.
I only wish I am really brave as that in reality too..

To top it all, weekends I used to have the utmost comedy.

I will be so very lazy to wake up and all the more lazy to do brushing. There are two mountanious tasks to do after I woke up, which in by itself is quite a big task. Brushing and Bathing. I cant explain in words how much lazy I will be to do them on weekends. But once I am up, I cant sit long wihtout brushing too. Huuufff that makes things so complicated. In essence, I hate to wake up early and brush and bath and cant wait to sit for my steaming cup of coffee. Brushing ! I just hate the time it takes. Somehow I use to wish why cant there be a machine to brush you. Edhu Edhuko kandupudikaranga, idhukku kandupudicha enna. (Many inventions are made, why cant one be done for this?).
Dont be amazed if one day there comes a machine for that, such stupidest thing would have been done by none other than me

I always have a dream that I am done quickly with my brushing and sitting in my table with steaming hot coffee. I try to take a sip of that hot coffee wondering unusually I had done my brushing bathing so quick today.. Just to find out am still in bed and all that is a dream.

Is this called, the slip between the cup and the lip?

And worst part is, I had even had the similar dreams for 2-3 times. For second time, I used to feel, 'comeon no dream can occur twice, you are really up and done wiht it and now here it is, enjoi your coffee'. But Noooooooooooo its again a dream and am still in the bed. :(

I am tired of these dreams. From today I am going to try switching places and check if there are any change in my dreams. Good luck to me !

A Retrospect on the tiny Pleasures

2009-01-13T10:41:00.003-05:00

Remembering W.H Davies words 'What is this life if full of care, We have no time to stand and stare"

Unknowingly I started retrospecting on the tiny pleasures that we crossed in life..Being busy with the fast track life, sometimes we miss the little little pleasures of life.

I was just trying to remember those kutty kutty pleasures.Rewinding back my life a little, these were the little little things that comes to top of my mind.

- Early morning strong filter coffee with a news paper. {Coffee should have the foam, its very important..

- Happy to catch a half empty PTC bus to school. {There are days, I missed several buses and came back home saying, Ma, could not get the bus, so today leaveeeeeeee :)

- The long wait for Games period. {Though I am not a great sport..

- Watering the plants in the garden, Somehow I feel whenever I water them, there will be a mild breeze { I used to assume nature is thanking me for the water ;)

- Sitting by the window and watching the heavy rain {while the frog making up the background music.

- Eagerly watching news for schools to be declared holiday due to rain. {Thats the only season I was eager about news..

- Distributing choclates to whole class during birthday.

- Un uniform declared after festival days. { An escape from boring uniform and mainly the Two Plaits :)

- Going out of station for Annual holidays and extensive playing with cousins.

- Every year school results, the few minutes thrill of opening the inland cover and seeing 'PROMOTED' :) even though we know we will pass.

- When mom makes hot hot Bajji during Rainy days.

- Travelling 30 mins in company bus listening to Radio Mirchi. {I ll never feel like getting down, wish it continues another 30 mins..

- After checking the office mails, finding out there is less work to do for the day :)

- T time chat with friends.

- Yearning for sunday's potato fry and onion sambar.

- Hot crispy potato chips with a favourite novel during weekends.

- Getting onto a leather coat and having a pleasant walk when its snowing lightly.

And sure there are many more, but right now, these are the one that strikes on top of my mind and gives me a big wide smile on my face while I remember them fondly

Pizzza

2009-01-04T12:00:00.003-05:00

My first pizza. Looks great, tastes great.

Troubles...Troubles...Troubles...

2008-12-17T12:08:00.002-05:00

Oh man Life is full of troubles..issues...problems.Whatever we do, some or the other issues. By the way whats the difference between Trouble ..Issue..Problem? Whatever be, Hell they make me feel so sad and bad...
God, cant you please let me in peace for sometime. Why are you dumping me with so much of troubles, after all I am good, Ok, Ok...after all I am not sooo bad. Please give me a breakkkkkkkkkkk.

Hmm...Somehow sometimes it seems, life is all troubles...And this blog is rather a self talk to myself..Here I am, one day cursing my life, one day trying to be optimistic and one day sobbing over things and wishing one day I ll be out of this trouble soon..and may be wait for the next :) :(

Problems are part of life. Life comes with a package. And we have to take it as a "package", with all the positives and negatives in it. One cannot possibly have all positives. Its just a mix of things. If you are relishing the positives of the package, as well, cope up with the negatives.

There are few things that you can control over life, few things u do not have control. Mind the ones where u have control and the rest, just wait and watch, for you dont have control over them.

Be your own judge and be right to yourself, follow your heart it will definitely show you the right direction.

Never have too many threads in your mind and think about everything, solve one by one. Take one thing at a time, analyze and find a solution and move to next.

Never lose temper, never lose patience. Ok this is too much, Try to be little more patient and composed.

Stop imagining consequences of the problem, it is true we all are soo good in imagination that we always imagine ourselves getting into worst consequences. Not even by chance they can happen in reality, but often it does in our imagination. The imaginary fears are very very dangerous, they slowly slowly make u a negative person. Have confidence and be optimistic. Positive thoughts can create wonders.

Try to stand out of the problem as a third person and try understanding and solving it. It eliminates the emotional pressure on you.

So does problems makes us weaker or stronger?. Hmm, It makes us pretty much weaker as long as the problem is active and once it is resolved, may be it makes us stronger with the lessons that it has imparted in us. It is true that we feel that we had grown a bit stronger after crossing each struggles in life.

They say God gives you, only the troubles that you can handle. So may be we can handle it..

Come on gear up, everyone has problems, you can soon be out of it...Now dont be so frowning, for god's sake it will make the face look too bad..

And finally whatever happens, Life will move on....Never worry..Be brave.

Peace and Harmony - Taken for granted?

2008-11-18T11:28:00.003-05:00

Who told us that Peace, Harmony and Happiness is default?

Being out-of-trouble and leading a normal peaceful life, Is that DEFAULT in life? But dont we feel so? May be we dont even realize that we are feeling so. Shouldn't we feel gifted to gain a painless, peaceful day? How many people out there don't have it, but we do. But are we really feeling grateful for it? I guess, NO. Because we take them for granted.

Why is that we frown at the face of sorrow and down for a having a bad day, but, not celebrating as much as we frown when we are fine and happy, when our life is sailing smooth in harmony?

We take many things for granted. Almost everything that is good that happens to us are taken for granted. And we react less to them, and all that favors us, in leading a normal happy peaceful life is left unnoticed. But if the routine changes and there is a bit of trouble, we frown, cry or feel frustrated or feel the whole world is against us. Personally I feel this is biased.

When we are hurt by our friends or any of our loved ones, we make sure we stand up and demand justice by arguing or fighting or scolding. But how often do we recognize and reciprocate the little pleasure and happiness that they give, that makes our day fit and fine. Dont we need to be grateful for those?

I realize that we do not appreciate the good little things often, but will make sure we stand against and fight if hurt by someone. Sometimes a note of 'thanks' or 'u-r-great' or 'i feel good about u' will make a day for someone. I see how happy it makes mom feel when I praise her cooking, which I never often do. Coz I take for granted that she is to provide me nice and tasty food. I see how happy it makes my sis feel when I say I am very much happy in chatting with her when am feeling all alone in US. I am of course happy for it, but I never usually feel like conveying it to her. I thank my dear husband for helping me in kitchen when am down, which he anyway dont feel as a burden. Like this, there are many many petty things in life which we take for granted. We know its fetching us happiness deep inside, but we never show it out. But when such things are shown out, how good it feels. And what else is more powerful and more motivating than a word of appreciation? When someone says what u do is good, naturally we feel like doing it again. All of us love to be appreciated, thanked. So lets give the joy to others too. By this I dont mean to simply flatter people with our comments, but start noticing the unnoticed happiness, the happiness that is taken for granted, and be grateful for it.

Just a small note of praise, makes a lot of difference, to others, to ourselves too.

It makes our life more balanced. Reacting to -ve things in life is quite common, but reacting to +ve things too, will make our life more balanced and meaningful. At least I feel so :-)

Me and the Oval substance

2008-11-11T14:42:00.004-05:00

In childhood we do many pranks but once we are grown up we hardly remember them unless parents or relatives fondly refers to it.But there are few instances that remains fresh in memory. They should be special to you in someway. And I have got one of such memories.

I was in 4th standard then. I belong to a staunch vegetarian family. Now, personally I avoid non-vegetarian just for the reason that I am contented with vegetarian dishes. But at that age,I was somehow fascinated by this white-oval thing-a usual breakfast in my neighbor family. My neighborhood friends used to eat a boiled egg daily. And I vividly remember their mom breaking the egg slowly,tactically with a spoon thereby removing the outer white cover revealing the greyish boiled stuff inside and feeding it to her children. I never had any fondness or thrill towards eating non-vegetarian. I was as such poor in eating or rather 'eating' vegetarian itself was a burden. But I was (do not know for what reason) much awed by the breaking-of-boiled egg that I decided to try it out myself at my home.

So I called up a conference meeting, my sister, my cousin brother and cousin sister were there. All of them were 1-2-3 years younger to me. We all assembled and I told my wish and they were in for it. My cousin sister had habit of eating eggs for her health conditions. So my plan was to experiment the egg and feed it to my cousin sister. All set, and we decided to carry out our plan the next day, happened to be a sunday.

Sunday morning was busy with pooja at home. I think it was 'Karadayan nombu' ,where we do pooja for godess devi and tie a yellow thread in hand. After all the pooja, my parents and granny caught up with their mid-day nap.All were in nice sleep. We 4 gathered in the garden side of my home to carry out the plan. There came a confusion as who has to go and buy the egg from the shop. Me being the eldest (remember 4th std) of the group, I was naturally expected to do the task. I think I was feeling little embarrassed to go out to shop and buy it, still as being the lead member of the team, I had to do it. I was wondering how much would it cost me to buy an egg. I took a 20 Rs note (U wonder how I got it?? I never steal, I had a good habit of saving pocket money) and along with my group members went to the nearby store. All the while phrasing how to ask for the egg in the store. I wonder whats the big deal in going and buying an egg, but back then I was so much thrilled/embarrassed to do it.

We went to the store, to my luck, eggs were placed in the front shelf, and it was kept on the table right in front of me. I pointed my hand to "it" and asked the shop keeper to give me one of it. He cautiously put one egg in newspaper, folded it and gave it to me and asked me "one ten". For a minute I feared if it was Rs-110 but logically it appeared too much for me, even at that age... I asked him again, then clearly he said One Rupee 10 Paise. I could not stop chuckling, for me doubting, if 20/- would be enough for an egg. I handed him my 20/- note and got the change and the egg.

I could not wait to open it and feel it. It was too heavy, I did not expect it to be of any weight at all .I was wondering may be its because of the chicken zipped inside. Anyways, we went home, and I carefully walked inside the kitchen and after all 4 of us felt the egg once, I placed it inside a container filled with water on the stove. Switched the stove on and we all were gazing at it. Nothing happened. We wanted to go out to the garden and check it out a little later. We went back to garden and started chit chatting on our new adventure. Mean time, I came inside and carefully closed the rooms so that no one hears any noise from kitchen. Back to conference. My cousin brother went inside and came back with a big worry on his face and told me that the egg broke inside the water. My heart broke hearing the news.

We all rushed inside to see the condition of the egg, just to know that it was a sheepish lie from my notorious cousin. Though it was a lie, I started fearing, what if it really breaks. So I thought 'Enough of boiling,Let's start breaking'. So I took out the vessel carefully with the holder and we took it to the garden where I placed it down. I took out the egg with a big spoon, poured little cold water so as to hold it in hand with less heat. I kept a plate and over the plate I was trying to break the egg. I revised how my next door neighbor used to it and started the same way, Started breaking it slowly with the spoon, TAK TAK TAK...But nothing happened. Now I understand it, coz it was hardly few minutes in water and it was not really boiled at all. But I did not realize it that time, coz I was just in 4th standard yaar. Yet again, my notorious cousin brother came into picture, he wanted to try it out too.He took the egg from me and just gave one big shot, It was not like breaking an egg, it was like breaking a coconut and it cracked open fully and all the yellow substance of it poured over the plate that I cleverly had placed. I was giving him a 'what-the-hell' look sadly realizing nothing could be done and pitying myself over my crushed dreams. There dawned a new Idea "Omlette".

Then we decided, lets make an Omlette out of it, that will be more challenging. Know what I did? I took the eversilver plate with the yellow substance and happily kept it on the stove and switched it on to sim mode. (Remember, 4th standard :-( ) Thats it, and I was expecting an omlette out of it !! After few minutes, I could hear some cracking noise, there I saw the ever silver plate contracting and expanding itself over the stove and the kitchen started filling itself slowly with the egg smell. OH MY GOD ! I switched off the stove and took the plate with the holder and ran out to the garden. We kept the plate in the middle and all the 4 of us surrounded it. The plate has lost its shape a bit, twisting towards one side, and the egg was like part-boiled,part-burnt and part-yellow still.

Considering the task finished(without knowing what else to do), I offered it proudly to my cousin sister to taste it. I mean just the boiled part of it. She touched it with her finger, licked it and said it needs salt/chilli. Oh how do I know all that ! Now I brought in some salt and chilli powder and spread over it and again offered it to her. She concluding that there is no escape for her, again tried it a bit, we three of us did not taste it. Now I wonder if my cousin brother and sister did not taste it as they were afraid to try out a non-veg dish or for the reason that they were afraid of my preparation. Anyways, I really don't remember what happened after that and how I disposed it off. Cant beleive if she ate the whole, Man what a punishment it should have been.....All I can remember is, I was filling the kitchen with air fresher and sadly removing the thread tied in my hand during morning pooja , due to the severe egg smell in it.

So that was my experiment with egg. I guess 4th std kid of today's age can even make biriyani but u know, I was not so competent then.

Loving your own reflection???

2008-10-23T20:26:00.003-04:00

I consider this as one of my Lessons for Life. There are few lessons which in life makes a very great difference.

This might happen/happened with everyone of us, UNNOTICED. But Is this right? Be your own judge, for I am putting "my" views on it.

How many times have we frowned at people because we don't seem to like the way they dress, they talk, they move?.

Recollect how many times we have fought with husband just because they do things that "we" do not like.

Why is he so short-tempered?
Why is he never romantic?
Why is he workaholic?
Why is he so talkative?
Why is he so moody all time?

Did we ever realize that we always look for people who do things in OUR WAY. We tend to incline and appreciate things that are done according to OUR INTERESTS.

But Why? Don't we appreciate the concept of INDIVIDUALISM? Honestly speaking, most of us DONT. Some knowingly, Some unknowingly.

'I am too romantic, but he is not'. 'I love hanging out but he always want to sit at home'. 'I am very social but he is not'.

HE WONT, because HE IS NOT 'Y O U'

How many times we had silently wept for these differences, or argued for it?

Though it is always good to have your own choices and interests, it is always essential to appreciate the INDIVIDUAL inside everyone.

Is it wise to hate or frown at someone just because they are not YOUR TYPE? They are not the way you need them to be? They are not the way you want them to be?

If we do so, then WE ARE JUST LOVING OUR OWN REFLECTIONS and not the other person truly.

Appreciate the individual inside. Start looking at them as individual. Do not always associate what they do with what you like.

How easy it is to say that you don't like this, you don't like that etc. How difficult it is to say you love everything you come across.

But have we ever realized how positive and nice we feel once we started appreciating, loving everything/everyone who comes across in our lives. Believe me, you will start feeling much lighter and infact be accumulating more person in your "I like them" list.

STOP LOVING YOUR OWN REFLECTIONS IN OTHERS.

LOVE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE..

5 cup cake turned out as Halwa

2008-10-23T16:37:00.007-04:00

Before reading this blog, important information to be noted : I am not a great cook. Kinda relatively fresher to the cooking area and this is my first attempt on making sweets. Now with this in mind, read on..

What to say yaar, I took proper recipe for 7 cup cake. It is supposed to be

1-Besan Flour
1-Milk
1-coconut
3-sugar
1-ghee.

Now I tell u my expirement on it.. I eliminated coconut and hence the 1 cup of corresponding sugar.

So in effect I tried a 5-cup cake :)

Cautiously took all ingredients and kept each thing ready in clean dry glass vessels. (As they show in TV shows, Idhukku onnum korachal illa ;)).
Boiled the milk.
Kept a plate ready greased with ghee to pour the mixture.
So I was all set to go, fried the besan flour in little ghee, on top of it I poured the milk and sugar and added cashews and was mixing them pouring ghee now and then.

Finally it appeared to have come to a semi state where my heart signalled it to be the proper state to take out and honestly following my heart, I poured it into greased plate. I was sitting next to it and constantly watching it every 2 minutes (For some reason I got reminded of my Pipette Burette expirements in Chemistry Lab). Nothing happened for the next 20 minutes except I got bored watching at it so expectantly. I again put it on stove and rekindled it for some more time and this time the consistency seemed to differ, it started coming out of the edges as thick pieces. Triumphantly I poured it on the greased plate. This time just for a different sentiment, I did not gaze at the cake. (Last time Kannu-pattuduthu nu nenaikaraen).
Instead I went out for a walk and came.

Huff no big difference. Little better than last time but still have not become solid. Even after one hour now, it is like halwa. Great part is that I never needed a knife or fork to make pieces. I used it minimally and I shaped my cake with my own sweet cute hands, pressing (Ya of course 'pressing' only because its like halwa only na) and giving shape to it. Now pls don't suggest that I could have as well made it round round like balls. I did not want to insult my first time attempt so much, hence made a square shape out of the Halwa and have kept it inside the fridge.

What to do ! This is my "Cake panna nenaichu, Halwa'va mudinja kadhai" :)

But whatever, Just for the simple reason that "I" made it and also for the complex reason that anything made of sugar and ghee is eatable, I am optimistically hoping I will finish it sooner (or later :( ). :)

Hey you ! just a note of confirmation. You did not arrive at any conclusions about my cooking na? Please dont, Ofcourse I can make a good cook :P

Walking? - Oh Noooooooooo

2008-10-22T14:52:00.005-04:00

May be I should not have done it... May be..Sometimes I dont understand where my brain deserts me in the most wanted moment and absconds somewhere.

That saturday dawned as yet another lousy day. Me and my husband decided to take a walk on a long trail (An idea discovered, after google showed us the nearest trail) and get some niccceee food in an Indian restaurant(Hey, now dont take assumptions. I dont implicitly or explicitly mean anything about my cooking here) and do the groceries shopping for the week ahead and head back home.

Had some Rotis for breakfast. I packed a big can of water and stuffed in couple of Strawberries in a small box (that can by all means fit into my small handbag). The water can being big, I was sure that I will not be carrying it during my walk, so just in case if I feel thirsty I can munch the berries which I have handy. Oh, how clever of me :) I did have plans of Pear's instead of berries but considering the dimensions of my handbag and also the fact that the berries were counting its last days I dropped the idea of stuffing Pear too. But my more cleverer husband partitioned my bag, cleared few stuff and managed to stuff 2 pears inside my bag.

Fine, now all set ! We started out. We were on the trail, originally stretching about 8 miles, it had a lake at the end of 5 miles. Beleive me, we had plans to walk till end of the trail. We walked and walked and walked and after I started feeling little tired I proudly searched for the board to see how much I have crossed, just to know it is less than 1.2 miles. Oh My god,Heavy disappointment ! It seemed like I would have covered atleast 4 miles ;) Less than 1.5? This is atrocious. I have been walking for so long time but ...J U S T 1.2?? That count appeared too meagre, may be had I converted it into metres I would have felt better and proud :) Anyways we were chit chatting and walking. Another 20 mins, my heart started planning to take a U turn and walk back. The display board said that there is a lake at the end of five miles. I was tempted to hit the lake somehow so that I can make a round-off of 5 miles which feels like a good number :) So was biting my teeth and managed to move forward. On and On and On I went, I felt it was impossible. But now there is a new problem. Having walked for so long I definitely needed a rest atleast 30-60 mins, before I start back. Unfortunately the only point where I can sit and relax was at the end of 5 miles. Rest throughout the trail it was just a broad path filled with many people jogging,cycling. I then thought back, I would have made a U-Turn when my leg started giving singals long back. I was imagining too much of myself and came on and on, and ended at a state where I have to walk till the lake, if I need to sit and relax for a while.

Whole world seemed to be laughing at me. All through my life I never have done something called 'Exercice' and the most I used to do is to take the stairs instead of elevator. Now dont imagine any 2 digit, it is to reach the 3rd floor. For such a kind of physique, this is not too much, but tooooooo toooooooo much of strain. Cursing myself heavily I walked along with my husband. Poor he, though he was not as tired as me, he was tired as well. And whenever he tried to talk with me, I just shut my mouth and kept walking as I felt the energy I have, might slip out of my mouth if I keep talking and I cannot walk back home :) Beleive me I did not have energy to talk too..I was cursing the trail, why cant they have some rest areas in between, probably one at end of each mile. Anyways, luck favoured me and at end of 4.2 mile there was a small sit area next to a what was appearing like a pond. Full of tall trees with fall colors. I felt heavenly, went there and sat for a minute. Then my heart started becoming cranky again and thought anyway as I had come 4.2 miles, I can as well reach 5 miles and take rest at the lake, may be for an hour or so and then start back. And so, we again set out, somehow pushing myself to walk we reached 5 miles, just to find out that its a Private lake :( And no proper instructions to reach there too :( I cant put it in words of how I felt..I was standing on the road and wondering where the hell am I going to have my 1 hour rest :( My husband was feeling so sorry for me, good for him and his usual work outs at gym saved him from feeling as tired as me.

I was amused at my brain for giving me hope (false-hope?) that I can somehow make it. Heavily controlling my tears I started walking back. So that I can go and relax a bit on the rest area I found at end of 4.2 miles. But walking the 0.8 miles back seemed like a mountainous task for me. Somehow we made it there and I ran and sat near the pond. I was controlling my overflowing anger n pain on myself. Was feeling so thirsty. Alas ! I had walked for almost 2 hours non stop. But no water bottle :( Took out my strawberries, it can never taste worser. I just spit it out. Thanks to my husband for brining the pear. It was so good and juicy that I finished the whole of it in less than 5 minutes. Removed my shoes. My fingers were blessing me. Sat there silently looking at the pond. My husband was even scared to talk with me as I was filled with anger and pain. :) Spent about 20 mins there and the thought of walking back 5 miles haunted me. Grrrrr...What sort of a trail, I cannot even book a call-taxi. No motor vehicles allowed. I went to the extreme and thought of asking lift to cycle-walas. Hmm ! There is no back seat in the cycles ya ! But still for my figure, I can as well manage sitting in front. Anyways ! With all such wild thoughts we started back. I was in my own thoughts, and my husband dared not to speak with me. I was praising myself for finding such a wonderful plan on a saturday morning. I was squeezing my mind and thought what all can make me feel lighter. I stopped watching road ahead, I watched at the sky and walked for a while, but later found passers by looking queer at me and so dropped the idea. I fixed my eyes on the land and never took my face up and walked for a while like that. No remedy worked fine. And i also discovered,taking 20 mins rest has only spoilt my muscles and I was feeling all the more pain now. And by removing the shoes I guess I did one more mistake, coz my fingers were paining like hell after that. I was at the verge of crying but trying to self-motivate myself and kept walking. I stopped and bent my legs up and down but nothing gave me releif.

My god ! what if I am going to faint in the middle. Huff ! Poor man, he cannot carry me for sure. Neither can anyone. My husband said he will call 911 and people will come and carry me in Helicopter, Wow, that would have been so marvellous :) But somehow my heart told me that I will not faint. I have never fainted once till now in my lifetime so may be I felt so. And I continued for another 2 hours with my own crazy thoughts after which I saw at the end of broad road, cars passing by. Oh my god ! I felt so happy. I wish I hit the road soon. I started walking fast, infact running..and there it is. Finally I spot our car and rushed to it.

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuufffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff ! It took us 5 hours. From 11-00 Am to 3-00 PM. Took the water can and emptied it half. I ofcourse had difficulties in getting inside the car with legs bent and sitting like that for rest of my journey. If you can recollect, I had plans of going to Indian restaurant and groceries and head home. But being 3-00 PM the indian restaurant was closed for lunch and we ordered a pizza over phone, collected it and I forgot the thought of groceries and went back home and fell with a big thud !

But a small sense of excitement popped up. Hey, U made it ! U made it ! almost 10 miles, Wow...

Yes I ofcourse felt a sense of accompolishment though the rest of the whole day and next day, I was walking like a Robot :)

First flight

2008-10-22T14:38:00.008-04:00

This is all about my first overseas flight travel..

Jan-20-2007. Chennai. Evening 8-00 PM. Vrrooooommmmmmm..Flashing back and reading my thoughts out. I had to travel to Minneapolis,USA for an offical assignment. Had to take the flight at early hours of 21st 4'0 Clock. Not really my first flight as I have already been to Blore and Cochin in Flight. Still was too tensed till evening of 20th. MN being coldest of all states in USA and me landing there right in snow time made me more tensed too.And on top of all things, I got sentimental to leave my parents sis and above all my husband and go. I wished that this all is a dream and I wake up next day in the same house. I wish I resign my job that day and skip my travel. It is sickening to think of that day even now. I guess, for life time I will hate that day.

Thought that I have no other go and its not too fair to feel down as anyway nothing is going to change, at least in such last minute. I tried setting up my things. Me reaching MN on a weekday, my onsite counterpart was supposed to pick me up from airport to my apartment where I will be staying with my friend. It was almost time to start when my onsite counterpart called up. I was wondering what made him call that time. He just inquired about my flight timings and requested me to buy a carton of Marlboro cigarettes for his friend. I was almost sure I cannot do it, but did not want to deny it so told him I will do it. Myself, my husband, with my parents went to the airport. I tried lifting my suitcase out of the call taxi..Hoooo how heavy. I cant even lift my suitcases, How am I going to manage it till MN. That too 2 suitcases :( God save me.somehow I had a feeling that I will do it.

We were all waiting for the check-in announcement. My dad was asking me to be brave and not to worry, My husband was trying to make fun of me and my mom was reading all slokas for my safe journey. Finally they announced the check in, So I went ahead, requested a window seat, got my boarding pass and came back to bid bye.(wihtout cries) :) Preceded to immigration, once it was done, went to the lobby where I had couple of hours left for the flight. Many people were coming and going. Many with their family and kids. I too wished I am not single and have come with my family. Took a coffee and was sipping it and watching the crowd. Finally it was time and took the corresponding gate. To my wonder and surprise the gate way routed me directly into the airplan. :) I thought I will have to walk in the runway, take a bus that will take us near the flight where we can board the fight. Hmm..Good.

I went to my seat, a window seat. Saw one London thaatha sitting in the aile seat. Lifted my hand baggage and put it in the case above and that thaatha helped me. Hmm, men are always helping :) I sat and closed my eyes and was praying God to somehow make me reach MN safe. One London paati came and sat in the middle seat. She looked rigid. Whatever, I am in no mood for chit chatting with anyone. I am in my own world of tensions and thrills. There was a small TV in front of me, attached to every seat. I was trying to operate it. Ooops it doesn’t seem to work :( Come on, I don’t want to feel embarrassed, I tried it again but later noticed no one’s was working either. Happy :)

Flight started and took off and I was watching outside the window, in the morning mist, all the houses and buildings disappearing to smaller dots. The TV was on now and after the usual instructions about safety measures, I was able to choose my own stuff in the TV. It showed me the world map and where the flight is right now and the route it will take to reach MN. I was also watching some movies for a while. At about 5-00 I got my breakfast Very very hot. Upma...Dosa...and stuffs..Was good. And in sometime I slept off. Then woke up in an hour.

Now the usual problem. I needed to go to the Rest room. I was wondering where the flight will have one. I was thinking of where it can possibly be located when I saw a bunch of people going towards a place and standing in Q. Aaaahhh ! there it is :) Ohhhhhhhh , Such a small rest room. Thank Goodness I am thin, else it would have been much difficult to squeeze inside. Ok now back to seat. The paati next to me seemed sweeter too. She has collected lunch packets for me while I was away. And I spent time in sleeping,eating,watching TV,Rest room and again the same loop. Finally, the flight started landing. I got my usual ear pain. Shak ! Why it comes to me, a pain that can pierce and tear apart my ears. I hated the airhostess, they did not give me water. The paati next to me handed her bottle. I somehow managed with the pain sipping the water. Reached London. Originally supposed to reach by 9-40 AM. It was already 10-00 AM I gave her a gratitude smile, she asked me if I am a student, I proudly told her that I was a s/w programmer. She smiled and went.

I had no clues if I can catch the next flight at 11-35...I ran ran and ran.....The cabin baagae was heavy to carry .It was not the trolley type and it weighed about 10 Kilos and I was breathing heavily and running to catch my connecting flight. I went for scanning and checking in, Thank god, they did not ask me to remove my laptops for scanning; for that would have consumed more time.. Good luck always favors good girls :) though I was asked to remove my shoes for security check which took me some time. And now am on to the connecting flight just 15 mins before time. Hmm! I made it. This time there was a young guy in the window seat and I was in the aisle seat. Middle seat was free. The guy seemed to be immersed in his magazines. No worries. Now that I got used to flight ;) and felt as if I have been flying for years.

So switched on my TV and started watching movies Slept for a while. I felt the airhostess was not so kind to me, she kept on throwing something or other whenever she passed by me. So funny it was. And she was ready to take my orders and she was surprised when I said I am a vegetarian. She said it was not informed during my ticket booking and now that they don’t have any vegetarian food. Huffffffff…Anyway, I told her I can mange with bread, cheese, fruits and juices. Nevertheless she said she will come back in 10 mins with some veggie dish. After a while, she was back with a plate with 2-3 spoons of rice :) Mixed with vegetables. Except tomato I do not know the names of others. It was good anyway, so had she cheated me with some non veg too, am fine, as long as it’s eatable. Time went on and I safely stored a bottle of water to use during landing. If I keep drinking something I assume I have less ear pain. It did pain, but finally the flight landed in Chicago.

Hmm Chicago was tooooo big...

Did immigration, scanning. Here I was asked to take off my laptop, shoes for scanning. Though it took some time I had ample time for next flight. I went to collect my luggages. Managed to pull a trolley without needing to put some dollars which I might need to discover HOW for another half hour. Bags of varied sizes and colors were passing by. And there it was my bags. Both are safe. Thanks to God. You are really so helping :) off to next connecting flight, final flight, and domestic flight to MN. Took my bags (How heavy!) and put it on the trolley. But shak, the trolley was not at all moving. It was circling in the same place. Ohhhhhh god! Please don’t make me look so funny. Huff, and off it went finally and I was marching briskly towards my airline counter to get the boarding pass for next flight. Checked in my baggage, not sure if I checked in at the right place, let it go wherever, I was already too tired with the bags. Got my boarding pass, I need to go to terminal 3 for which I need to take a train. Hmm, “Idhu veraya” I thought and wondering how to go. Inquired few and went to what they claimed as the Train station. The train came, wow cooooolllll, put me safe on terminal 3. I mean, I got down safe on terminal 3. So many gates there, walking for long time getting on and off the escalators. Finally reached at what I assumed to be my proper gate. To be frank I was not even comfortable with dollars. Lot confused with those cents and dimes. Took a coffee to manage some change, He gave me back some coins. God knows what! Now I know, not then…

Went to a pay phone, tried putting the coins, everything was popped out. I tried asking the lady near by; she told I need some other coins. I was disappointed. Later got to know they were all dimes and I needed 50cents to make the call which I don’t have as a change. There I was sitting and sipping the sugarless coffee, how on earth I know that they give coffee with no sugar and no milk. I am from India...I never minded to add them too. And there I was sitting and sipping sugarless milk less coffee or rather the decoction :) Managed to get some more change, quarters from a near by shop. God bless him. Announcement came that my flight was delayed to 7-00 PM from 6-00 PM which means I would be reaching by 8-30 PM. I started worrying if my onsite counterpart will wait for me in the airport. If not, I might need to take a taxi, But taking a taxi alone, in a new country, at night time. It frightened me a bit. I don’t know the route to my friend’s apartment and wherever the taxi-wala takes I will have to go. Was breaking my brains what could be done. Flight was still delayed by 30 mins. I prayed I should live to see the next day. Finally it was time and I was about to board and there the lady calmly told the gate is changed..Oh my god. No one told me. I took my bags and coats and ran, it was just 10 mins to go. And I ran and reached the other gate and finally on to the flight. There I sat closing my eyes and making a prayer to complete my journey safe. For sure I am going to be in trouble. It will be 9-00 PM when I reach. Good God, the Pilot drove (?) flew (?) so fast that I reached by 8-45.

Flight landed. I saw SNOW outside the window. For the first time in my life :) It was whitish everywhere.

First thing I did after landing is to call up my onsite peer. This time I had the right change and luckily got him on line! :) and he picked up and said he will come to airport in 10 mins. Habba…I was relieved a bit.

Next is to check if my luggages are safe as I am supposed to report to my office from very next day. Luck was not with me. I just had one of my luggages and the other one was missing :( waiting waiting waiting, finally all the baggage came up but not mine. Worried what to do I was looking here and there and there I spotted a corner with a big black board HEAVY BAGGAGES and there it was my bag :) My bag :) I got it :) Oh finally I made it, I am safe, Luggage is safe, Peer will come and drop me to my friends apartment ..Looks like finally it all went well. One big thanks to God. :)

Managed to scroll the baggages and moved to a place where I can sit and waited for my peer to come. He came in 10 minutes. Came with a fellow who drove the car. They both helped me with the luggage and finally we reached my friends apartment.

Guess what! The fellow who’s car I came in, who drove me and my peer was none other than the one who wanted the Marlboro cigarette packets and he has come with all hopes to get it from me as soon as I land and I could not see his face when I said I could not buy it :(

Good that I did not tell my peer earlier else they might not have come to pick me for sure ;) ;) ;) ;)

There ends my story of my overseas flight travel :)

Life is what we perceive

2008-10-17T14:59:00.004-04:00

Just a simple incident, but triggered a thought inside me. We know many things, but wont really carry them in mind always. Sometimes some certain silly incident will make u think and link u to what u may claim to be a way of life or some big talks like that :) Similar thing happened to me as well. I was too down yesterday with some heavy feeling inside me and I stand by the window and see the trees outside, the big tree with all its small leaves moving and shaking in the heavy breeze. I somehow felt a kind of ease at heart seeing that tree. Like brushing my sorrows out..I felt that the tree is frowning and sobbing for my state. Ha ! there is somebody rather something out there empathizing my state. Then today, I am happy, just jumping with joy over something so filled with fun and I happen to look at the same tree thru the window, the same big tree with all its leaves shaking in the breeze. I somehow felt an extra shot of happiness, I felt that the tree is laughing out loud, shaking its leaves and moving itself and sharing my happiness. Then I stopped by and thought to myself "Have I gone nuts?" Come on, the tree is just standing there, daily, and moving just coz of the wind and what has it got to do with intensifying or reducing how I feel. Then I thought, 'Get back to senses plsss..'

But sometimes it happens, when we are down, we visualize the whole world around as a big mass of sorrow and when we are happy ,everything around us seem to be happy. So what we see is not exactly what we perceive. I just saw the tree and the same tree, at different moments makes me feel different thing about it. The same happens with humans too. When I am down, even a simple, sometimes, a good note from someone gives me a wrong signal and I go down for it. When I am happy, I take all things light and move on.

Life is not exactly what's happening to me, but what I perceive it to be.

I have the independence to perceive it to be good or bad. May be good always :) Don't I?

Btw, I was wondering how would I perceive the tree as, when I am just normal :P

Seriously no idea what to put here :)

2008-10-15T16:53:00.005-04:00

Hurray ! So finally I am on blogger... I was having this idea for quite sometime and finally able to implement it. Just needed a space to pour out all my thoughts. And I am going to do it from today.

I wonder the tiny(?) substance 'mind'. Honestly, Is that the biggest arena I have ever seen? How much memories and thoughts it can store? Given a split second, how many threads of thoughts happens inside and how many links and loops to it.

Hmmm...And I am wondering if I am capable of pulling out few of those thoughts from memory, refine it and put it on the screen. So thus it is going to be my safe storage of thoughts. I am making a humble start..

I do not have any particular topic I am going to write about, but just anything I feel like ..