Peace be with you, wherever you are!

She lived a tough life and yet remained simple,

She brought up eight children, and yet remained young at heart,

She struggled to make sure that they managed with atleast one square meal a day.

She valued education and made sure that atleast one of her children completed his education even at the cost of cutting down on food portions for a family of ten or just going hungry. ( He paid her back by making sure none of them had to go hungry ever again!)

She didn't believe in rituals which was strange for someone from a conservative malayalee brahmin background. She preferred the ghee for cooking than the havans.

She once told me that financial independence for a woman was extremely important- even though she came from a conservative background where women were antarjanams and even the thought of a working woman was frowned upon.

She told me (every time I visited her) that no matter what I should always have my own identity and financial independence so I could take on life no matter what it dished out.

She was most upset when my mom gave up her career. She remained pissed with my dad for a while! And very disappointed when I took a career break for my kids.

She was a little of everything- a complete woman- and she didn't pretend to be otherwise.

She lived a full tough life and never let it break her.

She was my grandmom.

I lost her last week. A week after my daughter was born.

Muthashi, wherever you are, I hope you are happy and at peace.

Shoppin'... and Husbands!

This had me in splits!!!

tagged!

Quicksilver tagged me. Here goes!

1.What is your current obsession?
To deliver the expected bundle of joy in two months with no complications and ofcourse keep my sanity in the process.

2. What is your weirdest obsession?

My inability to go to a bookstore and come out without buying a book

3.What are you wearing today?

A grin!

4. What are you listening to right now?
the sound of the fan. It needs oiling

5. What’s for dinner?
haven’t decided.

6. What’s the last thing you bought?
Curtains

7. Which language do you want to learn?
Spanish.

8. If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Mumbai - so i can buy other stuff with the house fund

9. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
Leh

10. If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
pay off my credit card bill J

11. What are your must-have pieces for summer?
a wardrobe full of cotton outfits, fresh fragrances , sunglasses

12. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?

A sexy black top.

13. What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
i make it a point that the husband knows and then take half hour to decide what to wear

14. What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Wearing clothes that one is clearly not comfortable in

15. Give us three styling tips that always work for you.
Confidence, a Smile and clean hair. The rest of it depend on these three.

16. What’s your favorite quote?
This one keeps changing. Currently given my foot in mouth disease- If you have something to say , raise your hand and place it over your mouth. J

17. Describe your personal style.
Understated.Moody

18. Who do you want to meet right now?
Obama

19. What is your favorite color?
Red

20. What is your dream job?

Travel writer – one who gets paid a bomb or best selling author

21. What’s your favorite magazine?
Don’t have one

22. Which TV character can you simply not tolerate?
The characters in balika vadhu.

23. Who are your style icons?
None.

24. What are you going to do after this?

Make a cup of tea

25. What are your favorite movies?
Don’t have a favorite. Its very very hard to pick just one

26. What inspires you?
love, music, my son and life...

27. Coffee or tea?
Coffee

28. Pet peeve?
BO

29. What do you think about the person who tagged you?
I absolutely love her sense of humor and zest for life!

I tag couch potato, merril and malini to take it on!

p.s. the couch potato is goin' to think "wtf??!!" but it'll be good to know what you think about a full wardrobe!!

According to me...

... a girl can never have too many friends, shoes, clothes, handbags, knick knacks around the house, too much jewellery etc. except maybe a husband. One is too many. :)

And We're back!!

What do you get when you combine a complicated early pregnancy, bed rest and laziness?- A blog with no posts for over three months and a lazy blogger waiting for the literary mojo to be back!!

The good news is that I AM BACK! Almost into my third trimester,complications that have done a good job disappearing and a head full of thoughts screaming to be written down.

Today is a new day. A fresh start. In more ways than one!

Sometimes....

...the hardest thing is living with yourself. 

25 random things about yours truly!

Mayuri, Ankita  and Rukmani tagged me on this one:

 25 random things- See me through my eyes!

1. I’m the last person you should ask for directions. And if I do give you directions follow the direction of my hand. I might say left but point right.
2. I always pick up the tune of a song first and lyrics later. Unfortunately that results in me learning my husband’s parodies of the song faster than the original lyrics. So if I sing singh is king, singh is queen and you are beechwala- don’t be surprised.
3. I don’t like apartments. You can show me a real swanky one with the works and a view and I will still choose to have a house with original antique furniture, with lots of trees and a garden which is a riot of colour.
4. I collect knick knacks. I believe they add character to a house and give it a lived in look. Clean lines are not for me
5. I’m a chocoholic.
6. I sleep with a pillow over my head.
7. I love the hoopla surrounding festivals. I love how it brings people together. And I love how people think that God’s deaf and play music/bhajans sending noise pollution levels through the roof.
8. I get depressed before and after my birthday. But on the day I have a really fab time.
9. I love presents.
10. I can adjust to a lot of things but I am a super fussy eater. If I don’t like it I won’t eat it. And if you brew my coffee wrong- I probably will never forgive you.  
11. I’m having more fun not knowing what to do in life. I believe you explore a lot more.
12. I procrastinate and yet get things done last minute with my hubby close to an anxiety attack.  
13. I like watching people. Chances are that I might make you uncomfortable because I stopped watching you after 5 secs and my mind has gone of on a trip of its own while my eyes are still on you in a weird stare.
14. I’m a bookaholic. I don’t think I have ever gone to a bookstore and come out without buying a book. If I have its because the husband dragged me out of the store.
15. I don’t like lending my books and this irritates the crap out of my husband.
16. I hate spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Chances are I would have corrected you even before I realized it if in a  conversation you said “ I didn’t knew”  or “ it’s more better this way”
17. I open my mouth to change my feet. I don’t think before I talk and it gets me into more trouble than I care for. Thinking before I speak is stressful.
18. I was AWOL when God handed out patience to the rest of the world.
19. I spend  more time deciding what to wear that actually getting dressed. Once that's done, I'm ready in less than 10 minutes.
20. If you speak well and have dry wit, your attractiveness quotient has just gone through the roof.
21. I think I end up of doing a lot of things because I get bored easily.
22. I’m a hard core Amitabh Bachchan fan so much so that I can see a scene or hear a dialogue and tell you which movie it is. Its kind of gotten sharper with my maru hubby.
23. I have to read the morning paper.
24. I’m not a gizmo freak. Gadgets make my life easier and that’s where my interest in them stops.
25. I’m a hard core romantic.

 

of handicaps

I used to be horizontally challenged. Post pregnancy I have successfully overcome that.  Some handicaps are worth preserving, don't you think? 

Crazy man celebrates another b'day!

For the man whose big hands held my tiny little ones,

For the man who insisted that I be given ice cream when I was just a month old( yeah thats right- you are responsible for my addiction!!!)

For the man who taught me math with marbles.

For the man who bought me more books than I could count even though he didn't have a reading habit...

For the man who went down on his knees to be my elephant, the lion.. and whatever animal caught my fancy

For the man who told me the story of "the hen who made the payasam " a zillion times and now insists on telling the same bedtime story to my son

For the man who looked adorable in three little ponytails when i felt like playing house

For the man who felt super proud of my when i was little and super confused as I grew up and stood by me anyway

For the man who worked his backside off to make sure i had the very best in life

For the man who demanded nothing but the best for me and from me...

For the man I must've have slightly disappointed and terribly confused with my rebellious ways

For the man who always believed that I am the best but was too lazy for my own good

For the man who i looked up to in my most angst ridden years and whose advice I wished I had followed

For the man who makes the best sambar and parippu pradaman in the world

For the man whom I've talked to about boy friends...

For the man who told me very categorically how to escape if someone ever tried to molest me

For the man I've sometimes understood but always loved

For the man who introduced me to his friends as " my little girl"

Happy b'day pa! Have a fab year ahead! Love ya loads!!!

Move over Taliban- Here comes the New India

 I'm too mad to write .Check out the Karnataka CM's reaction

Quirky put it beautifully here. and I wholeheartedly agree!

This is a rant

I'm feeling violent. Guess why? I just saw this interview. Shri Ram sena chief apologises.

This guy calls himself a brahman and he obviously has no clue what a brahman is! Just because you are born one Mr. Muthalik you don't automatically become one. Being a brahman has a lot to do with your actions than your caste. Suggest you read The Bhagavad Gita.

You are opposed to girls being misused- what the heck do you think your men were doing there?

There were extortion calls from your group and because the pub refused to pay up you go on a moral policing trip.

Somebody please shoot this guy. 

Who the heck do they think they are?

These people who pass judgement?

They have a problem with what I do

They have a problem with what I wear.

They have a problem with whom I meet and where I meet them.

They have a problem if I want to wear something sensous

They  have a problem if I have a good time dancing

They have a problem if I hug someone to show my love

They have a problem if I am friends with people of different faiths

They have a problem if I am not from their state

They have a problem if I speak in Hindi or Tamil or Malayalam

They have a problem if I call Mumbai - Bombay or Dilli Delhi or Chennai- madras. ( I will call chennai, madras. Do what you have to)

They have a problem if i defy them by just existing or living my life. 

They guise it by calling it anti Indian culture. 

But when you really look at it- the real problem isn't me. Its THEM.

They have minds that are so narrow that microbes can't pass through. 

They have minds that are easily brainwashed simply because they aren't capable of thinking for themselves.

They have self esteem problems that they have to make someone small to make themselves feel big. 

They have egos that don't allow them to see how easily they are being manipulated.

They haven't a clue of what the indian culture is all about

They actually think that Ram or Allah or Chirst will condone what they do. 

They have issues and problems and they remove their frustrations by beating up people who seem happy.

They are the cowards who raise their hand on women

They think that they are smart by spreading the politics of manipulation, force, communalism and regionalism to cover up their own inefficiencies.

They think they are powerful becasue of their politics of hate.

Where do these inefficient, incompetent bumbling violent, brainless,  sons of bitches get off thinking that beating people up is a solution to all their problems? Where are the elite voices speaking up against all of this? Today its some little pub in Mangalore- tomorrow it could be your sons and daughters in some South Bomaby club. Or are you waiting till another 26/11 happens before you express any form of outrage? Compatriots all of them- Shive sena, the Ram sena, the taliban...each trying to lead by example. Speak up Mangalore. Yell your frustrations out.  Fight for your rights and hold your politicians accountable. Make them pay. Its election time. You are stronger than before. 

Do something about it. Its high time!!!

:)

I feel lucky and blessed today!

Is that the right word?

Yesterday all the news channels went berserk with Slumdog Millionaire getting 10 Oscar nominations. I was watching Times Now and they were showing an exclusive interview with A R Rahman. CNN-IBN announced that Rahman was speaking exclusively to them. Is it just me or does the word exclusive actually mean something else?

Going Places

Pyareji

Everyday I chill out. 

I have tons of housework ofcourse, but I get to do whatever I want to do( around the imp's schedule ofcourse).

I read the most of the books before you do while you try to find the time to do some reading.

I get to see most of the imp's actions first.

I get to hear most of his baby words first. 

I got to see him crawl , walk for the first time while you just had to make do with pictures and videos of 'the moment'

I get to spend so much time with him that I do treasure the peace and quiet when he goes to sleep:)

I get to shop to my heart's content - budget constraints and all (or even you looking over my shoulder and saying chalo.. bahut time ho gaya hain. Bore ho gaya.. or I hate shopping re and coming anyway)

I got the time to figure out what I really want to do in life and perhaps try a ton of new stuff. 

I get to talk to the family aaraam se while they tell how difficult it is to get through to you. 

I got to take a break from work and not worry about anything else

I get to give shape to my dreams, do the stuff I treasure while getting all the encouragement I need.

From you. 

I'm able to relax and do all this , take a break from work and not worry about anything because of you. You brave the corporate politics. You miss out on moments. You don't get to spend as much time as you want with us. You sacrifice precious sleep time for more precious time with your son. You work hard to achieve a lot- for us. ( The fact that you love your job is a super plus!!) And ofcourse listen to the occasional crib of what a workoholic you are while you juggle your time. We get to do so much more because we know you're behind us, working your butt off to make sure we get whatever we want. 

We know that a razor sharp mind and brains are at work to make sure we're okay.

So baby, we just want you to know that we're super proud of you. 

Congratulations on a well deserved promotion Vice President saab!! ;)

Love loads,

Me

To the man who believed- Cheers!

I look at you and wonder if you really are all that you seem to be. 

And that's just because I don't generally trust people like you..

and yet the future will tell how different you really are...

The future might just prove my gut right.

I watch you as you walk talking politely to a man who you probably don't think much of

and remember the year gone past...

I listened to you talk...

There's clarity( you enunciate- something I appreciate)

there's conviction

I feel like trusting you

I want to just hear what you have to say

I watched you weave dreams,

And yet you called a spade, a spade.

I watched you and wished there were more like you here...

I watched you smile

and wondered where you got that boundless energy from

Wondered whether that was just burning ambition

I watched you get into your vehicle 

and wondered whether you felt as confident as you looked

I watched you walk onto the podium and felt a smile coming to my face

I wondered whether your heart thundered as you walked up the steps to create history

I wondered whether you did really realise the enormity of your inheritance...

And then you fumbled a wee bit.. making you look pretty human.

And then the moment came- Hello, History!

I heard you talk again... (Brilliant words, by the way!)

You spoke of hope. Of change. You spoke sense. (Yes that's a plus given the 8 years past).

As you spoke a lot of people got all teary eyed. Hope- well, its been a long time coming!

I sit in a different country and watch you become the most powerful man in the world.  Whether history will be kind to you will depend on the next four years. You have an enormous burden on your shoulders- a foreign policy gone to the dogs, an economy in shambles and general chaos in the wolrd teetering on the brink of a world war.

Here's wishing you all the best . May you succeed in all that you promised to do. May you keep creating history. Here's raising a toast to the first African American President of the United States Of America- Mr. Barack Hussein Obama- Salut!!

CC2C

I saw Chandni Chowk to China despite the bad reivews. 

Here's my three sentence review

Take gun.

Shoot brains out.

NO, it'll torture you even in death!

They made a bad kichidi of all the possible premises in bollywood. And screwed it up so bad! Deepika plays dumb bimbette to the hilt. Akshay kumar is unbearable. 

The great wall of China looked real nice in the movie. That's the only positive I could find.

Pyare summed it up when he said- CC2C, Don't c!

Tough times!

Being a mom is tough... How would your ever talk sternly to your kid when he does this after after you just discovered he was upto no good!

Better are we?

Are we really better than the worst thing that we have ever done? Mrs. Karkare believes this. 

The hubby and I were discussing this with respect to the Sanjay Dutt case where he said he was all contrite and had mend his ways. Does that mean he shouldn't be punished? He should have been years ago. What about now?

Is it the duty of the law and all that come under it to actually reform people?

If yes- If Ajmal Kasab is repentant, would you spare him the worst punishment he could get for what he did?

These questions lead to heated arguments at home. Pyare's idea of the worst thing and mine differ. I do believe that we are better than the worst thing we have ever done. I endorse this view But I don't believe that remorse means that you don't do time for your crime. 

Repent all you want in a jail cell. I'm not God and I'm sure as hell not particularly forgiving when it comes to terror. And I sure as hell wouldn't be so understanding if I had lost someone I loved. 

Mrs. Karkare on the other hand is something else- she found it in her heart to forgive the man who gunned down her husband. I don't know if I will ever be able to do that. 

I just love this one!!

Fly You Fools - Indian Comics about Life.