Good bye 2011 and Hello 2012!

These were my last year’s resolutions. Let me review them first:

1. Stay with my husband (Bangalore/Delhi/Kolkatta: ?) Yeah! Finally this happened
2. Stay healthy and fit (exercise regularly) I can’t cut this off as I don’t exercise regularly.
3. Stay connected with the blog (update regularly) Did okie, but can still get better on this one!
4. Learn to cook (consistently on my list- hope to execute this year) I can’t believe I did it!
5. Learn to Drive-confidently (It’s of no use if I just have a driving license and not drive. I better pull up my socks this year) this one will still be on the list
6. Joy of thanking campaign (for more details see my next post) I did it!

I could strike off four of the above, not bad isn’t it?

What happened in 2011:

• Personal: My hubby is back, we set up our home and living happily (touchwood!). My brother got engaged, a new entry to the family.
• Work: Things went really well on work front. A new office space, new colleagues and change in work brought a fresh air in me. I got an award as well!
• Travel: None, no time for any vacations this year
• Friends: Made some new ones and also managed to stay in touch with most of them. Oh, Su and Suraj are proud parents of a little prince (Siddharth).
• Blogging: A good improvement compared to last year.
• Fitness: Have I heard that before? It’s totally sad that it has taken a back seat. Should I blame it on cooking, cleaning and managing the house? The only bit of physical activity is a game of badminton (that’s the new addiction in me).
• Health: Hale and hearty!
• Movies: Watched plenty but none made a great impression.
• Cooking: Full fledged! There is a dedicated blog for that
• Books: Bought plenty of books but found very little time to read all of them

All in all personally it was an eventful year for me.Let's see what 2012 has for me.

What I am looking forward in 2012:

• Stay healthy and fit (exercise regularly): No looking back on this one. I need to shed some weight before my bro’s wedding
• Own a four-wheeler vehicle so I can drive independently.
• To be confident enough to share my blog with others (I still think I can’t write well).
• To update regularly on all my blogs
• I am craving for a vacation. N, did you hear that?

As per Doomsday predictions the world is going to end in 2012? Will that really happen? Let's wait and watch. I have already made plans for 2012. So my dear world, don't end it this year. You wait for some more time. OK?

Image courtesy: Google

Is it weird?

How often do you read obituary column in the newspaper? I do, quite regularly. Is it weird reading about somebody’s obituary?

Some time ago while I was reading the newspaper I happened to see a girl’s picture. The face seemed familiar, after pondering for a while I recognized her as one of my school friend. She was in fact a year senior to me in school. I was shocked to see that she had passed away six years ago. After some time I read about an ex-colleague’s death through the same column. We joined the organization together and worked in the same team for a while. He was a really nice guy and lost his life in a brutal accident. I think from then onwards it became a regular habit to me to read up such columns.

I know it’s not something you feel good about reading someone’s death news first thing in the morning. I feel sad for their loss. I have a different perspective to this. What I see is the love and affection that’s expressed about their loved ones. Though that person is still not around, look at the footprints that person has left behind. I have seen the remembrance notes about someone who passed away fifteen years ago. There are still people who write about their loved ones on their birthdays and remember them every year on their death anniversaries. They have lived a worthy life to be remembered by everyone.

It doesn't matter on how long we live, it only matters on how well we live.

Bliss!

Wake up without the maid knocking at your door. Not worrying about what to make for breakfast. Not seeing the kitchen sink filled with yet to clean utensils. Not watching the laundry bag that says “come wash me up”. Not entering the kitchen to make your first morning coffee. Stretch your body; connect to the internet, read your favorite blogs by sipping aromatic coffee. What a blissful moment!

Another rant ahead!

I watched Don2 last night. I am dreadful not because of the movie but of an incident that happened in the theater. We made plans only before thirty minutes of the movie and by the time we collected the tickets and 3D glasses the movie had already started. With great difficulty we found our seats and got started. Though it was a late night show, the movie hall was completely packed. There were still people walking in late, struggling to find their seats and making noise. The chaos continued for the next twenty minutes. There was a family of thirteen members who had come to watch the movie. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the tickets in the same row but got split rows. They were hell bent on sitting together and convinced the others to exchange the seats with them. Since they had few of their seats in the first row and it was a 3D movie the others didn’t want to exchange their seats. The staff tried to help but failed to do so without the co-operation of the customers. The whole convincing act became an argument. The family started complaining that the management told them that they will convince someone else to exchange their seats. This whole yelling, fighting scene happened while rest of us was watching the movie. This became such a public nuisance. How could we watch a movie when there was a live melodrama that was happening right amongst us? The family missed out the movie so does everyone else. Then the whole crowd started yelling at the management. They asked them to stop the movie and play back again. The management agreed to do.

I can’t believe that such an incident happened in a multiplex. What’s wrong with our so called-educated-highclass-people? They picked up a big fight for not getting the seats in the same row. For heaven’s sake, you have come to watch a movie not to sit and socialize. During the heated conversation with the staff, the lady slapped one of the staff members. What rights does she have to do so? Come on people, you don’t get respect if you are dressed in topnotch branded clothes and carrying expensive designer bags. You need to learn how to behave in public. Treat everyone with the same respect. Just because you bought thirteen tickets, the management is not going to treat you differently. If you have so much love and bonding with your family member, why don’t you watch the movie at home, why come and create a public nuisance?

I was shocked to see the same rage in each one of them starting from the parents to kids. Everyone behaved the same way. Parents should set an example to the kids and show them the directions. If parents behave this way what would the kids learn from them?

Anyways the rest of the movie was peaceful.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy anniversary to the world’s best couple!

I thought I actually missed out the date but thanks to technology my phone had a reminder (also Su told me about this two days ago). I can’t believe that it’s already been five years. I still remember the day when you both met each other (should I say the day I introduced each other- OK I am bragging here!). Your love blossomed during the visits to orphanage and became stronger during the trek to Tadiyandamol. You both are such an awesome couple that I have no words to explain your awesomeness! You have come a long way. I truly believe that it’s worth the entire struggle that you went through. It’s hard to believe how time flew; you are celebrating your fifth year anniversary today with your bundle of Joy (Siddharth). I am so happy for you both. We really had such great time together and I cherish every moment (Spandana, Mumbai trip etc). I know all of us are caught up with work, life and other priorities, we should take some time off, meet up regularly and do some crazy things. What say?

Su and Suraj,

Wish you both a very happy anniversary. May god bless you with many more happy years together.

Sid,

I am waiting for you to grow up, so I can tell you the adventurous story of your parents wedding.

Paradise

Welcome to my paradise! I call this a paradise because I spend my most productive hours of the day here. Get ready to take a tour of this wonderful facility.

How are you reaching this paradise? Are you driving down or taking an auto-rickshaw? You are safe if you are coming by an auto, as you don’t have to wreck your brain to find a parking place. Thank your stars if you find an empty parking spot. Otherwise, you’ll at least have to do three rounds of the entire facility to find one. You will be welcomed into the facility by a bunch of stray dogs. If you happened to carry your lunch box, Oh boy! They won’t leave you till you reach the main door. Once you reach the door, they will stop right there as the management hasn’t issued them the access cards. Now swipe the card and get into my work area. If you are a girl who is flaunting a pair of stilettos, beware! You might sprain your ankle or you may trip and fall flat on the ground. Walk carefully looking out for the flat surface.

Do you want to have a glass of water? Well let me take you to our wonderful pantry. We also serve hot water, coffee, tea and milk. Choose which one do you want? Oh looks like there is no water, let me inform the facility and that may take another thirty minutes. Mean while would you like to have a cup of hot coffee? Let me make it for you! I need to find one “clean cup” without any stains first. Here you go with the coffee. Sorry if your coffee is cold, we don’t have hot milk in the vending machine. Now that you finished drinking your coffee, do you want to freshen up in the restroom?

Oh you got to wait for some time, looks like there is already a queue. Yes, we have only two rest rooms on the floor. Let me tell you before you go inside; don’t be surprised if you see stains on the toilet seat or if the previous person hasn’t flushed. Please wipe it yourself, flush and use the rest room. We believe in self-service and management has forgotten to add “Bathroom etiquettes” session in the Induction program. We have also recommended the management to hire employees if and only they clear the Potty training test. Don’t panic if you hear a drilling sound coming out of your commode. It’s pretty normal. Also, if you hear a noise when you flush that sounds like a fart, you won’t be embarrassed when you step out of the restroom. We all know it’s not your stomach which just growled.

Do you want to login and check your emails? If so, let me help you to get the access. Oh by the way, it takes at least twenty minutes to login to the computer and then to get connected another ten minutes. You can easily take a quick nap!

It’s time for your lunch, lets head towards the cafeteria. If you can’t run with your stilettos, hold them in the hand and run. If you are late the food is over in the counter. If you are lucky enough and can find food in one of the counter, I am pretty sure you won’t find the place to sit. You’ll have to stand behind the ones who are sitting, look at their empty plates and stare them until they move out.

Secret is out!

Yeah! Finally the secret is out and I got to know who my secret Santa is. Thank you Santa for being nice and visiting me before Christmas! We played the Secret Santa game in the office this year too. Like every year we handpicked the names and bought the gifts without revealing whose name we got. As per the rule each of us get to play the Santa for their secret child. Just before Christmas we put all the gifts under the Christmas tree, leaving some clues to guess the secret Santa. It's fun finding out who gave us the gift.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Me: Stop throwing the pillows all over the house

N: These pillows are meant for that, isn’t it?

Me: Oh really? How is that?

N: What are they called? Throw away pillows, right?

Me: Baah! Yeah! They are called throw away pillows but not meant to throw like this.

An open letter

This is an open letter to the lady who always peeps into my kitchen through her balcony.

Hello lady,

I can’t address you by your name as I don’t know your name. I’ve always seen you from my kitchen when you are standing in your balcony and shouting at your husband. I have completely ignored that by not invading your privacy. You are so loud that I can’t miss out on what you say; I have to forcefully listen to your conversation. Why do you fight so much with your family members? Every day you shout at your husband giving you the tea late, when you know your cab timings, either you should ask him to make the tea early or you make it yourself. I am bored of listening to the same lines every single day “Are yaar, abhi 9.15 ho gaya, mere cab aachuka hoga. Kya abhi chai ke liye rakhe ho, kyun itna late karthe ho yaar”. Anyways I don’t want to interfere in your personal life. I am least bothered about it. The reason I had to write this letter for you is because of Selvi. Today while I was chatting with her she told me some interesting stories about you. The stories were so damn interesting that I couldn’t stop writing to you.

1. You have kept a separate plate/cup for your maid and you’ll serve her only in that. Which era are you living in? How could you discriminate people? When you have no problem with your maid washing your dirty clothes and soiled plates, how could you have a problem when she eats in the same plate?
2. You only talk to her when you are bored. You have all the time in the world to sit and gossip when you are alone. You can’t talk to her when your husband and kids are around. Why is that? Do you feel ashamed to talk to a maid in front of your family members?
3. You make her eat stale food. It’s fine to give away the leftover food which is refrigerated and re-heated. It’s totally unacceptable to give the food which is musty. Would you eat the same food, if someone offers you? That’s why we have garbage bins, please use them.

I understand the maid gets paid for the things she does in your house, but this is not the way you treat her. Remember your life is finished without a maid. Try to be a little more civilized.

An Eventful Weekend!

Elaborate_cooking-movie-Dining-Shopping-Dayoff from work. I did all of this over the weekend. After a very long time, other than just cooking and cleaning the house, I did something different. It was indeed an eventful weekend. My cousin P came home for a stay over. This was the first time someone came home for an overnight stay (of course other than my parents and brother). As P was coming for the first time and she knows how lazy I am. I didn’t want her to continue the same image about me, so I took extra effort to clean up the mess and make my home look more presentable. The presentable look came along with a shopping list for the house. We went bought things, arranged the guest room and kept everything ready before she came home. I surprised her by cooking a good dinner(Jeera rice/Dal fry), followed with a breakfast (Aloo Paratha/Paneer Paratha). It was hard for P to believe that I actually cooked all of this (knowing me for ages). We watched a movie (which was a total bakwas) and a dinner at Oye Amritsar. The restaurant is in Koramangala, though the food is over-priced the ambiance is very good and they serve authentic Punjabi food. I was never fond of Punjabi food before started to liking it because of my hubby. We gorged on the scrumptious Punjabi food and the added flavor was the Punjabi music in the venue.

Monday morning blue crept into both of us. Who feels like going back to work after a hectic weekend right? We both called in for a sick leave and decided to have a girl’s day out. What better place to go for shopping other than Commercial Street. We spent the entire day shopping and headed back home.

P.S This is my usual routine on the weekends: Wash clothes, cook breakfast, clean kitchen, cook lunch, clean kitchen, make coffee, wash utensils, cook dinner, grocery shopping, vegetable shopping. Phew! Two days of weekend isn’t enough for me.

Don’t you think I had an eventful weekend?

Irked!

People get off the road when you hear an ambulance speeding away with the siren on. The siren is meant to give way to the vehicle and not to block it. Why can’t people understand the sense of urgency? The ambulance is in a hurry for some emergency. Don’t you understand the value of somebody’s life? If you think your life is important so does others. You may also land up in one of them someday and the others will just behave the same way you did. Be little sensitive about it.

Don’t be a dim-wit saying there is no one in the ambulance; perhaps it’s going to pick someone who is in danger. Allow them to reach the destination faster and help them to save someone’s life.

Stop concluding that the ambulance drivers misuse the facility given to them. The siren is just to dodge the traffic jams, so on and so forth. Even if they do, it doesn’t happen all the time.

It’s important to value someone’s life. Be responsible.