Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Signs
2 of my lovely online friends had told me that this was a perfect time to chronicle the journey so far. Today i got one of those weekly updates from what to expect saying absolutely the same thing ! :) So, I am gonna take this as a sign and do exactly that.
I am still making up my mind in terms of what is TMI and what isn't, so pliss to bear. And yes, there will be a dear baby post soon :)
I am still making up my mind in terms of what is TMI and what isn't, so pliss to bear. And yes, there will be a dear baby post soon :)
Sunday, December 06, 2009
It happens only in India !
Our office has this strange rule of checking people's laptop bags in the morning as you enter the premises. Its strange for reasons ranging from the fact that the security has no clue what they are really looking for, to that most companies that I know frisk people when they leave the premises not while entering :)) So its more like we don't care what you carry out of here, but just be careful of what u r getting in :P
Of course they started this tradition after the bangalore bomb blasts incidents sometime back. Now, I think somewhere the security team kinda lost track of what was the original intention, with security guard looking at my small hand sanitizer bottle and asking me "what ees this madam ?". I mean what did they really think it was ??
Anyhoo I digress... Soo, as gender sensitive the company is, we have female security guards as well.. This sweet lady today morning while doing her monotonous chore of opening my lappy bag and taking a peek inside, thought it was totally ok for her to give me health tips :)
Opens my bag and instead of looking into the bag, looks at my ever growing tummy and tells me that I should drink a glass of warm water with salt in the night before sleeping !! (!!).
Aside from the fact that I don't think she even looked at the insides of my bag, zip off - zip on, the tip didnt make much sense either. :p
But as I am slowly begining to get used to these random happenings now a days, I graciously thank her for the tip and proceed to the elevator ...
Of course they started this tradition after the bangalore bomb blasts incidents sometime back. Now, I think somewhere the security team kinda lost track of what was the original intention, with security guard looking at my small hand sanitizer bottle and asking me "what ees this madam ?". I mean what did they really think it was ??
Anyhoo I digress... Soo, as gender sensitive the company is, we have female security guards as well.. This sweet lady today morning while doing her monotonous chore of opening my lappy bag and taking a peek inside, thought it was totally ok for her to give me health tips :)
Opens my bag and instead of looking into the bag, looks at my ever growing tummy and tells me that I should drink a glass of warm water with salt in the night before sleeping !! (!!).
Aside from the fact that I don't think she even looked at the insides of my bag, zip off - zip on, the tip didnt make much sense either. :p
But as I am slowly begining to get used to these random happenings now a days, I graciously thank her for the tip and proceed to the elevator ...
Friday, December 04, 2009
I admit..
that I suck at social relationships.. and I just dont get along very well with other women !
ps: This is a self realization that has been long coming .. sigh...
ps: This is a self realization that has been long coming .. sigh...
Thursday, December 03, 2009
The secret society
Just happened to watch Oprah today on the hallmark, "The truth about motherhood" special and I said to myself, this is it ! This is what I was searching for. There were people who actually felt that there is a secret society of motherhood out there who are sworn to secrecy by the brethren. They all know what it entails, the highs and lows. They know what to watch out for and more importantly they know what was not told to them by the women around with best interests, best friends, awesome moms (in law). But they don't seem to propagate that pool of information !
Of course the alternate theory that I have is that they have absolute temporary amnesia (something that lasts from the time, the test is +ve to when the kid is about 2) !
For the most parts the show was about experience of motherhood, which I can't really comment about, I still have 6 more weeks to go (almost there !). But the general consensus was that as a clan, we need to prepare our fellow members on what to expect truly and be honest, really honest about how it may not be so rosy after all ..
But here's a show where people are at least acknowledging the fact that there are tons of things that people, ahem women, never tell you about ! Maybe for good, as it may really turn you into a paranoid creature from hell or convince you to continue that pill that you were almost gonna stop :P
Anyways, it has me convinced that women either feel bad about talking about the things that they struggle with (probably coz we traditionally don't like to think that motherhood can be so daunting or that some of us actually struggle to get it right, or worse, some of us dont actually get it !), Or that after the baby comes, they are so much in awe of all the changes including the lovely being in front of them, that somehow magically everything else fades into the background.
I am not sure exactly what the reason is, I think I have spoken to people of all sorts in the last 7 odd months (amazing how it seems almost natural to reach out to other preggo women or women with infants and share things so openly, that you wouldn't even dream of otherwise !). E.g.
1. Women who actually claimed to sleepwalk during the entire 9 months of pregnancy - I mean, come on ? Were u on grass the whole time? How can you actually say that it was all a daze ? Well, I don't actually doubt them coz they don't seem to remember a single negative incident or experience during that time. Everything based on all evidence was a smooth roll. I doubt the very judgement of some people having such blessed lives !
2. Women who gush from the very moment who announce that they are having a baby till the time, they actually display the aforementioned baby - How is so much gushing possible ? As a couple, between us, I don't think we have so much of cumulative gush capacity. And from the first day onwards, they sort of make a promise to themselves that they are gonna be the epitome of supreme motherhood. Who will remain cheerful and take everything in their stride.
When my home kit turned positive, i called hubby to say - "You know what, the test is positive" in the most sombre tone (please note, not I am pregnant or we are having a baby, woohooo ! But the test was positive). Darling hubby believe it or not actually says - "Umm.. am in a meeting, can I call you back ?" Thats our gushing quotient for you ! Not that we are not happy or very excited at the prospect, we are ! Just that we just don't seem to have the gushing capability as some. This ones since then become a long standing joke and has gone into our baby's book as well. God bless the kid :).
3. Women who say "when the baby comes, you will forget everything and nothing else will matter " - I am almost willing to give the benefit of doubt here coz maybe they just got so completely steamrolled that everything did fade in to the background. But when you look back at it, at least then you should be able to remember the testing times right ? Whats your excuse then missy ?
4. An alternate version of the above where women say "When the baby comes, you will know exactly what to do" - Really ? How , magic ? I think more than the fact that mommies all around kinda get this magical mommy ability to do things, its the other way around. The babies actually get used to whatever we dole out as maternal instincts.. I am sure the wailing, colicky baby after 2 hours is like - Ok so that's your solution ? I guess I will just have to make do with it and out of sheer exhaustion, just stops bawling its heart out ! The poor mother at which point is busy celebrating her maternal instincts victory.
5. The one who does and feels as per the book - There is this friend of mine who wallows in the warmth of maternal feelings. She is a mature and a super intelligent woman, but when it comes to babies, she actually has said things like "After 9 months of carrying and nurturing the baby, I wanted to feel the pain of childbirth" (??!!), Maybe its just me, but I find it very difficult to understand or digest these kind of statements. Who willingly asks for pain ? She did go thru it mind you, valiantly as well. Full 11 hours of labour. I do want to believe that i super love the baby inside of me to bits, but do i really crave the feeling of labour ? As much as its a natural process, I don't think so ! It frightens the bejesus out of me ..
Before anybody else from the mommy brigade jumps on me, pliss to note that I do acknowledge that maybe its just me !
6. The ones who have an opinion about everything (and do not hesitate to share unsolicited opinions) - So annoying isn't it ! You don;t have a baby yet? You havent taken off from work yet ? You haven't bought any baby books ? You actually like ultrasounds ? You have a preference of gender ? You bought the baby stuff so soon ? You are planning to be a working mom ? aww.. the list is endless.. Why don't we display some kind of solidarity here ? I mean we all go thru our own set of challenges, why then don't we stop judging other women and just be supportive ?
7. The ha ha ones - You know these are the ones who always leave ha ha messages for you on chats/ facebook etc.. Haha you better shop while u can, soon you will not be able to budge from that room ! Haha you miss sleep now, wait till the max you can sleep at a stretch is 45 mins :P Haha, you sucker you, think that baby of yours is gonna be nice and quiet and sleep thru the nite, it will wreak havoc in your life and u will just feel like killing yourself ! (ok, no one actually said the last one, but some of them sort of hinted it :p). But I will give them some credit because in their own ways, they acknowledge that they didnt have it so easy as well :)
But more importantly, why don't we share the scary things and talk about the gross stuff, the depressing stuff, the infuriating stuff, the one from the blue stuff ? The ones that really really prepares us for whats to come ahead ...
Of course the alternate theory that I have is that they have absolute temporary amnesia (something that lasts from the time, the test is +ve to when the kid is about 2) !
For the most parts the show was about experience of motherhood, which I can't really comment about, I still have 6 more weeks to go (almost there !). But the general consensus was that as a clan, we need to prepare our fellow members on what to expect truly and be honest, really honest about how it may not be so rosy after all ..
But here's a show where people are at least acknowledging the fact that there are tons of things that people, ahem women, never tell you about ! Maybe for good, as it may really turn you into a paranoid creature from hell or convince you to continue that pill that you were almost gonna stop :P
Anyways, it has me convinced that women either feel bad about talking about the things that they struggle with (probably coz we traditionally don't like to think that motherhood can be so daunting or that some of us actually struggle to get it right, or worse, some of us dont actually get it !), Or that after the baby comes, they are so much in awe of all the changes including the lovely being in front of them, that somehow magically everything else fades into the background.
I am not sure exactly what the reason is, I think I have spoken to people of all sorts in the last 7 odd months (amazing how it seems almost natural to reach out to other preggo women or women with infants and share things so openly, that you wouldn't even dream of otherwise !). E.g.
1. Women who actually claimed to sleepwalk during the entire 9 months of pregnancy - I mean, come on ? Were u on grass the whole time? How can you actually say that it was all a daze ? Well, I don't actually doubt them coz they don't seem to remember a single negative incident or experience during that time. Everything based on all evidence was a smooth roll. I doubt the very judgement of some people having such blessed lives !
2. Women who gush from the very moment who announce that they are having a baby till the time, they actually display the aforementioned baby - How is so much gushing possible ? As a couple, between us, I don't think we have so much of cumulative gush capacity. And from the first day onwards, they sort of make a promise to themselves that they are gonna be the epitome of supreme motherhood. Who will remain cheerful and take everything in their stride.
When my home kit turned positive, i called hubby to say - "You know what, the test is positive" in the most sombre tone (please note, not I am pregnant or we are having a baby, woohooo ! But the test was positive). Darling hubby believe it or not actually says - "Umm.. am in a meeting, can I call you back ?" Thats our gushing quotient for you ! Not that we are not happy or very excited at the prospect, we are ! Just that we just don't seem to have the gushing capability as some. This ones since then become a long standing joke and has gone into our baby's book as well. God bless the kid :).
3. Women who say "when the baby comes, you will forget everything and nothing else will matter " - I am almost willing to give the benefit of doubt here coz maybe they just got so completely steamrolled that everything did fade in to the background. But when you look back at it, at least then you should be able to remember the testing times right ? Whats your excuse then missy ?
4. An alternate version of the above where women say "When the baby comes, you will know exactly what to do" - Really ? How , magic ? I think more than the fact that mommies all around kinda get this magical mommy ability to do things, its the other way around. The babies actually get used to whatever we dole out as maternal instincts.. I am sure the wailing, colicky baby after 2 hours is like - Ok so that's your solution ? I guess I will just have to make do with it and out of sheer exhaustion, just stops bawling its heart out ! The poor mother at which point is busy celebrating her maternal instincts victory.
5. The one who does and feels as per the book - There is this friend of mine who wallows in the warmth of maternal feelings. She is a mature and a super intelligent woman, but when it comes to babies, she actually has said things like "After 9 months of carrying and nurturing the baby, I wanted to feel the pain of childbirth" (??!!), Maybe its just me, but I find it very difficult to understand or digest these kind of statements. Who willingly asks for pain ? She did go thru it mind you, valiantly as well. Full 11 hours of labour. I do want to believe that i super love the baby inside of me to bits, but do i really crave the feeling of labour ? As much as its a natural process, I don't think so ! It frightens the bejesus out of me ..
Before anybody else from the mommy brigade jumps on me, pliss to note that I do acknowledge that maybe its just me !
6. The ones who have an opinion about everything (and do not hesitate to share unsolicited opinions) - So annoying isn't it ! You don;t have a baby yet? You havent taken off from work yet ? You haven't bought any baby books ? You actually like ultrasounds ? You have a preference of gender ? You bought the baby stuff so soon ? You are planning to be a working mom ? aww.. the list is endless.. Why don't we display some kind of solidarity here ? I mean we all go thru our own set of challenges, why then don't we stop judging other women and just be supportive ?
7. The ha ha ones - You know these are the ones who always leave ha ha messages for you on chats/ facebook etc.. Haha you better shop while u can, soon you will not be able to budge from that room ! Haha you miss sleep now, wait till the max you can sleep at a stretch is 45 mins :P Haha, you sucker you, think that baby of yours is gonna be nice and quiet and sleep thru the nite, it will wreak havoc in your life and u will just feel like killing yourself ! (ok, no one actually said the last one, but some of them sort of hinted it :p). But I will give them some credit because in their own ways, they acknowledge that they didnt have it so easy as well :)
But more importantly, why don't we share the scary things and talk about the gross stuff, the depressing stuff, the infuriating stuff, the one from the blue stuff ? The ones that really really prepares us for whats to come ahead ...
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Missed Happy Budday only !
I just realized that the 5 year mark for this blog came and went without me having an inkling of the same ! Sheesh, how could I have let that happen, shame only !!
Started this blog July of 2004 and look how far we have come baby :) I may not be as regular as I would like to be, but still it gives me a warm an cuddly feeling that I have this to vent when I have nothing else :))
It has been a pleasure and I am extremely grateful for the few who actually follow this (that goes for the 3 of you :p). Please do continue to pour in your encouragements and who knows, with my impending holidays, ok damn baby break, I may just get back to regularity with an added fury :)
Happy belated Budday dear bloggie :))
Started this blog July of 2004 and look how far we have come baby :) I may not be as regular as I would like to be, but still it gives me a warm an cuddly feeling that I have this to vent when I have nothing else :))
It has been a pleasure and I am extremely grateful for the few who actually follow this (that goes for the 3 of you :p). Please do continue to pour in your encouragements and who knows, with my impending holidays, ok damn baby break, I may just get back to regularity with an added fury :)
Happy belated Budday dear bloggie :))
Introspection time ..
The lingering worry now a days in my head is about what kind of parents would we be. And as all worries in my head go, they start with the germ of an idea and extrapolate themselves into an all consuming frenzy.
Both hubs an me like to watch tv, ok let me rephrase that, we both love to vegetate in front of the tv. I have often caught him sit in front of the tv with eyes glazing over and him not really watching anything ! But thats his way of relaxing after a long days work. And the number of times, i sit in front of the TV but do my own thing (like surfing or chatting) is beyond counting. I guess we both like the idea of the TV being on. And when we do actually watch it, I find that we have this immense capacity to actually watch any rubbish. I think TV channels are thriving coz of people with very low expectations like us :) TMZ, showbiz tonight, American choppers, crappy sitcoms, anything at all !!
How are we going to discipline a kid when we have such low concepts of TV watching ourselves not to mention insane addiction to it ? Worst of all, how the hell are we gonna stop ourselves from watching all of our usual nonsense to avoid undue influence on the kid.. I mean i know I have a dedicated nursery and all, but I seriously doubt if Tingu's gonna entertain our deluded ideas of "yeah, the baby will play in the baby;s room, where else !"
It scares me to no extent.. I like to live my lofty notions that I have an idea about how I want my kid to grow up. Well.. ummm.. the notion is fine but I think i will soon have the face the realization that I don't quite know how I will get that to happen.
We are both from simple middle class families with very similar upbringing. We have had to struggle in our own ways and things that were out of reach of our parents were simply forgone with no questions asked. Our grown up lives are different now, and with the kind of life style/ careers/ education, I think we have transcended to a different socio economic demography different from our parents. Now we spend without any questions asked. And since we can, we rarely would like to forgo anything at all. So, we spend with added zeal !
The frugality of a middle class existence may have been drudgy at that point, but I think they had a good part in life lessons learnt. How the hell do we teach similar things to the kid when we ourselves do not like to compromise anymore ! Impulsive splurging on holidays taken at the drop of the hat or new car accessories have become a norm and we brush it away saying we live only once, why not !
How are we going to teach a kid value of money and that things will not come by when we want it ? Or even worse, that you dont always get what you want..(when each day in our live is exactly the opposite, the pursuit of getting exactly what we want!)
How do you teach the value of disappointments, trials and failures when your generation itself is not very adept at dealing with it ? I hate disappointments, I do.. I have always done that since childhood. I take it to extremes where I dont venture into things that i am either not confident about or know that I am not good at ranging from sports to new initiatives. I just dont like to fail. So, I would rather just stick to things that I am good at.
What kind of a teaching is that to a kid ?
How do you teach the value of money and saving when you yourself don't quite practice that ? :) And this is funny especially because my mom has been repeating this sentence like a parrot for the last 10 years ever since I started working ! I dont think most of people in my age bracket really save up money before buying something or plan for it beforehand. We first buy and then we plan to accommodate that cost in our lives.. If we don't have ready cash, we do overdrafts, credit cards, EMI's... there are many ways to do it :))
They say that you usually know whats the right thing to do when u have a kid.. i doubt the very concept of it, but for the sake of my sanity, I really hope thats true..
Both hubs an me like to watch tv, ok let me rephrase that, we both love to vegetate in front of the tv. I have often caught him sit in front of the tv with eyes glazing over and him not really watching anything ! But thats his way of relaxing after a long days work. And the number of times, i sit in front of the TV but do my own thing (like surfing or chatting) is beyond counting. I guess we both like the idea of the TV being on. And when we do actually watch it, I find that we have this immense capacity to actually watch any rubbish. I think TV channels are thriving coz of people with very low expectations like us :) TMZ, showbiz tonight, American choppers, crappy sitcoms, anything at all !!
How are we going to discipline a kid when we have such low concepts of TV watching ourselves not to mention insane addiction to it ? Worst of all, how the hell are we gonna stop ourselves from watching all of our usual nonsense to avoid undue influence on the kid.. I mean i know I have a dedicated nursery and all, but I seriously doubt if Tingu's gonna entertain our deluded ideas of "yeah, the baby will play in the baby;s room, where else !"
It scares me to no extent.. I like to live my lofty notions that I have an idea about how I want my kid to grow up. Well.. ummm.. the notion is fine but I think i will soon have the face the realization that I don't quite know how I will get that to happen.
We are both from simple middle class families with very similar upbringing. We have had to struggle in our own ways and things that were out of reach of our parents were simply forgone with no questions asked. Our grown up lives are different now, and with the kind of life style/ careers/ education, I think we have transcended to a different socio economic demography different from our parents. Now we spend without any questions asked. And since we can, we rarely would like to forgo anything at all. So, we spend with added zeal !
The frugality of a middle class existence may have been drudgy at that point, but I think they had a good part in life lessons learnt. How the hell do we teach similar things to the kid when we ourselves do not like to compromise anymore ! Impulsive splurging on holidays taken at the drop of the hat or new car accessories have become a norm and we brush it away saying we live only once, why not !
How are we going to teach a kid value of money and that things will not come by when we want it ? Or even worse, that you dont always get what you want..(when each day in our live is exactly the opposite, the pursuit of getting exactly what we want!)
How do you teach the value of disappointments, trials and failures when your generation itself is not very adept at dealing with it ? I hate disappointments, I do.. I have always done that since childhood. I take it to extremes where I dont venture into things that i am either not confident about or know that I am not good at ranging from sports to new initiatives. I just dont like to fail. So, I would rather just stick to things that I am good at.
What kind of a teaching is that to a kid ?
How do you teach the value of money and saving when you yourself don't quite practice that ? :) And this is funny especially because my mom has been repeating this sentence like a parrot for the last 10 years ever since I started working ! I dont think most of people in my age bracket really save up money before buying something or plan for it beforehand. We first buy and then we plan to accommodate that cost in our lives.. If we don't have ready cash, we do overdrafts, credit cards, EMI's... there are many ways to do it :))
They say that you usually know whats the right thing to do when u have a kid.. i doubt the very concept of it, but for the sake of my sanity, I really hope thats true..
Monday, November 23, 2009
sad sad news !
Just heard, another one (second in the last 1 yr) of my close school friend's going thru a nasty separation and an impending divorce..
I am really and truly sorry to hear that. Somehow when i hear about such things, my heart reaches out to them even though i have not really kept a lot in touch with them ! Of course certain friendships especially from so long ago also fade with time and duly so. But still when I hear about their lives, makes me regret not keeping in touch.. (which is stupid coz its not like that wud have changed anything !)
Incidently, both these girls were good girls who promptly got married soon after college to the grooms of their parents choice. Makes me really wonder if parents really know the best for their children. I know its a very loaded and biased statement, but I can't help but think otherwise. What constitutes a good match or a good family has no bearing to the actual life that their daughter will have to eventually lead later on.
In both these cases, the guys came from so called 'Good' families, just that their upbringing seriously lacked any sense of civility, common sense and respect for women !
And worse of all, I find it so hard to digest the fact that both of my friends decided to stick around and bear it for the longest of times (5 years and 7 years respectively!). What makes women do that ?
We all grew up together and I have known them to a decent degree ever since we were girls with pigtails. Back then, would I have imagined that the same girls , (both of them post graduates with very good careers for themselves mind you!) would have settled for any less ? I really don't think so. Then what changed ?
I am sure its complicated and not necessarily all black and white, especially given all the parental pressure and the crappy indian society. But still, what gives ? Is it the eternal hope that things will become normal ? Or that you don't want to call quits too soon.
Not that I am judging any of them, I am very happy that they decided to take control now and are doing so with amazing grace.. Its just a scary notion I guess that you think you know people but really dont and that for every 2 who have the guts to walk out, there are 10 out there who don't !
I am really and truly sorry to hear that. Somehow when i hear about such things, my heart reaches out to them even though i have not really kept a lot in touch with them ! Of course certain friendships especially from so long ago also fade with time and duly so. But still when I hear about their lives, makes me regret not keeping in touch.. (which is stupid coz its not like that wud have changed anything !)
Incidently, both these girls were good girls who promptly got married soon after college to the grooms of their parents choice. Makes me really wonder if parents really know the best for their children. I know its a very loaded and biased statement, but I can't help but think otherwise. What constitutes a good match or a good family has no bearing to the actual life that their daughter will have to eventually lead later on.
In both these cases, the guys came from so called 'Good' families, just that their upbringing seriously lacked any sense of civility, common sense and respect for women !
And worse of all, I find it so hard to digest the fact that both of my friends decided to stick around and bear it for the longest of times (5 years and 7 years respectively!). What makes women do that ?
We all grew up together and I have known them to a decent degree ever since we were girls with pigtails. Back then, would I have imagined that the same girls , (both of them post graduates with very good careers for themselves mind you!) would have settled for any less ? I really don't think so. Then what changed ?
I am sure its complicated and not necessarily all black and white, especially given all the parental pressure and the crappy indian society. But still, what gives ? Is it the eternal hope that things will become normal ? Or that you don't want to call quits too soon.
Not that I am judging any of them, I am very happy that they decided to take control now and are doing so with amazing grace.. Its just a scary notion I guess that you think you know people but really dont and that for every 2 who have the guts to walk out, there are 10 out there who don't !
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Not bad
A small book, priced at Rs 95/ - and after a long time made me read the entire book at one single stretch.
2 States - the story of my marriage by Chetan Bhagat.
I think the boy has finally kinda redeemed himself, at least as far as I am concerned. His writing is simple and more bloggy than literary. But of course that you already know.
I think what makes this one work, just like five point someone, is that this again is semi autobiographical. He really can belt it out when it is fiction around situations in his life or a page out of it. He seems much more comfortable and confident spinning a yarn when he has lived the peripheral premises. Much more than the other 2 really crappy ones (night @ a call center and 3 mistakes), which apart frm non interesting storylines also makes it very obvious that the author has done only second hand research on subjects..
Now, this one was witty and interesting and has its chetan bhagat moments but all in all worthwhile for a weekend read for sure :)
Now that hes' done his IIT days and his wedding conquest, maybe its time for him to write next about his IIMA days and be done with his autobiographical trilogy :)
2 States - the story of my marriage by Chetan Bhagat.
I think the boy has finally kinda redeemed himself, at least as far as I am concerned. His writing is simple and more bloggy than literary. But of course that you already know.
I think what makes this one work, just like five point someone, is that this again is semi autobiographical. He really can belt it out when it is fiction around situations in his life or a page out of it. He seems much more comfortable and confident spinning a yarn when he has lived the peripheral premises. Much more than the other 2 really crappy ones (night @ a call center and 3 mistakes), which apart frm non interesting storylines also makes it very obvious that the author has done only second hand research on subjects..
Now, this one was witty and interesting and has its chetan bhagat moments but all in all worthwhile for a weekend read for sure :)
Now that hes' done his IIT days and his wedding conquest, maybe its time for him to write next about his IIMA days and be done with his autobiographical trilogy :)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Drooling over !
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/518483-REG/Sigma_582_306_18_50mm_f_2_8_EX_DC.html
This is one fine piece of lens ! So what if it costs almost as much as my dslr cam body costs.. Dang if I don't convince hubby to lemme buy it !
Me thinks, considering how many women now a days are asking for push presents (even the ones who dont really push :P), ranging from solitaires to cars, this is much less expensive rt !
Now if only R would see this logic :)
This is one fine piece of lens ! So what if it costs almost as much as my dslr cam body costs.. Dang if I don't convince hubby to lemme buy it !
Me thinks, considering how many women now a days are asking for push presents (even the ones who dont really push :P), ranging from solitaires to cars, this is much less expensive rt !
Now if only R would see this logic :)
Sunday, November 08, 2009
what would i do without certain friends ?
Seriously !? I wonder.. And mine have a way to being such indispensible part of my life that I can't explain it.. There are not many left tho', I hafta say. But the ones that are there now are ones for life and I know that because of incidents such as one yesterday.
I have a way of being or at least proclaiming to be, very self sufficient when it comes to my emotional sanity now a days. I don't know if thats coz am in my 30;s now and we are supposed to be wiser and more accountable now.. But there are times when i take on too much on myself and don't bother reaching out even when maybe I should..
A snagging situation at home was making me miserable and I didn't even realize how much.. it came up in a late night conversation with a dear friend who incidently is stuck in gurgaon on work and is equally lonely :) Before i knew it we spoke for 2 hours and i realized how much my issue had been bugging me.. Made me feel good and feel stronger all over again.. In the end all he said was - "Dont worry about it now, its not required. When it comes down to it an needs to be sorted out I am sure you will" :)
What would i do without these guys ? :))
I have a way of being or at least proclaiming to be, very self sufficient when it comes to my emotional sanity now a days. I don't know if thats coz am in my 30;s now and we are supposed to be wiser and more accountable now.. But there are times when i take on too much on myself and don't bother reaching out even when maybe I should..
A snagging situation at home was making me miserable and I didn't even realize how much.. it came up in a late night conversation with a dear friend who incidently is stuck in gurgaon on work and is equally lonely :) Before i knew it we spoke for 2 hours and i realized how much my issue had been bugging me.. Made me feel good and feel stronger all over again.. In the end all he said was - "Dont worry about it now, its not required. When it comes down to it an needs to be sorted out I am sure you will" :)
What would i do without these guys ? :))
Monday, October 12, 2009
I think there is a reason why I love movies like 'Love aaj kal' and 'Wake up Sid'. Both of them have the male protagonists as overgrown boys who err on their path to coming of age and love etc.. I think I can relate to that and the fact that the female protagonists in both the movies are really sane, grounded and practical women.. Whether its Meera of LAK who is so aware of whats happening with her and around her and she does not flinch to tell her new husband that the marriage was a mistake, or Aisha from WUS, who is sensitive and accomodating but does not hesitate to tell yummy Rahul Khanna that jazz (or him) -not her cup of tea :)
I like strong women characters in movies.. especially when there is so much trash out there, an average hindi movie is so dissociated from reality that it makes you cringe ! I also like the fact that we are very slowly moving away from larger than life characters and characters who do not make mistakes. Art if supposedly imitates life, should reflect that. We all make enough and more mistakes in our lives, big or small and I dont see why the characters in 60mm cannot.
The general indian public has a problem with that, I dont think they can relate to protagonists making mistakes or deviating from a so called happy path in life. Not do they understand. Which in my opinion is why so many critics and public in general came down harsh on WUS. I am sure if Sid had been thrown out on gritty mumbai streets with no food an clothes an had to sleep under the street lamp, wud have made a lot more people happier! For the want to see the character actually struggle and wake up :)
But why ? Why do you need that dark realism to understand his coming of age or growing up ? And who is to say that what he is depicted to be doing is so far fetched ? I fail to understand that.. Many a times even seasoned critics lose sight of the fact that movies are about specific character, their lives and their quirks. Why then do we pick on things that do not seem real to us just coz we cannot relate to it ?
With the multiplex movies (for the lack of a better word), hopefully we will see more new age directors who do not hesitate to tell fresh new stories.
I like strong women characters in movies.. especially when there is so much trash out there, an average hindi movie is so dissociated from reality that it makes you cringe ! I also like the fact that we are very slowly moving away from larger than life characters and characters who do not make mistakes. Art if supposedly imitates life, should reflect that. We all make enough and more mistakes in our lives, big or small and I dont see why the characters in 60mm cannot.
The general indian public has a problem with that, I dont think they can relate to protagonists making mistakes or deviating from a so called happy path in life. Not do they understand. Which in my opinion is why so many critics and public in general came down harsh on WUS. I am sure if Sid had been thrown out on gritty mumbai streets with no food an clothes an had to sleep under the street lamp, wud have made a lot more people happier! For the want to see the character actually struggle and wake up :)
But why ? Why do you need that dark realism to understand his coming of age or growing up ? And who is to say that what he is depicted to be doing is so far fetched ? I fail to understand that.. Many a times even seasoned critics lose sight of the fact that movies are about specific character, their lives and their quirks. Why then do we pick on things that do not seem real to us just coz we cannot relate to it ?
With the multiplex movies (for the lack of a better word), hopefully we will see more new age directors who do not hesitate to tell fresh new stories.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Kicking !
With all the facebooking an twittering eating up the general blog blips, i had told myself i am gonna post at least a few blips here for the sake of posterity !
So, in the spirit of just that.. the baby's finally started kicking ! Its almost like an episode straight out of x-files really ! :P
I was worried for a bit whether it was sheer laziness which was holding Rads jr. frm kicking around much.. anyhoo.. worries can be set aside now.. :)
ps: Listening to the 'Blue' soundtrack and me thinks me likes...
So, in the spirit of just that.. the baby's finally started kicking ! Its almost like an episode straight out of x-files really ! :P
I was worried for a bit whether it was sheer laziness which was holding Rads jr. frm kicking around much.. anyhoo.. worries can be set aside now.. :)
ps: Listening to the 'Blue' soundtrack and me thinks me likes...
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Ho Hum...
I find myself longing to move back to US now a days.. I have no clue why. There has been this dormant lingering for about an year now which has become increasingly stronger now. My brain resists and tells me to come to my senses as I should not be even considering that for the next one year with a baby on the way and all the adventure that will follow soon afterwards..
But there is still a part of my heart that swings in the opp. direction. Maybe its the swirling hormones, dunno or the fact that I find myself looking at old pictures more often now a days and long for those lose times.. At the risk of digressing, I have to add that its been more than an year since we even took any pictures.. We used to do that so often before and thankx to that, i have a few lovely collages put up on my walls. But i notice that almost all of them were taken at least 2 yrs ago and none of them in India.. Is it the lack of time or inclination ? am clueless..
In the end I think, my brain will win out the debate and refrain from insane decisions.. But maybe soon.. who knows.. Till then, I am just gonna make myself happy by reminiscing about things that I miss abt life out there :) :
1. A good strong cup of black coffee (altho' it wud never stop at one cup... hmm...)
2. Driving that wud not piss off my better half.. (i find him more and more irritable on the roads now, even the smallest of things tick him off !)
3. Pitstop at Einstein Bros Bagels every time we wud set off on a drive over long weekends... Sun dried tomato bagel with jalapeno salsa shmear just rocks and there is no substitute for it !
4. The bliss of spending almost an entire day window shopping at the malls (of course u need good malls for that, I have had the fortune to live in cities where there were awesome malls)
5. Aveda !
6. Krispy Kremes !
7. The complete lack of any social obligations whatsoever.. Believe it or not, there are just too many of them in India..
8. Good working hours.. Altho my working hours are not that bad really, but in retrospect, I have had better :)
9. The options of activities that are available for anybody to do ! Let me rephrase that, the ease at which hobbies or interests can actually be followed.. I used to actually go for French and dancing classes in CA, but here even a small yoga session seems like such an overhead with traffic situations, unpredictable work timings etc..
10. Awesome wines !
ok.. I have realized this list can go on and on.. an i have a meeting coming up ! damn..
But there is still a part of my heart that swings in the opp. direction. Maybe its the swirling hormones, dunno or the fact that I find myself looking at old pictures more often now a days and long for those lose times.. At the risk of digressing, I have to add that its been more than an year since we even took any pictures.. We used to do that so often before and thankx to that, i have a few lovely collages put up on my walls. But i notice that almost all of them were taken at least 2 yrs ago and none of them in India.. Is it the lack of time or inclination ? am clueless..
In the end I think, my brain will win out the debate and refrain from insane decisions.. But maybe soon.. who knows.. Till then, I am just gonna make myself happy by reminiscing about things that I miss abt life out there :) :
1. A good strong cup of black coffee (altho' it wud never stop at one cup... hmm...)
2. Driving that wud not piss off my better half.. (i find him more and more irritable on the roads now, even the smallest of things tick him off !)
3. Pitstop at Einstein Bros Bagels every time we wud set off on a drive over long weekends... Sun dried tomato bagel with jalapeno salsa shmear just rocks and there is no substitute for it !
4. The bliss of spending almost an entire day window shopping at the malls (of course u need good malls for that, I have had the fortune to live in cities where there were awesome malls)
5. Aveda !
6. Krispy Kremes !
7. The complete lack of any social obligations whatsoever.. Believe it or not, there are just too many of them in India..
8. Good working hours.. Altho my working hours are not that bad really, but in retrospect, I have had better :)
9. The options of activities that are available for anybody to do ! Let me rephrase that, the ease at which hobbies or interests can actually be followed.. I used to actually go for French and dancing classes in CA, but here even a small yoga session seems like such an overhead with traffic situations, unpredictable work timings etc..
10. Awesome wines !
ok.. I have realized this list can go on and on.. an i have a meeting coming up ! damn..
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Revelation an a heartbreak
I can actually fit into my first pair of maternity jeans !
ps: O god, in abt 6 months either gimme the metabolism of a horse or enuf money for lipo ! either will do !!
ps: O god, in abt 6 months either gimme the metabolism of a horse or enuf money for lipo ! either will do !!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Blip
A good man makes all the difference in the world.. It maybe the husband or the boss or both :)
ps: i am resigned to leaving twittery msgs on the blog but fret not, have told myself that i am gonna get back to writing somethin substantial soon enuf :P
ps: i am resigned to leaving twittery msgs on the blog but fret not, have told myself that i am gonna get back to writing somethin substantial soon enuf :P
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
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Tuesday, August 04, 2009
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Monday, July 20, 2009
Love Aaj Kal
Very bollywood but a nice album nonetheless. Pritham does deliver with some really nice compositions.. Yeh doorian and Ajj Din chadaya.. Both the songs are something that you can loop thru in your music player and leave it for the day :)
Mohit Chauhan brings back the magic of "Tum se hi", and "Doorian" is strangely reminiscent of the former. It seems like a song picturized on the love lorn protagonist but while Tum se hi was more positive, this one seems rather muse-ish.. The lyrics are nice tho' I must say.
Rahat Fateh Ali khan as always brings a certain something to all the sings he sings. There is something powerful and earthy in all of his songs (i unlike many others do not wish for him to sing very many songs. I am more than happy with him singing 2 songs per year if each one of them is so memorable.. Keep at it.. !)
The rest of the album is more commercial, albeit nice.. I am sure Chor Bazari and Twist will stay on the charts for a while, but will also fizzle soon like Mauja hi Mauja..
Songs in my loop for today - Aaj din and Doorian.
:)
Mohit Chauhan brings back the magic of "Tum se hi", and "Doorian" is strangely reminiscent of the former. It seems like a song picturized on the love lorn protagonist but while Tum se hi was more positive, this one seems rather muse-ish.. The lyrics are nice tho' I must say.
Rahat Fateh Ali khan as always brings a certain something to all the sings he sings. There is something powerful and earthy in all of his songs (i unlike many others do not wish for him to sing very many songs. I am more than happy with him singing 2 songs per year if each one of them is so memorable.. Keep at it.. !)
The rest of the album is more commercial, albeit nice.. I am sure Chor Bazari and Twist will stay on the charts for a while, but will also fizzle soon like Mauja hi Mauja..
Songs in my loop for today - Aaj din and Doorian.
:)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Blip
The last 2 months have gone by in a haze... delight, fright, frustration all rolled into one..
Yippee for exciting times ahead !
Yippee for exciting times ahead !
Monday, June 01, 2009
Scratching my head and wondering
Whether the so called rock stars or music legends who played cupids in our lives have a great love life themselves ..?
Would be interesting to know isn't it ? I am sure everybody has had that special song that someone has played or sung for you which totally tipped the scales for him :))
Here are some on my list and I am gonna spend this good afternoon finding out whether they had a good love life considering the amazing songs that they wrote/sang !!
1. Everybody loves somebody - Dean Martin
2. Anne's Song - John Denver
3. Bed of Roses - Bon Jovi.
4. Two steps behind you - Def Leppard
5. Have I told you lately - Van Morrisons version not Rod Stewart
Would be interesting to know isn't it ? I am sure everybody has had that special song that someone has played or sung for you which totally tipped the scales for him :))
Here are some on my list and I am gonna spend this good afternoon finding out whether they had a good love life considering the amazing songs that they wrote/sang !!
1. Everybody loves somebody - Dean Martin
2. Anne's Song - John Denver
3. Bed of Roses - Bon Jovi.
4. Two steps behind you - Def Leppard
5. Have I told you lately - Van Morrisons version not Rod Stewart
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
An evening in oslo
Oslo's been pretty boring for the last 2 days.. I had expected springtime to be different somehow, tulips, other flowers blooming all around. Unfortunately trees are still balding and most landscape is still dry and brown. But looks like this itself is like yippeee springtime for the Norwegians :) I guess after about 6 ft of snow during winter, anything is welcome :)
Had been to the city center yesterday on a desperate attempt to find a salon for some urgent needs (ahem.. we women are quite high maintenance unfortunately!). So what I did realize is that Oslo lacks enough beauty salons ! I am not kidding. They are sparse by nature and all running full even at 8 PM in the night ! Any smart entrepreneur should just open a chain of salons here and it will totally flourish ...
After a lot of searching, I finally found a nice one which graciously agreed to take a walk-in.. This girl who worked on me was super sweet and really very nice.. I have always felt that Norwegians and Swedish women have the best skins.. pure alabaster n cream.. So i was interested in the facials they had to offer.. As inviting the services were, the price list was equally shocking.. I guess seeing the expression of shock on my face after seeing the service catalogue, the sweet girl actually offered me a free facial !! I mean, in which country does that happen ?? She just said, since you havent been able to spend much time in Oslo to see around, I can at least do this for you .. I mean, I was totally speechless.. Believe me, things like these do not happen to me.. Now my hubby is quite the opposite.. Things happen to him all the time.. But me.. na na.. I am the kind who has even paid for extra 2 KG baggage, while he has gotten away with a whole extra suitcase and a smile ! Well, theres more, he's even won ipods at supermarkets!!
So, imagine my surprise when someone actually offers something like this.. So, yours truly has had a really nice evening in Oslo, thanks to the sweet girl at Magic in Oslo City mall :)
Heading to Copenhagen tomm.. toodles !
ps: Helsinki was really boring...
Had been to the city center yesterday on a desperate attempt to find a salon for some urgent needs (ahem.. we women are quite high maintenance unfortunately!). So what I did realize is that Oslo lacks enough beauty salons ! I am not kidding. They are sparse by nature and all running full even at 8 PM in the night ! Any smart entrepreneur should just open a chain of salons here and it will totally flourish ...
After a lot of searching, I finally found a nice one which graciously agreed to take a walk-in.. This girl who worked on me was super sweet and really very nice.. I have always felt that Norwegians and Swedish women have the best skins.. pure alabaster n cream.. So i was interested in the facials they had to offer.. As inviting the services were, the price list was equally shocking.. I guess seeing the expression of shock on my face after seeing the service catalogue, the sweet girl actually offered me a free facial !! I mean, in which country does that happen ?? She just said, since you havent been able to spend much time in Oslo to see around, I can at least do this for you .. I mean, I was totally speechless.. Believe me, things like these do not happen to me.. Now my hubby is quite the opposite.. Things happen to him all the time.. But me.. na na.. I am the kind who has even paid for extra 2 KG baggage, while he has gotten away with a whole extra suitcase and a smile ! Well, theres more, he's even won ipods at supermarkets!!
So, imagine my surprise when someone actually offers something like this.. So, yours truly has had a really nice evening in Oslo, thanks to the sweet girl at Magic in Oslo City mall :)
Heading to Copenhagen tomm.. toodles !
ps: Helsinki was really boring...
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Alo from Sweden
I am currently on a whirlwind trip to the nordics and western EU. Just got done with the Stockholm part of the trip. Hafta say its a lovely place.. Thankfully the Radisson I was staying at was in the city so didnt hafta sweat it out ..
Will post pics soon...
Will post pics soon...
WTF
Why do people naturally assume that I am anti kids ? I mean WTF ! Just coz I have successfully closed the chapter on my 20's and do not have a kiddo yet, makes me anti kids ?? Jeez !
People, dunno about the rest of the world, but I make my own choices in life..
People, dunno about the rest of the world, but I make my own choices in life..
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Corny !
Is it soo unreasonable that just the very scene of Derek and Meredith kissing on Greys Anatomy brightens up my day?! Really.. i am serious.. I can't explain it..
I am sooo hooked to that..Hafta hafta find season 5 !
I am sooo hooked to that..Hafta hafta find season 5 !
I swear!
This is the only bright spot of my otherwise shi**y day !
http://sayesha.blogspot.com/2008/12/khan-ference.html
http://sayesha.blogspot.com/2008/12/khan-ference.html
quote or rather random find of the day
A wise young woman once said-
"Contrary to popular belief, when friends have a fallout, whether they will attempt to patch things up depends not on what caused the fallout, but what they had before the fallout."
:)
"Contrary to popular belief, when friends have a fallout, whether they will attempt to patch things up depends not on what caused the fallout, but what they had before the fallout."
:)
Y !!!???
Why do i have this stupid need to be appreciated all the time ? Just doesnt make sense !
I almost wanted to bite my tongue after i asked someone a question from a distant past about what my memory means to him.
What the f*** ?
I almost wanted to bite my tongue after i asked someone a question from a distant past about what my memory means to him.
What the f*** ?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Post lunch quote
Delhi 6 is such a mind blowing album ! I can't possibly express my joy on hearing an album from Rahman out of which I have liked most of the songs (at least in the recent past).
I mean, really outstanding album !!!
ps: The songs are yet to sink in, although they have been on repeat mode since 10 this morning. I will post on the individual songs soon. For now, its sheer bliss... Me, the album and my noise canceling earplugs ! :)
I mean, really outstanding album !!!
ps: The songs are yet to sink in, although they have been on repeat mode since 10 this morning. I will post on the individual songs soon. For now, its sheer bliss... Me, the album and my noise canceling earplugs ! :)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Stuck in my head !
| Tere Naina .mp3 |
Such a lovely song from an otherwise insipid album. Shankar and Shreya deliver the goods :)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Lunch time debate..
A heated debate on "Slumdog Millionaire" during lunch time with colleagues ! A movie debate after a long time, but digressed somewhere in the midst with too many emotional biases that people seem to have.
Let me start by saying I completely loved the movie and the fact that Vikas Swaroop's 'Q & A' was chosen to be made into the movie by Danny Boyle. I was watching the movie with sheer amazement that a non Indian could have made a movie that had such an Indian heart!
It is probably easy to capture people and places but to get the Indian emotions and sensibility right is by far the toughest nut to crack. And Boyle manages to do just that !
There are scenes and aspects of the movie which are gruesome and even unpalatable, times where i almost closed my eyes just to fade out certain scenes. I guess like the modern, urban India, we would rather live in denial, in the comforts of our middle class existence. Mumbai is powerful, mumbai is all accepting, mumbai is friendly and lovely. But there is an ugly side to it. It has one of the largest slum settlement in the world. The underworld and its influence is spread far and wide. And it has been in the past, been the hotbed for all communal and political atrocities!
That said, the movie is not just about that, it is a love story at the core. And it is a beautiful logic defying love story to be told. The performances are top notch and the actors fit the role to the T (except for a teensy rant that I have about the protagonist being too urban to play Jamal, he has a brit twang :P)
2 major grouses my colleagues seem to have is that a) It is just not done to keep showcasing the poor India b) Why should a non Indian make a movie about the grimy details of our cities/county.
I guess I kinda agree with the first point coz whenever you see any shows in Discovery or Travel & Living, its a very poor representation of our country. Too many beggars and too many cows ! I mean, there are other aspects to this lovely country of ours and I am still wondering why any travel or discovery show would not show that ! Call it the Indian image or whatever, but it is only limited to the Poor India in slums and streets or the Travelers India which is either full of palaces and spas but with an ample splatter of beggars as well :)
I guess the normal/ urban India is not interesting enough for the Discovery/ Travel channels :)
The second opinion is totally a skewed one and believe me I debated with that guy for like half an hour trying to understand his misplaced patriotism ! I mean why would take any movie so personally? And isn't it a big deal in itself that an Indian novel by an Indian author set in India was chosen by Fox searchlight to be made into a movie. That itself I would think is rocking! And its a bloody good adaptation of the book.
Do watch the movie, even if you are a little faint hearted coz it is a feel good movie at the end of the day. A triumph of spirits and love an all that blah blah :)
ps: Also, read 'Six Suspects' by Vikas Swaroop if you can manage to get it. Very simply written but amazing characters in that as well.
pps: Happy New Year !!!
Let me start by saying I completely loved the movie and the fact that Vikas Swaroop's 'Q & A' was chosen to be made into the movie by Danny Boyle. I was watching the movie with sheer amazement that a non Indian could have made a movie that had such an Indian heart!
It is probably easy to capture people and places but to get the Indian emotions and sensibility right is by far the toughest nut to crack. And Boyle manages to do just that !
There are scenes and aspects of the movie which are gruesome and even unpalatable, times where i almost closed my eyes just to fade out certain scenes. I guess like the modern, urban India, we would rather live in denial, in the comforts of our middle class existence. Mumbai is powerful, mumbai is all accepting, mumbai is friendly and lovely. But there is an ugly side to it. It has one of the largest slum settlement in the world. The underworld and its influence is spread far and wide. And it has been in the past, been the hotbed for all communal and political atrocities!
That said, the movie is not just about that, it is a love story at the core. And it is a beautiful logic defying love story to be told. The performances are top notch and the actors fit the role to the T (except for a teensy rant that I have about the protagonist being too urban to play Jamal, he has a brit twang :P)
2 major grouses my colleagues seem to have is that a) It is just not done to keep showcasing the poor India b) Why should a non Indian make a movie about the grimy details of our cities/county.
I guess I kinda agree with the first point coz whenever you see any shows in Discovery or Travel & Living, its a very poor representation of our country. Too many beggars and too many cows ! I mean, there are other aspects to this lovely country of ours and I am still wondering why any travel or discovery show would not show that ! Call it the Indian image or whatever, but it is only limited to the Poor India in slums and streets or the Travelers India which is either full of palaces and spas but with an ample splatter of beggars as well :)
I guess the normal/ urban India is not interesting enough for the Discovery/ Travel channels :)
The second opinion is totally a skewed one and believe me I debated with that guy for like half an hour trying to understand his misplaced patriotism ! I mean why would take any movie so personally? And isn't it a big deal in itself that an Indian novel by an Indian author set in India was chosen by Fox searchlight to be made into a movie. That itself I would think is rocking! And its a bloody good adaptation of the book.
Do watch the movie, even if you are a little faint hearted coz it is a feel good movie at the end of the day. A triumph of spirits and love an all that blah blah :)
ps: Also, read 'Six Suspects' by Vikas Swaroop if you can manage to get it. Very simply written but amazing characters in that as well.
pps: Happy New Year !!!
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