Musings of an amateur

Ugadi Shubakankshalu

2013-04-11T12:57:00.002-04:00

2013-03-31T11:33:00.001-04:00

The bus started,so was my 15 days vacation without the kids.The bus moved slowly and reluctantly as if offering me a chance to step down and rush back to the kids.I was travelling in a bus almost after a gap of five years and that too alone ,it was a bit exciting at the same time boring.Before i started the journey,i thought i would catch up on everybody on my mobile thus utilize the said six hour journey.But i was totally wrong,on the whole journey i just had brief conversations with my husband and my parents updating my whereabouts.Somehow i couldnt talk ,with a movie running and so many people around you talking on phone was like talking to a person standing on second floor standing on the ground.
                         I couldnt watch the movie ,so all i had to do was observe people around me.In front of me was a family wife,husband and 2 kids.The kids reminded me of my own kids keeping there parents busy all the journey.Sitting beside me was a lady may be few years younger than my mother.she offered me lemon rice she bought with her as breakfast.I politely refused saying i already finished my breakfast at home.I thought to myself may be somebody might be offering me rice only after the 15days,i may not find such a kindly soul at the place i am going.Actually i was going to spend my 15days at a nature cure ashramam.where we will not be allowed to eat any outside food,and our complete diet will be designed and served by them.I was supposed to be having my breakfast at the ashramam,as the 15day course started today,but due to certain reasons,i started today morning at my house and will be reaching the ashramam around evening 4.
                      The Ashramam was in Vijayawada ,started by Manthena Satyanarayana Raju garu.It was a nature cure clinic.The kind lady beside asked me where i was going to ,i told her about the asramam,she was skeptical about it.The word nature cure brings us the picture of raw food and sympathy for people who has to eat it.She told me about her experiences with people,who have been at the ashramam.All i could do was put on a brave face,and smile.I gently told her that my husband had enquired about everything,and he had no doubts about the ashramam,so i was also prepared to give it a try.Anyways i will have a chance to return back the moment i dont like it.I politely diverted the topic to her children .we watched the movie in the bus,after a while she dozed off.
              Finally we were nearing the vijayawada bus stand,i tried calling the driver who would be coming to pick me up.After a 15minute trial i got hold of him.Transportation was provided by the ashramam from the main busstand and the train stations for people coming from different places.Finally we reached the ashramam and i was taken to my room.There was no body in the room when i went...i wondered how my roommates would be for the next few days of my stay.I had to consult the floor doctor,and get my program for the coming days.She was a warm person.she briefed me my schedule from the next day.
                      After a fruit dinner at 6.30 ,we got to meet Mr.Manthena garu(called as Raju garu by everybody there).After an interactive session with him we went to our rooms.I met my roommate ...she was tall and thin with a sweet smile.(i imagined she would be around my size or tad bigger than me.)I She was from Tirupathi ,recently married.We exchanged pleasantries...and decided we should sleep early,bcause our day would start at 4.30am from next morning.
     That was my first day without my family.

The way you treat makes a difference.....

2011-05-26T09:45:00.044-04:00

Recently i had to visit a lab ,for my bloodwork.I had to wait for few minutes in the lounge....there i saw these Pictures on the wall.I liked them a lot.Simple words used to potray the diversity of mankind.And i liked the fact that those were in a medical lab,underlining the fact that whatever you are,who ever you are, a caring hand and a gentle gesture do make a lot of difference.

Luckily i had an iphone to capture them and Save them .An old habbit of writing down good lines wherever you find them...made easy with the "Apple" Touch.

Spring is here ......

2011-05-13T16:00:00.000-04:00

Pluck not the wayside flower,

It is the traveller's dower;

A thousand passers-by

Its beauties may espy,

May win a touch of blessing

From Nature's mild caressing.

The sad of heart perceives

A violet under leaves

Like sonic fresh-budding hope;

The primrose on the slope

A spot of sunshine dwells,

And cheerful message tells

Of kind renewing power;

The nodding bluebell's dye

Is drawn from happy sky.

Then spare the wayside flower!

It is the traveller's dower.

---Wayside Flowers by William Allingham

New Year Wishes

2011-01-03T16:22:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year 2011

Niagara Falls trip

2010-10-12T00:44:00.004-04:00

Many wrote about the awe-inspiring and beauteous Niagara.As John keats said "A thing of beauty is joy forever",it was indeed a beauty and sure have left us happy.Happiness was the common feeling that crossed all of our minds,but i was sure each one had a interpretation of his/her own to carry it back home or atleast for the next visit.

As a child i had heard and read about the beauty of the falls and always wanted to have a glimse of it.And years back a friend of mine visited the falls and described to me so beautifully that standing in hyderabad i could feel the water sprinkle.Hats of to her description and my imagination.My desire to visit the falls became strong.And finaly i had the oppurtunity to visit the beauty.I was expecting to be thrilled and excited,which i was not.The reasons may be many like we have seen the falls in the movies and pictures n number of times or may be i was expecting too much from a waterfall i couldnt get it.No doubt it was a beautiful sight and wonderful too,but the feeling was not what i had expected.

All the way back home i kept thinking about what each one of us might have felt ,though i didnt ask them personally i made a wild guess.My one and half year old son might have worried that he is getting all wet from the water gushing down.My nearly four year would have thought someone has surely forgot to turn off the big pipe and wasting the water....her mommy would surely find it out.My workholic husband,must have wondered how much energy generation was done ,considering the voluminous and speedy water fall.My senior citizen father would have thought "Ha! onemore feather in my cap....i could visit the niagara falls".I surely missed my mother who couldnt come.coming back to me i thought for a second oh my god the water fall doesnt stop even for a second?(Dont be shocked????waterfall stopping????weird just keep reading you will get my point)From morning evening the most cherished part of my day is when in the afternoon ,my kids have there nap,i enjoy the silence and break i have from running around them.( i dont even like talking on phone)watching the water fall gushing down dutifully every second...made me think it didnt stop even a micro second.doing its task uninterruptedly,without a break.Niagara falls an inspiration....new slogan????????
As a popular verse goes"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder",may be the scenary remains the same...depending upon our thinking each one has his/her own way of looking at things.

Niagara Falls

2010-09-16T20:02:00.003-04:00

Jnamashtami

2010-08-31T22:38:00.004-04:00

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna , Hare Hare...

Wishing you all a happy and blessed Krishna Jnamashtami.

Happy Independence day!

2010-08-15T00:42:00.000-04:00

స్వాతంత్ర దినోత్సవ శుభాకాంక్షలు

Kensington park

2010-07-17T15:37:00.015-04:00

ఇండియా లో మూడు రోజులు సెలవలు కలిసి వస్తే చుట్టాలింటికి వెళ్తాము లేకపోతే ఎవరన్న మన ఇంటికి వస్తారు కబుర్లు సినిమాలు ,పనమ్మాయి రాక పోతే పనులు కళ్లుముసుకొని తెరిచేలోపే సెలవలు అయిపోతాయి .అమెరికా లో మూడు రోజులు కలిసివస్తే లాంగ్ వీకెండ్ అని చాల హడావిడి చేస్తారు.ముందుగానే ప్లాన్ చేసుకుని ఏదన్న ప్లేస్ చుసిరావటం ,లేదా దేగెర లో వున్నా ఫ్రెండ్స్ అందరు కలవటం చేస్తారు.
మేమిదరం (నేను మావారు ) తొందరగా బయటకు కదిలే రకాలం కాకపోటంతో మాకు హై ప్లాన్స్ వుండవు .ఏదో సింపుల్గా ముగిస్తాం .పిల్లలకోసం ఈసారి ఒకరోజు మొత్తం బయట గడపాలని డిసైడ్ చేసాము .మేము వుండేది మిచిగాన్ లో అవడం తో చాల నదులు సర్సులు వున్నాయి .మా దేగ్గెరలో కెన్సింగ్టన్ మెట్రో పార్క్ అని ఒక పెద్ద పార్క్ కి పిసినిక్ వెళ్ళాలని డిసైడ్ చేసాం.బులెమ్మకి,బులోడికి స్విమింగ్డ్రేస్స్లు కొన్నాం .

పులిహొర,దద్దొజనం ,పుచకాయ,జూసెస్ ,మంచి నీళ్లు, ఇండియా నుంచి తెచిన చాప ,పిల్లలు నిద్రపోతేపడుకొపెట్టటానికి మెత్తటి దుప్పటి ,అందరికి చలవ కళ్ళద్దాలు ,సుర్యరసిమి నుంచి రక్షణ కోసం సన్ బ్లాక్ క్రీం .మొత్తం బందోబస్తుతో తయ్యరయ్యాం .తమ్ముడు కానీ తమ్ముడు (తముడి ఫ్రెండ్) వస్తే తనని కూడా తీసుకొని బయలుదేరం.పార్క్ చాలా పెద్దది .నాలుగు వేల నలుగువందల ఎకరల విస్తిర్నంలొ కెంట్ లేక్ ,చిన్న ఫార్మ్,గొల్ఫ్ కొర్స్ ,నేచర్ ట్రైల్స్ ,ఫిషింగ్,బోటింగ్ ,పిక్నిక్ స్పొత్స్ థొ చాలా బాగుంది . ముందు పిక్నిక్ స్పాట్ లో సెటిల్ అయ్యి తరువాత ఈవెనింగ్ మిగతా పార్క్ చుడచు అని ముందు పిక్నిక్ స్పాట్ కోసం వెతికాము ,ఎందుకంటే పొద్దున్న పది అయిన ఎండా విపరీతంగా వుంది.

చక్కని చెట్టు నిడ దొరికింది , అందులొనూ నిళ్లకి దెగ్గరగా సామాను అక్కడపెట్టేసి పిల్లకి స్వింద్రెస్స్ వేసి చలొ నీళలొకి అనివెళ్లాం తీర చుస్తె నీళ్ళుమట్టిగా అనిపించాయి.సముద్రపు నీరు అయ్తె స్వచంగ బాగుండెది.కాని మా సిసింద్రిలు ఇద్దరు నీళ్లని చూసి తెగ సంబరపడిపొయారు. వాళ్ల ఉత్త్సహం చూసాక ఆపలెకపొయాం.ఫర్లెదు నిళ్లలొకి దిగినతరువాత అంత మట్టిగ లేవు ఒక గంట నిళ్లలొ ఆడి ఇసుక(అదేలెండి) తిన్నెలు కట్టి ,మళ్లి మా పిక్నిక్ స్పొట్ కి చెరుకొని పలహరం ముగించాం . ఆ చెట్లనిడలొ చాప మీద అలా నడుంవాలిస్తె ఆహ ఎంత హాయిగ వుందొ.

Lamhe

2010-07-02T16:13:00.007-04:00

చాలా రోజుల తరువాత తీరిగ్గా కూర్చొని చుసిన సినిమా "లమ్హే" .పాటలు నాకు చిన్నపట్టుంచి ఇష్టం కాని సినిమా చూడటం ఇప్పుడే.చాల బాగుంది.యష్ చోప్రా సినిమాలు బాగుంటాయి ,దాంట్లో కొత్తేమి లేదు కాని ఈ సినిమా బాక్సాఫీస్ హిట్ కాదుట.మ్యూజిక్ చాల చాల బాగుంది.పాట వింటే మది వీణను మిటినట్టు వుండాలి ,వినంతసేపు మరోప్రాపంచం గుర్తురాకూడదు .అదేచుసేటప్పుడు మనసును,కళ్లనుకట్టిపడేయాలిఅదే చేసారు యష్ చోప్రా .ఒక్కో పాట ఒక్కో ఆణిముత్యం ఆనంద్ భక్షి పదాలు ,లతా గారి గొంతులో ప్రాణం పోసుకున్నాయి .శ్రీదేవి ఎంత అందంగా వుందో చెప్తే అందం సిగ్గుపడుతుందేమో .
కధబాగుంది కాని అదిచేప్పిన తీరు ఇంకా బాగుంది .ఎడారి కూడా శ్రీదేవి వుంటే అంత అందంగా వుంటుందా అనిపిస్తుంది మనకి(రాజస్తాన్ ఎడారి )సినిమా చూస్తున్నపుడు .అనుపం ఖేర్ కూడా బాగా చేసారు .ప్రతి క్యారెక్టర్ ఒక శిల్పి చేతిలో ప్రాణం పోసుకున్న శిల్పంలామలిచారు ,చిన్న చిన్న డీటైల్స్ తో సహా .వాహిద రెహ్మాన్,అనిల్కపూర్ కూడా మెప్పించారు.
ప్రేమంటే మనసుకి సంబందించింది రూపానికి ,అవసారినికి,ఆకర్షణకి సంబంధం లేదని మరోసరే చెప్పకనే చెబుతుంది ఈ సినిమా .

Beauty of Spring

2010-05-10T16:31:00.009-04:00

My Cooking Expeiments(BAKING):)

2010-04-22T22:18:00.011-04:00

When it comes to cooking iam not an expert cook.....but after 6years of marriage still an experimenting cook(ofcourse 'experimenting' looks more fascinating than 'average') .In my husbands words no curry tastes the same way as it tasted the first time(once it is more salt..next time it is no salt ;))Whenever i try to experiment any new variety...he is sure to call in the lunch time and tell me that unexpextedly they are going for a team lunch...and he will not be able to come for lunch.In the initial days i thought poor guy he cannot taste the my new receipe.But it was poor me ...i never realised the team lunch was trick to escape my cooking.
Now i have 2 food testers at hand(my kids).......whatever i make they give their undisputed judgement.(either spit it or eat it.)There father has grown cleverer too.......he tries anything based on the judgement.
Now coming to my experiment i always wanted to make a cake.a simple ordinary cake.which i had a fancy since my childhood days.My aunt (fathers sister)used to make yummy cakes...but somehow it never worked out the same way in my house(my mother was an employee).So i always was eager to try my hand at it.When i came to US the first thing that made me happy was the oven we have here.after few days of settling down here the insect(caking baking)started biting me.As usual my husband was convinced that if once the baking process started i will start my experiments too.So when ever i bought the topic of getting the cakepan......he always used to convince me "why u want to take so much pains Rachana..in India v make cakes bcause v dont get fresh.Here in US u get huge number of varieties..and flavors why do u trouble ur self with baking .when u can get it from the shop.Dont strain yourself with the kid around..try to take rest".
With that discussion i would convince my self that i needed rest.
But u know the insect didnt keep quiet even if i wanted to....so one fine morning i borrowed a cakepan from my dear neighbour and began my adventure.I had the recipe from my aunt...by then i knew how to opertae the oven.i just mixed the ingredients and baked it.It was a disaster...i didnt knew i had to use a blender for the batter.i wanted to try again the next day before returning the pan.i tried again that was a blunder.then i understood the wise sayings of my saint husband and promised myself that i will not try baking again.
i have a cousin...who is a good cook.i happened to stay at her place few days........when i told her my story abt my cakebaking.........she was rolling with laughter.She showed me the actual procedure.........but i never dared to go into baking again.Yesterday........ie two years after my big promise......i bought a cakepan........ofcourse without my husbands knowledge.Today was the big day ............my childhood dream...my second eanings in baking came true.I had made the cake..(Bigthing being it was edible)I made the cake..........i wanted to go to the top of the building and shout i made it.My judges had given meA+.this was a crowning success.(i couldnt shout aloud.......thinking that might be lodged as nuissance case.)I am writing in my blog so that the "D"day is remembered (and celebrated by the coming generations!)
And some people are unhappy though.....thinking were my second eanings would take me too.

Acharyadevo bhava......

2010-04-17T15:06:00.008-04:00

Today after many days i was going through the newspaper...i read an article about a famous and one of my favorite poet Robert Frost.The author discussed the style of Frost..and listed his famous works.There was one particular poem i liked most.Actually i cannot help but remember my english teacher who had introduced me to poetry.
She was Ms.Padmavathi .And she taught us English.I think she was in love with that subject,bcause when she took the class she mesmerised us with her words and took the whole class into a trans.Never before we had that experience in learning something.And i believe a person who is heartfully involved into something can only achieve it.
We had a poem "The Road Not Taken"written by Robert frost in our sylabus.she took a class(40 min) only telling us about the author and his style.the next class was about the poem.she explained so beautifully that i have the picture of that poem still fresh in my mind.V always read about the author,but it was only as an answer to one of the questions...but she taught us that a poem is the identity of the poet.And i was so touched by the poem..the next i was in the class with a picture i painted about the poem.It was not a master piece......someeven laughed at it.But my teacher was all appreciation for it.I didnt want a praise.........but somehow the meaning of the poem touched me.That was the beginning...i started understanding or should i say trying to understand the poems....my love for lietrature started.Each lesson she told...each poem recited is so alive in my memory.She introduced me to many authors....Iam debted to her.I dont know after so many years if she remembers me.But i will always salute her in my heart.
I never knew a teacher could influence some one so immensly.we were 63 in our class.I dont know what the other 62 felt or understood.but to me it was a memorable journey with her.
Hats of teacher.Whereever you r and whatever you are doing now......i always remember u.I cannot forget the gift you gave me..the gift of knowledge.
The poem i was talking about is"The Road not taken"
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the tother, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy ans wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference.

మ్యానేజింగ్...........

2010-01-15T15:26:00.000-05:00

మొన్నామద్య్య ఈనాడు లో చదివినట్టు గుర్తు మ్యానేజ్మెంట్ ట్రైనింగ్ కి వేరే గురువు అవసరం లేదు పిల్లలే పెద్ద మ్యానేజ్మెంట్ గురువులు అని .నాకు ఇప్పుడు అది నిజం అనిపిస్తూంది నా పిల్లల్ని చూస్తుంటే. ఎన్నిసార్లు కిందపడ్డ మళ్లి సోఫా ఎక్కడం ఆపడు ఏది కావాలన్నా దొరికేదాకా ఊరుకోడు మా చిన్నోడు .మా అమ్మాయి తనకి ఇష్టం లేకపోతే భ్రమ్మ రుద్రులు వచ్చిన ఆ పని చేయదు .ఇంతకి చూస్తే వాళ్ళ వయసు ఒకరిడి సంవత్సరం ఇంకొకరిది రెండునర్ర ఏళ్ళు .వాల్లిదరిని మేనేజ్ చేయటం పెద్డ మ్యన్నేజింగ్ టాస్కే సుమా. మా వారు వుడికిస్తుంటారు నీకు వేరే ట్రైనింగ్స్ అవసరం లేదు రచనా నువ్వు ఇంట్లోనే వున్నా ని బ్రెయిన్ షార్ప్ గా ఉంచుతారు మన పిల్లలు అని .

2010-01-13T23:47:00.001-05:00

The other day i was watching a movie...and there was this particular dailogue that goes..."Marriage is the most wekest of all relations......bcause there is divorce to seperate married couples....but there is no such thing as to seperate brothers,sisters etc.,"
I dont know if there was aplause among the audience for the dialogue........but somehow i couldnt agree with it.
I always has the highest respect for the "Marriage"....may be many indian middle class girls(LADIES)r under the same impression..(Sorry i dont mean to hurt or point the people who dont come under this category......its simply that iam talikng abt the circle i know of).
Marriage brings two people from totaly differnt environments toghter under one roof for the lifetime.Isnt it great?Its the commitment two people have for one another.
Every relation is great.wheather its between 2 sibblings or a couple.Blood relations cannot be choosen....u cannot choose ur sibling....but u accept the person.u grow up with that person.if u cannot get along with each other...there is always a way u can stay diversified.But marriage means living toghter u cannot stay away from each other if ur ways dont match.Hence the concept of marriage comes with the divorce.Just bcause there is a concept of the divorce that doesnt make the concept of marriage weak .

The Auspicious....

2010-01-13T23:26:00.000-05:00

Previously i had the habbit of writiing a dairy.....as the years passed due to the many reasons....life became so busy that no time left for myself.not that iam a busy women or that i have so many responsibilities.....i have just become lethargic to take out the time for myself completing the other tasks quickly.
Leave abt the past from many days my hands r itching to write(should i say type)but today the day and time seems to be auspicious as thethought became the action.as the saying goes "there is no better time than the time u started the work"that must have been coined to suite people like me who keep procastinating things.
so i plan to write down my thoughts..dayto day things...something that will keep the pulse in me alive.some times v feel like expressing our thoughts.......but fear they may be weird or silly to the person v share with.and sometimes v have a differnt argument abt an issuue than our loved owns...v cannot always argue .thats where the concept of dairy comes into picture..v can be silly ,funny ,wierd and not be afraid of being judged.