Once upon a time....

Once upon a time-part II

2013-07-09T20:19:00.001+05:30

So as the name suggests-Its the sequel of my blog! After 4 yrs of complete hibernation and well-Life taking over life, am back again!

10:30pm in a quiet dark corner of the house- its like becoming a mom once again ( sans the pain thankfully). Am redelivering this blog.

So before you start imagining and rubbing your hands for some gossip in my life over the last 4 yrs-lets just say nothing in this post is going to make you "jump up and stop doing whatever your doing now". However if you still choose to continue reading- am not the one to blame (Was'nt that a pretty cool disclaimer!)

Lemme tell you--this is just a "WARMING UP" post. Just like you rub your hands with glee and anticipation before you eat that awesome butter chicken or wear that first (and maybe last) pair Jimmy choo shoes!

So last few years have been interesting- baby ( 3+ yrs now), got out of corporate glam life and well became an entrepreneur (I actually had to spell-check that word).

Life has been pretty much like a boomerang--the further to try and throw the life-the faster it comes back and harder it smashes your face. (Woah!! I swear that was an original- am already on a roll I say;-)

Its funny how we women spend the best 10 yrs of our lives trying hard to not be "Me" but everything else- a wife, a mother, a successful individual and we have finally got it all we struggle the rest of our lives trying hard to not be those things and find "Me".

I write as I think- pretty mindlessly and I am really ok with not thinking with the most accurate spellings or with the cleanest or nicest of thoughts or the kindest of words. I am ok not being a nice person sometimes.

So this post wasnt really about anything in particular but like I said --just a conversation with myself , a conversation to write everytime I have a smile on my face or everytime I want to have a smile on my face:-)

Watch this space- I'll be bouncing back soon!:-)

Maleopause...approaching 40!

2012-08-23T15:21:00.000+05:30

So yes..its been close to 3 yrs since I wasted my time writing on this page and others reading it...I think I have already done my due to the world economy by ensuring people are doing more productive work than reading this..(am an eternal optimist)...So now I am at it again!

So last three years life has come around a full circle- from homemaker to a busy job, followed by motherhood (shes 2.5 yrs old now), followed by being homemaker again and launch of own business (www.madefortots.com)! So yes 3 yrs older and 10 yrs wiser (ahem)...!

So last night was at dinner at a friends place and watching the husbands there forced (read inspired) me to start penning (is there such a word??) again!

So coming back to the topic of this post-Maleopause!--Yeah that exists as well! (and nope you are not going to find this word on google or wikipedia--some things are best left to imagination!)

So how the hell do you know or identify men that are going through - "Maleopause syndrome"-here are a few researched, observed, experienced insights that no magazine will tell you-- to be validated in a gathering with three or more men involved!

1) Wine, Women and work are the three areas of focus for the evening-read in that priority!
2) Atleast 20 minutes of the evening are spent discussing a young 20 something sexy lady hair-dresser (Yes hairdresser!!) with intricate and detailed description of her "amazing dressing style" (read:short and sexy)!
3) Another 10-15 minutes are spent discussing Old Monk (drink they have grown up with!)
4) Dancing in the Pubs is now considered a sport for women
5) From playing football/basketball, they claim to have graduated to more sophisticated sports like Golf (Read: anything that needs less energy!)
6) Career discussions are more philosophical than technical
7) They categorise giving and taking "gyan" from each other as having a "fun evening"! (Sigh!)
8) Cheap jokes (read rajnikant and santa banta jokes) actually have them in splits!
9) Their concept of late night means sleeping at 12:00am.
10) Eating light (read :Soup and Salad) is their first choice rather than last!

P.S: This is a work of pure imagination. Any resemblance to any character living or dead is purely intentional:-)

You know ur getting older...

2009-10-28T11:54:00.007+05:30

When...
1) Quite weekends at home mean potluck lunches with close friends...
2) You come back home from office in time to watch perfect bride...
3) Your concept of "late night" means you'v slept at 12pm..
4) You hunt for pubs on the weekend which play "retro music"...the kind you'v "grown up" to
5) You start replacing "I like to gym" with "I need to gym"....
6) 90% of the parties you attend are thrown by spouses or mothers and warrant the need to buy a gift...
7) You can easily put most of your friends into two categories.. "Housewives" or "bankers"...
8) Shopping for weekend groceries is categorised as "spending time together"....
9) You start shopping for clothes that "hide it" rather than "flaunt it"....
10) You have to "plan" and "block time" in advance for boys/ girls night out....
11) Going to a halloween party feels like the "event of the month".....
12) You eat maggie on weekends as a last option rather than the first one....
13) Your more worried about giving the maid's salary on time....rather than getting your own..
14) "Child friendly" is the criteria for selection of restaurants and travel destinations..
15) The key topics of telephone conversations is recipe discussions or stock market status.....
16) 75% of the photographs posted on facebook are about your kids and 95% of your status messages are about your family....
17) You describe getting sloshed over a few margarita's as having a "wild time"...
18) Celebrating a friends bday is not as simple as buying a cheesy, silly and funny archies card followed by a cheap treat anymore....
19) Your parents are more excited to see your kids than to see you....
20) On a Wednesday evening at work you can list down 20 bullets on getting old in less than 20 mins.....

Sigh, Sigh!

"UP" and "not so UP" side of life...

2009-08-11T12:53:00.003+05:30

I know I know...I was lost in a desserted Island for the last 2 months...had gone on a exploratory trip sailing on the South China sea and this being the Typhoon season the boat got swayed and took me to a desserted island where I lived off leaves, fruits and occasional caterpillars and worms for last 2 months!--Is that valid excuse for not blogging for last 2 months??:-))

So yes last week I saw "UP"...the 3d animated movie...and for all those who have a sweet tooth....you will loooveee this movie...its the sweetest movie EVER!!!....Its such a cuttieppiee movie...imagine....flying in your own house from one place to another???

Come to think of it--isnt this an absolutely brilliant idea that could kill the airline industry--ingenious must say:-))...So it must be clear by now that I absolutely adored the movie...and its highly recommended...MUST MUST SEE!

On the "not so UP" side...yesterday went to someone's house in HK who stayed in an area called "Peak"...for those uninitiated to HK its basically an area higher up from where you can see the HK skyline in all its glory. Needless to say even a 500 Sq feet apartment here could burn your pockets (HK is criminally expensive when its comes to housing AND EVERYTHING ELSE!)

Now going to the house was not the "not so UP" part..the house itself was the "Not so UP" part....close your eyes and imagine...a three storey house in HK, in peak...each storey atleast 1000-1500 sq feet...!!....Last 5 yrs since we moved to HK..I had forgotten the concept of space...some concepts lose importance because they appear unrealistic and space in HK is one of them....or so I thot!!

I was behaving like a child in Toysarus for the first time...capturing every inch of space in the house...like if I see it properly I may even be able to take a little space home with me!!!..Sigh!!

Needless to say--I am still VERY sad and depressed and angry...did I say VERY?...I actually feel like a "HAVE NOT"!!!...And yes all those who are going to pacify me with comments like "Its ok you have a good house too"..."The size doesnt matter, its the people who make the home"....DONT EVEN TRY!!

I have decided the only way to start feeling "UP" again is to tie tonnes of balloons to this house and fly away in it...so if you notice a three storey something tied to balloons...wave out...and I just might take you "UP" with me!:-)

I am not done yet!!!

2009-05-27T09:50:00.003+05:30

They say automation makes life simpler....I say it makes you a slave...rules your life...takes away every little piece of control that you might have left and leaves you helpless!

HK is infested with great malls which have even greater toilets....needless to say all these are "Automated flush toilets" ....that have an inane ability to sense what your upto in the 4 closed walls..or so they claim!!..

And am sure these toilets have been made by a man....coz their sensing abilities are completely senseless....So heres how they work...everytime there is a slack period after a "downloading activity"....the sensor uses its "shitbrains" and assumes it time to create a tsunami on your turf... which means it keeps flushing even when one is sitting on it!!!!.....ggrrrrr....What the F***...u senseless thing....cant you see...I AM NOT DONE YET!!

The last part where I want to give up control in my life is when and how I want to clean my turf (read ass)--its a shitty power struggle indeed and am gonna fight tooth and nail to keep control over my turf!

Needless to say--no more senseless sensing toilets for me!!...I am done with these mindless quirks made for the lazy asses....I am now on the hunt for toilets in HK which do not take away the control from your life....only the shit from it!

and yes...I AM DONE NOW!

Hubby Dear....in 15 bullets...A Wifes Perspective:-)

2009-03-02T11:15:00.007+05:30

So now I thot it might be a good idea to create a sequel of me in 15 bullet pts...and a natural sequel would be 15 bullets on Hubby....

So...Here it goes...

1) His idea of a perfect day is to get up at 10:00am...10:10am sit on the sofa....10:10pm get up from sofa....10:15pm go to sleep on bed...

2) His likes to believe he is an Atheist...his definition of atheist is...he doesnt believe in praying to god...but sees no harm (in fact subtly hints) in me praying on his behalf....

3) His idea of a perfect evening is to watch Nat geo/ Discovery and see how to survive in the scariest places in the world by eating insects and cockroaches....specifically during dinner time...

4) He once ran away with his elder bro from boarding school only to be caught in the bus and taken to task...

5) He cannot multi-task. He is a man. He believes cooking and talking are too strenous too handle together...

6) His idea of pampering is to be a 1 yr old...he expects me to wake him up with a cuddle, brush his teeth, feed him, bathe him, make his wear clothes, comb his hair, put cream and put him back to sleep....have I missed out anything in a daily routine?

7) He favourite way of spending quality time with me is to watch a squash match on laptop with Chinese commentary (to help him improve his squash)...and complaints if I indicate I am not interested...with a "How can you not watch this"...

8) He starts reminding me atleatst 4 mths before, that his Bday is due "soon"...and still cannot hide the joy on his face when he gets surprise gifts from me....he doesnt want gifts..merely enjoys them:-)

9) If he could take away one word from the dictionary...that would be "No"...

10) His favourite romantic line is ...."So what are the three things you like about me?"...

11) He is a strong believer in "lead by example"....in all the dinner parties hosted by us where he is the cook...he is the first one to compliment his own dishes....:-)

12) His only requirement for a good house is a walk-in closet and a walk-in library!

13) He is a romantic at heart and his idea of romance is to discover newer types of kisses with wife...Fishy kissy, butterfly kissy, cheeky kissy...etc...

14) He is cute enough to read bedtime stories to his wife...and apologise if her if he hasnt read to her for a while...

15) If lost on an island and allowed to take only 3 things...he would probably take a book, his ipod, his NIKON DSLR.... and a bag of chocolates.....and maybe his laptop, and his PS3, and his iphone, and his LCD TV etc....:-)

p.s: Amen.

Me..in 15 random bullets...

2009-02-27T21:39:00.007+05:30

1) I am a girl but wish I was a boy...almost always...and yes the reasons are what you can predict...I wld love to have a penis to be able to pee anywhere, I think an adams apple is sexy, men have cute butts..almost all...and I prefer cute butts to sexy ones.... I detest feminists more than chauvinists (sue me) and yes I can almost always be assured of good sex....reasons enugh i believe...

2) I have a fetish for cold ears....As a kid I used to play with mom's cold ears...and now hubby is the victim...I have no other "wierd things" about me......

3) I HAVE to eat Goodday biscuits..line by line...coz as a kid I believed that thats why they have lines...I believed that was a intelligent guess...I am not a kid anymore....but that belief still remains....and yes...I have no other "wierd things" about me....

4) I miss three yrs of Blore probably more than any other phase in life...the time when I really lived my life for the first time.....and became me....it was a city of firsts for me...my first job, first fling, first love, first drink, first kiss. first salary, first rent paid, .....even though i wasnt born here....I still have a umbilical chord with blore....

5) I genuinely believe that my left foot is smaller than my right...no footwear store agrees with me....but am sure am right....why otherwise wld every shoe feel tighter on my right feet??

6) I am obsessed with checking the gas knobs and geysers at night..am OCD...I genuinly believe that even though I have closed them and checked them and rechecked them....they can mysteriously turn themselves on at night when am asleep and create havoc in the house...Did i already mention....I have no other "wierd things" about me?

7) Its been only 2 songs in my life so far that have got me sooo obsessive and excited...."Amazing" for the lyrics...and the most recent..."I wish I was a punkrocker" for the voice...Kishore Kumar i think was highly overated....rahet fateh ali khan and kailash kher I want to hear with my eyes closed and without any music....anyday...

8) The perfect romantic evening I have had has been the night in Jaisalmer...sitting in the dessert next to the bonfire...camels in the background....listening to sufi musicians live...it just couldnt feel any better for me...just couldnt....

9) If I could change my profession today....I would probably be a movie director....and maybe direct Nandita das...she is what I define as beauty....probably the most beautiful lady on screen today....and yes If I did became a man....thats who I wld go after...

10) I have probably grown wilder as I get get older....A tattoo on my shoulder, skydiving from 12000 ft, learning guitar at 30....all I need is flowers in my hair and a cycle....and I am ready to rock the 70's...

11) The biggest lesson I have learnt in the past few yrs of my life is...."Hold on to your relationships...but dont run behind them.."..its a thin line...and I am still defining the line...but I'll get there someday....

12) The best bhestest candy for me will always be phantom cigarettes...I have been hunting for them in every trip to India...last 5 yrs...but havent found them...I remember as a kid...pretending to smoke phantom cigarettes as thats what being sexy was all abt....and now...when I can smoke a ciggarette if i really wanted...I still prefer phantom ciggarettes....my original idea of sexy....some fantasies never die..

13) My idea of a perfect existence wld be to live the life of a gypsy..i guess with every different place its almost like a clean slate...the feeling of starting all over again....its like ur almost beating the law of nature....who says u cant unwind life...uh?

14) My fav quote is.."May you live in interesting times"....I think this more than anything else defines the uptopia of life for me....

15) I am 30...but i feel like 18...and the idea of an orgasmic life would be to die at 60 as a 30 yr old...

And life moves on...

2008-12-09T13:36:00.005+05:30

So whats new?...every 4 mths some young men with either guns or bombs come along...kill a few indians and walk off...Happy....And we Indians...we dont care...coz really...as long as "I am alive and my family is alive...well too sorry for the others..they couldnt survive"...isnt it?

They say its a sin to commit a crime...but even worse to let it happen...and no am not talking about the terrorists/ millitants..whatever you call them...Am referring to our very own politicians....terrorists come and kill 300 of us in a day and walk off....but the numbers that are dying becoz of our politicians EVERYDAY goes much beyond that.....

The very fact that we have lost 300 of our people on 26/11 itself goes to say how much bigger an enemy is living day in and out in our own country in the name of these politicians....our own politicians who have no conscience and soul left in them....and inspite of repeated attacks in the country have never bothered to do ANYTHING AT ALL about it....

Last 50 yrs we have sat and watched one politician after another come and stab our wounds again and again to such an extent that I daresay , the damage to india has been permanent....if anyone who is responsible for the death of these 300 innocent people...yes it is the terrorists, it is the politicians and even more it is us...

We cannot stand and blame anyone else for this but us...we choose to be destroyed...we seem to want to be destroyed...its like wer asking for mercy killing....maybe we dont deserve any better than this...coz we Indians have been too selfish..way too selfish to stand up and fight for our brothers and to change things...

And the politicians--maybe u havent got this message straight....but let me give it a shot....but ur not kings...but servants!!....ur here to serve us and to make us happy...as crude as that....thats who you are ...And I do sometimes wonder what are these politicians made of and even more so..what are their families made of???....How can they all eat and drink so happily with money that comes from the blood of others....?

So we raised a big hue and cry...and to show that changes happen... now the politicians change..the old ones have escaped all accountability safely, new ones are happy to be the new kings in the indian system and we indians have got ourselves labelled "fools" again!...congratulations India Shining!!

Shame to them and Shame to us.

And yet we announce proudly...Mumbai moves on...oh yes it does..with shame and disgrace.

Bondalina!

2008-11-17T07:13:00.002+05:30

and nope thats not a sequel of the famous thumbelina fairy tale...though maybe that would have actually been a better choice to watch! Am referring to the much talked about and awaited....bond movie...Quantum of Solace....

So this has got nothing to do with the fact that I watched the movie from second row seat at 10:00pm on a thursday (thx to Hubby dear)...but someone pray tell me...was this a Bond movie or a sequel of Spiderman (sans the web!)....

I mean...to me a bond movie has always been about the Car and sexy gadgets...which are the USP of bond...coz take these 2 things out and really whats so different abt bond movies than any other action movie????

And of course its been about hot men...(brosnan was the man for me)....but well the definition of hot really varies for men and women as far as I am concerned...while a "pout" might look hot on Jolie...but a pouty Mr bond....err....where the hell did that come from???????? (I know tonnes of women are actually swooning over craig...but puhhllessss....a pouty bond????)

Mr Director were we trying to create a bondaviva here or a Bondalina??....

And of course..I assume there was good action in the movie...("assume" u ask?)....Well yes coz inspite of sitting on the second row I still could not make out any shit that was happening in all those action scenes....

The movie starts with a car chase and the first 10 min...all you can see is the camera moving all over and then bam!...bond is out safe and sound...hmmm...so really what did happen there.....am assuming Bond flashed his famous pout to the goons and they couldnt help but fall off the cliff??:-)....

And not to mention the fact that Mr bond has beaten spidy hallow (my most favouritest superhero)...coz while spidy struggles to get into this spidy outfit everytime he needs to get into the act and spins a web to jump across buildings.....our very own bondalina doesnt need any of it....jumping across rooftops without a web is his forte....Hail Bond!

And did only me and Hubby dear notice this or are there others as well...probably the first bond movie where bond doesnt sleep with the Bond girl...????...ooh I get it...thats becoz Bondalina was tooo busy mourning the loss of Lady Bond in version 1...sigh...bond in louve!

In a nutshell...this movie feels like a remixed version of the old classics- a bad one at that!
And to me....if I am yearning for a Bond movie....quantum of Solace just doesnt wet my appetite...connery/ brosnan ur still the bond guys for me!

And next time Mr bond..can we puhhlllesss see less pout and more gadgets...I mean...not everyone is a jolie fan pls!

Abode

2008-09-10T08:06:00.005+05:30

I said in one of my previous post--I "want" to move..but I dont "need" to...I was wrong!

My landlord called 2 weeks back and asked us to pay higher rent or move out.....the choice was obvious...so we started hunting for a "bigger" apt with sea-view....After 5 days of ordeal we finally found "a" house...wont say its still "the" house...in Hong Kong..the concept of "the" house is non-existant...moving into a 100sq ft larger apt makes us feel like we'v finally "arrived"!

Anywayz...so yes..its a full sea-view apartment...(and for those who are gasping)...sea-view apt in HK is not as much a premium as Bombay or elsewhere--becoz HK is made of Islands..there is water everywhere! So Yes we are paying 50% higher rent..for a slightly bigger place...and we thought finally the nightmare is ok....we can now do the house well and make it a humble abode!!

Spoke too soon..the nightmare has only just begun....its an empty apartment...which means all the furniture needs to be made...which is quite a nightmare in HK....becoz most local furniture guys dont understand English!!!

We will be living out of cartons for a while till the furniture arrives...but come to think of it..wont be that bad...for once I can throw my clothes on the floor without feeling guilty...cant remember the last time I did that!!!!

Hubby is gonna be so proud of me for that....So heres to 3 weeks of messy me!!!:-)

Move Over Bollywood..Farhan's here!

2008-09-03T09:35:00.010+05:30

So I assume most of you "normal" people must have watched "Rock On" already...for those who havent...my sincere condolences...

Ok..so when women reach 30(and women touching the 30 mark, pls say 'yay'), they dont look for "crushes" anymore...nah nah..wer way to elite for that!..Ahem...So at 30 most of the fairer sex start looking for what I call a target for "mature leching"....and finally Rock On (thankfully)...has given us deprived women that target... "FARHAN AKHTAR"...

Ok so...whats the difference...well while for a naive 20 yr old Farhan might appear "Hot and cute and sexy"...for us hes well...quite.."Adonic", "Stylist" and maybe even "Adorable"....ahem!...use of words like Hot, Sexy, Cute might be well..err..quite "Non-happening"!

So the comments that we 30 yr olds give are usually very well cushioned and one needs to really lip-read to understand what they actually mean....for example...

"Hmm hes aging quite well" -(34 and still so hot!!)
"Didnt he look really appetizing?... (I could eat him up!)
"awww..hes such an adorable guy"...(I know I was marrying the wrong person..Always knew!)
"His voice is so "exciting"!...(What a turn-on!!)

And of course Farhan Akhtar deserves all these comments and even more...he's proved u dont have to do 10 films to "grow as an actor"...either u have it or u dont...Hes a natural charmer!

And If I relook at my "Hit-list of men"- Farhan is high, even higher on it! (NOPPPPEEE--Hit list is not the list of men you want to kill!!!...ah...naivveee!!--u dont need a list for that...do you?) . For the uninitiated ..the hit-list is actually the "Hot-List"-men ur allowed to get naughty with (Yes this is another critical element of the "mature leching" syndrome)

So Farhan...enjoy being on the "Hit-List" of 30 yr olds...till we find another target:-))

p.s:- What the heck...hes what I call total lech material--HOT!!!!
:-)))))))

TGIF

2008-08-29T15:22:00.005+05:30

Yes its finally here...I think the only think I pray for more than Fridays these days is Typhoon....Typhoon in HK means a free holiday...

Ok I think this is going to be one of those posts where u reach the end and wonder..what was the point of this post anywayz.......but then after working like an ass 5 days a week for last 6-7 years if you still havent realised that its all pointless anywayz....then u need therapy...u do!

And not that there is any Kick-ass weekend planned...but what the hell , its TGIF anywayz...!..So am starting the weekend with a few drinks at Hubbys office --yes there have a bar kinda thing where on fridays people choose to hang ard with office people even though the week is officially over! (I told u there are enugh weird people in the world....)

So the drinks will be followed by a sexy , cozy, romantic dinner date with Hubby in a new french restaurant we have discovered (plus am wearing a pretty ZARA dress today which deserves a good restaurant) and will end with a silly movie called "Made of honor"....

The next few weeks will be eventful...Hubby is off to Brazil for 2 weeks on work!!...( I mean who the hell does that....go to brazil on work?????????????).....So I also parallely take off to bangkok for work....

Wanting to shift to a new house...a bigger apartment...no we dont "really" need one..but If I say I am bored of the current one isnt that reason enugh??...House hunt last week was pretty dissapointing...I mean how much choice can you have moving from one pigeon hole to another...oh of course...pigeon hole with better woodwork or maybe an extra cupboard...that makes up for the psychotic rents...doesnt it?

Am this time not compromising on a full sea-view apartment..AM NOT!!....

Listening to Jagjit Singh in Office now...its 6:10...weekend official starts...NOW!

The Misery of Names...

2008-08-13T14:58:00.008+05:30

This topic really came from the recent baby boom that has been around us....coz presumably we have reached (or rather already crossed) the age by which we should have adorned parenthood!(ouch...ok so I have nearly revealed my age with that one...or are you guys smart enugh to figure that?:-)

So obviously all our school, college and other peer mates are now either already with little "babies or babas" or getting there or well trying to get there...phew!...(just writing this is exhaustive...imagine actually being in it!!)

And so with one such potential parents we were having a random discussion on names and how the types of names has evolved over the period of time.....and to me there seem to be four broad phases of this evolution:

1) The "lata/mati/Bala/veer/Kar/Kumar/Bhanu phase:- Simply refers to the phase where parents actually believed in the "2 in 1" system...where the one name in effect had 2 potential names hidden...so one could pick and choose what to call the person....Example names like Charu-lata, Madhu-mati/mita, Chandra-bala/Surya-veer/Chit-bhanu...yes these are real names...dont laugh...!

2) The "Mahabharat/ Mythological Phase":- Refers to the 90's and even early 2000 Gen...where after the Mahabharat/ Ramayan onslaught on TV every parent believed they were giving birth to a potential "Arjun" or "Abhimanyu"...so kids with names which were not of sanskrit origin or had a "larger than life meaning"were literally items of sympathy....sigh...(pls pls god let Ekta have some sanskrit connection...!)

3) The "Unique Phase":- This has been a more of a epidemic than SARS I think...anything that has been heard or seen before is a taboo...so names have emerged starting with letters that were unimaginable...the uniquer the better...heard of Kimara, Oas, Titli, Pal(hindi moment)..I think the Ad agencies can take a creative streak from the Gen X parents!

4) The "2050 phase:- These are the parents who either believe that the names in the world have become extint and very soon they will have to figure out other "objects/ things" to take inspiration for names....or they genuinely believe that very soon earth will exist no more and we all will need to shift bag and baggage to Mars and one of the pre-requisite for that is to have names that suit only aliens...so names based on objectives "Durex, Zero (I swear these two are actual names I have heard in HK) Apple, Peach,Pen, Pax , Avil or Posedemi(whatever that means) etc!

God save the kids of the Next gen....they know not what they'r getting into...err..or rather getting "Out" into!

Why O Why??...

2008-07-21T08:23:00.005+05:30

They'r probably the only people in the world who have the power to make you feel a million bucks or plain shit....the power these people have is something that even they havent fully understood!

Even the biggest and baddest men in the world have to sit in front of them with their heads bent and have to be at their mercy!

Yes...am talking about the Hairdressers, stylists or barbers...as you may choose to call them!!!

I almost get sleepless night a day before and after I visit a parlour in Hong kong!!...I mean this place is suppposed to be a mecca for fashion in Asia....then why the heck cant I find a single good parlour out here?????????????

Last 3 years EVERYTIME...read EVERYTIME...I have gone to a parlour in Hong Kong, they have done everything possible to ensure that I step out of the parlour looking like "MOWGLI"!!

URRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cant imagine why...why the local hairdressers have obsession to "flatten" your hair soo much and the concept of "Volume" in hair just doesnt seem to exist!(ok men this might be too technical for u..but nevertheless!)..They JUST....DONT...UNDERSTAND NON CHINESE HAIR!!..it sucks!
Yesterday despite my heart not wanting..I went to visit a so to say "highly recommended parlour" coz I desparately needed a cut (according to Hubby....who simply cant understand why any women would want hair longer than a boycut!!)..And needless to say...I am yet again .."MOWGLI" today.....

Only thing left to do is walk around in cheetah undies and jump around the banayan tree veins... singing..."Jungle Jungle Baat chali hai ..Pata chala hai..Chadi Pahan ke Phool khila Hai!"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO here I come!

Lethargy..

2008-06-30T14:38:00.003+05:30

at its all time best today...just when it shouldnt be...Its the evil Monday today!

Had a grt weekend...packed with activities..ate a lot on Sunday...went for sexy Indian brunch....

I think all that eating yesterday is catching up today....my reactions are usually belated anywayz...feeling terribly lazy and sleepy....

Monday's should actually be half-day...you need atleast half a day to get over the weekend....I mean when the hell do you rest??....Weekdays you work...weekends you party...

I need sleep....and maybe a jacuzzi again today, ice-cream and maybe end with a massage....

Am blabberring...

hmm aaahmmm

2008-05-19T13:55:00.004+05:30

Good--Its Monday...some work got done...big shit off my head...

Bad--Havent had time to do any Blogging last few weeks....

Ugly--Being surrounded by people who are rude, insensitive, dumb, stupid, uninspiring, social loafers...all in one!!!

Good--Parents-in-Law were here for 3 months...and yes I survived through it...hehehe (that was a sly mean one:-))

Bad--Shoulder Pain still there--and now lower back is adding to my bane too

Ugly--Why is the Damn Sun still hiding behind the silly coulds even in the thick of may...what ever happened to those nice bright sunny days and my lovely summer dresses!!!

Good-- Am off from this madness away from two weeks to Toronto in June to see my best friend...Yuppiieee!!

Bad--Discovering am not a musical prodigy after all...my guitar skills suck

Ugly--My thighs..which forever keep expanding inspite of all the gym...Damn being older!!!

Sigh!

Deprived childhood

2008-04-08T14:50:00.010+05:30

Taking a cue from my last post...I have decided to write this post...which will give you tips on.."How do you know if you have had a deprived childhood?"...

So that those who have been victimized by the "deprived childhood syndrome"...u know its high time you sit down an have a serious..."Why did u do this to me" discussion with ur parents....

So here it goes....You know you have had a deprived childhood if...

1) If you have been eating Maggi in any form other than the simple(without veggies and with masala only) version!

2) If as a kid you have not collected the "tarzan series" of stickers inside cover of pepsi bottles.

3) If the first TV at home was a "Colour TV" and not a "black and white"one...

4) If "foreign chocolates" were always stocked in your fridge rather than a rare treat (bought by rare uncles/aunts staying in "America") and something which you would eat little little bit by bit everyday!

5) If you started going on "field trips to other cities" in school rather than 'picnics" to hanging garden/Gateway!

6) If you had more than 2-3 "special clothes" to be worn only at birthday parties (or if u went for any parties other than birthday parties!)

7) If non-school days meant anything other than playing non-stop from 12:00 noon to 7:00 in the evening--and lagori, ludo, stapoo, ghar-ghar or cricket being the main "events" of the weekend.

8) If atleast once in childhood you didnt try to run away from home(becoz life seemed "unfair"),or u got lost (probably coz u were too busy noticing toys in the market), or stole money from parents (to buy that new chocolate uv being eyeing)

9) If you did not have your own personal "treasure" collection which included things like shells, old coins, stones, beads, sticker...

10) If you and your sibling had separate rooms which you could call "your own".

Little joys of growing up...were so much more "joyous" in our times...when I look at kids now...growing up with PS3, DVDs, and Cartoon network...it feels like they are being deprived of their true "childhood"....

Thank god for giving me a 'not so deprived" childhood!!

Maggi?

2008-04-07T15:09:00.003+05:30

What is the Best way to eat Maggi noodles???????

Tell me..tell me!

Option 1 :- Simple and plain..without veggies..and only using the Masala in the pouch...in its native flavour!(SMACK!)

Option 2:- Adding onions, tomotoes, peas..etc etc tonnes of veggies over and above whats given in the pack??

Tell me Tell me!

p.s:- Those choosing option 2 need to go to "Maggi Etiquette course"--clearly they have had a deprived childhood if they have enjoyed maggi in its "fake" version!

PMS-Post dedicated and inspired by Hubby dear

2008-03-18T09:42:00.003+05:30

Yes I am referring to Pre/Post Menstrual syndrome....and yes it apparantly does exist!

There are two types of people in the world....those that suffer from PMS (no not the women...was actually talking about men..since its they who suffer from women's PMS) and those on the other side of the world who actually have PMS (thats women for you--and yes thats exactly why I have been lobbying that we should be thankful for the ones having PMS and not suffering from it..world again feels like such a wonderful place:-))!!!)

I belong to the latter category!

Ok so for all the medical researchers who want to study this syndrome--I am your ideal candidate-yes indeed...according to Hubby dear I display (or have displayed) usually most symptoms associated with this syndrome...irritation, anger, depression...In Fact I may have even invented a few not listed by them!

And am sure Hubby Dear would love me for coming up with this phrase...but he genuinely believes that for me PMS means"Psycho Mannerisms Start"!..Ahem

In fact so much so...that Hubby Dear had religiously put in an Alarm on his cell close to my due date which stated...."Psycho behaviour begins"!....Red Alert!

So now I finally have found my purpose in life...to save you men folks of the world.....And to reduce your sufferings(feeling very holy)...all you men folk will start believing I am their messiah...coz of what I am about to tell you.... for men like Hubby who dont have a choice but to live with the Psychoness of women in this time here are "tried and tested" 6 cardinal rules on how to handle it....

1) Usage of the word "OK" if increased during this phase to EVERYTHING that your women says will reduce the chances of u getting battered and bruised!

2) NO FEEDBACK--Read NEGATIVE feedback at this time can be "Constructive"--so unless you have something "Nice" to say to her and about her...SHUT UP!

3) Any Suggestion/ opinions etc at this point of time can be strictly avoided! So what if she asks for your opinion? For the inexperienced lot--this is how you handle it--Ask her for her opinion-"Am still thinking honey--what do u think?" And then whatever she says--follow Rule number 1--OK!!

4) Touching on "sensitive" topics like "Her weight, her parents, her cooking, her hairstyle..etc" can not just prove dangerous but fatal..steer clear!

5) This is however the catchy one--behaving too sweet or romantic or "over" pampering her can make you appear "unnatural"(please note..."over pampering is unnatural--pampering is advisable..in fact mandatory).
However even worse would be if you start ignoring her! Giving undue attention to your "true love" (again...notice the focus on true love) which is gadgets like PS3( ahem..refer to previous post), laptops, sports channels during this time can simply mean--Ur digging your own grave!

Only the smart and experienced ones can strike the right balance (read..with enough practice and bruises!)

6) Stopping her from doing anything ( read 2 exceptions are murder and suicide) ...by statements like "Why do you need more clothes/ shoes/bags..dont you have enough?", "I think you should stop eating so much chocolates--its beginning to show"....means your either genuinely and really really stupid or you love pain-sadistic bugger!

Like I said...these are time tested and proven theories--no women can dispute these and no man can disprove these--So men you can touch my feet now--the Mystery is solved!

P S:- Even after following the above 6 religiously if the Psycho behaviour continues...please note you are stuck with a actual Psycho........RUUUNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man and PS3

2008-03-03T16:06:00.004+05:30

Last mth for the first time in my life I struck lucky!

I won a sony Ps3 in lucky draw in a official annual dinner...(am beaming...what a win!)...and yes I was happy...not so much abt the PS3 as I was abt the fact that even I have a lucky streak in me...yeaaahheeee!!!

Hubby dear was obviously happier coz he almost thought we had a new addition to our family...(he hugged me as if I had literally delivered a baby...teary eyes...hanky pls)!!

At night on weekend after the PS3 has been set-up and games bought....(Hubby has already been on the pS3 for almost 2 hrs)....

Me:- Am going to sleep...
Hubby:- Baby dont go to sleep, come and play with me
Me:- No, I dont know how to play
Hubby:- No problem I will teach you, come sit with me
Me:- Ok give me the console, let me try
Hubby:- NO, you first watch me for sometime , learn and then play
Me :- (After 30 minutes)Can I play now?
Hubby:- Am just about to go to the next level...after this u play...
Me:- (30 min later)Now Can I play?
Hubby:- Why dont you tell me which direction to go in..cant find the way out!
Me:-After 10 minutes ...(zzzzzzzzzzz...flat on sofa)

Next night...Hubby with PS3 once again....

Me :- Am going to sleep(angrily)
Hubby:- No baby, dont go to sleep, come play with me
Me:- I dont want to (more angrily!)
Hubby:- Why?????????
Me:-Coz I still dunno how to!! (even more angrily!)
Hubby:- Why??? You played na yesterday??
Me :- DID I??????????? (Given up!)

Hubby Dear....sitting next to u...while u hold the console, u decide the game strategy and u decide EVERYTHING else...does not qualify me as a "player"!!

Men!!!!!!!

Am free...free falling now.....

2008-02-15T18:39:00.005+05:30

Sky Diving...12000ft...New Zealand, Lake Wanaka.....December 2007!

Surreal!!

Stars on Earth...!

2008-01-09T19:31:00.000+05:30

Its been a while since anything has got a lump in my throat....

But this did...didnt realise when that sly tear slipped away from my eyes on my cheeks....was too engrossed not in the movie...but just the whole feel of it...

Yes I am talking about Taare Zameen Par..

For those who havent seen it yet....you can miss any other movie...any other "super star" or whoever else you worship.....u cant..possibly cant miss this one...u just cant!

I am not a parent...but more than any serials or good parenting books.....this movie has taught me...what a good parent is all about....and what a child is possibly all about....rather reminded me what I possibly once was...

The great part about the movie is that...its not the story about a dyslexic child..but probably any other child.....the message is not that a dylexsic child is special but that every child is special.....I mean what better title could there have been than..."taare zameen par"..they'r like little
stars...on earth!

Ishaan is a child....and thats the only compliment I can give him....probably one kid who hasnt lost his innocence yet....his bug-tooth, crazy hair, scary scrowns...everything is adorable...screaming out..."U cant help but love me"!...

To me the priced moments in the movie were Aamir khans first meeting with parents...moment where Ishaans parents leave him in boarding for first time, the scene where Aamir khan talks abt "care" and the fab example of solomon islands...(the dialgoues could have killed anyone!!!)...and the icing on the cake was clearly the last scene where Ishaan sees his own painting(the expression on his face is unbeleivably believable) and the moment where he gets the prize and runs to aamir....the feeling of..finally I have done something right!!...Woah!!

Critics can say all they want but I couldnt think of anything that could have been better in the movie...or anyone for that matter!...

Taare Zaameen par is an Outstanding work of Cinema....its a movie that is not looking for oscars or awards but looking to genuinly change people's mindset...make better parents and hopefully better teachers....

Aamir Khan has proved innumerous times before.....he's a great actor...and maybe with this movie...even that hes a director in a different league...a gifted storyteller....and none of the bhansalis / johars/chopras can come anywhere close....but the fact is any good director could have made a child movie...but only a good parent could have made Taarey Zameen Par!!

Hats off to the entire team of TZP for giving the children a ray of hope!!

Jingle Bell Time:-)

2007-12-12T18:36:00.000+05:30

Its Jingle Bell times again...:-)

Yes its that time of the year again... everything just feels so much sweeter and everyone just so bearable (Just for a while though).....its red and white time again...time to jingle ur bells:-))

Love the whole feel and excitement around Xmas...there is something distinctly exciting about this time of the year...of course besides the point that work comes to a complete standstill...something about the whole festive feel...

I especially love HK during Xmas...more so than any other place (or so I'd like to believe)....lovely decorations all around....all bright and colourful and very tastefully done....In fact the first yr of my Xmas in HK is even bought two small stuffed reindeers and duly named them.."santa and banta"...(aint I clever??)

Especially love Xmas coz of Santa Claus... Santa to me always meant(and still does) this big cute fat tummy grandpa who was almost like a life sized teddy and who even at the age of..(ok I dunno his age..but whatever)...can wear a bright red and white outfit could give you a nice gift in socks, was sooo fulll of energy...was almost like an angel who would make all your dream and wishes come true, give you whatever you want!!

And as much as I might want to refrain myself I cant help creating a wishlist for santapa to fulfill....so santapa here's my wishlist...(Will also be put in my socks on 24th night and this is only coz u absolutely insisted that I have a list!!)

1) I get up in the morning with an hourglass figure and the good part has yet to come!!!...No matter what crap I eat the hour glass is untouched without ANY exercise....sigh..sigh..sigh!!!

2) That all the people u dont like around u have suddenly dissapeared and all your favourite people are with u:-))

3) I won a lottery/prize and that all my travel for the rest of my life to any part of the world has been taken care of.....!

4) From beginning of next yr I get up every morning and have a new hairstyle...(am a style diva)!!

5) I get my current salary simply to be on rolls of the company--I get paid over and above this if I "choose" to work!!

And of course I still sleep on 24th night hoping that in the morning I will see a BIG present with a tag saying "with love to his favourite girl...from Santapa":-) (anyone listening)????....

Whatever it be....Santa for me still very much exists and dont think an Xmas spirit can be complete without jingle bells in the background....without an xmas tree loaded with gifts....without loads of hope and wishes....and without a nice hug from Santa pa!

Merry Xmas to all ya people and dont forget to put up your socks!;-)

The Housewife Vacation ends!!

2007-11-10T13:48:00.000+05:30

Yes finally the Housewife vacation ends....sigh!!

I have found a job...and the corporate grind begins in just about a day....I start work on Monday...

I have been looking for the right job for a while and now that I seem to have found it...am not sure if I am feeling happy or well just a little sad....for whether u like it or not....after sometime..."the feeling of doing nothing" can just take over you and well u kinda start enjoying being lazy and lethargic!!

And yes I am gonna miss my routine....getting up at 10...then gymming and late lunch...followed by afternoon TV and then a evening walk....well now that I look back....its wasnt that bad...eh??;-))

So as the new days begins it brings with it.....a new hope for a new phase, new excitement and some new adventures in life.....and yes hoping the interesting times continue!.....

La La time...

2007-10-17T12:28:00.000+05:30

What is la la time u ask?...

Well its that time in everyones life when we all test the musical geniuses in us...(rather the existence of it!!)

Ahem!..so I finally started with my first guitar class last week.....and I made sure I kept reinforcing to Hubby dear atleast a few weeks before the class that the world would now see a new "prodigy".....and yes I genuinely believed I was one!!

And yes I entered my first class with a list in my mind of all the songs I wld learn to play in less than a month....prodigy that I was!!

I have been practising and trying to play for 4 -5 days now....And what have I been playing?

Well...no not hotel california....but "do re me fa..." for almost 4 days now...and er....am "almost" getting there!!...

My fingers are hurting...the shoulder is paining and hands are numb....and "Do re me" doesnt sound anything like it yet....:-(

But well er....who says prodigies were born in 1 day....am getting there....."almost":-))