Going A-Musing

The Haiku Challenge 2012 - Day 1 - What is Life?

2012-02-01T18:07:00.000+05:30

On Saravana's invitation, I decided to participate in the Haiku Challenge. This means I must be faithful and post every day from February 1 to February 29 - that's 29 Haikus in 29 days. Wish me luck, friends. Encourage me :-) I am more used to writing limericks and other funny verse.

So here goes - Day 1

What is life?

Sometimes I wonder

What my life is all about

“Love” whispered my soul

Image courtesy thinkpositive30.com

Day 1 – February 1st – Theme: Freestyle

The Power of Positive Posture

2012-01-31T17:04:00.000+05:30

So – What’s the big deal about posture? And what does the mind have to do with it?

Lots.

Good posture is important for good health. And I am sure we’ll agree that health is indeed wealth. But besides physical health, your posture can also have a bearing on your emotional health.

I, like millions of people, spend a lot of time at the computer these days as my work requires it. Although I do spend a lot of time outdoors, I still have a problem sitting for hours. A few months ago I saw an infographic that talked about how sitting kills, and started practicing standing for at least an hour or two every day while using the PC. And of course my Mom’s constant reminder about sitting straight always rings in my ears.

If you, like me, tend to end up sitting slumped or slouched in your chair, you know how it feels. The unexplained aches and pains all have to do with bad posture. Now wait – it isn’t as though I actually have bad posture. But I find that sitting for hours makes me slouch without being aware of it.

Why maintain good posture?

Here are seven good reasons to be conscious about posture:
• Your brain works better
• You breathe better
• You concentrate and focus better
• You look better
• You feel more self-confident
• You increase your self-esteem
• You enjoy better health
• You look younger

Bad posture can be painful – in more ways than one. Besides earning nicknames that stick forever. We used to call a friend Sloucho Marx because he always slouched. I swear, to this day, we refer to him by this name. I am also guilty to admit that most of us have forgotten his real name.

Over a period of time, bad posture raises your risk of chronic backache, affects your blood circulation and worse still - puts you at risk for a slipped disc. This can be excruciatingly painful. It is also responsible for:

• Low back pain
• Frequent headaches
• Shoulder and neck pain (oh I need a neck rub, someone!)
• TMJ dysfunction
• Change in breathing patterns
• GERD (acid reflux)
• Constipation
• Risk of injury
• Tissue wear and tear
• Low oxygen and blood circulation to the brain
• Muscle tension
• Stiff joints
• Inadequate lung function

Enough said. Let me such say that bad posture stresses your body out in a big way, gradually damaging muscles, ligaments and joints and makes life miserable.

Signs of bad posture

Good posture keeps your hips and pelvis level, your head up , your jaw relaxed, back straight, shoulders low, relaxed and even, relaxed abdomen, buttocks tucked in and knees gently flexed. This happens naturally with most people. But for some, it does not. You can recognize bad posture when you see an abdomen and neck that stick out, knees that extend outward, uneven shoulders, a curved spine, a chest that appears sunk and uneven hips – you get the idea.

Right and wrong posture
(Image courtesy tapestryliferesources.com)

Good posture - better than Botox

That’s true. Besides determining your bone health, good posture also keeps you looking younger over the years. Also, think of the money you’ll save by not having to go in for a facelift! Granted that people tend to stoop a bit as they age, but the good news is, you can prevent a permanently bent spine as a result of osteoporosis and damaging vertebrae in the upper and middle spine.

But let’s think positive, shall we? Without further monologue, here are ten things I’ve learned – that help maintain good posture and keep you standing tall – no matter how old you are:

• Stretch
If you spend time at the computer, stay flexible by getting up for just a couple of minutes every half an hour and walk around, stretch or just stand. Remember to wear supportive footwear. I recommend rotating your shoulders, five anticlockwise and five clockwise movements. Sitting for hours at the computer is not attractive.

• Exercise
Exercise helps you prevent injury and improve your balance while helping your posture. Twice a day, maybe once in the morning and once at night, lie flat on the floor. Then with arms stretched perpendicular body, slowly move them making snow angels. Do this for two or three minutes. This will also improve your flexibility. You can feel good in ten minutes.

making a snow angel

• Sit straight
You know, while always sitting straight may sound like a pain, it is easy when you’re conscious about it. You actually feel more comfortable that way. Also make sure you have good seating arrangements so that you sit properly at the computer.

• Focus on your core
Core strength matters. A strong core, where you build the muscles of your abdomen and pelvis is critical because these are the muscles that actually help you maintain good posture. There are also other health benefits to strengthening your core.

• Say Om sweet Om
Yoga besides being a great way to strengthen your core and muscles also helps increase your body awareness and maintain flexibility.

• Support your spine
The muscles around the spine tend to weaken with age, particularly in women undergoing menopause or after menopause. (By the way, men also go through menopause. Exercises that target the back, neck, pelvic and side muscles will help. There are spine strengthening exercises that make it easier to stand for hours without developing a pain in the back.

• Take up weight bearing exercises
This will help prevent that hump from forming on your upper back due to weaker bones as you grow older. You can avoid this by walking, lifting weights and climbing stairs (oh, my knees!)

• Get your vitamin D quota
When we’re talking about bone strength and posture, it is naturally important to talk about Vitamin D, which is critical to bone and muscle health. While most of us get Vitamin D from sunlight and our diet, some may need supplements.

• Adopt a healthy diet
Get enough calcium and other vitamins and minerals in your diet. Make healthy eating personal.

• Consult your doctor
You may need prescription medication if you have low bone density or osteoporosis.

Image courtesy: chiropracticall.com

Posture - not just about physical health

According to a recent study published in the January 2011 issue of Psychological Science about “posture expansiveness” (using one’s posture to open up the body and occupy space), posture activates a sense of power in the mind, making people feel and behave as if they are in charge. The study found that posture is more important to a person's sense of power than one's actual job title or position.

So, while a high-power role can make you feel powerful, to act in charge, you need a high-power posture.

Good posture keeps you emotionally healthy and improves general fitness and performance. When you’re confident, you stand and “walk tall” When you’re sad or depressed, you tend to slump. When you slump, you develop aches, pains and become depressed. That vicious cycle need not happen to you when you practice good posture.

Here is how I energize my soul to make sure my body follows my mind.

Boosting my confidence
Fixing my energy leaks
Nurturing my complete being
Using my intuition
Unleashing the power of my subconscious mind
Being bold by letting go of fear
Trying to let go of my bad habits and finding my passion
Not worrying about business
Practicing letting go to be happy. Miracles do happen all the time, you know.
Making a Gratitude List
Treasuring my present moment
Holding on to the power of belief
Striving to make lasting changes in my Life
Consciously trying not to complain
Trying to inspire others
I know I can make it happen!

I have more than 300 reasons to be happy now. Take a look at my Happiness Project!

Now - I would love to know:

How do you inspire yourself?
How do you energize yourself?
What fuels your self-confidence?
How do you overcome fear?

I am eager to know your answers!

Vidya Sury

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Sunday In My City - Vishwa Shanti Ashram 1

2012-01-29T15:00:00.000+05:30

This Sunday, join me on a visit to the Vishwa Shanti Ashram which is a 40-minute drive from my place in Bangalore. It is located at 24 km Tumkur Road in Arasinakunte, and founded by Sadguru Sant Keshavadas,. Vishwa Shanti = Universal Peace.

Sadguru Sant Keshavadas was born at Bhadragiri, a small southern Indian village in Karnataka State, near Bangalore, India in 1934. At the age of 11, he had a mystical and illuminating vision of God at the dilapidated temple at his native place. God told him, "Sing my name". Since then he tirelessly spread the loving Word of God or "Sanatana Vishwa Dharma," the ancient wisdom of the Himalayas, throughout India and abroad. After his passing, his wife Rama continues his mission.

Sadguru Sant Keshavadas

This ashram is a very enjoyable half-day outing including the travel time. Since 26 January was Republic Day and a national holiday, we decided to take off on a short trip. Many years ago, we had a fleeting visit inside this place - but Vidur was only 5 years old and didn't remember it at all.

The ashram is spread over fifteen acres and here is what we saw. As we enter, we see, in the distance, a 36 foot tall statue of Vittala, an avatar of Vishnu. And exactly in front, at the foot of the statue is a Lakshmi-Narayana shrine. (Narayana is Lord Vishnu and Sri Lakshmi his consort).

This statue is surrounded by the Ashta Lakshmi-s - the eight Lakshmis, four on each side.

A side-view of the beautiful statue

A close up. I am looking up at it, really

Vittala's feet - at eye-level for me

A back view of the statue

There's a lovely brindavan (Tulsi Plant = holy basil = shrine) out in front.

Beautifully and intricately carved, this "flower pot" houses the holy basil plant

See the base? It is a turtle. I like its smile

Towards the right of this, is the entrance to the Bhagvad Gita temple. En route to this, we see the seven rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Cauvery, Narmada, Sindhu and Saraswati - depicted by seven statues.

The building housing the Vishwaroopa (original form of Lord Vishnu in a big way) Statue and Gayatri temple is pulled by the famous chariot, where we see Lord Krishna counseling Arjuna - called the "Gitopadesha" (Gita = the Bhagvad Gita and Upadesha = the narration). This is one of the most significant scenes from the Mahabharata.

The Bhagvad Gita Temple, has the Vishwa Roopa statue of Lord Vishnu - the form Lord Krishna revealed to Arjuna in the Mahabharata. This is quite amazing and beautiful and the walls surrounding this statue are 800 granite slabs on which the entire Bhagvad Gita is inscribed, stanza by stanza, in four languages. Awe-inspiring.

Relatively speaking - size of the statue relative to Vidur

Below this shrine is the Gayatri Temple in a heptagon shaped shrine and very very pretty.

I will continue with Part 2 of this post next Sunday. :-) and show you the fun stuff inside the ashram.

Now, I leave you with this beautiful verse from the Bhagvad Gita:

If you are interested, here is the full text of the Bhagvad Gita in English.

If you'd like to ask questions, go ahead. Free your mind and comment.

Let's go visit the fabulous Unknown Mami who hosts this lovely linky - and enjoy travel together to more cities from there.

With love,

Vidya Sury

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Book Review: Balasaraswati, Her Art and Life

2012-01-26T00:27:00.001+05:30

Title: Balasaraswati: her Art and Life

Author: Douglas M. Knight Jr

ISBN: 978-93-80658-81-0

Publisher: Tranquebar

My hardbound version: Rs 599/-

When "Balasaraswati, Her Art and Life” came up for review, I coveted it and hoped I would be one of the bloggers chosen to review it. So my joy really knew no bounds when I received the book. It is an amazing experience to read it, and a book I am likely to go back to, for I’ve marked several pages to read again. Obviously, it is going to be a treasured possession and part of my “favorite books”.

A book like “Balasaraswati, Her Art and Life” makes me proud to be an Indian. Prouder still for the connection to Thanjavur, Bala's home town, as well as our family's. According to the Wikipedia,

Thanjavur is the cradle for many of the arts and crafts in South India. Carnatic music as we know it today was codified in Thanjavur as was Bharathanatyam. Thanjvur, both the town and district supported several crafts.

I am grateful for my exposure to Carnatic music and dance. Our family, both from my side and Sury’s is full of musicians and currently, Vidur is in his sixth year of learning Hindustani Classical Vocal Music. So you can imagine what a pleasure it was to read this book.

Now, about the book. Let me say right now that you won’t see my standard “what I liked” “what I didn’t like” and “what could have been better” for this particular book. I can only praise this book and so, enjoy the eulogy.

Balasaraswati, Her Art and Life is a wonderful tribute by Douglas M.Knight Jr., her son-in-law. This humble author takes us through a highly descriptive and intricate history of the dance form, Bharata Natyam along with an insightful journey into the artist Balasaraswati’s life, in her own words - nicely embellished with many charming black and white photos.

T.Balasaraswati (1918-1984) is a dancer and musician from South India with a unique place in South Indian dance history. She is described as a "passionate revolutionary - an internationally significant, entirely modern artist". Bala has a charming introduction to dancing which is lovingly related at the beginning of the book.

One really has no choice but to cherish this book, as it gives us a rare glimpse into the life of an accomplished artist who is recognized as one of the most significant performing artists of all time and a great exponent of her art form.

The book recounts the extraordinary investments Balasaraswati and her family made in the teaching and nurturing of their knowledge and art in India and the United States, and the way their style and repertoire have influenced the present generation. Their extraordinary contribution to the global understanding of the performing arts of India is well-acknowledged.

Balasaraswati has legendary status today. The details about her life and her personal account of her inherited art offer an insight into the mechanisms and values of an enigmatic artistic community and her own exceptional family in that community. Her daughter Lakshmi (the author's wife) and Bala's protegee and Anirudha Knight, Bala's grandson are both acknowledged as accomplished dancers.

From the book, it is obvious that Bala has touched the lives of innumerable people, each with a story to tell.

Thanjavur Balasaraswati received the title "Sangitha Kalanidhi" ("Treasure of the Artof Music") from the Madras Music Academy in 1973 and is the only dancer to receive the title, till date. She performed on the international stage in several countries from the early 1960s. She toured America soon after. Forty years later, in 2000, the Dance Heritage Coalition, an alliance of leading American dance performers and teachers, institutions and dance libraries and collections said, in the results of their initiative to identify "America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures: The First 100". The only artist they included who was neither American nor European was Balasaraswati.

A very quick recap of the book

The book has seven chapters. The first chapter begins with an introduction to Bharathanatyam, the dance form, its history and perceptions. There is also an introduction into the “Devadasi” community, to which Balasaraswati belonged. A description of Bala’s family tree follows. The next chapter covers 1918 to 1927 and is about Bala’s childhood, her teachers, her grandmother the legendary Veena Dhanammal’s life and Bala’s first public performance, the arangetram at the Ammanakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram.

The third chapter describes Bala’s public performances at the Madras Music Academy and her tour of North India with Uday Shankar’s group from 1927 to 1936. Chapter four describes the reconstruction of Bharathanatyam and Rukmini Devi Arundale’s involvement in the dance form and how it impacted Balasaraswati. Chapter 5 (1947 to 1961) traces the establishment of Bala’s dance school and her outstanding performances for which she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academy Award and the Padma Bhushan. Chapter 6 is about Bala’s entry into the international stage from 1961 to 1972. Chapter 7 (1972 to 1984) describes the last years of her life until she passed on in 1984.

This book is Balasaraswati's first complete biography and an extremely well-researched one. Her extraordinary life sketch includes interviews with family members and peers whose lives she touched.

“Imagine a fascinating book written with knowledge, understanding, and talent celebrating the 20th century's greatest bharat natyam performer, the incomparable Balasaraswati. Well, here it is.” —Charles L. Reinhart, director, American Dance Festival

At the end of the book is a comprehensive Appendix with "Select Biographies" followed by extensive notes, a glossary and bibliography and Index. My favorite quote from the book is this:

‘Years ago I asked Lakshmi what she thought Bala believed was the most important part of her story, if it were told. Lakshmi responded without hesitation: "The Truth."

About the author:

DOUGLAS M. KNIGHT JR. is a musician and independent scholar whose personal and artistic relationship with India and Balasaraswati’s family began in the late 1960s. He has appeared in performance with Balasaraswati, her brothers Ranganathan and Viswanathan, her daughter Lakshmi Knight, and her grandson Aniruddha Knight. He has been a Fulbright Scholar and a Guggenheim Fellow, as well as the recipient of other honors and awards.

A must-read book for anyone even remotely interested in Bharathanatyam, the dance form and music. A lovely book that makes you feel as though you shared Balasaraswati's life.

Enjoy this documentary of T Balasaraswati

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books! Thank you BlogAdda for sending me this wonderful book to read and review!

... if you are in India

Vidya Sury

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Sunday In My City - Taking Time to Smell the Flowers

2012-01-22T15:10:00.000+05:30

Let’s take time to smell the flowers, today. Some are from my backyard, and some from other places.
All from my camera.

and....my own sweet sleepy flower, 6 years ago.

Kindly hosted by Unknown Mami every Sunday, Sunday In My City is my most favorite linky. Because I am fond of her and also, get to visit other city sights across the world from her blog. You can, too!

With love,

Vidya Sury

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Who is right?

2012-01-20T21:33:00.000+05:30

We were having a heated argument about optimism and pessimism - and it threatened to reach war-like proportions. Obviously, when you compare them, optimism has a better reputation than pessimism and you'll hear people constantly telling you that "'tis better to be optimistic".

But how can this be fair? How can one be better than the other? Logically, at the end of that argument, we had to conclude that optimism and pessimism are two sides of the same coin. One cannot exist without the other. You can be bullied by people who are optimistic as much as those who are pessimistic.

Image from thousandtyone.com

They're inseparable, really

Look at it this way: to be optimistic about something must automatically imply that you are pessimistic about the others, right? It is all relative. So if you have a choice between Plan A and Plan B, and believe that Plan A will work, you're being optimistic about Plan A and pessimistic about Plan B.

Yet another way to look at these two buddies (yes, they are!) is to compare them to breathing - they've got to be as intertwined as inhaling and exhaling since you cannot do just the one. Take a debate - if your opponent is optimistic about what he believes, he's inherently pessimistic about what you believe. And he'll probably bully you with his holier than thou attitude and his opinion, telling you that since he likes his plan, that makes him an optimist.

How can we ignore "positive thinking" here? We can apply the same theory about optimism and pessimism to it - :-) if you're positive about one thing, it implies that you're negative about the alternative, right? It isn't as though being positive is a virtue. You're just stating your preference. You obviously cannot prefer everything as you have to make a choice. So it is basically a way to focus - and when you focus here, you cannot focus there since our focus has limits. Thus, while it is necessary to be positive, the question is not "should I be positive" but "what should I be positive about?

Easy to get bullied by either

Now try arguing with someone about this - and you'll hear "at least I am optimistic". Is that okay? The "someone" is not only undermining your ability to plan by calling you pessimistic, but being a bully and adding salt to your wound. Aren't they being pessimistic about what you think?

But it is not just optimists who are bullies. Pessimists can also be bullies by accusing optimists of being unrealistic, head-in-the-clouds-ish and believing in magic. Sinful!

"Optimist" and "Pessimist" are not tags. They are just opinions about who is right and who is wrong - and who wins? It all depends on who pulls more moral weight.

I'd say that one man's pessimist is another man's optimist as they are relative concepts. They are entirely subjective evaluations, and only relative to another person's.

It does not make sense to say "I am an optimist" or "You are a pessimist". Both statements are incomplete without saying what I am optimistic about or what you are pessimistic about. When I say I am optimistic about finishing everything on my to-do list tomorrow. I am basically saying that I think this plan's chances of success are much better to the alternative.

Mmm...that said - I must admit I always like to see the brighter side of things, because there's a question of this small thing called "attitude"

So, tell me what do you think?

With love,

Vidya Sury

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Relationships

2012-01-17T12:35:00.000+05:30

Those who know me, know I am in love with my 8th Main Road. I travel the length of this three-kilometer road four times a day. For me, my ride on 8th Main is not just a ride. It is a whole lifestyle with some interesting yet strong, unusual relationships I've formed along the way.

I do everything en route - grocery shopping, fill my scooter's petrol tank, buy my meds, freak out at the bakery, visit the sweet shop, socialize at the supermarkets, check out clothes, get my mobile phone talk time refilled - not sure if I left anything out, but trust me when I say there is EVERYTHING on this road. I love it because it makes my life easy. I know every shop and am friendly with all the shopkeepers. They always have a smile and a joke for me.

Oh, I forgot the bread van guy. I see him every day and even if we pass each other on the road, he waves from his van. I feel happy.

Then, there's another guy who I see every day on the way to or from school on 8th Main, who is dressed for work (wears a tie) and walks down to the little hotel on the way for breakfast. I've seen this guy do this for nine years. Funny thing is, he doesn't look very different from the first time I saw him. I mean, guys do put on weight and stuff - but not this one. During the past week, I am tempted to stop him and ask him what he does and tell him I am curious because I've been watching him for nine years. How kinky that sounds! I wonder how he'll react? I even notice when he's wearing a new shirt!

The "hotel" I mentioned is one of many in our city that feeds our people good food that's reasonably priced. They are called "darshinis" or "sagars" because almost all of them are prefixed with a name and are south Indian "fast food" joints. Quite healthy and clean, quick service, usually with a smile. I used to be a regular customer at this hotel near my place, two years ago - for a few months when I had to give my Mom idlis for breakfast every morning. The moment the guy at the cash counter saw me parking, he'd instruct his cooks at the food counter, and by the time I reached him, he'd have my parcel ready. Very gratifying. Of course it never occurred to him I might want a different order. And weirdo that I am, I would actually take what he packed even if I did want something else.

As I ride my scooter down the 8th main, I also pass my favorite medical store and since that's a traffic point, the moment I slow down, I turn my head to the left to see the owner of the store grinning and waving at me. If there's a transaction on, he'd use sign language and say something that I obviously couldn't hear in the noise, but would understand. Then he'd make the sign of the phone call and I'd nod and move on. Perfect. This medical store was my savior on many occasions when I had difficult-to-fill prescriptions for my Mom. When I phoned him, he'd say "Tell me" and just give me a delivery time, no questions asked. And stick to it. The power of trust!

When I enter the supermarket, the girls at work always ask me if I had breakfast and coffee, and whether I was returning from dropping my son at school. One of them knows some of the routine stuff I buy, so she'll bring me a trolley and follow me around, asking if I wanted specific stuff. If they receive fresh stock of something that is yet to be unpacked, she'll tell me and ask how many I need. So gratifying. And if one of them looks sad, I hug her and ask her what is wrong. If they are lifting crates, I give them a hand. If they get hurt, I whip out the cream from my bag to apply it for them. If they have a headache, I have a tablet for them. Very give and take, that.

Also along the same road, is this person. I am not sure how long he has been residing here, but can vouch for the fact that he's been here for nine years - because I've seen him every day. Four times. There was this one time when he was missing from his spot and I panicked. I worried. I got desperate wondering what happened. Then I almost died of relief when I saw him across the road under the newly build bus shelter - and realized he must have moved there because it was raining. Phew! Here are pictures of this guy's "abode" on the road.

The gate you see in the picture is of the church (I posted a photo of the church here). Now, I have a deep relationship with the man in the picture. For the last nine years, ever since I started traveling on this road, and noticed him for the first time, I've carried food, clothing, water, snacks, bed linen, jackets, and just about anything I wanted to give him. He would always accept it with both hands, very courteously. He's like a part of our family, because whenever there's a birthday or special occasion, I give him something. When we have extra food, we immediately think of him and pack it up.

He's all covered up in these photos because it is winter and quite cold here, now. When it is summer, he just wears a light shirt and the dhoti and even stretches his legs, strolling on his section of the pavement. He has a mattress and a few clothes. A milkman stops by in the morning and pours some milk in a huge mug the man has. At other times, I've seen him getting tea/coffee from the mobile tea/coffee-vendor. I've seen this guy consistently all these years, while we've been worrying about all sorts of things. He has no idea what the Internet is. He'll never know what Facebook or Twitter or any of those things are. He just survives. I don't know his story. I would love to, but he barely talks. He always has a smile for me, though.

The woman in the picture (with two kids) joined him recently, to share his space. Not sure how they're related (none of my business, anyway). All I know is I'll give more of what I have, because the kids are quite little and I know how hungry the young 'uns can get. I am in the process of putting together some more bed linen and some warm clothes to give them.

Reminds me of a funny moment, years ago, when Vidur was still small enough to travel standing in the front space of my scooter. We were passing this man one day, and Vidur suddenly got excited and said "Mummy, he has a bedsheet just like ours!". Well, it was our bedsheet. After that day, I make it a point to make Vidur hand over stuff to the guy, which he does very cheerfully.

I felt a little off-color today - and thought I would look at some photos. Then I came across these - and my off-color-ness just faded away. Also reminded me of a post I did back in March 2008 titled "back to the present"

Happiness is a D.I.Y. project. I just stopped to think of all the things that made me feel good, and I feel much better now.

What do you do when you feel sad without really knowing why?

With love,

Vidya Sury

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Sunday In My City - Sankranthi

2012-01-15T20:06:00.001+05:30

Or Thai Pongal, as we Tamilians call it.This is a five day festival with much significance and we celebrate it in a big way. Today also marks the first day of the month "Thai" in the Tamil calendar and there's a saying which, roughly translated, means "when "thai" is born, solutions are born". (thai pirandhaal vazhi pirakkum). People believe that this months heralds the solutions to all problems. This is celebrated as "Lohri" in north India.

In South India, schools and offices are closed for at least four days. On the first day or "Bhogi" (which was yesterday), people create a bonfire and burn or throw away all their old stuff, signifying the start of a new life. What I do is gather stuff I want to donate and give it to those who need it.

On the second day, which is today, we make "Pongal" which is rice and lentils cooked in milk and then prepared as two dishes - sweet rice and rice garnished with salt, pepper, curry leaves and ghee. Traditionally, this rice is cooked in a pot over an open fire and when it boils over, everyone says "Pongalo-Pongal" joyously! I cook in a pressure cooker :-) and when it whistles, I say Pongalo-Pongal. We also make vadas I did - but didn't take photos of those. :-). Tomorrow, the third day, we offer thanks to the cows and buffaloes, which plough the land. Fitting, because Pongal is a harvest festival. On the last day, it is fun time. In Madurai, Trichy and Tanjore, they have an event called "JalliKattu" where they tie bundles of money to the horns of the festival bulls - and villagers try to retrieve them.

Some of today's "pongal" will be kept overnight and tomorrow morning, I'll be up early to perform a wedding between the crow and the sparrow. Tradition. I'll have curd rice, pongal, sweet pongal, fruits and sugarcane - and place bite sized amounts on a leaf, go to my terrace and leave it there for the crows to eat. Why this tradition? I think they meant that everyone should live harmoniously without differences - and hence the marriage between the crow and sparrow. :-) I love it!

So, had a busy morning and here are some not so great photos of today:

The Sun God Surya reigns over this harvest festival, naturally!

Flowers - roses, jasmine, tulsi, marigold...

This is the Rangoli - design done at the entrance of the home or in the prayer room to invite God :-)

Roasting the rice and lentils for the Pongal before pressure cooking it in milk in the cooker

My Rangoli-in-a-hurry outside our home at the threshold

More Rangoli designs for you to feast your eyes on

And another

And here is where we went shopping yesterday to buy our flowers. Prices were sky-high, of course, but can't help that. It is only during festivals that these people actually make a profit. And they work so hard.

Malleswaram is where people from all over Bangalore visit to do their shopping. You get everything here. Everything! The women flower vendors are amazing business-women!
Picture courtesy wanderingeducators.com

Soon I'll get some photos of our market. I love going there.

And now, off to the lovely Unknown Mami's to see her city, and more travel from there!

With love,

Vidya Sury

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Dear Blogger

2012-01-13T10:53:00.001+05:30

This morning I caught the update that Blogger has introduced the two-level commenting system. This is really great news. But why did this have to happen just five days after I installed Disqus to replace the old commenting system? So this is destined to be a rhetoric question.

I regularly visit the blogs I follow and many of them are WordPress blogs, with their convenient commenting system. I've even wasted time trying to figure out the source code to see if I could create something for my own blog like that.

But over the years, I've found quite a few blogs using the Disqus commenting system, which I think is quite cool. I wanted to experiment with it on one of my blogs and installed it on Your Medical Guide - my health blog. I browsed quite a bit before I did it, though - and of course, read a lot of lousy reviews as well. Still, I believe that each individual experience is unique and read up the how-to's and the help section at Disqus.

One thing to definitely remember to do is to "import" all your existing comments and enable "keep new comments synced" in the "Tools" section. This is very important to do, and I am glad I did because I remembered reading on someone else's blog that they lost all their old comments and didn't know how to retrieve them. Anyway - it seemed to work there.

I always think several times before introducing any new widget on to this blog. I seriously don't have the time to deal with any glitches that might happen. This is obvious from the fact that I didn't build a fancy site even after I moved my blog to my old domain. In fact, I ensured I registered my domain via Google so that they'd do all the redirecting work and what not. I am fine with hosting it on Blogger, too and using the "Simple" template. I am a fan of the white background. I did try a couple of color combinations but realized it was just not me.

And so - in its tenth year, my blog continues to look basic. There's a big reason for this. The whole idea is to write. Some time back, I knocked off all the badges except the ones I like and gave them their own page. Then I removed all the other hoo-hahs and winner badges and awards. In fact, I've never been a fan of awards. But I did accept one, because it was Terri who awarded it.

I would definitely love to learn html and code and what not to make my blog a better place, but Blogger makes it easy for me to carry on. However, one thing always bugged me. I didn't really like the commenting system. A series of comments from my visitors from a different time zone followed by a series of comments from me in reply. Urgh! After much thought, I finally gave in a few days ago and installed Disqus. I am loving it, I must say! (Thank you Sheila for noticing :-))

And what do I find when I log in to my mailbox this morning? That Blogger has introduced the two-level commenting system. The irony. I am not going to remove Disqus though. What Chuck over at The Real Blogger Status has to say, though, about this new commenting system is:

This is not what I would call classic "threaded commenting", but it's a reasonable alternative.

You will need a blog with full feeds enabled, and using the embedded comment form. As described in the Buzz post, once the comment form and feed are selected, using the New GUI, there's no additional selection needed. Just surf to the blog of your choice, and look under any comment for a new "Reply" link.

That's good. I checked out the system on my Infographics blog and found it works like a charm.

Since two level comments are part of the embedded comment form, you're going to need tocheck your cookie filters - people using computers with overly restrictive filtering won't be able to use the embedded comment form, and they won't see the two level commenting option. Beyond that issue, two level comments should be simple to use.

This is really easy to set up and here's what Blogger says:

(More help at the Blogger Help Center if you need it)

The good news is, now I know that life is easier with the new blogs I have in the pipeline - since I won't have to feel sad about the commenting system.

But it really is funny how one waits for something for years to happen, and just when an alternative is adopted, the next day, there's a natural solution. :-) Well, good to see there are options available.

Incidentally, I also installed the Intense Debate commenting system on Coffee With Mi! just to check out the commentluv plug in (to use commentluv on Blogger blogs, you need to install Intense Debate). I find that some comments do not appear on the blog, although they are visible in the "history" section of the Intense Debate site. If I can figure out how to keep the comments on that blog after removing Intense Debate, then I plan to do just that. Commentluv is cool, but makes no sense when the comments don't show :-D

So anyway, Blogger, I appreciate the introduction of two-level commenting. I get the feeling you've got more new features up your sleeve and being a Google fan, I really look forward to that.

What can I say? Life is good.

With love,

Vidya Sury

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Random Conversations -1

2012-01-10T11:45:00.000+05:30

"Mummy, what would you do if your name was not "Vidya"?"

"I guess it would be something else"

"Did Paati* have any other name in mind when she named you "Vidya"?"

(Paati = Grandmother in Tamil)

"Yep. I think she also had "Poornima" in mind"

"Why "Poornima"?"

"Because she thought I was as pretty as the full moon" (Grinning)

(Poornima = full moon)

"Mummy, you are!"

Some good natured nudging and punching later....a thought occurs to Vidur.

"So, then if your name was Poornima, how would Poornima aunty* call you?"

(Poornima aunty = my colleague at the Ethics committee I work with)

"I guess she'd call me Poornima"

"And how would you call Poornima aunty"

"Poornima"

Elementary, my dear Watson. There's more, though.

"Mummy, did Paati have any more choices in mind, other than "Vidya" and "Poornima""

"Dunno, Vidur. Maybe. Didn't ask her"

"Why did she name you "Vidya"?"

"Because there was a movie called Dr.Vidya in 1962 and I think she fantasized about me becoming a doctor, too"

Some silence. Deep thought. Hoping to provide a satisfactory answer, I say,

"Another reason why I was named Vidya was because I was born on the day of the Saraswati Pooja during Navaratri - so they christened me Vidya Saraswati for the goddess of learning"

(Vidya means "knowledge")

"I knew that, Mi. But why didn't you become a doctor?"

"Because I didn't want to."

"Why?!? Didn't you qualify in the entrance exams?"

"I did, Vidur. But I didn't want to pay Rs.60,000/- in spite of qualifying and being entitled for a seat. We couldn't afford it"

"Oh! Rs.60,000/- is a lot of money!"

"Yes. Back in the early '80s, Rs.60,000 was equal to five years' salary for Paati and I refused to let her spend it. It would mean we had to take a loan and continue to pay that off for the next God-knows-how-many years."

"Mummy, didn't you feel bad after that?"

"Yes, I did - but only because Paati felt bad. Seriously, I didn't want to become a doc"

Some hugs. Some cuddling...and some calculations later...

"Mummy, that means Paati only earned Rs.1000/- a month!?!"

"Yes. And that came from three jobs. Rs.500 from the school she worked in from 7 am to 1 pm. Rs.300 from the afternoon shift at another school. And Rs.200/- from tutoring three students at their home."

Vidur's eyes fill with tears at this point. He's silent.

More hugs and some quiet contemplation later...

"Mummy, Paati was great, no?"

"Indeed she was, Vidur. She suffered a lot, yet was very sweet and generous to everyone"

"Mummy, I will study very hard and do very well in school and college. I'll always be a good person! I'll take care of you like a queen!"

pause...

"I'll also think twice before spending on anything. I'll make sure I really need it, and not just want it!"

pause....

"Mummy, I'll also try not to get bugged over little things"

My turn to cry now. Those were the very same words I told my Mom all the time. While I am not sure if I took care of Mom like a Queen - I had the joy of never being separated from her from the day I was born, until the day she died. We shared a lot of laughter and laughed through all the times we were broke. We were best friends. As I've said many times before, my Mom taught me many valuable lessons. And I am truly lucky that Sury and my mother also got along very well.

I remember making a vow to myself that I would never make my Mom spend on my education. I was lucky to get a "poor student" scholarship in college, which was converted into a "Merit scholarship" the next year. This paid me the princely sum of Rs.2000/- a year, which I saved in a bank account. I also taught French, Science and Math to a high school kid which earned me a whopping Rs. 500 a month.

Soon after I graduated in 1983 with a B.Sc. degree (majoring in Zoology, Botany and Chemistry), I enrolled for a Personal Secretaryship course. I was dumb enough to think Secretaries led a glamorous life. Got a job in 1984 and had the privilege of contributing to our family's expenses. A few years later, I studied for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources and Marketing, followed by a Diploma in Training and Development from the Indian Society for Training and Development. I was keen on transitioning from sales and marketing into training as a career.

Life had other plans, though :-) because of my personal circumstances and priorities. Now, I earn my calories as a Freelance Writer and Blogger and love it.

I am grateful to life.

By the way, by today's conversion, 1 USD = Indian Rupees.52.00.

With love,

Vidya Sury

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Sunday In My City - My Doorstep

2012-01-08T12:29:00.002+05:30

Well, almost. I consider the road we live in as my doorstep. Because we have everything we want along this road - bakeries, sweet shops, grocery stores, supermarkets, fashion stores, fruit stores, dairy, medical stores, hospitals, hobby classes... you name it, we got it.

Yesterday, I decided not to drop Vidur off at school on my bike. Since Sury had hired a taxi at the same time we leave for school, we decided to bum a lift till the corner of the road, two and a half kilometers away, from where we could easily walk to school. I planned on walking back home. The morning was lovely and since I had tackled a mountain of laundry the previous day, my thigh muscles were pretty sore. (unused and complaining) I read somewhere that more exercise gets the lactic acid in the muscles moving along and taking away the pain, and so - thought it would be a good idea to walk. It was. I only regret not carrying my regular digital camera. Next time!.

Here's what I caught on my walk. The walls along the sidewalk are painted in themes. The weather was great. Birds were chirping. The sun was planning to step out and shine. All was well with the world.

(Click photos to see original size in all their glory in a new window!)

I'll bet you thought they were real! :-) This is the Karnataka government's initiative on beautifying the compound walls. Maybe they thought people wouldn't defile them. Fat hope. People have their favorite spots now - and hehehe probably fantasize!

So thoughtful. Benches to sit on, should one wish to rest.

Deer happily enjoying a refreshing drink. That fence gives me away every time, no?

Aaaaand....little do the deer know that the shapely Ms.Hunter Villain is just around the corner, aiming at them!

However, elsewhere, life goes on. The gorilla looks on stoically, lost in his/her thoughts, while the leopards/cheetahs cuddle each other and show some love

But! Who said life was private? She's watching, isn't she? Voyeuse!

And I wonder what private joke she's grinning at! Thinking of a happy and enjoyable moment, no doubt. While the other lady farther ahead strikes a pose! Hmm.

Church. Beautiful campus. Next to it is the St.Peter's Pontificial Seminary.

Disclosure:

While walking along the road, I was gazing at some flowering trees and trying to identify the chirping sounds and spot the birds - and sure enough, stepped into some sh*t. Oh well, better than watching for the sh*t and missing the flowers and the birds, no?
I also passed by a guy doing something-something on the roadside, which I diligently did NOT take pictures of. I am decent like that. Just sayin'!

Now let's go over to Unknown Mami's who generously hosts this very enjoyable initiative. There's lots more to see, there and places to go.

With Love,

Vidya Sury

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Taking Stock

2012-01-07T12:00:00.000+05:30

Since I began the year with the 'flu, I've been putting off "taking stock" because I simply haven't had the energy to think new stuff. I focused more on finishing up client-projects (I like my bread, butter and flavored cheese). The afternoons have been a bit lethargic and warm - and I felt too tired to do anything much besides the usual housework, not to mention the mountains of laundry I had to tackle.

Still, I've been eager and busy planning in my head about all the things I want to do in 2012. Somehow it pushes up my adrenalin when I think about making a list. I like to write down everything and visualize ticking things off. I feel very excited to see all the check marks. My lists are usually on giant-sized paper and I keep the sheet (folded like an accordion) with one heading in each panel for months at a time, as it gives me an overview of what I've been up to, what I've accomplished and what I've been falling short on. So, right now, I've got the list in bits and pieces in my spirally bound notebook. Soon, I'll organize it and have it on my official list!

The year began on a great note, though and I feel the happiness buzz. I guess meeting close friends always does that. I've also had the privilege of seeing my old school and of course I became all teary-eyed thinking back in time, when I was in school in the '70s. I took pictures from across the road because there was a road divider I couldn't jump over.

I have been taking stock of my work and find myself looking forward in a big way. So grateful for that. I would have posted a list of my 2012 resolutions, but am too shy to share it, because some of it is personal.

One of the things I intend doing in 2012 is learn a lot. I have a list of things I want to know more about and thanks to the Internet and other generous bloggers offering tutorials and guides, I am hopeful I'll cover most of what I want. Things like some basic HTML, Google Analytics, using the Google Webmaster tools, a makeover for my blog (maybe), start a newsletter and so on. But more than anything else, I appreciate the valuable learning I get on a daily basis by just visiting my favorite blogs.

I also want to make Vidur's dream come true - that of publishing his book. He's the sort who'll stick with deadlines; so I am hoping that by November at least (November because it is his birthday month) we'll be able to print the first edition. I am very much looking forward to that.

It would be odd if I didn't mention that I hope my own book "The Complete Health Guide for Women" meets a publisher this year. But only the first draft is ready and I've got lots more to do before it meets a reader, Inshallah!

More than anything, I plan to also give my home a complete DIY makeover and I have a feeling it is going to be great fun and I am going to enjoy it very much. I'll post updates when I do something!

Not to forget, 2012 will also be the year when Vidur will go to the tenth grade in April and turn 15 in November. Seems like just the other day he was a bebe I was holding in my arms!

And now, he's about a head taller than I am. Hmm.

Just one more thing!

I've got one more thing to share that I am thrilled about, today. Betsy of The Zen-Mama's blog was kind enough to feature me on her blog today. Some time back, I wrote a post titled "My Happiness Project". I started my Collecting Smiles project, inspired by a post I read at Betsy's blog titled “Take Two Smiles and Call Me In the Morning”. We've had a very exciting time filling that Zen Mama Happiness Jar, and when Betsy suggested an interview, wow!, I was pretty excited and also humbled that she would want to share this with everyone. And here is the lovely result - Vidya's Happiness Project! Thank you, Betsy, for working your magic! Here's Vidur happily holding our Happiness Jar:

Please do visit Betsy's blog to read the post - and I'd be ultra-grateful if you'd also comment! Betsy writes a fabulous blog and you'll be glad you visited her!

And don't forget to let me know if you plan to make a Zen Mama Happiness Jar for yourself! Believe me, it is fun and a 100 % feel-gooder!

A huge thanks to everyone who read and commented on my post Keeping Time: Scenes from life: Miracles Do Happen at Emily's blog. You've no idea how overwhelmed I felt! I am also happy I got to meet some terrific bloggers there.

What can I say? Life is good.

With Love,

Vidya Sury

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Keeping Time: Scenes From Life

2012-01-03T10:19:00.000+05:30

Yesterday, I had the privilege of being featured on Emily's blog in her "Scenes From Life" category, where she generously invites readers to share their memories.

Emily's blog is one of the most beautiful blogs I've come across. She writes in a way that directly speaks to the reader's heart. I remember the first time I visited her blog. I was delighted at the visual treat with fabulous photos to accompany her great posts. What can I say? I didn't leave her blog for the next couple of hours because I couldn't get enough of it. Sometimes we come across blogs that make us think "Wish I could write like this" - and Emily's blog is one of those for me.

And so, when I reached the Scenes from Life tab, and read those stories, I wanted to write too. Emily was so sweet about it and scheduled me for the first Monday of January 2012.

Here is my post at Keeping Time: Scenes from life: Miracles Do Happen

I'd be thrilled if you'd visit the post at Emily's blog.

I am grateful to all those who patiently read through it and commented. Some day soon, I hope to write a semi-auto-biography about my life with my Mom.

I am thankful to the bloggers I've connected with, and who inspire me on a daily basis.

With love,

Vidya Sury

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Sundays In My City - Happiness

2012-01-02T10:40:00.002+05:30

Happy New Year to everyone - I wish you a year (and beyond) that is full of happiness, peace, health, joy, prosperity and may all your dreams come true.

I had the happiest week of the year, visiting my spiritual hometown. Why spiritual? Because it is my soul's home. Though I am from Tanjore in Tamil Nadu (a heritage city), I consider the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad my hometown because I spent a major part of my life there - the part that really mattered to me - high school, college, and a big chunk of my work life.

Vidur and I were there for three days and had a wonderful time meeting friends and seeing a bit of the city. This Sunday In My City, the photos are from our trip to Secunderabad and Hyderabad. Of course I clicked hundreds. But here are a handful. (Click to see original size; will open in new window.)

This beautiful statue is just outside the church on my old school campus

Painting on the wall opposite my old school - eliminate Child Labor

And what would any post of mine that involved photos be without one of a temple, eh? This is the snake goddess or Naga Devi temple opposite the Clock Tower in Secunderabad

Lovely tableau outside a mall celebrating Christmas and New Year

The Great Golkonda Fort. Roughly 400 steps to climb to reach the top. I did not give in to the urge. The place is massive and full of interesting history

Another view of the Golkonda Fort - I couldn't get enough of the place, even though I've visited at least a hundred times!

A beautiful Buddhist shrine atop a hill close to my friend's house. We had a fantastic view of the city from the top, but I was mesmerized by that kid sweeping the leaves. Every two swipes and his robe would come off and he'd fling down the broom to adjust it. I found it so cute to watch him.

At the entrance to the Buddhist shrine. Beautiful place.

Thank you Unknown Mami

Now let's head over to Unknown Mami's place and go visit some more cities

With love,

Vidya Sury

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Goodbye 2011

2011-12-31T23:19:00.000+05:30

As I realize I’ll never see 31.12.2011 again, I am also thrilled to note that I am ending this year on a joyous note, if not physically, definitely mentally and emotionally.

Overall, it has been a year of ups and downs, but am grateful that I was fortunate to enjoy the ups and had the strength to face the downs.

Here are some random moments from my 2011. If I missed something, blame it on my present feverish state – I am sick with a sore throat and a severe cold and my “mummy” now comes out as “bubby” – but physical indisposition aside, my heart and soul are happy creatures.

Friends

I am still basking in the happiness of meeting my closest friends on 29^th and 30^th Dec after 33 years, when I visited my spiritual hometown, Hyderabad. I was there for three days and had a fantastic time. These friends are classmates with whom I spent three years sharing the same bench from 1975 to 1978, in Grade 8, 9 and 10 in the same class. We went to the same college later but studied different subjects. We’ve been in touch, thanks to Facebook and I was lucky enough to be able to make a quick trip to my favorite town to meet them and spend happy moments, which I will record in my book of memories as some of the happiest in my life.

I am also thrilled that I can phone my existing friends and laugh with them every other day, knowing we’re adding years to our relationship.

Work

Made some great new contacts and got hired by a couple of long term clients. I enjoy the challenges of new projects and am grateful to my existing clients for the regular work flow. I also resumed writing my health column at Gingerchai.com after a very brief hiatus.

Blogging

This has been a very special year for my blogs, thanks to some terrific bloggers I’ve connected with. Happily, I moved my blog to its own domain in June 2010 and that feels real good. I now write two more of my own blogs besides this one, regularly, at Your medicalguide (health focused) and Coffee With Mi (a personal blog which I started writing when my Mom passed on in Feb 2010).

After working on it for a few months, I also created some new categories on this blog - feel free to use the excellent resources in the Elibrary. I also created the "Archives" that lists the last five hundred posts on this blog. And guess what - in 2012 - this blog will be ten years old! It has been a lovely journey since 2003.

I’ve tremendously enjoyed reading lots of blogs that inspired me and also helped improved my writing. Here special thanks are due to Terri Sonoda @tsonoda, KimSisto-Robinson @krrobi Unknown Mami @unknownmami , Rachel Speer @resp1016, Farida Rizwan @faridarizwan, Kimberly M @momgosomething, SheilaBurke @BeZensational, Betsy Henry @thezenmama, Lakshmi Rajan @lakshmirajan, Harleena @harleenas to name the wonderful people I keep in touch with almost on a daily basis - this list is by no means complete.

Special thanks to dearest Terri for my first blog award and her constant kindness.

And of course, I am grateful to my friends who phone me or meet me every other day and make my life happy.

2011 is also the year when I seriously worked on my book, thanks to the NaNoWriMo challenge. The first rough draft is ready and it will be a few more versions before it meets the publisher. I hope 2012 is the year that happens. I am grateful to those who have expressed an interest in this book.

I started supporting a few charities in 2010. I am glad I was able to continue doing this in 2011 in a bigger and better way. This is a major motivation in my life - I enjoy my work that much more as I know that every cent I earn is worthwhile.

I have learned many things in 2011 thanks to the Internet and the wonderful people I am associated with. I've also discovered Pinterest. What an addiction!

On a sad note, we lost several close relatives in our family and we’ll miss them dearly, especially the ones we lost without warning.

After all the wonderful list-type posts I read during the past few days, I feel I haven’t done as much justice to this post as I had planned in my head. It must be this awful ’flu I am going through right now. But I was determined to write the 'last post for 2011'.

What I can say with conviction though, is I am looking forward to a great 2012 – and wish you all a year that is full of smiles, health, peace, happiness, prosperity, growth – you name it, you got it!

See you all in 2012!

With love,

Vidya Sury

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An Affirmation for 2012

2011-12-27T16:06:00.000+05:30

It has been a hectic four days of travel and meeting family and friends. My next stint of travel begins today and I am very much looking forward to this trip. In the meantime, I am musing on how fast 2011 has whizzed by.

This has been a busy year, different in many ways and inspired by my blogging friends, I am tempted to take stock and list the most significant events in 2011. I am working on it, and will post it soon. Here's my favorite affirmation, for the moment.

The New Year is around the corner.

Do you believe in resolutions?

Are you making any?

Vidya Sury

Sunday In My City - In Chennai

2011-12-26T09:38:00.001+05:30

I was in Chennai for two days and returned yesterday - hence the slightly delayed Sunday In My City post - but I am cool because I know that even though it is Monday morning for me, half the world is still enjoying Sunday - and Christmas - so Merry Christmas to everyone!

Here are some photos from my trip! Although we went to see family, we did manage a quick trip to the Childrens' National Park and the Snake Park nearby, because it has some sweet memories for me. (Please ignore the date stamps on the photos - something wrong with my camera, and I am figuring out how to fix it. No, its not the battery.)

Click photo for original size - will open in a new window. Enjoy!

This depicts Vasudev, carrying Lord Krishna to safety. Did you know that the story of Jesus Christ has many similarities to Lord Krishna's?

I saw a big group of these with their heads buried in their feathers. Couldn't get the whole gang together though, so I made do with just two! They looked adorable!

I can't seem to get enough of these dudes. Night Herons. There were hundreds of them, just standing around on all surfaces. Guindy Children's National Park

This cute sculpture is from the caves in Mahabalipuram, near Chennai

The wall decor outside the Guindy Snake Park, Chennai. Ancient sculptures, beautifully maintained.

Near the crocodiles enclosure at the Snake Park. This is the snake god. :-) Only In India! We have a God for everything, and I love it!


What would my Sunday be without a photo of a Goddess! We went to visit a temple Vidur wanted to see - only to find that they were renovating it and the statues of the Goddesses (there are four deities in this temple) were in a temporary enclosure until the temple is fully built. Then, after a ceremony, the temple will be declared open again. We were not allow to take photos of the sanctum sanctorum. But every temple has one beautifully decorated statue of the deity, which is the one that is taken around in a procession and so forth. This photo is of that statue. The deity is "Kolavizhi Amman" a.k.a Chocolate Amman (Amman = Mother Goddess). They offer huge packs of chocolates and then, after the "pooja" they distribute the chocolates :-) Nice eh? By the way - all precious jewelry on the Goddess.

And now, let us go visit the beautiful Christmas tree at Unknown Mami's and thence to other cities - all without a passport, visa or tickets!

I wish everyone a fabulous Christmas and a grand New Year. May the coming months be everything you wish for!

Vidya Sury

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Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T19:16:00.001+05:30

Merry Christmas

Wishing you joy, love, hope, peace, health, wealth, happiness

and

just about anything you wish for!

Vidya Sury

Going A-Musing

2011-12-22T21:08:00.000+05:30

I am going to be off the www, the internet radar and spending some quality time with family for a couple of days. So I am sending out Friday hugs right now.

And if you feel like spending some time here, here are some posts you may like, from December 2008.

Or if you'd rather browse around and find your own favorites, make yourself at home with the archives.

Or - if you'd like to check out some great resources, here's the e-library

Or - if you'd rather chat with me - send me an email at vidzword at gmail dot com.

I know I am going to miss you. But I'll be back, soon, in a couple of days and tell you how it felt to be so close to a live and healthy computer that was switched off the whole time with a wi-fi router that blinked at me invitingly and tested my patience no end.

(If you’d like to turn off your own computer, but still want to update your website or blog, you can go to Article Writing Services to find free content for websites.)

Vidya Sury

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Relationship Secrets

2011-12-21T14:35:00.001+05:30

They could be 20 or 80 years old.

They could be of any color, size, shape or status.

It is irrelevant how long they have been together.

It is easy to recognize a happy and healthy relationship

Life is not perfect. (Oh, I know you know that!) But in spite of this, there are couples, friends and families who manage to stay committed to each other and love each other.

So what is the secret? Here is what I've found - some researched, and some I have had the privilege of learning, sometimes the hard way. You don't have to be lucky to enjoy your relationship. No - luck has nothing to do with it. It takes a lot of persistence, hard work and commitment. And here are the lessons I've learned:

You've got to be realistic

A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect. ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Long term relationships must be seen with realism tinted spectacles. All relationships go through peaks, plateaus and troughs. There will be roses and lots of them. But there will also be thorns. Recognizing this will help appreciate those rose petals.

You've got to work hard

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going ~ Beverly Sills

Relationships take a lot of work. There are times when just one of you seems to be making all the effort. If there are misunderstandings or problems, thrash them out. Don't go assuming that things will sort themselves out. Hey, it ain't magic. Just like anything you want to succeed with, relationships need to be worked on, nurtured and cared for, regularly. You know what they say: no pain, no gain.

You've got to make time for each other

One of the greatest gifts you can give someone is the gift of attention ~ Jim Rohn

Nothing can equal spending quality time together. It is okay to spend time sharing an activity. Sitting quietly watching TV doesn't really count, unless it is one of those totally gripping thrillers. Now, for me, I've reached that point in my relationship with my husband when we can both sit in the same room, working at our respective projects, with the TV on - and laughing and just looking at each other when we hear something - and we both know how we'll react. But it takes time to get here.

You've got to have space

Don't smother each other. No one can grow in the shade. ~Leo Buscaglia

As wonderful as it is to spend time with the ones you love, it is also important to get some space. It is healthy to have your own individual interests and things to do so that you return to the relationship refreshed. Lots more to talk about. You miss the people you are usually with and always cherish the value they bring to your life.

You've got to accept your differences

Soul-mates bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you. ~Author Unknown

Enjoy your differences. Just think about what drew you to the person in the first place. Okay, so we cannot choose our families, but when it comes to friendships and partners, the things that you loved initially are the things that make you maddest later. But hang on, stop to think about the things you loved. If there are differences, see the brighter side and appreciate it.

You've got to stop trying to change each other

Before you try to change others, remember how hard it is to change yourself ~ Bill Bluestein

Many people praise someone for the way they are, and then, when they get closer, expect them to change. Come on, it is okay to make the extra effort if the relationship is worth it. Stop complaining about trivial stuff. It is natural to get bugged once in a while, but don't make it a habit. Of course, with partners this can be a wee bit tough. But cutting each other some slack seriously helps. I'd get mad about many things before, but once Sury and I planned division of labor about various things around the house we suddenly had very little to complain about. Happiness walked in.

You've got to realize some problems have no solutions

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. ~ Carl Jung

Some problems are best left alone. So there are issues you disagree about. But instead of wasting energy arguing, why not agree to disagree and compromise? Your relationship can get healthier when you tackle these things amicably.

You've got to communicate

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges ~ Joseph F. Newton Men

The number one cause for relationships disintegrating is the lack of communication. Listen to each other. Empathize, even if you don't agree. Don't get defensive. Share thoughts and feelings.

You've got to embrace honesty

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything ~Mark Twain

Good old trust and honesty form the foundation for any relationship. Better to lay it all on the table than live with doubts.

You've got to respect each other

When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences then love has a chance to blossom ~ John Gray

And that holds good for any relationship. Don't take anyone for granted. Say your I love yous whenever you feel the urge to. I do that all the time. Who knows what might happen tomorrow!

After all, we only have one life. Why not live it in peace and harmony?

Got this nice pic from healthyheels.wordpress.com

Here's an all-time favorite of mine:

Present your family and friends with their eulogies now - they won't be able to hear how much you love them and appreciate them from the grave. ~Anonymous

People who have pursued an online psychology degree are sure to have some great suggestions, as well as people who have been in long relationships.

I'd love to know if you have some tips to add.

Vidya Sury

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Building Brainpower - Turning Grey Matter Into Gold

2011-12-19T19:21:00.001+05:30

Book Review

Building Brainpower - Turning Grey Matter Into Gold
By Dilip Mukerjea
320 exciting pages
Publisher: Westland
Rs.750/-

This extremely interesting book is authored by Dilip Mukerjea, whose work includes The Creative Brain Series and is considered one of the world’s top ten mind mappers.

Beautifully presented, “Building Brainpower” is a pleasure to read. Thought provoking content created the motivation to implement what I read as I turned the pages. Of course I made notes, as I usually do when I read something. Nicely kick-started with Goethe’s quote “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being”, the introduction reminds us of how we tend to accept mediocrity when we are capable of much more and impresses upon us the need to build brainpower through mind mapping (Tony Buzan's brainchild).

As promised, the book certainly brings forth some mental gymnastics, urging us to consciously interact with one another, sharing intellect and learning and striving to reach our infinite capacity for excellence. While we are all aware that our brain has infinite capabilities, it is when we recognize that there are no limitations that we can give wings to our dreams.

Dilip Mukerjea takes us through the evolution of the human brain – and probably because I am a Zoology Major, I found it quite fascinating. For those who would rather visualize it, there is a fabulous mind map of the Evolution of the human brain on page 36. This is followed by a listing of some of the world’s brainiest people.

Knowledge is NOT power. It is potential

Indeed. After a great lead in to the main topic of the book, the author takes us into Mind Mapping. “Why use mind maps” tells you the various benefits of using a mind map and the tools you need. At this point, you already know it is going to be a lot of fun.

But before you dive right in, the author explains the laws of mind mapping with the hows and why behind each why. Very convincing. He gives a step by step demo of a mind map, with the apt topic –Transportation and gradually builds around it.

The key to building a mind map is recognizing the keywords

There are some exercises that help you do this – much like how we used to build stories around an outline in school. This is followed by some examples of images you can use in mind maps on page 95. The author highlights the importance of vocabulary development and turbo charging your reading speed and comprehension.

Revision reinforces retention

There are lots of mind map examples related to a variety of topics ranging from our senses, journalists, religions and languages. This is followed by an extremely interesting mind map on Albert Einstein, the genius and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Part three of the book is about various modes of communication and Part four was a real treat with exercises, crosswords and quizzes, words of wisdom and lots of valuable resources for those who want to dig deeper.

Dilip Mukerjea says "Genius is our birthright." Imagine what heights we can reach if we started believing it and taking action!

What I liked/loved:

The message is clear. To harness the full potential of your mind, adopt mind mapping to stimulate your brain and accomplish your goals. The book is beautifully written. This book is for all ages.

I've always been a fan of mind maps as a sales trainer and use this technique for practically everything. So it was absolutely thrilling to browse the book, read the book and keep going back to parts of it. And of course I like the quotes, the limericks, the poems and the illustrations. I love the interactive exercises, the thought-provoking mini-questionnaires that make the reader think - and the little notes interspersed throughout the book. I also enjoyed the great mnemonics throughout the book.

The book was everything I expected it to be – and I am going to be busy with it for quite some time. What can I say? My 14-year old son Vidur loves the book too.

Needless to say, my son and I will be communicating through mind maps for a long time to come.

Thank you very much, Dilip Mukerjea. This book is one I am going to treasure in my library.

And thank you, BlogAdda.

This review is a part of the Book Reviews Program at BlogAdda.com. Participate now to get free books!

Vidya Sury

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Sundays In My City - An Old Staple

2011-12-18T10:29:00.000+05:30

Yes, folks, I cleverly said "old staple" - those who know me, know what that is. Temples. You see, my actual plan was to post some fabulous pictures (oh, let me dream!) of Vidur's school Annual Day which happened yesterday. What with all the running around, ferrying him to and fro and having to run to the bike mechanic in between, AND dithering over what to wear when I was supposed to land up there at 5 pm......I completely (yes, hit me!) forgot to carry my digital camera. Boo hoo! And to think I was all the time dreaming of posting some smashing photos.

I hate myself right now. I arrived there, went backstage to look for Vidur and generally hobnob with the other kids in various states of costume. As my eyes took their fill, my hands rummaged in my x-tra-large bag, only to find emptiness where digicam was supposed to be. I had to make do with my phone camera. The photos are not as good as I'd like, but good enough to create a few memories. I got quite a few kids with cute expressions, so ready to pose for me. But now my issue is,I suddenly thought - how can I post these photos without their permission? So. They'll sit in my memory album now.

Instead, I'll take you on yet another trip around the beautiful State, Karnataka, where we now live. Of course I have hundreds of photos from various places - I've picked some of my favorites. I have a Temple fetish. Fueled further by Vidur, who is busy sketching and writing a book about them. He's promised to give me credit as the photographer :-)

So here we go, if you aren't asleep already with my tale of semi-pseudo-woe! (Click the photos for the original size, in all its glory)

Anegadda Ganesha temple. Urrgh. Couldn't avoid the wires from any angle

The legendary Bahubali statue at Dharmasthala - DON'T ask me about body part proportions now.

Gokarna - night view of the Gold temple

Mangalore, Murudeshwar. They kept on building. What were they thinking? :-) It is completed now

Annapurneshwari Temple, Horanadu, a misty 6.30 am look

Kolar - 16th Century Shiva temple - inside

Kolar, 16th century Shiva temple - outside

Shringeri Sharada Temple. This is not the main temple. But I loved the architecture

This is the root of a tree ABOVE the ground inside a temple in North Karnataka. Amazing to look at.

I hope you enjoyed this. I love photographing temple architecture. And I am going to be doing a lot of this in the coming year, because Vidur has already ~~warned me~~ suggested that he's planning at least two or three temple trips. All I know, though, is that it is going to be great fun.

And in case you are interested in exploring further, after looking at Guide to Online Schools and finding the right religious studies degree for your situation, you can learn more about the meaning behind these temples.

And now, let's check out other beautiful cities at Unknown Mami's

Much thanks to Unknown Mami's Sunday in my City initiative, which I still think is one of the most brilliant I've come across.

Vidya Sury

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30 things

2011-12-15T12:09:00.001+05:30

I've always been a fan of lists and now I am even more crazy about them after I met Rachel. She's an expert list-maker. My mother was also big on lists and of course, the joy of seeing the number of things we check off is unparalleled. And oh, so motivating. To make the next one, of course.

Another inspiration for this post is the lists I've been reading the last few weeks. Kim of My Inner Chick is fabulous at making kickass lists. Terri's lists are such fun to read. Rachel's lists have a great tongue in cheek-ish humor that I really love.

So here's mine. See if some of them appeal to you the same way they appeal to me.

30 things that make me instantly happy

It is a weekday. It is raining. I continue to stay snuggled under the covers and watch the rain outside.
Rummaging for something desperately and finding a stash of cash. YES! That would always be my mother's shelf, always. Instantly rich.
Seeing someone at the supermarket, making eye-contact, feeling a great sense of deja-vu. Makes me think I know this person and I think I should make conversation. Two months later, we're good friends like we knew each other for all time.
Receiving a letter or parcel via courier. Email is great too, but the joy of physically holding a package is unparalleled and so exciting.
Rushing through traffic, short on time, and finding that each time I approach the traffic lights they're green to let me pass. Makes me feel that everything I touch today will be success.
Experiencing a life-and-death incident and being able to relate it humorously to loved ones. And feeling even more happy to be alive.
There's a song going through my head and then I turn on the radio/television to hear that same song announced, and hear it play.
Ultra thirsty. That first sip of water, knowing there's lots more where that came from
The heady combination of aftershave and cigarette smoke - pure nostalgia.
In conversation with a friend, and both saying the same thing simultaneously, using the same words. Ah, what bonding!
An empty supermarket counter, chatting with the staff as they bill my stuff. Asking each other if we had coffee, breakfast. And saying 'bye like we are long lost pals.
Waking up disoriented and realizing it is a holiday, and realizing it is okay to catch another hour in bed.
Waiting at Vidur's school gate, and watching children of all sizes and shapes tumble out and catching snippets of their conversation. Guaranteed smiles!
The smell of freshly pressed clothes. Very feel-good, combining the fragrance of the washing soap, some lingering perfume and the warmth of the iron.
Returning home, opening the front door and smelling the familiar smells.
An "a-ha" moment that results in a superb idea that works! Great feeling.
Getting into bed after changing the sheets, with the lingering fragrance of the cupboard, the freshness, feels quite like Goldilocks.
Driving somewhere. Come upon an amazing view. Grab camera and capture it. And find it is one of the best pictures I've clicked. At least in my mind ;-)
Chatting with friends, recalling old times, and having a good laugh, basking in the happiness of many more times like these ahead.
Thinking of a friend who is out of touch, and receiving a call from them five minutes later, like they were waiting for a sign.
Feeling low - and being complimented by many people and finding my mood lifting. As if they knew I need to be pepped up. Divine intervention style.
Reading something amazingly funny. Having a good laugh and remembering it all day.
Going for a walk and coming back invigorated and feeling much healthier and that all is right with the world
An impromptu celebration of an unexpected good news. What fun!
Setting off aimlessly with only the first destination in mind, wandering around and finding that this day will always be etched in my memory.
A hug and a kiss from my son.
Singing in the Rain (except when I am returning from the month's grocery shopping and carrying the bags home)
Spending time with someone and having tell me I made their life better.
Starting a huge project, feeling intimidated only to find I sail through it, finish it successfully and also receive great feedback. What an upper!
Discovering a new blog that makes me want to spend all day reading all the posts ever written on the blog.

This is just a top-of-the-mind list. I could really go on and on. Wondering why 30? Well, why not!

Won't you share yours?

Vidya Sury

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I will, I will!

2011-12-13T22:46:00.000+05:30

Folks, making the resolution to lose a few pounds was easy. Exciting, even. In November, during the NaNoWriMo, when I drove myself to run past the finish line and kept on running, I consoled myself that I'd make up for the non-activity, bunking the daily walk, taking the stairs (c'mon! I needed the energy to write!), etc. etc. in December. December came, and started with good - no, great - intentions. And almost mid-way into the month, I have ONE question.

Why is it so hard to take action?

It isn't as though I don't have the resolve. I have plenty of it. But I find time the biggest thief - stealing all my intentions. And making me eat stuff I normally don't eat. Shucks! A week ago, I actually bought a pack of potato chips. (Fried, not baked). Because I had a burger two days earlier, and it came garnished with five potato chips. While I congratulated myself for sharing three with Vidur, the taste triggered the deep urge to devour a whole pack. Slurrrp!

No one can eat just one, or two, right?

So, after resisting for two days, two whole frickin' days, I boldly walked into my usual shop and bought a pack. I stared at it for half a day. On and off, of course, not all the time. I do have a life, you know.

Anyway, said life started revolving around that pack of chips. So I decided to eat it and get it over with. So in the evening, we went for a walk (had to go get something you know) and got back. And I sat down to watch something on TV. And remembered the chips. And went and put half the pack in a bowl. And savored it, one by one.

Sury was slightly shocked. He hasn't seen me eat chips for years now - simply because I don't eat it. He opened his mouth to say something, then shut it. Smart move. I continued to eat it. Finished it. And ran my finger over the bottom of the bowl to lick off the salt. Eeesh. As I washed my hands, guilt washed over me. What was I to do? Still had half a pack left. I called upon my strong willpower to resist it. And did.

Which brings me to the point (took my time, didn't I?) of this post.

How can I manage my weight without working too hard and without feeling guilty? I did the research and am happy to report that I have much to share with you, all ye close to my heart. Tell me, would you say "NO" to tips that do not require too much effort, are easy to adopt into your routine and show you results in the form of a new and improved you? I didn't think so!

So let me get on with the tips. Sit back. ~~Get your bag of chips~~. Get a tall glass of water. Put your feet up and read on. Following even a few should prove satisfactory. (An online biology degree can also be a great resource for those who would like to learn more about how the human body works, including how it stores fat.)

Drink

Plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages. So, what this means is before you grab that bag of chips, first drink water. For all you know, you're mistaking thirst for hunger. If you eat, instead of drink water, you're adding extra calories you can do without. If water is not your cup of tea, try herbal tea.

Mind your nighttime snacking

Apparently most people tend to snack after dinner simply because it is that time of day when they sit down and relax. If you're watching TV, it is all too easy to snack. Not saying you shouldn't. Just saying choose a low-cal snack. Or just shut down your kitchen after a particular hour.

It is okay to eat your favorite foods

This is a good one. So instead of depriving yourself of what you like, cut down on quantity. Buy less.

Eat six meals instead of three

I mean mini-meals. Divide your daily meals into smaller ones. This will help manage hunger and appetite, and the Holy Grail, weight.

Include protein at every meal

Protein is a great filler-upper. Better than empty carbs and fats. Also builds muscle and burns fat. So go for healthy proteins like lean meat, yogurt, cheese, nuts, or beans.

Spice it up (I wrote a post about this at gingerchai.com today)

Spices and chili not only add flavor but also satisfy your tummy, making you eat less and help you cut down on salt and sugar, reducing your risk for many health problems.

Be prepared

Stock up on healthy, convenient foods, ready-to-eat snacks and quick meals. Be ready to rustle up a meal in a few minutes. Keep these handy: frozen vegetables, whole-grain pasta, reduced-fat cheese, canned tomatoes, canned beans, pre-cooked stuff, salad greens, etc. I usually go for fruits. No prep. Good to eat.

Become a child

When you eat out, order children's portions. This helps cut calories. Or use smaller plates. Makes your plate look full, satisfies you psychologically and your tummy will be happy, too.

Never skip breakfast

It took me a long time to adopt this habit, I am ashamed to say. When you miss breakfast, you feel hungry and end up snacking until lunch time. This leads to bingeing on food. So make sure you get a healthy, fiber-rich breakfast. I choose the lazy easy route - with muesli, fruit, raisins and milk.

Get plenty of fiber, fruits and vegetables in your diet

Fiber facilitates digestion, avoids constipation, and lowers cholesterol and aids weight loss. Good sources of fiber are oatmeal, beans, whole grain foods, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Mommy was right, you know.

Get enough sleep

Those who don't get their sleep quota are not only grumpy, but also snack more. Let's get technical here. Here's what happens: You sleep less. Your body freaks out and produces too much "ghrelin" the appetite-trigger hormone and too little leptin, which signals that you're full. So you eat, eat, eat.

Imbibe less alcohol

In fact, limit it to weekends. An occasional drink is okay, but alcohol is empty calories. (don't throw that at me - I am only the messenger!)

Now, some quickie tips:

If you want a treat, walk to the farthest place to get it and walk back
Don't go on crash diets. They only lead to crash binge-eating, not to mention self-pity
You do need to eat healthy and exercise. A 30-minute brisk walk at least five days a week is a MUST!
Chewing sugarless gum is believed to control snacking, besides keeping your mouth smelling fresh.
If you need a treat, it doesn't have to be food. It can be a movie, a book, a CD...
Tell your friends. Get them to support you. Who knows, you might add a buddy or two to motivate you to reach your healthy lifestyle goal. Even if they don't join you, they'll cheer you on!

Urrrgh. I have a confession to make. I bought another bag of chips today. Because I finished the old half yesterday. I won't buy them again. Really!

Will you try at least some of the above tips? Do you already follow some?

Vidya Sury

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Sentimental

2011-12-12T17:46:00.000+05:30

Oh yes. The more I think about it, the more reassuring/funny/soothing it gets. And I owe it all to my girlfriends. I've connected with some truly wonderful people during the last few months (you know who you are) and I am tremendously enjoying conversations with them. I love how I can keep in touch over email with them - it is as exciting as it used to be, years ago. (Thanks Rachel!) Thanks to technology, I no longer need to bug the postman every day to find out if he has a letter for me. Besides being beautiful people, both inside and out, these ladies are also fantastic writers and I really look forward to seeing their email updates and then, heading straight over to their blogs. I feel blessed to know them.

Today, I am not going to look for a picture for my post, because I've got a really cute guest over from Terri's blog. His name is Fred. Here he is and he's looking for a party - any time, Fred!

I believed in Santa, when I was little. Like 5 years old. I seriously believed that the pillow covers I thoughtfully hung up, thinking a stocking would be too small were filled by him. Poor Mom. Santa got all the credit. Just like when a tooth fell off, and I wrapped it in paper and put it under my pillow, I believed the tooth fairy replaced it with gifts. I later realized the tooth fairy was really my Mom.

I enjoyed Christmas until I was 15 because I studied in Christian schools. I sang hymns and carols better than our own Hindu stuff and made the sign of the cross each time we entered a temple. I attended early morning mass every day during my sixth grade, because it was infinitely more peaceful at 6 am than fight over who could use the bathroom first or grab the mug of water or argue over who would make the beds. All in good fun. I had the same wonderful feeling when I visited my school in Mumbai last year. Here's the church:

Mount Mary's Church, Bandra, Mumbai

And here is the school:

Mount Mary School, Bandra, Mumbai

Until my fourth grade, the teachers at my school would bring Christmas cakes home. Without eggs, because we were vegetarian. Was I special, you may ask. Um...yes, I guess. But they did it out of love and the strong relationship that had developed over the years. My Mom not only went to the same school as a child but later, worked here too. My fourth grade teacher was hers, too. Later this teacher was also my guardian in my sixth grade when I studied in boarding school that year in a different city. I feel so nice to think about her. Imagine - we knew her through two generations and even after our family moved from the city, my uncles would still keep in touch with her because she became a family friend.

I am also thinking of my girlfriends who've been in my life for so many decades now - that's saying a lot and I cherish the love so much. It is such a warm feeling to know that we are all accessible to each other and can just converse as though our last conversation was a few minutes ago.

This reminds me of a lovely forward I received many years ago. I've published it before on this blog, and I'd like to share it here again. Big hug to whoever wrote it, because it is so true and so nicely expressed and it sums up girlfriends to a G. My mother used to tell me much the same thing bless her soul.

..... I sat on the porch overlooking a beautiful mountain lake on a summer day, enjoying a glass of wine with my Mom. Older than me, mother of four, experienced and wise.

"Get yourself some girlfriends," she advised, swirling the wine in her glass. "You are going to need girlfriends. Go places with them, do things with them."

What a funny piece of advice, I thought.

Hadn't I just gotten married? Hadn't I just joined the couple-world? I was a married woman, for goodness sake, not a young girl who needed girlfriends. But I listened to my Mom and I got back in touch with my old girlfriends of years long gone. As the years tumbled by, one after another, gradually I came to understand that

Mom knew what she was talking about.

Here is what I know about them:

Girlfriends bring casseroles and scrub your bathroom when you are sick.

Girlfriends keep your children and keep your secrets.

Girlfriends give advice when you ask for it.

Sometimes you take it, sometimes you don't.

Girlfriends don't always tell you that you're right, but they're usually honest.

Girlfriends still love you, even when they don't agree with your choices.

Girlfriends might send you a birthday card, but they might not. It does not matter in the least.

Girlfriends laugh with you, and you don't need canned jokes to start the laughter.

Girlfriends pull you out of jams.

Girlfriends don't keep a calendar that lets them know who hosted the other last.

Girlfriends will give a party for your son or daughter when they get married or have a baby, in whichever order that comes!

And girlfriends are there for you, in an instant and truly, when the hard times come.

Girlfriends listen when you lose a job or a husband.

Girlfriends listen when your children break your heart.

Girlfriends listen when your parents minds and bodies fail.

My girlfriends bless my life. Once we were young, with no idea of the incredible joys or the incredible sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each
other.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Agree, girlfriends?

Vidya Sury

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Going A-Musing

The Haiku Challenge 2012 - Day 1 - What is Life?

The Power of Positive Posture

Sunday In My City - Vishwa Shanti Ashram 1

Book Review: Balasaraswati, Her Art and Life

Sunday In My City - Taking Time to Smell the Flowers

Who is right?

Relationships

Sunday In My City - Sankranthi

Dear Blogger

Random Conversations -1

Sunday In My City - My Doorstep

Taking Stock

Keeping Time: Scenes From Life

Sundays In My City - Happiness

Goodbye 2011

An Affirmation for 2012

Sunday In My City - In Chennai

Merry Christmas

Going A-Musing

I am going to be off the www, the internet radar and spending some quality time with family for a couple of days. So I am sending out Friday hugs right now.

And if you feel like spending some time here, here are some posts you may like, from December 2008.

Be Happy - Your time starts now!

Good Gifts, Bad Gifts

Getting what we expect

Attitude: First Class!

Or if you'd rather browse around and find your own favorites, make yourself at home with the archives.

Or - if you'd like to check out some great resources, here's the e-library

Or - if you'd rather chat with me - send me an email at vidzword at gmail dot com.

I know I am going to miss you. But I'll be back, soon, in a couple of days and tell you how it felt to be so close to a live and healthy computer that was switched off the whole time with a wi-fi router that blinked at me invitingly and tested my patience no end.

(If you’d like to turn off your own computer, but still want to update your website or blog, you can go to Article Writing Services to find free content for websites.)

Vidya Sury

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Relationship Secrets

Building Brainpower - Turning Grey Matter Into Gold

Sundays In My City - An Old Staple

30 things

I will, I will!

Sentimental

Going A-Musing

The Haiku Challenge 2012 - Day 1 - What is Life?

The Power of Positive Posture

Sunday In My City - Vishwa Shanti Ashram 1

Book Review: Balasaraswati, Her Art and Life

Sunday In My City - Taking Time to Smell the Flowers

Who is right?

Relationships

Sunday In My City - Sankranthi

Dear Blogger

Random Conversations -1

Sunday In My City - My Doorstep

Taking Stock

Keeping Time: Scenes From Life

Sundays In My City - Happiness

Goodbye 2011

An Affirmation for 2012

Sunday In My City - In Chennai

Merry Christmas

Going A-Musing

I am going to be off the www, the internet radar and spending some quality time with family for a couple of days. So I am sending out Friday hugs right now.

And if you feel like spending some time here, here are some posts you may like, from December 2008.

Be Happy - Your time starts now!

Good Gifts, Bad Gifts

Getting what we expect

Attitude: First Class!

Or if you'd rather browse around and find your own favorites, make yourself at home with the archives.

Or - if you'd like to check out some great resources, here's the e-library

Or - if you'd rather chat with me - send me an email at vidzword at gmail dot com.

I know I am going to miss you. But I'll be back, soon, in a couple of days and tell you how it felt to be so close to a live and healthy computer that was switched off the whole time with a wi-fi router that blinked at me invitingly and tested my patience no end.

(If you’d like to turn off your own computer, but still want to update your website or blog, you can go to Article Writing Services to find free content for websites.)

Vidya Sury Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to email updates and get new posts right into your mailbox!

Relationship Secrets

Building Brainpower - Turning Grey Matter Into Gold

Sundays In My City - An Old Staple

30 things

I will, I will!

Sentimental

Vidya Sury

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