Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Thought for the Day #3 - And should you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there forever? – Jane Eyre

Random Thought #3.1

You know the job gives you 2 lacs per month but doesn’t give you 2 minutes to hit the bathroom. 
Angel: Not worth a darn, you dumb head!
Devil: Look at all the money you get.  Car in a year.  Independent house in two. 

You know the guy you love is a drunkard.  He’s totally not worth your love.
Devil:  He’s my eternal love.  I can’t imagine a life without him.
Angel: Let go off that idiot!  There are other smarter and cuter guys in the planet.  If you can’t find one, I’ve heard Mars has better ones! Move on, my baby!

TFTD – Why does the Devil always win the battle of thoughts?
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Random Thought #3.2 (Or maybe a Sequential Thought #3.1.2)

Which brings us back to the question - "And should you like to fall into that pit, and to be burning there forever?"

Obvious answer – No.  Interestingly, except for the father in Somalia who goes to sleep worrying if his son will survive another day without food or the mother in Iraq who doesn’t know if her child will live to see the world yet another day, the sufferings of everyone else is self-inflicted; because of the choices that we make – OURSELVES!
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P.S: Now don't worry, my TFTD's were supposed to be fun and I definitely don't want to set a bleak mood in here.. things will get better if you read "I moved your cheese" by Deepak Malhotra.  It did for me and I guess it did make sense, at least some!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Thought for the Day #2 - What's with this poetic and advertising license?

My previous TFTD - Birthday Candles

#1 Ever heard of this song "ஒவ்வொரு பூக்களுமே சொல்கிறதே" in the movie Autograph?

Well, if you did, ever wondered why the lyricist wrote "ஒவ்வொரு பூக்களுமே" when it should have been "ஒவ்வொரு பூவுமே"?  We've been thought right from childhood that its "Every single flower" and not "Every single flowers"!!

#2 Now think of this, McDonald's ad line "I'm loving it!".

I distinctly remember my English teacher at school telling me that sense of touch, sight and smell don't take the present continuous form. It's always "I see it".  It can never be "I'm seeing it" or for that matter "I smell it" and not "I'm smelling it"!!

So, hey you poets, lyricists and advertisers... you're the lucky guys out there.. you know you have the license to err...  and I'm "jealousing" it, cause I'm not one among you!! :P :P :P

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Kids, I've learnt this from you "Self-Pride even during times of adversity"

Hmm.. talking of Andhra and Child Labor...

The PG accommodation I stayed before this one, was run by Reddy Gaarus.  Now one thing I hate about them (though I owe them big time for the amazing pappu dal and spicy gonkura chutney) is that they employ kids as bonded labors -pay their parents a meager amount every year and bring the kids to work for them, at the PG accommodation.

My stomach used to crunch every time I saw these cute kids Venki, Prasanna and Seenu clean my room, wash all the soiled dishes, or cut vegetables at 5 in the morning and they're not even half my age!

Luckily, there were other friends of mine at the PG who sympathized with them as well, and together we wanted to make a difference in their profane lives.  We thought it would be best to pool in some money and send them to a nearby government school.  So, we call the kids one day to my room and tell them this, assuming the kids would love this idea.  BUT..

All three of them NOD and say no.. They don't want to go to a school.  They're happy with the meager 100 bucks our owner gave them.  But why?  They won't give me an answer but its a firm no and the owner is already screaming their names at the top of her voice and they make a dash outside to answer her call.

Two days later, I try convincing them again, saying I would talk the owner, how education was important, how getting a decent job once they complete school would mean a lot. But NO.. either my convincing skills were bad or the kids had a solid reason to say NO..

This left me thinking as to what might be the actual reason they refused.

Reason #1:  The kids are too scared of the owner.  I once heard of the story when one of these kids tried finding another job outside and got a whacking on the ear, from the owner.  :(

Reason #2:  Our PG was the ONLY place they knew in Bangalore.  They'd never been to the park two streets away.  Maybe its like in the movie "Shawshank Redemption" where this old guy Brooks is freed on parole, but unable to adjust to the outside world after 50 years in prison hangs himself.  Similarly, maybe its the fear of facing the world that made them say No.. 

Reason #3:  Self-pride.  I'm a little inclined to this one, because I have my own reasons!  I started getting "5 Star" bars for the youngest kid - Seenu, everyday when I came back from office.  The first day he took it from me ecstatically.  The second day with a smile.  The third day was a bit reluctant but it took it from me after I forced him to.  The fourth day, he sternly refused.  I was a little taken aback but did notice the self-pride in the child.  That night I narrated the incident to Pragna, my roomie, and she goes "Oh yeah.. these kids have a lot of self-pride. They would rather work and earn the 100 bucks they get from our owner, rather than get anything for free - be it a 5 Star or education for that matter!".   

Whatever be the reason(s), their self-pride and never die spirits were actually inspiring.  They worked all day and still laughed a lot, always were cheerful and I loved their daily "Akka, ee roju office lo enti visheshalu.. Annam thinnara akka?" (Pardon me if my Telugu is incorrect!)  Maybe there was lots apart from education taught in schools, that I needed to learn from them - How to stay cheerful even in times of adversity definitely being one of them.

I don't see the kids anymore after I left the PG, but I think of them often.  I seriously wish their lives improved, and they continued to smile and stay their cheerful selves.  Love you and miss you Venki, Prasanna and Seenu!

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P.S: I still don't think refusing education by guarding your self-pride was a right thing.  I honestly wish the guys studied.  But what resulted out of the whole thing, was me loving their never-say-die attitude, their tenacity and me learning always to smile, in whichever situation I might be.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Thought for the Day #1 - Birthday Candles

It was Jithu's birthday and Radha had ordered a wonderful chocolate truffle cake.  I was literally drooling over the cake waiting to grab a piece when,

8.15.30 PM:   Everyone's gathered around the cake
8.15.32 PM:   Jithu almost with the knife a few inches away from the cake and close to cutting it
8.15.39 PM:   (Someone in the crowd) "Hold on, where are the candles?"
8.17.50 PM:   Radha, after a frantic search in all the drawers confirms we had none.
8.18.10 PM:   (The 'someone' goes again.. ) "Candles MUST be blown when the birthday cake is cut, if not, bring the matchbox over, let him at least blow a lighted matchstick!"
8.18.30 PM:   So there goes Jithu, blows out a lighted matchstick and proceeds to cut the cake wildly..

Well this instantly made me think..

A birthday is a happy occasion, ain't it?  And a birthday party - a happier one! ;-)  Then why do we blow out lighted candles, especially when light is considered to bring warmth and joy?  Instead why not, light candles and let it die out gradually?  Just like what Mom does in our Pooja room with the Kamakshi vilakku?

I never got an answer!



3 Quick n Easy Girlie DIYs

#1 Water Marble Nail Art

Thanks to Rek, who introduced me to this stuff; it turned out to be the funnest thing in a long while! :)

And, of course, thanks to Youtube.  For those of you, who don't know what marble nail art is, here you go and in the end, that's how cute my nails looked like! :-D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9A_9FH7e-A

   

#2 Home-made Waxing

Though I love getting myself pampered at a salon, preparation of this home made wax was damn easy.  Trust me!  Its Youtube again! ;-) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLjyttw0Tlk and that's how it looked on me before and after!


#3 Yay.. Hair Do's!

LuxyHair tutorials on Youtube.. man, the best Hair tutorials ever.  I simply love Mimi and Leyla.  Way to go, gurls! - http://www.youtube.com/user/LuxyHair

So, here goes my Mimi-inspired French braid.

             



Tuesday, August 20, 2013

OH WHATEVER NEVER MIND: 14-03-08, 16.08 PM - Apocalypse then

OH WHATEVER NEVER MIND: 14-03-08, 16.08 PM - Apocalypse then: That was the time and date when I really felt like totally excavated :( Why? Thats what this post is all about. 14th March was a real bad d...

7 (Weird) Things I do when I feel low

Whenever I feel low, these are stuff (some might sound weird) I’d do to get back to being the cheerful me.

#1 Scribble on a sticky note things that I am blessed with

A very good friend of mine gave me this awesome pep talk a few months ago.  

He meant, “Flunked your tests?  Got beaten up by your Manager?  In a debt?  Embarrassed and feel like a piece of shit?  In neck deep trouble?  Discover you have both cholesterol and sugar when “think” you are a fitness freak?

Even if you find yourself in ALL these situations and in 10 other equally worse ones, Never ever ask “why me?”  Instead feel grateful for the things you are blessed with.  There are thousands of people out there whose plight is even worse and we are far better.”



So the other day, when I was low, I took a sticky note and scribbled everything that I was blessed with and for a second imagined how elated I would feel, when I lost every single thing on the list and finally got it back.  It definitely did make me feel much better!

#2 I do things to feel appreciated

I know it was just this one time I helped my 60-year old neighbor in Bangalore run his errands when he was sick. Ah.. and he keeps saying this even now, 3 years later, to every other person, how I am this lovely girl who helped him once.  And you know.. it does feel good to be appreciated.. :-D



So, the next time you feel low, go help the next-door, 80-year grandma fix her broken glasses.  Take your neighbor’s dog for a walk.   Volunteer to teach English in a local public school.  Help the five year old school-going kid carry his 10 kg schoolbag.  Go to an orphanage and spend time with the kids there.  (I’ve done this and the way the kids fondly ask me “Lavanya akka, epdi irukeenga”, shake my hands and want to pose with me as if I'm Bill Gates, warms my heart)



I’m sure it not only helps you lift your spirits but it also goes a long way in having a healthy relationship with your neighbors, your team or the kids.

#3 I cook like it’s served for nobility and eat like a King

I’m sure the pictures are self-explanatory!!




Stuff that I cooked, when I was all alone in the US and believe me, I've literally gobbled everything until the last piece of rice left; all in one sitting! :-D

I get such a huge sense of satisfaction when I do my own cooking.  How the food turns out to be.. umm.. that’s another question! 

So now you know, what you can try when you feel a bit low.  Never mind, if you are no good at cooking.  Boiling a pack of Maggi noodles might work as well! ;-)


#4 Pamper myself at a beauty spa

I hope my Dad doesn’t read this article! ;-)  He hates me going to a parlor! But still, I need to be honest - I love being at a spa.  Emptying 500 bucks out of your pockets and getting a facial massage, wow, that’s the best thing you need when you’re low.  FEEL PAMPERED!




#5 The sense of achievement when I hand-wash my clothes or do my dishes..

I know, this might sound stupid.  But two things that makes me feel so proud of myself –

a.      Washing my clothes by hand – It’s a painstaking job to wash a two-week pile of soiled clothes in my hostel in Bangalore, but believe me, when I’m done, it’s such a sense of satisfaction! Weird, isn’t it?



b.     Do the dishes at home – My mom has made a lazy bum of me (I like to attribute my laziness to her pampering me). I’m not proud to say this, but I hardly remember helping her with the housework ever.  But at times, once in a blue moon, I help her with the dishes.  When I’m done and see them spick-and-span, oh my, the sense of achievement.. ha ha, I actually feel much prouder than this one time I got an Individual Excellence Award @ Honeywell!!



#6 Go on a long drive, “singing” like I care about nothing

A long drive in my tiny Alto, with the windows raised, the music system blaring and me “singing” even louder like I had no worries! (“Singing” in quotes coz some people might think its barking, or even worse - braying)



I’ve seen people chuckle, some even give me a nasty stare, when they catch a glimpse of me though the window, mimicking Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” live performance@ BRIT's.. but who cares?

This one to me, is such a mood lifter.. I can’t emphasize enough how happy it makes me feel!  I'm seriously thinking I should quit being a Technical Lead / Portal Consultant and start being a FastTrack Taxi driver!   Or even better will be turning into a lorry driver for Rajam Lorry Service.  (My mind voice says, Pedha vehicle, Pedha sandosham!) ;)

#7 A quick ‘Hi’  to my favorite God – Murugan in his shrine

Well, if none of the above seem to work, maybe some divine intervention can help.

So, I go see Murugan – My first love! 
His divine beauty and the eternal smile gives me the warmth that's sure to keep me cheerful all day.



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P.S: - I consider 7 to be my lucky number.  So let me stop with that! ;-) 

But there’s definitely one person who needs special mention.  Someone who helped me when I was low and told me that writing a blog would be such a let out of emotion.  He was absolutely true.. I don’t care if none read my blog, I just love the fact that it’s a let out of my emotion and depicts my mood. 

So, yeah thanks, Shaunbatty @ Pasu.  You can find him on - http://riddikilus.blogspot.in/, he's been a true inspiration for me to even create a blog at the first place.  Way to go, man!





Sunday, August 18, 2013

முருகா, எனக்கு நீ என்றும் அழகு





அதிகாலை..
திருபரன்குன்றம்..

செருப்பு அறுந்ததை எண்ணி சலித்தேன்
வாயிலில் கால் ஊனமுற்ற ஒருவரை பார்க்கும் வரை..

கோயிலின் உள்ளே விரைந்தேன் உன்னை நாடி ..
உன் புன்சிரிப்பை ஒரு நொடி கண்ட நான்
நாள் முழுதும் நெகிழ்ந்தேன் ..

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Keshav Surendra at his BEST

I'm an ardent fan of Keshav's Catroonscape in the Hindu.  Today's one was brilliant, capturing the falling rupee crisis in the right sense. I couldn't help but share it with you all.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/cartoon/article5029728.ece

I've been trying to project my thoughts through pictures like his, ah .. now I know why he is a genius! :-)
Nevertheless, one fine day, you'll see one of my cartoons as well.. :-)


10 Most Annoying things people say

My list of top 10 dumb things people say! :-)

# 1 Did I wake you?
No. Sometimes I like to lay limp and breath heavily with my eyes closed.

# 2 I, personally
After saying "I", do you really feel the need to stress the fact that you're making a personal statement? You had me at I.

# 3 It is what it is
If by "it", you mean redundant nonsense, then "it" sure is.

# 4 Don't judge a book by its cover
Really? What better way is there to judge a book?

# 5 There are no stupid questions
If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions? - Scott Adams

# 6 You know what I'm saying?
Hmmm... Why did you take the time to learn the English language (assuming that you did) if you're going to ask this question after every third word? You either think I have comprehension problems or you doubt your skills as a speaker. Which is it?

# 7 It's Always in the last place you look
No it isn't. I find it then I keep looking around to take inventory of where it wasn't. Of course, it was in the last place I looked. Why would I keep looking after I've found it?

# 8 Think outside of the box
Why didn't you tell me that earlier. I've been sitting in this damned box for 4 days straight, trying to figure out why I was in it to begin with.

# 9 I thought to myself
That's kind of how it works. Well, at least until they create brain wifi. Or are you so used to thinking for other people that you had to make the distinction.

# 10 It's a piece of cake
Firstly, no, it isn't. I've never heard someone say "it's a piece of cake" when referring to an actual piece of cake. Who would have to explain that to someone, anyhow? Secondly, what makes cake a symbol for simplicity? How many people do you know that can bake a cake, from scratch, without instructions? I can't. Even if you can bake a cake, it's still not easy enough to be considered the poster child for ease. Baking takes a lot more time and attention than cooking. Maybe they meant pancake? "It's as easy as a pancake". It sounds stupid but it's more fitting than cake.
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Courtesy: Yahoo Voices, Yahoo contributor network.  I love reading your blogs! :-)

Friday, August 16, 2013

Yo man, enuf of Facebook, switch over to Ditchbook!

After all these years of wanting to write a blog, I finally found time to create one.  True that I have a compelling reason,  "No more Facebooking."







If you want to know why FB started annoying me, then here you go; the ones that made it to the top five. 

#5  Overuse the new “What are you doing?” bar and share every feeling that your brain transmits. Are you feeling fat? Hungry? Sick? (each followed by a series of emoticons)  
Thanks for the info. I couldn't care less. Do you seriously think the 499 of your other so called "friends" care either?

#4  "Like" every single thing that's posted out there.  Your niece says she's been watching 4 movies back to back, you like it.  Your nephew poses at a night club, you like it.  His status says, "Down with typhoid".  And you like it.
Say it with me: Ugh!  This doesn't make you the "good" Aunt!

#3  “I’m a traveler, a fitness freak, a lover, a trekker, a swimmer, a cyclist .”
Come on, I don't just Internet-know you, I real-know you.  Seriously, a fitness freak, my dear roomie?? ;-)

#2  Spam FB with messages for your husband, who's just 10 feet away from you. "The best birthday ever, with my sweet hubby taking me out for a surprise dinner and gifting me a teddy bear.  I thank the good lord for giving me such a wonderful person.  Thank you so much dear; I had a wonderful evening".  
I mean, really?  Do you have to post this on your wall, when you can actually turn around and tell him.  And FYI... your honeymoon pictures are only for YOU!

And finally, topping the list - 
#1  “Facebook’s new layout sucks!” “Twitter takes forever to load!” “Instagram is getting boring by the day.”
So, um, why are you still on them? :-)

So, here's me wanting to switch over to a "Ditchbook" Start by making friends with the whole world and unfriend them as you go!

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P:S: - For those of you who don't know me in person, I'm no sad sack, the internet is a happy place for me. FB can be a happy place too, if you remember this, 
* You get what you give.  The Old Testament rule applies.
* Beware of silent stalkers.  You know how I found one?  When he accidentally had my name as his status, when he should have used the Search box above. 

 But all this apart, Happy Posting, guys!