New York….An empire state of mind…

This Christmas I was quite determined to be in New York City…I have been to NYC before, also on Christmas. Trodded down to Rockefeller Centre and through TimesSquare. It is always electric.

This time I wanted to see the Holiday Lights. Its akin to visiting various Durga Puja / Ganesh Pandals in India to see what decorations each community has come up with. And they outdo themselves each year.

So New York it was on Christmas Eve.

Of course it might have been better at St Patrick’s cathedral. But I hear its months and months of waiting to simply get a ticket. So we had to simply drive past it.

St Patricks Cathedral Picture Source: www.trekexchange.com

This city is so alive and vibrant. And crowded You see people of so many colors, and countries, you had start wondering at God’s creativity or should I say Nature!

I wish I could add Alicia Keys/JayZ hommage to NYC “Empire State of Mind” as a background.

To quote from their song:

New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothing you can’t do
Now you’re in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Hear it for New York

I will let the pics do the rest of the talking…Pardon the injustice, my camera is old. Bish took very few pics from his hifi cam.

No snow..

It’s been bitterly cold here and winter hasn’t even officially started yet! (It starts tomorrow). The mercury was married to Zero-O degrees celsius for most of November this year. And yet my town has seen only a dusting of snow flurries. No major snow yet! Which is a mercy for all car owners and a bit of a let down for all romantics.

Guess which category I belong to?

Surprisingly, some of my friends from Mumbai have been talking about buying a sweater and Hyderabad has had a 9 degree C day. I have in my 22 years of stay in Mumbai never needed more than a thin cotton bedsheet through winter. I have never worn a sweater during my childhood. And now when I swaddle myself with jacket, sweaters, scarf, gloves and hat, I smile at the delicious irony of life.

Born in warm to very hot climates, I now live in icy cold temperatures. A complete turnaround. I used to look at pictures of Manali, Dehradun and fight the desire in my heart to go make snow angels. Now I go out at -2 degrees, and pray that there is no wind blowing.

Last year, we had suffered (yes after the first few snows it is suffering) several snow storms. So this time round, We are thanking our stars we haven’t yet needed to dig the car out of a white mound.

But and here’s how I justify myself as a romantic, I am hoping for a white Christmas. Somehow, Christmas is incomplete without the grounds covered with ethereal white fluff.

What’s been making Christmas special the past 3 years, is the ability of the people here to give. There is a smile on everyone’s face, a genuine cheer, and hope. Times have been very tough for the average Americans, but the holiday season brings out their best. It does of course bring out all the burglars too. But hey every silver cloud has a dark lining.

I have been genuinely impressed at how much effort people put in to make the season special for the less privileged. Some time ago, several hundreds of volunteers built homes for Hurricane Katrina victims. Some of the top designers were there too, lending their skills. They weren’t building dwellings, they were building homes. Attention was paid to the decor, art work even the paint colour. That’s giving!! That’s powerful.

Apart from Oprah Winfrey’s usual fireworks (she usually makes history while giving away gifts during the holidays), several other shows give away fabulous gifts to a carefully chosen audience. Even if they are doing it just for publicity (as some cynics would say), at least they are giving to the right people. Not fat bonuses to fat bankers, or fat grub to fat bureaucrat.

Nor is it given with the knowledge of giving. During the several emergency situations in my life, I have found 3 types of helpers:

1. Pure helpers – People who help because you need it and they are there to give it. They never mention the act again nor do they go around talking about their benevolence. In fact some of them help and then disappear. It’s been my privilege to know this highest form of humanity several times.

2. Help to get – Epitomised by the greedy money-lender in Bollywood and these days by credit card companies in real life, these people help you in need because they see an opportunity to get something even bigger back from you.

3. Help to gloat – Some people help you as barely as they possibly can, sometimes even when you don’t want it. So that they can go out and tell the world they are great. It’s been my misfortune to meet quite a few of this type.

Getting back to the spirit of giving, here I saw the glow in the faces of volunteers. This glow is that of a genuine helper. It cannot be faked. That glow warms me up this winter. I love being human! I love the holidays! Happy holidays everyone.

Tangled and days of the underdogs…

The underdogs are finally winning. Several good wins across the nation (India).

Rahat Taslim won Rs 1 cr. at Kaun Banega Crorepati. The first ever woman to do so. And an ordinary lower middle class housewife to boot!!! Yipeee.

She of course had some luck on her side but hey you do need luck to really strike big! No matter how well prepared you are. That one question can eat up all your lifelines and some.

I am not elated because she is a woman, I am elated because she is a simple housewife who runs a tailoring class from home. In India, with the advent of industrialisation, women have started working. But with that independence has come arrogance. Working women look down on the housewives, which is completely unfair. Its kind of similar to Indian women (especially from the smaller towns of India) here in the US who drive and have US licenses looking down upon those who don’t. Funny, isn’t it?

To work or not should be a choice based on economic and personal aspirations, not because it’s the in-thing to do. Wonder why we turn everything into a “status” thing.

Anyways, the point here is to congratulate this smart lady Rahat.

Also India has been doing well in the sports arena. Gold in shooting, weightlifting, boxing, swimming, kabaddi..Hmmm..Finally we are becoming a sporting nation. Not just naach gaana, religion and festivals.

Ok this is unrelated but I absolutely lovvvveeed Tangled. Definitely go watch it. Loved Flynn Ryder. His voice, face and expressions were to die for. The movie is very well made and the story tweakers have done an excellent job. Noteworthy is the duel between Maximus (the horse) and Flynn. Its the first time I have fallen for a movie in totality. I am going to buy the DVD too when it comes out!

It was a good idea to not make the evil woman a witch, just a normal woman who has an evil desire. More realistic! The movie does not feel dated or out of sync with 21st century. But its not a serious movie, so forget the analysis and simply WATCH IT!!!!!

Thank You, Mr Ratan Tata!

Ratan in Hindi means gem. Aptly named Mr Tata. You are truly a gem! Indeed I rue that you haven't passed on your gem of a gene to some worthy heir.

Why? Several reasons...

The reason that prompted me to write is the MSN headline: Rs 15 cr bribe? Ratan Tata says "No way". An unnamed minister asked him for a bribe to let him operate a joint venture airline in India.

Seriously??!! The minister asked THE IRON MAN for a bribe?!! Imagine being told by a so-called industrialist "You are idiot people. You should have paid the bribe".

Thank you Mr Tata from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for standing up to shitheads. Thank you for not bowing under pressure and doing what every nincompoop in India does. Pay the bribe!!!

For those who do not know; Mr Tata belongs to the illustrious family of the Tatas. JRD Tata is the Father of Indian Aviation. He started the first Airlines in India and held the Pilot License no 1. The Airlines was taken over by the Govt and is now an ailing Air India. :( JRD went on to lead his industrial group to stupendous success in every imaginable field, reaching Rs 1 Billion before he died in 1993.

The name Tata was stamped on almost every thing you could buy, soap, cars, chemicals, now IT & Telecom. In fact Tata Young, a Thai model, and actress was so named, because her father was reportedly astonished by the omnipresent name TATA.

The Tatas are also known for their philanthropy. Their hospitals, trust funds, student loan funds are well known in India.

Mr Ratan Tata however stands out in this long line of illustrious family of entrepreneurs. He is solely responsible for putting a car in the hands of an average middle-class family. His $2000 or Rs 1Lac car has sheltered lakhs of family from the elements, transferring them from a scooter to a small car. Atlast the poor could travel in comfort. He did this, whilst the entire motor industry was laughing at his idea and waiting for him to fall on his face. He succeeded.

I therefore call you, Mr Tata, the IRON MAN. For your guts, your vision, your strength and your spirit!

To this man, then, an unpadh gavar (uneducated) minister asks for a bribe just to start an airline operation. Heaven knows from where that idiot got the guts to open his fat mouth. He should have been counting himself lucky to even be in the presence of a legend. And he actually sullies it..Like Wow!

If just 10 more industrialists become 10% the man Mr Tata is, India will be a supernation that it wants to achieve. Just 10%. Got guts, Mr Minister??????

I am Cumberbatched!!!

Yeah I know, you don't think that's a word..."Cumberbatched". Its a name! Benedict Cumberbatch and he has taken the British television by storm. So UK has been "cumberbatched". :)

He plays the latest Sherlock Holmes, (very difficult shoes to fill) in the 21st century. Earlier, Basil Rathbone (whom I am not a fan of) and Jeremy Brett (who for me IS THE MAN) have taken on the challenge!

Jeremy Brett played Sherlock Holmes to such perfection that even after repeatedly watching his episodes, I can honestly say I have never liked another man with that name!

Thanks to PBS Masterpiece Mystery series, I can watch all my beloved British mystery drama. They are so much better than the American tech obsessed teams. And please don't any of you start on the Indian series CID.

So I start watching the new Sherlock Holmes with some small resentment and a critical heart. LO! Benedict has a fantastic voice, great screen presence and is dressed sharp. He has managed to win the new generation Sherlock fans and I am sure a lot of the older generation too.

So far only 3 episodes have aired: A study in pink, The blind banker, The great Game.

Good stories but mostly carried through by Benedict. His sidekick, the very ordinary Dr Watson (Martin Freeman) looks credulous as the slightly idiotic, action man.

The action is very fast and energetic. Rightly so. The producers have remained faithful to the original character. Rightly so! The stories are a bit of a let down. Not the best scripts. Nor does it make sense that Sherlock can guess about Watson's drunkard brother by an inscription and scratches on the mobile. I have scratches on each of my electronic possessions!

To match Jeremy's energy, Benedict tries to deliver his dialogues very fast. His problem: unclear diction! That my dear, was Jeremy's strongest point! His precision honed diction. You can clearly understand what he says irrespective of a fast pace or a low tone. Benedict has his work cut out there.

Overall Me likes!!! Watch it if you can..

Weekend wasn't a weak end!!

This weekend we finally managed to act on our long planned desire to go out of town to view the fall colors. I suspect the motivating factor was my husband's new DSLR and his budding desire to become a landscape photographer. :)

The deciding factor came from the beautiful tree lined state highway leading to the CT Hindu temple. The trees are adorned with flaming reds, oranges, and yellows. I am surprised people can actually drive through that road without being distracted. I was!

So this weekend, we went hiking through the 1600 acre Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden. Of course we trekked only 3.2 miles and that was the shortest and the easiest route! Aditi was a great sport and actually had fun gathering loads of acorn to feed squirrels back home.

As the name goes, the top of the hills look like a giant sleeping. The legend goes that Sleeping Giant is the story of Hobbomock, a giant who contained the spirit of the souls of the dead. Once in his temper tantrums, he diverted the Connecticut river far east, causing some devastation.

Keihtan, the creator God cast a spell on the giant so that he would never awaken again. Soon the earth and trees covered the slumbering Hobbomock, peace returned, and all is well. :)

This is per the native Quinnipec Americans, who lived here before the Europeans decided to make it their home.

Anyways the trek was beautiful, as the park is maintained with minimum interference from humans. The trees were shimmering with colorful foliage. The entrance brings back memories of kodaikanal. A picture can say thousand words so I will let the pics tell the rest of the story.

What will we change in the next decade?

This is going to be a rather long one! So read at your own peril…

I was thinking about the parallel between society and movies. How closely the two are related and have influenced each other throughout the decades!

My consciousness starts from the 80s. 80s India was conservative, and closed, socially, economically. Agriculture was the dominant industry and manufacturing in its teens. The movies are said to be a reflection of society. So in the 80s a lot of movies were a social commentary. For ex, some dealt with selfish children throwing out their parents for money. Some dealt with dowry, and others dealt with worker exploitations. The policy makers had put a thrust on rural development and education.

The change that 80s brought in was an awareness on various types of exploitations and to some extent an eradication of social evils like dowry.

The 90s brings to mind the various love stories involving inter-castes/class, inter-religion marriages. Remember QSQT, Dil. The biggest change was marginal freedom for lovers belonging to different castes and religion. Marginal because change seems to avoid India’s hinterlands.

However the 90s will be better remembered for the sweeping policy changes in India’s economy brought in by Dr Manmohan Singh. It opened up the economy, brought in MNCs, therefore foreign capital and a trickle of development in real estate. Manufacturing/services gained ground over agriculture as the rural development programs took effect. Rural youth migrated to the cities in search of better life and better salary. The impact was the expansion of the middle class and the birth of a powerful industry, IT / BPO. It put money in the hands of thousands and sent millions of people all over the world.

In the decade 2000-2010 I believe the biggest change was in Bollywood. Like competition in manufacturing in the 90s, competition arrived in Bollywood. The music industry was no longer the kingdom of a Lata Mangeshkar or Udit Narayan. Nor was it the domain of 3 or 4 music directors. Now every song was sung / directed by a different singer and a director. It has given an opportunity to countless singers from common background to rise to stardom. Although to a lesser extent, movie actors and actresses also came from simple & non-filmy backgrounds and smaller towns. Like SRK, Akshay Kumar or Mallika Sherawat, Priyanka Chopra.

As we are soon entering the next decade, I wonder where will the change be? What will be the impact? Already new age blood is making its presence felt in politics. To make the impact stronger, someone has to take charge. Dr Manmohan Singh is now at the helm, but do his colleagues have the vision to support him?

My wish list: Education. Education in India is old-form, archaic, and desperately needs change. The teachers are almost useless and the system crippling. Already a couple of Bollywood movies have depicted the useless education system. I hope it brings in the change that we desperately need. To create a new thrust for the economy, a new direction for the youth and perhaps a new industry. I wish!

Disclaimer -All my observations here relate to my knowledge and readings about India. I cannot presume to comment on any other country.

hmmm..the sweet smell of festivities….

Autumn is here…And the air is chilly, crisp and very sweet. It is that special time of year that makes its presence felt even in a warm place like Mumbai.

It is sweet because it carries the promise of festivities.. In India, the period of festivals begin! Navratri is here, and Bengali Durgo Pujo is right behind!!!! Laxmi Puja and Indian Christmas Diwali!!! Here's how we celebrated Ganesh Puja at home!

Have missed Durga Puja now for the past 2 years. It is celebrated here in the US but not on “tithi” days (days designated as per Hindu calendar), rather when the community hall is free. :) Not much fun driving for hours knowing that Pujo is actually already over.

I have never witnessed Pujo in Calcutta, something my husband assures me, is one of the things to do before you die. :) I can imagine its splendour based on what I have experienced, Ganpati festival in Mumbai. Absolutely love it…Still remember feeling goosebumps when you witness Lord Ganesh in all His glory leaving for heavenly abode. It used to bring tears in my eyes.

Now I miss those tears too…People are just as emotional in Bengal when Maa Durga returns home. There are several festivities within Pujo like sidoor khela (married women applying vermilion to Maa Durga and each other). Most memorable and perhaps the most important are Ashtami and Navami. (Bongs correct me if I am wrong). I write here from my childhood memories of trooping from Andheri E, to Santa Cruz pandal to Khar Ramkrishna Mission and finally ending at Shivaji Park, the largest pandal in Mumbai.

We used to leave home around 7 pm and come back home by the last train, in those days the 2 pm train from Churchgate. The whole night we would troop from one pandal to another, meeting up with our Bengali friends and relatives. Was super super fun!! The food too was a great incentive for us kids. Dad would jump on the chance of catching up with Bengali music and magazines….

The one in Malad (w) was started by my dad’s friends. I don’t know if it has continued still. Its been a decade since I have witnessed it. Aah nostalgia.

My heart burn: Aditi doesn’t know either of the two festivals. While she remembers Diwali, she hasn’t had the pleasure of witnessing either Ganesh or Durga Puja. Don’t know when I can make it happen. But want to…

Great site for Indian recipes…

I have to declare I have found a great site for recipes, even for routine cooking. I used to depend on Mr Sanjeev Kapoor for parties and pot lucks. I am on of those who never present the same food to the same guests ever! It’s not for them, It’s for me! I get bored of eating the same standard paneer butter masala, or daal makhanis that people generally bring to potlucks.

Ok the site is www.vahrevah.com. The chef is Mr Sanjay Thumma.

It is a very popular site among the South Indians here in the US. But I think the chef is too good a treasure to be restricted to one set of people. His USP is that his recipes turn out exactly the way he says it will. Somehow he makes the cooking method very very easy and his ingredients are always there at home. Nothing out of the world for which you have to go hunting through the supermarkets. That was one of the problems I found when I used to try Mr Kapoor’s recipes.

My recommended recipes: Chicken Tikka, Chicken Butter Masala, Veg Biryani…try it!

My head is bowed with shame!

The headlines: Commonwealth Games in crisis: Bridge collapses and top athletes pull out as UK teams cry foul over ‘filthy’ facilities.

This headline made me shake my head….But what bowed it is some of the comments from the readers. I agree the stoners are themselves not sin-free. But why, why do we give the world every chance to laugh at us derisively? The hard work of a few is washed away by the greed of millions. I am copying some of the comments from the newspaper site, just to show what the world thinks of us. While not entirely representative, it reflects the majority. Be your own judge.

1. “Am bemused at some Indians getting offended when India is referred as a Third world country..I have been myself and can categorically without any doubt say it is most definitely a Third world filthy country.People in this country are not aware of the immense filth surrounding India just a few large buildings and big corporations and it thinks it’s a super power”

2. “and they keep saying that India has the best quality engineers that should be let into the U.K to cover shortages.
If they are so good why do they have so many construction problems.”

3. “I’m sure all the people living in squalid conditions in India would be very grateful to have the opportunity to live in this village, It is far better than where they currently have to survive. If the Indian government can build these facilities for visitors staying for just a few weeks why can’t they build them for their own people?”

4. “Oh come on!!…..They didn’t expect Clean and hygienic facilities in India did they??? You’ll be telling me they expect to win medals next!!!”

5. “I am a web developer and have often seen work outsourced to India to make savings that needs to be entirely redone and brought up to standard. I have never seen any code from India that was of an acceptable professional standard. Shoddy, insecure, outmoded, lacking best practices, inelegant, copy and pasted from dubious sources, hacked and bodged and generally a disgrace. They have a cultural difference where striving for quality and meeting professional standards is only paid lip service. I’m in no way surprised by this bridge collapsing, there’s probably dozens of bridges collapsing every day in India that escape the global spotlight.”

No matter how much we try to defend, this is indefensible. how do we explain away years of corruption, and an even bigger crime years of lethargy on part of the public to root out its evil. We vote for our politicians, we give them power, we bribe the government, we stay at home for a strike called out by any party. We hire children, we thrash the weak, we stomp on the poor, we kill our own souls.

We can’t even defend as Indians. For we are not Indian, we are Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Sindhi, Jat, Rajput, Tamil, Telugu! We are all that but we are NOT Indians!!!

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1313907/Commonwealth-Games-crisis-Bridge-collapses-athletes-pull-11-days-go.html

Dabangg! hmmm....

Watched Dabangg…Salman Khan is at his ‘Wanted” best. No doubt about it.

His Jeetendra-like looks and strict persona are sure to make the box office ring and Arbaaz will go laughing all the way to the bank. Everyone else was just value-addition to the scene. Sonakshi really didn’t have much to do. Her character wasn’t etched well enough. Will have to watch her next to see if she has staying power. And Arbaaz as the younger brother was simply muted to enhance Salman’s character. The director should have worked on Sonu Sood’s character to make the film powerful. (Remember Gabbar Singh).

Production values are excellent. Editor has done his job well. But the award definitely goes to S. Vijayan’s stunt direction. Agreed almost all of the stunt was inspired or a direct lift. But the action at the railway station in the first half was exciting. Music was ho-hum. The background score sounds similar to one of the hollywood actioner, either Zorro or The Mexican or some such.

Dialogues are excellent and the rustic charm was captured very very well. So overall, yeah you can watch it. If you are a Salman fan, then you will want to watch it numerous times. No doubt about that either.

The only thing that bothers me is the obvious lack of any respect for women or elders in films these days, especially these kind of masala films. The male lead almost always behaves like a ruffian towards his love interest, especially at the wooing stage. It was a new low to see the male lead almost sighing with relief when the alcoholic father commits suicide so that he can marry the daughter. Also, no one bats an eye when Salman walks into the mourning Sonakshi’s house and asks everyone to just get over the father’s death and leave. After everyone leaves, he asks Sonakshi to go pack her bag as happily he has arrived to ‘make’ her life. And she does just that!

As today’s woman, I can not accept it. What kind of message does it send to all those mis-guided youth out there? No wonder India has an alarming rate of eve teasing and molestation, not to mention rapes. No point saying crime has nothing to do with movies. It does. Especially for the youth in India’s heartland. And are all women in India supposed to think that their lives can be made by marrying a man, even if he is a corrupt, violent sort?

Wow! I made the discussion serious. But think over it.

Where is the paint brush?

The day is grey, cold and chilly. My mood is grey too. I feel stagnant. Caught in a space where there seems no escape. Boredom creeps in. The mind is numb. Nope not numb, actually is burning feverishly; hashing and rehashing the past and the present. Can’t find a way out! The picture I painted in my childhood is so different. Colorful, bright, full of hope! Not this grey celluloid. I can’t recognise any of the landscape. Hell I can’t recognise myself.

Where is I? The one who had infinite courage, the strength, the dreams, the hope, the vision. I seem to have lost myself somewhere in the path. The path has been treacherous. Deaths, disappointments galore! Melancholy!!

Fag end of the day and Suddenly the sun shines. And bows out blazing. Like showing a new way and disappearing. Giving a hint of what can be. The sun at least threw a blinding light on the web I am caught in. I realise I am holding onto a tangled web which doesn’t lead anywhere. The web of past!

Past relations, past memories, past dreams. I realise everything changed. I did. So did my friends, my relations, my dreams, my hope. Everyone/everything grows and changes, metamorphoses into the present. And keeps changing. Why then hold onto the past and what ifs. This web leads nowhere. It dawns on me that if I just let go of the past, forget about the future and hold onto the ‘now’, just ‘now,’ I might be a better person, even a happier one.

It irritates me that I find no one who can mentor me in new direction. Yet another realisation. No one can paint my vision, my dreams for me. Correction! Only one person can. Me! I can. I have that power. Then why not use it?

I turn around, turn my back to the past and face forward. I hope there is another picture there which reflects the present and hints the future. Consternation! It’s a BLANK CANVAS….

My little bird is flexing her wings…

Today my sweetheart started school, serious school (in US terms). I felt a little apprehensive letting her go into the world on her own. She will make her own decisions, choose her friends, learn new things (hopefully all good)! I will have little input in any of these. Till now I chose her friends, her playmates, her food, her toys. I taught her everything she knows right now. Hopefully, all that I have taught her will serve her well. The ball is now in her court.

Choose well my little one!

IQ...

IQ – Ego maker or ego dasher! I used to have a good enough IQ and now that I have started working on MENSA puzzles its fallen to above average. I need to get just 1 more right to make it to the good list and I have failed so far.

Never Mind I shan’t give up! BTW it also broke another dearly held illusion, I am not as poor at Maths as I thought and I am not as good in English as I thought!

Strange how life teaches us how wrong we are about ourselves when we are young and how right our parents are when they are parents!

On the subject of IQ, there is a great movie with the very same title. It has Meg Ryan and Tim Ribbins in the lead. And portrays Albert Einstein in a human (versus Supercomputer) role, playing a matchmaker. It’s a beautiful movie, Watch It!

Meanwhile, I will try to do one better.

PS – For the uninitiated, Mensa isn’t about women’s problems!

Summer's whizzing by...

Summer is nearly at its end….The wind is getting cooler, the flowers are wilting. Time to be out and about coming to an end, unless you want to be swaddled in layers of fabric.

Time just whizzed by. And I haven’t even sated my wanderlust. Went to Maine and that’s all. Not much is it?

Oh and I completed a year of blogging. Started in July and one year’s gone. Poof! Before I know it I am (also) marching towards middle age and I don’t much like it. I am expected to behave like an aunty and I stoutly refuse. I insist on being the giddyhead, goofy grin teenager.

How do you ensure that you pop off laughing ? The best way to ensure you go out laughing is to do a lot of embarrassing things. I think I would remember (if dementia doesn’t kick in) all my foolish exploits.

For instance, I remember puncturing cycle tyres of an uptight classmate; hiding under piles of clothes to catch a thief and enjoying a good nap, while a poor relative was out searching for me. Going through all the drawers and files when dad was out (he never found me out). And these are only the decent ones.

I have done a few unconventional things (and no I aint sharing it here). It’s for my own pleasure, of course and the victims or not as the case maybe. But I enjoyed it. Haven’t been naughty in a while. Actually haven’t really found someone crazy enough! Children become so serious once they grow up. I wonder why? I for one haven’t changed and I think people secretly think me an imbecile or irresponsible or immature, even arrogant. I like that! And mind you I fiercely guard my reputation. I am becoming more crazy, if at all that was possible. Always looking for a good laugh, and that is so hard to come by. So I create my own comic scenes and exercise my gills.

Fun! But my current partner in crime (my daughter) will start full-time school from September and what will I do then?

Unconquered!!!

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

—Invictus (Unconquered)

My friend Samapda (thanks Shampoo) quoted a line from Invictus the movie, which made me read about it. The poem above is the poem Nelson Mandela used to keep up his spirits while in prison for 26 years.

I am lucky to have shared the world with two legends:

Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela

I hate love stories..esp when KJo is in self celebratory mode…

Oh my god…I am going through this torture my husband is putting me through. Nope he hasn’t decided to launch into SAP technical. He wants me to watch I hate Luv Stories. Should I be taking a hint?????

What a dumb story! The movie is about KJo going into a ‘Jai KJo, Jai KJo’ mode. The narratory mode of the movie is similar to Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa.. But that movie was uplifted by its better story line, not its acting.

IHLS can’t even boast of that. God knows what the hoohah over Imran Khan is. Samir Soni is way better in looks and acting department. And Sonam wouldn’t have come this far without the Kapoor tag. The attempts at humor are just that, attempts! An hour of Comedy Circus is million times better than this torture.

Please KJo stick to your coffee. Unfortunately there too you are pretty stale on guests. When new age directors are trying to break new ground, here comes this dinosaurian attempt at rehashing love. Jeez gimme a break!

Toy Story 3? Watch it..

Had a super long weekend here and decided to simply laze on the beach, read a book, catch a movie and eat out!!!!

Did all that with wavering grades of satisfaction. The beach was the best (free and beautiful, every time) till the time I was in water but the oppressive weather made me long for the air-conditioned confines of my home. Instead traded for the air-conditioned confines of the movies.

Watched Toy Story 3 in 3D. Liked the movie, loved the story idea but loathed the adverts before the movie. Too much, way too much adverts! Was almost about to doze off but the loud Dolby stereo kept shaking me out of my stupor.

I haven’t seen the previous two installments but Toy Story 3 had a good enough stand-alone story. I loved the idea of toys always wanting to be played and getting royally ignored. I hate the fact that my daughter barely touches her big Kitchen complete with a microwave, an oven and a sink or her beautiful dollhouse. Pity I didn’t get any of that when I was a kid. I remember having only one toy, a tea set. We were a group of nearly 10-15 kids who would play “REAL” games versus “REALITY” based games. Ahh but the fun we used to have!!! I remember always being Kapil Dev, my neighbour Vaishali used to be Ravi Shastri and her younger sister Purvi, Sunil Gavaskar. We were a team! Always together.

The movie gave several good messages but it’s a waste considering most kids in the audience have way too many toys and too little friends to care about anything. Some of the moments were hilarious like the Barbie-Ken meeting. “Buzz” in his Spanish mode. Otherwise the movie tries to tug at your heart, gets it right, Almost!

Go watch it but save the money on 3D if you can!

Also caught up with Chetan Bhagat’s Five point someone. If V.V. Chopra says the movie was just ‘inspired’ by the book, its a downright lie. Most of the incidences in the movie 3 Idiots were a direct lift from the book. The only thing that one can say for the movie maker is that the add-ons in the script were mostly good and augmented the story thereby taking the movie to a higher level than the book.

The book would appeal only to IITians / premium institute engineers, but the movie appeals to everyone who is/was a student. The movie is definitely better than the book. The movie, however had million bucks behind it.

Chetan Bhagat should have been given credit to the story. No wonder not very many original writers exist in Bollywood! I believe Chetan Bhagat will surely have a tough time to survive in tinsel town now that he has offended BIG people and B Town folks stick together.

There goes my vision of becoming a top writer. Poof!

Shashi out, Mahi out, Rishta.com out and summer’s just starting!

Shashi is out of Indian Idol 5. Really sad! Especially considering a singer like Tia is still there.

Wonder on what basis people vote! That shouldn’t be too surprising really, one has to only look at our dear respected elected babus/behens.

Sadly for me, all the classiest Indian TV shows are now over. Mahi Way, Rishta.com and Seven have now ended. They all, of course belonged to YRF TV camp. My hearth felt congratulations to this TV network for producing shows with brilliant technicals, production values, and a logical storyline. For daring to consider its audience as an intelligent, modern audience rather than a dumb, ignorant and clueless audience.

Mahi does not run away from marrying one boy friend to simply fly into the waiting arms of the patient and more suitable second. She decides to not marry at all. Smartest thing a woman can do!

Seven I know has been criticised for being a copy of Heros running here in the US. However, the script writers completely Indianised it, and did a credible task of weaving facts of Emperor Ashok’s reign with fiction. And it was technically brilliant! Didn’t feel like a comedy show.

I liked the storyline and actors in Rishta.com. Although a little removed from reality (All the potential grooms were handsome and smart!), it had decent acting and was grounded in its approach.

It was sensible to end the shows with logical endings rather than stretch it beyond endurance. Congratulations for a job well done! Sorry the shows didn’t get as much support. It seems Mahi Way was the only one which garnered TRP. Indian audiences still love the stupid CID, Aahat and the like. YRF says some of these shows may come back in next season (similar to format followed by American TV show producers). Hope they all do.

How do I spend my summer now? Will have to stick to reruns of old British comedies..

Disclaimer: I only have Zee, Sony, TV Asia and ITV. So won’t know of other shows on other networks.

India stinks...

India stinks… I don’t mean literally, though it does stink to high heaven.

The news is what makes me say this..India stinks…Its culture, its ‘samaj’ stinks. What else does one say if innocent girls and boys are ‘murdered’ in the name of ‘honour’! 2 girls and 1 boy lost their lives in order to keep the flag of Indian honour flying high. I say India’s head is bent forever with shame.

What honour are they exactly talking about? OK so one whole village has men and women who are so-called brothers-sisters (gotra-factor). As if, this and similar villages have no local prostitutes, no rapes and definitely no extra-marital affairs. By that logic, dears no one in the world ought to marry anyone, after all haven’t we all evolved from one man and one woman (Adam n Eve, if you please).

This happened in Delhi, where everyone knows no woman is really safe…even if she is with her husband or family. Do those guys who kidnap, rape and murder have honour? Does the samaj then not lose any honour?

The kith and kin are justifying the murders. Of course, the culprit will not be caught unless he forgets to do a huge Rahu-Ketu puja and feed the whole village and some. What about the victims of this hypocrisy? If I go by myth and mythology, then won’t their bhatakti aatma harass these culprits. Really, how many of these idiots can the ghosts harass!! The whole village, nay the whole country is the culprit.

We didn’t let education or prosperity percolate to these dark caves. Someone somewhere dies. Who cares right? Wasn’t me or mine! We do not take discipline, system or rules seriously do we? Remember the time you paid a bribe so you get the Driver’s License without even going to the MV office. Chod na, chalta hai..apne ko kya karna hai…These are words I have heard once too often. What has really been the result of the assault on the hotels in Mumbai? What has the government done? Nothing. Why? Because it knows people don’t care.

We don’t even want to improve or change. All we want is money, honey!!! And the less work it needs the better!! The commonest refrain I have heard Indians in US say: Americans don’t ’work hard’ at all like us, life is just SOOO easy for them. They should come to India and see how hard we work.

My answer to these nincompoops: Darling, they MADE their lives easy by working hard where it counts. They may be about money honey, but at least they did the ground work first.

Which part of our Indianness can we be proud of? Our ‘strong’ education (it produces un-imaginative robots who follow the crowd), our culture (right!) or our heritage (sati, devdasis, child marriage)? Or our achievements in umm let me see sports? or technology? Which of these should I be proud of? Oh yes our age-old knowledge, yoga for instance!!! We wouldn’t have touched it with a bar-pole if it hadn’t been for the western fascination with yoga and yogis.

India needs a Hercules to clean the Augean stable. Who will be Hercules?

Learnt something new today!

I picked up something new today and felt it ought to be made popular. Origami..I made this beautiful paper shirt to be gifted to my dear husband (apart from other worldly gifts).

Here’s the how-to.

Folded paper shirt.

Use legal-size (8 1/2-by-14-inch) decorative paper.

1. Place paper facedown. Fold in half vertically; unfold. Line up left edge with centerline fold, and crease; repeat with right edge. Unfold, and lay flat.

2. Fold top-left corner in to line up with outermost crease, forming a triangle; repeat on top-right corner. Using index fingers and thumbs, pinch together outside points of each triangle so they meet, and crease.

3. While still pinching triangles, fold down top edge (this will make sleeves).

4. Turn paper upside down, and flip it over. Fold down top edge 3/4 inch.

5. Flip paper over. Fold top left and right corners so tips meet at centerline.

6. Tuck bottom edge under collar, and flatten by creasing. For the tie, cut out an 8-by-1/2-inch strip of decorative paper. Knot paper. Snip close to knot on one side; trim other to a point. Glue to shirt.

I tried adding pictures of how to but couldn’t so will go one step better. Here’s the how-to video.

World cup fever begins...

World cup fever begins..

Last time round I had wanted France to win mainly because of Zinadine Zidane..Wanted him to go out blazing..Worse luck he went butt out...

This time no favorites. Whoever plays well will become my favourite. Right now its UK vs US, Score: 1:1.

My predictions for Indian Idol 5

Here’s my prediction for the top 5 of Indian Idol 5.

Rakesh Maini

Shashi Suman

Naushad Ali Kawa

Sreeram M

Shivam Pathak

All of them are male unfortunately. They are good, really good. My favourite is Shashi Suman, although I believe Rakesh is the best singer of them all. But as trends prove the best singers almost always are eliminated at some time or the other. Sreeram is also an excellent singer but he does have experience as a playback singer for Telugu film industry so I do not feel he really should win Indian Idol. Shashi is very cute, the kind of guy I had like Aditi to bring home. Talking like a grandma, ain’t I?

Am married to a Chinese...

In grip of fever last night, I had the sudden revelation that I am married to a Chinese. Instead of a neem tree, I was sitting in a recliner. No matter I got the gyaan. What? How? You ask..

Well actually its American Chinese, since my walls are pale yellow…Well the wall is such a sweet companion. Not the Wall E robot types, though even that would have been welcome. I am talking about the bricks and the mortar kinds.

The wall listens to everything I say and is a silent admirer when I am all dressed up. It doesn’t criticise everything I do. The biggest advantage is with a can of paint I can get myself a husband of any colour…even exotic ones…It doesnt teach my daughter to polish my white shoes black among other things, nor does it make a mess with the food, the laundry, in the kitchen or the bathroom and so on. Put a toilet next to it, it becomes a stress reliever. Put a bed near it, it still is a stress reliever. I am loving it.

I have had many marriages, Bangalorean, Puneite, Chennaite, Hyderabadi, British. Lucky me, I say!!!

What about the MAN I stay with? Well he is ALSO called my husband; in the human world and does everything else the wall doesn’t do..Dont get ideas. I mean giving me cheap thrills of a roller coaster ride in his imaginary Ferrari. He is portable though not changeable. Mores the pity. But he cooks like a charm, so I keep both of them, the man,and the wall around….

Best of both worlds I had say!

Some of my ideologies...

Wanted to share this …. It really reflects my way of thinking in life :

• If you’re too lazy to start anything, you may get a reputation for patience.
• I’m on a seafood diet. Every time I see food, I eat it.
• I talk to myself because I like dealing with a better class of people.
• Never try to drown your troubles… Especially if he can swim.
• Smile, it makes people wonder what you’re thinking.
• Don’t be so open-minded your brains fall out..
• By the time a man realizes that his father was usually right, he has a son who thinks he’s usually wrong.
• Teachers are those who help us in resolving problems which, without them, we wouldn’t have.
• Marriages are made in heaven. But again, so are thunder and lightning.
• There are three sides to every argument: your side, my side and the right side.
• An expert is someone who takes a subject you understand and makes it sound confusing.
• When you’re right, no one remembers. When you’re wrong, no one forgets.
• They say hard work never killed anyone, but why take the chance.
  

And the gem:

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.

Nature's beauty show...

Had to share this with you guys. Was lucky enough to witness Nature’s beauty show – Tulip festival -at Washington Park, Albany, NY. My outing on Mothers’ Day. I have ofcourse been lucky enough to go to Kukenhof, Amsterdam to see Tulips in all its natural splendour. Washington Park had tulips in different hues, something that I didnt see in Amsterdam. Enough talk..witness the beauty…

Indian Idol 5 contestants are rocking…

This time I salute Indian Idol contestants. All 4 seasons they have had mostly mediocore singers, with one or two good singers. Only a few contestants linger on in our memory, Abhijeet Sawant, Amit Paul, Aditi Paul, Bhavya Pandit, Torsha Sarkar were good singers. Only good! They made quite a few mistakes as they went along in the competition. For me there was only one wow moment.

When Amit Paul sang Nasha Ye Pyaar ka Nasha Hai from Mann. It was magical.

Indian Idol 5 is a different ball game altogether… The singers are OUTSTANDING. Each one gave me goosebumps. Not one made any mistake and this is only the Piano round. I don’t want to lose any of the 16 contestants. They are soooooo good. Hope people vote for them with all their hearts and not their regional affinity.

India does have a rich population. I am loving it……

Beautiful sunshine...

The sun is shining, the skies are blue, the clouds are white and life is beautiful..

Have been having beautiful day-outs with different friends every week.. Explored downtown and love the small town feel it has..Lolled about on the beach….Just to show you a glimpse of what I enjoy..

Do I miss work? Do I miss logging in on Monday mornings at 9 am? Do I miss being stuck to the cell?? Do I miss????

Not!!

Say sorry....

Just read an article on Daily mail UK website about how a husband saying sorry to his wife can prolong his wife's heart health...(Say sorry to your wife, it may help her live longer, according to scientists).

Ofcourse I immediately jumped on Bish with the article. He said Sooorrry and Aditi chimed in.

Then I went on to read readers' comments and one lady wrote: My husband has issued me a general apology and has asked me to bank it for future use.

Burst out laughing on that one...

Remember that dialogue from Jaane bhi Do yaaron: Atyachari, Dronachari, say sorry...

Ref:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1266898/Say-sorry-wife--help-live-longer-according-scientists.html

New Exam pattern in India!

New Exam pattern in India (Revised)

1. General students - Answer ALL questions.
2. General Students ( girls) - any three out of ten. (33% of total)
2. OBC - WRITE ANY one question.
3. SC - ONLY READ questions.
4. ST - THANKS FOR COMING..

AND.

5. Gujjars/Jats/ shiv sainiks - THANKS FOR ALLOWING OTHERS TO ATTEND THE EXAMINATION .. !!

What a nice day...

Beautiful sunshine and bright blue waters...had a lung full of air out jogging with Aditi...Slept like a baby after that..

Some followups...

1. My dear Goldie (goldfish) is going great fins..or do i mean guns. He has grown big but still doesn't have a girlfriend. :( Dad's being strict about it :( Why do I keep calling him a 'he'? Ahh...to keep the battle of the sexes even.

2. Mahi Way is still going the right way. I do harbour a little fear in a corner that it might be a copy of Bridget Jones' Diary. If it is, it is still a very good copy. The story and dialogue writers are doing a good job. Heard it doesn't have good TRPs. A good series after a long time and no one in India wants to watch it.. Go figure.

3. No decent movie in recent times . :( Have gone back to my all time favourite Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie.

4. ZEE TV seems to be doing a better job in reality shows than Sony. 1 example: Indian Idol vs Sa re Ga Ma. No one knows where the Idol winners are these days. Other than Abhijit Sawant, everyone else has disappeared off the map. Sa re ga ma has launched careers of several leading singers like Sunidhi Chauhan. Therefore, the more serious candidates seem to make a bee line for Zee.

5. I stopped watching cricket when Kapil Dev was accused of match-fixing. I was therefore skeptical of IPL. I am beginning to come round though. IPL has in the very least destroyed the unshakable placement of 14 players. Due to number of regional teams and a fixed salary, a lot of people will get to play and not have to worry about rozi roti or endorsements. Me likes.

Fuddled and confused...

Help... I am quite confused with what I see around me. Make no mistake, Nature is at its best. The skeletal trees are now sprouting buds in vivid colours. Spring in the US comes wearing fluorescent green, sunshine yellow, Wine red, Beautiful pink and would you believe it!, white. To actually see white leaves or pink leaves transform into green is magical. Going to Disney world and discovering you are Cinderella :) That magical!!

What confuses me is not Nature but us Homo sapiens. I find 99% people utterly boring, lifeless, bourgeois. Low class parasites.. Narrow views, bad attitude...I do know..I trained as an HR where it has been my job to evaluate mental and emotional intelligence. Mental Intelligence abounds but people seem to be crippled emotionally.

To make up for it, I have to start packing the punches to enliven the atmosphere. Why are people so dreary? commonplace? I do talk about women..I don't know what men talk about..As far as I could make out from Bish and his colleagues/friends, the men talk about work, gadgets and sports. I have never heard them speak about women but then they wouldn't...in front of us women, would they? :)

We women are condemned to be petty minded, banal, bickering and ghoulish. Not all of us mind it!!! But most.. I have been spoilt by inspiring, amazing and intelligent women in the first two decades of my life. But the third decade has been disappointing to say the least. I can't remember having an intelligent conversation in ages. I no longer know what's the political wind like in India, or if the healthcare reforms in US are truly path-breaking because I am forced to discuss children, weather, dresses, even jewellery these days.

And of course who can escape the great girly attribute of gossiping and commenting on everything and everyone under the sky. Recently I was able to witness how a simple statement got passed around with so much added masala, the Indian chefs would get high BP digesting it. So of course I try to stay away from such people. The more I try the more keen they are to attach themselves. Why?

Why do they want to keep proving they know everything? That they are right? that they are the best? If they are, then why do they constantly seek approval from poor sods like me? Revel in your excellence. Do they have to come rub their greatness on my face?

I too have become emotionally crippled. I didn't find my life or the numerous deaths in my life as daunting as I find this wave of petty-minded, thoughtlessness around. I have sadly to say closed my doors to new people. I know this is wrong. I also know it is wrong to not give people a chance. I can't help it. I find too many people too filthy.

I can no longer tolerate people who indulge in petty politics, gossip, and slandering. People, especially women think nothing of trashing others, even small children. I have heard a person describe a perfectly normal child as mentally retarded. For gods' sakes....leave that child alone and concentrate on your own. But no!!!

Shobhaa De wrote in her blog that an editor asked her to trash Amitabh Bacchan just for no good reason. Thank God she refused but I found a number of articles in leading newspaper sites trashing Brand B. If we common people face this problem, celebrities must face this muck 1000 times more. I can't think of a better example than Aishwarya Rai.

I am confused because I am still living by my old standards that helped me make great friends. For some reason, those standards are not appropriate any more. Should I bow to pressure (the change with times argument) or should I stand taller?

Even here I know people will comment why do you bother, ignore them, or you are being negative. But the truth is I am being bothered, I am being negative and I am definitely UNABLE to ignore them. I either have to learn to out-talk and out-bitch them or risk being anti-social. Help!!!

The moment I reconnect to my friends however, things feel so much better. My spirits are lifted to know there are level-headed "thinking" people of my generation, who aren't afraid to take a stand even if it means the majority are against you. People who quietly go about their work, putting their best efforts in it, trying to avoid all speed bumps. They mind their own business.

You may have views radically different to mine, but as long as you have a thought process which is independent, original and above all based on benevolence, integrity and kindness, you are my friend. I do not care if you are rich/poor, employed/unemployed, girl/boy, straight/gay, white or black or yellow or brown, I welcome all who dare to be!!!

Otherwise, STAY AWAY!!!

Old jungle sayings...

As the King of the jungle ( I am a Leo remember!), I collected some old jungle sayings..Me likes…

• Treat me like an angel and I’ll be your lil’ devil.
• Men, chocolate, and coffee are all better rich.
• Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you’re up to.
• Caution, Blind Man Driving.
• Half the people you know are below average.
• Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don’t have film!
• The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
• Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
• Hard work pays off in the future, laziness pays off now.
• Drive carefully, 90% of people are accidents.

Loved by some, hated by many, envied by most, yet wanted by plenty!