Lost in action...

For those of you wondering where I have disappeared to all this time, the words weren’t lost in translation…I have been lost in action..

Running to and fro with daughter in tow, to various classes takes the wind out of the sails. Its fun to see her shake a leg and then kick ass. All in a day’s work! Hopefully she also learns a few things in the bargain.

I am also enjoying volunteering at my daughter’s school. A privilege exclusively American I think. The education system is plagued with cut-backs and the first thing expendable is for some reason the teaching jobs. Often short-handed but bravely trying to soldier on, in the face of strengthening rivals and determined third-world countries. US has its job cut out for the next few decades. The decisions it makes now, will impact much more than just its economy.

Oh but I was talking about volunteerism. The single most awesome characteristic of the American society. A lot in US gets done voluntarily by its citizens. They don’t always depend on the government to take action or for something drastic before they hustle. Case in point: Occupy wall street. Although the economy seems to be slightly corrected, people are rightly protesting against corporate greed.

We Indians are familiar with it, Greed I mean. The average person’s greed. Be it a peon in a hospital or the Telecom Minister. Here the greed is almost exclusively corporate. It’s amazing how global giants have changed the face of nature to put money in the hands of a few. What waste there is! Ugh!

But people are shouting back. My sympathy and empathy for all those who are sleeping on the streets in this biting cold for a better tomorrow. You are braver than what the world will ever acknowledge.

People volunteer at schools, hospitals, at senior citizen homes, animal shelters. There are websites that match your skills and interest to required assistance locum. (or is that loci). Earlier I used to be such a career worm. And now after witnessing scores of scourges, afflicting us the people, I realise my path forward is giving back to the society.

Through all my emergency situations (and numerous they were too), strangers went out of their way to help me, console me, even comfort me. Be at the cruel Kelwa Beach or in electric London. The only way I can give thanks is to take their legacy forward.

Onward then…and May God aid me in my efforts!

Long lost friends....

I know I have spoken about friends a few times here. I even went so far as to list some of my best friends. But on this crisp autumn morning after having spoken to my dad's best friend's son, my heart is warm again.

The fire of friendship kept even the second generation warm together. I suppose I owe this to my dad. He by example taught me to choose friends wisely. Not for convenience sake, nor for status. But a simple connection. Of hearts. His friendship has endured even 6 years after his death. Quite a legacy!

I have learnt well. Not everyone is a friend. Not everyone is welcome to my house. But those who are, reign my heart. Knowing and understanding the true nature of my parents and brother (all of whom now reside in the heavens), I have always considered my house my temple.

I have stayed in an extremely small apartment measuring 180 sq ft to a large bungalow. Yet the atmosphere not the size determined its sanctity.

In such hallowed circumstances, God has blessed me with some of the highest examples of humanity as my friends. I may not call them often or keep in touch with most. But please know that you are always in my thoughts. And am always thanking God for the privilege of knowing you. This time there is no list. For those who are special don't need to be told.

Caught sleeping...

The title works well for me personally and India’s government. I have been derelict of my blogging duties. The entire August went by without nary a word from me. Can I be excused? I was on vacation for the whole month :)

I ate, slept, swam, ate, slept. Not in my good ol’ town but near Grand Ole Opry. Nashville, Tennessee: Music City, Athens of the West, Home of the Parthenon, Publishing City. A city with many names and many facets. Loved standing on a stage with nearly 100 years’ of country music history. The Grand Ole Opry is the mecca for all country singers and has been since 1925. You can not buy a membership to the Opry. You have to be invited to oldest music hall of fame. Photographs will follow, I promise.

Nashville is cool. Wide streets and even wider highways. A lot of history there. The best building was the Bat building. Not Bruce Wayne’s home, though it would have been a fitting abode for the superhero. It is the AT&T building. It is surrounded by all the bigwigs of the music industry. The studios are awe-inspiring. To know that international stardom is created within those walls was overwhelming and kept thinking of Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood walking up those steps.

I loved the spaciousness of the city and beyond. Every little establishment had huge grounds, something of a luxury here in Connecticut. Not even the government buildings can boast of vast grounds. And there a man’s personal home had been surrounded by 30000 acres of manicured gardens. It took us half a day to see the various segments within the Botanical Garden. Humidity and Heat took its toll and we beat a hasty retreat.

Perhaps that was the only downer. The heat was oppressive. I didn’t dare to even open the door during day time. But that only gave me a good reason to sleep in. :)

Aah and the other entity caught sleeping. Not that I am one. But the Indian government surely is. Or should I call it a joke. Even with one of the best and honorable man at its helm, India can’t get its act together. We are becoming something of a laughing matter with bombs blowing up in every bazaar, office or train. Is Indian security so poor that anyone can attack it with impunity and walk away without the slightest fear of getting caught?

Are our chosen leaders and hired officials that impotent? Does not one official realise that he needs to take his job seriously? Not just as a source of income and security but with responsibilities and duties? These terrorist attacks are so regular that even the Indian public, the biggest victim of such acts, are getting anesthetized to them. Not caring for anyone except sending up a huge prayer of thanks to God that it wasn’t them. This time!

The social media denizens have led a hue and cry, baying for blood. Anyone’s blood! As the perps have long vanished, the face of governance Mr Manmohan Singh is the target. Poor man! He is a good man caught in a bad position. One man cannot change this country or its state of affairs. We all need to change. How?

No good movie around :(

Have watched all the movies that have been recent hits at the box office in India, i.e. all of the Hindi ones.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD), Delhi Belly and Ready. I hope I didn’t miss any worth the salt on my table.

They were all hits: some breaking-through, some roaring hits. Yet none of them really held my interest. Except perhaps Ready. Can’t help it. It was such a masala movie and without any abuse of senitivities or culture, that I positively enjoyed the movie.

Salman was the same old, same old. The story was also same old. A little tweaked for the current age. But atleast a positive message for familial bonds. And funny to boot. It made me laugh and that made it worth the money I spent on it. All the other characters were simply there, interchangeable and loud.

Asin who was so good and lively in Ghajini was simply part of the crowd. She didn’t stand out in the movie which was all about Sallu Bhai. He acts the same, talks the same, walks the same and dresses the same. Yet his movies are working. Must be his “good karma”

As for ZNMD, heaven knows why people liked it. Half the time, the camera kept panning on Hrithik‘s handsome face as if it was the only way to hold the audience’s attention. The problem is it is too close to Dil Chahta Hai, which was a better movie in every way: story, direction and acting.

Farhan Akhtar was perhaps the star of the movie, being the most natural and at ease in front of the camera. Maybe it was easier for him to work for his sister. Hrithik Roshan is the best looking actor in Bollywood. However his acting has much to desire. He wasn’t comfortable acting the snob, nor was he any good at romancing Katrina. His idea of acting a man who finally begins to live is to laze around dreamily with a loopy smile in the backseat of a car. But the biggest disappointment was Abhay Deol. The endearing Deol came across so effeminate in his voice and pitch, I thought him initially to be a gay in the movie.

None of the songs were much to write home about except the “Senorita” one sung by the lead male actors. Even here Abhay was the worst offender in terms of pitch and lift. And yet again Farhan was the best. He should definitely make a rock band. India needs it pretty bad.

And lastly Delhi Belly. What was all the brouhaha about? It had way too many cuss words and the story was too old and cliched. Haven’t we seen a similar tale of turning wheel of fortune and presence of mind in Ek Chaalis ki last local or Johnny Gaddar? The only difference is that this movie was unabashedly vulgar. And people seemed to love it. I am fine with cuss words but this was too much too often. Of course it showed how truly dirty we are. Physically, verbally and even emotionally. DB being a hit says a lot about us, or doesn’t it?

Sadly I have not much to look forward to except Don 2. Fingers crossed Farhan doesn’t mess this one up. Also now that the original jodi of Sanjay- Arshad has been removed from the Munnabhai series, don’t know if I should keep much expectation of the 3rd offering. So a rerun of Transformers, Terminator and Independence Day will have to do for me.

A little holiday is all it takes!

Summer is a time for lazing around…on beaches if you will if you stayed where I do! But this summer was excruciatingly hot and so we spent most of the time indoors, venturing to the pool only in the evenings.

A short trip to Newport, Rhode Island took my stress away. Not the town itself..Somehow Cornwall UK and Ganpatipule, India reign supreme in my heart…After that no other beach town has captured my heart. Biased probably..

Apart from the beaches and private islands, Newport has a host of heritage mansions..magnificient properties built for the super rich of 18th century. Visited the Breakers Mansion. The mansion is huge with huge and beautiful grounds. But the view is a killer.

Belonging to the Vanderbilt family, the walls of the main room is adorned with gold and platinum. But its the balcony with majestic view of the Atlantic that takes your breath away. I kept thinking of a family living there and enjoying the view every single day. It would be have been a very happy and a relaxed life. I imagine.

Apart from that, having been brought up in the ubiquitous one-room boxes of Mumbai, this mansion seems like a dream house. It even had a small cottage for the children to play in, complete with a little play kitchen. How the other half lives!!!! They say money doesn’t buy you happiness. But it sure does get you close. That day for the first time I felt that there were somethings I haven’t really enjoyed in life. Luxury! Maybe in my next life! Fingers crossed

Eat well..

Our parting wish for our friends is always “stay well”. In Bengali we say bhalo theko.

Very often the older generation says the new generation is a weakling. We fall sick very often and have no stamina. Our eyes, our hair, skin… nothing can stand in comparison to the oldies.

They may be right. However our generation also faces unprecedented stress. An entire generation of Indian women here in the US is wasting away at home. Rotting. Having worked hard at educating ourselves we find ourselves exerting at dishes and laundry or at best carpet stains.

Men don’t know when they might be booted out of their jobs. They have to now work, help at home, look after the baby, and also forge ahead in life. Not easy!

What is easy is to pick up any food that is instant or readily available and gobble it up! In the name of nutrition a lot of companies are becoming fat and unfortunately the consumer is too. We now face a huge obesity problem. And it is huge!

I have seen countless kids greedily gobbling down junk and yet can’t be bothered to even touch a single vegetable. Even I was beginning to think like my dad’s generation: these kids don’t know what’s good for them. I myself have never ever skipped on breakfast. Generally I never ate any ready-made product for breakfast. It was all completely home-made except for milk. Somehow I thought everyone from my generation is very health conscious. I am talking about Indians. Do not know enough about others to comment about them.

I was wrong! I have seen women not eat anything for breakfast at all. Only running on tea or coffee. Eating their lunch at 12.30 pm somehow seems to make it alright for them. Even when they are pregnant! In at least 4 cases, I have seen their babies have a very high reflux problem. Always vomiting. Always. As much as 10 to 12 times a day.

Then the mothers keep trying various things to stop the babies from vomiting and to eat a few morsel. But it doesn’t work. In all of these cases, I closely asked them their diet. Now I am no nutritionist and yet I know drinking tea/coffee on an empty stomach isn’t good. How do I know?

My father was a tea addict. He would start with bed tea. One of my first duties in the morning was to make him tea. He sometimes had a cookie or bread with it. But most times it was on empty stomach. While he was completely healthy during his entire youth, consequences struck when he hit his 50s.

One morning he started vomiting blood and had to be rushed to hospital. The doctors kept asking us if my father was an alcoholic. And we kept trying to convince the docs that he never touched alcohol. After a detailed investigation, the cause turned out to be our humble tea.

While tea itself doesn’t harm much, what is harmful is its acidic effect on an empty stomach. The stomach lining is very soft so tea on an empty stomach is akin to pouring acid on a soft tissue.

All the women have argued that they have never faced acidity problems even though they are drinking tea/coffee since childhood. As an adult one may be able to handle acidity but a newborn has no such ability. All I can say: What is easier? To make a little sandwich for yourself with the tea or to clean up your baby’s vomit.

I know there has been no study on this topic. But then no studies have ever been undertaken specific to Indian habits. Yet it is too much of a coincidence to ignore. Besides any nutritionist worth his/her degree will tell you breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So pleaseeeeee…especially all you pregnant ladies ..stop drinking tea on empty stomachs and start eating a healthy breakfast.

Nature's fury!

Recently someone in US had predicted an end of life as we know it. Luckily for us all he was wrong! Funnily enough he simply changed dates to 5 months later. I might have said "Budddha sathiya gaya hai" (the old man is bonkers) except that he has built a multi-million dollar empire based on this fear.

World didn't end but a lot of cities have been brought to their knees. Devastating earthquakes, tornadoes and thunderstorms taking life and property alike without mercy. Some cities like Joplin have been almost wiped out. The worst part is that it's not over yet. More thunderstorms and tornadoes are on their way!

We can only pray to God for kindness and help for the victims. Those who have survived may have triumphed death but not destruction. They have a long struggle ahead of them. Picking up mercilessly scattered pieces of their lives. Moving on. Rebuilding. Coping with loss of loved ones. How does one do all this and have a happy life ahead? Don't know!

For US and the world, these whiplashes are doing more than destroying lives. Nature is slowly but surely bringing the already slow-grinding economy to its knees. Monetarily the devastation has had huge impact on insurance, healthcare and small, private businesses. US definitely needs to redefine its policies and focus inwards. Let other countries sort out their problems on their own for a change.

It doesn't make sense that a super nation has to go build houses and schools for people who don't want their help while people in its own backyard are struggling to go through life. Even now, extremists in the war-torn countries are probably happy that there is devastation in US. I read a comment somewhere that US is being punished by God for killing innocents in Mid-East. Wonder why God would target only one western country for the act of many.

No the reason for this destruction is not God's anger. Rather Nature's fury! Why is Nature angry? Simply because in an attempt to modernise, industralise or monetise, man has attempted to subvert and control nature. Building dams, cutting off natural plant and animal habitats, trying to straighten rivers, and a recent term I learnt "weaponise weather" are all culprits either singly or collectively.

You can't tame Nature and expect not to be whiplashed. Nature isn't a lion that man can control its wild nature and make it jump hoops.

A documentary showed how building unnecessary dams has nearly wiped out salmon population. And we know that because we eat salmon. Those creatures which aren't a part of our food chain may have been wiped out without our knowledge. And now millions are being spent trying to increase their population and blowing out some dams.

It's like cutting off your legs and trying to learn how to run. Maybe we should stop and look back. As a nation, and as a league of nations. Else what legacy are we leaving for our kids?

Mother’s weekend!

It really pays to have a growing up child and an enthusiastic husband. The duo made this Mothers’ Day really special for me this entire weekend!

While I was growing up Mothers’ Day wasn’t celebrated. At least not as vigorously as it is now. Don’t know if it even existed back then….BTW back then isn’t waaaay back then, just so you know

On Friday, my husband flew in from TN and right at 12 midnight Saturday, Aditi and he put a small candle on a chocolate cupcake and brought it out singing a robust “Happy Mothers’ Day” to the tunes of Happy Birthday!

Saturday morning, slept in late. Partly because Aditi decided to crash in with us and I was therefore unable to sleep. Our queen bed was too small to encompass the revolving daughter. Finally at 4 am gave in and slept on the sofa..I was woken up to the tune of Happy Mothers Day once again and to my great pleasure Aditi n Bish had made breakfast and tea. Steaming hot idlis with baingan chutney! Deliciousso!

Lunch was Thai at an especially good Thai restaurant. Some shopping. Back home to rest. In the evening we had the best time of all. A new boardwalk has been built connecting two beaches..its about one and half mile walk. We went for a walk and Aditi took her bike along. Enjoying the scenic views and the beautiful sunset and the calm waters.

Back home Aditi and Bish got out another cupcake, a banana-walnut one this time complete with candle and a song. We topped up the evening with a re-watch of Karate kid. Am a fan of Jaden Smith & his father. The only father-son duo to have captured my heart.

And that was it! Or so I thought!

Sunday morning again got breakfast and tea! Lunch, Anda curry made by my fabulous chef husband! Alas in the evening there were no more cupcakes and so Aditi decided to improvise. She took out a bowl of halwa, warmed it in the microwave. She stuck two pretzel sticks in place of candles and sang out Happy Mothers’ Day!

How can anything compare to this kind of weekend. No resort, holiday or gift can match this. It makes all those early morning maddening rush a cupcake walk! All those irritating habits a distant memory!

Maybe that’s why such commemorative days have gained in popularity. Want to celebrate anything? Simply make it a day and announce a special date! Earth Day, Daughters’ Day, Valentines! How about a Volunteers’ Day?

Wish I could have done something special for my mother. Aditi has already gotten a chance to show her mom how much she loves her and I really bless her from the bottom of my heart. And hope my heart is deep!

Mission Accomplished!

What an explosive start to May! 1st May 2011 11.45 pm the President of United States announces that US special force killed Osama Bin Laden (OSL) the most wanted terrorist in this generation’s memory.

As news trickled in of this fantastic achievement, couldn’t help feeling a rush and would have screamed “yahoooo” had it not been mid-night and the neighbours + family asleep. Felt a rush of adrenalin and jubilation. I am not American nor did I have any connection even tenuous or indirect to 9/11 victims.

But on 9/11, I was shocked to the core at the utter foolishness and depravity of some men who did not think it wrong to kill honest men and women going about their jobs and lives. In name of what? Wasn’t God! Certainly no principle or value…What principle would be worth 3000 lives?

I was skeptical when former President Bush attacked Iraq. Somehow it felt like a ploy to control Saddam’s oil reserves or some such ulterior motive rather than revenge for being attacked. Also after so many years no one really thought Osama would be caught and brought to justice..Whenever any footage of OBL was shown, the background was always mountainous rubble and caves. Coupling that with reports of war in Afghanistan between Taliban and US forces somehow took the focus away from OBL.

Even the Americans seemed to want an end to the never-ending war against an elusive figure of darkness. Dealing with their own problems of recession, unemployment, rising health costs became paramount to the the average American.

When Barack Obama was elected President, he cut an impressive figure. A man promising change and hope. 3 years down he lost a lot of support as conditions worsened. People not only questioned his leadership, some even clamoured to question the very legitimacy of his citizenship.

This man last week effectively shut the ‘birthers’ by showing his birth certificate and making a point of demolishing the chief vocalist albeit all in fun and humor. Even then he knew he was sitting on potentially the biggest Ace card a US president has ever held. And he calmly went about his business. What a fantastic political master stroke from a young politician who was a small community leader 3 years ago. He made history the first time by virtue of his skin colour but now he has earned a high post in history through his focussed leadership.

Obama was right in focusing on capturing the figure-head of a dreaded organisation. He showed foresight in not allowing bombing of the mansion. I would rather have a thinking man as the head of the most powerful country than a brash aggressive man reacting to every nudge. Obama has cemented his position as of now and his achievement will force his critics to back off. So by capturing OBL, President Obama has accomplished a lot for his country’s morale and ego! And for his own future!

Has the terrorist network been weakened to the point of demolition or will it prove to mimic the 10-headed Ravana? What is unfortunate that OBL’s organisation has grown and broken into numerous branches. Some may step up to the plate.

What is positive that some of these branches were operating in countries which themselves are going through a “Born Again” revolution. The people in some of these countries want better lives for themselves and are revolting against oppressive regimes. All power to them and hopefully the people power will finish the tail end of OBL’s creation.

Mission Impossible???

Power of planning!

The week gone was a spring break for Aditi. As my husband wasn’t going to be in town, I had an uphill task of keeping her happy and engaged on my own and without the help of the idiot box.

Earlier I thought I would simply go downtown to the library and the harbour. And then the weather turned. For the worse. Luckily advanced and accurate weather forecasts helped avoid making bad plans. :)

Instead of going out, decided to call people in. So every day of the week I arranged for a playdate for Aditi. Planned in advance what to serve as snack or dinner. Called all the moms and arranged for suitable times and set the ball rolling. Each day a new playmate and something new to look forward to. Some of them for the very first time. Some Indian, Some American.

What a success it was! Aditi hasn’t touched the TV remote for the entire week although most of the playdates were only in the evenings for 2 -4 hours. She played, ate, played and slept… :)

Each night we would go over the day and how she enjoyed playing with her friend. And plan for the next day. Each day some different game or toy based on specific tastes and likes. She loved every moment of it. Every day she helped me clean up the house for the guest and arrange things. Not a single hard moment.

I am glad I took the effort. It of course took extra effort to invite people from other cultures and keep them entertained. Bear in mind food allergies, dislike for spices or lack of desire among children to try something new. Whew this kept me on my toes! Especially the menu for the American kids. Imaginative and simple was the way to go. Each day was a success and we both hit the bed satisfied on a day well spent.

The spring break is over and now a different kind of planning is required. Early dinner, early bed time and early wakeup time. Healthy snacks and lunch for the whole week and we are set for the next week.

Being a mother teaches us to be such good managers. Manage time, skill and temperament. And when a job is well done you have the greatest reward. A very happy customer. And this one pays with love! The most precious currency!

Mac & Cheese…yummmm!

Found this really easy recipe for making some yum Macaroni & Cheese…Absolutely easy!

Boil Macaroni..( I actually didn’t have macaroni so used whole wheat pasta..worked like a charm and was healthy too)

Once it is boiled drain water.

Switch the stove on but keep on low heat…Add milk about 3/4 cup.

Add shredded mozzarella cheese, butter and 4 tbsp cream. ( The more butter and cream you add the richer the texture).

And Lastly the necessary Salt. Keep stirring until all of the milk thickens and cheese /butter is melted. I added coriander leaves to add a touch of flavour. Voila!

Just tucked into a bowl full of soul!

Spring is here, spring is here...

Finally the cold weather front is moving away, though it still gets chilly at night… Spring is here…In everyone’s steps, in the air. Finally a daffodil blooms, and the sun shines strong.

Foggy today but 17 degrees C. Reminded me of Lonavala, where Bish and I had walked into the fog holding hands and dreams in our hearts.

We took a bus from Malad, Mumbai and although the bus operator said the bus went to Lonavala it was actually a bus to Pune. So when our stop came, the bus instead of entering Khandala via expressway exit dropped us on the expressway.

It was raining. With a suitcase in hand, we went walking down the exit (I know don’t gasp). And to our great delight saw a butta wala (roasted corn seller). The taste of garam butta on that rainy day is etched so deeply into my mind that I can taste it in my mouth right now. Aah the pleasures of simple life!

Mumbai-Pune sector is blessed. It is a very scenic drive. There are hundreds of small hamlets and each breathtaking. People are simple enough to open their doors if your vehicle breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Really had the opportunity to travel this road countless times.

During my internship, I used to travel to Bombay Dyeing manufacturing plant in Patalganga. Patalganga is mid-point between Mumbai and Lonavala. It used to be a 2 hour ride from Bandra but loved every moment of it. It was only while entering back into Mumbai via Chembur-Sion, that the ugliness of metro life would force itself onto my existence. TIll then I was in bliss.

Once I remember I had gone trekking with my brother and his friends to Malshej ghat. I walked through a mini-waterfall, and my friend climbed a straight rock without any climbing gear. At top of the mountain, rain and fog heavy on us.

We reached some small hamlet bus stand at 3 am and were advised by the bus conductor to not go roaming in the hills for the fear of Bhils. We spent the whole night at the bus stand. At 7 am, a food stall owner opened shop. And we were onto the tastiest Usal Pav I have ever had.

Saw a bit of interior Maharashtra while on Ashta Vinayak tour with a friend. Ate at small dhabas or stalls but the food was always fantastic. And never did I have any stomach problem. Saw how people actually lived in our villages. No electricity, no tap water. But mast! Bindaas! It was my desire to travel the konkan sector. I have read about its beauty but that place has so far been elusive.

Can I ever go there? Dont know! Would love to though..I do know some of my friends have been making the dream list of places we want to visit sans family. As girls! I pray this comes true!

That it doesn’t merely remain a desire in the heart. Luckily God has always given me the opportunity to be close to Nature and therefore Him. And I find myself more and more attracted towards The Simple Life. A bungalow in the middle of a self-sufficient farm. Hmmmmm!!!!

The clash of the titans...

India defeats Pakistan today at Mohali. In cricket!!!! For a lot of Indians (rather for all Indians) a matter of big celebration and joy. And it should be…We have a rivalry that goes back to our very origins…Like Australia vs New Zealand, England vs Australia. Cricket is a fever in India and cricketers treated like demi-Gods; provided they win. And Indian cricketers have disappointed often. I stopped watching live cricket after Kapil Dev was accused of match fixing. He is my hero. I refuse to accept he can be corrupt and therefore I stopped watching. Reports of Ajay Jadega, Azhar (all my favourites) accused and convicted of similar charges did the game no favour. I felt like a fool who gave my time and emotions to a game where the players were simply using people’s emotions for their personal benefit and to the detriment of their country. The last match I have seen is the World cup finals against Sri Lanka and my enduring memory is of Vinod Kambli crying at his inability to stop India’s massacre. Since then, I have never watched cricket. It was too heart breaking for me. Like a fool I was unnecessarily deeply invested in it. So no more cricket! Looks like history will repeat itself at least in parts. SriLanka vs India World Cup finals!

March goes marching by...

This month just flew off the shelf….didn’t know when it started and it’s already at its end…Spring is supposed to be here but snow still gave us a visit. Maybe next week I will see some life sprouting back on the trees and some color in the landscape…

Didn’t write anything this month at all…not because I had nothing to talk about but because I had someone to talk to

A relative came over for 3 weeks and it was real fun to talk to a real live person versus tapping thoughts and feelings out on a machine or on a “wall”.

We spent hours talking..sometimes rehashing the same thing but then that’s what women do…slept at 1 am daily and had to get up at 7 am for my daughter Though tired and sleepy, still kept on yakking away..

After ages got to flush my system…

Sometimes a man just doesn’t get what a woman wants or feels! So chuck him out and get a BFF. Best Female Friend! I have 2 or 3 with whom I can talk hours…And there is one with whom I open my deepest thoughts. Without any fear of judgment or fear of getting unnecessary advice.

That is rich! To not have to explain any of your feelings or actions is so refreshing. Its like getting freedom.

Somehow you cant do it with parents, nor with husbands, definitely not with colleagues or neighbours. Some of my friends in India regularly meet up over lunch or coffee and I do envy them. I see that happening here..Women out alone without kids or family having lunch once a month or even a year. Enriching..

I have learnt a lot from other women, simply by listening to their experiences. Helped me avoid mistakes or to correct a deviation. Climb over an incline! Thank you gals! Wouldnt swap my BFFs for anything in the world.

Waiting for the sun to shine…

Waiting…eagerly waiting for the sun to shine…In my life..On the world…Over Egypt…We all need sunshine…

Still struggling with low temperatures, the summer can’t come any sooner for us folks here.. Luckily looks like storm season is over, or we have left the worst of it behind us. Hoping for some warmth.

Egypt is in desperate need for some sunshine (as also many other nations). I salute the brave people of Egypt for having the courage to stand up to a regime that has brandished corruption, torture and mayhem. It takes a lot of effort to standup to authority in any country. But where the authority is downright ruthless, the effort takes epic proportions.

I pray the continued struggle of the common people brings desired results. Though funnily enough the people in the wrong have become so brazen that they refuse to concede power even when confronted by millions. Haven’t we seen it all in India itself?

Happily, I am hooked to Saas Bina Sasural. Apart from the drama, I love the interactions (good direction/acting) of all the characters. So sweet! I would love to have a family like that…Really a dose of happiness before turning in!

Shocked also at how blindly we pick up all things western. Wife Swap has now become Maa Exchange. So heart-rending to see children suffer. But yes it shows how we love shredding others but won’t glance at the mirror. If people take it as lessons to be learnt this couldn’t be a better program. But…

Personally, this lioness is in lazy mode. Apart from sleeping and cooking, not inclined to do much. Have several projects to finish, but can’t be bothered. Is it the weather? or Boredom? or Hormonal Imbalance?

There’s something about US…

Its India’s Republic Day! Right time to reflect on what is and what can be…

Staying abroad always makes me love my country that much more! I miss talking in Hindi. I miss feeling the sense of belonging. No wonder I end up watching everything (well almost) Bollywood has to offer..I have watched yuck movies as Kajol’s Kuch Khatti kuch Mithi to TMK, all in the hopes of connecting to something familiar. A culture that I totally understand and relate to…And love!

And whenever I return back, ooh la la, I face a huge culture shock. Every single time! The first time I traveled in Mumbai local after returning back in 2002, I was shocked and disappointed at the appalling behaviour of aam janta. A college going girl refused to let me get off at Andheri simply because I was sitting till Goregaon. She said you should have gotten up earlier. Go figure!

In Pune, the rickshaw driver started threatening like a goon because he wanted Rs 25 instead of the minimum fare Rs 9 for a 2 min ride. In Chennai, while I was 5 months pregnant, the watchman refused to help me bring a suitcase down from the 3rd floor, simply because I was “North Indian“.

In Kolkatta, when we took a prepaid taxi from the airport to home, a man (driver’s supposed friend) forcibly entered the taxi to take a short ride and only got off because I raised an alarm.

In Bangalore, I stood in a queue 1 mile long for 4 hours to secure admission in a school in nursery class for my child. I still didn’t get it. And I was told to keep a minimum Rs 1 lac ready if I wanted admission to any school (decent or not) at all.

None of these and various other experiences would make me feel a proud Indian today! Sometimes I cringe at the appalling behaviour I see exhibited by my country people in India or abroad. Our love of showing off our wealth has led to killings of young men and women. Our love of ignoring rules led to a recent accident here killing 8 people including a month old baby. Our love of chaati-thok self-righteousness, even if wrong, has made us one of the hated communities abroad.

Not all of it is our fault. Though, somehow we are losing touch with our culture. The very thing that makes us. Made us. Age old wisdom in Yoga, Naturopathy, Daan - dharam, Prathistha, Izzat are buzz words abroad. In India, they are shrugged off. The best line I have ever heard was from a boy who refused to pick up his litter say, “Yeh Mera kaam nahi hai. Main to aisa hi hoon”.

Isn’t that also a Movie song? A reflection of popular culture.

A neighbourhood school was recently closed down here and parents protested against it. Everybody knew it was an underperforming school and was shut to save council money. But they protested as: some would lose jobs, and it would affect the community by lowering house prices. Here the concern was the impact on the community of teachers, helpers and neighbours. Not their children, for parents knew children would be taken care of adequately.

It’s been – 30 degrees Celsius here and have seen 7 storms in 5 weeks. Even after the worst blizzard, a small army of dedicated council workers came out to clean up the streets. The residents clean up the sidewalk surrounding their house for pedestrians. Life was completely normal. Nothing got paralysed. Unlike what one single rainy day can do in Mumbai!

Or take victims like Aarushi, Nitish Katara, or Satyendra Dubey. They are forgotten people. Some of us self righteous people protested, held morchas, lit candles and went back home to sleep. These cases are swept under the carpet by us. Many among our aam junta may not be aware of who these people are. Kya kare bhaiyya, zamana hi kharab hai. Inka dekhu ya zindagi ki gaadi dhakelu? Why do we forget our government is of the people, by the people and for the people. Our netas are elected by us!!!!!!

Are we that thick-skinned, that our hearts don’t break on seeing a child mopping the floor? A poor woman being beaten to death by her in-laws? A man killed for simply doing his job honestly?

What exactly should I be proud of as an Indian? We say India has suffered from brain drain, notably to US. Here in US, the kind of Indians I have met, makes me regret being born as one. Either they are trying to take advantage of each other or are busy making others’ life miserable. Proud at earning in dollars and bad mouthing the very hand that feeds them. Bringing in aged parents to simply baby-sit their kids and do house-keeping while they go about their lives. Sad!

Ofcourse India is not just these people. Happily there are those of us who are trying to keep the Indian flag flying high. Those of us who have tried to remain true to our culture while embracing modern values. A few of us make me feel there’s hope. They know the true value of tehzeeb (manners), laaj (honour), satya vachan (truth). They struggle amongst the crowd but are still flying high. Still the voice of reason, empathy, and patience.

Today on our republic day, I pray that these good men and women get strength to fight the moral corruption in our country and vanquish it. Maybe then we will conquer all else. Amen! Jai Ho!

Toonpur – yikes!!! TMK- super yikes!!!

Got a really looong weekend thanks to the second snow storm…This one was huge…Have never seen so much snow in my life…We got about 30 inches!!! I enjoyed it inside no snowman for me, thank you very much! Luckily this time the parking lot was cleared by the maintenance as snow shovel would simply not work!!! So no broken backs!

Temperatures are now near 6 – 10 degree F in the morning. Do not look forward to standing at the bus stop early morning!!! Looks like I will have to get meself some hotwheels.

Long weekend! Snowed in! No where to go! Ergo watch movies…loads of it!!!!

Caught up on Tees Mar Khan, Toonpur ka Super hero and gonna watch Phas gaye re Obama in a while!

About these two movies what can one say except why do we even bother? Akshay Kumar needs to break out of his screaming hysterics mode. It was cute in Hera Pheri, adorable in Heyy Baby. The movie that actually made him work for me as a hero was Namastey London where for the most part he keeps his mouth shut and uses his eyes to communicate.. That was hot baby!

He has certainly lost the plot once again! His Houseful, Singh is King, Khatta Meetha and now TMK are all shove-it-down-the-drain types.

TMK does not feel like a typical Farah Khan movie. While both her previous movies were nonsense for content, there was a style and an oomph which carried interest. I for one could watch OSO, and Main Hoon Na more than once. (On DVD/TV of course, wouldn’t waste money on expensive tickets).

TMK has no story whatsoever. The thefts are harebrained or should I say bird-brained. Katrina’s role was just that, bird brains. And boy was she perfect in it. Katrina is a perfect example of how we go for looks rather than talent. She is perfect face for the Barbie doll, she is that plastic! Here however she had little to do except run out of the scene!

Lets not get talking about direction. For it was quite directionless. At one point it was pure mayhem. Reminded me of Housefull where everyone was running around and no one knew why. Did someone ghost direct TMK?

So those who haven’t watched this movie, please don’t!

Toonpur ka superhero was another let down. I can not say Ajay Devgan or Kajol were at fault. They did their jobs impeccably. The animation was a total letdown. The voiceovers were horrendous. They could have gone places with proper actors lending voice and actually emoting the lines. The scenes were always a little dark and characters looked totally out-of-place.

What is good about the movie was the originality of the story and the attempt at humor. Not Gappi but Big Ben. Everybody had some sort of gun, so Ajay has “Dev” gun! The lines were funny but the humor was completely lost due to bad voice overs. They story line was extremely clever, involving game levels in a story was a brain wave. The writer needs some encouragement and bigger budget. Next time Mr Producer pay attention to finer details.

To get rid of the bad taste left due to these movies, watched Transformers. Again! I always get hooked onto these movies no matter how many times I watch it. Terminator, Independence Day are movies I would watch again and again and I am not even an action girl. Give me British comedy any time.

My child...My inspiration...

I recently read an article in Daily Mail, London, where a woman laments about how tough it is to handle her son..It often drives her to madness and at times she hates him for it.

I kind of understand where her emotions come from. Our lives are so stretched, our time limited, our interests varied that it takes a simple shoe tear to make us fly off the handle. Add a naughty child to that, and you have a recipe for a breakdown. Tough on mothers’ today, especially on working mothers. I dare not think of the single mom.

Of course my daughter drives me mad. Especially now that she attends full-time school. She chooses her own dress, her shoes, even her clips. Of course it will be the wrong choice for the weather. She wants to wear a sleeveless in 30F. Exasperating to say the least!

But this little girl has also shown me new paths. She has inspired me to better myself (if only to set an example).

She inspired me to start designing and making new dresses for her. A skill I never thought I possessed. To go with the outfit, a gal always needs the right accessories. So I have ventured to jewellery making. Now neither sewing nor jewellery making was something I ever thought I would do. Nor would I do it for money. The pleasure on her face when she likes her new dress and the matching necklace, earring, bracelet set, is something to die for.

This holiday season, she made me ultimately do something I always wanted to but was too lazy to attempt. I actually wrote and printed a book for her. Her class was discussing various holidays around the world. Aditi wrote about Diwali, India’s festival of lights. Her teacher wrote to ask if we had any books or decorations to share with the class so they would understand the concept better.

I ran to all the book stores and of course none of them had any book available. Some of us were cheap enough to buy the available book, use it and return it. So the shops stopped carrying the books at site and you could only pre-order it. So after running pillar to post I thought what the heck why not simply make up a story like we normally do.

Thanks to MS Powerpoint, I managed to create a story book with Aditi as the heroine. I saw the pride on her face when her parents walked into her classroom. I read the book aloud and later gifted it to the class.

I am really thankful to my daughter. Usually we parents teach our children things. In my case, my daughter is teaching me to learn new things, build new skills, chart out a different path. Generally I wouldn’t have done any of this. Although I have always wanted to write a book, I never actually sat down to it, until my daughter warranted it.

Thank you Aditi.

And to all other parents, in case you need a book on Diwali to share, let me know I will forward it to you, free of course. It’s high time we spread some good things about India.