The year that was

As usual this post is a wee bit late.. but better late than never right ?
So 2008 - this year did go by really quick. It was filled with lots of ups and downs, like any year usually is. But on the whole the year was good.

~I had my health (with a few injuries thrown in here and there)
~I had my family (and through all the trials, love underlines everything we do)
~I met new people (and made good friends)
~I let go of the past (both people and situations)
~I went through the tears (from the sad moments, the frustrating moments and the funniest times where you laugh so much you have to cry)
~I discovered more of me
~I travelled (alot!)
Delhi .. I consider it travelling as now Kodai is my home
Goa - absolutely fantastic! long way to travel just for 2 days but totally worth it. Beach..sun...friends..bonding..partying..and the other 'interesting' aspects of the trip
Bangalore .. meeting with family and friends all in the span of 36 hours, because I live on top of a mountain and we travel 12 hours one way to get to a decent city
Chennai .. same as above
Turkey - an amazing place. I loved it. Hot air ballooning was the highlight of the trip
Chidambram - this time it was much better..knew what to expect and having friends around always helped
Pondi - one of my fav places in south india. This place is gorgeous. Paper factory is a must along with satsanga (fantastic little restaraunt)
Madurai - for my exams. Thanks to JP and Hoops I made it through those days
Kerela - canoeing on the backwaters of kerela for 6 days. Fan-bloody-tastic. 65kms baby!
Thekkady - you got to love friends who take you for a holiday when the know your down. Added bonus was staying in a fantastic resort. Chilling near the pool, drinking beer, hiking in the forest, dealing with leeches. Got to love A&A
Varanasi - the interview with the people from the leprosary colony was an eye opening experience towards understanding human nature and ability to deal with adversities

~Visitors to Kodai included my bro and then my dad surprising me on my birthday
~Best moment - dad walking in on the birthday song
~Work..goes on. Now incharge of the yearbook and looking forward to learning why I try to lead.

~Technological advancements
Getting my laptop
Learning how to hook up my laptop to my TV
Harddrive :)
Swapping software with J3
Getting itunes and finally putting music and pictures on my ipod by myself

~Technological boo boos
Deleting my recovery folder from the D drive (luckily I dint delete it from the recycle bin, its now back to my D drive)

~Crazy moments
Sneaking out a swan paddle boat at 4am and going around the lake with C
The week of Yaka in May
Categories
Pen 15 club
Cafe Mondys
TGIF and ultimate margaritas
Bad Jokes R US
Laughing till I fall over and cant breathe
TC ... just call me the wing man
...and so many more

~Beauty & Styles
My hair has been cut, coloured, straightened, braided, conditioned with avacado and egg
Pushed my limits (and it dint hurt as much as I thought it would)
Pierced my ears again (and this time he said my ears have lost weight)

I love
.my family
.my nephews
.my friends
.crocheting
.cooking
.hosting parties
.being me

and that was 2008 ladies and gentlemen
To the new year
I look forward to change and new opportunities
Raise my glass and wish you all a wonderful 365 days ahead!

The motions of thy emotions

Emotions have been running pretty wild this past week and in the midst of down right depression I have had fleeting moments of happiness.

Been doing a lot of soul searching lately
Old fears creeping back into my mind
Learning about my self,
Things I can do and things which leave me a crumpled mess on the floor
I have learnt
That there is an ugliness inside of me
That I can be spiteful
Hidden in the darkness - usually content to be there
But once in a while breaking out
Shocking me
Scaring me
Some thing I need to work on
To remove the anger and the hatred
To remove those thoughts that run through my head
The ones which make me says things which I wish I never did
Words which shatter relationships
I also encountered one of my weaknesses
Some thing which had held on to me for over two months
Not willing to admit it and not willing to ask for help
It was easy to zone out that to actually deal with the situations
But I also learnt that I have friends who look out for me
Who look past the smile plastered on my face
And tell me “We need to talk”
I’ve learnt you need to put aside pride and ask for help
I’ve been happy
Sad
Frustrated
Hurt
Lonely
Homesick
Loved

Family and friends!

For those who have been with me over the last 6 months of the year 2007 knew a small percentage of the shit I was going through. And as much as each of my best friends thought they knew what was going on, that was a minute part of it.

So when I went back home in December I cried.
Tears of happiness
Tears of sadness
The emotions that flooded me when I landed at the Indira Gandhi domestic airport, just left me as a blubbering mess but you know what I dint care what the other passengers thought of me. I was HOME!!
(Although my flight was four hours delayed and it took an hour 15 minutes to get my luggage – that’s what you get for traveling on Air Deccan)

Unconditional love: so good to be with people who love me, people who would do any thing for me, who with one look know how I am doing. To those even with the simplest caring tap on the shoulder show me they care.

To being with your own flesh and blood. Who no matter how you mess up will always be with you. My appreciation for my family grows day by day. I love you guys!!

P Diddy, Papa Romero, Blondie and Intellectual Goddess. The 4 people I am blessed enough to call as friends.

To my little brother, I love you so much and in the past one year you have changed so much, yet are still the same 7 year old I meet 12 years ago. It was so good hanging out with you.

Yes, I am extremely sentimental and highly emotional.

From outfit analyis to appreciating people in my life

Trust S to notice some thing about my outfit and make fun of it. Todays fascination was with my shoes. My red wedges.

Some of the retorts:

The one eyed foot

Toes with a moustache

Weird feet

You've only painted one toe (not true)

This boy has nothing better to do, than do analyis my outfits. But I really dont mind, when he and B dont catch on some thing stupid I said or analyis my outfits I know some thing is wrong.

Oh yeah and the first thing he says on sunday when I got into the car - going fishing?

(was wearing 3/4ths with boots and a sweater)

Then decided I look more like I am going horse riding than fishing...

These people have an obsession with my socks. I dont wear the usual socks. Mine are bright and funky to reflect my mood!

Black and yellow ... bright organge.... pink with cows (I love my socks) and they love makin fun of them.

But that is B & S - and I adore them. My family away from family.

They all have taken me in with arms wide open - Auntie and Uncle have been my mum and dad over here.

I love the fact that I feel at home in thier houses and they feel the same way about my house.

People think B and I are sisters and dorm parents - long story another post maybe..

But yeah I thank God for bring them into my life - past year would have been very different with out them around.

Cheers to you guys

Daddy dearest

I love my dad. Adore him, respect him, all in all the number one man in my life. I am a daddy's girl - I just need to ask and I know dad will get it done for me. And I guess with the fear of being spoilt my mum became super strict with me. But now that I live alone, I know I can count on him, but I am on my own to feet and like doing things my self.

I am lucky that way, my parents have never been the type to get on case for the whole marriage thing. They dont care what other people say and ask.. about the whole singlehood thingie. They have never placed any criteria on the guys I go out with.. no religious, caste or staus issues. But mum did give me two pre requistes

1. Must like dogs (with fours dogs in the house, she aint going to be locking any of them up on my boy friend's behalf)
2. Must know how to enjoy a drink. (Our home's focal point is the bar. Its where most dicussions and fights take place. No we are not an alcholic family. But enjoy a drink once in a while)

Mum wants me to enjoy my 20's and make most of single life. My dad is slowing realizing that he has turned 61 and whats to retire and have lots of grandkids to play with and there for looks at me! What about my brother - he has to place the family seed in the world - go look at him and he is 8 years older - he needs to get married. But my dad says he wants to see his baby get married.

Any way I still consider it to be a big joke and smile whenever dad brings up the topic. Which brings me to the reason why I was writing this post and got side tracked as usual.

Blondie and I were sitting with mum and dad having a drink :) When dad suddenly says
"You have to meet this uncle's son"
S - "Dad, stop it, the last guy was not my type and doubt this one will be either"
D - "He is really handsome ask your mother"
S - "Mum ?"
M - "He is pretty good looking"
D - "See .. and he is pilot and can sing what more do you want?" (he says this smiling)
Blondie interupts

B - "Uncle wait, I know what my best friend wants - let me check him out"
D - "Ok"
B - "Is he big made? not scrawny... shreez needs a guy, who when hugs her, makes her feel protected?
D - "He is pretty broad... "
B - "Ok, not bad.. secondly does he have big hands ?"
D - "What??"
Mum begins to laugh

B - "Uncle I know what shreez wants, she loves big hands - does he have big hands ?"
D - a bit flabeergasted "Well yeah I guess, not that I really noticed"
B - "Last, but most importantly - is he tall ?"
Dad with a gleam and most excitedly says
"YES YES he is tall...... he is 5'7"

?????!!!!!!!!!!!
Blondie and I fall of the chair laughing.
S - "You cant be serious dad"
D - "What, thats a good hight for a guy"
S - "Dad I am 5'7... if I wear heels he'll look like a midget infront of me"

Oh and too top it off I asked my dad what the guys name was? He said he dint know his real name, but his pet name was "Minku"

Blondie and I laugh hysterically and head out for drinks and dinner.

Thats my dad for you. He is the cutest.

PS - to all the minku's out there. I have nothing against you'll. Peace !