and the finishing line is in sight...

35 days left and it marks my one year of living in Bangalore..

With the highs and the lows the city has put me through, almost a year later as I stretch out in the comfort of my humble abode (yes my house still makes me smile!) I say,

I am settled

.

I am happy

.

But enough of my contemplative nonsense, this past month has been super busy and one wonders where time has flown...

I am almost to the end of my B.Ed degree..cant believe its almost over... the major hurdles have been crossed and now the finishing line is well in sight.

My student teaching is over, and boy did it go quick. For an entire year we were bombarded by the teachers in our college, telling us how tough it would be, the sleepless nights, the hard work and the stress we would be dealing with.

But honestly it was not as hard as they said it would be...

I was teaching in Mary Immaculate School - Wilson Garden. An all girls school and your truly was teaching 9th grade girls - English and History..

My first day of class, boy was I nervous.. but as soon as I entered the classroom all the nervousness disappeared and I fed off the girls responsiveness!

Smart bunch of kids, with loads of questions and always keeping me on my toes!

I got great feedback from my teachers, teachers from the school and my fellow classmates! I was happy, excited and satisfied with what I was doing!

I think the biggest boost to my ego was that teachers from the school were asked to sit in my class since my classes were so interactive! Modern ages is not an easy topic to teach... I always hated history in school, so my form of teaching was to do the opposite of how I was taught :)

Worked well enough I say :)

Even the principal was observing me on the CTV cameras (creepy but got good feedback!)

As you can see I am still feeding off the high from my student teaching...

Oh and also the whole I have to wear a sari every day... which was totally freaking me out... easy peasy... am now proud to say I can put on a sari, in exactly 7 minutes wohoo!

In other aspects of life... seaman went and had an accident, he is now nursing a broken elbow... layla is gone but she saved his life!

He's in Bangalore, home bound and getting a bit cagey now days, understandably!

Its been movies movies and movies for him... along with games of poker... he aims to win enough to buy a new car, and with my luck in the cards looks like its all from me !!! :)

My past couple of weekends have been spent at WC's house watching 2 and half men and chilling... My weekend house to get away from the city !

I know have a week off before my practical exam, theory exam and valedictory day... 36 days and I am done!!!

Looking for a job, fingers crossed that everything falls into place...

Well thats all from me for now, how do you like the new blog look?

*Listening to Smile by Uncle Kracker

and the hostess is back :D

You know how much I love hosting parties and my house. I love cooking and taking care of people and in general being the little hostess. Sometimes I think I should have been born in the 1950's :D

Yesterday had Seaman, the happy couple, and small over for dinner. I was so happy to be bustling around in my kitchen listening to music while I cook away.

The house was spotless and I was exhausted :)

It was so nice to have S around. He approved of the house (phew) - gotta love younger-older brothers.

This is the first time I have officially cooked in Bangalore, I mean I have cooked in Ian's place quite a few times, but this was my house done my way.

Oh yeah the menu:

Devilled Eggs

Penne and Chicken

Garlic Bread

Fresh Mangos and Ice Cream

YUM!

It was a quiet evening, some music, great conversation and lovely company.

Shreez is a happy girl...

No photo's since S insisted I did not take out the camera (I only listen to him!)

PS - Ala-bama arrives in 10 hours wohoo:D

Give it to me, one time..

Ever had a song which makes you happy every time you hear it!

Well my happy song for the moment is 54-46 was my number by Toots and The Maytals, heard it at Beady house and fell in love with the song.

So for the past few days, the song is on repeat on full volume!

*twirls around happily*

So my loyal readers what's your happy song - comment and share some music with us all!

My site meter says I have readers from all around the world: California, Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Ontario, Senegal, Slovakia, Istanbul, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, Bombay, Gujarat, Delhi, Bangalore, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Japan and Australia.

Pretty extensive I say!

So comments are more than welcome, what are you listening to today!

Life in Bangalore is going good, talking to goldfish today I mentioned how suddenly it hits me that I have grown up. Yeah I know what your thinking, at 25 I should not be having these thoughts.

But as a kid, I remember watching my cousins and brothers living the life of 20 something year olds and being like I cant wait to be that old.

Now I think I have done a post very similar to this, when I was living in Kodai.. But living in a city relates much better to my childhood memories.

Last weekend, Angel and I were at home, and after dinner and some bonding we decided to dance. Cue chick flick moment. Music on full blast while these two delhi'ites 'just letting go' to quote my ding relations.

Talking about ding's - well Anglo Indians are known as dings - and I am proud to be one child :) With coconut rice and bobo curry and jiving! Whats not too like :D

Shout out to all the ding-dongs out there!

Now I am just rambling, because instead of studying I am procrastinating and blogging instead!

So shall sign off now.

Two days left for ala-bama to arrive!

Signing off now, go listen to your happy song and have a happy Tuesday !

I heart Bangalore

So when I first shifted to Blore I hated it, well hate is a pretty strong word, I guess I just found it hard to adjust after Kodai. Dint have too many friends, my house was not a home and all in all I just felt out of place.

But 236 days later - I have to admit I love Bangalore.

I have friends and am constantly make new ones. I love meeting new people, new ideas, thoughts, views and just in general hanging with different people.

I am also fortunate to have great room mates as well. Another 'delhi-ite'! Isnt it weird that I have met nicer delhites in blore than I have in Delhi!!!

But what I love about Blore in the culture... even tho things close by 11:30 here, there is still so much to do! Good music, great places to go dancing, decent food (nothing compared to delhi, but cant complain :))

Today was beady's birthday - she has this wonderful 1BHK, well set up. Met loads of her friends, lots of drinking (the rum punch was potent!), lots of dancing (so nice to jive!!!) and a whole lot of laughter!

Came home and made dinner - while laughing hysterically and managed to cut my thumb and drop red chilly powder over it! Yeah I am THAT clumsy!

But all in all - a great day!

Ciao for now

Shreez

Naughty blogger

Yeah I know, its been too long... as IBM-boy said, What happened to your blog?? The last update was in Aug 2009? What happened after that? Grew out of it (no pun intended swthrt) or some thing (or someone) caged the Shreez's spirit?

So here go's my first blog for the year 2010...

I am loving Bangalore.. I have a new house, which is absolutely amazing! Own bedroom and bathroom and no dirty smelly undies around!

I also have an awesome kitchen in which I've been doing loads of cooking. Getting my Indian cooking skills up - now all I need to learn is how to make chappati's and I am good to get married :)

Convent Educated / teacher / Can cook / good family

see the ad is waiting to be written!

This year has been a good year for visitors, first aussie chick, then wiggles and soon ala-bama... people are sick of all the count downs on my fb status, but what can I say, am always excited to see my friends..

So back to my new house, we have friends who live upstairs and the rest of the building is filled with young single working people. So all izz well...

This post will be quite random, but honestly I am at a lost on what to blog about. I read my previous posts, and quite shamelessly I can admit that some posts were quite good. Looks like Kodai brought out my creative side.

Bullet points will have to suffice:

• Love my new house as I have mentioned earlier
• College going well - few weeks left and then a month off
• Become the official designer for my course - designed a newsletter and brochure till date, I miss working with photoshop, but have to be happy with publisher
• I am a text-aholic :)
• Looking for a job, the reality of the real world awaits sigh!

The fabulous life!

Presenting the fabulous life!

After a good nights sleep, wake up post 11am, because honestly which self respecting who’s who wakes up early now days. Its so passé

After a leisurely breakfast, or is it brunch? Who really cares!
Now we all know, if one eats, one must exercise. Got to look good!
No boring gymming (as the lovely Delhi’ites say!) The new and IN thing to do is Pilates.
With the right type of breathing and some well designed work out plans – Pilates is the answer to getting the new you.
It’s off to the spa then. Got to protect your body against this horrible humid weather we’ve been having. Protect those digits ladies! Don’t want chipped nail polish now do we. Gasp!

A head massage, shoulder / back rub, the nitty gritties of hair removal and pedi / mani – one is ready to go.

Oh look at the time! Luncheon with the girls awaits. A quaint Italian joint is the choice for today.
Hello darlings
And wow you look fantastic today
How was the honeymoon wink wink
Floats around the place.

After finally getting down to ordering, a couple of rounds of cocktails later, and some well deserved lunch. Its time to say tata and flounce off for a bit of shopping. Louis Vitton is having a sale. Everyone is checking it out.

Now with all the absolutely gorgeous hunks gracing the silver screen, a movie is always on the schedule. If its bad boy Bradley Cooper in Hangover or Yummy Ryan Renolds in The Proposal. Its movie time darling!

Post movie – coffee is always a good idea. But needs to be on the go, us busy girls have to get home and get ready for the night ahead.
But a quick stop at the pool before heading back home. All those calories! One needs to be careful dear.
A 10 minute shut eye in the steam, walk out looking good and feeling refreshed.

A quandary!! What to wear??
Tap freshly done nails against wardrobe.
Finally pick out that perfect piece!
Dressed and ready – its time to hit the town.

Advice – don’t always stay in one place – its all about being seen everywhere! Party till the break of dawn, difficult in Delhi where everything ‘seems’ to close at 1, but its all about breaking the rules isn’t it?

Head back home to a well deserved sleep. Advice – don’t drive drunk. You’re too pretty to die!

Wash off that make up and slip into those covers and cuddle the one next to you.
Until tomorrow..
Xoxo
Shreez!

The life of the ‘fabulous’ and since I have been in Delhi for the part 2 months, without a care in the world – my life is imitates this life kind of poorly.

Wake up post 11 – well that ones true, I am a facebook addict and end up chatting with half the world till 3am!
What to do!

Breakfast / lunch depends on what time post 11 I actually surface. *sheepish shrug*

Pilates – YES I have started that. YES its great fun. YES my body is in excruciating pain. But it’s a blast and I have blondie with me, so that’s good motivation.

Spa treatment is done every two weeks. Oh how I missed these head massages. Though my hair seriously needs a trim. Oh how I miss you hoops!!!!

Luncheon with the girls – happened once. I wanted to shoot my self. To discuss the pros and cons of a summer versus winter wedding is not really how I want to spend my afternoon. And to sum up the debate eloquently
“Who really wants to sweat at a wedding darling? Gasp!”
Shreez rolls her eyes!

Shopping – ZILCH / NADA / NOPE / NAY
I know does not sound like me, but hey even this girl needs to keep her purse strings tied.

Movies – ok that’s my guilty pleasure. I love watching movies! Hangover - hilarious. Can I get Bradley Cooper sent to India?

Coffee is usually done with Blondie – or I stroll down to the local barista with a good book and feel happy.

Swimming another one of my favourite things to do. Up to 70 laps a day baby!

I have gone out a total of 2 times since I have been in Delhi. And honestly give me CNSVC, monitor gin, fried eggs, henna, permanent marker, laughter, memories, jokes and great conversation anyday!

And to last bit of the fabulous life – cuddling next to that someone special, I spend every other night getting attacked by my dog, trying to get onto my bed. But then again I have been away for 4 years, so now he thinks the bed is his.
Oh life!

And that my friends, is the fabulous life of shreez.
xoxo

Just popping in to say hello

Yeah I know, I last did a post 2 months ago. Shame on me.
So whats going on in the life of Shreez. A lot and very little at the same time. My time in Kodai has finally come to an end. Its weird knowing that I wont be there for opening assembly or getting ready for the staff welcome back dinner. But like all good things, this too needed to come to an end.
The last month and half was crazy.
New friendships were formed.
Old ones further developed.
And now I look back the bond which has formed, in every part of the world, someone awaits.. my friends.
I am back in Delhi now. Its weird, after being constantly around people to now becoming pretty much a recluse. Not that I mind it. But it sucks being unable to talk to CNSVC anytime I want. So its online chats at different times of the day (and night) to cover all the time differences.
Life in Delhi is pretty chilled out. Stay up late, wake up even later. Read. Eat. Chat. The usual schedule of the unemployed.
Well I have a month to enjoy it. And then my next adventure begins.
I am off to Bangalore in August, to start the student life again. I am getting my teaching degree from Christ College. So now am in the midst of finding a place to stay.
If anyone has any ideas - please email me :) and too all my friends in Bangalore I hope to see you soon.
Been hanging out a lot with Blondie. Best friends, you gotta love them! Movies, Pedicures, Nights out... the city life is good :)
Nothing more to say really. Just thought I'd pop in and say hello.

Listening to ~ Stu's song (from the movie the hangover)
Loving ~ skype and its video option. So kicked to talk to Wiggles, Kiwi and Mendhi Girl

xoxo
S

Erh Eh and all that!

It’s been too long! And with so much happening, I am going to have to resort to photographs and bulleted points to cover the last few weeks or so…
*THE EUCY IS DONE. Its at the printers as I type J gets back in 3 weeks and the fruits of my labour shall be seen
*Impromptu get together’s at my house. Wine, tequila and gin involved
*Just chatting about random things till one in the morning
*Hiding eggs, bread and sprite in a bullet
*Watching movies with really bad acting
*That’s what she said!
*The all school play is DONE. Was in charge of make up. Good fun! Always a blast hanging out back stage. Just let’s say some of the videos are hilarious!!!
*Waking up at 5am to go for sunrise service on Easter morning, then deciding it was going to rain, so instead dropped other people off. Leaving the house in my pajamas and hair a complete mess, and going for a drive around the lake with hoops and then stopping off At a dhaba and getting chai. I love moments like that
*Watching a movie with male frontal nudity for the first time. Yeah forgetting sarah marshal isn’t that great!
*Making a rock garden
*Having a rock dropped on my finger
*Realizing that every finger on my hand is injured in some way or the other.
*Realizing that I have really weird fingers
*KFCc
*FML

*WC
*Am back to crocheting. Yay me! Did 4 hats in 4 days.
*Am now god mother again. Looks like I am headed to Hyderabad for the christening next week
*Laughing hysterically in the staff lounge
*Going crazy on coffee highs (note to self, no more days of 8 cups of coffee and no food!)
*“Can you say Cat Face”
*“Wiggles have you arisen?”
*CSC
*Crazy nights at the golf course
*Ali baba pants
*Coffee at quicky’s

*Long weekend in Bangalore. The most relaxing holiday ever. Thank you Rays for making it an amazing weekend!!
*Nervous about the future
*Emotional about the past
*Trying to take in every thing of the present

"Spicy Goat"

"Thats all!"

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

İyiyim, teşekkür ederim.

So life has been pretty hectic over here, with hot pink birthday parties a girl barely has time to blog.

It’s Monday evening and I am sitting in front of my fire place while the rain begins and the wind howls and I am glad to be in my pajamas and pretty much done for the day.
This weekend has been pretty hectic – the film crew were up here to make the alumni film and moi was the creative director / assistant / task master / person who makes puppy dog eyes to students so that they will do what we ask. What can I say I am multi talented!

So it was on the go since Friday and my body and mind have been begging for a weekend but that’s not going to have for a couple more weeks now.
Am looking forward to seeing how the films turns out and yeah they have asked me to do the voice over. 15 minutes of fame here I come.

The last week has been a whirlwind. Friday – dreads left for the states, well technically left for Chennai and will be flying out for the states this Wednesday. We had his farewell party at my place and showed the video I made. FYI I love windows movie maker. I can spend hours playing around with it.

Independence day weekend had lots of people up and a whole lot of partying. Sailor (who shall now be renamed semen .. thanks dreads) finally came back to kodai after giving his exams, which he passed. Wohoo

A couple of alumni were up as well. We started the weekend festivities with lunch at Margaret’s house. Good food, great company, awesome weather – just a perfect afternoon.
We then went on the hunt for coffee, we decided on pastry corner, we reached there only to find out that it was closed. We then headed to wiggles house and I proceeded to make coffee and half way through the boys decided my house was more conducive to chilling out and away we went to drive to my place. Now lets review the distance from wiggles house to my house – a 4 minute walk tops. We left his house, but due to the parade going on with independence days we had to take a million detours and landed at my house 45 minutes later. Back in my house and after some coffee, fried eggs, wai wai noodles we were out again. We went to raj’s place for the night. Relaxed company and some games. The night ended pretty early and I was tucked into bed at 12:30pm.

The next day I helped wiggles with his advisee dinner. 3 hours with middle schoolers man was I pooped. We headed back to raj’s house. Learnt a new game – the paper bag game. The idea behind the game is to pick up a paper bag with your mouth only while balancing on one foot. Each round involves tearing off a part of the bag until there is a sliver of the bag left. As you can imagine we dint get very far. We then headed out, the lake and the 10 mile round. Ended up coming home at 4:30 am!

Sunday was pretty relaxed, we chilled at my place and tried watching a couple of movies but they all were so pathetic we gave up and listened to music and had a couple of interesting conversations.

So that’s what’s been happening on this side of the mountain. Have been for a couple of hikes but don’t foresee that happening now since the next couple of weekends are taken.

This weekend I go for camp, with grade 11. If the weather is good camp is an awesome place, with a rock climbing wall, zip line, a raft and volleyball. Looking forward to it.
I get back Sunday afternoon and on Tuesday I am off to Kerela for some work. Will be there for three days and then flying out to Delhi. It’s the schools 50th anniversary and the whole gang will be there. Bhaiya, cousins, family friends and Ala-bama. SO excited. She is coming back to India for a month and is flying into Delhi and we will come back to Kodai and on the way we spend a day in Coimbatore chilling with raj etc.

I am barely in Kodai for three working days and then that Sunday I am off for a 6 days canoeing trip on the back waters of Kerela. Its going to be a blast.
So yeah that’s my travel schedule for the month ahead. Lots of work, lots of partying, lots of fun. What more could a girl ask for!

Till the next post adios

Listening to: No ordinary love
Eating: pasta
Drinking: wine
Accidents: none apart from a light bulb exploding in front of my face thanks to wiggles

*have you figured out what the title means?

In the summer time... when the weather is fine...

So have not written for ages and I think its time to do a post on the happenings in my life. Pretty random post with out any major insights. Well that’s not true, while I was in Madurai giving my exams I did learn a few things apart from the reliability and validity of a test.

*I can be stubborn and stupid some times and usually end up doing what people told me to do in the first place. Yes non AC room in Madurai is not the best option
*I am a wuss, I hated it there and it was just for a few days but I wanted to leave every chance I got
*I am loved. I had people cheering me on, telling me I could do it and just making sure I did what I went there to do
*That people are comfortable enough to chill in my house when I am not there. Mi casa es tu casa
*Cell phones - an amazing invention. If I dint have text messaging - Madurai would have been unbearable
*I love buying shoes and can even find a pair I like in Madurai
*Really love being in Kodai - in my community - with my friends aaawww
(yeah yeah this isn’t a literary masterpiece!)

The interesting happenings in Maduari:
*The auto driver on day one offering me his comb when I asked him if he could take me to a place where I can buy a brush from.
*People thinking I am a foreigner - really me?? have you seen me... I am Indian and dam proud of it
*The examiner for my one exam
I enter the hall and he breaks into a stream of Tamil I look dumbfounded. He then ushers me to my seat and gives me the question paper. Once the exam starts he sits down next to me and proceeds to read my answer sheet for the whole exam. Bad enough he sits and reads my paper but he reads it under his breath and I can hear him.
Half way through the paper he asks for my id. Now the picture on the id is from over two years ago and I have really short hair. He then gets on to my case and says that I am not the same person. We spend 10 minutes arguing and then I go out to get my id card, which is not up to his satisfaction so I pull out my licence. He finally admits that I am the same person and I get down to my exam. He then sees me writing on attitudes, he exclaims "ah! attitudes, you know I did my thesis on attitudes!" I smile sweetly and get back to writing, he continues on asking why my hand writing was so bad and why I was not underlining the important points. Honestly man will you let me write my exams! He continues to read my paper and then asks me where I was from. Told him I was from Delhi - "arre no no, you are Sri Lankan" .. uumm no I am not "are you sure, you look Sri Lankan, are your parents Sri Lankan, you sound like a foreigner"
Any way he bugged me through out the exam and when I got up to leave he asked whether I would help him with some English work the next day! (only I get to meet random people like this!)

The interesting happenings in Kodai:
*Chilling to wee hours of the morning for 5 days straight after my stint in Madurai
*Sneaking out a paddle boast at 4am with C and paddling around the lake (and the others said it was too dangerous pah!)
*Taking care of intoxicated people haha
*Random stalker pestering me - Romio go get a life

That’s pretty much it, told you nothing really great was happening.
Vacation starts for me in a week’s time. Off to Delhi for a couple of hours and then off to Turkey for a week or so. Looking forward it. Hot air balloon ride over turkey - the highlight of the trip. And then I am back in Delhi - oh sweet Delhi how I miss thee. So who ever is in Delhi from the 21 of June till the 13 of July - give me a buzz.
Thats all folks!

Uh uh uh uh oh ooh --- Why'd you have to go-oh --- Away from home -- Me love

Things that make me smile:

Staying up till 4, because I want too
Waking up at 6, to get ready for work, because I have too
Going for late night drives
Playing random games in my house
Random arguments, which lead to google'ing questions to prove who is right
Blogging
Singing off tune and having no one care
People letting me sing off tune, cos they know it makes me happy
Dressing up and feeling great
Honest compliments
Talking to old friends
Making new friends
Cooking / baking
Inside jokes
Funny moments
Random notes on facebook
Pictures
Having people chill in my house
People being completely at ease in my house
Making fried eggs
Having a productive day at work
Superlatives on facebook
Laughing at my self and the stupid things I do (which I do many!)
and so many more.. to the people in my life, thank you... cos with out you, the memories I have would not exist!

flowing emotions

Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much

Words from unchained melody (really nice song I must add) Not that the lyrics have much to do with the post today. I was thinking about how fast time flies. We are in March already – it seems like yesterday that I was sitting with IG, Papa Ramero, P Diddy and Blondie at TGIF. But now we are all back into our corners of the world and reality is back in my face.

Last Thursday this time I was pretty depressed. Actually bawling my eyes out and gasping for breath would be a more apt description. The week has gone by. Gone by quickly and slowly at the same time. Does that make sense?

The days have gone by quick, I guess that’s thanks to the running around and organizing I’ve been doing for the event on Saturday but the thinking / pondering / analyzing / contemplating I have been doing has made the week seem like a month.

Talking to P Diddy this morning I came up with another insight. Been doing a lot of that lately.
I don’t care a DAM what you think
I don’t care whether you like or hate me
I don’t care if you think I am the cause for every single thing going wrong
I don’t care if you think I am not good enough

You know why?
Because it’s your thoughts! Your view, your ideas, your issue!!

And I’ve stopped caring. I have stopped being scared. Stopped fearing some thing which is not true. You tried – you tried to break me, you convinced me I was no good.
Hell you convinced me that if any thing happened to ‘A’ it would be my fault.
That if death were to come knocking on the door – he would be thanking me for the referral!

You know what you almost got away with it. You pushed me, criticized me, belittled me till I looked at my self and felt disgusted. I was never good enough for any thing – never strong enough for any thing!

But today I stand up, because honestly you’re full of shit and you know it!

So you can push me all you like
Try to do what ever makes you feel happy
But I am going to stand my ground
I might have tears running down my face, my voice might me trembling but I am NOT standing down

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.

She finally re enters the blogging world!

Wow, my last post was over 2 months back. Why such silence on my part ? (I am being watched I tell you, and for the matter of national security, I was asked to keep silent, to save the others)
Fine, that’s not true, but if it was... well basically shit has been happening in my life, and really don’t want to be broadcasting it here on public access.
Sorry if my post today seems some what cynical and oscillating between happiness and crappiness (is that a word?) life is just interesting isn’t it!

So what’s been happening on my side of the world you ask? Well I am currently in Hyderabad, been here for a couple of days and leave Friday morning, to get back to lovely Delhi. Oh I missed you my city, even with all your short comings, coming home is always nice.

Unconditional love, that’s a word which has been haunting my vocabulary for the past couple of months. They say distance makes the heart grown fonder, it always gives your brain time to comprehend the jack ass you have been and how much you miss the people who love you and care for you conditionally. I cant wait to come back home, that is the first time, since I have left home, where I count the days till I am back in Gurgaon!
It makes me wonder, am I jinxing this whole thing? I really do hope the three weeks at home go well... hopefully it’s long enough for us to appreciate and love each other, but short enough that we don’t get on each others nerves and kill each other.
Oh Murphy, don’t you dare show your face for the next couple of weeks.

Apart from that what else is happening here. Lots and lots of things, wish I could just blurt it all out, unfortunately my blog isn’t as anonymous as I would like it to be. What have I learnt in these past couple of months?
*people are complicated
*jealousy is a horrible thing
*love hurts
*unknown love is easier to deal with that a shattered heart
*the internet takes away awkwardness from a situation
*all nighters are easy, once you put your mind to it
*being alone is unnerving, well only for the first couple of days
*brothers are protective
*sisters even more so

There is much more to that list, however my mind refuses to corporate with me, to put them down, so it shall trickle down in a couple more posts in the future.

Am getting a laptop this vacation, so hopefully shall be able to do some more insightful posts in the near future.

I am going to 10D tom, ah my fav watering hole in lovely Hyd. Karaoke night... should be interesting

I mentioned earlier, that I was going diving in Oct, well I did and it was an absolute blast. I love bangaram, I love diving. I cant wait to go again!! and yes I got certified to be a level one diver. I totally rock :)

Any way now this post seems to be getting quite crappy, so before I really embarrass my self I shall sign off, hoping to get more posts in soon. I bid you farewell!

Tum kya kabootar pakadne ki koshish kar rahe ho?

Since work has been pretty quiet (read no work at all) I have spent the better part of the week, going through photographs, making collages, reading old emails and reminicinsing...

* Singing hakuna matata (is that the spelling) for an inter house competition... I dint sing tho, but still rememeber that day... we won ! Ah inter house competitons, brings out the worst in soem people. What were the house names (Ball - green, Hart - Yellow, Theresa - Blue and Red was aarrggg cant remember, need to ask Pdiddy)

* What about the inter house story telling competition.. P diddy was house captain and she trained us well. I remembered I sucked at spinning a yarn, but she insited I was on the team and we made sure that what ever inital line we go, we would change it to ourstory line. We won again. Ball house rocked ! Yeah the story was about a photographer getting lost in the jungle losing his clothes and being found in banana print underwear...

* On teachers day, each house had to put up a play. Ours was the whole wicked teachers / good teachers in a magic school. I was the wicked witch.. even then my talents for a scary laugh were noticed... wicked laugh

* Trying to make a cake with munchkin (this is before I developed my cooking skills). Ended up taking it out too soon and the center was completely raw!

* This probably happened when I was about 8.. accompanied my cuz to her ball room dancing lesson. And came back and completely spilled the beans to the family and how she was dancing with this one boy and they were holding hands. (I was quite the big mouth)

*Grade 5, talking in class and Aunty Batra (we called out teachers aunty _____) grabbing me by my plait and literally throwing me out of class. Never spoke in her class ever again.

* Same class, we had to learn the poems in our book, and the test was to recite the poem in class. We had to choose a chit with the poem name. I picked up one and another chit fell down, picked it up and put it back in the box. Recited my poem and came back to my seat. Where I was pointedly told by my partner that he saw me cheating. (but I dint I swear, the chit fell down, I put it back. Dint even see what was written)

Its amazing when, you let your mind wander into the past, the most inconsequential aspects pop back up.

* The first song, on the first mixed tape I got as a birthday present was 'Last Christmas'

* The first day in the convent school, for some reason people thought I was African.

* My first rain dance at the club. Going with munchkin and before going eating choco's

* Buying my first pair of jeans with munchkin, Lee Cooper for Rs. 500 (they were on sale) from a shop in Defence Colony and then buying a white spagetti top. I was 12 and this was the first time I was shopping with out my mom.

* Being told by the PE teacher when he saw me dribble the basketball. "Tum kya kabootar pakadne ki koshish kar rahe ho?"
English translation "Are you trying to catch pigeons" Was never good at basketball, volleyball I'll whoop your arse.

Well thats all from the recesses of my mind... Have to go, having people over for dinner tonight...

How time flies…

I am back in Kodai… completely exhausted but glad to be back in Kodai. Chidambaram is not really my place for a hang out…
But talk about the fun filled 13 days in Chidambaram will come to you in another post… for now the topic is time…

How time flies…. I say that a lot and it got me thinking…. That time does fly
(very profound.. give me a break I just got off a 10 hour bus journey and am straight into work)

It is 11:43 am (17 September 2007) – and I am at work and working on my blog J

Yesterday at this very time I was finishing off my practical exam for my masters program and was dam excited that I never had to come back to Chidambaram ever again

Last week at this very moment, I was sitting in theory class… I was sitting in Alexander’s class listening to him state that women are where they are because men allow them to be there
(different post to completely refute that!)
Two weeks before that, I was sitting in Satsanga, reading Shantaram (a must read) drinking a glass of chilled beer and eating Takasi (which is feta cheese, herbs etc made into a paste and served with freshly toasted garlic bread.. mmm)
Three weeks ago, I don’t remember exactly what I was doing… but probably in office… drinking some kick ass organic brewed coffee, listening to music and working on MSA documents
(Word can drive me crazy with its stupid formatting)

A month ago, I was sitting with a hot water bottle in excruciating pain, after injuring my back and not letting it heal…
(I can never say no to a game of volleyball...!)
Two months ago, I was dorm parent for a couple of days and taking care of a sick friend… nurse shreez to the rescue.
Three months ago, I was in London.. living it up
Four months ago, I was teary eyed at the fact they were graduating and I would not have them knocking at my door

A year ago, I was just starting my contract in Kodai. learning – that things would never be the same again.
Two years ago – I was in Hyderabad. Wondering what I was doing with my life. Was in love (or at least some thing I thought was love)
Three years ago, I was still in college. Sitting in class… listening intently if it was organizational behavior class.. else passing random notes hyper and IG
Four years ago, I was still in college – but life was all about @, Was thinking, which appointments I needed to make and how to get the numbers for my department.
Five years ago, I just joined college. I was at NLDS… no voice, no sleep, lots of dancing – extremely kicked.
Ten years ago, I joined a new school. Was the quiet wall flower (was is the operative word). Dying in the humid weather, with the horrible pink and white stripped uniform. (yuck!)
Fifteen years ago, I was in grade 2. Would have been having break time now, eating jam and cheese sandwiches. (I miss break time)
Twenty years ago, I would have been 2 and half years old. (extremely adorable and cute, like I still aren’t). Talking non stop, and making people say “What an adorable little girl”

I was
Daddy’s ‘precious’
Mama’s little girl
Bhaiya’s – bratty little sister
One grandmothers – favorite (she never said it, but I knew it)
Another grandmothers – least favorite grandchild (she said it, over and over again)
Aunt & Uncle’s – favorite niece

I am
Daddy’s ‘precious’
Mama’s little girl, who’s growing up
Bhaiya’s – confidant & friend
Grandmother’s – favorite (both of them)
Aunt & Uncle’s – I don’t know where I stand

How time flies…!

Calling New York

Little things make me happy. A certain song, some thing said from the heart, a specific smell, an online hug... little things make me smile.
The past year - the constant thought in my head is "I've grown up"
I guess after living with my parents for 21 years - it feels good to be away. To stand on my own to feet and not run to them with my tail between my legs as many predicted I would.

But coming back to what I started off with. Walking back from the grocery store, having people over for dinner tonight (pasta and vino)
Any way walking back with my arms full of groceries, listening to music, smiling to my self - I felt like the main character from a chick flick. Felt grown up.
And then a truck passes by - fumes spurting out and in the little cartoon stip in my head, I am now covered with soot.

Am not making sense. Difficult to explain. Any way almost end of the day. Yippee.... 12 people over for dinner. Cant wait (I am such a little hostess) followed by staff volleyball.
Adios

PS - the reason the post is titled Calling New York is I felt very new yorkish - refer to chick flick character.. ok me bluthering now.

PPS - its pouring with rain :D

I feel good

Dint wake up this morning thinking it was going to be an extremly good day, but by george - even with all the crap going on - I am in a pretty good mood. The only problem now is - whats going to make me crash back in to reality.
But until, I going to enjoy the feeling... listening to some tim mc'graw thanks J3 for all the music. But thats the right music to listen to when you are in a mood to think about life ahead and reminance about the past.