Purple...Purple...Everywhere...

Purple.

Violet.

Fuchsia.

Lilac.

Whatever you want to call them. These beautiful flowers are blooming all over Bangalore right now.

And this picture is taken from my office window.

Beautiful isn't it.

The Year gone by.

Not exactly. Still 3 more days to go. And then it'll be 2007!!

It seems like yesterday that we were bringing in 2006 at Sheesha in Pune. The memories of that wonderful night so vivid in my mind.

And here I realize that we are sitting so close to another New Years eve.

2006. A wonderful year in so many ways. And a heartbreaking one too.

1st Jan 2006. Mr. G and I started the year doing what we both love doing the most. A long long drive. Yes, we were driving back from Pune to Bangalore.

Two trips to Goa this year. Bliss at its best.

Work picks up speed. More responsibilities and more accounts. A wonderful and indeed very satisfying year at work.

Forged some good friendships. Which I know are for life.

Dad turns 60. Big time celebrations. A big achievement in our family.

I lose two very loved friends within a week of each other. Terribly missed forever.

Mr. G's cousin ties the knot. Celebrations again.

We move house and enjoy setting up our nest together.

It's a tough decision to give 'O' away. One which we will never forget.

We are overjoyed with the news that our family is expanding:)

All in all a very blessed year for Mr. G and me.

And as we prepare to welcome our little one in 2007. I realize how much these past 7 months have taught us and how much life has changed too.

And we have 2007 to look forward to.

Another blessed year awaits us.

Happy New year:)

Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket!!!

Afrikaans: Gesëende Kersfees



Brazilian: Feliz Natal



Croatian: Sretan Bozic



Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!



French: Joyeux Noel



Greek: Kala Christouyenna!



Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova



Maori: Meri Kirihimete



Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas



Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!


Merry Christmas boys and girls. As you can see the holiday bug and good cheer has bitten me. And I wanted to pass it on:)

The Dog on a tin roof.

I walk to work each morning. The route I take each day is the same. And there are familiar faces also I see each day.

And then there's this dog. A wasted mongrel with the most beautiful and soulful eyes I have ever seen.

He's spotted. A white dog with huge brown spots all over. A non-existent tail which I think was chopped off by some mean-hearted person! You can't put an age to him. But I think he's an old fella.

That's because he's always plopped on the roof of a car with skin that folds over and floppy ears.

Now this car's story I would really love to know. It's an old old car. Rusted with flat tires and probably not moved in decades. Tied up with some torn plastic sheets and tarpaulin. It's more tin now than metal!

And the roof of this car is what the brown spotted dog with no-tail has made home.

And this is where he's forever plopped basking in the early morning sun.

And this is from where he stares at me with the most soulful eyes I have ever seen as I pass him each day to work.

Secret Santa.

Tis the season for good cheer. And what better way to spread the cheer than from one's own work place.

So we are going to be celebrating and bring in the spirit of Christmas with lots of yummy food and wine and cake and music this Thursday right at our office.

Yes, its party time again and we are getting geared up for a bacchanal journey on Thursday night.

But this does not end here. We have started this little Secret Santa game a week earlier.

Each of us had to pick a name out of a box circulated around. Whosoever's you name got picked up became your Chris-child for a week. And each day you are supposed to do something nice for that person and on the day of the party buy a small little gift too.

Isn't that exciting??

I'm looking forward to it.

And do you know who's the obvious choice to play Santa at the party??

Lil ole me of course. I have a ready-made tummy don't I!!

Yin Yang.

The Yin is different from the Yang.

The X chromosome from the Y.

That is what theory handed down the ages says.

But contrary to certain aspects of the theory there are a lot of the X and the Yang related stuff that I particularly enjoy.

When I was little I loved to play with the boys.

I never remember having a collection of dolls or doll houses or doing anything remotely 'girly'.

My growing up years were typically the awkard years. Metamorphosis was not too kind on me. I was gawky with a figure that was hidden behind baggy trousers and over sized shirts. Eyes that were hidden behind huge reading glasses which I believed gave me an intellectual look. Or was it to cover all those strange eruptions and zits on my face. Hair which I kept short almost like a military cut.

During my college years my best friends were guys. I related better with them. And all those who I had a crush on confided in me about the girls they had a crush on!

But then I'd like to believe that a realization happened. And I discovered my feminine side. I grew my hair long, got rid of my huge reading glasses and all my tomboy clothes, re-vamped my entire wardrobe and learnt to be all coy and bat my eyelids coquettishly at the drop of a hat!

But last night I realized that the X and Yin are an inherent part of my life. I sat through a fifteen minute capsule of WWE with Mr. G and enjoyed it. Those huge, burly men beating each other to pulp.

And though I grimaced, winced and yelped with each blow... I'd be lying if I say I didn't enjoy it thoroughly.

And I realized its great to be Yin and Yang rolled into one. So much nicer:)

It happens only in India!!

I was walking to office this morning and noticed this sign hand painted on a wall...

Do not pass urine here.

It bought a smile to my face and I realized there are such signs all over which we see everyday.

* Horn OK please.

* No combing hair in restaurant.

Outside an undertakers shop: Drop in when you are dead!!

At railway stations: Aana free, Jaana Free. Pakde gaye to khana free!


Indian English so normal to us but funny to others.

* I'm like this only. Please don't mind it.

* You're going isn't it?

* She's here no?

* Put it off... Put it on...

* Current went, Current came!!

* Ladies Counter, Gents counter.


These are some I could offhand think of. Do add to my list.

Affirmation.

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can't appreciate real love until you've been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires


I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity


Not one of my favourite songs in terms of the musical notes. But a definite yes in terms of the lyrics. Very evocative and profoundly deep.

Karma Cola

kar·ma /Spelled Pronunciation[kahr-muh]
Hinduism, Buddhism. action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation: in Hinduism one of the means of reaching Brahman.


That in a literal sense is what karma means.

I think karma has its own interpretation for each individual. Also some believe in it and some don't know of its very existence.

I for one am a strong believer and interpret it in my own fashion.

So...

Do you watch each step?

Analyse every action?

Weigh every word?

Gauge every relationship?

Not really...

Or yes??

Retro.

Finished breakfast listening and humming to Kim Wilde's 'You came'.

Anyone remember Kim Wilde... I do. She did top the charts... way back. And then poof... oblivion. Wonder where she is today.

You came is a song I associate with my last year in school. 10th grade to be precise. For me songs categorise a certain period or phase in my life. Whenever I listen to these songs I reminisce about those times.


- Ma Baker and Sunny: I guess for me BoneyM is what initiated me into listening to music. My 3rd grade and my sista and I would blast the 'tape' on our Dad's 'two in one'. Literally grew up with BoneyM.

- Clementine, Do re me, I am sixteen, Songs from 'King and I' and 'Fiddler on the roof': Singing lessons in school. 12 year olds exercising their lungs to the strains of Ms. Patel belting her music out on the antiquated piano which had seen better times.

- That's the way A-ha: The nuns used to play LP records to pep up sleepy eyes just before morning assembly. It sure did spring us all up.

- High School: Sending all my love, Sealed with a kiss, Buffalo Soldier, All from NKOTB, Shoulder to cry on, Locomotion, Donna Summers and Chaka Khan.

- Early College Days: It must have been love, Hotel California, Smells like Teen Spirit, Hole Hearted, Doors, Two Steps behind, Rock you like a Hurricane...

- Late College: The pub culture creeps in. My skirts get shorter and my ways wilder. We party all night and cram equally hard. Cotton Eye Joe, Illusion, Barbie Girl, Tribal Dance, Dr. Alban...

- Early Xebec days: First days with writehanddrive and we exchange music... Don Williams, Crush, Life...

- Working days begin and music takes a backseat as chasing artworks and massaging ego's takes precedence. Still find time for Green Day and Tull.


- But I guess the most memorable song for me is Crusin': A cold winter day. It's pouring cats and dogs. Mr. G and I are in the backseat of a Santro. The car's vipers are having a tuff time keeping up to the mini deluge. Slowly Mr. G takes my hand and as Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis sing...

Baby let's cruise, away from here
Don't be confused the way is clear
And if you want it you got it forever
This is not a one night stand
So let the music take your mind
Just release and you will find

You're gonna fly away, glad you'll go my way
I love it when we're cruisin together
Music is played for love, cruisin is made for love
Well I love it when we're cruisin together

Music is played for love, cruisin is made for love
Well I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it
Woah oh

Well I love it when we're cruisin together


And I knew I was home!

Yuletide again!!!!!!!!

Its Yuletide again and that time of the year I love the most.

Its the time of the year which brings a smile to my lips, a spring to my step, a laughter at the most innocuous of things, a feeling of goodness and joy to all.

It's Christmas time!!!!

Time to bring out the mistletoe, candy sticks, rum cakes, wine and make a list of all the presents to buy!

Yay yay yay Santa is coming to town!