The hardest thing to do on a cold winter (alrite-it's still fall, but i reserve the right to crib about the cold!) night when you're curled up in a Downy-smelling comforter on a 500-threadcount sheet is-getting out of that cocoon of sheer warmth and toasty comfort. And why? To wash your face of course!
Yeah yeah-call me a stickler for skincare rules-but no matter how much of an 'aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah' moment it might be-i take a deep breath and step out.
Somewhere-a skincare giant caught onto the sheer frustration involved in this exercise for the finicky women across the nation. and they came up with an adline that said 'Bored? Go wash your face!' When i first saw that ad-it instantly registered somewhere in my brain. A promise to take away the 'BORING' from this chore? A foamy, frothy, effervescent experience that i won't get over two days later? You mean i can actually make my routine-bound life happening by using this 'magical' product? Ok-you've got my attention!
Unfortunately, before the brand could even register, the spot was over and there were dogs running across the screen of my television scampering to get to their bowl of Pedigree doggy-chow. Oh well-maybe next time i'll concentrate some more..
And that really is the story with most advertisements these days. The only ones that stick are the ones you hate (try googling for an ad called' Headon-Apply Directly to the forehead' and if it doesnt drive you crazy-come back and post me a comment! Yet it's supposed one of the most effective ad campaigns with some serious brand recall). The ones that glide past your conscience like a momentarily 'interesting' piece of trivia are the 'pretty pictures' and the 'gooey chocolate brownies' that never seem to come back to you when you're strolling down the frozen-foods aisle.
Maybe that's why its important to use jingles that have your brand name muscially trilling through the entire eye-ball moment (remember Utterly Butterly Delicious-Amul!). Or maybe this is all baloney coming from someone who has a mild attention disorder.
The fact remains: i really havent gotten down to buying that facewash yet. Though i really want to. I just cant remember which one to buy when i go to a pharmacy. (Help me out marketers-put out some in-store eye-candy that might just remind me of the ad!) Are there more such 'scatter brained potential consumers' you just lost out on?
As for me: i am back to the 'moment of truth': its time for shuteye but...i gotta wash my face first. How boring!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
For a Song..
I am gonna be honest about this however blasphemous it sounds – I had not really heard Pink Floyd till a dear friend of mine recorded me a tape that had 3 masterpieces in it (am coming to those in just a bit!). This was when I was in my first year at college-and the only other Pink Floyd song I had heard till then was ‘Brick in the Wall’-for obvious reasons ( Any self-respecting high school kid has felt an adrenaline rush watching the video of that one!)
One of my best friends from school and the rest of the guy-gang I spent my growing up years with, just went on and on about the album covers and ‘Coming Back to Life’ and the guitaring genius of this Brit band. As for the ‘Gilmour Vs Waters’ argument, I was positively sick of hearing it go on without having an opinion. So I was pleased to finally get a tape that captured the best of Floyd, amongst others.
I have to admit: I have not looked back since. If there ever was a song that captures yearning and heartache and all things you feel after you’re 2 LIIT’s down- it’s Coming Back to Life. No matter what, you can always relate with being one of ‘two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl’ (coz life is like that). And as for being ‘comfortably numb’: don’t we wish we could be that way in the middle of a horrible Monday morning! I have lost count of the number of times we requested for one or all of these at the places where we hung out regularly and because we were recognized as good customers –duly indulged.
Since that first taste of Floyd magic-I have had some wonderful times in the company of these songs. On Wednesday night Happy hours during B-school, at fashionably hip rock bars in Delhi and Mumbai, and lately-on Friday nightcaps of wine with trusty old You Tube.
This is not to say that I lean heavily towards intense, heart-wrenching rock. I remember hanging out of a hostel window late night with 2 of my favorite people in the world and singing ‘I want to Break Free’ specifically directed to our poor watchman who probably thought we were insane. That was one of the high points of my B-school education and I have an irresistible urge to giggle just thinking about it! I have driven my guy insane with my continuous need to hear Shakira’s ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ . I’ve dragged him back into a pub just coz I heard ‘Crazy in Love’ as we were leaving. i owe a thank you to yet another close friend and her brother for introducing me to the sheer thrill of ‘Gasolina’s brand of Spanish rap. And how do I explain why my head starts bobbing from left to right when I hear ‘Lemon Tree’ or I start to smile when the video of ‘Bad Day’ comes on.
So there it is-the truth about music and some songs in particular. They have a treasure-chest of memories residing in them, they can stir up your soul or be the perfect pick-me-ups after a bad day. They remind you of people, they possess a therapeutic quality that works better than aspirin some days. Or they just bring you up on your 2 left feet and get you in a happy place instantly. How awesome is that?!!
One of my best friends from school and the rest of the guy-gang I spent my growing up years with, just went on and on about the album covers and ‘Coming Back to Life’ and the guitaring genius of this Brit band. As for the ‘Gilmour Vs Waters’ argument, I was positively sick of hearing it go on without having an opinion. So I was pleased to finally get a tape that captured the best of Floyd, amongst others.
I have to admit: I have not looked back since. If there ever was a song that captures yearning and heartache and all things you feel after you’re 2 LIIT’s down- it’s Coming Back to Life. No matter what, you can always relate with being one of ‘two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl’ (coz life is like that). And as for being ‘comfortably numb’: don’t we wish we could be that way in the middle of a horrible Monday morning! I have lost count of the number of times we requested for one or all of these at the places where we hung out regularly and because we were recognized as good customers –duly indulged.
Since that first taste of Floyd magic-I have had some wonderful times in the company of these songs. On Wednesday night Happy hours during B-school, at fashionably hip rock bars in Delhi and Mumbai, and lately-on Friday nightcaps of wine with trusty old You Tube.
This is not to say that I lean heavily towards intense, heart-wrenching rock. I remember hanging out of a hostel window late night with 2 of my favorite people in the world and singing ‘I want to Break Free’ specifically directed to our poor watchman who probably thought we were insane. That was one of the high points of my B-school education and I have an irresistible urge to giggle just thinking about it! I have driven my guy insane with my continuous need to hear Shakira’s ‘Hips Don’t Lie’ . I’ve dragged him back into a pub just coz I heard ‘Crazy in Love’ as we were leaving. i owe a thank you to yet another close friend and her brother for introducing me to the sheer thrill of ‘Gasolina’s brand of Spanish rap. And how do I explain why my head starts bobbing from left to right when I hear ‘Lemon Tree’ or I start to smile when the video of ‘Bad Day’ comes on.
So there it is-the truth about music and some songs in particular. They have a treasure-chest of memories residing in them, they can stir up your soul or be the perfect pick-me-ups after a bad day. They remind you of people, they possess a therapeutic quality that works better than aspirin some days. Or they just bring you up on your 2 left feet and get you in a happy place instantly. How awesome is that?!!
Friday, July 06, 2007
Sandwiches at Churchgate..
I have this rather wasted habit of collecting recipe books. It's a thing i have had ever since i first watched a TV show called Daawat hosted by an energetic sardarji called Jiggs Kalra. These were days when we had no cable, and good old Doordarshan was a prime source of entertainment. I recall vaguely these lazy-afternoon shows hosted by Mr Kalra preparing way too elaborate dishes directed at bored housewives and one bright-eyed little girl-me! So anyway-i guess watching fancy food being made has been an old hobby that developed first into 'cutting out recipes' from glossy Sunday papers and blossomed into purchasing even-glossier recipe books (most of which are best just admired from a respectable distance. I mean- how in heaven's name will i find truffle butterin my humble little local grocery store?!).
So it was one such recipe book that brought back memories of Bombay and its generously-buttered potato sandwiches, stepping down from your building in the afternoon for a quick fix of 'aloo slice' from the corner-side sandwich wallah..what bliss that was! It does not take much to get me all sentimental and dreamy-eyed when it comes to Mumbai. So this little blast from the past is no exception. One sappy love song goes " when i fall in love, it will be forever..." and i am guessing that rings true for me and Bombay. In more ways than one!
So i thought it's only fair that i share this lovely little recipe from a book called 'Vegetarian Sandwiches' by Paulette Mitchell. An interesting take on the good old Mumbaiya-sandwich and aptly called EAST INDIAN TEA SANDWICHES. Enjoy!
The Cilantro-Peanut Spread is a zesty complement to the cooling flavors of the cucumber and potato in the filling for these out-of-the-ordinary sandwiches. For more intensity, add an extra Thai chili pepper; for a less assertive flavor, substitute a jalapeno or serrano.
Sandwich Spread
¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 Thai chili pepper, coarsely chopped (seeds included)
¼ cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
Dash of salt, or to taste
Sandwich Filling
1 red boiling potato
Dash of salt
Bread
4 slices of white potato bread, crusts removed
To complete the recipe
Four ¼-inch-thick tomato slices
Dash of freshly ground pepper
Dash of salt
½ cucumber, peeled and diagonally cut into eight ½-inch-thick slices
Two 1/8 inch-thick red onion slices
To make the sandwich spread, process all of the ingredients in a food processor until the peanuts are finely chopped but not puréed. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
To make the filling, cover the potato with water in a small saucepan; add a dash of salt. Cover the pan and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook until the potato is fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water, then drain again. (Or cook the potato in the microwave.) Allow the potato to cool, then cut into about eight ¼-inch-thick slices.
To prepare the bread, lightly toast the bread slices. Spread ¼ of the peanut spread on each bread slice.
To assemble each sandwich, top the spread on 1 bread slice with half of the potato and tomato slices; sprinkle with pepper and salt. Then add a layer each of cucumber and onion slices. Close the sandwich with another bread slice, spread side down, and slice it diagonally twice to form 4 triangles.
Advance preparation
This spread will keep for up to 2 days in a covered container in the refrigerator. Assemble the sandwiches up to 1 hour before serving; if held longer, the toasted bread will soften.
P.S: for more interesting sandwich recipes, consider buying this book! It's pretty darn awesome and very creative. It shakes the assumption that poor vegetarian souls cannot expect much more than a 'garden veggie' option in sandwiches. To whet your appetite, consider: "Grilled cheese and avocado sandwiches". Yummy!
So it was one such recipe book that brought back memories of Bombay and its generously-buttered potato sandwiches, stepping down from your building in the afternoon for a quick fix of 'aloo slice' from the corner-side sandwich wallah..what bliss that was! It does not take much to get me all sentimental and dreamy-eyed when it comes to Mumbai. So this little blast from the past is no exception. One sappy love song goes " when i fall in love, it will be forever..." and i am guessing that rings true for me and Bombay. In more ways than one!
So i thought it's only fair that i share this lovely little recipe from a book called 'Vegetarian Sandwiches' by Paulette Mitchell. An interesting take on the good old Mumbaiya-sandwich and aptly called EAST INDIAN TEA SANDWICHES. Enjoy!
The Cilantro-Peanut Spread is a zesty complement to the cooling flavors of the cucumber and potato in the filling for these out-of-the-ordinary sandwiches. For more intensity, add an extra Thai chili pepper; for a less assertive flavor, substitute a jalapeno or serrano.
Sandwich Spread
¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves
1 Thai chili pepper, coarsely chopped (seeds included)
¼ cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon unsalted, dry-roasted peanuts
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
Dash of salt, or to taste
Sandwich Filling
1 red boiling potato
Dash of salt
Bread
4 slices of white potato bread, crusts removed
To complete the recipe
Four ¼-inch-thick tomato slices
Dash of freshly ground pepper
Dash of salt
½ cucumber, peeled and diagonally cut into eight ½-inch-thick slices
Two 1/8 inch-thick red onion slices
To make the sandwich spread, process all of the ingredients in a food processor until the peanuts are finely chopped but not puréed. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
To make the filling, cover the potato with water in a small saucepan; add a dash of salt. Cover the pan and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-high and cook until the potato is fork-tender, about 15 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water, then drain again. (Or cook the potato in the microwave.) Allow the potato to cool, then cut into about eight ¼-inch-thick slices.
To prepare the bread, lightly toast the bread slices. Spread ¼ of the peanut spread on each bread slice.
To assemble each sandwich, top the spread on 1 bread slice with half of the potato and tomato slices; sprinkle with pepper and salt. Then add a layer each of cucumber and onion slices. Close the sandwich with another bread slice, spread side down, and slice it diagonally twice to form 4 triangles.
Advance preparation
This spread will keep for up to 2 days in a covered container in the refrigerator. Assemble the sandwiches up to 1 hour before serving; if held longer, the toasted bread will soften.
P.S: for more interesting sandwich recipes, consider buying this book! It's pretty darn awesome and very creative. It shakes the assumption that poor vegetarian souls cannot expect much more than a 'garden veggie' option in sandwiches. To whet your appetite, consider: "Grilled cheese and avocado sandwiches". Yummy!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
All these balls in the air..
Talk about juggling-in an impulsive, self-congratulatory moment i wanna give myself an award for just keeping up!
ball # 1: My manager quit! yes-one day, she's the mentor i turn to for all crises situations and the next day she has upped and gone to save the world (read: joined a Bill Gates-Foundation funded non profit org) As someone aptly put it: instead of making money for Microsoft, she is going to help MS spend it. Cute, but a little sad. For me-that is. She was my favorite person in this place. The good news is that the spot for 'My favorite person in MS' is now open and up for grabs. So folks who work with me, BE NICE and you just might be a contender. Sarcasm apart, i am suddenly inundated with work, work and more work. And it doesnt look like the tsunami is gonna recede anytime soon. Am officially $%^&ed!
ball # 2: We just moved! Yep-we decided to get out of the tiny apartment we started our US-adventure in, and get a nicer, bigger one with an extra bedroom and more closet space (at last!)
Two blocks from the first place-we thought it would be a breeze. So much for gliding through the move- i still need to make trips back and forth to pick up little stuff that i thought would not amount to much work 'after the movers left'. Silly me. Let's just say i am better prepared for the next time we move (which i hope will not be for a while. My back needs a break from picking up boxes and labeling them, and my brain needs a break from figuring out where to put what). Also-for those who do not know this already:Extra closet space is a highly over-rated(if not non-existent) concept. There is no such thing as extra closet space. Period.
ball # 3: New furniture: even itty-bitty stuff like a floor cabinet for the bathroom is a pain you know where. And why? Coz here, you gotta assemble every darn thing yourself! Gosh-i miss the simplicity and the joy of India and its cheap labor economy. No wonder i see all these commercials for tools on the television. you soooo NEED THEM!! I had never heard of a Phillips Screw Driver before i realised i needed one to put together a seemingly innocuous, innocent-looking cabinet. Wait till i rant about kitchen carts that need wheels fixed to them..whatever!
ball #4: visitor season and related stress: its summer here, and what we call 'parents season' in Redmond. Everyone we know and their neighbors have parents visiting. So why should we get left behind? Because its summer, you see. The 3 months we get of sun at its best behavior: so the temperatures never really climb beyond 30 degrees C, but its all nice and warm and toasty till late in the night. You forget you gotta make dinner because there is light till nearly 10 in the night. Ah-the joys of long days, a veritable explosion of color and flavors in the produce department, farmers markets and Orange Creme Frappucinos at Starbucks.yummy! All this means you are under pressure to do all the summery stuff possible in a short window of time;you know that time is running out: so plan camping, get the place buffed and ready for parents, think up stuff for them to do for every weekend while they are here. Move over planning gurus, i am gonna take you head-on on this one!
ball # 5: Dinner. Yes-it's necessary. yes-it's a chore. No- i no longer enjoy stirring away in the kitchen after a long, mind-mumbing day at work and all i wanna do is curl up on the couch in front of the tv and eat cheese-smothered pizza. But we Indians (and our tummies) are just not programmed for an eat-out-everyday way of life, and however you sulk and grimace at the idea: the day feels right (most of the week anyway) only when you are sitting down with some nice hot dal or a quickly-put-together kadhai paneer with frozen chapatti (made-from-scratch chapatti is yet an unchartered territory for me. The best cooks have their limitations-so i am sure this beginner homecook is allowed hers!). So no matter how tired i am, i gotta cook dinner. Darn!!
well- do i need to go on or do you get the drift? Being a working homemaker away from good old India and its often-taken-for-granted conveniences is not easy. so all you women who are doing this every day without a murmur-i sympathise and i applaud your wonderful ball-juggling skills! It's no mean achievement, this!
Oh and if you also have a baby, i am officially bowing down in awe!
ball # 1: My manager quit! yes-one day, she's the mentor i turn to for all crises situations and the next day she has upped and gone to save the world (read: joined a Bill Gates-Foundation funded non profit org) As someone aptly put it: instead of making money for Microsoft, she is going to help MS spend it. Cute, but a little sad. For me-that is. She was my favorite person in this place. The good news is that the spot for 'My favorite person in MS' is now open and up for grabs. So folks who work with me, BE NICE and you just might be a contender. Sarcasm apart, i am suddenly inundated with work, work and more work. And it doesnt look like the tsunami is gonna recede anytime soon. Am officially $%^&ed!
ball # 2: We just moved! Yep-we decided to get out of the tiny apartment we started our US-adventure in, and get a nicer, bigger one with an extra bedroom and more closet space (at last!)
Two blocks from the first place-we thought it would be a breeze. So much for gliding through the move- i still need to make trips back and forth to pick up little stuff that i thought would not amount to much work 'after the movers left'. Silly me. Let's just say i am better prepared for the next time we move (which i hope will not be for a while. My back needs a break from picking up boxes and labeling them, and my brain needs a break from figuring out where to put what). Also-for those who do not know this already:Extra closet space is a highly over-rated(if not non-existent) concept. There is no such thing as extra closet space. Period.
ball # 3: New furniture: even itty-bitty stuff like a floor cabinet for the bathroom is a pain you know where. And why? Coz here, you gotta assemble every darn thing yourself! Gosh-i miss the simplicity and the joy of India and its cheap labor economy. No wonder i see all these commercials for tools on the television. you soooo NEED THEM!! I had never heard of a Phillips Screw Driver before i realised i needed one to put together a seemingly innocuous, innocent-looking cabinet. Wait till i rant about kitchen carts that need wheels fixed to them..whatever!
ball #4: visitor season and related stress: its summer here, and what we call 'parents season' in Redmond. Everyone we know and their neighbors have parents visiting. So why should we get left behind? Because its summer, you see. The 3 months we get of sun at its best behavior: so the temperatures never really climb beyond 30 degrees C, but its all nice and warm and toasty till late in the night. You forget you gotta make dinner because there is light till nearly 10 in the night. Ah-the joys of long days, a veritable explosion of color and flavors in the produce department, farmers markets and Orange Creme Frappucinos at Starbucks.yummy! All this means you are under pressure to do all the summery stuff possible in a short window of time;you know that time is running out: so plan camping, get the place buffed and ready for parents, think up stuff for them to do for every weekend while they are here. Move over planning gurus, i am gonna take you head-on on this one!
ball # 5: Dinner. Yes-it's necessary. yes-it's a chore. No- i no longer enjoy stirring away in the kitchen after a long, mind-mumbing day at work and all i wanna do is curl up on the couch in front of the tv and eat cheese-smothered pizza. But we Indians (and our tummies) are just not programmed for an eat-out-everyday way of life, and however you sulk and grimace at the idea: the day feels right (most of the week anyway) only when you are sitting down with some nice hot dal or a quickly-put-together kadhai paneer with frozen chapatti (made-from-scratch chapatti is yet an unchartered territory for me. The best cooks have their limitations-so i am sure this beginner homecook is allowed hers!). So no matter how tired i am, i gotta cook dinner. Darn!!
well- do i need to go on or do you get the drift? Being a working homemaker away from good old India and its often-taken-for-granted conveniences is not easy. so all you women who are doing this every day without a murmur-i sympathise and i applaud your wonderful ball-juggling skills! It's no mean achievement, this!
Oh and if you also have a baby, i am officially bowing down in awe!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Bitten by the bug..
I need to be more specific here. What kind of bug is it this time?
The 'love' bug: naah, that happened almost 5 years ago. And it continues to bite..sigh. You're kinda stuck for life with this one-for most folks anyway! Expect (and hope for) an overstay:)
The 'movie' bug: this one's a regular visitor. Has free will. Expect hectic activity in the summer.
The 'travel' bug: high-maintainence dude, this one. Needs you to be well-prepared. Expect severe 'bank balance' damage. And potential finger damage (with all the camera clicking).
The 'system' bug: unpredictable. Will crash in on you in the middle of a Live Meeting with ten people queued up to see your slides. Expect embarrassment and a sheepish retreat to 'please use the attachment in the mail instead'.
Finally, the 'trash' bug: attacks most on long boring weekdays and results in super-nonsensical, directionless meanderings. Expect brickbats in the 'Comments' section of your blog.
Bugger!
The 'love' bug: naah, that happened almost 5 years ago. And it continues to bite..sigh. You're kinda stuck for life with this one-for most folks anyway! Expect (and hope for) an overstay:)
The 'movie' bug: this one's a regular visitor. Has free will. Expect hectic activity in the summer.
The 'travel' bug: high-maintainence dude, this one. Needs you to be well-prepared. Expect severe 'bank balance' damage. And potential finger damage (with all the camera clicking).
The 'system' bug: unpredictable. Will crash in on you in the middle of a Live Meeting with ten people queued up to see your slides. Expect embarrassment and a sheepish retreat to 'please use the attachment in the mail instead'.
Finally, the 'trash' bug: attacks most on long boring weekdays and results in super-nonsensical, directionless meanderings. Expect brickbats in the 'Comments' section of your blog.
Bugger!
Somewhere in the world..
She walked around the house picking up the socks scrunched up into a ball, the Coke can emptied to the last drop, the newspaper rolled up to whack a fly, the dirty dishes wistfully holding on to traces of a red sauce.
She stood still for a moment, waiting for the thud of footsteps on the staircase outside. None yet..
Back to business then. The cat was out exploring. The kitty litter needed to be cleared. The plants hadnt seen water for a week-she should do that now, she thought. Thirsty tendrils yearning for life...they were helpless in their pots, stuck out in the balcony. She knew the feeling..
Something snapped. A twig on the tree outside? The elastic on the laundry bag? Her patience? All of them perhaps..
The footsteps-at last! She reached for the front door and threw it open...
She stood still for a moment, waiting for the thud of footsteps on the staircase outside. None yet..
Back to business then. The cat was out exploring. The kitty litter needed to be cleared. The plants hadnt seen water for a week-she should do that now, she thought. Thirsty tendrils yearning for life...they were helpless in their pots, stuck out in the balcony. She knew the feeling..
Something snapped. A twig on the tree outside? The elastic on the laundry bag? Her patience? All of them perhaps..
The footsteps-at last! She reached for the front door and threw it open...
Thursday, May 10, 2007
For all the ‘Jack and Norma’s of the World..
Last night, I found myself howling all through the second half of an episode of The Wonder Years. It was the one about Jack and Norma-who are not just Kevin’s parents, but two people who still love each other and miss each other when they are apart. Two people who get through little hiccups like a broken stove and their oldest child demanding cash for a yoga mat. Two people who make you realize that love not just survives but grows with time, through the haze of providing for your family and getting caught in the banal everyday of things.
It gives you goose bumps- that kiss at the end of the episode. In black-and-white or color, it does not matter. Go look it up on YouTube if you have a chance. It reminds you that our parents are not just ‘Mom-and-Dad’ –a package deal we have been taking for granted ever since we first howled to be changed out of our diapers, but two individuals that had a life of their own before we came along and ate up all their time.
It gives you goose bumps- that kiss at the end of the episode. In black-and-white or color, it does not matter. Go look it up on YouTube if you have a chance. It reminds you that our parents are not just ‘Mom-and-Dad’ –a package deal we have been taking for granted ever since we first howled to be changed out of our diapers, but two individuals that had a life of their own before we came along and ate up all their time.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Me versus The Routine
Crawling out of bed in the morning, just about. Yawning at 3 pm at work and reaching out for more caffeine. Impatiently switching channels between American Idol and the NBA play-offs. Furiously chopping onions for a north indian take on sambhar. Sorting laundry and wishing it could do that on its own. Walking down the grocery aisles for atleast half an hour each week and still forgetting to bring something. Having a bad hair-day and trying to make my peace with it. Phew! All these tiny little struggles of life..miniscule, boring even. And yet they make up almost the whole of the weekday fabric. Five-sevenths of our life trapped into a gnawing, all-encompassing, necessary but ever so slightly tiresome routine.
Should i rebel? Aah-i try that, every once in a while. But the routine, so well -practised at the art of sneaking back, wins. A whole lot of times.
Should i sigh and face facts? Hmm..not fun.
Should i continue to grapple, and be happy with the occasional victories? Yes. And live for the weekends:)
Should i rebel? Aah-i try that, every once in a while. But the routine, so well -practised at the art of sneaking back, wins. A whole lot of times.
Should i sigh and face facts? Hmm..not fun.
Should i continue to grapple, and be happy with the occasional victories? Yes. And live for the weekends:)
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Where have all the movies gone?
I love going to the movies! A year back, i used to watch atleast one, if not more every weekend. Oh-the joys of settling into plush PVR chairs with nachos and a Diet Pepsi, giving in to cinematic excellence (or BS, and there can be plenty of that!) from home and beyond. It was such a great way to tune out of the weekday mania and consuming empty calories believing they dont't count coz "ur supposed to munch" in a movie hall..
Now suddenly- i am lucky if i get one half-decent movie once in a fortnight. Forget being choosy-i would be willing to watch anything that meets the basic definition of "entertaining". Am not asking for "Oscar-nomination" quality, just simple movie magic. Even of the tending-to-inferior sort.
And yet- i have limited choices.
WHERE are all the movies? Is it lean-season for Holly/Bolly/whatever wood that there are no nice releases queued up till later in the summer?
Why are there only "Namaste London"s and "Premonition" types doing the rounds?
So i have watched 300 (and loved it), sat through Eklavya (and tolerated it), covered this year's Oscar nominees one way or another. Now what? I give in to a dull, movie-less routine till Ocean's 13 premiers in June. Check the sad website of the lone Hindi movie cinema hall in Seattle for anything, anything worth spending $9 on. Nada.
I am forced to spend my weekends in other , more expensive ways-shopping.
So please-all you movie-makers, for the sake of my depleting bank account-do something!!
Now suddenly- i am lucky if i get one half-decent movie once in a fortnight. Forget being choosy-i would be willing to watch anything that meets the basic definition of "entertaining". Am not asking for "Oscar-nomination" quality, just simple movie magic. Even of the tending-to-inferior sort.
And yet- i have limited choices.
WHERE are all the movies? Is it lean-season for Holly/Bolly/whatever wood that there are no nice releases queued up till later in the summer?
Why are there only "Namaste London"s and "Premonition" types doing the rounds?
So i have watched 300 (and loved it), sat through Eklavya (and tolerated it), covered this year's Oscar nominees one way or another. Now what? I give in to a dull, movie-less routine till Ocean's 13 premiers in June. Check the sad website of the lone Hindi movie cinema hall in Seattle for anything, anything worth spending $9 on. Nada.
I am forced to spend my weekends in other , more expensive ways-shopping.
So please-all you movie-makers, for the sake of my depleting bank account-do something!!
Monday, March 26, 2007
10 Things i wanna do before i am 30..
Was watching this particular FRIENDS episode (for the 50th time, atleast!) with flashbacks to everybody's 30th birthday and how Phoebe wanted to hop on a balloon for a mile before she turned 30. And here i am, thinking aloud on what i wanna check off my list of "To-dos" by the time i reach the three-oh mark.
-Practice my broken Spanish in Spain
-Make the perfect cheesecake
-Win something/anything in Tambola ( i NEVER win!)
-Be part of a grape-crushing, wine-making process
-Learn to swim
-Eat pizza in the oldest pizzeria in the US
-Watch Bono live in concert
-Drive a sports car with the top down
-Take a cruise
-Get a doggie
Time starts now...
-Practice my broken Spanish in Spain
-Make the perfect cheesecake
-Win something/anything in Tambola ( i NEVER win!)
-Be part of a grape-crushing, wine-making process
-Learn to swim
-Eat pizza in the oldest pizzeria in the US
-Watch Bono live in concert
-Drive a sports car with the top down
-Take a cruise
-Get a doggie
Time starts now...
Thursday, February 08, 2007
That 'first' paycheck
Am i lucky or what? I have had the opportunity to have two "first paychecks" in my life so far, and thats good news. I'll get to that soon enough, but before that, let me explain what i mean.
I first starting working (as in, really working working-not including the piddly summer jobs during college or even a summer internship) fresh off the B-school boat about three years back. And boy-did it feel good getting that first paycheck credited to a brand new salary account! I remember feeling empowered akin to how women probably felt when they first got the right to vote. I also remember going on a major binge spree.
Soon enough, the salary at the end of the month became as routine as the job. When you're cringing under targets and numbers and month-end madness in a sales world, you almost forget that month ends could also be good.
So all that was before my wonderful little sabbatical. Forced though it may have been, what with the sudden change of geographies, it was just that-wonderful.Seven months of sheer bliss and lethargy, sleeping till late and not hating sundays for being a few hours before the "monday". But they were also seven months of "no salary of my own". While i did not miss the cash, i did miss that "feeling empowered" bit.
Which is why i spent last weekend spending/planning to spend my second "first paycheck".
Though not technically the first, it feels like one. I feel like i am back in business! Sure, there are no more sleep-in-till-late weekday mornings, but its awesome being re-employed again:-)
I think breaks between work are just great. Its something i would wanna do every few years-just to catch my breath between the unescapable work blues, to rediscover old loves, and yes-to feel awesome about "first" paychecks all over again!
I first starting working (as in, really working working-not including the piddly summer jobs during college or even a summer internship) fresh off the B-school boat about three years back. And boy-did it feel good getting that first paycheck credited to a brand new salary account! I remember feeling empowered akin to how women probably felt when they first got the right to vote. I also remember going on a major binge spree.
Soon enough, the salary at the end of the month became as routine as the job. When you're cringing under targets and numbers and month-end madness in a sales world, you almost forget that month ends could also be good.
So all that was before my wonderful little sabbatical. Forced though it may have been, what with the sudden change of geographies, it was just that-wonderful.Seven months of sheer bliss and lethargy, sleeping till late and not hating sundays for being a few hours before the "monday". But they were also seven months of "no salary of my own". While i did not miss the cash, i did miss that "feeling empowered" bit.
Which is why i spent last weekend spending/planning to spend my second "first paycheck".
Though not technically the first, it feels like one. I feel like i am back in business! Sure, there are no more sleep-in-till-late weekday mornings, but its awesome being re-employed again:-)
I think breaks between work are just great. Its something i would wanna do every few years-just to catch my breath between the unescapable work blues, to rediscover old loves, and yes-to feel awesome about "first" paychecks all over again!
Wedding season blues
Atleast 4 of my gang of gal-pals will cease to be single by end of April this year. And i am going to miss all those weddings (to be accurate, as of date i have already missed two).
It sucks.
-to not see these otherwise ditzy, adorably crazy women transform into blushing brides, dolled up to enter a brand new phase of their lives
-to not be able to give my recently acquired collection of sarees an opportunity to glitter and get some fresh (or airconditioned,depending on the venue)air and fish for compliments:-p
-to settle for photographs when i'd rather have been there and relive my own wedding moments
-to miss all the yummy, shaadi ka khaana and an overflowing supply of snacks on trays carried by red-uniformed servers
-to not be around for last-minute shopping sprees, soothing frayed nerves and dealing with cases of pre-wedding jitters
-to make do with online-purchased gifts than choosing something 'absolutely perfect' for these women who i have grown up with, cried with, laughed with, shared a million memories with...
i dont care that i am repeating-but it truly sucks big-time!
So while i get email and phone updates of the shopping, the mehendi raat, the bachelorette party plans and the make-up artists, i sulk in my corner of the world and wonder why the US, for all its other advantages, could not have been closer home, closer to things that mean so much..
It sucks.
-to not see these otherwise ditzy, adorably crazy women transform into blushing brides, dolled up to enter a brand new phase of their lives
-to not be able to give my recently acquired collection of sarees an opportunity to glitter and get some fresh (or airconditioned,depending on the venue)air and fish for compliments:-p
-to settle for photographs when i'd rather have been there and relive my own wedding moments
-to miss all the yummy, shaadi ka khaana and an overflowing supply of snacks on trays carried by red-uniformed servers
-to not be around for last-minute shopping sprees, soothing frayed nerves and dealing with cases of pre-wedding jitters
-to make do with online-purchased gifts than choosing something 'absolutely perfect' for these women who i have grown up with, cried with, laughed with, shared a million memories with...
i dont care that i am repeating-but it truly sucks big-time!
So while i get email and phone updates of the shopping, the mehendi raat, the bachelorette party plans and the make-up artists, i sulk in my corner of the world and wonder why the US, for all its other advantages, could not have been closer home, closer to things that mean so much..
Thursday, January 18, 2007
The thing with Spanish verbs..
Recently, i have taken to relearning the lovely language of Spain (and Mexico, most of Latin America and huge chunks of the US), trying to pick up where i left off almost 5 years back. And it aint easy doing this by yourself.
I started with an e-book from the library, and what a pleasure it was to be able to know individual nouns and questions words and everything else they could possibly teach you in a 3 hour session.
Essentially-nothing much.
So while i could perhaps tell you the spanish for bread, butter and cheese, i still had little to no clue about sentences. most importantly, the verbs. Those teeny tiny words that bring action into your statement. Essentially, without the verb, you're nowhere.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
they sure are the toughest things to get in your head, especially when the teaching method is an english-to-spanish website for conjugating verbs.
After sufficient mugging up, i can now effectively say " i go, you go, she goes" and "i see, you see, he sees" but thats where it ends.
I am a sucker for perfection, and even though i am not even close to being in the vicinity of perfect, i have not given up yet.
Next on agenda: the past tense. Wish me la suerte. I sure need it!
I started with an e-book from the library, and what a pleasure it was to be able to know individual nouns and questions words and everything else they could possibly teach you in a 3 hour session.
Essentially-nothing much.
So while i could perhaps tell you the spanish for bread, butter and cheese, i still had little to no clue about sentences. most importantly, the verbs. Those teeny tiny words that bring action into your statement. Essentially, without the verb, you're nowhere.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
they sure are the toughest things to get in your head, especially when the teaching method is an english-to-spanish website for conjugating verbs.
After sufficient mugging up, i can now effectively say " i go, you go, she goes" and "i see, you see, he sees" but thats where it ends.
I am a sucker for perfection, and even though i am not even close to being in the vicinity of perfect, i have not given up yet.
Next on agenda: the past tense. Wish me la suerte. I sure need it!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
A homecoming of sorts
The West Coast and its laid-back way of life is all very well, and i am not gonna deny i love the clean streets, the well-behaved traffic and the easygoing folk here. But being in New York, felt like being home. The jaywalking, the honking-forever cabbies, the bumpy subrides, the spirit of being alive and screaming it to the world, till late into the wee hours of the morning..that felt like Mumbai to me. Of course, Mumbai is not technically home, but it feels like. Which is why a trip to New York made me feel rejuvenated, as though i had been lovingly fed by my mother till i refused to eat anymore.
To make this experience more surreal, i was in the Big Apple during Christmas. And was it magical! Who would have thought window displays could be as lavish, as grand, and as creatively intricate as those of Macys, Saks and Lord & Taylor? Sure, i cant afford to buy the one fragrance i liked in Saks, aggressively offered to me on a strip. But that did not stop me from hoping that i could someday dish out 500 dollars for about 10 drops of that heaven. Sure, Bloomingdales clothes were extravagantly priced, and i wondered how Rachel and Monica had the Big Brown Bag always displayed in their kitchen when they barely made money! But thats the whole deal with New York. It embraces one and all. From food on carts to swish fondue places, from Park Avenue apartments to the hostels in Queens, from the straight-out-of-Europe of Little Italy to the colors and affordability of China Town-this city has something for everyone, in a vibrant, sparkling sense that overwhelms a first-time visitor.
As a tourist, you have your hands (and itinieries)full with the long list of must-see attractions. But as just an explorer, you have tonnes to do too. Spend a day with a picnic basket in Central Park, feed the ducks and watch kids learn how to ride a bike. Browse through the art galleries of Little Italy and satisfy the artistic soul in you. Go have the Frrozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity Cafe on Spring Street after popping into Bloomingdales across the road. Look up the winners of the Vendy Awards ( an award that recognizes the best steet food in the city)and discover why New Yorkers love these guys and their carts. And just be swept up by the surging crowds at Times Square while you watch the billboards. I could go on and on here....
I know people who did not like New York when they visited, and it beats me why. I could keep exploring the place and not have enough! Its love alright, why else am i itching to be back there soon, soak it up some more, and start longing all over again.
Oh, i forgot-the Broadway Hard Rock Cafe is the best one i've seen so far. Does that count??!
To make this experience more surreal, i was in the Big Apple during Christmas. And was it magical! Who would have thought window displays could be as lavish, as grand, and as creatively intricate as those of Macys, Saks and Lord & Taylor? Sure, i cant afford to buy the one fragrance i liked in Saks, aggressively offered to me on a strip. But that did not stop me from hoping that i could someday dish out 500 dollars for about 10 drops of that heaven. Sure, Bloomingdales clothes were extravagantly priced, and i wondered how Rachel and Monica had the Big Brown Bag always displayed in their kitchen when they barely made money! But thats the whole deal with New York. It embraces one and all. From food on carts to swish fondue places, from Park Avenue apartments to the hostels in Queens, from the straight-out-of-Europe of Little Italy to the colors and affordability of China Town-this city has something for everyone, in a vibrant, sparkling sense that overwhelms a first-time visitor.
As a tourist, you have your hands (and itinieries)full with the long list of must-see attractions. But as just an explorer, you have tonnes to do too. Spend a day with a picnic basket in Central Park, feed the ducks and watch kids learn how to ride a bike. Browse through the art galleries of Little Italy and satisfy the artistic soul in you. Go have the Frrozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity Cafe on Spring Street after popping into Bloomingdales across the road. Look up the winners of the Vendy Awards ( an award that recognizes the best steet food in the city)and discover why New Yorkers love these guys and their carts. And just be swept up by the surging crowds at Times Square while you watch the billboards. I could go on and on here....
I know people who did not like New York when they visited, and it beats me why. I could keep exploring the place and not have enough! Its love alright, why else am i itching to be back there soon, soak it up some more, and start longing all over again.
Oh, i forgot-the Broadway Hard Rock Cafe is the best one i've seen so far. Does that count??!
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