It’s that time of the year when we indulge in retrospection, introspection and prospection (one, either or all). Why now? What’s so great about 31st December? We could do it on any day of the year too; but perhaps the onset of a ‘new’ year gives rise to hope. And as you all know, hope is a good thing. Maybe this newness gives us an impetus to try and set things straight, to mend our ways, or explore unchartered avenues. But of course, for that we need to reflect on the year gone by.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Breakfast
The sunlight reflecting off the steel tumbler, which held the piping hot tea.
The steel plate which held the puttu, freshly delivered from the puttu kutti. Staring on as Amma poured a generous serving of kadala curry. And as the waft of the curry and the steam from the puttu rose from the plate, creating patterns in the air, she curiously blew them and dug into it hungrily.
****
She stared at her bowl. Yep, cereals it is. Cornflakes and milk. That's wholesome too. She said to herself.
****
For the uninitiated, puttu is the national food of Kerala; a regular breakfast item! If I had to explain what it is, let me quote what I read once in an Emirates menu (as you guessed, it was a flight back from the Gelf) - Steamed rice cake, garnished with coconut gratings and served with chick peas sautéed in onions.
For the Malayalis - nammude puttum kadala curry-um! It's also had with banana, papadam, etc. and variants of puttu include those made with wheat flour, tapioca flour and so on.
No, it's not that this post is entirely about me. I think this is a 'common' memory from childhood, for a lot of us. I used to love puttu a lot. In fact, I used to make it as breakfast on weekends regularly, so much so that now I am quite tired of it. But I am game for puttu any time, if I get it with chicken curry or fish curry! *wide grin*
P.S. Wanted to label this post, and then realised I hadn't labelled any post with 'food'. And that surprises me. I hadn't written anything on food yet?!
The steel plate which held the puttu, freshly delivered from the puttu kutti. Staring on as Amma poured a generous serving of kadala curry. And as the waft of the curry and the steam from the puttu rose from the plate, creating patterns in the air, she curiously blew them and dug into it hungrily.
She stared at her bowl. Yep, cereals it is. Cornflakes and milk. That's wholesome too. She said to herself.
****
Image Courtesy: http://heyithinkthisway.wordpress.com
For the uninitiated, puttu is the national food of Kerala; a regular breakfast item! If I had to explain what it is, let me quote what I read once in an Emirates menu (as you guessed, it was a flight back from the Gelf) - Steamed rice cake, garnished with coconut gratings and served with chick peas sautéed in onions.
For the Malayalis - nammude puttum kadala curry-um! It's also had with banana, papadam, etc. and variants of puttu include those made with wheat flour, tapioca flour and so on.
No, it's not that this post is entirely about me. I think this is a 'common' memory from childhood, for a lot of us. I used to love puttu a lot. In fact, I used to make it as breakfast on weekends regularly, so much so that now I am quite tired of it. But I am game for puttu any time, if I get it with chicken curry or fish curry! *wide grin*
P.S. Wanted to label this post, and then realised I hadn't labelled any post with 'food'. And that surprises me. I hadn't written anything on food yet?!
Saturday, December 03, 2011
Book Browsing
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tangled
A convoluted mass of thoughts. She tried to pick through the noodles that was her mind, with reasoning as her chopsticks.
She tried. Real hard.
They failed. She would manipulate and manoeuvre. There were times when she almost managed. But they would slide off the sticks; the very second she thought that she had got it right. Practice, she thought. She had to get better at it. Some day.
Or maybe she had to change her chopsticks.
She tried. Real hard.
They failed. She would manipulate and manoeuvre. There were times when she almost managed. But they would slide off the sticks; the very second she thought that she had got it right. Practice, she thought. She had to get better at it. Some day.
Or maybe she had to change her chopsticks.
Monday, November 21, 2011
New blog!
Hey there. It's been quite some while of inaction here. Blame my laziness. And the fact that I wasn't free for the past four weekends. But now that I am here, I have an announcement to make. I have started a *new* blog.
It's dedicated to music and it's called: what-i-hear.blogspot.com
Yes, simply put it's all about what I hear - the kind of songs I like, why I like it and so on. I am a true-blue Mallu and so you will find me share/discuss old Malayalam songs (the new ones are not much to write about; well there are some noteworthy ones, I don't deny it). As also Hindi songs - old and new. So if any of you feel like checking it out - I've already given you the link. I've started off with a Malayalam song; but don't worry I have a huge list of Hindi favourites as well. So it's all going to come there soon. Do go ahead and let me know your views. So long.
P.S. Hope all of you are doing good. What's been keeping you busy?
It's dedicated to music and it's called: what-i-hear.blogspot.com
Yes, simply put it's all about what I hear - the kind of songs I like, why I like it and so on. I am a true-blue Mallu and so you will find me share/discuss old Malayalam songs (the new ones are not much to write about; well there are some noteworthy ones, I don't deny it). As also Hindi songs - old and new. So if any of you feel like checking it out - I've already given you the link. I've started off with a Malayalam song; but don't worry I have a huge list of Hindi favourites as well. So it's all going to come there soon. Do go ahead and let me know your views. So long.
P.S. Hope all of you are doing good. What's been keeping you busy?
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Perspective
You really don't know how good you have it. You really don't.
You complain about your long working hours. You complain about how you have no ‘life’. You hate the city you are in. You hate the fact that you are far away from home. You are upset ‘coz you have zilch savings at the end of the month. You hate that you miss your parents. You feel sorry because you feel lonely. You feel empty. You wonder about how your life has become ‘boring’. You have a zillion things that don't seem right. Somehow it appears that the whole world is conspiring against you.
And yet, you must be thankful. You must be thankful for your boring life. Someone above hasn’t rocked your boat. Just yet.
Never ever think that you’ve got it bad. There are problems in your life; and they do matter. But every time you think of how life could be better – remember, it could be far worse.
Life is not fair. But it is not fair to anyone. That makes life fair.
Or so they say. I have my doubts about it, though.
You complain about your long working hours. You complain about how you have no ‘life’. You hate the city you are in. You hate the fact that you are far away from home. You are upset ‘coz you have zilch savings at the end of the month. You hate that you miss your parents. You feel sorry because you feel lonely. You feel empty. You wonder about how your life has become ‘boring’. You have a zillion things that don't seem right. Somehow it appears that the whole world is conspiring against you.
And yet, you must be thankful. You must be thankful for your boring life. Someone above hasn’t rocked your boat. Just yet.
Never ever think that you’ve got it bad. There are problems in your life; and they do matter. But every time you think of how life could be better – remember, it could be far worse.
Life is not fair. But it is not fair to anyone. That makes life fair.
Or so they say. I have my doubts about it, though.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Dil
Dil-e-naadaan – itna ummeed karta kyun hai,
Dil-e-naadaan – itna ummeed karta kyun hai,
.
.
Jo ek nazar na dekhe, unpe marta kyun hai?
****
Seene mein dabi aandhi, dekhe na samjhe woh;
Seene mein dabi aandhi, dekhe na samjhe woh;
.
.
Sabse hai bekhabar; itna woh nasamajh kyun hai?
****
Kehne ko hai bahut kuch, par lavz na mile;
Kehne ko hai bahut kuch, par lavz na mile;
.
.
Ankahee in baaton pe mujhe itna afsos kyun hai?
****
I didn't know what to call this. Shayari? Poetry? Looks like it's something in between. Or call it senseless scribbles, if you will.
Dil-e-naadaan – itna ummeed karta kyun hai,
.
.
Jo ek nazar na dekhe, unpe marta kyun hai?
****
Seene mein dabi aandhi, dekhe na samjhe woh;
Seene mein dabi aandhi, dekhe na samjhe woh;
.
.
Sabse hai bekhabar; itna woh nasamajh kyun hai?
****
Kehne ko hai bahut kuch, par lavz na mile;
Kehne ko hai bahut kuch, par lavz na mile;
.
.
Ankahee in baaton pe mujhe itna afsos kyun hai?
****
I didn't know what to call this. Shayari? Poetry? Looks like it's something in between. Or call it senseless scribbles, if you will.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Blog Award!
*Drum Roll*
Much to my shock (yes, it's beyond 'surprise'!), someone *actually* thought that my blog could be given an award. And much like La femme Nirvana , who gave me this award - this is the first (and maybe, only) time for me. So yeah, I am going to show-off! (This might be the only glory that will be bestowed on this humble, poorly marketed blog - so yeah, suck it up!)
As the tradition dictates, I have to tag the person who gave me this award - Thank you so much Nirvana. It might have seemed ungracious of me, not having done this earlier. But thanks to frequent visits to homeland, an unexpected back ache, work, internet issues et al - I wasn't very active in the online world. So here I am now, putting this post up!
And continuing with the tradition/routine of the blog awards, here's something more about me:
Seven Random Facts about You:
#1 I can't be random. Yes, this declaration serves two purposes. One, it highlights that I've been trying really hard to come up with 'seven random things' about me. I really am struggling to think of quirky things about me. But turns out I am a real bore. Spontaneity/randomness really isn't my thing. Maybe it's the Virgoan traits at play here. But yeah, I am the kind of person who finds comfort in certainty rather than ambiguity. Coming back, the second purpose this serves is - it leaves me with only having to struggle with 'Six random facts' about me.
I am clever, aren't I?
#2 When I was a kid, I had this dream - that I'd author a Booker Prize winning novel. Yeah, I had heard of this Prize; wasn't too sure what it meant back then - but knew that it was for Literature. And so that was my aspiration. Can't say it 'is'. Or maybe when you grow up, you give up on some things, 'coz you think they are impossible.So Man Booker Prize (as it's called now) or not, to author a book, indeed is my dream.
#3 I really wish that I'd learnt to sing or dance. I was too darn lazy, as a child. I enrolled for keyboard classes, and left it mid-way. Had tried a shot at learning music; that also fizzled out very soon. Sad. Really. I love to dance - have done a bit of it during school/college days. But well, that's a lost dream. I think I am too old to learn either; or is there no such thing?
#4 I really want to give a shot at bungee jumping one day. Won't that be such a thrill! And paragliding too. And maybe float in the air, in a hot air balloon. No, this is not a 'new found' desire of trying out some adventure sport, subsequent to having watched Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. I'd always fancied doing one/all of these. Just for the heck of it.
#5 My dream 'job' would be to work at a Library or Book store. My idea of bliss is a world full of books - the wonderful scent of printed pages, tomes of books neatly lined up. Each book is a world of its own - so imagine how many worlds surround you! Even now, when I walk into a book store, I really wish I could buy ALL the books and have ALL the time in the world to keep reading.
#6 I love chicken. Yes, I do! I could eat chicken in any form (as long as it's not raw!). And chances are, that six out of 10 times, I will end up ordering chicken biriyani. That's one thing I love. And nothing like my mom's biriyani. Love it. Period.
#7 I am the clumsiest person you'd ever meet. Call me butterfingers, if you will. There are plenty of glasses, bowls, bottles et al I've broken, much to my mom's agony. Add to it that I am careless/forgetful, and it's a disaster. So I don't know where I placed my keys or my glasses, I can't remember where I left my purse (only few days back, I'd forgotten to take my purse from office - with my money, debit card et al!). It's a major peeve for my sister and mom. And they leave no chance to bully me about it; so much so that if something's missing or broken, they assume I am the culprit. Sheesh!
My Favourite Song
It's a crime to ask me this! I could make a 'collection' of my 'favourite' songs - it's not just one. So I won't pick one. But, one thing is for sure - I have to also understand the lyrics, if I have to love a song. And I appreciate the words in a song, as much or more than the tune/melody.
My Favourite Dessert
Again, not one. I am a person with a sweet tooth. So needless to say, I can't pick one. But anything with chocolate should do the trick! I also like Indian sweets a lot - don't know if they qualify as 'dessert'. And oh yeah, caramel pudding. Yum.
What pisses me off
Show-offs, senseless chit-chats, sycophants, matlabi type ke log, the really 'girly' girls (I am not one! Really).
Biggest Fear
It would be snakes! Watching one even on the TV gives me the chills. I used to have dreams of snakes chasing me, surrounding me, trying to attack me. And believe me, it was horrible. I've had a few brushes in the past (not quite close though). And it gives me the creeps.
Best Feature
My sense of humour/wit. I do think that I am good with quips/retorts. And I am a good conversationalist, if I choose to be one. Or maybe people who know me should say that.
Everyday Attitude
The para you find below my blog title. I read that somewhere and instantly knew it had to be here. That pretty much sums it up, I guess.
What is perfection?
A myth. If everything was perfect, you wouldn't evolve or improve. It's something we aspire, but will never attain.
Guilty pleasure
Umm, food, perhaps? I love food. Sadly, it comes with calories. And all the tasty ones are fried!
Give the Award to 15 bloggers
That's too huge a number, according to me. So I am passing it onto a couple of bloggers I like, in no particular order:
Arjun: A friend, who writes awesome reviews on good ol' Bollywood movies. His interests also include the arts, music and politics. And if you'd read his articles (yes, he's published too!), you wouldn't believe he's a 20 something.
Mansa: I know her through the intranet blog, at our company. And that brought me to her external blog. She writes the most insanely beautiful poems/stories. There's so much mystery, depth and feelings in her poems. It often leaves you wistful.
Spaceman Spiff: Fellow Virgoan, and prolific blogger. I came across her blog after the note she'd written about Mallu Food, on FB became hugely popular.
aurumpater: Another Mallu from the Gelf with a cracko sense of humour. Should write more often.
Scribblings on the Wall: Her random thoughts are good - often a case of less is more. Short and effective.
P.S. I find Malayalis write better - this observation, I came to, both at the external blogs and my Co. intranet blogs. Are we all gifted writers*? Anyone else feel the same?
* Yes, I counted myself in too. Muhahahaha.
Much to my shock (yes, it's beyond 'surprise'!), someone *actually* thought that my blog could be given an award. And much like La femme Nirvana , who gave me this award - this is the first (and maybe, only) time for me. So yeah, I am going to show-off! (This might be the only glory that will be bestowed on this humble, poorly marketed blog - so yeah, suck it up!)
And continuing with the tradition/routine of the blog awards, here's something more about me:
Seven Random Facts about You:
#1 I can't be random. Yes, this declaration serves two purposes. One, it highlights that I've been trying really hard to come up with 'seven random things' about me. I really am struggling to think of quirky things about me. But turns out I am a real bore. Spontaneity/randomness really isn't my thing. Maybe it's the Virgoan traits at play here. But yeah, I am the kind of person who finds comfort in certainty rather than ambiguity. Coming back, the second purpose this serves is - it leaves me with only having to struggle with 'Six random facts' about me.
I am clever, aren't I?
#2 When I was a kid, I had this dream - that I'd author a Booker Prize winning novel. Yeah, I had heard of this Prize; wasn't too sure what it meant back then - but knew that it was for Literature. And so that was my aspiration. Can't say it 'is'. Or maybe when you grow up, you give up on some things, 'coz you think they are impossible.So Man Booker Prize (as it's called now) or not, to author a book, indeed is my dream.
#3 I really wish that I'd learnt to sing or dance. I was too darn lazy, as a child. I enrolled for keyboard classes, and left it mid-way. Had tried a shot at learning music; that also fizzled out very soon. Sad. Really. I love to dance - have done a bit of it during school/college days. But well, that's a lost dream. I think I am too old to learn either; or is there no such thing?
#4 I really want to give a shot at bungee jumping one day. Won't that be such a thrill! And paragliding too. And maybe float in the air, in a hot air balloon. No, this is not a 'new found' desire of trying out some adventure sport, subsequent to having watched Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. I'd always fancied doing one/all of these. Just for the heck of it.
#5 My dream 'job' would be to work at a Library or Book store. My idea of bliss is a world full of books - the wonderful scent of printed pages, tomes of books neatly lined up. Each book is a world of its own - so imagine how many worlds surround you! Even now, when I walk into a book store, I really wish I could buy ALL the books and have ALL the time in the world to keep reading.
#6 I love chicken. Yes, I do! I could eat chicken in any form (as long as it's not raw!). And chances are, that six out of 10 times, I will end up ordering chicken biriyani. That's one thing I love. And nothing like my mom's biriyani. Love it. Period.
#7 I am the clumsiest person you'd ever meet. Call me butterfingers, if you will. There are plenty of glasses, bowls, bottles et al I've broken, much to my mom's agony. Add to it that I am careless/forgetful, and it's a disaster. So I don't know where I placed my keys or my glasses, I can't remember where I left my purse (only few days back, I'd forgotten to take my purse from office - with my money, debit card et al!). It's a major peeve for my sister and mom. And they leave no chance to bully me about it; so much so that if something's missing or broken, they assume I am the culprit. Sheesh!
My Favourite Song
It's a crime to ask me this! I could make a 'collection' of my 'favourite' songs - it's not just one. So I won't pick one. But, one thing is for sure - I have to also understand the lyrics, if I have to love a song. And I appreciate the words in a song, as much or more than the tune/melody.
My Favourite Dessert
Again, not one. I am a person with a sweet tooth. So needless to say, I can't pick one. But anything with chocolate should do the trick! I also like Indian sweets a lot - don't know if they qualify as 'dessert'. And oh yeah, caramel pudding. Yum.
What pisses me off
Show-offs, senseless chit-chats, sycophants, matlabi type ke log, the really 'girly' girls (I am not one! Really).
Biggest Fear
It would be snakes! Watching one even on the TV gives me the chills. I used to have dreams of snakes chasing me, surrounding me, trying to attack me. And believe me, it was horrible. I've had a few brushes in the past (not quite close though). And it gives me the creeps.
Best Feature
My sense of humour/wit. I do think that I am good with quips/retorts. And I am a good conversationalist, if I choose to be one. Or maybe people who know me should say that.
Everyday Attitude
The para you find below my blog title. I read that somewhere and instantly knew it had to be here. That pretty much sums it up, I guess.
What is perfection?
A myth. If everything was perfect, you wouldn't evolve or improve. It's something we aspire, but will never attain.
Guilty pleasure
Umm, food, perhaps? I love food. Sadly, it comes with calories. And all the tasty ones are fried!
Give the Award to 15 bloggers
That's too huge a number, according to me. So I am passing it onto a couple of bloggers I like, in no particular order:
Arjun: A friend, who writes awesome reviews on good ol' Bollywood movies. His interests also include the arts, music and politics. And if you'd read his articles (yes, he's published too!), you wouldn't believe he's a 20 something.
Mansa: I know her through the intranet blog, at our company. And that brought me to her external blog. She writes the most insanely beautiful poems/stories. There's so much mystery, depth and feelings in her poems. It often leaves you wistful.
Spaceman Spiff: Fellow Virgoan, and prolific blogger. I came across her blog after the note she'd written about Mallu Food, on FB became hugely popular.
aurumpater: Another Mallu from the Gelf with a cracko sense of humour. Should write more often.
Scribblings on the Wall: Her random thoughts are good - often a case of less is more. Short and effective.
P.S. I find Malayalis write better - this observation, I came to, both at the external blogs and my Co. intranet blogs. Are we all gifted writers*? Anyone else feel the same?
* Yes, I counted myself in too. Muhahahaha.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Meet
I knew it, somewhere.
In the back of my head. A feeling in my heart.
We had to meet.
Now as I stare into your eyes and taken in the vision that is you – it becomes clearer.
I cannot fathom how I can be so certain, when we are meeting for the first time ever. I haven’t seen you or heard of you before; I don’t recognize you from the past. And yet, I am sure I was meant to meet you.
I wasn’t surer of anything in my life. Than this moment.
The comfort – of being in familiar arms.
The gentle warmth – of the sun at daybreak.
The trust – like a friend’s promise.
I feel it already.
I look at you. You look at me. We search for something. Perhaps, in each other. But what?
You smile. My search ends.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Salt N’ Pepper – Seasoning it right!
*Spoiler Alert*
I have discussed some things from the movie, and although it’s not a suspense genre, you might hate me for having letting you in on it. So if you want to watch it, don’t read!
I didn’t go home, despite having a long weekend lined up, with the Independence Day thrown in. (And no, I am not explaining why! I am tired of repeating it to all!) A friend told me of the movie Salt N’ Pepper hitting Big Cinemas. And so I headed for the theatre. As the credits rolled, I almost instantly regretted not going home. Why, you ask?
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