Saturday 29 December 2012

Tag: Weverb Dec 21-Dec 25

Dec 21: read [LIVE]
Did you read a book this year that left you craving more when it was over?

Not any book I read this year but "The Time Traveller's wife" (read last year) made me left wondering even after it was over.

Dec 22: recharge [CREATE]
What did you do to recharge your batteries in 2012?

It must be the evil of internet  but this is how I wasted my time and this is what I used to recharge the batteries as well.

Dec 23: communicate [LISTEN]
Describe a conversation that you had this year. Why was it memorable?

It was talk with my father who told me when I was sharing with him the problems in office, to look forward, that this happens in everyone's work life and in life there will many more difficulties, you just keep calm and enjoy.

Dec 24: delight [HOPE]
How can you bring more joy into your life in 2013?
1) By not sweating over the small stuff.
2) By Meditation and exercise
3) By enjoying each day as it comes.
Oh, how I wish I do all this and more in the coming year and life..

Dec 25: give [CREATE]
What was the best gift you gave someone this year?
Though I love to receive gifts, I am not very good in gift giving department. I framed the nameplate that I had made, wrapped it up to gift it to ZZ for anniversary but didnt out any sticker over it. ZZ sniffed that his wife is giving him that colourful painting she has been making in his presence itself, found out that it was hiding in her wardrobe, pasted a sticker "Dear Wife, Happy Anniversary, from ZZ!!". Yes, its true. I received the gift that I made myself and that I was to give it to him. It was hilarious and I couldnt stop laughing when before I could bring it out, he handed me it. Talk about timing and most importantly, Sticker that proclaims who gifted who!!

Friday 21 December 2012

Hair story


               I have straight hair. By birth. "I am so lucky", tell my friends that I would never have to pay for straightening. But they dont know the experiments my hairs have been through to be manageable. Having thick straight hair which are dull, drizzy and not in your control is not a blessing.  I still remember my father oiling my hair and wetting it every morning before school so that my boycut hair could be parted and I could look presentable.
               I longed for curly hair like Maggi. The heroines of the late 80s and 90s had curls, my friends had curls, some had straight hair which looked lovely in blunt cut.I never liked my straight hair. Thinking that if I keep long hair it will be more problematic than they are right then, my hair were kept short all the way. When I was in Class 4th we went to Delhi for our vacations. There my mother took me to parlour, shared my hair woes and the parlour girl suggested to get my hair curled. The weird logic being that once the hair is curled it will change the natural texture of my hair and the hair will be manageable and able to parted in any direction I (my parents) wanted. So using strong chemicals and curlours hanging on my hair for hours, my hair were transformed from straight to curly. After paying a hefty sum to the parlour wali aunty my parents thought that the problem resolved .
                 But just like a dog's tail cant be straightened, my thick straight hair couldnt hold the curls for long and in a few months my hair started showing the signs of their own. And beneath the curls the straight hair started sprouting. And with the next cut, the originals were back. The huge sum that was spent got lost with the curls.
                   Now that I had seen both kinds of hair, I and my parents made peace with my hair. Using light, chemical-free shampoos and conditioners, weekly oil massages I started caring for my hair. Later after my Class 12th, I started keeping shoulder-length hair. With the whole world around going gaga over straightening, I get compliments for my natural straight hair What can I say. I still love curly hair like maggi but given a choice I would rather keep my hair straight.Oh, I love my imperfect straight hair.



This post is written for Sunsilk Straight Hair Experiment Contest.

Tag: Weverb12 (Dec15-Dec20)

Dec 15: quote [GROW]: What inspirational quote would you associate with this past year for you?
As per situation, i look for strength under different inspirational words. But one 

"Get up & face the music"


Dec 16: replicate [CREATE]: What were you inspired to create/make this year based on something else? (i.e. a pin from pinterest, recipe from a friend, etc.)
It has to be a name plate drawing I made inspired from this blog. I also have a picture during the painting.



Dec 17: thank [HOPE]: Write that thank you note that you’ve been meaning to send this year… or would like to send next year…
This has to be to my parents. Even though I believe that it is important to "say" you love when you mean it, I have never  been open to my parents to tell them "I love you". 
"I feel blessed to be your daughter. Thank you for all the unconditional love you showered on us, for all the scoldings we had in our childhood, for being the patient ears to our stupid and angry vents, for being the helping hands in our downfalls, for being the inspiration and motivation to look forward to, for being the best parents in the world. I love you!!"

Dec18: soak [LISTEN]: What have you soaked in this year? (Baths, sun, ideas?) How did it affect your mentality?
Sunshine. A loads of sunshine. During the walks in lunch break out in the garden. From the window panes in my office seat. In the little square of my balcony at home. Sunshine makes me warm and happy. It is the combination of sunshine and cold winds that makes my winters beautiful.

Dec 19: exercise [LIVE]: How did you live actively in 2012? What will you change in 2013?
I participated in 5k race this July. I think I have already boasted about  it earlier. So for at least a month I jogged religiously before the D-day and later it all stopped. 
For 2013 I have plans. To do yoga every day, morning walks and running more. 

 Dec 20: reminisce [GROW] What distant memory/time did you find yourself longing for in 2012?
I didnt travel much this year. So at so many times I found myself longing to travel to new places , remembering the good old times of distant places with family/ friends.











Monday 17 December 2012

Tag:Weverb12 (Dec12-Dec14)

Continuing from Part1 and Part2


Dec 12: toss [GROW]: 2012 was the last time for ________________

1) poor communication skills
2) planning more but travelling less
3) procrastination of important things

Dec 13: associate [LISTEN]: What blog/book/article spoke to you the most in 2012?

Though I didnt read much in 2012, I happened to read more women writers this year than I have earlier. So, from Helen Fielding, Sophie Kinsella, Caitlin Moran, Sudha Murty, Chitra Divakurni (currently reading) I got to read tales of female protagonists by female authors.I laughed and felt sad along with the heroines and wondered that thinking too much of small issues is not my problem it is of all women across the globe.

Dec 14: walk [LIVE]: Describe the path to a favorite place of yours to walk in 2012. What’s meaningful about the place or the journey

The city Delhi has so much to offer: bylanes of old city, ancient monuments, world-class transport system, shopping heaven, large gardens & parks, time-to-time cultural festivals that Delhi govt and other agencies organise. A place where history is in its stones and future in air. For long time, I had wanted to visit all important monuments of Delhi.
 It was a very very lovely day when with ZZ and friends we decided to go some place to enjoy the lovely weather and thus Humayun's Tomb was visited. Stood on an elevated platform the red-stone structure is said to be the inspiration behind the architecture of Taj Mahal.
Awesome weather, lovely company, 2 photographers;) and click-happy grins with the wonderful background/ foreground where every corner shows view like this.


 next installment tomorrow..:)

Saturday 15 December 2012

Tag:Weverb 2012 (Dec5-Dec11)

Punctuality is a virtue and I lack it. Online at least. So without further ado, lets continue:


Lets continue..
Cook: What was your best recipe/dish of the year? Share it!
 
And as I looked at my photo folder, I noticed a lot of new experiments I did this year. Favorite recipe of the year should go to Som-Tam (Thai Green Papaya Salad). I had brought 2 raw-papayas from the kitchen garden of mother-in-law this diwali. Each papaya made one dessert and a big salad bowl. 

Recipe is very simple (the reason I made it). I scouted google for its recipe and found this http://www.swapnascuisine.com/2011/05/green-papaya-salad-kappalanga-omakka.html which is almost how I made mine.

Enliven:  Was there a book or article that inspired you to make a change in your life this year? What was the source and what did you change?

I got to read a book from one of my father's friend. The book not only is a biography of a forgotten hero but also give a glimpse of the bygone society.Reading the book inspired me to someday write a book myself. (I woman can dream, right.)

Respond: Do you actively listen to your inner voice/conscience? Describe a time this year you heard and responded to it.
 
No, I don’t. I am a confused soul trying my best to simplify my life. Actively listening to my inner conscience would definitely help me but its mostly in the times of problem, when I try to look for the answers by looking inwards.

Triumph: How were you challenged by a project or goal this year? What did you learn from it?
 
 Zindagi mein aisi bahut si mushkilein aayengi but always stand up for yourself. I shall not call that episode  triumph, because in a direct sense it  ultimately leads to loss for me but indirectly, I learnt so much. That there are people with inflated egos who take official things personally, try their best to damage you and create barriers on your way. That people would be nice to you since you have been nice to them is eye-wash. That there are people who will always be your strength, cherish them. That life is tough and unpredictable, just have faith, keep doing good and have belief in yourself.

Lose:  Did you have to say goodbye to a person, or even a cherished object, this year? Take a moment to celebrate the memory

I can only think of one person right now when it comes to loss. He was a mess worker in the girls hostel. Happy-go-lucky fellow who made many a parties possible, run for many a errands and always check on you if you skip your meal. Everyone in the hostel had nice memories of him. He died young and it was a sad news to hear the news.

Spend/Save: Are you richer or poorer this year, compared to last year?

Richer. Richer by age and the wisdom it brings;), by experience and yeah a few pennies richer monetarily for sure.

Wednesday 5 December 2012

Tag: Weverb12

        With just 2 posts in 2012, the blog had become a half-yearly event, BUT then there happens something in your life, which needs a mention in your blog. Right!! No..the blog was always in my mind when things happened to me but I just kept postponing it and hola, its December!!
          delhte hi dekhte, 2012 is coming to an end.And even though 2012 has not been a favourite year and from last few months, office life is pain, it needs a summary. I have never documented anything like this earlier, but then in this blog, I found a link to Weverb12 and decide to hop on it. 
          And now that I have been 5 days late, let me write it all in a single post.

Dec 1: Compose
I have never written a haiku nor know its rules (except that its short, 3 lines etc) but let me describe my 2012:
Dark night:
Search for self
Unending, unnerving
May bliss be mine.

Dec 2: Watch
The movie of this year that I would recommend to a friend would be "English Vinglish"

Dec 3: Stay
I have a monkey mind and a monkey heart. I have heard a few comments about me stating that I look lost at times.So to truely stay in the moment is effort. I so want to do meditation, but then laziness has always been my second name. But this year, with so much negativity and politics, I think its my family and ZZ which helped me to stay in the moment. Also I am trying to meditate and form a relationship with God.

Dec 4: Experiment
This made me thinking. But recently on my office tour, I took a half-day detour and visited Amritsar to see Golden Temple. This was first solo travel as a tourist, and I loved it. Got to visit the Temple, some shopping at market, food at Brotheren da Dhaba. I ticked all points my To-Do list. Yes, I will definitely like to travel solo again.
Also I ran 5k Amateur Run. My first and only time. Just after my birthday. And alas, after that I stopped my daily practice. Yes, let this winter pass, and I will be on my tracks again.

Day 5: Fellowship
Online, I have become addicted to DIY (Do-It-Yourself) blogs like YoungHouseLove, BowerPower and I wasted spent many a hours surfing them. Did created a few things for home. While I love the arty-crafty stuff, when I see those people doing big-time renovations in their homes, I am awestruck. 
Offline, there is no specific community I am engaged in. There have been phases: running, books etc. But nothing concrete. And what I get from it was also not concrete , just temporary satisfaction. so next year will devote more time in to these activities.

Hmmm, so this was my 101th post and my nth attempt to keep this blog journey continue.