Over the weekend, I was generally grumbling about the fact that this weekend has been so boring; maybe we should have planned more exciting things to do.
Along with that came a thought.
I listed back what we did do
Friday night
After work, simply lazed around, read the mail, watched kipper with Rebecca
- Late night called some friends over to a newly opened udipi restrauant, then spent time with them till midnight.
Saturday
- Of course woke up late, cleaned the house, hearty lunch - I cooked this one.
- All of us snoozed for a 2 hour afternoon - it was supposed to be a 15 minute nap - what's the hurry? Nothing except that the sun will set soon.
- went biking over the river, eating strawberries & oranges. Just a different detour and the river look so serene. Saw some deers and rabbits.
- did the laundry...Got to register for the swimming...
- Wanted to watch Warren Betty's Reds - it’s too long for tonight, some other time...
Sunday
- did the groceries,
- Met Heidi - she wants to visit India. Iam not sure, but I am excited about teaching her some Hindi. Got to figure that out.
- went out to dinner with yet another set of friends late night. Why so late, cos that's when we remembered that we have to have dinner, he hee! Trust us. Surprise, Rebecca got new outfits... The weekend is over
Hey, wait its all over? That’s so quick.
Over all it seems time went by in a breeze, we didn’t really do anything except eat and laze and yap.
And some.
By definition the mundane is boring because it is dull and repetitive, Amazing how just the fact that nothing is 'out of order' but simply ' in order’ has the danger of seeming mundane. And how the small things that add a charm of life – strawberries by the river, just spotting the deers watching us across the road – these things are enjoyed but almost go unnoticed in the list of the ordinary.
Other privileges – simply to be in good health, being about to spend time with family and friends, laughter, small gifts - privileges by definition - are worth a celebration.
It is Monday already, off to work. Sparkling cider for someone's 17th year with the company just as the day's over. Back home.
Made a list for Costco, REI and Toys R Us. Got to pick a thing or two for the next weekend trip. Groan… Not today, maybe Wednesday, no maybe Thursday or so…
Oh, got to discuss that camping trip right now. So, off to another friend's place for yummy food and yes, to finalize the trip details.
Some restrained conversations.
Went over the checklist. Let’s check the tent.
We wrestled trying to set up a tent without its manual. Almost gave up, when Dharma figured we are missing a piece that joins all the poles. Hunted the garage. How do you spot a 5 inch something in a 3 car garage packed with stuff?
No point. Let’s do this or let’s do that. We’ll figure. It is getting late. So, let’s just pack up, and let tomorrow come.
Ha! Found it, the 5 inch star – in the bag as it was.
Less than 10 minutes to pitch the tent.
So, now that we are done, did we end the day sooner?
Eh, no? What the heck... with so much to chat about, chat, chat, chat some more. Off to bed just by midnight.
Again?
Yup.
I think I’ve read this more place, that only when the water is disturbed say, by a stone the calmness of the water body is appreciated.
The simple regularities of life give a sense of contentment.
Things in place, the mundane hum on.
The mundane threaten the calm.
It is a blessing indeed to have friends - people whom we can simply call, visit, and yap and share food with. Ah, yes the food helps... lost some sleep there, over two days in a row now. Got to catch up that now.
It is worth living...
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Can't see ?
“But the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart.”
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, aviator and author of 'The Little Prince'
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, aviator and author of 'The Little Prince'
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
A nice read - Ten Rules for Being Human
I stumbled on to this
http://www.bluinc.com/free/human10.htm
Ten Rules for Being Human
by Cherie Carter-Scott
1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.
http://www.bluinc.com/free/human10.htm
Ten Rules for Being Human
by Cherie Carter-Scott
1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Travel
This is from the Sierra Club magazine's outings page (about travel)
Extend your peripheral vision. Travel isn’t just about going places. Done right, it transforms us, expands our capacity to care, and changes our perception of what's possible back home. We believe that responsible .... tourism dismantles stereotypes and helps create a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world. See for yourself on one of these ... unforgettable journeys.
Extend your peripheral vision. Travel isn’t just about going places. Done right, it transforms us, expands our capacity to care, and changes our perception of what's possible back home. We believe that responsible .... tourism dismantles stereotypes and helps create a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world. See for yourself on one of these ... unforgettable journeys.
Monday, February 26, 2007
A simple story
I heard a simple story yesterday that is so very thought provoking. It's been on my mind the whole day today. The person telling the story says that he heard it years ago, and he will never forget its message.
It is the story of a grandfather who went across a field after a night of hevay snow. he calls across to his two grandsons, saying the one who makes it to him in staright paths first will win a reward.
So, one focuses deligently on his step, correcting his path every now and then was checking on his garndfather.
while the other focusses his garndfather completely, and simply runs towards him, making a single straight line.
So, who's the wiser of the two ?
apart from winning the reward, the second chap got his approach right.
If you focus on your way - the details, and the nitty grityy, it will consume you and can easily divert you. you'll spend more energy.
the smart way is to focus on the goal, and you will figure the way !
It is the story of a grandfather who went across a field after a night of hevay snow. he calls across to his two grandsons, saying the one who makes it to him in staright paths first will win a reward.
So, one focuses deligently on his step, correcting his path every now and then was checking on his garndfather.
while the other focusses his garndfather completely, and simply runs towards him, making a single straight line.
So, who's the wiser of the two ?
apart from winning the reward, the second chap got his approach right.
If you focus on your way - the details, and the nitty grityy, it will consume you and can easily divert you. you'll spend more energy.
the smart way is to focus on the goal, and you will figure the way !
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Pretentious ?
Indian movies, I mean a mainstream Indian movie is so pretentious.
A regular movie has the staple song and dance, the 'item' number, a mix of everything irrespective of relevance to effective film making - romance, tragedy, blah....more blah.
Even twisted logic to justify the character .ew!
So what if it is for just 3 hours long? We have all the time in the world.
Amateurish acting attempts by the stars.
Stars tend to put up their star value instead of working sincerely towards the role.
Are these actors? No sire, these are istars, and they rule.
No one seems to care that there are glaring mistakes. Who cares of details? See the bigger picture - the pristine landscape, and the dashing clothes – that’s wow. Who cares of relevance?
Film makers while claiming to make 'family pictures’, tend to forget that people with some reasoning are watching too. Are we all teenagers to be impressed without substance?
Of course, this calls for a debate on 'substance'.
A regular teenager will carry more attitude without speaking a word, while our charming actresses have to actually tell you that - hey, look at me, I have attitude. And then you will know that the character they are playing has attitude. Otherwise how will you know? No chance lady, we wouldn’t have known, and while we might giggle, you won’t be bothered to 'act' out an attitude.
Method acting, subtle nuances, anyone? Nah! That is for serious (read boring) actors.
while the 'character' actors take the pain to delve beneath the skin that they play, the main actors will not be bothered to even speak with a different tone, they are more often than not, mere good looking.
While some will have screen presence and striking looks, they seem to shy away from serious relevant acting. Why bother ? when neither the film makers nor the audience is demanding ? ah! That is smart indeed.
Watch a movie, hear a tune, and you can more often than not catch where that came from - oh, no not another Hollywood idea :((
We love to bash westerns and portray them as weak, characterless sorry folks, just to contrast them with our spotless, lovable superior (in some or the other) folks.
After all this is a creative field, and while cinemas of other countries prove that there are a million ways to creatively portray a story, we are stuck with a dozen or so permutation and combination of the run of the mill formulas.
Maturity ? oh no, don’t even go there.
It beats sense , logic, cinematic creativity.
A nation of a billion people cannot be wrong , no ? of course, we are polite not to mention that the class of the mass. No, no that would be politically incorrect.
Yet we love them.
For people like me, who am so far off, watching Indian movies is a means to connect back. It reminds me of college days ( when I started to watch movies) and the smart-alec comments and the fun that came along.
and so even if we crib and cry over pretentious craft, we will still watch most of what bollywood dishes out.
We will watch what the best cinema of the world offers - amazing acting, and incredible performances, and we will watch our own ostentatious fare too, are we poor souls or what ?
A regular movie has the staple song and dance, the 'item' number, a mix of everything irrespective of relevance to effective film making - romance, tragedy, blah....more blah.
Even twisted logic to justify the character .ew!
So what if it is for just 3 hours long? We have all the time in the world.
Amateurish acting attempts by the stars.
Stars tend to put up their star value instead of working sincerely towards the role.
Are these actors? No sire, these are istars, and they rule.
No one seems to care that there are glaring mistakes. Who cares of details? See the bigger picture - the pristine landscape, and the dashing clothes – that’s wow. Who cares of relevance?
Film makers while claiming to make 'family pictures’, tend to forget that people with some reasoning are watching too. Are we all teenagers to be impressed without substance?
Of course, this calls for a debate on 'substance'.
A regular teenager will carry more attitude without speaking a word, while our charming actresses have to actually tell you that - hey, look at me, I have attitude. And then you will know that the character they are playing has attitude. Otherwise how will you know? No chance lady, we wouldn’t have known, and while we might giggle, you won’t be bothered to 'act' out an attitude.
Method acting, subtle nuances, anyone? Nah! That is for serious (read boring) actors.
while the 'character' actors take the pain to delve beneath the skin that they play, the main actors will not be bothered to even speak with a different tone, they are more often than not, mere good looking.
While some will have screen presence and striking looks, they seem to shy away from serious relevant acting. Why bother ? when neither the film makers nor the audience is demanding ? ah! That is smart indeed.
Watch a movie, hear a tune, and you can more often than not catch where that came from - oh, no not another Hollywood idea :((
We love to bash westerns and portray them as weak, characterless sorry folks, just to contrast them with our spotless, lovable superior (in some or the other) folks.
After all this is a creative field, and while cinemas of other countries prove that there are a million ways to creatively portray a story, we are stuck with a dozen or so permutation and combination of the run of the mill formulas.
Maturity ? oh no, don’t even go there.
It beats sense , logic, cinematic creativity.
A nation of a billion people cannot be wrong , no ? of course, we are polite not to mention that the class of the mass. No, no that would be politically incorrect.
Yet we love them.
For people like me, who am so far off, watching Indian movies is a means to connect back. It reminds me of college days ( when I started to watch movies) and the smart-alec comments and the fun that came along.
and so even if we crib and cry over pretentious craft, we will still watch most of what bollywood dishes out.
We will watch what the best cinema of the world offers - amazing acting, and incredible performances, and we will watch our own ostentatious fare too, are we poor souls or what ?
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Yuletide
December is a hectic month.
Thanks to the holidays.
What holidays? Celebrations?
Thanksgiving is just over. Creative and brilliant lights, tastefully decorated Christmas trees, huge discounted sales, rush to gift everyone on your list, parties that you are invited to.
Did I miss the carol singing, the nativity and the rejoicing?
Ho ho ho Santa.
Dress your fun or festive winter best, watch the nutcracker or some other play, eat, and eat as much as you can.
At my workplace, almost the entire month is casual-wear (which is holiday dress code, a Santa hat goes well with anything!), some one or the
Other is always sharing delightful food.
Hanukkah, Christmas, Kaazwan all following Thanksgiving evokes excitement all around. You cannot miss it.
Got to love it.
Either that or grumpy emotions by the whole fuss.
Hey! Why’s the fuss?
Grumpy - is it because they have no family to celebrate with? Or choose not to be thrust into a family? Wonder if it invokes sad memories
A BBC study says that less than half the children don’t associate Christ's birth with Christmas.
Wonder that percentage it is here? Why are we surprised?
I am all for harmonious living, we've got to appreciate and respect others. I understand the implications of rigidity and non-tolernace.
But.
But must we confuse one with another? Must faith be 'secularized' in order to be legal?
So, what are we celebrating? Black, red and green of Kwanzaa and white, red and green of Christmas?
Celebrating a birth that made a difference? Goodwill towards men? A festival of lights? community? Who cares?
Ho ho ho Santa.
We’ll party till we can.
Thanks to the holidays.
What holidays? Celebrations?
Thanksgiving is just over. Creative and brilliant lights, tastefully decorated Christmas trees, huge discounted sales, rush to gift everyone on your list, parties that you are invited to.
Did I miss the carol singing, the nativity and the rejoicing?
Ho ho ho Santa.
Dress your fun or festive winter best, watch the nutcracker or some other play, eat, and eat as much as you can.
At my workplace, almost the entire month is casual-wear (which is holiday dress code, a Santa hat goes well with anything!), some one or the
Other is always sharing delightful food.
Hanukkah, Christmas, Kaazwan all following Thanksgiving evokes excitement all around. You cannot miss it.
Got to love it.
Either that or grumpy emotions by the whole fuss.
Hey! Why’s the fuss?
Grumpy - is it because they have no family to celebrate with? Or choose not to be thrust into a family? Wonder if it invokes sad memories
A BBC study says that less than half the children don’t associate Christ's birth with Christmas.
Wonder that percentage it is here? Why are we surprised?
I am all for harmonious living, we've got to appreciate and respect others. I understand the implications of rigidity and non-tolernace.
But.
But must we confuse one with another? Must faith be 'secularized' in order to be legal?
So, what are we celebrating? Black, red and green of Kwanzaa and white, red and green of Christmas?
Celebrating a birth that made a difference? Goodwill towards men? A festival of lights? community? Who cares?
Ho ho ho Santa.
We’ll party till we can.
Monday, December 04, 2006
An Evening in December
This years theme - a few toys' tale of their worth.
Simple yet a thought provoking powerful theme.
About a few 'has been' toys, that are dysfunctional and hopelessly unattractive in front of the current hot models.
So, they are in the discounted heap.
A pilot scared of heights, a ballerina who cannot dance a clown who cries...all feeling worthless and low.
Oh! Who will buy these toys? What chance do they have?
Except the action guy who's been the previous two years' top toy.
Discounted this year, yet the one toy who believes in his worth.
Perfect.
Just as the toy maker intended.
He persuades the rest, to reach out and look beyond their imperfections to the perfection they were intended, to their ability to bring joy to a child.
How one person can make a difference in the face of obvious odds.
I got this in a fortune cookie months ago in a Chinese restaurant, and still carry it around in my purse - Think highly of yourself, for the world will take you on your own estimate.
Sorta self appraisal.
That’s what it is worth.
Simple yet a thought provoking powerful theme.
About a few 'has been' toys, that are dysfunctional and hopelessly unattractive in front of the current hot models.
So, they are in the discounted heap.
A pilot scared of heights, a ballerina who cannot dance a clown who cries...all feeling worthless and low.
Oh! Who will buy these toys? What chance do they have?
Except the action guy who's been the previous two years' top toy.
Discounted this year, yet the one toy who believes in his worth.
Perfect.
Just as the toy maker intended.
He persuades the rest, to reach out and look beyond their imperfections to the perfection they were intended, to their ability to bring joy to a child.
How one person can make a difference in the face of obvious odds.
I got this in a fortune cookie months ago in a Chinese restaurant, and still carry it around in my purse - Think highly of yourself, for the world will take you on your own estimate.
Sorta self appraisal.
That’s what it is worth.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
lasagna
A friend wants to know my secret recipe of weekday lasagna. I directed her to Kraft’s Chef to the rescue site with features cat Cora's dishes.
Of course she lost the link, and so here it is. I have changed the recipe to the way I made it.
1 lb. ground meat
2 cups chopped green peppers (about 2 peppers)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped (add olives, carpers tried with chopped jalapeños & mushrooms)
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1-2/3 cups water (go easy on the water, I used 1/4 cup only)
1/4 cup Zesty Italian Dressing
12 lasagna noodles (I remember the BelAir cooking demos mention that you can bake with uncooked noodles, otherwise do the routine for the noodles before you start)
1 cup Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese (Or the 3 cheese mix for a Mexican flavor)
BROWN meat in large (4-qt.) saucepan on medium heat; drain.
ADD peppers, garlic, spaghetti sauce, water and dressing; bring to boil.
Stir in noodles;
Reduce heat to medium-low.
Cover.
COOK; stirring occasionally, 10 to 15 min. or until noodles are tender. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover; let stand 5 min. or until cheese is melted.
Stir 1/2 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Ricotta Cheese into noodle mixture before sprinkling with shredded cheese.
Alternatively, start with layering and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
Traditional lasagna can take up to 2 hours to prepare. This one only takes 28 minutes. You save over 1-1/2 hours!
Of course she lost the link, and so here it is. I have changed the recipe to the way I made it.
1 lb. ground meat
2 cups chopped green peppers (about 2 peppers)
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped (add olives, carpers tried with chopped jalapeños & mushrooms)
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1-2/3 cups water (go easy on the water, I used 1/4 cup only)
1/4 cup Zesty Italian Dressing
12 lasagna noodles (I remember the BelAir cooking demos mention that you can bake with uncooked noodles, otherwise do the routine for the noodles before you start)
1 cup Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese (Or the 3 cheese mix for a Mexican flavor)
BROWN meat in large (4-qt.) saucepan on medium heat; drain.
ADD peppers, garlic, spaghetti sauce, water and dressing; bring to boil.
Stir in noodles;
Reduce heat to medium-low.
Cover.
COOK; stirring occasionally, 10 to 15 min. or until noodles are tender. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover; let stand 5 min. or until cheese is melted.
Stir 1/2 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Ricotta Cheese into noodle mixture before sprinkling with shredded cheese.
Alternatively, start with layering and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.
Traditional lasagna can take up to 2 hours to prepare. This one only takes 28 minutes. You save over 1-1/2 hours!
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Quote
In a full heart there is room for everything, and in an empty heart there is room for nothing.
Antonio Porchia
Antonio Porchia
Halloween 2006 @ work
The Monster book
the Harry Potter casts
McGonagal with Dumbaldore
Death eater at Agaggog's dark forest
Hagrid by his cottage
Hypogriff
snapping the pirate
Jack in the family
Cowboys and Cowgirls
the dressed up crowding for the elevator
with Snape outside
Hogwards library fireplaceThursday, October 26, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Tattoos
Iam a big fan of epigrams.
Bumper stickers, graffiti.
Writings on the wall, on the car, on your t-shirt.
Even if yours says, 'Duh!' or ‘STOP STARING AT ME', I will crane my neck to read it.
what is our oil doing under their soil ?
yes, this is my truck. No, I will not help you move.
still wild (this was on a very sophisticated lady's car)
Want to know if there is life after death? Touch my car and find out!
life is like mail,somtimes you just don't get it ( I read this on Orkut).
Mercifully my penchant to figure out tattoos is gone.
In a not so charming manner.
We were taking about tattoos, when a colleague without warning, buttoned down his shirt, and showed off his chest tattoo.
Ew!
With so people walking all over around us in the cafeteria, I was terribly embarrassed by the action.
So, no more tattoo peering for me.
Bumper stickers, graffiti.
Writings on the wall, on the car, on your t-shirt.
Even if yours says, 'Duh!' or ‘STOP STARING AT ME', I will crane my neck to read it.
what is our oil doing under their soil ?
yes, this is my truck. No, I will not help you move.
still wild (this was on a very sophisticated lady's car)
Want to know if there is life after death? Touch my car and find out!
life is like mail,somtimes you just don't get it ( I read this on Orkut).
Mercifully my penchant to figure out tattoos is gone.
In a not so charming manner.
We were taking about tattoos, when a colleague without warning, buttoned down his shirt, and showed off his chest tattoo.
Ew!
With so people walking all over around us in the cafeteria, I was terribly embarrassed by the action.
So, no more tattoo peering for me.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Spot a scooter
Everyday I see at least one scooter on the road. No, not the kiddies’ bare-bone ones.
Actual motorized 2 wheelers like vespas. In downtown.
Iam excited. There needs to be more.
Have they been around always but I am noticing them only now?
I don’t know.
Zooming past, well, actually just sharing the road with the cars.
Along with the occasional biker, these days are cool.
I hold my reservations to the motorbikes. Possibly am even prejudiced. There is something brutish about the average motor-biker.
The slickest of them are yet bulky, invariably either perfectly fit or hefty people with a mean look.
In their smiles, they still seem better off at a distance. This is in spite of knowing a die-hard biker very well.
With the way the gas prices are shooting, it makes sense to ride motorbikes, eh scooters or even bikes.
Economical that is smart, sensible choices.
Especially in downtown.
The freeways can be rash; I would like to see them in smaller roads too.
Accepted this is California, the roads here are wide, and everyone owns a car, and this is not Europe to mind the old narrow streets.
I guess that's why it is a refreshing sight to spot a two-wheeler.
Sensibility over grandiose.
Definitely more charming than a Hummer, for instance.
Actual motorized 2 wheelers like vespas. In downtown.
Iam excited. There needs to be more.
Have they been around always but I am noticing them only now?
I don’t know.
Zooming past, well, actually just sharing the road with the cars.
Along with the occasional biker, these days are cool.
I hold my reservations to the motorbikes. Possibly am even prejudiced. There is something brutish about the average motor-biker.
The slickest of them are yet bulky, invariably either perfectly fit or hefty people with a mean look.
In their smiles, they still seem better off at a distance. This is in spite of knowing a die-hard biker very well.
With the way the gas prices are shooting, it makes sense to ride motorbikes, eh scooters or even bikes.
Economical that is smart, sensible choices.
Especially in downtown.
The freeways can be rash; I would like to see them in smaller roads too.
Accepted this is California, the roads here are wide, and everyone owns a car, and this is not Europe to mind the old narrow streets.
I guess that's why it is a refreshing sight to spot a two-wheeler.
Sensibility over grandiose.
Definitely more charming than a Hummer, for instance.
Friday, September 22, 2006
Halloween, already ?
I’m not a Harry Porter fan.
Apart from the good it did to Rowling, the only person to become a billionaire by writing children's books, in fact I’m bewilded what the sudden fascination to fantasy is all about.
Did watch a couple of porter movies too.
But nah, haven’t got any more interested.Till now that is.
Nor does Halloween interest me.
Boo! Hoo!!
Scared??
Spooky?
Eww! Don’t bother me!
Apart from the treats, Halloween is not exactly an enjoyable day.
Yea, people dressing up, kids in their costumes are all watchable. But not exactly something to look forward to, or get excited about.
Things might just about change though. I’m so very keen now. Not in it’s entirely, but definitely in a couple of characters and in the story line too. Harry potter’s that is.
Cos that’s the theme this time.
I actually said yes to participate in this years Halloween. It’s a big deal in my workplace. The planning and execution is elaborate, the enthusiasm overflows and yea, I’ve jumped in too.
Yoo-hoo!!
I've gotta read the books, got to seee the movies.
Sure, it’s too early for Halloween, but what the heck!
I am excited. I think I'll enjoy it too.
Apart from the good it did to Rowling, the only person to become a billionaire by writing children's books, in fact I’m bewilded what the sudden fascination to fantasy is all about.
Did watch a couple of porter movies too.
But nah, haven’t got any more interested.Till now that is.
Nor does Halloween interest me.
Boo! Hoo!!
Scared??
Spooky?
Eww! Don’t bother me!
Apart from the treats, Halloween is not exactly an enjoyable day.
Yea, people dressing up, kids in their costumes are all watchable. But not exactly something to look forward to, or get excited about.
Things might just about change though. I’m so very keen now. Not in it’s entirely, but definitely in a couple of characters and in the story line too. Harry potter’s that is.
Cos that’s the theme this time.
I actually said yes to participate in this years Halloween. It’s a big deal in my workplace. The planning and execution is elaborate, the enthusiasm overflows and yea, I’ve jumped in too.
Yoo-hoo!!
I've gotta read the books, got to seee the movies.
Sure, it’s too early for Halloween, but what the heck!
I am excited. I think I'll enjoy it too.
Monday, September 18, 2006
The human touch
This is so much about being individualistic.
To each person his own.
I make my decisions. I live my life. In my terms. If I mess up, it’s my problem.
Half the world lives like that.
Kids pick it from their parents. That’s’ the way to live, but more so because they don’t have a choice, I think.
What are my choices?
Not that anything is wrong with that.
After all, it is your life, and eventually you alone are accountable to your life.
Where is the family? Somewhere, someplace. Even if they live within a mile of each other, the distance seems so far. Grandparents make no bones of the nuisance grandkids can be. So, it is rationed visits, rationed hugs.
There is the no warmth, no closeness felt and shared without reason. Just like that is a non-issue .except in mutually decided days of the year - like
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a few other.oh, I love my family.
You lead your way, I will lead mine.
What’s wrong with that?
No, nothing!
After all ayn rand was right too about objectivity.
I don’t think there's anything wrong with that, except that people like me who come form a different planet, are astounded by the matter-of-fact aloofness. And the precise measure of distancing people, irrespective of who they are.
Movies, book and soaps reflect a different perspective though. People yearning for love from their family, lessons taught about valuing people not things. Use things, not people. Not the other way around. All normal values, any where in the world. The basics of human living.
That a surprise why?
Beneath the exteriors, aren’t we all the same? Emotions, longings, need to identify with, to belong, and to be loved and accepted uncondiontally?
I have been thinking of this lately.
Beats me still.
Recently I dined with a fairly big group and my dining experiences where we shared the food, gave me a subtle shift.
I have never been a big fan of Tortellini with its creamy sauce, but dining at San Francisco’s Buca di Beppo sure changes that. Someone else had ordered that. Or the 9 layer Lasagna for that matter (I cannot accept any lasagna as good, since the one I make comes out soooo bad. booo hoo!)
Someone else had ordered that too.
Generally too cheesy, too saucy, too Italian for me. I try to pair it with forkful of salads.
But this time the Lasagna was simply yummy. This is the only place where I can have meatballs and spaghetti without burying them in parmesan cheese or Pepper.
We chatted, and started with freshly made warm garlic bread with vinegar and olive oil, and went family style lunching. ordering large portions and sharing across the table.
This was a wee bit of surprise for me. Yes, this is a family style old Italian restraunta, and this is the way to eat here. Still.
I know all the people in my group for at least a year. I lunched a zillion times together.
Even shared home cooked food.
Yet.
Don’t know why.
The sharing of food, of simply sharing out of the same dish somehow gave me a surprisingly closeness. Couple of them mentioned it too.
What a nice way to have a meal. I think, apart from the great food, everyone likes it for the family experience it gives, simply sitting together and
Sharing food.
Yum.
And chatting
The restraunt was not serving any spinach at all due to the E. coli bacteria scare.
What if it’s well cooked, that should kill the bacteria?
Someone said, sure, it’ll kill the taste too!
The interesting feature of these restraunats is the old home-like setting and hangings on the walls.
With so many photographs occupying every inch of the wall, I simply had to crane my neck to see them better.
Most are harmless old pictures of life in supposedly southern Italy or the US. Kids with their families, boys with their bikes and cars. Women in the
50's swimwear, bright smiles. Families dining together, celebrity dining, and a few prominently placed naughty ones.
Among the chains, Olive Garden and The Old Spaghetti Factory are other favorites, but the experience here is the best.
We went lunching to another fine dining place for a birthday - frank fats.
Great food from Peking, Szechuan, sanghai and Cantonese cooking. Another nice to place to dine in with a big group. This time, all twelve of us
ordered different dishes and shared. We passed on plates, piling some of all the different dishes on our own.
Even the Ma Po tofu tasted good to me. We shared long beans, mango ginger chicken, scallops & shrimps with garlic minus the spinach again, honey walnut prawns among others. Sipping green tea all the while. I asked for the roast duck noodle.
Does sharing food get us together?
Is it just me, or just moments like these bring us closer?
We even shared the birthday ginger ice cream. Small pieces of freshly sliced ginger in creamy ice cream.
Sounds yucky, but tastes yummy. Really.
I think irrespective of what our societies do, and they way our lives are being driven, basic human contact does give us simple pleasure. Not fun. But happiness. The difference between the two is can be so deceiving at times. But not at times like these.
We are people who struggle to look beyond our noses for our happiness, yet that is where it is.
To each person his own.
I make my decisions. I live my life. In my terms. If I mess up, it’s my problem.
Half the world lives like that.
Kids pick it from their parents. That’s’ the way to live, but more so because they don’t have a choice, I think.
What are my choices?
Not that anything is wrong with that.
After all, it is your life, and eventually you alone are accountable to your life.
Where is the family? Somewhere, someplace. Even if they live within a mile of each other, the distance seems so far. Grandparents make no bones of the nuisance grandkids can be. So, it is rationed visits, rationed hugs.
There is the no warmth, no closeness felt and shared without reason. Just like that is a non-issue .except in mutually decided days of the year - like
Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a few other.oh, I love my family.
You lead your way, I will lead mine.
What’s wrong with that?
No, nothing!
After all ayn rand was right too about objectivity.
I don’t think there's anything wrong with that, except that people like me who come form a different planet, are astounded by the matter-of-fact aloofness. And the precise measure of distancing people, irrespective of who they are.
Movies, book and soaps reflect a different perspective though. People yearning for love from their family, lessons taught about valuing people not things. Use things, not people. Not the other way around. All normal values, any where in the world. The basics of human living.
That a surprise why?
Beneath the exteriors, aren’t we all the same? Emotions, longings, need to identify with, to belong, and to be loved and accepted uncondiontally?
I have been thinking of this lately.
Beats me still.
Recently I dined with a fairly big group and my dining experiences where we shared the food, gave me a subtle shift.
I have never been a big fan of Tortellini with its creamy sauce, but dining at San Francisco’s Buca di Beppo sure changes that. Someone else had ordered that. Or the 9 layer Lasagna for that matter (I cannot accept any lasagna as good, since the one I make comes out soooo bad. booo hoo!)
Someone else had ordered that too.
Generally too cheesy, too saucy, too Italian for me. I try to pair it with forkful of salads.
But this time the Lasagna was simply yummy. This is the only place where I can have meatballs and spaghetti without burying them in parmesan cheese or Pepper.
We chatted, and started with freshly made warm garlic bread with vinegar and olive oil, and went family style lunching. ordering large portions and sharing across the table.
This was a wee bit of surprise for me. Yes, this is a family style old Italian restraunta, and this is the way to eat here. Still.
I know all the people in my group for at least a year. I lunched a zillion times together.
Even shared home cooked food.
Yet.
Don’t know why.
The sharing of food, of simply sharing out of the same dish somehow gave me a surprisingly closeness. Couple of them mentioned it too.
What a nice way to have a meal. I think, apart from the great food, everyone likes it for the family experience it gives, simply sitting together and
Sharing food.
Yum.
And chatting
The restraunt was not serving any spinach at all due to the E. coli bacteria scare.
What if it’s well cooked, that should kill the bacteria?
Someone said, sure, it’ll kill the taste too!
The interesting feature of these restraunats is the old home-like setting and hangings on the walls.
With so many photographs occupying every inch of the wall, I simply had to crane my neck to see them better.
Most are harmless old pictures of life in supposedly southern Italy or the US. Kids with their families, boys with their bikes and cars. Women in the
50's swimwear, bright smiles. Families dining together, celebrity dining, and a few prominently placed naughty ones.
Among the chains, Olive Garden and The Old Spaghetti Factory are other favorites, but the experience here is the best.
We went lunching to another fine dining place for a birthday - frank fats.
Great food from Peking, Szechuan, sanghai and Cantonese cooking. Another nice to place to dine in with a big group. This time, all twelve of us
ordered different dishes and shared. We passed on plates, piling some of all the different dishes on our own.
Even the Ma Po tofu tasted good to me. We shared long beans, mango ginger chicken, scallops & shrimps with garlic minus the spinach again, honey walnut prawns among others. Sipping green tea all the while. I asked for the roast duck noodle.
Does sharing food get us together?
Is it just me, or just moments like these bring us closer?
We even shared the birthday ginger ice cream. Small pieces of freshly sliced ginger in creamy ice cream.
Sounds yucky, but tastes yummy. Really.
I think irrespective of what our societies do, and they way our lives are being driven, basic human contact does give us simple pleasure. Not fun. But happiness. The difference between the two is can be so deceiving at times. But not at times like these.
We are people who struggle to look beyond our noses for our happiness, yet that is where it is.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Eternity ?
I walk into the elevator, nod to the people already in.
Yes, I know them. People I work with.
There’s interesting talk inside, a bright – good morning,
A compliment – nice skirt, a smile,
A witty remark, smart repartee, a juicy gossip - hey, you know Clara’s broke up yesterday.
I wish the elevator took longer to reach.
And yet at times, just silence.
No conversations, no small talk all the way to the 16th floor.
Silence.
Checking the floor numbers.
Seems like an eternity. Anywhere else but here.
Enclosed and no place to go, although there are people I know in with me.
The door opens, I dart out.
That seemed like eternity.
Yes, I know them. People I work with.
There’s interesting talk inside, a bright – good morning,
A compliment – nice skirt, a smile,
A witty remark, smart repartee, a juicy gossip - hey, you know Clara’s broke up yesterday.
I wish the elevator took longer to reach.
And yet at times, just silence.
No conversations, no small talk all the way to the 16th floor.
Silence.
Checking the floor numbers.
Seems like an eternity. Anywhere else but here.
Enclosed and no place to go, although there are people I know in with me.
The door opens, I dart out.
That seemed like eternity.
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