Things.

Mean differently to different people. I should really learn to stop mocking them for their choices - even if I do it only in my head.

Been away too long.

I've been away for too long and I'm now kicking myself for it. Promise to do this more often, even it's only going to be in small doses.

5 things I learnt about myself during the time I was away:

1. I know more than ever that cooking relaxes me. Will do more of it and will blog more about it in the future.

2. I love tea. Especially green tea. And, peppermint tea.

3. I don't think I'm ever going to be able to save enough money to stop working. Not at the rate at which I spend, at least.

4. I am slipping back into 2007 - workwise. Not good. Need to come back to 2009 and balance work and life.

5. I've forgotten what I wanted to say. I can't remember long-term things anymore. Again - not good.

Good Advice

"When you are all messed up and are in pain, look up and smile."

After all, that's what my yoga teacher makes me do five times a week.

21 @ 27 and 42 @ 32.

So far, I've only completed one half marathon. When I say 'completed,' I mean walk + run.

One day (hopefully, soon) I want to be able to run the entire distance. Before I turn 27. And, I want to run an entire marathon before I'm 32.

Next stop: Hyderabad Half-Marathon on November 22.

Then, it's Mumbai and Pondicherry.

Open your eyes...

... and you'll find a story in every face.

Top 10 'I'll Judge You' Moments!

In no particular order -

1. Your toes are sticking out of your shoes from the front of your high heels. (Eww. Ewww. Ewwww.)

2. You call everyone baby and sweetie and darling. (People have names. Use them. The names - not the people.)

3. You switch tones while talking to different people. (Do you use another tone when you talk to yourself?)

4. You waste a resource just because it's free. (Really, it's coming out of your salary. Think about it.)

5. You think that pink is the only color in the world. (Allow me to introduce you to blue, green and purple.)

6. You match your earrings, necklace, top, bottom, shoes, bag and hair accessory. (Try 'contrasting,' as opposed to 'matching' - much better effect, I promise you!)

7. You have a DDLJ/Backstreet Boys ringtone/caller tone. (The 90s are gone. No, really.)

8. You put someone else down just to feel good about yourself. (This is the lowest form of ego massage I've known off and don't appreciate it the least bit.)

9. You use a fake South-Indian accent because you think it's cool. (Just FYI - it's not.)

10. Your personal hygiene routine has been ignored for a while now. (Dandruff, bad breath, body odor, smelly feet, and the list goes on and on...)

The weekend that was!

I had an amazing time this weekend - Anuradha and Joy came over from Mumbai and we did a lot of fun things that I mightn't have done otherwise. In short, we got frozen margaritas at Xtreme, ate the traditional Telugu thali at Rayalaseema Ruchulu, went to see the Golconda Fort, showed them the Google office, went dancing at 10D, ate chocolate pancakes at home, got a perfect Chinese lunch at Nan King, went pearl shopping in Secunderabad, spent a little time by the lake, saw the Charminar (and the ek minar), got stuck in Ramzan traffic, tried out haleem, looked for hookahs and bought posters, a fake snake and a dartboard! Phew.

All in all - Good friends, great weekend and fantastic memories! Couldn't have asked for more!

21

I completed the Hyderabad half-marathon (21kms) yesterday and for the first time in my life, I took home a medal!

It's actually happening!

Deepika got engaged yesterday and is 3 months away from actually tying the knot. She can't wait... and neither can I!

All the best with everything to come... Love you Deeps! :)

New Blog Announcement

I remembered the list of things I was supposed to do before I turned 25, and started to check stuff off. After all, I only have 2 months to get a lot more accomplished!

One thing I've been meaning to do for a while but never got down to doing was 07 on the list - to start up a cooking blog of my own.

I finally got off my lazy bum and did it. Here it is: http://thekitchenandme.blogspot.com/

Enjoy! :)

Foot Massages & Painted Nails...

...are best when done by the boyfriend. :)

In the bazaars of ...?

Conversation moved from Cosmo Surveys to Palika Bazaar to Sarojini Naidu. Yes, Sarojini Naidu, not Sarojini Market - which is where it was originally intended to go. And we couldn't seem to remember which bazaar she'd written about. So, we Googled it, and here you go:

IN THE BAZAARS OF HYDERABAD

What do you sell O ye merchants ?

Richly your wares are displayed.

Turbans of crimson and silver,

Tunics of purple brocade,

Mirror with panels of amber,

Daggers with handle of jade.

What do you weigh, O ye vendors?

Saffron and lentil and rice.

What do you grind, O ye maidens?

Sandalwood, henna, and spice.

What do you call , O ye pedlars?

Chessman and ivory dice.

What do you make,O ye goldsmiths?

Wristlets and ankles and ring,

Bells for the feet of blue pigeons

Frail as a dragon- fly's wing,

Girdles of gold for dancers,

Scabbards of gold for the king.

What do you cry,O ye fruitmen?

Citron, pomegranate, and plum.

What do you play ,O magicians?

Spells for aeons to come.

What do you weave, O ye flower-girls

With tassels of azure and red?

Crowns for the brow of a bridegroom,

Chaplets to garland his bed,

Sheets of white blossoms new-garnered

To perfume the sleep of the dead.

--Sarojini Naidu

When in school, I've 'mugged' this poem up for the exams. But, reading it again after so long - I must admit that I quite enjoyed it!

Crazy Mom.

How to make a dinner for two in under Rs. 70, and in less than 15 mins*

Buy the following on the way back home from work:

1 pack of tomato puree - Rs. 15

1 bag of macaroni - Rs. 20

1 onion - Rs. 5

2 cheese cubes/slices - Rs. 20

Pull out the following from your kitchen shelf/fridge:

Old dominoes sachets of chilli flakes and oregano

Oil

Salt

Pepper

Garlic Salt
Half-full bottle of white wine

Do this:

1. Boil the mac for 5 mins

2. In a kadai, sautee the onions & add half a pack of puree, for 2 mins

3. Add salt, pepper and the garlic salt and mix for 1 min

5. Add the boiled mac and mix for another 1 min

6. Add the cheese cubes/slices and mix... for 1 min

7. Breathe in the lovely smell

8. Add oregano and chilli flakes and let it simmer for another 2 mins

9. Pour out the wine

10. Serve!

*I go by intuition. So don't expect measurements. Go with your gut instinct. Literally!

Selfish.

When your worries are not your own, it's easier to believe that they don't exist. But that doesn't make those worries any less significant.

When you stop being sensitive to this fact, you become selfish. And evil.

Couldn't be happier!

I realized I was letting my own paranoia come in the way of rational thinking. So, I got over it.

Now, I'm just so happy!

OMG.

My best friend is getting married.

And I couldn't be any happier! :)

M.

The M word freaks me out. I just can't figure out why.

Should I be happier?

One of my best friends just told me that she found someone online and she's considering marrying him. She's known him about a month and she sounds insanely happy.

But, something in me is not allowing me to be thrilled for her.

I don't get it. I don't get how you can make yourself fall in love with someone. And then vow to stick by their side through thick and thin.

I don't get how you can leave your life's important decisions to someone else.

Remember the time.

Sunday sailing with family.

Learning about Global Warming.

Music shopping at Landmark.

Annual day at Abacus.

Playing Holi in Delhi.

Realizing what Gandhi was really about.

Watching MTV for the very first time.

You were there all along, and have taught me a lot.

Thank you for the music. Thank you for the memories.

Right now.

I wish I could follow you

to the shores of freedom, where no one lives.