Dew

When the last of the guests left the house that evening at 5:00P.M after a very interesting family function which involved pooja, fun and food, I realised that the two day-night continuous work took an instant toll on my balance. It is amazing how we can summon up all the strength that we possibly can and work through the days and nights to get a job done or do something to the best of our ability, and then just drop drained on the floor after the event is over. Where does the strength come from? Is it commitment, or the resolve to give our best?  Is it the self-made promise or the traditional Indianness involving niceties such as hospitality, love and care?? Is it the satisfaction of the Smiles that you want to see on everyone's face that makes you do what you do very well? Could be all of the above, but then when I finally went off to sleep that night, there was an immense peace that took over my senses and I really took that well deserved rest after a very long time.

It has been a wonderful start for us this year... Thank God.. We had a chance to listen to Usha Uthup at a New Bash in Muscat last night. It was a good experience and a great change. I am falling off my chair as I am typing this post, but it is determination that is keeping me awake to write what I want to... The crowd at the venue and in many parties across the world know about enjoying New years day where as my home town Cuddalore has been hard hit by the cyclone Thane.. I wonder about these interesting names though!!!I couldn't help thinking about the other side of the world that always exists and is of course in its own world!!!! I called up home this morning to wish my parents and sister a very happy new year 2012. Since day before yesterday they have not been having power and the last drop of water in the over-head tank in our house got over last night. There are few shops open and some essentials are available albeit sky-rocketing cost. Few people can afford the kind...

Thursday evening was grand for us. I was very excited to have an invitation for a Bharatanatyam dance performance of my friend's daughter. I had learnt the art as a child and I now know to appreciate Bharatanatyam. I can sit for hours together watching dance performances. So, off we went to this place called Al Wadi Al Khabir and struggled to find a parking space outside the venue, Crystal Suites. Inside, there was an event manager who directed us to the place and our friends came out of the hall with two passes. The effect inside the hall was theatrical and the first performance of the children had begun. The programme started with a lot of Shlokhas sung on various Hindu Gods and Godesses. All the children who took part in this dance were under seven years of age. The stage was colorful and the lighting was perfect. I liked the grace, the style, the ease and the uniformity with which the children did their performance. It gave the best first impression on the whole programme. We d...

I was not feeling too well yesterday and over the last few days. It was my husband's birthday yesterday and I wanted to feel good. Now, I didn't know that all it takes to change from a 'not-too-well' state to 'feel-better' or 'doing-good' is just that one voice in my head which said: Just get up and get going... Make some nice special meal for dinner and of course take rest after you are done. After all, it is his special day and do not break his day's cheer!!!! I do not know even as I write this post as to how I actually worked myself up to make a grand dinner ( Okay, not so grand, but yes a different dinner I must say ) On the menu last night we had: Badam Kheer Masala Vada Olan ( Kerala dish) Mango Sambhar Tomato Rasam Capsicum curry Pappad Moru Molagai or fried chillies We had a good dinner and it was only after I put away the dishes and cleared the table that my feeling of 'not-well' really propped up again.. Can cooking be connected to...

Today, I woke up toa reasonably good start as compared to the last few days. Still, somewhere deep down I knew that I am not what I usually am. Discovered that blessings are always around when I switched on my computer. There were emails to make my mood better, some old friends came online after many months just today, and I did receive some emails from people after a long time. Also read some interesting blog posts. Now, all these would have happened many times in my life, but somehow today I realized that all of these are blessings that have been in my life over the years and never realized as much as I did today. Am much better spirited person now. We often do not know how blessed we are until a moment comes when we have to put up with something to realize how much blessed we are. I remember this verse from school : I thank the Lord that I've been Blessed; With more than my share of happiness. Its probably just that I never bothered to realize the gift of a simple email, a chat ...

I was looking for some answers online. I got answers to most of my questions but then there are few that I am unable to find on google... Over the years, I've got so used .. rather all of us have got so used to googling, that if it is not in Google, it probably is not there is the conclusion for most searches.. I recall a dialogue in Dum Maro Dum where a police officer is asking a question to a 'just-found' informer from the city gangster group. The informer shivers obviously terrified.. The officer says, " Say if you know this person or not.. For everything else there's google ". This dialogue is the best in the movie and seems so right too especially when you are looking for some information online. Just a while ago, after thirty minutes of hard search and research, when I did find partial answer to my query, I logged on to gmail and sincerely wished God had an email address that I can write to for some of my doubts for which Google cannot give me a solution...

Yes, that is a term used in Type-writing. I never went to an institute to learn typing and so never really knew which fingers to use for which keys in my keyboard. All I knew is I learnt to type through my endless ranting about sense and nonsense on my chat windows, email compose pages and blog space and ofcourse my job as a Technical Writer. [ It surprises me that not a single interviewer asked me this question if I knew to type professionally ].I guess, everyone learns typing through practice and so that said, I do not know which fingers I habitually use for which keys on my key board... Until... Today... Why go as far as typing? I never realized the key role of one of my fingers other than wearing a ring, until this morning, I must say. I was busy dreaming about the yummy breakfast I am about to make ( yes, dream about the end product as you start preparing the dish, it will come out very well..) This is not a conscious decision I made, but then I was so hungry and was telling mysel...

Yes, I was caught up in the 'No time' syndrome for a while I guess. I never took the effort to come to my blog page until this morning when I picked up this book called Megaliving by Robin Sharma. I enjoy my morning cup of coffee usually with some TV programme. Today, because the book was lying in the sofa where I left it last night..[ Oh yes, am not too organized.. for me, its really okay for things to be lying around once in a while... usually the house gets in order only after 10:00 A.M. After that I never re-arrange or move things much. If me or my husband have not had the sense to put it back on shelf, so be it.. until the next morning!!!! Life is more than just cleaning is my present motto.], I picked it up to leaf through it. Some thought lines as I typed the email spreading word about the book to my friends: When we cannot spend time with ourselves and people, what are we trying to achieve? Are we trying to work for a tomorrow that is yet to come? Most often we are biss...

I usually have Google search page as my landing page as soon as I start my browser window . The reason was every time I needed some reference at work , it was easier to 'Google' it . Last month , we had given our computer for a re - formatting . When the computer came back from the center , the home page in our Internet Explorer browser was set to a news page . I didn 't bother much . I used my Google whenever I needed it , but since I am not working like before , I used the search page not so often . It must have been three weeks with that set up of news page . Every day I got to read some unpleasant , saddening news of some problem , mishap , accident , tricked incident , fraudulence , and resistance . I didn 't like it , but then took it as a fact of life . I used to quickly skip the page after the first story of mishap . This particular page had sixte...

I have not had a chance to open this page at all over the last few days.. Suddenly, it seems like I am too occupied with many things to do, say and think, all at once.. Half a dozen sayings and quotes crossed my mind in the morning in one of the most enlightening session of "dish washing... ". Oh yes, Dish washing does teach you so many things.. 1. When you have a lot of writing to do, almost always there are too many soiled vessls in the kitchen sink. 2. When you have to patiently edit a document, you have to quickly throw away plates in the kitchen sink. 3. What does God think about dish washing? We can never figure out. 4. Why is soiling easy and cleaning tough? Read: Why is the 'good' always tough to be, do and say? 5. Whoever wrote the quote, 'work is worship', didnt think of the possibility dish-washing and writing together. 6. It is always possible to write quickly in face of a timeline or committment to the client. Similarly, it is possible to wash any...

- You must know to manage your time. - There is always an uncertainty that you must deal with. Two big truths I learnt over the last few days of freelance writing experience. I like to manage my time and work plans. I didn't really think that I needed to work with a manager. As it happens in a work place, you are generally assigned to a manager and you have to go with the hierarchy. Over the years, many managers have taught me a lot on work and people management, but to appreciate all of that, I needed to see this day. I have no manager to boss my work, no office to keep the peer pressure on, no team to chat with, but I have immense responsibility than ever before, in the form of my own work committment. No matter how careful you are when you respond to an assignment, no matter how much regular work experience you have, it still is not easy to work as a freelancer. It is easy to get distracted or too engrossed when you are working from home as a freelancer. The idea of managing yo...

Death : No matter how much you know the practicalities, no matter how old the person is, no matter how much you are attached or distant, the saddening feeling inside you, when you hear of a death, is incomprehensible. Just heard of one such news and the incomprehensible feeling is prevalent. Not that this is happening for the first time, but every time, with the intensity variations, the feeling still keeps coming back. While the practical mind says it is inevitable, the sentimental mind makes you feel at loss. Whoever comes to this world MUST go is the norm, the practical mind says. Whenever it happens, wherever it happens, however bad a situation the person is in, the sentimental mind says, "It is not fair". Makes me question, Has life seemed fair all the time ? Is that why death also seems unfair? Incomprehensible. I am going to pray for the departed soul. That is the best I can do, from across the miles. They say, prayers give strength to everyone of the departed's de...

What we cannot understand becomes known as nonsense What we cannot perform becomes known as impossible What we cannot be becomes known as eccentricity What we cannot follow becomes known as philosophy What we cannot practice becomes known as theory What we cannot believe becomes known as non-existent What we sometimes fail to notice is that : "It is just us.. There are others who can understand,perform, be, follow, practice and believe things that we cannot". In their specific situations and contexts: They can understand things. They can make it possible. They can be sensible. They can follow philosophy. They can practice. They can believe. 'Cannot' and 'Can' can co-exist where many minds are working their way through the maze of innumerably paramertized life. It is perfectly okay to disagree with things but definitely required to give the other side, a thought too. Just because you disagree, you cannot rule out the existence/possibility of the controversial v...

Keep redefining your identities; Discard what is not very much like you; Keep up your principles; Discard what doesn't work for you; Keep your inner self; Discard what is disturbing your peace; If all these sound complicated, here is a simple trick to keep up with these principles : Just be yourself as long as you know it doesn't hurt someone else. Well if it still hurts them, remember to be as nice to them as possible. This came up as an after thought of a recent discussion with a friend. Thought the talk was worth my while and hence put the content here.

You must be wondering whatever could be making me write the title as Bathtub Blues!! I have always liked the idea of a Bathtub. Never stopped wondering why there is no standard practice of a bathtub fixture in Indian bathrooms. Again this never mattered really because, I never got a chance to see one in most houses. Our house in Muscat presently has a bathtub. Wow!! was my first reaction. Then, when it came to the practicalities of filling up the tub with unimaginable volumes of water, we decided not to use it at all. When you live in places where water is billed, you must understand that it is only prudent to use resources frugally, especially resources like water. It may seem like we are contributing to keep treated water resources intact for the country, but honestly to spend on water ( still unbelievable) is very difficult for us India-bred people. So, that said, the bathtub remains where it is and we are going about using the rest of the fixtures in the bath room. One day, I looke...

If you know me, I am sure you must be amazed at the title of this post. But yes, I am writing this post as the match between India and England is storming in Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. And my Television is ON since the first strike of the match and that's important here. :-) and as much as it is important it is unbelievable. Like a lot of people, I am a fan of Tendulkar not because I am a fan of cricket but because there have been news instances that Tendulkar's strikes have helped the team's stance wonderfully well in a lot of matches. That's all I knew about cricket and Tendulkar. Who has ever sat through the match completely to see what happens on the field!!!! I was not expecting a hundred from Tendulkar this time.. Don't ask me why, but I just didn't. Sat watching the match non-judgementally except that I was sure that if Tendulkar does not cross fifty runs in partnership or if he gets out of the game early, then the team will lose. It has been my in...

In my life, I never expected that I will actually watch Cricket in intervals and report the score to someone.. I for one person, don't believe in this whole game of cricket. I know your expression, dear cricket fans, but I really cannot sit through fifty overs of the game watching two people play the game amidst the seemingly pointless, unbelievably loudest cheer. I do admit that there must be something I am missing here, else how will I ever be able to explain the high blood pressure levels, loudest cheers, noises of the highest decibels in some Indian neighbourhoods, when a cricket match is going on? When my mind started thinking like that, I didnt realize that I unconsciously got pulled into it. The cricket game as such is very much like contagious laughter... Some where in your life you get drawn into it. I improved from the "I hate cricket" status to "I dont mind watching the last five overs of the game but I cant stand the whole game and most importantly the ti...

Hello all, My name is E-mail. I have become popular among people - young and old - since the past decade. It is interesting to note that a lot of people have so much to talk to their people and I am very happy to carry their messages. However there are a few problems that no one seems to be lending their ears and eyes to. Wonder why some people try to write unsolicited e-mails to others in the name of making friends? Wonder why some e-mails go unnoticed? Wonder why some e-mails are fully read and taken for granted? Wonder why people trash the well-intended e-mails mistakenly addressed to them, when they should be notifying the sender? Wonder why it is so hard to address some one by name or title or whatever is appropriate in an e-mail? Wonder why people cant take two seconds longer to sign their name or initial at the close of an e-mail? Wonder why people do not understand that chain e-mails in the name of religion or luck are still a set of bits - zeroes and ones so to speak? Wonder w...

I am seriously ill with the T-I-L-T-D syndrome... Here are the symptoms - applies to most people at all times and all places as far as I can comprehend: There is a lot to do and to be finished and to be got done and to be done with and to complete. You dont know where to start and are already waiting for them all to be closed as fast as possible. Your mind wanders to hobbies and interests when you know you cannot afford time for them all. You work so much and miss your meal timings or dont work at all and do nothing but eat all the time. You are just bored with the thought of the load. Last, but not the least, you wish you had the help of a genie who would get everything done for you at work or home. Yes the thought that there is so much to do often weighs heavily on us and makes us tired more than the fact that all of it can be done one after another. I have so much to write on my blog and have not started at all. That is the reason for this post.. An explicit admittal of the fact tha...

Its been quite a while since I saw such a neat little village in India. I know that Palghat, a district in Kerala had about 64 villages and each of them had its own temple, pond or lake, and wells. I also remember someone telling me that these villages are kept very neat and clean. The picture that you see here is that of a village called Chembai. This picture shows the houses on one row. The coconut trees act as the divider line. There is another row of houses on the other side. Just two rows of houses make the entire village. There are two temples in the village and one in an adjacent lane. The village residents make it a point to visit at least one of the temples before 7:00 A.M each day. The day's routines - cleaning the house and back yard, daily prayers, washing clothes and vessels and breakfast are done in a regular pattern. Every house you see is kept so spic and span. In most of the houses we could see very old people, very happy with their own way of life, totally oblivio...