tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-300955242024-03-14T09:41:20.474+05:30Why Me?"The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be."Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-35008949185937238532020-06-08T23:30:00.000+05:302020-06-08T23:30:33.484+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The Void and on filling it !</span></div>
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How do you define emptiness? The
opposite of fullness? Not quite…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d
rather say it’s stillness, a dangerous silence, blankness and having no hold –
that’s my definition of emptiness. Today my heart is filled with emptiness. The
death of a friend shook me and made me spill my grief here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The heaviest heart would be the
one that enters a home after burying a family member, more so if it’s a spouse
that has just left to heaven. Nothing can express the amount of pain and the
depth of that sorrow that just engulfs one when they return home, only to find
themselves more alone than ever before. The near and dear leave to return to
their lives, children not sure of what’s in store for them next and all that’s
left is the empty heart and life of the spouse. From the departed’s shoes, as
you enter the home, to their belongings that lie scattered all over the home,
each pulling one string of the heart! What to do to get over this moment, each
second seems to be still, and most difficult to get through. How many unsaid
words, I wish I had’s, we should have’s, I forgot to tell you that’s, apologies
and things that waited for the right moment to convey that sweep over like a
huge wave on that heavy mind’s floors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We all read, life is short, men may come and men may go, time is
precious, and quotes like them every day but we can only realise their meaning
when we lose a loved one. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Where to begin? Is it the very
moment the unexpected death happened when life came to a halt just like the
screech that’s heard when brakes are applied all of a sudden, or even worse
when it hits you as a news received on a telephone. No death is less painful to
the human mind –be it that of a person who dies at 100 after being through it
all or a baby who dies seconds after being born. What pains the most is this
sudden unannounced trait of death that just snatches that person away from our
life in a second before even we can realise what’s happening. It just leaves a
void that can never be filled by anyone -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>their memories, their words, their habits that you’ve got used to all
these years just keep ringing in your mind, bringing out all the tears that
your eyes can make! A huge chunk of sadness just blocks the throat causing
difficulty in breathing, constant tears rolling down the cheeks and a tiredness
of the full body like never before. The mind and body go numb!<o:p></o:p></div>
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As days go by, their thoughts get
more daunting, turning into anger as to why they bequeathed this sorrow and
vanished. In the book, On Grief and Grieving, David Kessler and Elisabeth
Kübler-Ross explain the five stages on how people respond to a loss - denial,
anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. This process helps learning to
live with the one we lost.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of my favourite quotes is
Samuel Decker Thompson’s “We are all just a car crash, a diagnosis, an
unexpected phone call, a newfound love, or a broken heart away from becoming a
completely different person. How beautifully fragile are we that so many things
can take but a moment to alter who we are for forever?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
only way is to slowly learn to interweave them and the happy moments spent with
them into our daily lives and getting on with life. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Also what’s more important is to
keep in mind is how precious each relationship is and to value each other and
say what’s on your mind to them and have no regrets in life whatsoever. Each
day counts and live life as if today was your last, easier said than done, but
it is what it is – the hard truth called life! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-22411108844978889302020-06-08T23:22:00.002+05:302020-06-08T23:22:51.185+05:30<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Cook books, Coffee Spills, Oil Splatters, Scribbled Notes and Life!<br /><br />Here I am with this picture which beautifully captures the sum total of my unending love for cooking. I think I was 12 when I watched my first cooking show on DD, guess it was called Daawat. It was love at first sight, as to how simple ingredients came together to make something that looks and tastes delicious. My sisters and I s<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">tarted to change our play to include a mic, tiny vessals, spoons and bowls of ingredients and thereby creating pretend cookery shows. We took turns to be the cook and the anchor. Mom used to chuckle at our creativity, little did she know that we were taking it seriously.<br />Slowly we secretly got into the kitchen, when mom and dad stepped out. We started off with dosa, maaladu and some safe play recipes like the humble but deeply satisfying potato fry (which would be edible however badly cooked!) The spilt milk, flour, oil stains on the kitchen floor often gave us up and made mom go mad, but she never discouraged us after. We slowly graduated to reading cooking tips and recipes on magazines and newspapers.<br />Dad’s work required us to relocate every 3-4 years to different towns to different branches of his organization. We met new people and tasted different cuisines, which spiked our cooking interests and creativity. As we are three girls at home and we always had guests at home, we had all the opportunities to help mom cook, set the table, help in cleaning up and act like mini hosts.<br />We lived in Madurai for the longest and settled down there when we were in senior school. Most of our relatives were in Tuticorin, and the nearest big town is ours, so from medical consultations, school/college admissions, job relocations, wedding arrangements and Diwali shopping, this is where our folks were headed. This also meant overnight stay or at least a meal in our home. However small our home was, our parents made sure our guests were treated well, fed well and felt at home . We three watched and learnt it from them. I think till today, we three are known for being great hosts and decent cooks, all thanks to them!<br />We grew up and so did the opportunities to fine tune our cooking skills. From Star TV, Asianet and Sun TV (and its offspring channels), we saw more cooking shows not giving a damn about the language it was presented in. Mom became an entrepreneur and Dad was working full time, which meant more responsibilities for us kids. Akka and I started preparing meals and sharing household chores and baby -sitting our little sister. Family started eating our food and it gave a huge boost to our confidence and we started to experiment.<br />Akka got married right after her B.Sc and lived in a big joint family. She had to learn /unlearn and adapt to the cooking in her new household. Her cooking took a huge turn there. Now I had the kitchen for myself when mom wasn’t around. I watched mom cook the most perfect non vegetarian dishes and what she secretly added to give that perfect finish was all getting evident to me. Through all the years of graduation and post graduation, I learnt it all from her, akka, my aachi and aunts. It is indeed our family’s way to teach girls cooking before marriage and mom very rightly did that for us. I am thankful for all the trust she had in us to feed the family and guests.<br />I moved to Chennai soon after and was residing with my grand uncle and aunt. Aunt is from SriLanka, and that made me say hello to Ceylon cooking! I was blown over by her culinary skills and the deliciousness that emerged from her hand. This is where I was introduced to the super thin and silky string hoppers, prawn and drumstick gravy, sambal, coconut based gravies and the most aromatic pandan leaf (ramba elai) dishes. She even had a plant I recall.<br />I switched jobs and said Namaskara Bengaluru! Rented a flat for the first time, shared it another friend. Cooking now meant, planning – from buying groceries, veggies, meat, cooking, cleaning up and saving money in this entire process. Now this was a whole new paradigm, from the spotless kitchen at home along with a filled fridge and larder, we are now talking about budget, limited vessals, time crunch and sharing chores. Every day was a learning process, especially on how to use up left overs, transformation dishes aka start with a dish, lose track midway (screw up) and end up in another, etc.<br />As I was getting used to this life, marriage was arranged! Next big milestone. Thankfully it was my second cousin, so he wasn’t a stranger after all. He was with a bank had travelled far and wide within India, which meant he knew how to cook! So we shared the cooking, his time in Hyderabad and Calcutta impacted our daily menu and he also enjoyed eating out, experimenting different cuisines. Thanks to our strategically placed home in Koramangala, most eateries were just a stone’s throw. Our tummies were that deeply satisfied with all that food intake that they grew in size happily!<br />Another job, back to Chennai. Blessed with children and life experiences. From cooking for kids, and eating up left overs, making their food as ours, our journey continued. In between all these years, I travelled a lot, to different countries for work. When I travelled, that was when I got introduced to the yummy world of global cuisine – Mongolian kitchens, steak houses, red lobster seafood , chipotle mex cuisine, p.f.changs lettuce wraps , chick fil a chicken, cinnabon cinnamon buns, deep dish Chicago pizzas, tiny restaurants in wineries, street food in NYC, the Korean Bibimbap, Chendol, Chilli crab and Curry Puffs in Singapore, Nasi lemak , roti canai and the most delicious tea served in almost beer mug sized glasses in roadside shops in Malaysia, Shawarma, Manakish, Knafeh in the Middle East, etc. There is so much to mention, as it is ,this is a long post, still mentioned those that are top on my list.<br />As much as I enjoyed the local food wherever I was stationed, I must admit that I carried my pressure cooker, kadhai and cooking staples in my check in baggage to not lose touch and satisfy the humble cravings like paruppu saadham and channa masala. Travel made me what I am today, the learning of the world and above all learning about oneself and how we can manage challenges in life alone.<br />Just when we thought, we should move to the US, came the offer to move to the UK. Also hit the year 37 milestone and started thinking I should eat what is good for our soul and body rather than just what tastes good. Healthy cooking side of me took over and started little by little and still going on! Thanks to God, all along, touch wood, family and I have had good health! Husband and I take turns to cook and we are also teaching our boys (aged 14 and 4).<br />In this incredible journey of life, filled with surprises and expectations some met and some not, came the habit of scribbling down recipes, cooking tips, photocopying magazine recipes, blogging my recipes, food photography, watching master chef, food network, khana kazana, youtube recipes, instagram recipes, collecting cooking books, eating healthy - podcasts, TED talks, sharing my recipes, I have grown!<br />P.S. Some of the recipes in the pic, are more than 15 years old. I have many more cook books in India, this is just a fraction of the collection.</span></div>
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Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-12439405527022131922013-04-04T18:02:00.001+05:302013-04-04T18:02:28.723+05:30I am offFlying away to a new zone - a new area of work - new people ! Wish me luck Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-4136999854455608152012-01-16T22:09:00.005+05:302012-01-16T22:56:27.182+05:302012<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jwVFPp57byWAnYRPdpkAFVqYZWoPCPEagB7GTEpb-_jiAvalEAsczRVHZXq62Bn1JEqcQ1Kh-KqqHGgJ-dbZh0gV5jGPgKgvkkOmWiFWX1TNOzxBwK4Dwki5OATvml3n3NvM5w/s1600/happynewyear.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698282086925663490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jwVFPp57byWAnYRPdpkAFVqYZWoPCPEagB7GTEpb-_jiAvalEAsczRVHZXq62Bn1JEqcQ1Kh-KqqHGgJ-dbZh0gV5jGPgKgvkkOmWiFWX1TNOzxBwK4Dwki5OATvml3n3NvM5w/s320/happynewyear.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div>Another year, another beginning, another hope , another plan :) Happy New Year to you! Moving to a new country, new assignment, new experiences - thanks to 2011, you just zipped by! What does a new year mean to you, to me it does make a different meaning. No am not talking about resolutions, plans etc etc. I'm a great fan of spontaneity. It actually means "coming out of natural impulse or tendency,unplanned or unconstrained". How beautiful it is not to know the result, but enjoy the process and the minute you hold..... </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Being spontaneous means different things, acting impromptu, just like that and so on. So you are bound to be judged when you are spontaneous. I can hear you say, who cares about what others judge me as, hold hold, I said judged, it can also mean you judge yourself, you look at yourself and see how you acted in that moment. You might pat yourself and say good, or you might say couldnt you have just shut up or not reacted at all! Hmm interesting isnt it!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I want to be spontaneous, be in that moment, act for that moment, say things as you feel them in your mind not thinking about the next moment. The new year hopefully gives me enough opportunities to be spontaneous, aye aye no planning to be spontaneous ;) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Good Luck folks! </div></div>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-31336752835978701762011-05-10T15:43:00.005+05:302011-05-11T10:38:19.246+05:30Beyond KrishnaWhat would you name your autobiography if you ever plan to write one? Have you ever thought of that? I will name mine "Beyond Krishna".<br /><br />Why the name beyond Krishna?? Coz everything changes in life when you go beyond a certain limit!Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-61572207228764466562011-05-10T15:43:00.001+05:302011-05-10T15:43:24.281+05:30RepercussionsThe words we utter have a great effect. Some spilt here andthere hurt people. I experienced this today. Amidst all these repercussions, my little one A Jr, gives me a smile and an ubbbba**. I look at him and smile back. A kid knows when exactly to smile. Thanks to him, my cherub!<br />** kissDeekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-17977913248815262522011-05-10T15:42:00.001+05:302011-05-10T15:42:44.256+05:30Dinner with SMy cousin S came over for dinner on Sunday. This is the first time she is visiting me. Her daughter,husband accompanied her.S and I are of the same age and are third cousins to be precise. Am supposed to call her “chithi” lol, but never did.<br />We share some beautiful memories together. I have spent days with her during my vacations when I was in school. She lived in the same place where my grand parents live, so anytime we are in my granny’s place, I am set to visit her atleast once. It was a time when there were no mobile phones, so my mom used to leave me in her place and then pick me up after 3-4 days. No inbetween calls to find out if “is she eating, is she comfortable” like we do today. I used to wear S’ clothes when at her place and she used to wear mine. We used to play all day with her lovely set of “choppu jaaman” (read little utensils in a kitchen set). Her father used to take us to their grocery shop, and we used to munch “naturo” mango bars, five stars(that came with a golden brown cover),raisins and if nothing was given, handful of wholewheat popped in the mouth that turns into a white chewing gum like stuff !<br />I very clearly remember, sometime in 1990 or so, there were some cute stickers that we can stick on our watch dials, and S gifted me a whole sheet of them… wow how I cherished them. S’ mom was an awesome cook and I can never forget how she always made “mundiri kothu” ( a sweet delicacy made in South India, with gram flour,jaggery and channa dhall) and “suyyam aka susiyam”(another sweet dish , little softer than the former). Yummmm…<br />When I had completed my graduation and wanted to look for a job, I came to Chennai where S lives. S got married then. I went straight to her place and stayed there for a month – thats the relationship we share. We had a wonderful time together then.S then went to south east asia and then to London,and is now in Chennai again.<br />We met after say 6-7 years and we had so much to speak about.. It is indeed good to meet old pals like this. Friendship is a beautiful thing and when its with someone in the family, its even more beautiful. Love you S. Wish you a wonderful life.Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-72673288151609892312011-05-10T15:41:00.003+05:302011-05-10T15:41:57.819+05:30SoulmateWho is a soulmate? Have you met yours?<br />Here is a wonderful read from Paulo’s Brida that explains more about this subject. I reread this so many times, coz I can relate to this concept so well. I met my soulmate — yipeeeeeeeeeeee!!!<br />From the book of Paulo Coelho – “Brida”<br />“We are eternal because we are all manifestations of God.That is why we go through many lives and many deaths, emerging out of some unknown place and going toward another equally unknown place. You must get used to the fact that there are many things in magic which are not and never will be explained. God decided to do certain things in a certain way and why He did this is a secret known only to Him.<br />The fact is that this happens.<br />And when people think of reincarnation, they always come up against a very difficult question: if, in the beginning, there was so few people on the face of Earth, and now there are so many, where did all those new souls come from?The answer is simple.In certain reincarnations, we divide into two. Our souls divide as do crystals and stars, cells and plants.Our souls divides in two, and those new souls are in turn transformed into two and so, within a few generations, we are scattered over a large part of Earth.And does only one of those parts know who it is???<br />We form part of what the alchemists call the Anima Mundi, the soul of the world. The truth is that if the Anima Mundi were merly to keep dividing, it would keep growing, but it would also become gradually weaker. That is why, as well as dividing into two, we also find ourselves. And that process of finding ourselves is called Love. Because when a soul divides, it always divides into a male part and a female part.That’s how the Book of Genesis explains it: the soul of Adam was split in two, and Eve was born out of him.<br />In each life, we feel a mysterious obligation to find at least one of those Soul Mates.<br />The Greater Love that separated them feels pleased with the Love that brings them together again.<br />But how will i know who my Soul Mate is??? By taking risks.<br />By risking failures, disappointment, disillusion, but never ceasing in your search for Love. As long as you keep looking, you will triumph in the end.<br />Is it possible to meet more than one Soul Mate in each life?Yes.<br />The essence of Creation is one and one alone. And the essence is called Love.Love is the force that brings us back together, in order to condense the experience disperesed in many lives and many parts of the world.<br />We are responsible for the whole Earth because we do not know where they might be. Those Soul Mates we were from the beginning of time. If they are well, then we, too, will be happy. If they are not well, we will suffer, however unconsciously, a portion of their pain. Above all, though, we are responsible for reencountering, at least once in every incarnation, the Soul Mate who is sure to cross our path. Even if it is only for a matter of moments, because those moments bring with them a Love so intense that it justifies the rest of our days.<br />We can also allow our Soul Mate to pass us by, without accepting him or her, or even noticing. Then we will need another incarnation in order to find that Soul Mate. And because of our selfishness, we will be condemned to the worst torture of humankind ever invented for itself: LONELINESS.<br />happy thinking!!!Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-73425462938988527102011-05-10T15:41:00.001+05:302011-05-10T15:41:10.671+05:30ChangeThere are few things I’d like to change around me.<br />1. HONKING – This should be CHANGED. I hate to hear the honking noise. When really needed, please do, but where there’s no soul in front of you blocking your way or barring traffic rules why the *#!% do you honk???<br />2.INDIAN PENAL CODE - How relevant can the IPC be when it is totally outdated.Crimes and Criminals have greatly changed from the time IPC was drafted.<br />3. APPLICATION OF STUDY - Why dont our educational systems teach students first aid care, CPR, cooking for oneself, driving, gardening, martial arts, filing a complaint at any public office (police stn / EB /Corporation etc) ? Are’nt those inevitable to us??<br />4. UNIFORM- If uniforms are provided in school for considering every student the same, why is it not followed at all offices?Makes life more simpler.<br />5. PUBLIC TRANSPORT - I really appreciate cities where metro rail helps us a lot like Chennai,Mumbai,Kolkata. How about all other growing cities adapting to the same. Also when do the state transport plan to upgrade their buses?<br />6. PUBLIC TOILETS - Please , these need a change! Why do we hesitate to use the public toilets – unclean,stinky,yuck – how many words come to us when I say that! There should be a sanitation ministry I feel. Not to forget train toilets and the airport toilets.<br />7. HERBAL crap – If cosmetic products are created from aloe,bergamot,lime,honey,milk,fruits etc why the heck do we buy these,might as well buy the above natural resource and use it.<br />8. ORGANIC – Dude, we Indians were always using organic manure that was cheap in cost.It was other countries who made us use fertilizers and now all are getting back to square one and charge a whopping amount for such organic produce!<br />9. CLOTHES and EYES – A woman wears what she wants. Please refrain LADIES AND GENTLEMEN to give her those horrid looks, to make her feel uncomfortable. She knows what she is wearing and you dont need to teach her. If you have any suggestions, please use it yourself.<br />10. TELEVISION - When I was a child, DD promptly used to shut down all its programs by 10 I guess and resumed at 6 am. Why has this been changed? Why do we have 24X7 relay of programs? Isnt that an unwanted service. If you dont agree, please let me know how many of you’ll watch TV at 4 am..<br />ooh too much of feelings … time to relax .. cyaDeekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-48790907237850019492011-05-10T15:32:00.000+05:302011-05-10T15:33:01.885+05:30Swim in the rainThis summer like every other year made everyone in chennai say “Phew, last summer wasnt this bad, its terrible now”. It was raining cats and dogs all over the state, but not a drop in Chennai. The rain was dodging us, in the last 20 days like a cat and mouse game. It used to slighty drizzle and before we could realize it was raining, it would stop<br /><br />A Jr wanted to go for a swim at 5 pm yesterday. We went to the aquatic complex nearby. He was swimming happily and then it started to get dark.I alerted him to come out of the pool and take a shower. Like every other 5 year old he readily disagreed, and continued to swim<br />It started to drizzle and he started to love the feeling of getting wet by rain and swimming in the pool.It started to rain heavily and I almost yelled at him looking at the weather. Then he finally listened to me and came out of the pool with a long face. I was momentarily guilty, for having spoilt the fun<br />Once he was out, I asked him if he wanted to go for another dip, his eyes were gleaming ;) He jumped in joy and went and played for some more time. And then it poured..Almost everyone left the pool due to the rain. We both were the only ones there!<br />The rain slashed the city. Trees were swaying and there was plenty of water running down the streets.After he was content, with his swim,he looked at me and asked if we could leave, I smiled. Then we quickly got ready and and I helped him with his raincoat and we zoomed back home in the bike.Went home, made some toast and cocoa for the little wonder, we pulled up a chair and looked out at the downpour as he was quietly sipping the cuppa,sitting on my lap all curled up! He hates to get his feet wet(Jus like me)! A beautiful feeling to enjoy the weather with your loved ones.<br />Rain is something people would long for, but once it starts, they start to crib about hygiene, inability to leave the house and consider it as an an inconvenience But A Jr and I love it! This evening it was so much fun to experience swimming in the rain.<br />What an eventful evening!<br />Got reminded of this bumper sticker on facebook, it says<br />So there’s this boy………….<br />He kind of stole my heart<br />he calls me “mom”!Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-32807827130969057902011-05-10T15:22:00.001+05:302011-05-10T15:22:52.745+05:30Nice thought!Read this in TOI today .. loved the quote. It set a thinking cloud in me early in the morning.. So many times in life we are treated this way.. Enjoy the thinking! Catch you soon.<br />“So, let’s put it like this: I asked for a small round ice-cream cake with a cherry on top… and I got a 3-tier German chocolate cake with an extra supply of mango soufflé and butter cookies!! Now, that’s great. But the point is… where is my “small round ice-cream cake with a cherry on top?? Is that too much to ask for?”<br />Another way to look at this is, be happy and content when life offers you something more when you ask for less? If that be the case, should we be thankful for what we recieved or grieve that we didnt get what we wanted??<br />Thinking cloud rising …..Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-19202579441393868732011-05-10T15:16:00.001+05:302011-05-10T15:18:14.744+05:30Mobile phone sagaMy first mobile phone was a Nokia 2100.. I got this for the dumb reason that every other person in my first team had this. It had a very userfriendly menu and it was my first association with NOKIA phones. Till date am not as comfy as I am with this company’s mobile, when compared to a SonyEric(most confusing) or a Samsung (horrible !!).<br /><br /><br />I got this as soon as I found a job in Bangalore. Came in handy when I wanted to talk to my near and dear ones. Still a good phone and had all what we require to make or recieve calls and to message. period! No super dooper facilities in it. I was happy with this one.<br />After using it for a year or so, my mind started to look for a fancy mobile, with color display, MMS, camera,etc. I also wanted something like a slide or open out mobile handset, a little expensive and glossy. I found a really sleek one, small compact one – Nokia 6111! A collegue’s husband had gifted her with this one from the middle east. I loved it the moment I saw it. Didnt want to buy in Bangalore, so came down to Chennai and bought it in Univercell with my friend. He drove me all the way to this outlet in Besant Nagar(that was when Univercell started up). I bought it for 11000 and loved it a lot. I exchanged my 2100 for 1500 bucks, after buying it for 6000!!!<br /><br />This mobile was the first one in my mobile saga to fail miserably. The display went blank after some time and disappointed me .. Also the sim card was difficult to insert and replace. But the phone looked great from outside. I truly appreciated the megapixel camera, and the flash ! Took many memorable pics and vidoes with this !! I got introduced to MMS only through this phone<br /><br />Then moved to Chennai, went to Nokia priority just opposite to Satyam cinemas. We had booked tickets for a movie there, and had to while away 20 minutes. Our generation has a ridiculous habit of overspending and buying nonsense when we just have nothing else to do. We either overspend or eat when we are free I feel. So off goes another 5000 bucks for a new phone. Husband dear loved this phone and the docking system that came free with this phone which now sleeps in my attic amongst other junk! He is the reason for this expenditure – goes without saying!! A Jr broke my mom’s phone so I parted ways with my phone!! I forgot the model so cant google for the image… Nokia 6xxx I guess!! I had it for hardly 3-4 months<br /><br />I had got this unlocked smart phone for dad on June 3rd 2007 from the US. Its a palm treo 680.I bought it in the Palm store in San Francisco Airport at around 10 pm Dad loved it, but was a little jittery to use it owing to its size and features. He was baffled with its n many features (Back in 2007,a hifi phone like this would seriously scare any elderly person in India).So it was in mom’s cupboard cum bureau happily sleeping.<br />After I gave my phone to mom, I was happy with my phonelessness!! hee hee… (these days when every college goer, milk man, maid, pookari (flower seller), kai kara paati(vegetable vendor) has one,Iwas looked upon as if I was an alien on this planet! How can you be, without a mobile phone, my friends used to ask me. “You mean everytime I need to talk to you, I need to dial to your hubby’s phone and ask him to give the phone to you??????????” my sisters asked! Oh yeah -that was the practice in the good old land line days!! Not the husband’s phone though, it was common to every home had one land line. I still remember our first phone at home 25928! A red phone we had to put our fingers into the respective digit and pull till the end to dial! True dialing !!! STD, Trunk Calls, phonogram – lovely memories!!<br /><br /><br />So my mom suggested “unga appaku nee thantha phone summa than iruku, eduthu use pannu, ilana thuru giru pudichirapothu .. lol (translation: the phone that you gifted dad is not being used, use that, else it may rust!)”.. And hence here I am using a Palm Treo Nice one, like it. A Jr loves the concept of “Touch screen” wherever it is used. Be it my iPod Touch or this phone .. he gives a nakkal siripu (chuckle in ridicule) at other ipods/phones when he has these gadgets in hand.. These kids!! He asked my dad to gift him a touch screen TV and laptop for his birthday. Should I say dad was flabbergasted at this gift idea!! A Jr is a guy with B-I-G dreams indeed.<br />Thats it with the mobile saga..buzz me when you can. adios amigos for now!!Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-72164225454094684112011-05-10T15:14:00.001+05:302011-05-10T15:14:35.072+05:30A B C D ..A – Available/Single? married<br />B – Best Friend? I’m sure he/she is reading this (lol)<br />C – Cake or Pie? The Apple pie made during thanksgiving ’08<br />D – Drink of choice? Amma’s filter kaapi !!!<br />E – Essential item you use every day? Lipstick & Moisturiser<br />F – Favorite colour? White<br />G – Gummy Bears Or Worms? Gummy,Yummy<br />H – Hometown? Madurai<br />I – Indulgence? Oryza in Chennai<br />J – January or February? Jan, love the new year celebrations<br />K – Kids & their names? Son, A Jr<br />L – Life is incomplete without? Friends<br />M – Marriage date? 23/May<br />N – Number of siblings? 2 sisters<br />O – Oranges or Apples? Apples, hands down<br />P – Phobias/Fears? Hate class arachnida<br />Q – Quote for today? Live the moment!<br />R – Reason to smile? Darling son<br />S – Season? Breezy<br />T – Time ? Now<br />U – Unknown fact about me? I can live on apples for 3 days at a stretch.<br />V – Vegetable you don’t like? Gweeeeeeens<br />W – Worst habit? Shopping like there is no tomorrow<br />X – X-rays you’ve had? Just one, my little finger on my left hand, a month ago.<br />Y – Your favorite food? My mom’s “vathakina kari” (lamb gravy)<br />Z – Zodiac sign? Undoubtedly a scorpio!Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-90173916329984039902011-05-10T15:12:00.000+05:302011-05-10T15:13:58.305+05:30Health is wealthMy friend has been diagnosed with Cancer. And it was found out recently. She has sinus problems since childhood. All the time when she had a bad cold, nose bleeds, numbness and difficulty to breath, she thought it was the sinus disturbing her. After a nose block removal surgery, her biopsy spelled out ”Cancer”.<br />Just pondering how careless we are with our health. A small issue(?!) sinus has just turned her life around. The word cancer scares us all ,and we are alarmed when we hear it. Cancer can affect anyone Doctors say. Here is a little insight into cancer.<br />Cancer (medical term: malignant neoplasm) is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth (division beyond the normal limits), invasion (intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood).<br />These abnormalities may be due to the effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, or infectious agents. Other cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities may be randomly acquired through errors in DNA replication, or are inherited, and thus present in all cells from birth. (so u cant really be safe, it can affect anyone)<br />Any organism, even plants, can acquire cancer. Nearly all known cancers arise gradually, as errors build up in the cancer cell and its progeny.Most forms of cancer are sporadic, meaning that there is no inherited cause of the cancer.<br />Cancer is NOT a transmissible disease.<br />The cancer-fighting components of food are also proving to be more numerous and varied than previously understood, so patients are increasingly being advised to consume fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables for maximal health benefits.<br />People with suspected cancer are investigated with medical tests. These commonly include blood tests, X-rays, CT scans and endoscopy.<br />Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy or other methods. The choice of therapy depends upon the location and grade of the tumor and the stage of the disease, as well as the general state of the patient (performance status).Complete removal of the cancer without damage to the rest of the body is the goal of treatment.<br />Cancer has a reputation for being a deadly disease. While this certainly applies to certain particular types, the truths behind the historical connotations of cancer are increasingly being overturned by advances in medical care.<br />(Thanks to wikipedia)<br />Lets take a little more care and pay attention to the wealth we have – our health! My friend’s surgery is scheduled tomorrow. Am praying. Take care people!Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-78228670366515057412011-05-10T15:09:00.002+05:302011-05-10T15:11:40.630+05:30Here and there<p>This post was written in 2008 and I had posted this in another blog I'd thought I'd maintain along with this :) As expected, that didnt work so here come all the posts from there</p><br /><p>Dated July 30 , 2008 </p><br /><br /><p>Me back from Dubai, moving too quickly to Chennai. Wonder what more reasons a human being can think of while dropping papers in a company he/she is employed with. I said my spouse found a job there, my manager gives me a strange look,smiles to himself and then says “good na, you can stay more hours in office or go onsite with no reasons to come back for some time” :0 REASONS!!<br />————————–<br />Last week, I hear the noise of ambulances speeding away in the main road close to office,continuously. Wondering why so many ambulances in a row, I got up and walked up to the reception. Then my aunt calls up from a small place in tamilnadu around kanyakumari called “agasthiswaram” and asks ” Are you guys safe?” . I didnt know what to say, I asked her “en chithi? enachu” , she says ” there are 6 blasts in Bangalore”. She saw the news of blasts as flash news in sun TV. It was then I realised whats happening around me. Calls came pouring in for all collegues from near and dear asking about where they were.(Friday – where else, in office only!) We guys sit inside big buildings, in front of the desktop/laptop , engrossed in work, quite forget what’s happening outside, whether its raining or if it is day or night . Had my aunt not called, I wouldnt be informed of all this. Are we becoming insane ? DUNNO<br />—————————-<br />Weekend in Chennai, that too in a not so hot time of the year? What more can u ask for. Majority of my friends are in chennai, thats another excuse. I simply love chennai for all it has - the weather, the people.It comes as a close second to my native place! Where are the house rents heading in chennai??? I seriously dunno. A simple home (600-700 sq ft) costs 10,000 to 12,000 bucks.And it isnt furnished mind u. I have no clue how we are going to find a home. Any help/suggestions welcome.<br />—————————–<br />My kiddo is in LKG now. Here are some of his conversations<br />Me: Dai A, homework panna vada<br />A: Vara matain. Kai valikum. (Note: He’s has to write around 5 ‘A’s or ’1′s)<br />To My Dad(who has fractured his wrist): Thaatha, entha nai ungala kadichuthu? Neenga enna paninga atha??<br />——————————<br />bye for now!</p>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-59851247778800059332011-05-10T12:30:00.001+05:302011-05-10T15:11:02.681+05:30DubaiThis post was written in 2008 and I had posted this in another blog I'd thought I'd maintain along with this :) As expected, that didnt work so here come all the posts from there<br />Dated June 16,2008<br /><br />Everytime I visit a new place, I never bring with me the description and the ideas of people who have visited that place earlier. I like to see it fresh, and everything I see should be new to me I feel. So I restrain from asking people advices/tips before leaving to a new country. So this time its Dubai !<br />Different – This is one word that comes to my mind when I saw Dubai for the first time. The people have a great mix – I mean it being cosmopolitan in the true sense. People from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh,Lanka, all over europe,south east asian countries and of course our dear China (I was baffled looking at their population in the United States).<br />Lets start from weather – its HOT! However since the major part of our time is spent at office/home/car where all these are air conditioned. Food – You get anything and everything in the world here, like anjappar,saravana bhavan,sangeeta,udupi,vasanta bhavan,sukh sagar… u name it – its available here! People are indeed independant and friendly dont find anything strange out here when compared to India.<br />Now to more personal reflections …..This morning I was making a cup-a coffee for me in the office cafe. Someone was in queue behind me, I could sense that, so speeded up the preparation. Immediately that person asked me “Kerala …?” I am like ” I’m sorry ?”. He says “kerala….?” again. I told him “Are you asking me if I am from Kerala? Well no”. Then this gentleman says ” I thought Kerala” .. Oops what am I to infer from that. Highly emb..<br />Then he asked “then ..?” I said ” what?” He says “where in India”. Now I sensed he wasnt comfortable conversing in English, so I said “I am from TamilNadu”. He said “oh thamizha ?” I guess a tamizhian feels immense joy in meeting a fellow tamizhian outside India!! Then he said he has come here on some subcontract and helps people scan documents and file it, and also said he is froma remote place near Tanjore. Nice!<br />Doesnt really apply only to tamizhians,I guess – I found people rejoicing at the sight of Indians in foreign countries before. Anyways lets conclude people sense a special comfort amongst their race/creed..<br />I wanted to pen about 2 incidents that happened today . The one above is the first and the second is during the lunch time. A woman clad in a burkah (or purdah) came from behind and asked me if she could occupy the chair next to me. I said “oh sure”. She must be from UAE I guessed looking at her. She asked me “you from India” – again!! I said “yes,Bangalore” (remembering the tip from the previous incident) she said “wow I love India…. Do you like Dubai??” I said “Thats really nice. Yup, I seem to like Dubai”. Then again she asked “first time Dubai” and quickly said she was more comfortable in Arabic or Hindi than English. Then she continued in Hindi. She said she works for the customer care division. Hmm good to have lunch with someone who doesnt crib about the SQL query they wrote which didnt provide the result he wanted or someone who weighs the pros and cons of Oracle Fusion between gulps of food.<br />Then she went onto “Indian Mehndi, Hyderabadi biriyani” then she asked me married ? I smiled in return. She said she is married and has 5 children (2 girls and 3 boys). I thot for a while and asked her since when are u married.. she said 2000!! Wow- that is surely a good number of children in 8 years! Cant imagine the amount of patience she must be having to manage a mini-nursery!<br />Then she said “We were born and brought up here in UAE, and that she was originally from Ajman. Then went on saying, there was a time when anything we wanted, our parents used to go to India to buy that and come back and she also asked me if you still use those big 500 rupee notes..”. I was’nt sure if that big 500 rupee note is the one still in practice or those R-E-A-L-L-Y wide notes used in the 50 and 60s. I smiled for this too. We chit chatted for some more time and then got up to leave.<br />She gave me a little hug and said “come again to Dubai”. I was dumbfounded, man -what a nice thing to say to a visitor!!!<br />Thanks to Dubai for the hospitality. I will be back sometime.<br />Varta…. (thats will be back soon in tamizh)Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-32772620069777843682011-05-10T12:26:00.002+05:302011-05-10T12:30:02.726+05:30Adventures of BIAL<p>This post was written in 2008 and I had posted this in another blog I'd thought I'd maintain along with this :) As expected, that didnt work so here come all the posts from there. </p><br /><p><strong>Dated: May 29, 2008</strong></p><br /><p>I had planned a trip to Madurai last week. Deccan flies to Madurai twice a day , once in the morning around 6.55and another in the evening at 5.30. I had booked tickets by the morning flight on Saturday to Madurai and for the return from Madurai I had chosen the morning flight from madurai at 9 am.<br />I booked my tickets on the auspicious day of May 23rd, no knowing that all flights from Bangalore would depart from the new Bangalore International Airport(BIAL) from that night around 1 am onwards. Once I booked I got an sms saying your flight will depart from Devanahalli airport at 6.55 am tomorrow. What???????!!!! Not from HAL, I thought this BIAL thing came into existence post May only!!<br />Then started the saga. I had a long Friday and retired home around 10pm from office. Had’nt packed anything so packed a small bag of my stuff and went to bed! I set the alarm for 3.30am! I was scared by my friends and family that this BIAL existed in a place around 35 kms from the city. That means from city limits, and I live somewhere towards the south of the city – so guess how many kms that would be!! All set for the journey on bike, I dozed off to sleep.<br />Tring.. Alarm sounded, as usual snoozed it and dozed. It rang agani in the next 5 minutes and then I realised the hectic travel I had to experiment in the next half hour. So woke up, brushed and thought for a moment about a bath. Oh come on I’m gonna be in Madurai in the next few hours and I can have a long bath at my fav.bathroom at home. Dressed up, grabbed that Jerkin and scarf to protect me.<br />Woke him(the person who has been lucky enough to marry me) up and said lets go. He took a while to get dressed up and we left home at 4.15 sharp. The journey on the bike at this wee hour we were discussing. We were wrong, it wasnt that wee in Bangalore, saw a lot of people returning from their BPO shifts and some early takers for bus services all our way.<br />Successfully reached Devanahalli – bid a big bye to him and said – Drive safe – you are going back alone (as if I am the biggest guardian around). Then checked in and sat in the waiting hall before the deccan counter. I saw the schedule IPTV display, bad – it indicated all flight till 6.25 am only. I thought it might be a list and will have refresh soon. But it never did- another way to alarm me – lady its not gonna work out as u planned.<br />I hadnt picked up any book to read in the hurry, so went to a bookstand(Crossword I guess). The salesman gave me the stupidest smile ever saying “Ma’am you can see the books on display, but the billing counter hasnt started operation” . I wanted to ask him few questions but kept my cool and walked to the coffee day next.<br />They had a breakfast menu – Idlis!! 80- bucks for 2 idlis,some cold coconut chutney(so many C’s). Darn.. But okay – t’would help me as this Godforsaken Deccan doesnt serve decent breakfast on board. So breakfast at 6.30am!! 20 bucks for water. Swish 100 bucks gone in a jiffy. I decided not to have my morning coffee here. Let me land in Madurai and help myself with the caffeine!!<br />7am they called for boarding! Happily I walked to the terminal..</p><br /><p></p><br /><p>Boarded the bus that takes passengers to the aircraft. Once we reached the hanger where the ATR crafts were kept(or can I say parked ??), we were asked to stay in the bus itself for the next 40 mts, stating that our baggages havent arrived from the airport So people got down stood next to those noisy ATR aircrafts and took pictures!! Please… I picked a snap of an Indigo ATR craft standing next to the Kingfisher -Deccan flight I was supposed to board. I felt humiliated when my son asked me to show him the picture of the “helicopter” again when I showed him the snap, later that day!! :O<br />Finally the baggages arrived, and we were bound to Madurai by 8.45 after the long wait for our sequence to take off!! Landed in Madurai, went home, and had a good sleep for an hour – made it up for having woken up so early that day. Happy saturday and Sunday.<br />Monday Morning!! Yuck!! How I hate a day when I have to return from Madurai to the daily grind of office & home in Bangalore. Wish I was little and stayed with mom and dad all life !! Anyways, coming to the point, I left home around 6.40 to board the flight at 8 am.<br />When I was there for check in the “deccan” girl at the counter gave me a smile and said ,” I’m afraid its gonna take more time ma’am.. ” NO!! Not again.. I had breakfast, finished that month’s issue of Goodhousekeeping, the weekly India today and got bored and picked up Paulo’s Brida at the airport bookstore. Pages were moved, time was flying -no news of boarding. It was 10 am , I got up and asked “how much will you refund me if I am cancelling my ticket now??” to the same girl. She smiled and said 100%. I said go ahead and cancel. She took 20 mts to do that and I lost patience and asked her “how much more time do u need for a simple cancellation?” She smiled again (God only knows why??? )”Ma’am your flight has landed, it will be ready for departure in 10 mts”. I asked her “so u cancelled my ticket?” she said “No!” – God Bless!! Then I quickly boarded and reached bangalore at 12 noon.<br />Now comes the worst part, how do i get home and then go to office? Its more the 55 kms from my home!!!!! Gave my manager a call and explained the sitn in brief. Someone had sent me an email talking of airport to city – shuttle. I enquired and quickly boarded a volvo bus with a whopping 150 bucks taken away. Hey u guys build an airport so far away , why should I pay so much for the conveyance man, isnt all this included in that nasty airfare??? The bus started at 1 and by the time it reached my place it was 3 pm. Only God can save people from Bangalore traffic. The worst in the world I’d proudly say.<br />I called up office, said I’m on leave and went to sleep.<br />So total expenses that day was :<br />Airfare -2700<br />Airport expenses(snacks,books) – 500<br />Volvo bus ticket – 150<br />Thats a total of 3350 bucks !!!!!<br />If I had taken the train/bus the previous night i would have reached bangalore latest by 7 am and would have headed to office at 9 as usual.. This is my last venture with Deccan – That I can promise. And for BIAL – unless its for a trip abroad – I am never visiting you again !!!</p>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-73692899521350835582010-10-20T10:43:00.005+05:302010-10-20T12:18:18.803+05:30To give or to receive?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhG5vfMihbEdaxbyjUI-Y0KNVj49rHFfXhZNJcM7OWSnHOO7nvHMRCQVxC3bfRr6U6msHESAgw6gn3jhUN2hEbQYPzvJMljSmHmEok2yJZFojUI1s_jo1YqGb-zKBX8nKbMhyqKw/s1600/help.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530016168769035858" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhG5vfMihbEdaxbyjUI-Y0KNVj49rHFfXhZNJcM7OWSnHOO7nvHMRCQVxC3bfRr6U6msHESAgw6gn3jhUN2hEbQYPzvJMljSmHmEok2yJZFojUI1s_jo1YqGb-zKBX8nKbMhyqKw/s320/help.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Many a times in our daily life, we have to give something to others, if lucky we receive something may be in return. What we give may be love,care or anything monetary or materialistic. However the mind longs for something in return. Giving something to others may not be out of choice, "we ought to" or "we can give" or sometimes "on an occasion" (gifts). </div><br /><div>The human mind expects things, no one can differ on this thought, but the question I have at this juncture is that "What do we do when we get nothing in return and we are always the giver?" </div><div></div><div>Think for a moment and give me an answer. </div><br /><div>If you are saintly/a (highly)good hearted soul, then you'd probably be saying "keep doing the same, dont expect anything from others. you are being good and you are happy seeing others happy! " (More so if you are a woman, needless to say, everyone says a woman should have no happiness on her own, it should be collective and in the favor of the entire household , bull****!!!!)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If you a normal person then your reply would be Keep on giving till you can, when you reach the break even point, stop and say thats it and walk off.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>There is also a third way to approach this, why not let the receivers know that they are doing nothing in return and that they can repay atleast to the minimal level they can?? And let them know this cannot continue in this fashion of one way giving for long (kind of warn them in a gentle tone). I like this one personally!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I might sound a little pissed off, but thats the current temperament I find lots of people in.</div><div>Steam off , poor me!!!</div>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-9974837220069002302010-09-24T11:58:00.003+05:302010-10-20T10:43:36.939+05:30A word of caution<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-NAk4eI5V0lXfWXwSsBahIE1LGDGqma8m799fLFc21bF7UzrW8OKBApF7G2GaZGkpLDs4dbS8y9DSFg-Fm57cXEwpTcDmdtqaWUA4qvJLKmnVgNdsTCmib42YO9VpLnaogz1aw/s1600/takecare.GIF"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520363385446017570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 71px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-NAk4eI5V0lXfWXwSsBahIE1LGDGqma8m799fLFc21bF7UzrW8OKBApF7G2GaZGkpLDs4dbS8y9DSFg-Fm57cXEwpTcDmdtqaWUA4qvJLKmnVgNdsTCmib42YO9VpLnaogz1aw/s320/takecare.GIF" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><em><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Of late I have been hearing cases of people affected by Dengue and Malaria. And of course quick deaths. It is quite scary and imposes upon me an additional responsibility of taking extra care on the health and hygiene of my family.<br />Dengue is a very serious disease, and has caused death to families that I know. It starts with fever, with unimaginable fall in the platelet count in blood. It caused death for a very healthy teenager who I know. It is very hard to believe that this person is no more.<br />Another case I heard this morning is a case of cerebral malaria,I had met this youngster a fortnight ago. She is no more today.<br />My heart goes out to the families of the departed. May their souls rest in peace.Also let this post be an eye opener to all of us to employ means to prevent such epidemics.Especially when we have children less than 10 years old who are most vulnerable to these.<br />Take care folks! </span></em></div>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-90511663961210240432010-09-14T13:43:00.002+05:302010-09-14T13:48:30.751+05:30Tagged<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8Ll_fyudjM7zhuj7B9uIVJOlddZ8MXVtsQbEwnnT2cSSWOReGWnwY-6WV0ZgWcr4haMlHTtS3tXKSopfGbBdEWP_jQIxut0BmE7EwrTlfDMUvxdxe8xR6Pwl80vaomZreqsGmQ/s1600/ra.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516680568195767890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 36px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 37px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8Ll_fyudjM7zhuj7B9uIVJOlddZ8MXVtsQbEwnnT2cSSWOReGWnwY-6WV0ZgWcr4haMlHTtS3tXKSopfGbBdEWP_jQIxut0BmE7EwrTlfDMUvxdxe8xR6Pwl80vaomZreqsGmQ/s400/ra.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">1. Were you named after anyone?<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Nope. My mom's friend named me.<br /></em>2. When was the last time you cried?<br /><em>2 days ago.</em><br />3. Do you like your handwriting?<br /><em>Yes.</em><br />4. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?<br /><em>Definitely yes.</em><br />5. Would you bungee jump?<br /><em>Sure, that'l be loads of fun.</em><br />6. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?<br /><em>Yes, at times ;)</em><br />7. If you were to pick your own first name, what would it be?<br /><em>Deekshanya</em><br />8. What is the first thing that you notice about people?<br /><em>Eyes</em><br />9. Red or Pink?<br /><em>Red</em><br />10. What is the least favorite thing about yourself?<br /><em>lol secret secret.</em><br />11. Whom do you miss the most?<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Some precious friends living in the same city as I, but not in touch.<br /></em>12. What are you listening to right now?<br /><em>Lonely - Akon</em><br />13. Favorite smells?<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Petrol, new books and "True Red" (marks & Spencer)<br /></em>14. Do you wear contacts?<br /><em>No</em><br />15. Favorite foods?<br /><em>Chocolates and kalyana samayal.</em><br />16. Last movie you watched<br /><em>Madarasapattinam, loved it.</em><br />17.What book are you reading right now?<br /><em>Anita and me - Meera Syal</em><br />18. Summer or Winter<br /><em>Winter - esp. the winter that just went by - snow and loads of memories</em>.<br />19. Hugs or Kisses<br /><em>Hugs</em><br />20. What music are you into?<br /><em>Filmi</em><br />21. What did you watch on TV last night?<br /><em>Enthiran trailer</em><br />22. Favorite sound(s)<br /><em>Baby's talk</em><br />23. Do you sing or play an instrument?<br /><em>Yes I do sing, play the guitar too.</em><br />24. Favorite piece of jewellery.<br /><em>Bracelets!!</em><br />25. How did you meet your spouse/significant other?<br /><em>We are cousins :)</em></span></span></div>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-69506666254099406692010-08-13T11:36:00.002+05:302010-08-13T11:56:38.915+05:30At the last hour -- actually works!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOuZz-Ut8SCJI_JK6Tnll1a-AuH-PoexNtbpGcR5KrWbUPzlpYhOE1xHMJ-sgHwmjuXVZ11gVtUWzNWIyrxNnw9PRpVf2xbL1Ky-lp9UPlilFjTDXigFAWy6v6vcMprq66K6thw/s1600/last-minute-.jpg"><em><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504776895115313858" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOuZz-Ut8SCJI_JK6Tnll1a-AuH-PoexNtbpGcR5KrWbUPzlpYhOE1xHMJ-sgHwmjuXVZ11gVtUWzNWIyrxNnw9PRpVf2xbL1Ky-lp9UPlilFjTDXigFAWy6v6vcMprq66K6thw/s320/last-minute-.jpg" border="0" /></span></em></a><em><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></em><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;">I never keep things to the last hour, but then sometimes it works. Off late I have been thru' couple of situations that exhibited this. Like :</span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Booking a ticket at satyam/inox/pvr is herculean if you miss the wednesday thursday deadline for the weekend. We just walked in near one of these booking kiosks at a mall and got good seats about 10 mts before the movie started( it was the weekend following the release of the big movie)</span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Tried baking cupcakes last evening - it was an instant decision to make them, and God bless, they came out beautifully. The whole home smelled heavenly with the aroma of pastry baking !!! Made them for the first time - and voila they didnt let me down - love u dear little muffins. </span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Have spent like 20 -30 mts looking for that perfect dress, and then just when I am about to bill that "its ok, this is somewhat similar to what I wanted" dress, I spot that one dress I had in mind at the end of the line, or bottom of shelf etc... Yaay!</span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Many times before exams, you see that one line in the textbook just before you enter the exam hall and there it is , first one word answer/fill in the blank ... what a moment!!</span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;">Sometimes planning is never necessary, it all happens at the last moment! </span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;">pic:thanks to </span></em><a href="http://vacationpackage.net/"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">http://vacationpackage.net/</span></em></a></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></em></div>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-71169060542546222322010-08-09T14:26:00.004+05:302010-08-09T14:41:38.649+05:30Round up!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZHY7rHvjQzVetZrzyUuJqF1YxVmhDOuDvcCcX31VBAgleoGE8Fc7k4FgJj5I9jsNGcDrftyfjX5JRvJjKpS1x9Sd2MSMd-YjhBzYmBb394QH-6kMt5FdsThn0CyILunDcXbjGw/s1600/mywordle.bmp"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503334614571089234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZHY7rHvjQzVetZrzyUuJqF1YxVmhDOuDvcCcX31VBAgleoGE8Fc7k4FgJj5I9jsNGcDrftyfjX5JRvJjKpS1x9Sd2MSMd-YjhBzYmBb394QH-6kMt5FdsThn0CyILunDcXbjGw/s320/mywordle.bmp" border="0" /></span></em></a><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span></em><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Its been quite sometime since I updated my blog, however have been silently following on others blogs. Can't blame it on work, family, its just me. Did'nt feel like so did'nt - simply said.</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em> </div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em> </div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now for a round up..</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Travel - "New York" - enjoyed thoroughly both at work and personally. It is indeed the best city on the world.(close second is Madurai - my place!) Lived in Jersey City and loved everything about this place.</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em> </div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Movie - "Kalavani" - good laugh, "Ravanan" - felt it was incomplete, "Thillalangadi" - non sense, waste of money</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em> </div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Song - Loved Ravanan songs, pretty good.</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em> </div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Book - Read a couple of John grisham's - The Brethren, The Client, The Streetlawyer - Loved "The Firm". Now reading "East, Pray, Love" - so far so good</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em> </div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gadget - New car audio system - that means new car too ;)</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em> </div><div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ciao!!</span></em></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span></div>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-28751596699509211022009-11-25T06:47:00.004+05:302009-11-25T07:09:14.325+05:30New York<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>I seem to like this place - New York City . Its been about 25 days since am here. Another onsite trip - another opportunity to be myself,just for myself :) I am loving this (just like in the MacD ad). A wonderful person gifted me this wonderful collection of songs, that I've added to my ipod. Each song seems to be a fresh dose of endorphins :) bringing in so much of happiness and memories. The train commute to Manhattan is amazing, and living in Jersey city is good too. Walking from the the train stop to my office in Wallstreet is so fast, sporty and different to me. This place is sure,full of life!</em><br /><em>I stay close to the Hudson river, and it is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! At night the reflection of all those zillion lights falling on the water is pretty,very pretty. I am sure this place is gonna leave a permanent mark in my mind. I love this moment. I love this place. I love what I am doing. This is bliss :) </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>cya!!</em></span>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-64155275526612924212009-04-09T01:37:00.005+05:302009-04-14T03:39:22.182+05:30Hee hee hee ....<ul><li>Watch 11 movies over the weekend back to back, switching from one movie channel to another</li><li>Cook once in 2 days.One time of cooking serves you for 3 meals.</li><li>After 48 hours you realize you have not left your apartment (weekend woes) On the extreme,its every week planning and exploring a new getaway</li><li>Download movies one after the other, sometimes kick off the download and go to sleep</li><li>Make the best use of youtube for the timeless Koundamani-Senthil, lollusabha comedies</li><li>Get bitten by the blog bug (so many 'B's)</li><li>Learn cooking</li><li>Learn how to wash </li><li>Respond to every email, including forward from friends, old and new</li><li>Check orkut,facebook,gmail,yahoo,rediff one after the other every damn night</li></ul><p>Hee hee hee ....What does all the above signify?</p>ONSITE, alone in a faraway country!!!Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30095524.post-90056890627895901482009-04-09T00:11:00.003+05:302009-04-09T00:38:10.357+05:30Square One<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">No promises.. No back with a bang .. No "look out for more posts from me" ... Just a silent "hey, am back to blogging!"<br />In this last 1 year and 2 months, I have learnt that:1) There is no use sitting and worrying, nothing moves an inch because of worrying<br />2) How children read your mind, even if you want to conceal whats actually happening in your mind<br />3) Going to temples really helps you to believe God is there<br />4) Emotional eating is not good at all<br />5) Even the smallest workout can work wonders in your body<br />6) Cost of living in Chennai,India = Cost of living in the some cities in the US<br />7) A vacation to some place outside India isnt very difficult to plan and every damn tour agency who boasts of excellent comforts is just cheating you!<br />8) I should move on with life and not stay away from my favourite to do stuff like blogging for some dumb reasons.<br />9) To be more patient with kids<br />10) Unlearning something, helps you to learn more about it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">will blog when I feel like from now on(that could mean more regularly) </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span>Deekshanyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05203551180776640044noreply@blogger.com2